The Digital Continuum: LotRO's feature future, part 2
by Kyle Horner 
Nov 17th 2009 at 6:00PM
Filed under: Lord of the Rings Online, Expansions, Opinion, The Digital Continuum
Rolling hills, vast vistas
Something offered by the setting of Rohan is its expansive lands. Certainly LotRO has some massive zones but within a country dedicated to the art of horse riding, it seems only reasonable that it should have some of the widest, longest zones in the game. Obviously they can be too large, for fear of travel time that takes well.. ages. However, with improvements to a player's riding speed -- or just the fact that they have a horse -- it shouldn't be much of an issue.
What's important about the addition of a wide, expansive land in LotRO is that it appeals to a wholly under served type of MMO player: the explorer. An open and vast country like Rohan offers an almost wild west kind of appeal. It's an untamed land that begs for exploration or at the very least travel.
Open warfare
I've mentioned PvP and the open lands of Rohan, which brings us to the inevitable discussion of open PvP. To do this, however, Turbine would need to readjust its method of creating a PvP character -- potentially making it more robust. While I don't claim that such a change could be preferable, I do know plenty of people who would become considerably more interested in LotRO if it were to expand the "monsters" side of play into something, well, more.
In Rohan, evil forces are beginning to roam the lands. Now, these could be AI controlled creatures, but if they were players it would be so much more exciting. Not all of the roving war bands need to be players, but why not allow it? PvMP would get a nice shot in the arm while keeping the game well within the realm of acceptable Tolkien lore. Now, as for the actual implementation, I can't really offer any suggestions. I'm no developer and thus I do not make magic happen; especially when it comes to the kind of programming and number crunching something like this likely involves.
Still, I think it's a wonderful idea and if made into reality would easily attract several new players into LotRO. I'd certainly play a whole lot more of the game, which is saying something for a sci-fi fan like myself.
Conclusions
There's really not much more to say, because the fact of the matter is that LotRO is already a pretty great game. Sure, these things I've mentioned would be great improvements -- at least in our eyes -- but ultimately the additions and changes that Turbine makes are up to them. Things like legendary weapons and player housing were very cool add-ons, so whatever the developer does, I'm certain it'll be something worthwhile. Until the announcements are made, however, all we can do is ponder the possibilities.
Something offered by the setting of Rohan is its expansive lands. Certainly LotRO has some massive zones but within a country dedicated to the art of horse riding, it seems only reasonable that it should have some of the widest, longest zones in the game. Obviously they can be too large, for fear of travel time that takes well.. ages. However, with improvements to a player's riding speed -- or just the fact that they have a horse -- it shouldn't be much of an issue.
What's important about the addition of a wide, expansive land in LotRO is that it appeals to a wholly under served type of MMO player: the explorer. An open and vast country like Rohan offers an almost wild west kind of appeal. It's an untamed land that begs for exploration or at the very least travel.
Open warfare
I've mentioned PvP and the open lands of Rohan, which brings us to the inevitable discussion of open PvP. To do this, however, Turbine would need to readjust its method of creating a PvP character -- potentially making it more robust. While I don't claim that such a change could be preferable, I do know plenty of people who would become considerably more interested in LotRO if it were to expand the "monsters" side of play into something, well, more.
In Rohan, evil forces are beginning to roam the lands. Now, these could be AI controlled creatures, but if they were players it would be so much more exciting. Not all of the roving war bands need to be players, but why not allow it? PvMP would get a nice shot in the arm while keeping the game well within the realm of acceptable Tolkien lore. Now, as for the actual implementation, I can't really offer any suggestions. I'm no developer and thus I do not make magic happen; especially when it comes to the kind of programming and number crunching something like this likely involves.
Still, I think it's a wonderful idea and if made into reality would easily attract several new players into LotRO. I'd certainly play a whole lot more of the game, which is saying something for a sci-fi fan like myself.
Conclusions
There's really not much more to say, because the fact of the matter is that LotRO is already a pretty great game. Sure, these things I've mentioned would be great improvements -- at least in our eyes -- but ultimately the additions and changes that Turbine makes are up to them. Things like legendary weapons and player housing were very cool add-ons, so whatever the developer does, I'm certain it'll be something worthwhile. Until the announcements are made, however, all we can do is ponder the possibilities.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Archipelagos said on 6:34PM 11-17-2009
Open PvP, while it would certainly attract a whole new flavour of consumer, really doesn't fit the IP. I for one would be very sad to see them crowbar this in to such a classic "people working together" franchise.
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Rich said on 7:18PM 11-17-2009
LOTRO needs a complete revamp of player housing. Instead of the 4 instanced "ghettoes" that players are now herded into, there is absolutely no reason NOT to do housing instances in specific, interesting places like Buckland, Rivendell, Othrikar or Esteldin.
All have tradeoffs and would engender a sense of neighborhood to the residents, I would think. In any case, the technology is already there.
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Sorithal said on 8:05PM 11-17-2009
If anything, they need to at least add a new area for PvMP. Or maybe make a PvMP Skirmish system, where Creeps can create their own evil soldier to fight against Freeps, so that they can get rewards for their Creeps or something. *shrug* It would be fun if Creeps could somehow go beyond the Moors (it'd be fun to invade the Shire >:D) but... PvMP should sort of stay its own thing that's set apart from the rest of the game imo. Maybe create PvMP instanced areas (like Bree, the Shire, etc.) where the Creeps can go to if they control the Moors and the Freeps can hop in to try and drive them out or something? *shrug*
Mounted combat would definitely be an awesome feature in the game, but it'd probably be weird to implement. It'd be cool if they managed to make it to where it basically felt like playing your character on foot, but... you're not on foot, and maybe make it to where the horse/mount is sort of like its own entity, so... if the horse gets severely wounded, you'd be knocked off of it and have to either heal it or let it succumb to its wounds (thus not being able to use it for maybe 10 minutes or something). Hopefully they'll do something cool, because an expansion with Rohan definitely would feel odd if... everyone but the players can fight on their mounts lore-wise and whatnot.
What'd be awesome is if they added in such a system, and then gave Creeps the ability (though... Wargs and the Spiders wouldn't be able to work it out, unless the Wargs and Spiders (it could work maybe >.>) served as mounts (that'd actually be kind of cool to have a double-team thing) or something), so there could be some fun mounted combat battles in PvMP, where mounts would come into the mix of what to try and kill first - either the players themselves, or the mounts that are making them move much faster.
Also it'd be neat if they added in some more hobbies soon... maybe an Painter hobby (since I'd assume there was some type of on-paper-art in Tolkien's universe) where you could create paintings and use them as house decorations/share them with others? /shrug
Anyway, off to go get in some play time with that 25% extra exp >:)
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kitsune said on 8:36PM 11-17-2009
While some form of open PvMP would maybe draw in some new players, it would quite likely drive away more players who want nothing to do with it.
As far as Rohan and mounted combat, yes it'll be great to get there, but Turbine can and should take it's time. Now that we've crossed the Misties there is a great big war unfolding in front of us that doesn't necessarily require us following in the footsteps of the fellowship...
@Sorithal Scholars can make paintings, they just ahven't added any new ones in some time.
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Alz said on 11:26PM 11-17-2009
Open PvP is simply out of the question unless on a new type of server in which I would switch to that in a heartbeat.
Knowing the LOTRO community, could you IMAGINE the reaction this, let alone actually getting killed by another player? Yeah, it wouldn't be pretty.
However, I think their complete disregard of PvP content is almost criminal regardless of what their intentions with the game were. The percentage of people who prefer PvE gameplay outnumbers players who prefer PvP by a decent margin, but players who prefer attention to both PvP and PvE in an MMO by far outnumber the people who only prefer their game to have only PvE or PvP. (Information based on various polls and discussions on sites over the years) With the story heading into the more war-filled events of the books, it would be a shame if they didn't add some amazing PvP content.
I not only see potential for better and truly epic PvE content in the future for LOTRO, but I also see the gargantuan potential waiting be unleashed for PvP possibilities in LOTRO. With the talks on improving LOTRO's combat, the basic PvP in LOTRO which is quite boring would also become more epic. I know their stubborn subscribers bring up the "You promised, Turbine!" post every single day, but PvP content in LOTRO is just sitting there waiting with unlimited possibilities and also... quite a big chunk of money in potential subscribers.
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Holgar said on 11:38PM 11-17-2009
Lack of good pvp is certianly my number two reason I don't subscribe to lotro.
(Number one is that I cannot forgive the devs for twisting the lore of lord of the rings to an extreme extent then claim they "stay true to the spirit of the books" but thats a debate for another day.)
I am primarily a pve player in mmos but every few weeks I get bitten by the pvp bug and need to go kill somone. The scirmish system actually facinates me though and if it was applied well to pvp that would be one less stumbling block for me.
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Densha82 said on 12:41AM 11-18-2009
I played LOTRO for two years. That's two level 60 freeps and four rank 6 through 9 creeps worth of play time. What LOTRO lacks right now is not a vision or goal, but the team to accomplish it with. They really need to double the size of their dev team to really accomplish anything more than what we've seen over the last year. I'd love to see large, free range lands but I don't think that will ever happen - they seem intent on condensing their content, having friendly camps every 100 feet, and really leading the characters down a defined leveling path.
I'll probably never go back to LOTRO, but if they ever do revamp the game somehow to be more epic, more open, and with more PvP I'd most certainly have to reconsider that position.
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Leigh Barlow said on 4:13AM 11-18-2009
For me it's not the big features that are missing, but those small ones that would make it fun to play with friends. Options that encourage teaming, such as setting a group mission, would be excellent. I'd also like to see some form of side-kicking (so friends with different level characters could play together), and more instancing so team sizes can be taken into account.
But then I like group PvE play more than solo play, and I appreciate I'm not in the majority.
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Jimmy Rokkit said on 5:51AM 11-18-2009
1. Combat - I really don't understand why mmo's still go with the here are your skills put them i a button, stand there and bash 1234, over and over. This for me is why LOTRO (mong EQ2, Wow, etc... etc... is Meh!) I want some skills in my killings. Be they Player or MOB
2. In terms of the current PvMP zone, they should expand on it a bit, and have it go F2P, soooo many people would just download that little module and it could prob boost subs for them.
3. Take a page out of the DDO handbook, and make it super duper easy to team up, In a PvE game, teamwork is everything, but this game is just too damn solo friendly, imho.
'nuff said.
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Archipelagos said on 5:57AM 11-18-2009
I really don't buy into this current attitude that every single game out there must have PvP (just look at what they're doing to the Dead Space sequel and Bioshock). I'm not questioning that there is an audience for it - of course there is - but there is also an audience for every other type of gameplay, does this mean that every game that comes out in the future needs to crowbar in every single experience available just to please as many people as possible? It's a ridiculous sentiment.
I don't look at games that don't have a playstyle I'm interested in and say that it's wrong of them not to cater to my personal tastes. I know that there will be stuff out there catered for me, so why worry? Knowing how things are going Zelda will probably end up a FFA PvP fest where you lose all gear upon death and Silent Hill will remove the mist so it's easier to headshot your player opponents.
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shipwreck said on 10:23AM 11-18-2009
Yeah I don't see why PVP is such a hinge-point for so many people. There are plenty of games for that and PvMP can scratch the proverbial itch when it comes.
I CANNOT agree more about having wide and expansive lands. If any game needs/deserves it it is LotRO. Now many zones do have little nooks on the edges of the zones that a wanderer can find there's really no focus exploration as such, save discovery deeds. It's all just space for mobs and quest hubs. It's a real shame too because they've done such a beautiful job with the world. With one of my lower level characters I legged it all the way from the Shire to lake Evendim and, while I had the annoyance of slashing through bugs and salamanders along the way, having to take the time to walk through this big zone and actually have some kind of journey (as opposed to a swift travel) reminded me of how much is lacking in this department; not just in LotRO but MMO's in general.
I truly hope we see some bigger zones and expansion to current zones. There can still be swift travel for when we're in a hurry but give us places to see and explore and take part in!
Aside from that I really want to see more dynamic mob placement and action. Instead of the traditional static camp with respawning hordes why not have roving orc-bands, like we see in The Two Towers? It would make things far more interesting and, I daresay, realistic. Also, instead of mobs materializing can't there be spawn points where beasties arrive in waves like they're actually reinforcing the camp?
Anyways, we all have big dreams for LotRO but I fear Densha is right: there is probably just not enough manpower to fulfill the vision the way it should be done.
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