Feedback for Player Council members on Lotro

[nosam9 211]

The Instant Adventure is a great MMO innovation. Basically you can group to do landcape PVE & quest content whenever you want. So you don't have to solo even if you are playing for 30 minutes or don't have a guild.

Rift has seriously worked to make the game better and better. Lotro needs to be like this.

[androclese 83]

In Rift on the open world there are planer invasions that randomly happen. When you approach one of these rifts, or any other part of the invasion and there are other players fighting you get a button at the top of your screen to join an open group. This teams you up with the other players without the need to set invites.

Warhammer Online had similar (you didn't get the pop up but you could open a window to see nearby groups that are open), and gah! It's a great idea and all, but damned annoying when you're having a little group moment with friends, forget to make the group private and keep having to kick random people out

Also don't forget the Instant Adventure system in Rift, where you can queue up to be grouped automatically with others and teleported to a location to do special, action-based quests, or if you happen to be around when an IA group is near, the system will offer you the chance to join them. These groups can be of any size up to a full raid, and the quests scale in difficulty to the size of the group to keep them challenging.

They're great and all, in principle. But in reality (at least for me) they fail for the same reason dungeons fail in Rift. Something about IA's and dungeons in Rift, and i can't put my finger on it, seems to promote rushing through everything, it's a mad hairy dash back and forth across the landscape or round the dungeon trying to complete as much as possible as quick as possible. There doesn't seem to be much in the way of tactics to either of them, it's pretty much run round and DPS eveyrthing down. That's something i really hate in games, i like to take my time and think my way through things.

[Crell_1 22]

"Don't Make us get to the point where LOTRO players NEED to hold a demonstration like DDO is" LISTEN to your playerbase and stop monetizing things we already had for FREE already.

http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/10/20/dungeons-and-dragons-online-players-protest-true-heart-changes/

[PJ. 18]

List of Key Issues and Input:

• Make good traditional group content (4)
  
• Bring back rare elites (4)
  
• Change or Fix the loot system (4)
  
• Change the LI system (4)
  
• Improve Kinship systems (3)
  
• Better communication / more openness with player base (3)
  
• Multiple/better activities and content at cap (3)
  

• Fix Technical/Performance issues/Lag/Memory Leak (3)
  
• Give VIPs their monthly 500 points. Give players their owed TPs. (2)
  
• Stop Unfair Forum Moderation (2)
  - actually follow moderation rules
  
• Optional group system (like the one in Rift) (2)
  
• World Bosses (2)
  
• Stop or undo the aggressive monetization of the game. Restore features taken from players and put in the store for TP (2)
  
• Revamp the Trollshalls (at least add swift travel) (1)
  
• Remove or change gambling: lockboxes and hobbit presents (1)
  (I still need to add more from Darmokk's post)
  

If anyone posts they agree with any of these I will add a number after them to show how many vote each issue got. I will order them in order of number of votes. Please add more to this list.

___________________________________________________

What are the key issues that Turbine needs to address? Please list them in short bullets or sentences (with any explanation or comments afterwards). It would be nice to hear what people here think are some key issues Turbine could address or fix with the game. Let's see if we can come up with some feedback or input for the player council.

I will edit this post to keep the list on top. I know this is a HUGE question but I am curious what players think. I guess in my mind the question is:

1) what are the most important areas or issues Turbine should fix with the game? or

2) what are your top priorities/most important issues you want Turbine to address

I will start:

1. Change or Fix the loot system

No need to explain this - many posts on this on forums. If you run a instance or raid, someone in the raid should get good loot. Don't leave it random - make it so running an instance = reward (or running multiple times will lead to a reward). I think they need to return to traditional loot roll systems.

2. Make good traditional group content.

Take the time to do this. Give us good multi-boss raids.

3. Better communication / more openness

Communicate much more with players. Acknowledge bugs like the memory leak. Do less to stifle discussion of the game on the forums.

4. Improve Kinship systems.

Per the great thread on this. Make many of the improvements so that we have a much better system.

5. Change the LI system.

Remove grind and complexity. Make this system more fun for players and less of a chore.

6. Make sure VIPs get their 500 points. Make sure players get all owed TP for deeds, etc.

I am not going to include these because I don't think it will happen: better customer service, fix ticket system and response, spend more money on the game, improve PvMP. Lastly, I think Turbine needs to delay HD so they can get it right and make it really good.

tl;dr

Vote if you agree with any of these - if you agree they are important to change (or should be top priorities).

Add you own additional items with any comments.

If you want to just point to another forum post or thread - I will add in suggestions/issues from that thread.

The big issue for me is how rude and dismissive they are of the genuine question about the licence renewal. Why should I have to fork out £40 for an expansion that is for a game that might close in a few months. I politely asked and the forum thread was locked saying they answered it but they haven't. Saying they have plans to support the game for a long time is BS and not an answer. If they ownewd the IP then fair enough but it is a licence. I understand that they can't answer because of the court case but they could at least say if we loose the licence we are still allowed to use the game still just no update, or something llike that. They released this expansion knowing the date is close.

They said they had no plans to go F2P, they said they had no plans to sitch Codemasters so excuse me if I don't trust them.

PJ.

[jayson90 1]

0.o. Wait a second, what court case? Please enlighten us about this.

[nosam9 211]

It went like this:

1. JRR Tolkien estate sues WB for making casino slot machines based on LOTR.

http://arstechnica.c...-slot-machines/

2. WB fights them in court

3. WB then adds slot machines to LOTRO to say "nah na nah na nah you can't stop us" - via the Hobbit Presents

4. WB decides to sue JRR Tolkien estate back for daring to sue them in the first case.

WB says: "We are a lot bigger than you - don't mess with us. Our lawyers are better than your lawyers"

http://www.theguardi...-tolkien-estate

Quote from the article: "Warner and Zaentz's amended counterclaims are simply an attempt to punish the Tolkiens and HarperCollins for having the nerve to stand up to the studios and tell them that they can't take more rights than were granted to them by contract."

[jayson90 1]

Nos man thank you!

Its a shame that the books I loved and the films I was impressed with has to be mixed into this pile of shit called WB/Turbine. I guess we can just focus on the stories and shut out "the world of the big folk", IE corporations that ruin the true spirit of Middle Earth with lawsuits and greed.

[Darmokk 163]

Nos man thank you!

Its a shame that the books I loved and the films I was impressed with has to be mixed into this pile of shit called WB/Turbine. I guess we can just focus on the stories and shut out "the world of the big folk", IE corporations that ruin the true spirit of Middle Earth with lawsuits and greed.

Well, on the bright side somebody is doing something about it, no?

[Ardraug 103]

And I am still ashamed of all "Tolkien fans" who still play LOTRO and even use money on it after that whole countersuit and hobbit presents fiasco.

[androclese 83]

It went like this:

1. JRR Tolkien estate sues WB for making casino slot machines based on LOTR.

http://arstechnica.c...-slot-machines/

2. WB fights them in court

3. WB then adds slot machines to LOTRO to say "nah na nah na nah you can't stop us" - via the Hobbit Presents

4. WB decides to sue JRR Tolkien estate back for daring to sue them in the first case.

WB says: "We are a lot bigger than you - don't mess with us. Our lawyers are better than your lawyers"

http://www.theguardi...-tolkien-estate

Quote from the article: "Warner and Zaentz's amended counterclaims are simply an attempt to punish the Tolkiens and HarperCollins for having the nerve to stand up to the studios and tell them that they can't take more rights than were granted to them by contract."

What really baffles me is that there were real slot machines based on lord of the rings and middle earth way back in the 90's when i was working as an AWP engineer (amusements with prizes; ie: slot machines, yup another career i got bored with aftter a few years, i don't stick much lol), so why would they choose now to sue? Personally i believe it's because WB are doing it and they have a WB vendetta ongoing, it's nothing to do with not wanting slot machines and everything to do with Tolkien junior hating WB.

[Ardraug 103]

What really baffles me is that there were real slot machines based on lord of the rings and middle earth way back in the 90's when i was working as an AWP engineer (amusements with prizes; ie: slot machines, yup another career i got bored with aftter a few years, i don't stick much lol), so why would they choose now to sue? Personally i believe it's because WB are doing it and they have a WB vendetta ongoing, it's nothing to do with not wanting slot machines and everything to do with Tolkien junior hating WB.

Started over online slot machines, aka the androidization-facebookization-disneyfication of the whole IP. Look back and you'll see Chris Tolkien's hate of WB started around the same time as mine.... THE FUCKIN MOVIES coupled with WB acquiring the gaming license.

So go ahead, join the chorus of voices saying that Chris Tolkien is acting maliciously against poor WB... do it... but my shitlist is a bad place to be.

I for one stand with Chris Tolkien and hope he's as vicious as one can possibly be against WB. Fuckers want their money they should try earning it in a non-underhanded way just for a fuckin' change. ... pff... suing MERP because it "cheapened the IP".. the gall.

PS: can you hear the ice cracking under your feet?

[androclese 83]

Started over online slot machines, aka the androidization-facebookization-disneyfication of the whole IP. Look back and you'll see Chris Tolkien's hate of WB started around the same time as mine.... THE FUCKIN MOVIES coupled with WB acquiring the gaming license.

So go ahead, join the chorus of voices saying that Chris Tolkien is acting maliciously against poor WB... do it... but my shitlist is a bad place to be.

I for one stand with Chris Tolkien and hope he's as vicious as one can possibly be against WB. Fuckers want their money they should try earning it in a non-underhanded way just for a fuckin' change. ... pff... suing MERP because it "cheapened the IP".. the gall.

PS: can you hear the ice cracking under your feet?

I do believe Chris has a vendetta against WB and it has gotten to the point where he is maliciously targeting them, however i do believe it's all for good reason, because WB deserves being targeted for screwing up the IP.

I'm not saying Chris is wrong and does not have valid motives, but it does look like it's becoming more of a personal vendetta lately.

[Ardraug 103]

*checks ice* just natural shifting is all good ^_^

Sorry 'bout that .. but when I see this...

[androclese 83]

*checks ice* just natural shifting is all good ^_^

Sorry 'bout that .. but when I see this...

I couldn't agree more.

[Moderate Peril 51]

... but my shitlist is a bad place to be.

Yes indeed. Transgressors could end up on the receiving end of an animated gif

[Ardraug 103]

Careful.. next thing you know a vulture poops on you =P

[The Bohunk 15]

Yes indeed. Transgressors could end up on the receiving end of an animated gif

lol

[Spiteful 94]

Not being aware of the details of the PC NDA or if the Council members here, MueR or one of Mods here would be willing/interested;

Could a Sticky Thread be opened and only posted in by Council Members and a linked Open Response/Discussion companion thread?

Council Members could give links to threads from the official forums that they find interesting enough to bring up to the Council, perhaps voice their own ideas and such, again according to whatever NDA they are abiding by. Perhaps even links to threads they see brought up by other Council Members. Stuff they can say in an uncluttered thread so we can keep current without wading through pages of comments.

The Open Response thread would give us a place to discuss things posted and allow the Council members to either elaborate as they can or see see fit too, or not participate beyond PC Thread itself.