Thread: Riders of Rohan Community Q&A with Aaron "Rowan" Campbell Discussion

Looking for answers to some of your questions regarding Riders of Rohan? Check out this Q&A with Aaron "Rowan" Campbell and post your comments here!

Looks good...but I still want to know if the instance cluster is included in the pre-order bundle or not.

Also, those skill changes you teased look awesome! S&S as a non-legendary passive would be freaking sweet! *crossing my fingers this one makes the cut*

Well the new "endgame" sounds kind of interesting I guess, but I don't think fishing is going to keep anyone interested for very long.

I want know about the new gears. It will be an "upgrate" in the Orthanc Sets? Everybody work harder to take the sets, and now it will be like the Moria set for a level 75 player.

Hum .

making Sword and Staff a passive skill for Lore-masters at level 40

Hum .

Are there currently any new legendary skills in the works?

We may have some tweaks and upgrades, but have no plans for new legendary skills.

So I assume that what you mean is new Legendary Traits will / might change / add something but no new skills .

Am I right ?

Or are LMs going to have 1 less LT compared to the rest of classes ( unlikely ) ?

I must add that with the large amount of threads at the LM subforum asking for a much needed class update , this is dissapointing .

I just cross my fingers and pray for not having another Mirkwood Skill Update ( ha ha ) fiasco .

Where is now my "incredigood" Ancient Knowledge of Cures ?

Who bothers at all with the subpar Continual Air-Lore ?

Just saying .

Again, you are not telling what lot of players asked... are those instances free if you pre-order? Or they are going to be sold separately?

(I'm not complaining... I just want to know, and maybe you could give some more info? n_n)

I am not spending one more cent until the question is answered about the instance cluster....IS IT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE ROR EXPANSION? It is not a hard question....Yes or No!

OMG are we AT LEAST going to get more scaled instances???

...with new Fishing quests...

You should have said in the announcement there would be end game fishing quests, now it certainly sounds awesome...

Lets try this again..

1. Will the planned instance cluster be included with the expansion purchase?
2. What are the non-free parts of this expansion?
3. What are the costs planned for the 2 mounted-combat trait lines?
4. Are these trait lines purchased account wide or per character? (and what is their expected cost.)

5. Are these group encounters 'free'. (Warband/mounted combat encounters...)

You guys are like politicians. Can you answer the questions everyone wants to know? As everyone else has asked multiple times, Are the new instances included with the ROR preorder or not?

Originally Posted by Jonin

You guys are like politicians. Can you answer the questions everyone wants to know? As everyone else has asked multiple times, Are the new instances included with the ROR preorder or not?

Pretty obvious now that the answer is no, or they would have told us by now.

Originally Posted by nolins12

Pretty obvious now that the answer is no, or they would have told us by now.

Yea it seems that way. I want to know then what my 40$ is getting me. They are charging me more than previous expansions and I don't seem to be getting as much.Where is the justified increase in cost? I'm sorry Turbine, I will not buy it. I'll wait for a sale.

(sitting with a big bowl of popcorn, watching the parade)

I am very disappointed with the Turbine marketing staff for the confusing mess of information they've presented, AFTER offering this still unknown content for pre-purchase 3 months ahead of time.

If you don't yet know exactly what you're selling, don't sell it yet!

The Better Business Bureau accreditation standards which Turbine has pledged to support include:

3. Tell the Truth

Honestly represent products and services, including clear and adequate disclosures of all material terms.
An accredited business or organization agrees to:

A. Make known all material facts in both written and verbal representations, remembering that misrepresentation may result not only from direct statements but by omitting or obscuring relevant facts.

B. Ensure that any written materials are readily available, clear, accurate and complete.

Please make all material facts regarding this purchase clear. Stop omitting or obscuring relevant facts. If all the material facts are not yet known, this service should not yet be available for purchase.

As for the end-game, i can see fishing being totally awesome and something that will just drive people to this game in droves. What about the rest of us that wants to kill things in a raid?

So a substantial change in PvMP is to reduce commendations from keeps i take it.

It feels more like a SaQ (seldom asked question) than a FaQ

Originally Posted by Fralin

I'd advise people to read RoR subforums. IC will be included for anyone who has pre-ordered BUT it will not be released on launch and they will not tell us what it will look like or the size of it

We...don't know that. Turbine apparently made a mistake - the answer in that FAQ was in reference to RoI, not RoR. So there is an instance cluster coming but we have no idea if its attached to the RoR pre-orders or not.

Originally Posted by Fralin

I'd advise people to read RoR subforums. IC will be included for anyone who has pre-ordered BUT it will not be released on launch and they will not tell us what it will look like or the size of it

http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.p...52#post6217352

Originally Posted by Fralin

I'd advise people to read RoR subforums. IC will be included for anyone who has pre-ordered BUT it will not be released on launch and they will not tell us what it will look like or the size of it

Armaius is right: this is old information, and no longer seems to be true. Please look at Sapience's post here: http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.p...52#post6217352

It doesn't mean the IC won't be free, but if it were going to be free, why would they have bothered updating the FAQ?

Will there be any changes to PvMP, and if so, what kinds?

PvMP is getting a pretty substantial content update; we're reworking the Ettenmoors capture mechanics to focus your rewards around killing other players – not killing NPCs.

Well hopefully that will bring some good changes. And at least now people can stop complaining on the pvp forums that no changes are in store

Pardon me for jumping in here with a question unrelated to the Instance Cluster...

The one big unanswered question I have (that's preventing me from pre-ordering), is this: The Legendary Edition lists this bullet point: (Exclusive Rohan Content)

What I want to know is this: What exclusive Rohan content do I get by pre-ordering the Legendary that I don't get for ordering Basic or Heroic?? (aside from the other bullet-points like 6th Bag and Crystal of Remembrance) - what justifies the additional $20 over Heroic?

As a side note, if Desperate Flight is changed to affect the whole fellowship, and then accidentally (or purposely) reactivated to work in the Moors, that could produce some of the most entertaining threads these forums have ever seen.

People who are still wondering/hoping that the Instance Cluster will be included in the expansion, now seem to have their question answered?

Aaron Campbell: "We have a new instance cluster planned for later this year as part of our regular LOTRO content updates."

It doesn't get any clearer than that. It will not be part of the expansion. So probably a free content update for VIP and a separate paid cluster for F2P.

I hope the T8 crafting isn't as rushed and haphazardly put together as the T7 crafting was I mean T7 is awefull!!!!!!

as an example (may not be exact as I don't remember the tier exactly)

level 66 oh here is some boots you can make
level 68 oh here is some shoulders and gloves you can make
level 70 oh here is the chest piece for that set ( oh and sorry it's level gated)
level 72 oh you may need pants for that set so here

I mean what was going through your mind with that !!!!!

Thank you for sharing this information. It is good to have some substabtial info regarding what is coming down the pipe. I know there are still burning questions left unanswered, but the stuff shared in this Q&A is great.

You know I was actually quite impressed that they had a senior figure respond to the concerns... and then I read it. A frequently asked questions that answers none of the frequently asked questions. Only Turbine

Originally Posted by Jonin

Yea it seems that way. I want to know then what my 40$ is getting me. They are charging me more than previous expansions and I don't seem to be getting as much.Where is the justified increase in cost? I'm sorry Turbine, I will not buy it. I'll wait for a sale.

They answered that one here.

"Massively: So why is there a significant price increase over last year's Rise of Isengard?

Turbine: This expansion pack is much larger in terms of volume and scope than Isengard​. We feel like it's appropriate for the level at which we're bringing it to. There's a significant free portion as always."


The only conclusion I can come to from this quote and the other information given so far is that they're either holding back a lot or even they're not sure what it is they're offering
-Esty

I did not see the answer to: Why is the expansion so expensive?

Originally Posted by Rowan

improving Hunter’s Desperate Flight to include your entire Fellowship.

Not the best idea for an update to a class that has been broken since before Isengard. Are our other, more important, issues going to be addressed first?

-Aggro Management
-Viable Second Role
-Survivability?

Originally Posted by Fearmur

I did not see the answer to: Why is the expansion so expensive?

Because the only response was given to Massively here: http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06...ders-of-rohan/


Massively: So why is there a significant price increase over last year's Rise of Isengard?

Turbine: This expansion pack is much larger in terms of volume and scope than Isengard. We feel like it's appropriate for the level at which we're bringing it to. There's a significant free portion as always.

"Massively: So why is there a significant price increase over last year's Rise of Isengard?

Turbine: This expansion pack is much larger in terms of volume and scope than Isengard​. We feel like it's appropriate for the level at which we're bringing it to. There's a significant free portion as always."


The only conclusion I can come to from this quote and the other information given so far is that they're either holding back a lot or even they're not sure what it is they're offering
-Esty[/QUOTE]

Sorry GB that didn't really answer anything. All they basically said was "Uh yea. it's bigger, so yeah...". It's obvious they don't have all the details ironed out and released this pre order way too early.All I can do is vote with my wallet, and wait until it's finally all released and goes on sale

The LM passive is a fantastic idea!
The hunter DF: cant wait for the hunter in the group to missclick

Originally Posted by Balan64

I hope the T8 crafting isn't as rushed and haphazardly put together as the T7 crafting was I mean T7 is awefull!!!!!!

as an example (may not be exact as I don't remember the tier exactly)

level 66 oh here is some boots you can make
level 68 oh here is some shoulders and gloves you can make
level 70 oh here is the chest piece for that set ( oh and sorry it's level gated)
level 72 oh you may need pants for that set so here

I mean what was going through your mind with that !!!!!

I didn't mind that. We don't really need an entire set of 66 armor, then a very slightly different 68 set, and another different 70 set, and a 72 set, plus one or two 75 sets. You end up with a lot of overlapping stuff that's pretty much the same, so why bother designing all those sets?

Originally Posted by GB-Esty

"Massively: So why is there a significant price increase over last year's Rise of Isengard?

Turbine: This expansion pack is much larger in terms of volume and scope than Isengard​. We feel like it's appropriate for the level at which we're bringing it to. There's a significant free portion as always."

Let's see...

Moria: 2495 TP for a new zone, bunch of new quests, 7 (I think?) new instances, plus 4 more when Lothlorien came out, two new classes, new legendary item system.

Isengard: 4995 TP for a new zone, bunch of quests, 1 bugged raid, 5 new instances a few months later, 1 more when GR came out, so 7 total, zero new classes, no new system.

Rohan: 4295 TP for a new zone, bunch of quests, zero new classes, mounted combat. X new instances a few months later, which will very likely cost a couple thousand more TP.

I don't like this trend...

Whoever designed the Riders of Rohan website should probably have a slap in the face, and include a column about the "Evendim, Moria, and Lothlórien Quest Packs" being included even in the legendary edition.

Otherwise it really does seem like an extreme ripoff, to pay 70$ and not even get the contents you'd get if you purchase the 50$ version.

Heroic = Evendim, Moria, and Lothlórien Quest Packs
Legendary = No?

It's disappointing that it has become standard -- and not the exception -- for Turbine to release expansions without instances. I was willing to let it go as a bump in the road with RoI, but this is not okay if it's the new standard. Pile on the increase in pay-to-win with every update, the lack of new legendary skills for nearly 4 years, and yet another expansion announcement with vague at best details, and my future in Turbine Store Online looks bleak.

For the first time ever I am not chomping at the bit for a new expansion and I will not buy the top tier option, if I buy it at all. The trust I put in them over the years makes me feel extremely stupid and insulted right now.

Desperate Flight...Cowardice once again forwarded in the Moors! Great.

Originally Posted by zalladi

Not the best idea for an update to a class that has been broken since before Isengard. Are our other, more important, issues going to be addressed first?

-Aggro Management
-Viable Second Role
-Survivability?

<----this

All the hunters say pretty much the same thing about necessary overall upgrades, not to mention specific skills that are broken, useless, or are not scaling properly, and THIS is what Turbine thinks will make us happy?

*bangs head on desk repeatedly*

It's actually quite impressive that with every comment Turbine makes about RoR they manage to make the situation worse and turn even more people against them.

What bothers me most about this? Rowan is talking as if they are still developing content.

I work in a software company...and we have 2 year lead time for each of our yearly updates. The process starts with our product design team, which sets the feature list. This list is pulled from several sources, including end-user requests, industry trends, bugs, etc. They create a document that spells out the changes that are necessary to make the feature work.

The work then passes to the development team, which creates the code necessary to make it work. Once they have a working model. It passes back to the design team to ensure that the requirements have all been met.

The feature then passes to Q/A, which spend 6 months testing and verifying the features (during this time, documetation also gets involved to ensure the user guides are updated). We then have a beta period of about 2 months, after which we release the final version.

It's not all tea and roses; there are problems in the process, and we don't release pristine code. But our clients know 6 months out what will be in our next release.

Bottom line: by this point, the feature list should be set in stone, and the release should be in QA. I would expect that development would no longer be involved, except for fixing bugs and tweaking issues. In fact, I would expect that the main focus for development would be coding the features for next year.

With such a short development cycle, it's no wonder we get half-finished and buggy content.

Nothing but a questpack.

this is what happens when you give someone a inch..they take a mile. Remember that speech from paiz about micro transactions and pushing the playerbase?

Lets go f2p, nothing will change foir subscribers and Lifetime members..infact we will give you 500 free tp per month...yippee rejoice..win for turbine.

Revamp li's and remove relic removals under the guise of more streamlined and easier to get top teir 6 relics, less grind...afew whimpers...win for turbine.

relic removal scrolls added to shop and therefore reintroducing a previous free ability with a points cost now 195...lets get a little annoyed but we still play..win for turbine.

ROI announced no instance clusters shipping with expansion, delayed dragon raid shipped instead, dragon raid is the only aspect making it not a quest pack, T7 relics arrive adding more Li grind, lots of grumbling ect and whining but nothing major..win for turbine.

Update 6 with instance cluster..people duped who spent turbine points on ROI questpack now have to buy additional instance cluster..win for turbine.

Update 7 comes along, great river lots of extra grinding and low and behold t8 relics...win for turbine

ROR announced with little or no info, mad scramble for info with none provided, certain amount of people blindly run out and click yes please pre-purchase with little or no info..much like lemmings...win for Turbine.

falsely advertised instance cluster makes more people pre-purchase..shop with really big windows apparently...at this point turbines position is getting shakey, the normal fanboi squad is hiding somewhere or maybe trying out there pre-order horse's and jousting with lances somewhere...remember the pointy end!

1 or 2 FAQ's pop up with no real information at all or at least not the frequently asked questions anyone is actually asking unless its my 4 year old daughter who has a obsession with horseys! if it is she likes pink ones with horns that can fly!

Now whats next everyone is waiting with baited breath..

new crafting..free
horsey wars 1...free
horsey wars 2 and 3 require legendary access..no idea
endgame fishing..now there spoiling us..I feel like a guest at the Ambassadors residence..free
Endgame random playing in a field with horseys and warbands...free
extra 10 levels...free
twice the amount of fields that would fit into moria...free
some new skills for horse play..free, however kids should not horseplay as any good parent knows
some upgraded older skills...free..hunter one could be fun in pugs.
A warhorsey..free
some pvmp stuff that is also...free ( btw its aimed at probably getting people to spend more TP ofc because one group or the other are always unbalanced and soon as npc's won't be worth it anymore guess who you will have to kill? yes thats right the unbalanced group of the month..tp upgrades will redress balance for a limited time ).
Crystal of remember we took away this ability to streamline it suckers//995tp each. Or 1 free per character with legendary pruchase.

T9 relics..you know it, I know it, Turbine knows it and anybody who does not belive it has his/her head in the sand. And so Li's will come full circle back to Moria days but without relic removal or 7 legacies unless you use tp's, and that my friends is what happens when you give them a inch.

Now what will happen is they will charge vips/free/premium players for a questpack under the guise of a expansion and then they will charge free or premium players for a instance cluster in a update afterwards, because they have realised there are now more free/premium players than subscribers so they will hit the biggest group for the double tap.

I won't be paying for any jumped up questpack this time.