Thread: Would you play if this wasn't Lord of the Rings?

Originally Posted by Bell22

For me personally, I would not continue to play this game if it wasn't Lord of the Rings. Would you still play if it wasn't?

Since approx. one year i have say a clear and big: NO.

Regards
CA

No I would not play this game if it wasn't LOTR based.

I played one other game (A Tale in the Desert) before trying LOTRO and have been doing LOTRO exclusively for nearly 5 years (lifer and founder here). But because of the changes WB/T have made, this game is way less LOTR than previously and I have been trying out other games now.

I tried SWTOR but no longer play because of their PVP-Everywhere even when you are on a PVE server and have the PVP-flag off fiasco. If they get that fixed I would go back.

I have also gone back to A Tale in the Desert v6 (atitd.com) and I enjoy that way more now that some changes happened to make it easier to play.

I am also currently playing Tera but won't continue long with it as Im not a fan of anime.

So, Turbine can congratulate themselves on their changes that have me shoveling $$ at other game makers and have broadened my game experience at the same time.

Originally Posted by manstan

Yes.

Now for the kicker, I'd enjoy the game more if it wasn't so plot centric. I read the tolken books years ago; probably before a lot of you were born. Through me in to a sword and sorcery reading spiral; all I read for years. But making an FRPG to follow a book series means being limited to that series, as in you are already bound and working in a box from the get go.

Of coarse then you have WOW which seems to be a conglomerate, sort of the dark ages meets steam punk. I about quit the first time I saw a helicopter, then I saw a motorcycle, then I quit.

Perhaps not - the books weren't around when I was born

The lore is pretty important to me, but not so that I get too upset if small changes are made to keep the game fun, what constitutes 'small' differs for all of us of course, as witnessed by the thread on entry into Lorien.

I like tracking the fellowship, while still charting our own path - hope to see us break out into the 4th age if the game lasts that long.

This is easy: NO, I would not play this game if it wasn't about Lord of the Rings and Tolkien's world.

Back in the days I got bored with EQ2 and tried WoW for a while, but went back to EQ2 after reading enough of that "Barrens chat". But I couldn't wait that they launch LOTRO, the game where you could "achieve everything either by solo or group" (as the advertising was back then), and that was another BIG plus for me, in addition to the fact that it was Lord of the Rings.

I have been playing almost daily from that first pre-access day in April 13th 2007 to today, but for the past few years I have been watching how "the big picture" of this game is leaning more and more towards grouping and instances, and soloers only get the leftovers, if even that. The leveling process is mainly solo, but when you hit the level cap, then it's all about grouping and instances. So that's literally an "end-game" for soloers. I just wish they scaled those instances to solo as well (with needed alterations) so we could have something to do as well.

But because the things are as they are, I have less and less interest playing this game, which is very sad, as I LOVE the environment and the Epic story. The only thing that keeps me here is that the game is about LOTR and I am lifetimer: If I wasn't lifetimer, I would have stopped paying monthly fees, and would maybe pay for one month again when they release next Epic Book (and something else as well). But if I wasn't lifetimer AND this wasn't LOTR, I would have been gone long by now.

Originally Posted by Nymphonic

This is me in a nutshell. Lord of the Rings is why I'm here.

But to be fair, I don't like any MMOs unless I enjoy the IP. I started with Ultima Online in 1999 because I loved the Ultima games. Then Star Wars Galaxies after that, and then on to World of Warfcraft because I enjoyed Warcraft Orcs and Humans and Warcraft 2.

if you ask me I'd say Warcraft III is the best

If this wasnt based on Lord of the Rings I'd be gone before you knew it.
why? there are a lot of awesome games and I stick to the ones with lore I like.

I think I would stop playing this if it wasn't for it being LotR. The game itself has a few too many frustrations, which are just about coutered by the lore and the story at the moment.

Originally Posted by Meneliel

No. I'm here to wander around a virtual version of Middle-Earth.

YES! I care nothing about questing and getting loot. To this day I still admire the sights, read the quests, and smell the roses. I live for sneaking pies and mail bags past hungry and nosey Hobbits. I still wander around Caras Galadhon in Lothlorien. Just last week I went back to Moria on my 75 guard because the mobs were grey and stood on the edge of the Bridge of Khazad Dum and thought about the fact that this is where it happened, Gandalf faced the Balrog.

That same night I went to the Foundation of Stone to see his hat.

So as I said on the 2nd or 3rd page, no, I would not be here if it was not Lord of the Rings. But it is and I love being part of that epic story.

And I'm lifetime to boot. You can't beat that with a stick!

Originally Posted by Witch0King

if you ask me I'd say Warcraft III is the best

I could not get into it, it seemed too streamlined.

I started play lotro 3 years ago. Took lifetime sub from first day. Had just left another mmo game. Choosing lotro was easy: red the books 4-5 times, I love the story and all the wisdom and all the lore within Tolkiens masterpiece. This is the main reason why i play Lotro.

If i had not lifetime sub i would have bailed out about a year ago as the new business driven commercialisation started. I do not like F2P that turbine has introduced to the game regardless of any well/ill founded business reasons. End game is no winner here; its very basic and . Its unfair since u can buy ur way a good piece of the road. This game has - imo - entered a commercial spiral of decay that i regret but it doesnt change my basic love for Tolkiens epic story behind and that is the only reason i'm still here (well and friends ive met ingame).

When i leave this game, i will not join any new mmo game since the f2p style is spreading and I simply dislike that style. I will turn fully to strategic games like Hearts Of Iron series that ive played up and down for like 10 years now when not playing mmo. HOI3 is a fantastic strategy game, its cheap, free of commercials, very complicated and educating

Personally: NO
Turbine is lucky to have LOTR as a base for this game, otherwise many would have left already or this game would already be dead.
Tough atm i'm feeling that even with the LOTR base the recent desisions made are wanting me to quit this game regardless of it being based on LOTR.
So for me, this is turbine's last chance, if RoR turns out to be epic then i'm very certain i will keep playing this game for many more months, however, if RoR fails drasticly(like in my opinion isengard did NOTE: talking questing, area etc, not the 5-10% involving raids since i loved draigoch) Then i believe with the mix of DBIII and GW2 this game will take a big blow....one they may not recover off, i hope for it to be diffrent as i'd love to see rohan

MT

Originally Posted by Epac

I will turn fully to strategic games like Hearts Of Iron series that ive played up and down for like 10 years now when not playing mmo. HOI3 is a fantastic strategy game, its cheap, free of commercials, very complicated and educating

I'm playing Europa Universalis III. I am playing Portugal and I have no clue of what I'm doing lol!

I've been a Tolkien fan for decades. Yes, since the sixties when my Dad bought home the very expensive hardbacks from the UK. (I had a dayglo poster of Legolas in my room-Tolkien was part of the whole hippie alternative meme). I played a few paper and dice games (D&D, Shadowrun) in the last century. I also played in a few text based internet games/worlds (remember Tin, Pine, Elm, MOOs, MUDs and Mushes anyone?) but slow dial ups prevented me from investigating anything other than text based stuff. I also tried a few old computer games-simcity in its first incarnation, Age of Empires, Theme-whatever, stuff my mates lent me- and decided computer games weren't for me. I'd get bored. (I preferred reading, writing, photography, and talking and playing music with friends.) But I had never played an MMO.

A couple of years ago, when my internet got up to speed, i downloaded a few free trial games and tried second life (all of which bored me) but in the process I discovered LOTRO just as it became free to play. So I downloaded it because it was Tolkien (a bit warily-because I'm such a Tolkien fan) and got hooked! As newbie to these types of games, the complexity of LOTRO still has me wide eyed-crafting! costumes! roleplaying! the stories! heroic fighting and now raiding. But mostly I love the lore references and Middle Earth. The world looks as I imagined it when I read Lord of the Rings for the first time aged 10 (took me 6 months!).

So, no-I would never have played an MMO if it weren't for Tolkien. And despite the issues with some of the changes since then (and the grind as I've progressed) I'm still here most days. The longest I've committed to anything really. LOL

Without it being LOTR, I wouldn't have even considered it. I've been reading the books for over 20 years, so the chance to be in Middle Earth, walk around and sightsee areas I read about just couldn't be passed up.

Sure there are issues, some that really bug me, but so far no other MMO has managed to spark enough of an interest to make me leave LOTRO.

In my case, I am no big LotR fan. I saw the movies, end of story. I am more a Star Wars fan, used to play SWG for years. I have no big ties to elves and dwarves, find the whole 60s flowerpower elves feeling rather amusing.

My girlfriend however was already Lotro player when I met her and she wanted to show it to me.
So at some point I gave it a try and I stayed here.
I think the LotR setting is nice, but I don't give a d*** about the fate of the rangers or about certain Gandalf events.

I like good gameplay and good stories and the authors of LotRO did a good job here. Some quests are plain stupid, but some are real jewels (the new low level Turtle quest is brilliant).


I am glad the game is not tied closely to the books story line, that it has it's own story. I consider it more "Middle Earth Online". I like games with a "realistic" look, Lotro is a game with a more serious background then most other fantasy MMOs, it's not so psychedelic.

So yep, I would stay if it was not LotR, but still had this style.

I have played Guild Wars for 3 years before coming to LotRO. I have been a Tolkien fan for many, many years now and running around in Middle-Earth in the footsteps of the Heroes of the Ringwar was breathtaking; as is the landscape and the overall atmosphere of the game. Turbine really did a job here and the landscape artists know their toolbox. I also like all those nice and small lore details that have got something to do with Middle-Earth in general but not so much with the Ring War itself.

I remember those "Strange Flowers", a quest reward in the Shire with some Agility on it. But the text read like "Found by Hamfast Gamgee, who said he once saw a moving tree across the North Moors." Or something like that... I still have those flowers in my home chest.
Those things make up the difference I am looking for, and because of those things I still play the game - however unhappy one might be with gameplay mechanics, bugs etc.

Originally Posted by RKL

I probably would have never played any Multi Player Game if not for it being the LOTR.

QFT 10char

No I would never install this if it wasn't Tolkien based. Only because of my addiction to Middle-earth did I manage to spend 4 years grinding and alting. Now for the past 1-1.5 years I barely ever logged in every few months or so (like now). Not even the lore can keep me interested for long anymore.

This is kind of a silly scenario if you ask me. If this wasn't Lord of the Rings Online then what would it be? How could Turbine make LOTRO without any of the source material? A generic game based on The Lord of the Rings but not really? In stead of helping Frodo and Gandalf the Grey destroy the Ring of Power would we be helping Frudu and Gandar the Puce destroy the Bracelet of Awesomeness instead?

This thread seems like just another Turbine complaint thread. At least you came up with a semi-creative way to foster complaints.

Yes.

i came to LOTRO, not for the lore, but for the game-play.

LOTRO *had* the rep as being the hardest MMO at the time and was also called "the MMOer's MMO" by some major publication and that caught my eye.

when i came:

-No plug-ins (especially no quest trackers) to tell me when to use a potion or when/where to move in raids. i HATED that in other games.

-No quest tracker! you had to read the quest decriptions carefully and find where you needed to go.

-great leveling pace. this game was perfect until vol2. book 7 and the xp changes.


most everything that HOOKED me on this game is gone... but i did buy a lifetime account and keep playing because now im married and broke!

Absolutely not. I tried DDO because of the D&D-based mechanics (which I prefer to LotRO's) but the fiction sucks, so I quit. I'm willing to put with less-than-optimal mechanics for the opportunity to run around in a reasonable copy of Middle Earth.

I wouldn't, no. The only thing this game has going for it, IMO, is the world of Middle Earth, the LOTR story, and the lovely graphics. I love the LOTR story, which is why I've played as long as I have.

Most every other aspect of this game, I don't like. I dislike the boring, same few things every time, time-sink quality of the questing here. For me, if you've done a handful of quests, you've done them all. I dislike the repetitive legendary grind. I am bored with the incessant deeding and reputation grinding. I'm tired of the seals/medallion gear grind and the imbalanced PvP in the Moors. I'm tired of how difficult it is to maintain crafting alts due to the reputation-gating of recipes. I'm tired of the broken holy trinity concept because I'm tired of sitting around waiting for a healer or tank before I can do any group instances. I'm tired of resource nodes that can be stolen, quest bosses that can be stolen, and a game that is increasingly built around easing the pain that is being designed into it by buying things to make it all easier in the LOTRO Store.

Honestly, I've recently canceled my VIP sub because I'm not going to be playing this as my primary MMO any longer. I can play free and still do what little content in the years to come that interests me - namely the epic story line, however if they make it so I can't do that in my crafted gear and with a third-age legendary without grinding reputation and deeds, then I won't even come back for that. I'll read Tolkien's books instead for my Middle Earth fix.

I'm ready to play an MMO like Guild Wars 2, even though it's not the terrific LOTR story, because I'd like to play a game that realizes that some of the standard MMO fare, such as gear and reputation grinding, is not really fun for many players.

Originally Posted by Bell22

For me personally, I would not continue to play this game if it wasn't Lord of the Rings. I think this game being based on LOTR gives a nice touch. The only reason I play and continue to do so is because its LORD OF THE RINGS!!!!!!!! Would you still play if it wasn't?

I certainly wouldn't play it if it's not LOTR. However i don't know what game would i play then. May be just single RPGs.

Nope. I followed it during development because it was Lord of the Rings. I never would have met a ton of good friends I have now, and might not even be playing MMOs at all, since this game is what brought me into that larger community. In fact, going back all these years, my life would be shockingly different if this hadn't been a LOTR game and I hadn't started playing it.

No

/moarcharz

Originally Posted by Bell22

For me personally, I would not continue to play this game if it wasn't Lord of the Rings. I think this game being based on LOTR gives a nice touch. The only reason I play and continue to do so is because its LORD OF THE RINGS!!!!!!!! Would you still play if it wasn't?

Probably not.

Not so much because I'm so attached to the LORD OF THE RINGS!!!! but the fact that this is a licensed lore property. That means Turbine is greatly restricted from watering it down too much and ruining the spirit of the game for the sake of a quick buck. And before I hear complaints about RKs, I would like to point out that LOTRO is still fundamentally the same game as in 2007, lore-wise, compared to something like WoW, which has degraded horribly in that respect.

No.

I played a browser based game for just over 4 years called, 'Kingdom of Loathing.' I got burned out from staring at the stark white screen for more than 2 hours daily and the fact that there really wasn't an option to play with other players in a legitimate sense. It was mostly a single player, turn based game. I got hooked because I got in with a mostly adult kin of really hilarious and fun to hang with individuals. Most of my enjoyment was just hanging and chatting with them.

So I was looking for more and tried MO:UL, (Myst Online Uru Live.) Beautiful game, but utterly tanked in giving a dynamic MMO experience and it naturally sunk, (no longer playable online.) A ton of folk on their forums said they were migrating to Lord of the Rings Online. So I followed.

Had the said, "we are going to WoW, or Warhammer online, or Age of Conan, or Pirates of the Burning Sea..." I would have waved good-bye right there.

The fact it was Lord of the Rings themed was enough to get me to check it out. Ironically prior to playing the game, I'd seen Peter Jacksons Movies, (and the 1978 cartoon) but hadn't read the books. Now I've read the hobbit & Trilogy, plus some of the extended works published by the heir, including the Silmarillion. I wonder if that certain heir knew it was this game that got me to actually delve into the literature; perhaps he'd take that stick out his...

Anyway, if this wasn't Lord of the Rings, I wouldn't be here.

I've considered SWTOR for the single player storylines, but I knew it would fall short on delivering the MMO experience (because it straight up copied WoW in that regard & I hate WoW.) I also got a tad interested in DC Universe, but not enough to actually play it.

As it stands now, GW2 is the only MMO event on the horizon that actually has a legitimate chance of pulling my focus away from Lotro.

As long as they craft THIS game with the love and care it deserves and honor the world Tolkien penned, not just give it lip service... I'll be here in some form. But if it wasn't Lotro, no I most certainly would never have even tried it, let alone stayed.

In short, the only reason I play this at all is because it's based on Lord Of The Rings!

As many people have already shared I am exactly the same. Being LOTR themed was the reason I first started playing back in open beta and I was instantly hooked. It was my first MMO as I used to play first player shooters before this. At the time I purchase the lifetime membership option and havent regretted it. I have had many good times in this game and overall my experince in this game has been very postive.

Currently, I'm of 2 minds about the game. I really loved update 6 (The Great River area and supporting quests) and the anniversary event. I still think this game has the best community of any game that Ive played. (I have tried a few of those other games and the constant trolling in the chat channels gets a bit tiring after a while). Lately I have been enjoying the moors again after a 2 year break from it.

However I have been very disappointed with the latest update (Update 7) and the big focus this game has taken towards the Turbine Store since going F2P. As someone else mention the turbine store seems to be going in a big spiral downwards with no regard to its customers for the long run.

The grind for the so called 'perfect' legandary weapon is annoying also. I spent this weekend grinding countless t2/t3 solo skimishes, cleared OT T1, Draigoch runs, Foundry, RoF and School/Libary runs in the hopes of seeing crystals drops and for all my efforts didnt see one crystal. Added to that in 6months all our weapons/crystals/relics will be replaced by new ones when the expansion comes out when we hit 85. Ive made the decision not to worry about focusing on getting the perfect weapon and will be happy with with what I have now. Im glad that crystals are not requirements to raid or do content.

If I wasnt a founder, I doubt I would pay a regular sub so I am thankful for my lifetime account

followed friends had little to do with the theme

more about game play considerations

No. I would not.

Hmm difficult to answer this question but the main reason i came to this MMO is because of the LOTR license

Being based on Lord of the Rings got me here but the game and the community are what will keep me here. I enjoy the game even with the bugs that occur. It is such a wonderful place to explore and spend some time

Good question OP. If it wasn't Lord of the Rings I never would have started playing it. As to continue playing I would occassionally but for the social aspects/friends I've made instead of quests/exploring. Good thing about lifetime is always being able to take a break and come back. Those away periods would get longer the farther away from Tolkien the game becomes.

Originally Posted by Calta

I've been a Tolkien fan for decades. Yes, since the sixties when my Dad bought home the very expensive hardbacks from the UK. (I had a dayglo poster of Legolas in my room-Tolkien was part of the whole hippie alternative meme).

Yep, those were the days. ”Frodo Lives” was scrawled all over the place.

“the words of the prophets are written on the subway walls, and tenement halls”

I played Guild Wars before playing LOTRO.

The Lord of The Rings theme did get me to try this game, and found the game is good and something I can afford to play. If this was not it, I may have not tried it.

I would not have started playing but for the LotR connection.

However, if everything else were the same - the low-fantasy setting, the relatively simple combat mechanics, the overall mood, etc. - I would probably continue to play at least intermittently, assuming I had started for some reason.

I started playing because it's Middle-earth and I enjoy the setting. I continued playing because I enjoy the game. I play avidly and regularly because I still enjoy both.

im really surprised by all the "no" answers.

i thought itd be more 50-50.

you guys love your LOTR; right on!



fun thread and a good read. thanks!

It's hard to say. While I love the fact that I can run around in Middle-earth, being a huge LOTR fan, I also am really fond of the game itself. If I was able to keep my characters and their style then yes I would still play I think.

No, probably not. I joined solely for the LOTR aspect. I have 4 characters and have been playing since late 2010, and have never hit the level cap, and probably never will. I ignore what is apparently the biggest problem with the game, the store, and use it only for the occasional quest pack.

I continue playing for the environment, for the chance to walk around in a virtual Middle Earth. To drink an ale at the Prancing Pony. To run silly pies around the Shire for the helpless halflings. To stand at the brink of the Bridge of Khazad-dum and to view the shipwreck of Arvedui. As long as they continue to develop this version of Middle Earth as they have in the past, I will play.