Thread: Troubled Dreams- Wonderful job Turbine

I don't want to spoil anyone but immediately as I started this part of the new epic, I was amazed. I just needed to say how much I appreciate it. It's an amazing start to the new epic(which I hope will continue on) and I find myself clinging to every word that is said.

Thank you for giving me something that reminds me of our past NPCs in a new and different way. It felt very much like a dream. Don't even know how to completely express myself and how much I loved it.

Yes, I ran this twice on the Bullroarer server, and I found it very engrossing.

In fact, I might say it's the best first chapter to a book I've played through.

Yes, I seldom post but dashed on here to start the thread if you hadn't...awesome start, the best yet of the instances with the Fellowship. Also compelled to post because of GLFF complaints about said dream...sigh....some folks just don't "get it."

Enjoy the new chapter!

A great chapter indeed. I particularly liked seeing the Fellowship again, now wearing the gifts of Galadriel; The elven cloaks, the new sheath for Andúril, Boromir's golden belt, to name a few.

Started the new epic yesterday and Troubled Dreams was just great, liked the atmosphere in the dream, running into the Fellowship and the other characters, thought it was a great set-up for whats to come.
I'm also liking the appearance of the new area-great visuals, from the landscape to the architecture, nice job so far Turbine!

I agree, great opening chapter. It's the continual effort to paint these characters as people and friends of my character that makes the epic quest so engaging. They contrast with the various NPCs met along the way who, however colorful, exist to give quests. The characters in the epic quest often take part of the journey with my character, and are the most engrossing part of the game. Nicely done.

I liked that they brought back Mordorith during the Golordir(sp?) segment.

I must say Turbine have blown me away with this Update. Great book, great region, Stangard is beyond a lot of the work we've seen lately in terms of how detailed it is. Hell, even the new instance is fun, albeit short.

If this is a preview for Rohan.... well. I can't wait to be honest.

I'd like to add a thank you to the story team for finding a way to include a touch-point to the main story without resorting to session play. I play my characters because it's my story, and I hate spending time mashing buttons in some session play character that I have no investment in. A nice tie-in to the main story, but still our characters doing our thing. Thank you.

Originally Posted by Macfeast

A great chapter indeed. I particularly liked seeing the Fellowship again, now wearing the gifts of Galadriel; The elven cloaks, the new sheath for Andúril, Boromir's golden belt, to name a few.

I agree. And it's this kind of attention to detail (the little boat in Gollum's cave and the bird's nest in the stone troll's ear being a couple of other examples) that makes the artwork they create in this game such a joy to behold.

Great work by the art/worldbuilding folks throughout this new area, and a nice job by MoL with the Epic book. Take a bow, guys. You deserve it.

By the way, OP, it's nice seeing a thread around here that isn't complaining about something. Thank you.

Visually stunning.

Lake Evendim. Loved that part. Eerie music and all.

The music was indeed amazing!

I was half expecting a quest "go fetch this" or "kill 10 orcs" but this was a very nice surprise,
and the beginning of a fantastic update! :-)

Adding my thanks as well. Sweet!

Credit where credit is due. U6 is a fine piece of work. I would say the first real quality work since Moria and what the subsequent landscape expansions should have been like. Applause in particular for Limlight George. Each expansion should feature a region where players get the chance to really test themselves and reap decent rewards. Having had my hunter hide handed to me by the first giant troll i tried I'm looking forward to going back and trying new builds and tactics.

So far the only real criticism I have is the lazy re-use of old templates for new armour and cloak pieces. When you get a story reward in the form of a cloak it should be unique - not an inappropriately coloured version of a low level craft item because by and large these are going to become cosmetic items. Either that or make the stats on them worthwhile or the bonuses interesting/specific enough for non-raiders to get some use out of (without out-competing with top range crafted items of course) in some circumstances.

Agreed! This instance was beautifully well done and I loved doing it. I was very invested in all the characters who appeared in this so I'll admit to becoming a little emotional - particularly at the Evendim part. One thing I liked was that when we approached Morflak he grew taller while we got kind of smaller-ish to enhance the "scary" feeling :P

Definitely one of THE most brilliantly written and designed quests....

I was so glad to finally feel the sort of attachment to the story that I had been missing since the whole Hidden Guard storyline.....sure there were nice moments like Candaith and Lothrandir's fate, but on the whole I missed this kind engrossing story.....thanks to all those who had a part in making this wonderful instance Especially the Lake Evendim part gave goosebumps....

I just got started and was instantly drawn in. Wonderful epic quest and the new region has a great look and feel. Thank you!

Epic questline is the main thing I always wait when new update comes, it's the story and stories that make this game feel "Middle-Earthish", and The Epic questline is the main story of them all.

And I was positively surprised how they nailed the first chapter and the deam. It didn't only look like dream (I really haven't thought about it before, but yeah, this is the general feeling how dreams "look" to me as well), it also FELT like a dream.

I enjoyed the whole Book, like always. But I think this time I enjoyed even more than usual for since a long long time.

Heh, when the sad day comes when devs have created The Last Chapter to this game (I really hope we have to wait for that for a long time still!), I hope I could create a max level character just for story-telling purposes and I could then play ALL the Epic books starting from Volume 1, Book 1 prologue and progressing to that Last Chapter That way I could experience the whole story like an interactive book without having to wait few months after each Book

Am I the only one who find weird to get invited by Grimbold to go sleep ? Who knows what he had in mind and done while we were sleepy...


Anyway, the quest was intriguing and interesting. The dream effect in there looked better than DDO's dream effect..

Finished this last night...Incredible! Well done! Congrats to everyone involved in creating this. Can't wait to see the rest of the expansion.

Agreed, a fine job.

Mild spolilers....

















And after the dream....when you go to Lothlorien to visit Galadriel...

Anyone else have the urge to go hug Gandalf when he shows up?

Originally Posted by Macfeast

Boromir is played by Beau Bridges in this production.



Who knew!?!?

Originally Posted by Dotlbeme

Agreed, a fine job.

Mild spolilers....

















And after the dream....when you go to Lothlorien to visit Galadriel...

Anyone else have the urge to go hug Gandalf when he shows up?

Haha I did. :P

I'm glad you liked it, everybody! I've been looking forward to putting this one together for a really long time -- the opportunity to get a little wacky with the visuals and to bring in characters we maybe haven't seen for awhile was pretty enticing. It let me get my inner indie art-house film lover on too, in some areas. Poor Gwindeth.

MoL

Originally Posted by MadeOfLions

I'm glad you liked it, everybody! I've been looking forward to putting this one together for a really long time -- the opportunity to get a little wacky with the visuals and to bring in characters we maybe haven't seen for awhile was pretty enticing. It let me get my inner indie art-house film lover on too, in some areas. Poor Gwindeth.

MoL

The wait was very much worthwhile, top marks for this instance. I'd also like to say a bit thanks to everyone else involved in making this update, the landscapes, artwork and feel of the place are excellent; it's lovely to be able to post and praise again

WOW that is EXACTLY what I did! BUt I always kiss Aragorn when I run into HIM...

Originally Posted by Dotlbeme

Agreed, a fine job.

Mild spolilers....

















And after the dream....when you go to Lothlorien to visit Galadriel...

Anyone else have the urge to go hug Gandalf when he shows up?

The first chapter instantly piqued my interest. Very solid start to a book.

On the other hand, the last chapter was absolutely anticlimactic to me. Our characters have had run ins with the Nazgul before, on multiple occasions. We know what they are. We have seen before what a Morgul blade wound can do. Yet we still don't hesitate to leave Nona alone with a Nazgul skulking around.

Plot device and all, but it's disappointing when it's us that do the stupid thing to advance the plot. I guess we had to take that role after the rangers left.

Indeed very well done, one of the best yet. It brought out quite a feeling of nostalgia and made me realize just how attached I am to those Rangers. Honestly just seeing Candaith again brought on the tears!

Originally Posted by MorningStarSE

Am I the only one who find weird to get invited by Grimbold to go sleep ? Who knows what he had in mind and done while we were sleepy...

Yes, I think it was only you. Yeah, sleep can be a euphamism for sex, but it's also a description of something you do nearly every day of your life, and that certainly doesn't describe sex.

Originally Posted by MoonwalkIntoMordor

The first chapter instantly piqued my interest. Very solid start to a book.

On the other hand, the last chapter was absolutely anticlimactic to me.

Spoiler tags for crying out loud! Jeez.

Originally Posted by Kongas

Spoiler tags for crying out loud! Jeez.

Calm down. As apparent from the title, this is a thread about the new book. If you are that irked by spoilers, you shouldn't even wander in.

Oh, and I didn't know we had spoiler tags anyway.

I am loving this so far thank you very much for what is shaping up to be a well thought out and produced chapter.

I would echo the appeal for spoiler tags though please, I am by no means all the way through yet.

Originally Posted by MadeOfLions

Poor Gwindeth.

Yes, it was nice to see a little update in the Calenglad/Blue Lady star-crossed romance. I didn't know she cared. I'm still waiting to see what awful fate you have awaiting Calenglad.

BTW, Candaith looked pretty good for a dead guy. I should be so fortunate.

Originally Posted by MoonwalkIntoMordor

Calm down. As apparent from the title, this is a thread about the new book. If you are that irked by spoilers, you shouldn't even wander in.

Oh, and I didn't know we had spoiler tags anyway.

No. It is not our job to second guess people who don't know how to use a forum. Threads that contain spoilers or expect to note that in the thread title (Warning: Contains Spoilers). If there are no warnings it is YOUR responsibility to NOT post spoilers outside of spoiler tags.

This has been common practice on this and every other game forum in the universe for many years.

<spoilers>

--i wanted to hug Morflak -- then he grew all big and scary.
--i wanted to slap Candaith -- stupid, stupid, ranger.
--i felt bad for Gwinny -- ah, the pulls of the heart
--i felt REALLY bad for Lothrandier -- still gets my vote for best ranger (at least not stupid)
--i cheered a little upon seeing the fellowship -- for what is clearly one last time!

Overall -- definately epic thumbs up for an amazing story, good recap, and nice transition. I was concerned it would work...and I think it did. Awesome Job!

Well done! What a great idea for an instance, and very much in the spirit of the book. The only fly in the ointment for me was that one of the area transitions in the instance crashed my client (similar to how going from Galtrev -> auction house often crashed my client in the first days after RoI). I guess, having started in Galtrev before porting to Grimbold's camp, my client ran out of memory or something...

Originally Posted by MadeOfLions

I'm glad you liked it, everybody! I've been looking forward to putting this one together for a really long time -- the opportunity to get a little wacky with the visuals and to bring in characters we maybe haven't seen for awhile was pretty enticing. It let me get my inner indie art-house film lover on too, in some areas. Poor Gwindeth.

MoL

Originally Posted by twittfounder

--i cheered a little upon seeing the fellowship -- for what is clearly one last ti me

Why? What version of the story have you read?

I agree, I love the whole book but the opening chapter is particularly good. Had I been told ahead of time 'you have a dream' I'd have thought it sounded silly, but it was done so very well.

Originally Posted by Opticals

Yes, I think it was only you. Yeah, sleep can be a euphamism for sex, but it's also a description of something you do nearly every day of your life, and that certainly doesn't describe sex.

Obligatory XKCD:
http://xkcd.com/203/

Originally Posted by Lilka

Why? What version of the story have you read?

I agree, I love the whole book but the opening chapter is particularly good. Had I been told ahead of time 'you have a dream' I'd have thought it sounded silly, but it was done so very well.

I assume he means before the breaking of the fellowship