Thread: LOTRO is in danger!!! save LOTRO TODAY (RIDDERMARK)

My dear dwarfs, elves, hobbits, and men,
about two years ago I quit LOTRO due to school and at the time LOTRO had a great community/ population; people were helpful and fellowships were everyday things. As I was bored over the summer the pull of LOTRO came back and I fell in love with Middle-Earth again and I decided to return. when I did I was SHOCKED to see that the population had greatly decreased. The forsaken Inn in the Lone-Lands had truly become FORSAKEN as well as other places which were once crowded with players!!! Even Bree town was empty. PLEASE, I play on Riddermark and if this is not true of the other servers then please tell me! How can it be that one of the greatest MMOs of all time is lagging in population??!?! in comparison with WoW we have a tiny amount of players!!!! My brothers. "I see in your eyes the future of a forsaken MMO. A day may come, when the epicness of LOTRO fails, when we forsake our beloved games, and break all bonds of role-playing. An hour of facebook, and shattered shields, when the Age of MMOs comes crashing down. But it is not this day, this day, we PLAY!!"
SPREAD the word!!! LOTRO is too awesome to become a forgotten game; spread the word and let the adventure go on!!!!
P.S. WHO'S EXITED ABOUT THE HOBBIT?

I play on Riddermark and doesn't seem so bad. Though I am definitely trying hard to get as many people as I can to play LOTRO.

Extremely excited for the hobbit btw.

What? Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!

There are a few things that contribute to your perception that there are no people around. I've noticed the same myself.

First of all, MANY players are now in the new areas, around Isengard and Stangard. This is especially so on the older servers, like Brandywine.

Second, the game has become heavily instanced. There might have been 1000 people in Bree when you were there, but just not in your instance. Similarly, a lot of people are just going to instanced skirmishes and the like, and rarely come out into the world anymore (which I warned against when they started instancing everything, but no one listens to me anymore...).

Third, depending on when you were online, there may just not have been many people around at that moment.

Of course, it could be that the population is diminishing, but I think it's more likely you just weren't in the right place at the right time, and that instancing hid everyone that was there.

Originally Posted by Nymphonic

What? Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!

Removed comment because of negative rep.

To be honest, a big part of why I play this game is because of the smaller community. I like how it feels (at least to me) more niche than all the other mmo's. I've never been a fan of mmo's and I only began to play this because of my incredible love for the books. I think if it got to WoW population status, I'd quit. It feels just right to me.

Originally Posted by Tiamo

(Psst... Japanese. The Japanese bombed Pearl...)

That was a quote from Animal House. You young 'uns don't study the classics nowadays... Aristotle, Catullus, John Belushi...

Your correct response was "Germans?" to which we could have answered "Forget it, he's rolling."

OP: I feel ya man, I wish we had a bigger population. Arkenstone is about medium size, but I really don't want this game to go under

Originally Posted by Tiamo

(Psst... Japanese. The Japanese bombed Pearl...)

Kids just don't know the classics.

As somebody who is on Riddermark, I can do naught but to confirm what the OP has said is becoming more and more true, esp. if you compare to a year ago. It keeps going steadily downward. Riddermark was one of the 'new' f2p servers -- there was never a stable base of subscribers beforehand.

I wouldn't say SW:TOR is the reason behind any of it. Everybody has their own individual reason to quit, if and when they do.

People move onto prettier things. New shineys. You may notice more activity following updates -- a lot of people play for just the storyline.

Originally Posted by Nymphonic

What? Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!

Nymphonic's right. Psychotic... but absolutely right.

But I've noticed I don't see many people while I'm questing on my server. Not even in towns. But it could be the reasons that were listed above.

Originally Posted by Nymphonic

What? Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!

Nym, if your tongue were any further into your cheek, it would be wriggling out your ear.

Ah I see. I'm no kid, it's just been 30 years since I saw that movie (or more)...

Number of players on Laurelin is smaller than last year. Perhaps it's because RoI brought a lot more interest, perhaps the Great River isn't as intriguing.
While 4-5 months ago it was near 600 players online on Laurelin each evening (European time), it's below 400 now. I can't say always but quite often. I do not play daily as I did for some time when RoI launched.

Still, plenty of people frolicing around Bree, Michel Delving, elsewhere. Playing pipes and smoking weed.

It is not up to us to save LotRO. It is up to Turbine and unfortunately they are reaping what they've sown.

Originally Posted by Nymphonic

Kids just don't know the classics.

I hear that James Cameron is working on the 3D version.




No, wait, I don't hear that.

As for Riddermark, it seems to be a time-and-place phenomenon. I've read other posts asking if the pop has gone way down, but just yesterday in Esteldin there wasn't room to swing a dead goblin in the crafting hall. Then six hours later Gloin's camp was positively swarming. Three of us queued up to kill and respawn Driftclaw, then another three groups did the same at Gashburz. So people are a) around, and b) grouping for quests. Reports of Riddermark's death "are greatly exaggerated."

(I am, if it might be relevant, on Japan time when I play, so what I see might not be entirely representative)

Originally Posted by Wingeman

I hear that James Cameron is working on the 3D version.

Please tell me you're joking. Animal House is a classic worthy of the Iliad.

Originally Posted by Nymphonic

What? Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!

Last time i checked history it were the japanese bombing Pearl Harbor >.>. And Lotro is not being forsaken at all, come play at Imladris plenty of people everywhere you go.

If LOTRO is truly in danger of losing serious pop numbers, the first step to combating it is to find out WHY people are leaving, and fix that, because bringing new people in who then might have the same issues the people who left did is bound to make things worse, isn't it?

Originally Posted by Nymphonic

Please tell me you're joking. Animal House is a classic worthy of the Iliad.

/titter mischievously

Yes, the "No, wait" line after was meant to calm fears that I might have been serious. But my mind's eye won't get off the "See if you can guess what I am now" scene's 3D potential.

Well yea SWTOR came out, GW2 is coming out, as well as they messing up the warden class a wee bit more....
The population is lowering quite quickly, about bree and the forsaken inn, most still active players will be around galtrev/stangard
Also many players transfered to BW....
As this game ages my prediction for the future will be merging servers.....as for myself....much depends on turbine...
Things that will affect my choice to keep playing this game:

1- RoR: if it's not as epic as it should be then(or if they truly mess up mounted combat)...well you will see many players leaving
2- Instances: how good will the instances be? mechanics etc....
3- The warden class: they messed up big time, there still messing up after 6months.....what the warden will be when RoR releases will bring a big influence on my playing, warden even tough i believe isn't as good as a guard in end-game raids(which is isen raids for me) and it's my favorite class....
4- What will my friends do? well i can tell you for sure, if i have almost all my friends leaving to other games, well then i doubt i will be staying long however most of my friends are linked to what i said above

As far as turbine goes, it takes years to build up a good reputacion, and it takes minutes to get destroyed.....
Up till now for some years(basically when F2P arrived) you've been neglecting what customers want....before they had no where else to go, now they can do SWTOR or GW2.....think about it before making some decisions....

MT

Originally Posted by LeonardoB

My dear dwarfs, elves, hobbits, and men,
about two years ago I quit LOTRO due to school and at the time LOTRO had a great community/ population; people were helpful and fellowships were everyday things. As I was bored over the summer the pull of LOTRO came back and I fell in love with Middle-Earth again and I decided to return. when I did I was SHOCKED to see that the population had greatly decreased. The forsaken Inn in the Lone-Lands had truly become FORSAKEN as well as other places which were once crowded with players!!! Even Bree town was empty. PLEASE, I play on Riddermark and if this is not true of the other servers then please tell me! How can it be that one of the greatest MMOs of all time is lagging in population??!?! in comparison with WoW we have a tiny amount of players!!!! My brothers. "I see in your eyes the future of a forsaken MMO. A day may come, when the epicness of LOTRO fails, when we forsake our beloved games, and break all bonds of role-playing. An hour of facebook, and shattered shields, when the Age of MMOs comes crashing down. But it is not this day, this day, we PLAY!!"
SPREAD the word!!! LOTRO is too awesome to become a forgotten game; spread the word and let the adventure go on!!!!
P.S. WHO'S EXITED ABOUT THE HOBBIT?

Well, saying that Riddermark launched about 1 1/2 years ago (and you left about two? years ago), you most likely left when the core of Riddermark's population was at a much lower level much closer to the launch of the server. It would be expected that the lower level zones would be much less populated than at the launch of a new server.

Originally Posted by Nymphonic

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!

Lmao this is why I love you lol

The majority of active players are at or around the level cap. It would surprise me more if I see Bree-land full of people these days, because I don't expect a huge influx of new players anytime soon.

Originally Posted by MTminas

Well yea SWTOR came out

And less than half a year after its launch, over 70% of their servers are lightly populated. They are having to resort to free weekends and price cuts already.

The other Factor is how fast people level up vs 5 years ago. Where people would stay in a area for weeks. Now it a few days. Because they out level the area. So we don't see as many people in Bree and lonelands and northdowns and so on.

Also with F2P. People look for areas that will help them the most.

I feel like I just got sucked into a Asterix comic. "The sky is FALLING!"

Relax. This is a great game, and there are reasons why you don't see so many running around. I was in Angmar on my alt and there was only 1 other person in the region online. Fret not. Because everybody is leveling up alts that were 65. Head to Galtrav, Isengard, Parth Celebrant and that's where the majority of players are.

Also since leveling up is so easy, most blast through Bree, Lone lands super fast. Also like others have said, a lot are in instances so they don't show up on your radar as to those who are anon.

I believe server pops go up and down, in any game for that matter. This is why updates, expansions are so important. To keep us going (well, me at least).

Chin up hero. You've got Mordor to assail yet!

Originally Posted by Nymphonic

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!

get your facts straight

Bree and Forsaken Inn are not good places to judge population. I can do all quests in a hub such as the Inn in a couple of hours - no reason for me to stay there longer. Besides, people level up rapidly - go visit Galtrev and Stangard and if those are empty, your server is indeed in trouble.

Besides, Bree-Land and Lone Lands are far from empty on Riddermark. I currently level another alt and see other people everywhere: Michel Delving, Barrow-Downs, Forsaken Inn, Ost Guruth, Esteldin Crafting Hall, Tinnundir - pretty much everywhere I go. Some of them wear Derudh Stone and are obviously someone's atls, other are definitely new judging by the question they ask in /Advice (and by the fact that they don't ask it in /GLFF). So no, the game is far from empty and dying, and neither is Riddermark.

The best part of this thread is how many posters are popping in to correct the WW2 reference. Honestly, who doesn't know that quote?

Originally Posted by kidnova78

The best part of this thread is how many posters are popping in to correct the WW2 reference. Honestly, who doesn't know that quote?

I'm guessing a LOT of people (both younger, and European) haven't seen the movie, so in that context, it just looks like bad history.

Originally Posted by jcmanda

I'm guessing a LOT of people (both younger, and European) haven't seen the movie, so in that context, it just looks like bad history.

Inconceivable!

Originally Posted by Roberto_the_First

Inconceivable!

You keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it means.

Anybody want a peanut?

Originally Posted by Obviously

Anybody want a peanut?

I want two

Originally Posted by Tiamo

(Psst... Japanese. The Japanese bombed Pearl...)

LOL! He was quoting John Belushi in the movie Animal House.

Just some personal observations...

I've played extensively on both Riddermark and Arkenstone...both were very populated at low levels upon launch, and much emptier by comparison in the lower levels later; quite understandable.

Attendance in game swells with new content...the Great River region was highly populated with the latest release, now it has tapppered off a tad.

I know of a few kins that have practically disappeared following the launch of SWTOR...I am hoping this is just a temporary thing. It's hard to judge the health of a server/game, but the only indicator I really have is new content, and the last new content in Lotro was awesome.

I think it's important we be given an experience in which our characters can room the lands without seeing scarely another character, as that gives a better feel for Middle Earth, for the immersive experience. To me, Turbine has done that and it is not an indicator of a dying server at all.

Originally Posted by Obviously

Anybody want a peanut?

Stop it! I mean it!

Originally Posted by VeryBeary

I know of a few kins that have practically disappeared following the launch of SWTOR...I am hoping this is just a temporary thing.

I think it is temporary, just like the drop when skyrim came out. People are distracted by new and shiny....

Squirrel!

Originally Posted by Tiamo

(Psst... Japanese. The Japanese bombed Pearl...)

Forget it, he's rolling

Originally Posted by jcmanda

I'm guessing a LOT of people (both younger, and European) haven't seen the movie, so in that context, it just looks like bad history.

Which is sad, Animal House is one of the 5 best comedies of all time. Anyone who has not seen it has denied themselves a basic building block of comedy (and movie history as well, for example Donald Sutherland was given the choice between a lump sum payment and the residuals from the movie profits, and he chose the lump sums in one of the all time bad choices made by any professional). Like not watching the Marx Brothers or Looney Toons