LOTRO: Knights of Quarter to Three

[TomChick]

Here's a list of the members of our Nimrodel kinship, Knights of Quarter to Three, arranged alphabetically by character name so you can look up who's who. The asterisks indicate someone who can invite you into the kinship, so look for those folks if you want in. Alternatively, send me a PM and I'll make arrangements to meet you online.


Aberlour Andrew Myers
Aeglaros Jasper
Aegolar Jasper
* Alberich TomChick
Anyla Dain
* Aphrodite muttbunch
Arakis Jafisob
Ashwald Jason Lutes
Astromar Gary Whitta
Avrael Joddie
* Azaria MythicalMino
Bayorn Dave Long
Belphor Odysseus
Bludgeon mono
Borus MMcGlumphy
Bradan Ryan A
Bramble jedwards
Bushmill Andrew Myers
* Ceoleren Marcin
Chaucer Thomas Wilde
* Curie TomChick
* Daile Lorini
Dasho Deadbuffalo
* Delia TomChick
Dimmelion MythicalMino
Drakmori Belisarius
Eafe Peter Frazier
Eoeve Laralyn
Fehrwyn Saxman_72
Feyde Phred
Fiddler SpaceFish
Foozilbarmumboz barstein
Frobizzmus barstein
Gaze Belisarius
Georic Geo
Grymee Mark Crump
Gunnar balut
Gunnar balut
Hagard AndrewM
* Hawksdottir Xemu
Houngan Houngan
Ildanor quatoria
Jehu Ryan A
Kilrak Andre Costa
Laphroaig Andrew Myers
Leggylas Banzai
Limmsayes extarbags
Liza Laralyn
Lysryl Erik J.
Maelerand Marcin
Merien Laralyn
Morgwyn Jason Cross
Mourte DocThompson
* Nairb Gladguy
Oburon Oburon
Oldsilent TheRock
Oldtankadon TheRock
* Ordaric Ezdaar
* Orland BitterCynic
Panawiewien jedwards
Pendamoth Poops McGee
Pirowyn Mike Jamieson
Polko Hawkeye Fierce
Prufrock Ryan A
Quaquam Soapyfrog
Robostonus Rob O'Boston
Roflolimli JamesP
Sedric Sedric
Sehndel Saxman_72
Serthelion Dave V
Shyaen Equis
Skulkwise quatoria
Snoot spacerat
Sormegrim Mike Jamieson
Strummo strummer
Talisker Andrew Myers
Tarsier Mister Widget
Terd Myth
Thorbarten Darkstep
Thornwise quatoria
Toldric Vesper
Totho Mister Widget
Toun wisefool
Trestolt John Reynolds
Vandemar Scott
Verynn TyQt3
* Vortigern Ryan A
Wane triggercut
* Wilbur Peter Frazier
* Wulfbur AndrewM
Xemu Xemu


-Tom

[LionelThompson]

If I wasn't already part of the Something Awful guild on Silverlode, my four characters and I would join you like Oscar on you or something.

Good luck with it though!

[Alan Dunkin]

I'll be joining up soon as I get my thingee installed.

--- Alan

[LesJarvis]

It's downloading, at a pretty good clip no less, 700k/sec.

[Dave V]

I have several characters on other servers but since I have no idea if we can transfer them I'm going to roll a new one in Nimrodel right now. Probably a Champion.

[extarbags]

Is this game out, or is it an open beta, or what? Also, I hope the rest of this game is better than the guild invitation system, for all our sakes.

[Dave V]

Open beta. Until April 24, I think.

[Raife]

Is this game out, or is it an open beta, or what? Also, I hope the rest of this game is better than the guild invitation system, for all our sakes.

Shouldn't you be at the gym training for your fight with Apollo Creed?

[TomChick]

It's open beta, so anyone can play by clicking on the World Tour option (http://www.lotro.com/splash), but the level cap is 15. However, if you preorder (http://www.lotro.com/preorder/?utm_source=LANDING&utm_medium=INTERSTITIAL&campaign=Turbine), you get to transfer your character from the beta to the full game when it's released on the 24th. So, basically, it's kinda sorta out.

-Tom

[extarbags]

Shouldn't you be at the gym training for your fight with Apollo Creed?

What? What is that even supposed to mean?

And: link to sign up for/download the beta?

Edit: nevermind the last bit.

[LesJarvis]

http://www.lotro.com/worldtour

[The Bitter Cynic]

I have an Hunter on that server, names Orland.

I'm on now, just did the whole proorder stuff, I like the game.

And just as I'm sending you a tell, you log off, thanks Tom.

[extarbags]

Ok, I'm downloading it now. I'll let you know when I'm logging on, though there's a pretty good chance it won't run well/at all on my computer and I'll be quitting within mere minutes.

Edit: nice, the bittorrent download, which offers "the fastest speeds" according to Turbine's site, is delivering a whopping 2k/s. The downloading app? 480k/s. Good call, guys.

[TomChick]

Extar, you'll be pleased to find that LOTRO can be very easy on the hardware. It's retro-system-friendly!

-Tom

[extarbags]

Alright then! How's the game so far? Is it going to make me want to play past the free beta?

[TomChick]

Ha ha, BitterCynic's character is a "Man Hunter". Heh heh.

-Tom

[Gary Whitta]

Downloading now...

[TomChick]

Extar, there's another thread where folks are arguing about whether it's any good. My limited impression is a hearty thumbs up. But then again, I was digging Vanguard for a while, so what do I know?

-Tom

[flyinj]

Move to Silverlode!

Errrr

[Gary Whitta]

Interested to check it out but without pvp I doubt it will grab me for long.

[barstein]

So I preordered, but didn't receive instructions on how to take advantage of the beta for preorder people. I'm reluctant to go down the world tour path for fear of screwing up my preorder beta thingamajiggy. Advice?

Edit: Download is in progress now (http://www.lotro.com/index.php?page_id=86), and this post (http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?t=38821) explains where Amazon customers can find the key.

Edit: Ended up dumping the torrent (~50k/s) for the LOTRO Downloader (~750k/s) also.

[extarbags]

Man, you know, I have nothing to do tonight, so this would be perfect if the download wasn't going to take another two and a half hours.

I notice from the official site that there's no magic-using class, or at least no offensive one. Bit weird.

[Mister Widget]

Man, you know, I have nothing to do tonight, so this would be perfect if the download wasn't going to take another two and a half hours.

I notice from the official site that there's no magic-using class, or at least no offensive one. Bit weird.

There's the Loremaster, who plays pretty much like a weak version of the WoW Warlock. But you have to be VERY careful not to describe the class as a magic-user, or the Lore Police will flip out because THERE ARE ONLY FIVE (5) WIZARDS IN ALL OF MIDDLE-EARTH AND YOU CAN'T BE ONE OF THEM!

[flyinj]

Lore master has a lot of offensive magic. I've gotten fire and wind attacks so far. Plus you get a pet. I love the class so far.

[LesJarvis]

What's the healer?

[extarbags]

Oh I see. When I first looked at it, all I saw was:

A keeper of ancient lore and otherwise lost knowledge, the Lore-master uses his knowledge of the lesser and greater powers of the world around him to stave off the advances of the shadow for a time, and to treat the wounds and suffering of his companions.

And so I immediately thought "healer" and closed the tab.

Anyway, I'll probably be going for Champion.

[Mister Widget]

Minstrel. Captain and Loremaster can heal a little, but nothing like the Minstrel.

[TomChick]

Whoa, I just jumped into the Monster World. Uhh, it looks like you could waste a lot of time in there. A whole other set of quests and character advancement as the bad guys in the Ettenmoors. And it's all PvP.

-Tom

[extarbags]

I'll tell you what, it would be easier if every game just named the classes the same, since they design them the god damned same anyway.

[LesJarvis]

Alright, it's done installing, I'll be a _______ minstrel named Peatickles.

[mutt]

I just created a female hobbit burglar called Aphrodite on Nimrodel. I'll send a message ingame since you're not online now. Check a mailbox.

[extarbags]

So I preordered, but didn't receive instructions on how to take advantage of the beta for preorder people. I'm reluctant to go down the world tour path for fear of screwing up my preorder beta thingamajiggy. Advice?

Edit: Download is in progress now (http://www.lotro.com/index.php?page_id=86), but still unsure where I'm supposed to find my key.

On a related note, I have not preordered, but if I do end up doing so, can I transfer the character I make beforehand? Also, if I don't preorder but do buy the game and can't transfer my same character, can I start over with a new character with the same name at least?

[Marcin]

Ceoleren, Man Captain. Whee?

[TomChick]

Extar, I'm not sure what the limitations are. You'll have to check that web page, where they probably break it down. But I can't imagine there would be any obstacle to keep a beta player who wants to keep his character from giving them money.

-Tom

[Ezdaar]

I just rolled a human captain there. Name is Ordaric.

[extarbags]

But I can't imagine there would be any obstacle to keep a beta player who wants to keep his character from giving them money.


You'd think that, but you'd be wrong:

Does everyone get to carry their characters into Live?

A: Only Founders who activate their Pre-order Product Key prior to launch and activate their Launch Product Key within 30 days after commercial launch can carry their characters over from Open Beta to the live game.

[AndrewM]

I'll tell you what, it would be easier if every game just named the classes the same, since they design them the god damned same anyway.

They do have a little two word summary of each class. For instance, for the hunter it says "nuker", etc.

[TomChick]

Actually, I guess that's not too surprising. You have to pony up the money before the game actually launches. I wonder if they'll do any sort of free trial thing later.

Is that rare among MMOs? A free trial?

-Tom

[extarbags]

Actually, I guess that's not too surprising. You have to pony up the money before the game actually launches. I wonder if they'll do any sort of free trial thing later.

Is that rare among MMOs? A free trial?

-Tom

I think it's pretty commonplace. WoW has one, I know.

[Gary Whitta]

Finishing up the download and patch process now, should be rolling a toon very soon...

[extarbags]

Same here.

[The Bitter Cynic]

Ha ha, BitterCynic's character is a "Man Hunter". Heh heh.

-Tom

Uck, I noticed that too.

[extarbags]

Holy geez, this is such a slow installer.

[Gary Whitta]

Okay I created a human champion, his name's Astromar.

I love the way you get a loading screen every time you enter or exit an inn. Way to immerse me in the world, Turbine!

[extarbags]

Ok, logging in now, Brestage, human champion.

[extarbags]

Is there a guild chat tab that I'm missing?

[Lorini]

Geez, you are going to make me get back on again, aren't you :)

The Social Panel in your lower left part of the screen will bring up what you are looking for. Choose the "Kinship" panel within the Social panel.

[barstein]

All right, kid's in bed, dog has stopped his constant staring at me, cat has been fed for the third time and has agreed to not knock shit off onto me in the morning, and the game is downloaded/installed. What are people mostly rolling?

[Funkula]

Uck, I noticed that too.
It could have been worse.



Is it possible to make a Man Burglar?

[Dave Markell]

Too bad you guys aren't on Gladden. I'm there, with the rest of the aptly-named Old Timer's Guild. Any QT3'ers who want to hang with a bunch of 25-50 year old gamers who hate drama should check us out.

[barstein]

Just finished a little quest. I'm Foozilbarmumboz, elven LM.

[GuildBoss]

Gah. Already have a Dwarf Guardian on Landroval but I plan on starting up a Burglar or Hunter once I hit 15 with my dwarf so I'll do that on Nimrodel. Looks like you guys could use another Guardian though....

[Vesper]

I'm going to make a character on this server tonight. I typically like to play hybrid or pet classes. Any suggestions? Loremaster or maybe even Minstrel?

[Jafisob]

Too bad you guys aren't on Gladden. I'm there, with the rest of the aptly-named Old Timer's Guild. Any QT3'ers who want to hang with a bunch of 25-50 year old gamers who hate drama should check us out.

I am in the same guild and for the same reasons i.e., older gamers with less drama. The fact that the guild is *huge* may be offputting to some.

Small board guilds(QT3, OO, etc.) tend to die out rather quickly leaving you a lack of people to group with after a few months.

*cough cough* Reroll on Gladden you can always form a small board guild and if that dies out then join the OTG.

[Kareem]

Downloading now, I think I'll create a melee fighter. 1 Mbps line so will be a while ;_; .

[extarbags]

The Social Panel in your lower left part of the screen will bring up what you are looking for. Choose the "Kinship" panel within the Social panel.

Thanks, but that's not what I'm after. What I mean is, is there a way to have a tab that represents like an IRC channel for everyone in the guild?

[balut]

Well I'm in now, although only my Elf's in the guild so far.

Eviscerond, Elven Champion

Gunnar, Dwarven Guardian

[barstein]

Thanks, but that's not what I'm after. What I mean is, is there a way to have a tab that represents like an IRC channel for everyone in the guild?I don't have the game installed where I am right now, but last night I think I did it by right-clicking and creating a new tab in the chat thingy panel, renaming it as "kinship" and setting its filter to be kinship only.

[mutt]

I don't have the game installed where I am right now, but last night I think I did it by right-clicking and creating a new tab in the chat thingy panel, renaming it as "kinship" and setting its filter to be kinship only.
Yes, you did.

Might I point out that LoTRO has an excellent help system with a search function *cough* *cough* extarbags *cough*. I've used it to answer almost every single question I've had about the game. F7 to bring it up.

[mutt]

On a related note, I have not preordered, but if I do end up doing so, can I transfer the character I make beforehand?
Yes (http://forums.lotro.com/showpost.php?p=436744&postcount=5). Up to five characters per server will be carried over.

Also, if I don't preorder but do buy the game and can't transfer my same character, can I start over with a new character with the same name at least?
Don't know for sure, but I imagine all non-Founder characters get wiped, which would leave those names open for re-use.

[Skipper]

I'm downloading now, is there a particular need for any class or race or is everyone too lost to know? :) Thanks for the F7 tip above. Sounds like I might need that.

[Charlatan]

Dunno what's needed but Burglars are an awesome class - they stealth but they are a *very* group friendly character, as they have a number of ways to incapicate a mob and they are necessary to start conjunctions, which is a way to have your group do a super-duper attack on a boss creature. They also have a bit of crowd control, can debuff creatures, and perform "tricks" -and if you roll as a hobbit, you can level up by delivering mail and pies - what's not to love? (In addition, extra Burglars just means extra conjunctions, so when grouping, the more Burglars you have, the more you're dishing out big damage).

I played one to the low 30s in the closed beta and absolutely loved it, and I don't see a ton of them in the guild listing so I'd say try it out. Of course, Minstrels are the "healer class" so I bet they are also in short supply (though to be sure, most every class can do some healing [including Burglars]).

[Skipper]

Good tips. Strangely I play a rogue and priest in WoW.

[Jason Cross]

By the way...

If you have the preorder DVD, you should have the hi-res version of the client. The downloadable client does not have the highest resolution textures. But thanks to the intarwebs, you can grab it via bittorrent here (http://thepiratebay.org/tor/3649812/client_highres.dat). I have no idea if it's kosher to post that, but I can't imagine what the harm would be - it's useless without a registered and active client, and the only reason it's not in the download version is for size considerations.

Just dump that .dat file in the main game directory in Program Files (where all the other .dat files are) and you're good to go. Choosing Ultra High for the main graphics options, or just going into "advanced graphics" and choosing Very High resolution textures will make them show up.

The game looks way, WAY better with them. Way.

Also - LOTRO has built-in voice chat. I couldn't get anyone to try it out with me last night, but just scroll down in the audio menu. It's got all the requisite stuff there...mic gain control, the option to have either push-to-talk or voice activated, voice activation threshold, a mic test level meter, etc. It even echos back to you when you do the mic test, so you can hear how loud/quiet you are.

So, yay voice chat!

[Jason Cross]

Oh, and BTW - I don't think you need to roll as a Hobbit to deliver mail and eggs and pies and stuff as quests. I went to the Shire with my elf and could get those quests.

[LesJarvis]

The lack of a properly scaling UI is like a dumb joke.

[Soapyfrog]

Quaquam, the female elf guardian.

Though I am already feeling burnt out having run the newbie quests twice ;)

[Myth]

By the way...

If you have the preorder DVD, you should have the hi-res version of the client. The downloadable client does not have the highest resolution textures. But thanks to the intarwebs, you can grab it via bittorrent here (http://thepiratebay.org/tor/3649812/client_highres.dat). I have no idea if it's kosher to post that, but I can't imagine what the harm would be - it's useless without a registered and active client, and the only reason it's not in the download version is for size considerations.

Just dump that .dat file in the main game directory in Program Files (where all the other .dat files are) and you're good to go. Choosing Ultra High for the main graphics options, or just going into "advanced graphics" and choosing Very High resolution textures will make them show up.


Awesome, thanks


Also, I think I will make a Burglar named Terd. Is that name taken? ; )

[Skipper]

By the way...

If you have the preorder DVD, you should have the hi-res version of the client. The downloadable client does not have the highest resolution textures. But thanks to the intarwebs, you can grab it via bittorrent here (http://thepiratebay.org/tor/3649812/client_highres.dat). I have no idea if it's kosher to post that, but I can't imagine what the harm would be - it's useless without a registered and active client, and the only reason it's not in the download version is for size considerations.

Just dump that .dat file in the main game directory in Program Files (where all the other .dat files are) and you're good to go. Choosing Ultra High for the main graphics options, or just going into "advanced graphics" and choosing Very High resolution textures will make them show up.

The game looks way, WAY better with them. Way.

Also - LOTRO has built-in voice chat. I couldn't get anyone to try it out with me last night, but just scroll down in the audio menu. It's got all the requisite stuff there...mic gain control, the option to have either push-to-talk or voice activated, voice activation threshold, a mic test level meter, etc. It even echos back to you when you do the mic test, so you can hear how loud/quiet you are.

So, yay voice chat!

Awesome. Having to not fire up Ventrilo every time I log in is a bonus. As for the extra dat file, I skipped the torrent and found an alternate source. Basically if you can find someone (or some place) with the Beta DVD the dat file is on that. Thanks for the tip Jason.

[Skipper]

Awesome, thanks


Also, I think I will make a Burglar named Terd. Is that name taken? ; )

Only if his last name is Fergusen.

[Xemu]

My main characters are on Landroval but I'm about to hit the cap there so I'll roll another here with the QT3 folks. That way I can see whether flaky QT3 or flaky work friends are still around in 2 months and make a call. :)

[Charlatan]

Oh, and BTW - I don't think you need to roll as a Hobbit to deliver mail and eggs and pies and stuff as quests. I went to the Shire with my elf and could get those quests.

You're correct, but it seemed so much *more* in character to do those quests as a hobbit, especially considering that as a hobbit you get dumped into Michel Delving after leaving noobville.

[flyinj]

By the way...

If you have the preorder DVD, you should have the hi-res version of the client. The downloadable client does not have the highest resolution textures. But thanks to the intarwebs, you can grab it via bittorrent here (http://thepiratebay.org/tor/3649812/client_highres.dat). I have no idea if it's kosher to post that, but I can't imagine what the harm would be - it's useless without a registered and active client, and the only reason it's not in the download version is for size considerations.

Just dump that .dat file in the main game directory in Program Files (where all the other .dat files are) and you're good to go. Choosing Ultra High for the main graphics options, or just going into "advanced graphics" and choosing Very High resolution textures will make them show up.

The game looks way, WAY better with them. Way.

Also - LOTRO has built-in voice chat. I couldn't get anyone to try it out with me last night, but just scroll down in the audio menu. It's got all the requisite stuff there...mic gain control, the option to have either push-to-talk or voice activated, voice activation threshold, a mic test level meter, etc. It even echos back to you when you do the mic test, so you can hear how loud/quiet you are.

So, yay voice chat!


Wow, really? I bought the $10 preorder box from Bestbuy, but just used the preorder code on my old beta client. Is that .dat file just sitting on the DVD uncompressed? I can just copy it over? What is the .dat file called? client_highres.dat?

I really don't want to reinstall and have to repatch.

[mutt]

Also - LOTRO has built-in voice chat. I couldn't get anyone to try it out with me last night, but just scroll down in the audio menu. It's got all the requisite stuff there...mic gain control, the option to have either push-to-talk or voice activated, voice activation threshold, a mic test level meter, etc. It even echos back to you when you do the mic test, so you can hear how loud/quiet you are.
Thanks for the textures link, Jason.

The voice chat works great. I've been using it for the last week with some guys I've been grouping with. One thing: you either get push-to-talk or always-on. There is no voice activated option. The always-on is the way to go as long as you don't have background noise (including the game itself if you're listening to it over speakers instead of headphones). My friends were having a little trouble with their voices cutting out when using the push-to-talk. I don't know if that's something with their setup (they both had the same headset & mic) or the game, but the always-on works like a charm, and even when there's a little background noise, like somebody's kid coming into the room, it's not bad at all.

[Demon G Sides]

Extar, you'll be pleased to find that LOTRO can be very easy on the hardware. It's retro-system-friendly!

-Tom

How retro?

Like, free DELL retro?

[Kunikos]

How retro?

Like, free DELL retro?

Uh, no. You'd probably need more ram and drop a video card in.

[barstein]

Runs great for me, very slick and impressive all around. Semptron 2400, Radeon 9800 Pro. Aside from the RAM I added last month, I would say my system rests near or on the 'retro' cusp.

[Skipper]

Looking for an invite with Skipper, Human err Man Rogue

[spacerat]

Just great.

Now that I've got almost 3 level 15's on Landroval, with nicely interconnecting crafting professions, I find out that everyone is going to be playing on a different server. Just my luck

Regarding the hi-res textures, I find that using them pretty much guarantees that I will crash with 5-10 minutes of playing. This is on Vista with ATI drivers. Does anyone else have this problem?

[barstein]

Just great.

Now that I've got almost 3 level 15's on Landroval, with nicely interconnecting crafting professions, I find out that everyone is going to be playing on a different server. Just my luck

Regarding the hi-res textures, I find that using them pretty much guarantees that I will crash with 5-10 minutes of playing. This is on Vista with ATI drivers. Does anyone else have this problem?I saw some suggestions, but somehow I must have missed the mass exodus. Or are you talking about a different 'everyone'?

Edit: Gah, please ignore the food-coma that has stuck in this post. Overlooked your server name.

[id4698]

How do you get into the open beta for this game?

[TomChick]

As you guys are running into the crafting quests, feel free to post requests for items. My Dwarf can make weapons and weapon components, and my Lore-Master is working on her cooking skills. I'll gladly trade crafting favors with anyone, regardless of their monetary value (seems cooking is a big money sink!).

Anyone doing a scholar? My dwarf, Alberich, could use some minor metalworking and woodworking lore.

-Tom

[TomChick]

id8721098473, you simply download the beta and play! Scroll back a page or so and you'll find the links.

-Tom

[id4698]

id8721098473, you simply download the beta and play! Scroll back a page or so and you'll find the links.

-Tom

I should have checked first...and I found it under the "World Tour" section.

Now the download begins...

[Jason Cross]

Regarding the hi-res textures, I find that using them pretty much guarantees that I will crash with 5-10 minutes of playing. This is on Vista with ATI drivers. Does anyone else have this problem?

I'm on Vista with an ATI card, no such problem. You're running Catalyst 4.3, I presume? You pick up the file from a legit source, and are you sure it's not corrupt?

[Ben Sones]

The lack of a properly scaling UI is like a dumb joke.

It is, although my main scaling complaint is that character names don't scale with distance. Actually, it seems like they scale a little, but I do mean "a little." As in, so little it's barely noticeable. The problem is that it's impossible to read any of the names when more than a few (or even just a few) people are standing together and you are more than ten feet away. The name tags just jumble together into an illegible mess. WoW greatly reduses this problem by scaling nametags with distance.

[TomChick]

The "N" key is your friend. I tend to keep names off and simply tap the "N" when I'm curious about who's who. It is sort of cool to check people's titles from time to time.

But, yeah, what a frickin' mess when folks are clustered around a quest vendor.

-Tom

[Ben Sones]

Yeah, I've tried that. The thing is, they have all those cool titles in the game, and I kind of like to see what people have.

[Xemu]

Ok, managed to talk my friends here at work into playing on Nimrodel. Means I'll lose the low-teens chars but c'est la vie... who has kinship invite permissions?

[barstein]

As you guys are running into the crafting quests, feel free to post requests for items. My Dwarf can make weapons and weapon components, and my Lore-Master is working on her cooking skills. I'll gladly trade crafting favors with anyone, regardless of their monetary value (seems cooking is a big money sink!).

Anyone doing a scholar? My dwarf, Alberich, could use some minor metalworking and woodworking lore.

-TomTom, I was actually considering a historian for this, my first roll. I'll let you know if I go that route.

Are people following their quests naturally, or are you guys venturing out beyond your starter zones and skipping stuff just to be near each other? So far I don't think I've actually been in the same general area as anyone here, yet.

[AndrewM]

Wulfbur, female Man Guardian. I'm not sure what kind of crafting to take, though I'm feeling a vague hankering for some farming.

[spacerat]

I'm on Vista with an ATI card, no such problem. You're running Catalyst 4.3, I presume? You pick up the file from a legit source, and are you sure it's not corrupt?

Everything is legit...standard pre-order DVD from best buy, which included the textures right on the disk I believe.

Just updated to Catalyst 7.3 (which I presume is what you meant), and again I crashed after about 10 minutes. I'm actually not particularly upset, because I'm hard pressed to tell the difference between the hi-res and standard textures, unless I'm looking closely at something at short range. C'est la vie.

Now I'm off to create an elf on the Qt3 server...

[Kunikos]

I don't suppose that the Sauron faction is playable in this build is it?

[mutt]

Tom, I was actually considering a historian for this, my first roll. I'll let you know if I go that route.
If you're thinking of pursuing Scholar, bear in mind that it is the only "gathering" specialty that doesn't get a tracking skill. The only place to find the things you need are ruins inhabited by humanoids. So you'll be spending a lot of time hanging around waiting for relic containers to spawn--either that, or bribing everyone in sight to turn over their text scraps to you (you need 1,800 to become a master Apprentice, which is only the first step).

All is not lost, though. The DEL key (target nearest item) works reasonably well as a poor man's tracker when you're in the ruins.

[Gladguy]

Tom, added you this evening. I'll be back on later (after 9).

"Nairb" the Man Lore-Master.

[Kunikos]

"Nairb" the Man Lore-Master.

Master of Man-Lore sounds like more of an elvish hobby.

[Xemu]

Should I be at all worried whether we have too many Guardians, or not enough Man-Lore Masters, or whatnot?

[barstein]

If you're thinking of pursuing Scholar, bear in mind that it is the only "gathering" specialty that doesn't get a tracking skill. The only place to find the things you need are ruins inhabited by humanoids. So you'll be spending a lot of time hanging around waiting for relic containers to spawn--either that, or bribing everyone in sight to turn over their text scraps to you (you need 1,800 to become a master Apprentice, which is only the first step).

All is not lost, though. The DEL key (target nearest item) works reasonably well as a poor man's tracker when you're in the ruins.Hmm, this sounds about as exciting as what many RL history majors end up doing after graduation.

[Marcin]

Should I be at all worried whether we have too many Guardians, or not enough Man-Lore Masters, or whatnot?

I don't think so. As this is a traditional QT3 guild, within 2 weeks everyone will have rotated their alts through every role. Ask again then.

As to your previous question, Tom, Daile and Fara...erm, something have Officer rights. Perhaps we need a few more people who can invite ...

I don't suppose that the Sauron faction is playable in this build is it?

Actually it is. You have a choice of 5 archetypes who can do quests and power up. However, you don't have any human opposition yet, since Sauron faction starts at level 50; open beta for the good guys is locked at 15.

Are people following their quests naturally, or are you guys venturing out beyond your starter zones and skipping stuff just to be near each other?

Whenever I've played, there's enough people around for at least a 2-man (hobbit, elf, I'm not speciecist) for everyone. However, you can get a horse from Bree to ... um, the elf/dwarf starting area (Cel...something?) for a measly 1 silver, so there's no excuse for not seeking out company.

Hint stolen from Old Timers' Guild: Alt F10 gives you a light near you, a sort of auto-torch type thing. Useful at night, in dungeons, and in swamps.

[DocThompson]

mac-using gaming-noob LOTR-fan here.

Can this game (and others like it) be played on an emulator? I ask this having no windows emulator or windows itself, but intensely interested in playing this game.

[extarbags]

On with my second character, an elf Loremaster, now. Name is Limmsayes. Invite plz.

[Skipper]

So far I'm doing quests naturally. It seems WoW like, you click on someone with a ring, and do it. Rinse, repeat. The area was a bit confusing at first, apparently when you graduate from the newbie zone you advance to the same area, only time has passed just a bit. Think of it as a different area though, the creatures are all higher level, etc. I'm not sure where Tom and the gang are or at what point we start meeting up with others.

[flyinj]

Well, I had the downloaded client installed, but I had the DVD from my preorder box. The hi-res texture file was compressed in a bunch of .bin files. I searched around the web for a download, but could only find slow torrents.

I thought I'd just install it to a different directory, and copy the hi-res texture file over. Nope, it already detected it as installed. The only options were to 'install' or to 'repair'. I've always seen this 'repair' option on install shields, but I had no idea what it did. So, for the hell of it, I pressed it. And, lo and behold, it starts installing only the hi-res texture file into my existing client!

How awesome is that.

[Jafisob]

Well, I had the downloaded client installed, but I had the DVD from my preorder box. The hi-res texture file was compressed in a bunch of .bin files. I searched around the web for a download, but could only find slow torrents.

I thought I'd just install it to a different directory, and copy the hi-res texture file over. Nope, it already detected it as installed. The only options were to 'install' or to 'repair'. I've always seen this 'repair' option on install shields, but I had no idea what it did. So, for the hell of it, I pressed it. And, lo and behold, it starts installing only the hi-res texture file into my existing client!

How awesome is that.

Woah. I will have to try the repair then.

Zdar the hunter is in the guild. I am an Elf Hunter and not a Man Hunter ;-)

[barstein]

Okay, this is the third comment (http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?t=41806) I've read about LM being dull.

[flyinj]

Ugh. I guess it wasn't as 'clean' as I thought it would be. After installing the high-res texture file, it installed a couple more files. Then the launcher repatched the whole game.

It was definitely worth it though. The "very high" setting textures look so much better than "high". And I didn't even notice a performance hit.

[extarbags]

Okay, this is the third comment (http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?t=41806) I've read about LM being dull.

I got mine most of the way to level three before getting bored and going back to my Champ.

[Marcin]

I got mine most of the way to level three before getting bored and going back to my Champ.

I got to 8 or so and ... it doesn't really improve. Fireworks + staff whack, and that's about it.

I rerolled a Captain and I'm digging it a lot more. I have no idea what my role is exactly, but it sure is exciting! Post- and pre-fight buffs, various DoT stabbity stabs, a pet incoming (at level 10 I think), and a brief party speed burst, with more to come. On top of that I get medium armor and a bigass sword - not a lot to dislike there.

[mutt]

One thing: you either get push-to-talk or always-on. There is no voice activated option.
Argh. Don't listen to me. It is voice-activated and not always-on. In my own defense, though, the reason I had forgotten is because it works so darned smoothly. If you get it set up right, it sounds like an always-on connection.

[Vesper]

Please shoot me an invite.. Aldernath - Human Minstrel

I should be on the next couple of hours.

[mutt]

mac-using gaming-noob LOTR-fan here.

Can this game (and others like it) be played on an emulator? I ask this having no windows emulator or windows itself, but intensely interested in playing this game.
In theory, yes. But in practice it's going to depend upon whether the Windows emulation you're considering is up-to-date enough to play a state of the art game like this. Most emulators tend to work with older games but struggle with new ones because the new games are programmed using lots of gadgets and hooks that weren't available in older versions of the OS. Or something.

[barstein]

Another invite, please, for Goobar, Dwarf Hunter.

[extarbags]

I got to 8 or so and ... it doesn't really improve. Fireworks + staff whack, and that's about it.

To be fair, though, some people really seem to enjoy it. I think the problem is that so many people, consciously or otherwise, pick it up because it's the closest thing in the game to a mage, and they want to blow shit up and shoot people with lightning bolts. When they're hitting stuff with a stick and occasionally flicking sparks at it instead, they're let down.

I rerolled a Captain and I'm digging it a lot more. I have no idea what my role is exactly, but it sure is exciting! Post- and pre-fight buffs, various DoT stabbity stabs, a pet incoming (at level 10 I think), and a brief party speed burst, with more to come. On top of that I get medium armor and a bigass sword - not a lot to dislike there.

Captain is basically an off-tank/main tank when a Defender isn't available, that can also deal a fair amount of damage and buff the party. I was heartbroken to learn that they're the only class that can use halberds.

[DustyTheHamster]

Rolled a Dwarf Guardian Nivosi was playing on Windfola for a while so starting over now. Other alts may included but not be limited too an elf hunter or a human lore-master.

[Skipper]

Awesome, my Logitech G15 keyboard automatically recognized LOTRO and loaded a profile from the game which displays your morale, power, mood and location in game. The game also runs beautifully in wide screen, it even grabbed my desktop resolution when loading and pre-selected the graphics settings based on my card. How slick is that?

Any tips on good professions for noobs? Cooking sounds a little too involved and a money sink as well. What's the poor mans profession of choice?

[Jafisob]

Awesome, my Logitech G15 keyboard automatically recognized LOTRO and loaded a profile from the game which displays your morale, power, mood and location in game. The game also runs beautifully in wide screen, it even grabbed my desktop resolution when loading and pre-selected the graphics settings based on my card. How slick is that?

Any tips on good professions for noobs? Cooking sounds a little too involved and a money sink as well. What's the poor mans profession of choice?

Explorer allows you to gather wood and mine. You can auction off some of the raw components for cash...or so I have heard.

[Skipper]

Explorer allows you to gather wood and mine. You can auction off some of the raw components for cash...or so I have heard.

Excellent tip, thank you. I'll try that out.

In other news I got my first two gold/powerlevling spams already. In Beta. :(

[Kareem]

Created a character on the server (female elf hunter) called Tranquility. Will send a tell to Tom when I'm online.

[Kareem]

Having fun with the game, but might reroll as a Lothlorien elf. The starting area as a Rivendell elf is depressing.

[AndrewM]

A bunch more people are officers now, so maybe we can add people, too.

The different types of whatever affect the starting place? That's interesting. I assumed it just affected what colors you could pick for your hair etc.

My character is a Yeoman (farmer, tailor, cook). I'm still annoyed that I have to buy a bucket of water.

I have tons of light skins (30 maybe?) that I'd be willing to trade to somebody in exchange for some of the resulting leather. I can probably also turn the leather into a useful product. I haven't investigated tailoring yet. I've focused my efforts (and by efforts, I mean meager cash reserves) on farming tobacco and onions.

I've encountered a couple of places that spawn giant globs of thugs. One resulted in my first death.

[Kareem]

The different types of whatever affect the starting place? That's interesting. I assumed it just affected what colors you could pick for your hair etc.

Hmm I'm not sure if it does actually. I'll check it out.

[Vesper]

Really enjoyed my first real try of the game last night. I had been in the closed beta, but really never gave it a chance. I think I had a mental block of "This isn't WoW. I fear change." in regards to the interface and how things worked. Now that things are starting to click, I'm really thinking about preordering. Too bad I'd have to start a new character to get the freebie items.

[Soapyfrog]

But... the interface is the same as wow ;)

[Vesper]

But... the interface is the same as wow ;)
Actually, it's similar enough that when I can't figure out how to do something, it's extra annoying. :) I've especially noticed this with keyboard shortcuts.

[Skipper]

The game is quite pretty to look at. Much better than I thought. I do miss WoW's sense of humor though. The downside to a great setting (LOTR) is that they took it pretty seriously in every sense. This includes class and race choices as well as the main quest plot and side quest texts.

[mutt]

Too bad I'd have to start a new character to get the freebie items.
You don't. The official word is that you do, but the reality is that all of your existing characters will receive the cloak and ring. I know because I've done it.

[Lee Johnson]

I have tons of light skins (30 maybe?) that I'd be willing to trade to somebody in exchange for some of the resulting leather. I can probably also turn the leather into a useful product. I haven't investigated tailoring yet.30 light skins is unfortunately not a lot. If I'm remembering this right, a Forester can make leather out of those skins--but you'll only end up with 15 pieces of leather. A single crafted piece of lowbie padded armour will use 10 of those, once you've made the various pads and bindings and whatnot that go into it.

[Geo]

I really didn't plan to even try LOTR, but I'll try anything while it's free. :) So far, proving far more fun than I anticipated.

Just one character, on Elendilmir:
- Georic, Man Hunter (6)

[AndrewM]

30 light skins is unfortunately not a lot. If I'm remembering this right, a Forester can make leather out of those skins--but you'll only end up with 15 pieces of leather. A single crafted piece of lowbie padded armour will use 10 of those, once you've made the various pads and bindings and whatnot that go into it.

Hah. Okay, thanks. I should have suspected as much.

[extarbags]

I really didn't plan to even try LOTR, but I'll try anything while it's free. :) So far, proving far more fun than I anticipated.


Yeah, seriously. I never gave it a second thought until I saw this thread, and now I might be out fifty bucks :/.

[Lee Johnson]

That said, when I first arrived in Combe with my Champion (on Landroval), the crafted padded armour was way better than anything I'd received as drops or quest rewards to that point. :)

[mutt]

I know it's fashionable to make fun of collector's editions, but LoTRO's is actually a good deal. You get:

* Full Game on 2 DVD’s
* 30-days of free online play
* Free 10-day Buddy Key
* The “Beyond the Shadows. . .The Making of The Lord of the Rings Online” DVD – A collection of videos that show how Turbine brought the Books of J.R.R. Tolkien to life. Hear from the game’s designers and see their work from concept to completion.
* The Lord of the Rings Online Soundtrack – In-game soundtrack of the Shire, Rivendell, Bree, Thorin’s Hall and Angmar.
* Exclusive In-Game Item – “The Glass of Aglarel” – Carrying this in-game jewel will increase your Hope to aid you against the effects of Dread brought on by the Witch-king and his minions.
* A Full Color Special Edition Manual
* Exclusive map of Middle-earth

for $59.99. With the 30 free days of play (at the Founders rate if you pre-order), that brings it down to $49.99, the same price as the regular version. What's not to love?

[Lee Johnson]

Don't all of the editions get 30 days of free play?

[mutt]

Don't all of the editions get 30 days of free play?
Nope. (Or at least none of the sites selling the regular version mention it in their blurbs.)

[Myth]

Hmm strange, when I bought my preorder, the blurb and box art at the time (on the EB site) had 30 free for the Standard, and 45 days free for the Collectors Edition, but yeah I see at EBGAMES there is no mention of the free period for either.

[mutt]

Hmm strange, when I bought my preorder, the blurb and box art at the time (on the EB site) had 30 free for the Standard, and 45 days free for the Collectors Edition, but yeah I see at EBGAMES there is no mention of the free period for either.
Maybe you're right then, because I got my info on the collector's edition from the LoTRO website, not a gameseller's site. It looks like maybe the retail sites are just not listing the free subscription time in any of their ads. Maybe it's something that wasn't set in stone yet when they first put their ads up. I'll see what I can find out.

[extarbags]

I don't buy it. Every MMO comes with a free month. If anything, if it isn't listed on the site, I'd assume it comes with a free month. Like you said yourself, if there's no free month with the standard edition, they're the same price. How likely does that seem?

[Vesper]

No free month with the standard edition would be very very stupid of them. Seems highly unlikely that they'd make this mistake considering their shrewd pricing scheme for preorders.

[mutt]

I don't buy it. Every MMO comes with a free month. If anything, if it isn't listed on the site, I'd assume it comes with a free month. Like you said yourself, if there's no free month with the standard edition, they're the same price. How likely does that seem?
Yeah, as near as I can tell from reading the LoTRO boards, both come with a free month. It's difficult to sort out, because there are so many versions of the game floating around out there. In NA, we have a regular version and a Special Edition (what I was incorrectly calling a Collector's Edition). In Europe, they get a regular version, a Special Edition, or a Collector's Edition, each of which is slightly different from the NA counterparts.

Anyway, I still think the NA Special Edition is a good buy at, effectively, $49.99. Here's a picture of the stuff: NA Special Edition contents (http://www.lotro.com/files/07/82/45/67/1288.jpg). You can't tell it, but the box is twice as deep as a normal game box, FWIW.

But now check this out: European Collector's Edition (http://community.codemasters.com/forum/showthread.php?t=168750&page=1&pp=10) (only 5K total being made; not available in NA). Not all contents shown here. Price? $155 USD, or $355 with lifetime subscription.

[AndrewM]

I'm considering getting this, but I tend to get bored with MMORPGs rather rapidly, so that is likely ill-advised.

[barstein]

I tend to buy and get bored with them rather rapidly, so I can relate to this. Something fundamental is missing from all of them. I can't put my finger on it.

This is not it, but I've always wondered if retention would improve if MMORPGs licensed some kind of API for external developers to create and provide mini-grames within the MMORPG. Feeling tired of the war for Middle Earth? Go grab a chair in a pub and play Carcassonne or something, for example.

[extarbags]

I tend to buy and get bored with them rather rapidly, so I can relate to this. Something fundamental is missing from all of them. I can't put my finger on it.

This is not it, but I've always wondered if retention would improve if MMORPGs licensed some kind of API for external developers to create and provide mini-grames within the MMORPG. Feeling tired of the war for Middle Earth? Go grab a chair in a pub and play Carcassonne or something, for example.

Not a bad idea in general, but it wouldn't be good for a game as wrapped up in its setting as this one.

[Geo]

If I'm really hooked the pre-order locking in the cheaper $9.99 monthly fee is a good deal but the Lifetime Price really would take quite the leap of faith. For sure if City of Heroes had offered that 3 years ago, I'd saved a heckuva lot of money, but people can lose interest in an MMORPG at the drop of a hat. It's just hard to predict.

It's funny how I'll get all lathered up about certain games, and when they're out they disappoint. Other games sneak up on me. I ignored City of Heroes until a friend got me into the beta on its very last 3 days. I ignored Company of Heroes until I played the initial demo. And with LOTR, I was disappointed in the Stormfront DDO trial I tried, so I really had no inclination to give Turbine the benefit of the doubt. I don't think it's the greatest thing since Sliced Bread, but I just feel comfortable with it, and it seems quite polished, and the occasional interesting gameplay mechanic (using a bucket to put out a fire; finding and then burying a corpse; being able to safely swim every lake and stream in sight) I've liked.

All my mmorpg hopes have been pinned on stuff like Conan, and Gods & Heroes, and here this little ... OK not so little... well, unassuming mmorpg so far has proven a pleasant surprise. I hesitate to say "under the radar" since the game's advertised so much, but "under the radar" it is just for me, in terms of expectations. :)

[AndrewM]

finding and then burying a corpse

I found it unnerving when a corpse I had buried was later above the earth again. The dead are rising! Can't they make it so that I see the dirt mound after I've buried them? Sheesh.

[Soapyfrog]

Well I have hit level 9 and honestly... I'm pretty tired of it already ;) I may try and get to the level cap but... geez... really... having trouble...

Probablem with making your game too much like WoW is that your customers will realize they'd rather be playing WoW :D

[Jab2565]

I'm considering getting this, but I tend to get bored with MMORPGs rather rapidly, so that is likely ill-advised.

Same here, I can't play the same game everyday for long periods of time before I get completely burnt out. My pattern with console and pc games is to usually play it until completion, then put it away for awhile. I played Wow for about 6 months before I became unable to stand the game anymore. The MMO model is not made for my type of playstyle.

[Lee Johnson]

I found it unnerving when a corpse I had buried was later above the earth again. The dead are rising! Can't they make it so that I see the dirt mound after I've buried them? Sheesh.Well, you do see it... it just doesn't stay there for very long. It's even more hilarious when two or more people are queued up, waiting for their turn to bury the poor guy. The last time I found myself in this situation, when my turn came around, I did something like:

/say You call that a proper burial?
/em digs Dirk Mudbrick back up, then quickly buries him again.

:D

[Marcin]

Same here, I can't play the same game everyday for long periods of time before I get completely burnt out. My pattern with console and pc games is to usually play it until completion, then put it away for awhile. I played Wow for about 6 months before I became unable to stand the game anymore. The MMO model is not made for my type of playstyle.

I'm about the same, except ...

6 months would be longer than I've spent on most single player games (excepting multiple play-throughs in epic games). I think they suit my playstyle just fine :)

[mutt]

Probablem with making your game too much like WoW is that your customers will realize they'd rather be playing WoW :D
No, the problem with making WoW too much like LoTR is that your customers will realize they'd rather be playing LoTRO :D

[Marcus]

Yeah but only not.

[Soapyfrog]

Welcome to opposite world? :/

[mutt]

Welcome to opposite world? :/
Not at all. Where do you think a world populated by elves and dwarves and orcs and dragons came from? Where do you think the whole swords and sorcery thing came from? Where do you think the idea of a group of adventurers composed of various races, classes and specialties came from? Where do you think magic bread that restores your health came from? Where do you think etc. etc. etc?

The entire WoW mythos--so far as there is one--is derived from Tolkien. Let me put it more bluntly: WoW is nothing but yet another generic, blatant ripoff of Tolkien. It's all fine and good for you guys to pretend WoW was the firstest with the mostest, but it manifestly wasn't. It's a well-designed game built around nothing original whatsoever.

So, being someone who cares about the subject matter just as much as the gameplay, there's no question which game I prefer. LoTRO pwns the subject matter hands down, and the gameplay is no slouch either.

[TheRock]

I've never played any of these MMORGS for the subject matter, the story. I could care less about Wow''s, eve's, Everquest's, Doac's.....the story means nada to me. It's all about the gameplay. Wow nailed it very well.

[Soapyfrog]

So, being someone who cares about the subject matter just as much as the gameplay, there's no question which game I prefer. LoTRO pwns the subject matter hands down, and the gameplay is no slouch either.
I dunno I really ahve not been impressed by anything in LOTRO so far except:

a) texture quality
b) the musical intruments

As nice as the textures are, the polygons they are slapped on are poorly put together. The art direction itself is no great shakes, and the animations are generally deplorable. Gameplay? WoW's gameplay is as good or better in all respects, so far as I have seen.

The musical intruments they should steal for WoW ;) they're actually pretty neat!

[mutt]

That's all fine, Soapyfrog. You're welcome to your opinion. I don't share it, but if you'd rather play WoW, by all means have at it. My only complaint is with the constant suggestion around here that WoW somehow does everything best, because it doesn't.

I've never played any of these MMORGS for the subject matter, the story. I could care less about Wow''s, eve's, Everquest's, Doac's.....the story means nada to me. It's all about the gameplay. Wow nailed it very well.
But you're not me. Listen. Soapyfrog made a blanket statement that if a company made a game too much like WoW, their customers (i.e. all of them) would soon realize they'd rather be playing WoW. Since that isn't true (because I, for one, wouldn't rather be playing WoW), I responded with the opposite exaggeration. However, in my case, the exaggeration is true. I'm a customer who, playing WoW, soon realized that I would rather be playing LoTRO. Now that LoTRO actually exists and is a good game, I feel even more strongly about it.

[extarbags]

The entire WoW mythos

Nope. Minotaurs are from Greek mythology, and panda people are Blizzard's own innovation. Checkmate.

[Jafisob]

...
I've encountered a couple of places that spawn giant globs of thugs. One resulted in my first death.

You may be wary but you will never be undefeated. Sorry, please re-roll for the uber title. ;-)


I agree the game play is more important than the setting. I don't care about who was first. However, if you can nail the setting and have good game play, you win.

[Dave Long]

Bayorn of Gondor. Man Guardian.

[bigdruid]

I just want to say that this game is making me sad. After spending like 30 hours downloading the game and the hi-res textures on my crummy 640K DSL connection, I launch the game...only to have it start downloading 397 "game data updates".

Sigh. I really want to play, dammit.

[Xemu]

While we 4 QT3 Knights were carefully proceeding through the Blackwold HQ some soloing jackass aggroed the entire camp on us. There goes my undefeated streak, over at level 11. :(

[Soapyfrog]

That's all fine, Soapyfrog. You're welcome to your opinion. I don't share it, but if you'd rather play WoW, by all means have at it. My only complaint is with the constant suggestion around here that WoW somehow does everything best, because it doesn't.

I didn't say it does everything best... but so far, the things it doesn't do well aren't to be found bettered in LoTRO, which, for the most part seems to be a WoW clone. I'd be happy to be shown to be wrong of course.

I dig you love the setting. That's a fine criteria to base game enjoyment on, truly. I don't think it's super important for most people though. For me the ennui set in early on... and beleive me I'm not a huuuge WoW fanboy/catass either.

Also someone mentioned that the little inconsistencies within the game would bother the true Tolkien fans, and already I have been annoyed by several. Now granted I may be a more rabid Lord of the Rings fan than most, but it's REALLY clear to me where the creators of LoTRO had to start making up their own place and person names, becuase they really don't fit very well. A little disappointing since as we well know Tolkien was a philologist and a stickler for detail and internal consistency. "Dol Ringwest"? Ouch.

Bah well any Middle Earth game inevitably rubs me the wrong way becuase of this sort of thing, and as other people have said, the gameplay is really the thing. If LoTRO blew me away with it's perosnality, charm, style, and engaging gameplay I am sure I would more easily overlook that sort of thing.

[André Costa]

I created a toon : Kilrak, Dwarf Champion on Nimrodel. Still haven't made up my mind on buying the full game.

[Kareem]

Does anyone have screenshots of the Shire that they can post? I was turned off by the art style of the elf starting area - just kept comparing it to Dun Morogh in WoW which I felt was a lot brighter and "alive", and was wondering if that would be an issue for me in the other zones too.

[mutt]

Also someone mentioned that the little inconsistencies within the game would bother the true Tolkien fans, and already I have been annoyed by several. Now granted I may be a more rabid Lord of the Rings fan than most, but it's REALLY clear to me where the creators of LoTRO had to start making up their own place and person names, becuase they really don't fit very well. A little disappointing since as we well know Tolkien was a philologist and a stickler for detail and internal consistency. "Dol Ringwest"? Ouch.
I agree with you here. However, two points: one, I'm all but certain that just about everything in the game had to be run by the Tolkien people first, who I have to assume know their property as well or better than anyone else. Second, there isn't a dev team in existence with the learning or talent to mimic Tolkien convincingly. Blizzard certainly couldn't do it. These are computer people, not philologists, and certainly not philologists steeped in the Catholic worldview. Yes, that's a bit off-putting, but since I never expected absolute perfection in the fidelity department, I'm not disappointed. I'm just happy to have the broad strokes recreated and a plot-line that will eventually let me visit all the places from the books.

Bah well any Middle Earth game inevitably rubs me the wrong way becuase of this sort of thing...
This is what I suspected lay behind your obvious antipathy towards the game. I was all ready to feel something similar, but for some reason I haven't. I just look at LoTRO as a slightly different interpretation of the books than we're used to, done by people who aren't, and can't be expected to be, intellectually up to the task.

Nope. Minotaurs are from Greek mythology, and panda people are Blizzard's own innovation. Checkmate.
Saw you coming a mile away, extarbags, but I decided it wasn't worth the effort to mention. If someone can't see the obvious debt owed to Tolkien by way of D&D in every fantasy computer RPG ever made, they can't see anything.

EDIT: added "fantasy" to the last line, although it's probably not necessary, as the very idea of an adventuring party in itself came from Tolkien.

[Jafisob]

I didn't say it does everything best... but so far, the things it doesn't do well aren't to be found bettered in LoTRO, which, for the most part seems to be a WoW clone. I'd be happy to be shown to be wrong of course.

I dig you love the setting. That's a fine criteria to base game enjoyment on, truly. I don't think it's super important for most people though. For me the ennui set in early on... and beleive me I'm not a huuuge WoW fanboy/catass either.

Also someone mentioned that the little inconsistencies within the game would bother the true Tolkien fans, and already I have been annoyed by several. Now granted I may be a more rabid Lord of the Rings fan than most, but it's REALLY clear to me where the creators of LoTRO had to start making up their own place and person names, becuase they really don't fit very well. A little disappointing since as we well know Tolkien was a philologist and a stickler for detail and internal consistency. "Dol Ringwest"? Ouch.

Bah well any Middle Earth game inevitably rubs me the wrong way becuase of this sort of thing, and as other people have said, the gameplay is really the thing. If LoTRO blew me away with it's perosnality, charm, style, and engaging gameplay I am sure I would more easily overlook that sort of thing.

When I first heard of the game I thought that there was no way in heck they could pull it off, create an engaging game in the setting and keep the lore remotely consistent. I thought a game in the first age with more high magic and less required structure might have work better(Sort of like setting SWG in the time of KOTOR would have allowed for a better game for the player and allowed consistency with the SW universe). In any case I am very impressed that Turbine has managed to do so well with the setting. I see some genuinely great design decisions. I have yet to go, "WTF, why did you do that?", as I have in a few other MMORPGs that I have played or declined to play after beta(Vanguard).

Am I a fanboy or do I think LOTRO is the greatest game ever? Nope. Will I be playing LOTRO six months from now? Maybe, maybe not. LOTRO is an engaging and well made game set in the LOTR universe.

I do want to re-enforce one point made in this thread: The graphics and the relatively modest machine requirements to play LOTRO show somebody at Turbine really knows their sh*t.

[Marcin]

Does anyone have screenshots of the Shire that they can post? I was turned off by the art style of the elf starting area - just kept comparing it to Dun Morogh in WoW which I felt was a lot brighter and "alive", and was wondering if that would be an issue for me in the other zones too.

These aren't mine, but they're really nice and genuine (well, maybe posed a bit):
1 (http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/6861/screenshot00325in9.jpg) 2 (http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/5250/screenshot004881uy7.jpg) 3 (http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/6936/screenshot00205yo7.jpg) 4 (http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/3069/screenshot00310gs2.jpg) 5 (http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/5701/screenshot006471mo3.jpg)

[Kareem]

That looks MUCH nicer than the elf zone. Cheers Marcin.

[mutt]

Note to Kareem: The pics Marcin posted don't show any hobbit-holes, which I'm guessing is what you're after. Rest assured, they look very similar to the ones in the movies: more pics here (http://www.lotro.com/index.php?page_id=66&siid=14)

EDIT: I agree that the Celondim/Duillond starting area is probably the weakest starting area in the game. But Ered-Luin improves considerably once you get up around Gondamon and Kheredul.

[Kareem]

Heh, thanks for that too :P . Gonna make sure I reroll hobbit!

[AndrewM]

I have a bunch of star-whatever tobacco seeds, if any farmers out there want some. That's the tobacco you can grow with the journeyman skill without needing a recipe.

I'm also in desperate need of some boiled leather, if anybody wants to treat some skins for me. Also, it would be nice if somebody could make a campfire so I can make various foods for a cooking quest. I can cook whatever in return.

[marxeil]

Extar, you'll be pleased to find that LOTRO can be very easy on the hardware. It's retro-system-friendly!

-Tom
What exactly is 'retro'? I got an Athlon 2500, 512 MB and Radeon 9800. Is this retro or have I gone 'vintage'.

[extarbags]

What exactly is 'retro'? I got an Athlon 2500, 512 MB and Radeon 9800. Is this retro or have I gone 'vintage'.

My rig is an Athlon 1800+, 512MB, Radeon 9200 and it runs comfortably, albeit with very low graphics settings. I guess MMO developers are learning the lessons of Counterstrike and realizing they can hit a much broader market by targeting lower end systems rather than dazzling eye-candy.

[marxeil]

My rig is an Athlon 1800+, 512MB, Radeon 9200 and it runs comfortably, albeit with very low graphics settings. I guess MMO developers are learning the lessons of Counterstrike and realizing they can hit a much broader market by targeting lower end systems rather than dazzling eye-candy.
Well then, middle earth is middle earth. To download!

[Marcin]

I have a bunch of star-whatever tobacco seeds, if any farmers out there want some. That's the tobacco you can grow with the journeyman skill without needing a recipe.

I'm also in desperate need of some boiled leather, if anybody wants to treat some skins for me. Also, it would be nice if somebody could make a campfire so I can make various foods for a cooking quest. I can cook whatever in return.

Pretty sure explorers can boil leather, so Ceoleren can do that for you.

[Talisker]

Talisker, human minstrel and budding explorer (tailor, forester, prospector) joined up yesterday (and can assist with any leather boiling needs as well).

[Gordon Cameron]

Not at all. Where do you think a world populated by elves and dwarves and orcs and dragons came from?

Elves, dwarves, and dragons all had independent mythological existences long prior to Tolkien. He may have been the first person to put them all in the same place, though I am not sure about that. A definitive answer to that would probably need a closer look at Victorian fairy literature, fairy tales, pre-Tolkien authors ranging from Edmund Spenser to Lord Dunsany, etc.

Where do you think the whole swords and sorcery thing came from?

Not from Tolkien. Ever read Conan? King of Elfland's Daughter? The Fairy Queene? This stuff dates back at least to medieval romances, and some elements can be traced to ancient Greek mythology for that matter. Tolkien was one, and probably the most important, of several authors (along with Howard, Dunsany, Eddison, and probably a few others) who synthesized this stuff for modern audiences, but he hardly invented this genre whole-cloth!

Where do you think the idea of a group of adventurers composed of various races, classes and specialties came from?

I trace the concept of a "party of adventurers" in CRPGs back to D&D, and have generally assumed that it was hatched at the time as a device for cooperative play among multiple people -- not as a concept borrowed from the Fellowship. Could be wrong on this, though.

Where do you think magic bread that restores your health came from?

You think the game mechanic of eating/drinking to restore health and mana was based on lembas? I'm sorry, but that is really a stretch.

The entire WoW mythos--so far as there is one--is derived from Tolkien. Let me put it more bluntly: WoW is nothing but yet another generic, blatant ripoff of Tolkien. It's all fine and good for you guys to pretend WoW was the firstest with the mostest, but it manifestly wasn't. It's a well-designed game built around nothing original whatsoever.

Anyone who says WoW's subject matter is original is being silly. But the fantasy CRPG genre has borrowed from other sources than Tolkien. Its most obvious progenitor is D&D, which itself borrows in part from Tolkien, from Fritz Leiber, from Robert E. Howard, and from various mythologies (Greek, Norse, Egyptian, and so forth). Obviously Tolkien looms extremely large in the picture, larger than any other modern source, but what of that? Genres grow largely by a process of imitation with modification. Tolkien was the master of that. He didn't invent elves, or dwarves, or dragons, or adventurers, or magic, or swords, or goblins. He did invent Hobbits, I will give him that much. But his work was mostly a process of synthesis of pre-existing elements that in some cases date back hundreds or thousands of years.

Again, I'm not arguing that WoW is remotely original -- nobody could reasonably claim it was. I balk at your raising up LOTR as a sort of wellspring of all things fantasy, though. The origins of this genre are far more complex than that.

[Jab2565]

A friend of mine at Eb gave me a copy of the preorder bonus, I'm still debating whether or not to install it. On the back it says that the founder's club bonus is that the game is 9.99 monthly, does that mean that people who don't preorder have to spend $15 monthly?

[Sharpe]

Elves, dwarves, and dragons all had independent mythological existences long prior to Tolkien. <snip extensive historical discussion of the origin of various elements of fantasy>

Although I think your historical analysis is solid, I think you are somewhat missing the forest for the trees. Specifically I think Tolken is the "Elvis" of fantasy: he popularized to a mass audience a particular mix of creative elements that has come to define the genre. The individual elements all had their various historical origins, but Tolkein was the one whose particular mix burst into the mass audience and staked a homestead in the popular psyche. Tolkien is IMO clearly the dominant influence on "modern high fantasy".

One of the prime vectors of the Tolkeinization of modern fantasy was D&D - the original AD&D along with the first couple of decades of D&D product were *heavily* influenced by Tolkien.

The specific mix of races, classes, monsters, that have come to dominate modern "high" fantasy is all strong influenced by Tolkein. There are many individual elements, but the whole "high fantasy mileu" can trace its phylogeny directly to Tolkein IMO.

Right now, we are seeing the gradual introduction of new themes into the gestalt (like WoW's modest sci-fi elements or steam-punk aspects) but from the beginning of "modern high fantasy" as a cultural form from around 1975 to now, its all very heavily Tolkein based.

[Jafisob]

Although I think your historical analysis is solid, I think you are somewhat missing the forest for the trees. Specifically I think Tolken is the "Elvis" of fantasy: he popularized to a mass audience a particular mix of creative elements that has come to define the genre. The individual elements all had their various historical origins, but Tolkein was the one whose particular mix burst into the mass audience and staked a homestead in the popular psyche. Tolkien is IMO clearly the dominant influence on "modern high fantasy".

One of the prime vectors of the Tolkeinization of modern fantasy was D&D - the original AD&D along with the first couple of decades of D&D product were *heavily* influenced by Tolkien.

The specific mix of races, classes, monsters, that have come to dominate modern "high" fantasy is all strong influenced by Tolkein. There are many individual elements, but the whole "high fantasy mileu" can trace its phylogeny directly to Tolkein IMO.

Right now, we are seeing the gradual introduction of new themes into the gestalt (like WoW's modest sci-fi elements or steam-punk aspects) but from the beginning of "modern high fantasy" as a cultural form from around 1975 to now, its all very heavily Tolkein based.

I was going to respond to Gordon but Sharpe did it first and said much of what I would have said and worded better than I would have.

I would want to add that I played D&D when it first came out in the early 70s and it was most definetly a _strong_ deriviative of Tolkien's work. Elves, dwarfs, orcs, goblins, hobbits, ents, and other things directly from Tolkien(or directly from Tolkien's vision/flavor of these fantasy elements). All of us that played it back then knew we were playing a LOTR PnP game. At some point TSR even had to change hobbits(to Halflings), ents(to treents), and other things because of copyright issues.

I would say that Tolkien first**, followed a distance second by Howard, and third by other fantasty elements(traditional legends, Poul Anderson, etc.) are the foundations of modern fantasy PnP RPGs and mmorpgs.

**Tolkien was always open on how much he was influenced by legends are folklore.


WoW was also heavily influenced by the Warhammer universe to the point I am suprised they were not sued.

WoW also did some things that many people, myself included, had been saying about the whole MMORPG industry for a few years. Stop pimping your player base: we play to have fun, make things more fun, more quests, less zoning, more immersion, less death penalties and less grinding. Implementing these ideas so well, more than the common sense behind the ideas, is part of WoW's success I am sure. The fact that you can come out after WoW and miss the whole point amazes me. WTF were the people behind Vanguard thinking? The writing is on the wall.

[scotthal]

For one as compulsive as I, the availability of the "Undefeated" title is indistinguishable from permadeath. Around level 7 or so I get careless, let my guard down, and die. I try to keep playing, but the fact that I'll never have that title gnaws away at me until I delete the character and start over. At least I'm getting to see all the starting areas.

If I ever manage to be careful enough to achieve Undefeatedness, I'll apply for the kinship.

[Talisker]

Undefeated is only level 10 -- word is there are other titles at 14 and 20.

[bigdruid]

So, aside from all of the arguments over the primacy of Tolkien as the backstory for fantasy games, what do people feel like LOTRO does well, compared to WoW?

I liked the scripted feel of some of the quests (including the opening quest for my hobbit burglar with the Nazgul). But then I got into combat, and it really felt like I was playing EQ back in 2000 again, drumming my fingers on the 1/2/3 keys at random.

So I loved the feeling of being part of a grander, cohesive story that doesn't suck, but the actual act of whacking wolves with a sharp stick (which, let's face it, is 90% of any MMO) just seemed a little tepid to me in LOTRO and I'm trying to figure out why.

Perhaps it's just this character class that's slow to warm up?

[AndrewM]

I'm enjoying my defender more than I did my burglar. I think a burglar is probably more interesting in groups, where you can try to get around behind monsters, instead of just sitting there whacking away.

[Geo]

I don't know any MMO where the early going is scintillating. By the time you're 10, you'll have so many attack keys you won't know what to do with them. :)

My hunter's 10 and I have a lot of fun with it, and trying at least some different combinations of attacks. I am not crazy about the melee character models "overlapping" each other as they do in WoW so I just find ranged attacking more fun.

Anyway, I pre-ordered just today. I can't really explain why i'm responeding to it. It's definitely gorgeous, and it doesn't need a quad turbo multi-CPU with $500 videocard to run well; beyond that I just enjoy the quests, the not-too-hard-to-understand crafting and the general feel and polish of the game. I can't really argue that the combat is a million miles different than WoW, DaoC or what have you but I enjoy it more than in those games for reasons I really can't figure. :)

Anyway, I'm mainly "Georic" on Elendilmir (10 hunter, human), so look me up any time. And I'll boil leather for free, make you a nice bow, or remove your splinters. ;)

A glimpse, I love the "Blindside" attack which lets you poke someone at melee distance (like Legolas in the movies) with an arrow quickly, and then follow up with a bow attack.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y121/corporalgeo/LOTR/SkillsBlindside.jpg

[Robert Sharp]

I don't find the game particularly attractive, but maybe I haven't seen enough of it yet. The models themselves do little for me.

[Ryan A]

Bradan, Man Captain

[flyinj]

Flynne, Elf Hunter

[mono]

Bludgeon, Man Burglar

[mlatin]

Potrzebie, Dwarf Champion.

[Jason Lutes]

Potrzebie, Dwarf Champion.
Oh yes.

[Jason Lutes]

Ashwald, Man Burglar

[Peter Frazier]

Wilbur, Man Hunter.
Also, I have no clue about this MMORPG thing. It took me half an hour to figure out how to chat in guild.
Rely on me at your own risk....

[mutt]

Also, I have no clue about this MMORPG thing. It took me half an hour to figure out how to chat in guild.
F7 is your friend.

[Deadbuffalo]

I'm still fooling around with a couple of characters as I figure out what class is best for me. I've tried Captain and Loremaster; right now i'm going with a portly hobbit guardian, Dasho.

[Laralyn]

I just added you to my friend's list, Tom. So far I have a human female Captain named Merien. I'll edit this and probably add another character later, since I'm intrigued by the idea of a hobbit burglar. :-)

[spacerat]

Freebird, Elf Minstrel

[TomChick]

If anyone's still waiting on clan invite, let me know and I can make arrangements to be on at a certain time if you're not in yet. Also, I have three characters on the server, so you can friend Alberich, Curie, and Delia if you need to catch me when I'm online.

-Tom

[wisefool]

Toun, hobbit minstrel. Go go pies!

[roguefrog]

Pulls out Index of Names in the back of The Silmarillion:

My name is going to be Fingolfinibrimiglorfingorm Oakengilgorbaggothmog , Vala Istari/Burglar/Horselord of Rohan dual wielding Glamdring and Sting!

[triggercut]

I have created Googli and Moogli. Both guys are dorfs.

[wisefool]

Ok here i copied all the posts:

Orland BitterCynic
Peatickles LesJarvis
Aphrodite muttbunch Hobbit Burglar
Ceoleren Marcin Man Captain
Ordaric Ezdaar Man Captain
Astromar Whitta
Brestage extarbags
Limmsayes exterbags
Foozilbarmumboz barstein Elf Loremaster
Eviscerond Balut Elf Champion
Terd Myth
Wulfbur AndrewM
Nairb Gladguy Man Loremaster
Zdar Jafisob Elf Hunter
Goobar barstein
Talisker Andrew Myers
Bradan Ryan A
Flynne Flyinj
Bludgeon Mono
Potrzebie Mlatin
Ashwald Jason Lutes
Wilbur Peter Frazier
Freebird Spacerat
Googli Triggercut
Moogli

[Ryan A]

I made a dwarf guardian named Bildad as well.

[Greg Williams]

Joining the boat, I made a Man Guardian name Anzgar (or close to it).

[balut]

Oh, I wasn't too fond of my Elf Champion, so I rolled two new characters:

Ritternacht, Man Captain

Gunnar, Dwarf Guardian

[Lorini]

i'm on as daile until 6:30, and I can do invites, so message me

[Odysseus]

Belphor, Man Captain

[MythicalMino]

i forgot...

Sarwyn, female Man Champion (probably won't keep this one though)
Azaria, female Elf Lore Master

[Banzai]

Started an elf hunter yesterday named Leggylass.

[Saxman_72]

Fehrwyn, Man Champion

[Super_D]

Ok, I've been kinned. I'm Amishori, Dwarven Guardian. By Thorin's beard I'm exhausted from all of the running back and forth.

[TomChick]

If you'd like a list of who's playing which character, I've reworked the first page of this thread (http://www.quartertothree.com/game-talk/showpost.php?p=944463&postcount=1) to make it easier to reference.

-Tom

[MythicalMino]

oh....you might want to delete Sarwyn out of there....I deleted her today. But I will be making a Captain very soon....

[Phred]

You can add me on Faydra, hobbit minstrel and Fayde, human burgler. (man burgler just sounds dirty somehow.)

[Mister Widget]

You can add me to the list as Totho, Hobbit Burglar, and Tarsier, Human Guardian.

[Laralyn]

Anyone going to be on tonight who can do guild invitations? I deleted Merien (captains just burn too much power to work well for solo, IMHO) and have a couple new characters I'd like to get into the guild:

Merien (new and improved!), elven champion
Liza, hobbit burglar

[Xemu]

Woo, Hawksdottir is level 15 now. Time to put her on ice until release. I had a ton of fun being a tank for a group of fellow Knights doing Chapter 10 though! Never really been a tank in an MMO before and I'm enjoying it immensely so far.

Also kicked off Xemu, the Human Captain...

[Gladguy]

Woo, Hawksdottir is level 15 now. Time to put her on ice until release. I had a ton of fun being a tank for a group of fellow Knights doing Chapter 10 though! Never really been a tank in an MMO before and I'm enjoying it immensely so far.

Also kicked off Xemu, the Human Captain...
Yeah, that was fun. We had trouble with it the first go 'round, then when you showed up it was pie.

[MythicalMino]

Azaria is now lvl 13....heh, and still in the Prologue. "I must be doing something wrong".

I haven't even really gotten out of Erud Luin yet!!

My newest character is a Man Captain, named Dimmelion.

Chris

[Jason Lutes]

There's some really great stuff in this game. I finally finished the prologue at level 12, and I really enjoyed the final hideout mission. The "throne room" was very cool. I'm also really digging the dwarf starting zone with the Guardian I rolled up last night. If the interior environments continue to be of this quality, I can see sticking with the game purely as an explorer. I'm finding the moody/serious feel to be a nice change of pace, too.

[Alan Dunkin]

Signed up as Hawksteel (the Hunter) finally.

--- Alan

[AndrewM]

I need to start playing later in the day. When I hop on for a few hours in the morning (EDT) , it seems like not many people are on. I'm at a mission in the story line that requires assaulting a camp of Evil Dwarfs that I don't think my hunter will be able to handle alone. I could find a random pickup group, but that's less fun.

[spacerat]

I need to start playing later in the day. When I hop on for a few hours in the morning (EDT) , it seems like not many people are on. I'm at a mission in the story line that requires assaulting a camp of Evil Dwarfs that I don't think my hunter will be able to handle alone. I could find a random pickup group, but that's less fun.


Thats the one in the Shire right? I'm working on hobbit Hunter, Snoot (not in the Qt3 guild yet), and I probably will be picking up that mission shortly. Send me a tell if you want to give it a try...

[AndrewM]

No, it is in Dwarf/Elf land. Thanks, though.

[Robert Sharp]

Clear space by kicking Forlan out of the guild. I won't be playing at release anyway, and the free trial is nearing an end.

[Jason Cross]

My new character is a Man Hunter named Morgwyn. I think I prefer that class to the minstrel. I had enough being the squishy healer in WoW. :)

Oh, and I'm doing the woodsman thing... what is that, forestry, farming, and uh...something else.

[Peter Frazier]

Forestry, woodworking and farming. I wouldn't advise it. Explorer is a better vocation for a hunter. You get to wander the wilderness trapping beasts, chopping wood and prospecting ore. It also bundles tailoring but I don't know much about that. It could have a bit of synergy if it requires hides.

[Marcin]

Are Explorers the only ones that can mine? I have a Captain and a Guardian, I'm thinking I should do some sort of armorer or armsman on one, and metal gatherer/producer on other ...

[AndrewM]

Tailoring does use hides. I haven't gotten enough hides to make more than a few pieces of armor for myself. I have a hunter-explorer. It does work nicely.

According to this (http://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Professions), Armourer, Armsman, Explorer, and Tinker have prospector.

[barstein]

If you'd like a list of who's playing which character, I've reworked the first page of this thread (http://www.quartertothree.com/game-talk/showpost.php?p=944463&postcount=1) to make it easier to reference.

-TomJust rolled Frobizzmus, Man Hunter. Felt like a change of scenery (both landscape and back of dwarf head), but still curious about Explorer profession.

[Laralyn]

Tom, can you mark on that list everyone who can do a guild invitation? I'm having trouble meeting up with anyone who can get me back in the guild. I deleted the only character who was in it. :)

You can also add me on the list with Liza (hobbit burglar) and Eoeve (human minstrel).

Thanks!

[Jafisob]

My new character is a Man Hunter named Morgwyn. I think I prefer that class to the minstrel. I had enough being the squishy healer in WoW. :)

Oh, and I'm doing the woodsman thing... what is that, forestry, farming, and uh...something else.


Ironically I think hunters are far squishier than the self-healing minstrels. With the amount of DPS a hunter puts out you are also very likely to get aggro. If you don't want to be squishy and still have good DPS try a champion.

On another note, I concur that explorer is a good profession because of two prime harvesting abilities. Armsman(you can make bows/spears and swords/maces/axes) also looks like a good profession for an alt if you have your main(or another alt) that can mail you harvested wood

[Mark Crump]

How are the Dwarven starting areas?

[mutt]

Woo woo! I'm now in possession of one LoTRO, Special Edition! It shipped Saturday and I received it today from Gamestop.

Not that it makes that much difference... :)

[Jason Lutes]

How are the Dwarven starting areas?
My favorite so far. I haven't tried out the Shire yet, but I love the sheer scale of Ered Luin, and the music is great.

[TomChick]

Okay, the list is updated now with asterisks for characters who can send /invites. As usual, let me know if I've left off your character.

Does anyone know of a better way to post a formatted list on the forum without using the stupid <code> tag that sticks it into a window?

-Tom

[mutt]

Here's how to use vb code to do it: link ( http://www.quartertothree.com/game-talk/misc.php?do=bbcode#list)

Here's how it looks:


Number one
Number two
Number three

[TomChick]

But then it screws up the formatting that keeps the character and player names at an even distance. Bah, stupid forum software.

-Tom

[AndrewM]

You could commission Alan Au to make a JPG a la "Bananas and Nuts".

[Peter Frazier]

Okay Tom, time to give my alt some love. Eafe, female human Champion.
Probably a Grand Master Prospector in a week's time as well, given my OCD in regards to resource gathering....

[Xemu]

I'm guessing we'll have to remake the Kinship in the live environment. But who knows... :)

I'm hoping the local Gamestop gets it when I get back from business travel on Thursday...

[AndrewM]

They are supposed to persist. Only preorder customers could make them, I read.

[John Reynolds]

Tom, please add my hobbit hunter, Trestolt, to the list when you get a chance.

[Jason Lutes]

They are supposed to persist. Only preorder customers could make them, I read.

I've just logged into my pre-order version of the game and the Knights of Quarter to Three are indeed alive and well.

[Alan Dunkin]

Er you can probably count me out, I played the pre-order for a bit but decided I should probably only pay for one MMO right now and can't justify the extra expense. Plus it's still a bit choppy on my box.

--- Alan

[Ryan A]

I'm totally hooked.

additional character of mine in the guild:
Prufrock: Man Minstrel
Taliesen: Elf Champion

[Dave V]

Could not preorder so Man Champion Cormathir is dead. Say hello to Man Champion Serthelion !

[Talisker]

Could not preorder so Man Champion Cormathir is dead. Say hello to Man Champion Serthelion !
Cormathir's still listed in the kinship; maybe they didn't clear out beta toons at all. (Did they ever say they would? All I remember seeing was "if you pre-order, you can keep your open beta characters!" -- while that implies non-preorder toons would get deleted, it doesn't really say that outright).

... or did they cancel your open beta account?

[AndrewM]

I think I read that you could keep your beta characters even if you didn't preorder. You just don't get the preorder bonuses. Which is why the characters aren't deleted.

[wisefool]

Open map. Upper left hand corner are FILTERS. They will show vendors, pools and the such in Bree (they don't really show much at all in the Shire.)

Macros - Found a nice page. I knew about /alias but didn't know about /shortcut. Seems handy for emoting that you're being attacked or things of the sort.

http://lotro.warcry.com/content/guides/alias_macros

Example - there is already a built in macro called ;loc that gives your coordinates in cardinal format. this macro shortens it to ;l and prevents you from spamming your chat channel.

/alias ;l /tell mycharname Your current location is ;loc.

OPTIONS:
Voice chat - Enable so you can at least hear people. It's a blast and makes coordination much easier.
Combat options - enable target forwarding ON - it enables the standard assist. otherwise you'd have to manually press F to assist.
if you're a hobbit, shut off your shoes!

CONJUNCTIONS JUNCTION what's your function
Src: [url]http://lotro.allakhazam.com/db/guides.html?guide=936/url]
Executive summary for 6 person fellowship. It's basically poker hands.
3 Pairs
2 Three of a Kinds
1 Four of a Kind, 1 Pair.
1 Five of a Kind, 1 Add.
6 of Kind.
Or just circle the wheel.

For 4 players, two pairs seem most useful - yellow/yellow/blue/blue gives power AND a dot.

[AndrewM]

The handiest interface thing I've learned (besides remapping f to be run always) is that shift-right-click on a corpse loots everything. Though an autoloot that grabs everything within reach would be nicer.

[edited to correct my shift-ctrl confusion]