pml60aus

One possible change that I read some commenter make quite a while ago, and one that I agree with is to make the LI system much more like a skirmish soldier, where IXP is used to purchase abilities/skills (legacies) for the LI. There's even room to allow for changed appearances, things the weapon can do, and things the weapon can allow the wielder to do. There are level caps, and the ability to grow as the level cap grows.

It seems to me the perfect fit. The only trick is to determine how to obtain different weapons (for example, a guardian who wants a single-handed weapon for tanking when grouped, and a two-handed weapon when soloing), and weapons of different ages (2nd, 1st).

Also, there's no reason at all this system couldn't be extended to all items (a hunter's off-hand weapon isn't an LI now, but why not; guardian's shield, too).

Y'know, I started out saying I agree with this, but the more I wrote, the more I became convinced this is the right way to go. :) Sure, improving skirmish soldiers is grindy, but you're NEVER going to get rid of that facet of MMOs.

Justin, this same quest is kickin' my butt, too! Thanks for the heads-up on how to cheat it, 'cause I just want it gone. It's just crazy-stupid difficult, and when I die, and die, and die, and...well you get the idea...I tend to just give up. I hate dying at any stage and this one was just awful.

BTW Syp, the Number 9 on your map is in the wrong spot. Should be almost due north of Number 2 (Bag End) at the top of the map. You Number 9 is on the goblin camp I mentioned above, right next to the path to Oatbarton.

The quest to find and rescue Aunt Prunella (I think that's her name). At level, it's very dangerous because you have to fight your way through a camp that's swarming with goblins, a couple of them elite. Finally, at the top of the camp, all you find of Prunella is her pink umbrella. Once you make your way back to the quest giver, there's a really sad moment...until a hobbit lass walks by and mentions that Prunella has been wither her having a tea party...all day! All that time, effort and danger and you rescued...a pink umbrella. :)

First time you do it, it's hilarious!

I believe the problem wasn't the grind-fest or the amount of reward tokens. I believe the problem was the lack of variety of ways to obtain the tokens that was the problem. Those who didn't like the beer brawl had no other way of earning the tokens; THAT is the failure, I believe.

BTW, I had a ball in the beer brawl. I failed a few times, but it was a blast to knock other players around the arena (although not out, if I could help it), and to be knocked around! I failed a few times, but mostly I had a great time, especially when my kinnies all turned up and we could all chat at the same time via TS. :)

Absolutely it's better to try; that's how we learn as kids, that's how we learn as adults. And if you try, you might just succeed, but if you don;t try, you'll never succeed.

BTW, IMHO the whole "it's too grindy" Anniversary thing in LoTRO is overblown. Belting people around in the beer hall is actually a lot of fun, and the deed titles are pretty cool. ;)

@kpaq00
Aren't you a bundle of joy.

NOT!

And yet, here you are replying to a post on LOTRO, proving that you can't really stay away from the game.

Do yourself a favour; get over the hack attack, reactivate your account, start a new toon on a new server, join a new kinship, and let yourself live a little. :) Come and join us at the walls of Isengard. I'll hold a place for you there...

Yup! Like a lot of other commentators, Justin's article pretty much sums my play stye up, too. I've played LoTRO since public beta, and in those 3+ years I have had several dozen awesome kin fellowships, probably 2 decent and 1 excellent PUG experiences (and several truly, truly awful and ugly ones that failed dismally on every level), but >95% of the time, I solo and I love it. Kinship chat keeps me in touch with my kin-mates, and /tell keeps me in contact with my in-game friends. But that's while I'm exploring the wilds of Enedwaith with my level capped L-M or enjoying the starting experience in Archet with my new Warden...by myself.

Playing together alone, indeed!

Why do I PvP in an MMO? Easy. I don't.

The end.

The emphasis on PvP in FE is one of the reasons I left the game and I *will not* fight other players. That makes me one of your conscientious objectors; I don't know what it is about PvP, but I simply can't enjoy fighting another player (well, more accurately; manipulate my online avatar to fight the online avatar of another person).

I had hoped that FE would be my non-fantasy MMO of choice, but it wasn't to be.