Thread: New E3 LOTRO information

http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/06/08/e3...h-and-details/

Key topics

This expansion is a doozy, with over 400 quests included (which can of course be purchased in quest packs semi-individually by strict free-to-play gamers) in its 3 new zones: Dunland, Rohirrim, and Isengard.

LOTRO’s newly-added phasing technology – which allows the world to change in response to your actions (save a town, and they stay saved, to your perspective at least) – is used to its full effect for the first time ever in these new zones.

Dunland and Rohirrim are two semi-primitive groups being pitted against one another by Sauron, which you need to convince to get along and fight their true enemy.

Look for more details soon as we jump into the closed beta for a hands-on preview in the coming weeks.

Originally Posted by PCGAMER

Saurumon

I chortled.

"The new zones remind me a bit of Age of Conan in their art style, with a strong medieval Asian vibe to the buildings and set pieces."

This is not encouraging in the least. I hope his perception is off.

Originally Posted by Patrickwg

http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/06/08/e3...h-and-details/

Key topics

This expansion is a doozy, with over 400 quests included (which can of course be purchased in quest packs semi-individually by strict free-to-play gamers) in its 3 new zones: Dunland, Rohirrim, and Isengard.

LOTRO’s newly-added phasing technology – which allows the world to change in response to your actions (save a town, and they stay saved, to your perspective at least) – is used to its full effect for the first time ever in these new zones.

Dunland and Rohirrim are two semi-primitive groups being pitted against one another by Sauron, which you need to convince to get along and fight their true enemy.

Look for more details soon as we jump into the closed beta for a hands-on preview in the coming weeks.

Rohirrim is not a zone, it is a people (the people of Rohan to be exact.) The regions are Dunland, Gap of Isen, and Nan Curunir (which contains Isengard, a location within Nan Curunir.)

Originally Posted by Ironcrown

"The new zones remind me a bit of Age of Conan in their art style, with a strong medieval Asian vibe to the buildings and set pieces."

This is not encouraging in the least. I hope his perception is off.

The Dunlending structures are the same that were used in Enedwaith. (Apparently, the author of the article is not familiar with the fact that even Celtic cultures used thatched homes.) No, no Medieval Asian influence here.

Originally Posted by Berephon

Rohirrim is not a zone, it is a people (the people of Rohan to be exact.) The regions are Dunland, Gap of Isen, and Nan Curunir (which contains Isengard, a location within Nan Curunir.)

Isn't it the Gap of Rohan?

A new region named Rohirrim?

And a guy called Saurumon?

Am I playing the wrong game?

Originally Posted by Berephon

Rohirrim is not a zone, it is a people (the people of Rohan to be exact.) The regions are Dunland, Gap of Isen, and Nan Curunir (which contains Isengard, a location within Nan Curunir.)

Well, the article was written by someone who repeatedly called Saruman "Sarumon"...
I doubt you can expect from him to be able to distinguish between names of regions and names for a folk

Originally Posted by Berephon

The Dunlending structures are the same that were used in Enedwaith. (Apparently, the author of the article is not familiar with the fact that even Celtic cultures used thatched homes.) No, no Medieval Asian influence here.

Thank you Berephon! It didn't sound right and I should've known it would follow the Dunlending model of Enedwaith.

They can't even get the release date right. Both of the article before this one says it is coming out on the 7th and not the 27th.

LOTRO’s newly-added phasing technology - that looks very interasting, at least to me.
The similar thing was introduced in newest WoW expansion zones.

Wow sounds great.
Now I have one question: When we will see the first real gameplay video of the new zones?

Originally Posted by Finborhur

LOTRO’s newly-added phasing technology - that looks very interasting, at least to me.
The similar thing was introduced in newest WoW expansion zones.

This "new" phasing technology has been mentioned before not sure if it is in-game yet or not. Things like the epic story characters appear/don't appear for you depending the part of the story you are on. So if someone dies or moves on to a different location they will no longer show up on your computer, so they will become invisible at there original location.

Can you please tell us Berephon if we are getting a new pvmp zone with Isengard as the original statement by Lotro said?

Originally Posted by Berephon

Rohirrim is not a zone, it is a people (the people of Rohan to be exact.) The regions are Dunland, Gap of Isen, and Nan Curunir (which contains Isengard, a location within Nan Curunir.)

Don't tell US, tell PCGamer. That is from THEIR article. Course, it probably would have helped if the OP had used the "quote" tags.

Originally Posted by Patrickwg

This "new" phasing technology has been mentioned before not sure if it is in-game yet or not. Things like the epic story characters appear/don't appear for you depending the part of the story you are on. So if someone dies or moves on to a different location they will no longer show up on your computer, so they will become invisible at there original location.

Phasing is in-game; As you say, characters appearing/not appearing depending on where you are in the story. However, the whole "save a town, it's stays saved" might suggest that it will now feature phasing for areas as well, which would be a first.

Originally Posted by GregJL

Don't tell US, tell PCGamer. That is from THEIR article. Course, it probably would have helped if the OP had used the "quote" tags.

added it

/more words

Interesting idea that phasing. One issue though, what if you save the town and your friend doesn't save it, does that mean you can't both then visit the town together, sort of like how layers work, you're in one and your friend is in another.

Still I like games that give us an actual reaction to our actions, be them good or bad. It's always nice to say "I saved that town, don't those people look happy..." Or "Burn!!... Burn!!... Overcharge me for repairs will you? Get them orcs, I won't stop you..."

So yeah, looking forward to that part of the expansion.

I am very excited about the expansion My main focus has always been PvE and RPG-goodness, just mooching around a town and living through a story, doing the quests. I remember the first time through the Audaghaim area in Mirkwood, because it was 2 in the morning and I'd been playing for hours but I didn't care - new quests, excited kinmates and excited players all chatting about the new stuff.

Really like the idea of a 'town staying saved'.

Want to slap the PCGamer writer with a kipper. Just because the roof flays out a little doesn't make it Asian. Or even 'medieval Asian'. Perhaps medieval Asians also wore tartan, kilts and grew long red beards?

Thanks for the corrections, Berephon. I wonder why people even take such previews and reviews seriously when the people writing them so often show complete ignorance of what they are writing about? Just wait for the dev dairy releases or player reviews in beta before the doom and gloom about the new content.

Originally Posted by Jiiro

Interesting idea that phasing. One issue though, what if you save the town and your friend doesn't save it, does that mean you can't both then visit the town together, sort of like how layers work, you're in one and your friend is in another.

Still I like games that give us an actual reaction to our actions, be them good or bad. It's always nice to say "I saved that town, don't those people look happy..." Or "Burn!!... Burn!!... Overcharge me for repairs will you? Get them orcs, I won't stop you..."

So yeah, looking forward to that part of the expansion.

Phasing does not use layers. If you and your buddy are on different phasing states and are both in an area configured with phasing you can still see and interact with each other. Your clients will just see and display different visual states of the area. Currently phasing involves visuals relating to npcs, appearances, decals and particles. Future implementations may involve physics or combat, but those are not currently supported.

This new phasing technology seems really nice, I get a Guild wars 2 feeling about it

I hope you will make use of this in the current ettenmoors and the new pvp zone ( If we get one...) as well

Whoops, have to correct myself. Gap of Rohan, not Gap of Isen. Probably where the article's author got confused.

Originally Posted by jwbarry

Phasing does not use layers. If you and your buddy are on different phasing states and are both in an area configured with phasing you can still see and interact with each other. Your clients will just see and display different visual states of the area. Currently phasing involves visuals relating to npcs, appearances, decals and particles. Future implementations may involve physics or combat, but those are not currently supported.

I LOVE the idea of this! The scouring of the shire becomes possible!

Any chance you can poke the pc gamer to correct the release date in their article? Its the 27th. not the 7th.

LOTRO at E3?
With all the SWTOR hype & excitement I didn't even notice...

Originally Posted by Elyske

Can you please tell us Berephon if we are getting a new pvmp zone with Isengard as the original statement by Lotro said?

wait...what? Improve PvP?????? In this game??!!!! Are you mad!!!??????!!!!!

Phasing is already in the game from what I can tell. When you play through Volume III Book 3, there's several NPCs that appear and disappear depending on which stage you're on. This is really noticeable when a few people are in the same area and different parts, as you'll see them talking to thin air.

oo more info now talk to us about LI and instances oo and epic book.

GAH! I have been watching every live stream, looking at every site covering E3 trying to find if any of them have visited Lotro, dont think anyone has

Originally Posted by GregJL

Don't tell US, tell PCGamer. That is from THEIR article. Course, it probably would have helped if the OP had used the "quote" tags.

Actually, either Bere or someone else already did on that article.

Originally Posted by Berephon

Whoops, have to correct myself. Gap of Rohan, not Gap of Isen. Probably where the article's author got confused.

I'm just glad we're finally getting a Gap. We can't all afford Dior.

Sarumon! I choose you!!

Originally Posted by Meneliel

I'm just glad we're finally getting a Gap. We can't all afford Dior.

What? You can buy Eluchíl? I guess dwarfs won't be very happy for this. Neither will the House of Fëanor.

Originally Posted by jwbarry

Phasing does not use layers. If you and your buddy are on different phasing states and are both in an area configured with phasing you can still see and interact with each other. Your clients will just see and display different visual states of the area. Currently phasing involves visuals relating to npcs, appearances, decals and particles. Future implementations may involve physics or combat, but those are not currently supported.

You guys seriously rock.

Blizzard, as I'm sure you know, has being using a type of phasing in their flagship title, and one of the biggest issues I have with it is that a lot of the areas where phasing is employed, you can't see friends who are on a different section of that story. Love that it won't be an issue here.

Originally Posted by jwbarry

Phasing does not use layers. If you and your buddy are on different phasing states and are both in an area configured with phasing you can still see and interact with each other. Your clients will just see and display different visual states of the area. Currently phasing involves visuals relating to npcs, appearances, decals and particles. Future implementations may involve physics or combat, but those are not currently supported.

The concern I would have with physics/combat being involved with phasing would be it looking goofy to see someone in a different phase floating or fighting....nothing (would the mob exist for me if it was part of a different phase?). Could you heal the other player who is fighting their way through a different part of the story?

Man, that really re-defines the meaning of HoT...

Originally Posted by Seedly

The concern I would have with physics/combat being involved with phasing would be it looking goofy to see someone in a different phase floating or fighting....nothing (would the mob exist for me if it was part of a different phase?). Could you heal the other player who is fighting their way through a different part of the story?

Man, that really re-defines the meaning of HoT...

Maybe they'd have it so you'd see them fighting the mob they saw themselves fighting, but you couldn't engage in the fight because you were no longer in combat with that enemy (such as if you made friends with one of the two opposing factions in this coming expansion)? Or maybe they'd have it just cosmetic, looking to each person as if they were fighting something different (though that wouldn't be as interesting)?

Originally Posted by Seedly

The concern I would have with physics/combat being involved with phasing would be it looking goofy to see someone in a different phase floating or fighting....nothing (would the mob exist for me if it was part of a different phase?). Could you heal the other player who is fighting their way through a different part of the story?

I am guessing that if you cannot fight an enemy it will show as NPC to you but as Enemy to the other player. That way you can't attack him / he doesn't attack you but you can still see him fighting another players. It's like "hey, I don't know you, I don't have nothing against you" for you and "you're the one who killed my lieutenant!" for the other player.

At least that what I think it would be, but I'm no game designer, who knows.

Originally Posted by PashLeader

I LOVE the idea of this! The scouring of the shire becomes possible!

There are actually a lot of possibilities with this. Bree-land's construction sites being finished. Trestlebridge repaired from the ravages of war.

Instead of simply being told of how we helped, we can see how we've helped. That would be sweet.

I never thought about it being retroactively applied to other areas! Maybe we can do some quests to finally get Archet rebuilt!!

Originally Posted by DathKahRek

There are actually a lot of possibilities with this. Bree-land's construction sites being finished. Trestlebridge repaired from the ravages of war.

Instead of simply being told of how we helped, we can see how we've helped. That would be sweet.

It would be awesome if there would be possibilities to include this feature into the old areas of lotro.