Thread: Taunting New Player

I posted this in the F2P forum too....but it's more appropriate for this forum.

I admire this game for its creativity, artwork, challenges, community, etc. It's a wonderful experience overall. I will continue to play as long as I'm interested.

You get your bad apples once in a while, though, which makes it challenging for a new player to feel comfortable and safe around more experienced players. I had an encounter playing with somebody who was a much higher level than I. We were doing a skirmish together, and it was just the two of us. This player did not have any sense to help me through the instance...there was no leadership at all. Now, I voiced this to him, after he led me into a den of skeletons and I basically got decapitated in a second....as he continued bashing their skulls in for the sake of bashing. I really wasn't impressed and I let him know that I required some direction, as I hadn't done many skirmishes so far.

The reaction I received from him was unbelievable. It was a pointing finger, and laughter. I said "ok,,, now that's getting rude". And he continued his merciless taunts after the fact. It was so childish....I was laughing to myself inside and thinking "are you for real?". Do you not have any common sense at all to realize that you are unable to create a solution....so you resort to teasing another player? Oh....my....goodness!

I am wary of accepting just any request to join a fellowship now. I will only do skirmishes with my kinfolk at the moment, and/or friends that I know will be courteous and helpful throughout the whole thing. This idiot just wanted a quick dash through some skirmish he's probably done a hundred times by himself....which is why he lacks clear leadership and strategy of group work. The guy was a one-man-show.....and I really can't help but pity him for lacking the insight. He will probably level up to 75.....thinking he is master over the universe......and continue scorning those below him who don't 'dash' through skirmishes like lightening speed, and without clear communication to his team-mates.

I am very sure many new players have come across jerks like these. It is very difficult to regain morale in the game. I find it troublesome sometimes to level up and you have to rely on complete strangers, whose awful personalities come out when they are asked to question themselves.

Overall, I have met great people on LOTRO who are helpful and decent. I don't understand why some players are not so understanding. I guess I'll never know. In retrospect, I should have just left the Fellowship quietly and let him finish the skirm on his own.

If anyone has sound feedback or encouragement....please respond to this post. I don't want to have a lingering feeling of disappointment. Thank you.

Sounds like a bad experience - and if I were you, I'd chalk it up to a learning experience.

Your comments about fellowing with kinmembers is right on the money. That is, of course, if your kinfolk are helpful and patient with new or lower level play. If you're not in a good kinship, don't feel obligated to stick around - find a better one for your needs. PUGs (pick-up groups) are notoriously hit or miss for getting teamwork - that makes it worthwhile to get into a good, supportive kinship and developing a good 'Friends' list of players with whom you can run fellowships.

Don't get discouraged! This is a great game with a lot of good players! Follow my advice in the previous paragraph and you'll do well.

Good luck,

Fara

I have to say I had similar things happen to me when I began playing this game...It was the first MMO I'd really played, and felt much the same as you do. It stinks when that happens, but at the same time, you don't want to let one brat ruin the game for you. There are genuinely nice people out there, I'm sure in all the servers.

I would agree to Fara on sticking with your kinship for runs and ask questions whenever you have them, how else will you learn some of the harder stuff?

But definitely don't feel obligated to stay in your current kin if you feel you are not getting the help you need or the respect you need. Hope to see you around in the game Good hunting, and glad to see you trying out LOTRO.

Seems you got the bad apple in the basket. And it's just that. If I were you I would take it out (put on ignore), forget it ever existed and focus on the rest. A guy/girl like that isn't worth you feeling bad. Most players I came across are nice and helpful, or simply mind their own business. Mean spirited or egocentrically players in my experiences are greatly outnumbered by them. It's themselves in the end who they will have made it hardest on... as who would want to group with a guy/girl like that more then once? So keep hope and you will find people who are fun to group with.
As for the situation you were in. I myself would have been tempted to give him a warning, then leave if he insisted on being rude and basically mean and no fun. Let him do it solo then... he already was it seemed. You can do better things with your time then suffering that player.

If I could hug each and every one of you who responded to my post.....I literally would. You guys are.....awesome.

This is the community I love in LOTRO. You guys are part of the thread that holds this beautiful tapestry together. Which is why I am more resolved to stay. Thanks for the helpful feedback, and most importantly the validation.

For the record, I have only joined a kinship a couple of weeks ago. I am slowly becoming comfortable with getting to know everyone. My leader is a master trainer with new gamers. He takes time out of his own gaming to assist new players with learning their role in a skirmish/instance. He walks you through the whole thing, pausing to make sure you're ready to continue, and also to educate you about what will come next. I couldn't be happier with a leader like mine. And I am not just pumping up accolades out of thin air. His leadership is key to creating a solid kinship, and I have noticed how devoted he is to training his kin members. It seems he has a lot of wisdom too with recruiting. So, I have full faith in my leadership, which I am sure will transcend to the kinship members.

I am slowly growing a list of friends too, to game with, and also converse with while I travel Middle Earth. It does get lonely sometimes when you don't know anybody, but that is slowly changing.

I will keep to my kinfolk and friends for future skirms/instances/raids. Thanks again for EVERYONE's help and guidance. Long live LOTRO!

Good day friend.
On behalf of the (reasonable) LOTRO community, I wish to apologize for the behaviour of that person. Community needs to stick together and help one another whenever possible.

Personally, I've had some bad experiences as well in those random fellowships, but as most people have mentioned, it really is hit and miss at times. Some people with more time/money than brains tend to abuse the newer players in whatever fashion their whims lead them. Sorry you were victim to this.

There are a lot of good Kinships, but remember, there are nasties in those as well. I hope you've managed to hook up with a good group - sounds promising so far from your message.

Cheers, and good luck in future fellowships.