Beta journals testify about the LotRO store

So...how many Turbine points for a dollar?

I'm currently a subscriber with a wait-and-see attitude about this F2P change. If I have to spend real cash for anything I currently get with my sub, I'm done and won't go back.

What I didn't see answered was whether purchases are account-wide or character-specific.

For example, a mount, a vanity (clothing) item, or a buff to accelerate acquisition of a slayer deed -- are these kinds of things specific to a particular character or usable by any character on an account?

Also, on the mounts -- are you, for example, allowed to buy a full-speed mount at a lower level (instead of the [painfully slow] starter mount currently available at level 20)?

I knew they were adding clothing, packs, etc. to the store and I didn't really care until now. It might sound stupid but those 2 packs shown in the screenshot are something I was looking forward to getting via Skirmish runs.

Now I have no motivation to try for new looks/clothing if a level 5 can spend some cash in the store and look like me..


oh well... time to find a new game I guess.

How much will the VIP pass be?

I am NOT in the beta, but i know a couple that are. standing behind them as they use that store is not notable in the least, its the DDO store with LOTR logos, what is notable are the large numbers of empty item slots and item descriptors. For example, weapons, armor, major potions, cosmetics to armor and weapons, etc. The only thing i have seen are adventure packs/map/mount packs/minor potions.

Alot of turnover on items with no replies to questions being put forth. In the time i have been watching my friends they have submittedquite a few bug reports and and asked some interesting questions, like when does the shop go the way of DDO, which it will, and why the long wait on the major items? anticipated outcry from the hardcore spendtimers? The slots are there, they ARE gauging reaction as they put something in and pull it out just that quick, why wait on the items that will light the fuse? May as well do it now.

Right now they have problems with old accounts combining with the beta for folks to use old characters, no fix in sight, at least no replies for a couple weeks. they have been told numerous times that restricting monster play will not get them the paying customers they want as its not worth it right now in any way, no replies to that, no suprise either.

In the end you have the DDO model being slowly built into LOTR, and thats a fact. Another fact will be the devs addressing MP as this supposed draw is nothing and wont turn those free to PAY nickle and dime folks into monthly subbers to reach it in its current state. The title has no end game to speak of and no reason for a nickel and dimers to sub monthly.

For me the there are three things that I'll watch carefully before considering if LOTRO is indeed playable anymore:

1. +30 stat tomes. Whilst not huge it's pretty much must have for any serious player.

2. Cosmetics/instruments/housing - for me it's important part of LOTRO, thus how big % of new items will be cash shop only. So far 100% was available in game.

3. Temptation for devs to make a very grindy and annoying content and then wonderfully offer cash shop items that lessen it like deed potion. This is usual version of xp potion in Asian grinders.

Ah and this is issues I'd have as a VIP not free player.

Cash shops, proof that MMO immersion is all but dead...

For people who are worried about cosmetic items that might be only available in the store, this should not be an issue for subscribers. Subscribers will receive an "allowance" of TP to spend each month and it should be plenty to cover those fluffy items, so you can have access to them without laying out real life cash. As far as I know an actual subscriber should never HAVE to buy anything in the store, everything they have now will still be accessible to them, and any extras in the store should be obtainable by their monthly allowance of points. At worst they may have to make decisions about how to spend their points as they may not be able to get every single thing they might want with the points they receive.

According to what the available info now, every subscriber will get 500 points to spend in the store each month as part of their subscription.

Another perk of F2P is that you can let your subscription lapse, but still be able to play for a couple days at a time if you feel like it. A subscription only model is all or nothing. I think a lot of the points against the store are valid, but ultimately I think the benefit of getting to choose how much you spend on the game at any one time is worth it. Some people could get a better value out of being a premium player, while others would get a better value out of subs and now we can choose which one is a better value for us.