Corsairs of Umbar - Future Release Plans

[Elmagor]

With all seriousness, I haven't seen a worse expansion release in LOTR or any other MMO I have ever played!

It's just ridiculous that you have left your players with nothing to do once they hit 150, no gearing options, no improvement path, nothing!
And no, I do not care about the reasons, is it SSG, DB or another corporate shenanigans that led to this poor result, as I customer I only care what I get for the money I paid, and it's ridiculously bad!
Apart from the gorgeous landscape and city, I give you that, there is nothing worth it in this expansion once you hit the endgame. And if 5 years ago it was the community and the great kinship in which I was, now almost everyone left and there is no one to even talk about, so not much to keep me coming back to LOTRO, which is really sad.

Ok, as example, I really busy in this days. Trying complete rest of quests + trying to finish last characters with 150 level + daily quests in Umbar every day + Featured Instance every day + Moors with weekly quest. If your kinmates left, maybe you don't need blame developers, maybe you need blame kinmates.

 

[BleghWarrior]

no gearing options, no improvement path, nothing!

Embers, crafting, and FI exists
The problem is there's nothing NEW to do, which leads to people saying that there's nothing to do, because, for the 150 cap, there is nothing to do.
For the evergreen systems that cross multiple caps, that stuff is still there

 

[gildhur]

With all seriousness, I haven't seen a worse expansion release in LOTR or any other MMO I have ever played!

It's just ridiculous that you have left your players with nothing to do once they hit 150, no gearing options, no improvement path, nothing!
And no, I do not care about the reasons, is it SSG, DB or another corporate shenanigans that led to this poor result, as I customer I only care what I get for the money I paid, and it's ridiculously bad!

Featured Instance boxes drop purples that are better than Umbar quest rewards.

 

[istvana]

The problem is there's nothing NEW to do, which leads to people saying that there's nothing to do, because, for the 150 cap, there is nothing to do.
For the evergreen systems that cross multiple caps, that stuff is still there

I think we all agree that there is a lot of new landscape activity as part of the Umbar expansion. Obviously not enough to keep anyone busy all year unless they only play 5 minutes a day or run 134 alts through it. But that is true for any expansion in any MMO.

I think we all agree that there are no three or six persons or raids yet - those were always scheduled to come in after release. I think we all agree that when they do come in they will not be enough to keep anyone busy for a year. Again, as is always true in any MMO. New content never is enough to keep someone that plays a lot busy until the next new content.

So what in the name of the Valar is the complaint? I simply do not understand it. How is this different than any other expansion other than having *more* to do than most? At least after the content scheduled through early next year comes out.

 

[Elmagor]

Sooner or later we will get all pieces of puzzle called Umbar Expansion. Doesn't matter what piece roll out first, and what piece roll out second, only quality of that pieces will be matter. I don't want to see rushed instances in sake of having instances when SSG will spend next half year to adjust/fix them, like they done with Den of Pughlak or House of Rest in Gundabad.

 

[CasualActual]

Embers, crafting, and FI exists
The problem is there's nothing NEW to do, which leads to people saying that there's nothing to do, because, for the 150 cap, there is nothing to do.
For the evergreen systems that cross multiple caps, that stuff is still there

Pretty much all this +1. In my mind the main issue I'm seeing from kin members is that ssg has prioritized building the systems they want to shove us into and ignored the ones we actually want to play. Questing. moors, missions, reputation grind, crafting grind, class stat finagling, reduced gear customization/essence slot blocks - These are all things ssg thought were more important to work on than instances.

 

[Thadur]

I managed to complete all the new content in about 4 full days, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I particularly like that they have made things more consistent by allowing us to interact with most objects while mounted. The new zones are beautifully done, considering this is an old game engine, and the old-school feel is part of the charm that attracts many of us to play LOTRO. The gear rewarded from quests to get us started was fairly decent, for being entry-level Walmart gear. Lots of swimming in the islands, but hey, it breaks the routine a bit. Yes, there were, and still are bugs, but they are manageable. No group instances yet, but for many of us, that's not what the game is all about.

I tend to disagree with those who say there is nothing to do once you hit level 150. I have been pretty busy catching up with my crafting, old deeds, maxing VXP, helping other folks, unlocking and enjoying old instances I haven't done in years, and grinding embers for when the new 515+ level gear arrives (currently it is only 510). I do find it disappointing that older high-tier instances are still rewarding gear level 491-493, which is basically trash, compared to the Walmart gear you get from Umbar quests. Reminds me of why most people hardly ever play epic battles anymore, ever since SSG made epic jewelry worthless for players over level 100. I am still hoping they will change that.

All in all, I think we sometimes tend to get spoiled and complain, just because. I just remind myself that it could always be worse. SSG could decide to just pull the plug on all future development, or even decide they can no longer afford to keep the servers up. Now, that would send a few of us up into orbit, or down into full blown depression.

 

[DaMightyKOko]

I have been pretty busy catching up with my crafting, old deeds, maxing VXP, helping other folks, unlocking and enjoying old instances I haven't done in years, and grinding embers

So you say the best thing to do when you purchase a new game expansion and level up is to play old content? And this is not because there is nothing new to do, huh?

All in all, I think we sometimes tend to get spoiled and complain, just because. I just remind myself that it could always be worse. SSG could decide to just pull the plug on all future development, or even decide they can no longer afford to keep the servers up.

Now, here is where you got it wrong. I am comparing the release of Corsairs to every previous expansion LOTRO had and every other game expansion I know of. I am not complaining just because, it is because objective comparison tells me that there has been no worse expansion ever, level cap activities-wise. At this point, if this is the level of content SSG is capable of releasing, I am not sure that shutting down the servers is such a bad idea. At least it will help me focus on other games and not waste my time having normal expectations for the content I have purchased here.

 

[Thadur]

So you say the best thing to do when you purchase a new game expansion and level up is to play old content? And this is not because there is nothing new to do, huh?


Now, here is where you got it wrong. I am comparing the release of Corsairs to every previous expansion LOTRO had and every other game expansion I know of. I am not complaining just because, it is because objective comparison tells me that there has been no worse expansion ever, level cap activities-wise. At this point, if this is the level of content SSG is capable of releasing, I am not sure that shutting down the servers is such a bad idea. At least it will help me focus on other games and not waste my time having normal expectations for the content I have purchased here.

I believe I have gotten my $40 worth of entertainment, but I recognize that is my perspective. Your mileage may vary, and I respect that.
My understanding is that SSG recently lost a few developers, so considering they may be under-staffed, I am willing to give them grace instead of wrath. If you feel shutting down the servers is the right call, regardless of how others may be affected, you can just do that on your own and move on to another game.
I won't go tit-for-tat and say you got anything "wrong", as I don't wish to attack anyone, besides mobs in the game.
Peace.

 

[Arnenna]

So you say the best thing to do when you purchase a new game expansion and level up is to play old content? And this is not because there is nothing new to do, huh?


Now, here is where you got it wrong. I am comparing the release of Corsairs to every previous expansion LOTRO had and every other game expansion I know of. I am not complaining just because, it is because objective comparison tells me that there has been no worse expansion ever, level cap activities-wise. At this point, if this is the level of content SSG is capable of releasing, I am not sure that shutting down the servers is such a bad idea. At least it will help me focus on other games and not waste my time having normal expectations for the content I have purchased here.

If LOTRO is "distracting" you from other games, then there is clearly something here that you keep coming back for. If you bought blind, and it wasn't what you expected, then, you know in future, to wait until later.

Shutting the server down, to help stop you with your urge to keep returning, is a really bad idea.

 

[DaMightyKOko]

If LOTRO is "distracting" you from other games, then there is clearly something here that you keep coming back for. If you bought blind, and it wasn't what you expected, then, you know in future, to wait until later.

It is ridiculous how selectively people read and quote. A few fun facts, to give some background:
- I have purchased every LOTRO expansion, starting with a hard copy of Moria. My expectations are based on what every previous LOTRO expansion offered at the time of release. It is exactly because I have purchased each and every previous LOTRO expansion, that I had higher expectations for the Corsairs expansion!
- I have clearly stated that I am unhappy with what the Corsairs expansion is at this time, compared to what all previous expansions used to be. at the same time of their release. The lack of level cap content provided in this expansion is unprecedented for this game or any other I have ever played.
- My statement was that IF this is the best SSG can do, THEN shutting down the servers may not be such a bad idea. It's a simple logical construct - IF the condition is met (meaning IF this is the best SSG can offer), then comes the result. It inherently includes the option that IF the conditions is not met (if SSG can do better), then no need to shut down the servers.

On a side note, most of the forum users here are the perfect customers - satisfied with so little and never having demands about the quality and content of the product they purchase. Just happy with whatever is thrown at them... a really sad story.

 

[Gildoriel]

It is ridiculous how selectively people read and quote. A few fun facts, to give some background:
- I have purchased every LOTRO expansion, starting with a hard copy of Moria. My expectations are based on what every previous LOTRO expansion offered at the time of release. It is exactly because I have purchased each and every previous LOTRO expansion, that I had higher expectations for the Corsairs expansion!
- I have clearly stated that I am unhappy with what the Corsairs expansion is at this time, compared to what all previous expansions used to be. at the same time of their release. The lack of level cap content provided in this expansion is unprecedented for this game or any other I have ever played.
- My statement was that IF this is the best SSG can do, THEN shutting down the servers may not be such a bad idea. It's a simple logical construct - IF the condition is met (meaning IF this is the best SSG can offer), then comes the result. It inherently includes the option that IF the conditions is not met (if SSG can do better), then no need to shut down the servers.

On a side note, most of the forum users here are the perfect customers - satisfied with so little and never having demands about the quality and content of the product they purchase. Just happy with whatever is thrown at them... a really sad story.

Do I get this right? You want the servers shut down because you don't like this expansion? Now that's a sad story indeed.

 

[Thadur]

It is ridiculous how selectively people read and quote. A few fun facts, to give some background:
- I have purchased every LOTRO expansion, starting with a hard copy of Moria. My expectations are based on what every previous LOTRO expansion offered at the time of release. It is exactly because I have purchased each and every previous LOTRO expansion, that I had higher expectations for the Corsairs expansion!
- I have clearly stated that I am unhappy with what the Corsairs expansion is at this time, compared to what all previous expansions used to be. at the same time of their release. The lack of level cap content provided in this expansion is unprecedented for this game or any other I have ever played.
- My statement was that IF this is the best SSG can do, THEN shutting down the servers may not be such a bad idea. It's a simple logical construct - IF the condition is met (meaning IF this is the best SSG can offer), then comes the result. It inherently includes the option that IF the conditions is not met (if SSG can do better), then no need to shut down the servers.

On a side note, most of the forum users here are the perfect customers - satisfied with so little and never having demands about the quality and content of the product they purchase. Just happy with whatever is thrown at them... a really sad story.

I don't think many people would disagree with you in saying that this expansion was a bit rushed and unfinished, released earlier than it should have, probably due to investor pressure from above. I am not disputing that. I just think it is counterproductive to bash and dash the development team, just because we didn't get everything we were expecting right away, without knowing their staffing conditions, or the pressure they may be under from their parent company. I also find it hard to stomach that, because you think SSG can't seem to do any better, and this is causing you to get distracted from playing better games, it would be best for SSG to just hang the towel, and screw the rest of us who obviously don't see things the same as you. How selfish is that?

I get the feeling, and I'm not saying this is you, that folks who live for the end-content and raids, who rush out the gate to be the first to get that shinny T5 gear set and brag about it, seem to think that is the goal of the game. I believe such players are entitled to play the game however they see fit, but should realize they tend to be out of touch with the rest of the casual player base who actually have a life outside the game, and yet love this game as a journey, not just an end-content destination.

 

[gildhur]

Pretty much all this +1. In my mind the main issue I'm seeing from kin members is that ssg has prioritized building the systems they want to shove us into and ignored the ones we actually want to play. Questing. moors, missions, reputation grind, crafting grind, class stat finagling, reduced gear customization/essence slot blocks - These are all things ssg thought were more important to work on than instances.

Because according to their player statistics, those are the things people actually do. Group instances and raids are done by a small minority of very vocal and demanding players (myself among them!).

Though it's ironic that you include the Moors as one of the things they "prioritized" to "shove us into" when Moors players complained probably the loudest of any player subset about decade-long neglect up until the revamp just this year. ?

 

[istvana]

I don't think many people would disagree with you in saying that this expansion was a bit rushed and unfinished, released earlier than it should have, probably due to investor pressure from above.

Actually I am inclined to dispute this - or at least to state that the facts we know do not necessarily support it.

Having instances and a raid come later has become normal - this was intended all along. It isn't as if the raid will be next year because a few weeks before release they found they could not squeeze it out. From day one of the pre-order they said the raid and instances would come after the rest of the expansion.

Missions and quest/mission weeklies will also come after release of Umbar - obviously. This may have been intended all along in order to let them concentrate on landscape more. It may have been intended all along to give a smoother release of content. Spreading new content over months not hitting us with everything the same day. I don't know.

 

[Thadur]

Actually I am inclined to dispute this - or at least to state that the facts we know do not necessarily support it.

Having instances and a raid come later has become normal - this was intended all along. It isn't as if the raid will be next year because a few weeks before release they found they could not squeeze it out. From day one of the pre-order they said the raid and instances would come after the rest of the expansion.

Missions and quest/mission weeklies will also come after release of Umbar - obviously. This may have been intended all along in order to let them concentrate on landscape more. It may have been intended all along to give a smoother release of content. Spreading new content over months not hitting us with everything the same day. I don't know.

A good point Istvana. I was more thinking about the bugs and some of the unpolished parts of what was released. From reading the BR feedback from beta testers, a fair amount of them advocated for pushing back the release due to the large amount of unresolved bugs. I have encountered many myself. That's what I was referring to, more than the staged release. Thanks for bringing that up though. Good point.

 

[Hartagil]

i refuse to pay real money for a release that has very little content compared to Gundabad..and half of what we paid the same price for is Copy Paste landscape.
Roll on March.. i have LOTRO points saved up.

to be honest this is the first time i have had no desire to throw money at the game. which is a shame because the landscape is lovely.
i just don't like the fact that there are redeemed Orc NPC quest givers - somehow it makes the lore monkey inside run screaming away.

I was really hoping the story would kick off in Southern Ithilien and and involve a feud between Jajax and Rook or involve the pukul men ( druedain ) in the ered Nimrais and down to the tip of the Andrast but instead we get copy paste Gondor ( albeit with a new original Gondor map section ) with same style of kill 10 of these .. pickup those.. investigate a noise on a flaming beacon hill etc culminating in a Shipwreck which actually took me by surprise

 

[Maywyn]

I just watched the new YouTube Video from the Cord of the RIngs stream today. Cordovan showed the release notes for U38.1 and I can´t see the following thing Cordovan mentioned here in this post:

"Crafting guilds will become available as well, and the new upgradable items will see their introduction."

So what´s up with the crafting guilds in U38.1?

 

[Cordovan]

The Crafting guild update is being released as soon as it is ready, but it isn't quite ready for next Wednesday. Should be not long after that.

 

[Elmagor]

The Crafting guild update is being released as soon as it is ready, but it isn't quite ready for next Wednesday. Should be not long after that.

So whole Road Map 2023 with class revamp , pvp revamp and crafting revamp was damaged even more. Let's hope what crafting guild update will be here until end of 2023, and Road Map 2024 will be less ambitious and more realistic.