Lord of The Rings Online

[ubermensch]

Does anyone else play or am I a geek, alone in the wilderness?

[Johnny5]

I don't, it looks quite good though.

How does it compare to WoW? You played that?

[ubermensch]

Originally Posted by johnny?

I don't, it looks quite good though.

How does it compare to WoW? You played that?

Aye, it's similar in some ways. The interface, controls etc are practically identical; it seems they've used that format because it seems to work well (i.e. by blatantly ripping it off).

The gameplay's pretty different though. Whereas I found it really hard to get into WoW (and subsequently cancelled my account before the first month was up), this is totally different and I've been sucked in really easily. The group quests ('Fellowship' quests) are really fun and makes playing the game more enjoyable.

I also think the community on a whole is a lot friendlier, and I've not seen anyone being rude or snidey in the chat channels. It's a refreshing experience, especially for a MMORPG.

[scottyboy]

i've been thinking about getting it but it doesn't look that great to be honest. my complaint is not so much that its apparently wow-in-middle-earth, more just that it seems very limited compared to some other mmos (hopefully) just around the corner. e.g. it only has a few classes, whereas conan will have 23and warhammer 24...

actually, the interface, controls etc being similars probably not an issue to most people, who will heavily customize it (assuming the company permits it...)

[ubermensch]

Originally Posted by scottyboy

i've been thinking about getting it but it doesn't look that great to be honest. my complaint is not so much that its apparently wow-in-middle-earth, more just that it seems very limited compared to some other mmos (hopefully) just around the corner. e.g. it only has a few classes, whereas conan will have 23and warhammer 24...

The thing that's quite good about it is that each class is pretty customisable. You can further tweak your character within that class by equipping certain 'traits', which define what sort of branch of that class you're most like (if that makes sense).

It works quite well, and everyone is capable of doing a little healing, ending the age old 'need a healer LOL' when you're hunting for people to join your group.

The prospect of 23 classes scares me... I like the way this works because the class options are initially limited, but once you play it more you realise that you can tweak it to your taste. For instance, you can have two captains in a group, but they don't necessarily fulfill the same role e.g. one can do more healing/motivational spells, the other can knock the shit out of things.

Originally Posted by scottyboy

actually, the interface, controls etc being similars probably not an issue to most people, who will heavily customize it (assuming the company permits it...)

It is customisable, but the familiarity is a good thing. If you've played WoW or any other MMORPG then it's got a really easy learning curve.

[Johnny5]

Originally Posted by ubermensch

Aye, it's similar in some ways. The interface, controls etc are practically identical; it seems they've used that format because it seems to work well (i.e. by blatantly ripping it off).

The gameplay's pretty different though. Whereas I found it really hard to get into WoW (and subsequently cancelled my account before the first month was up), this is totally different and I've been sucked in really easily. The group quests ('Fellowship' quests) are really fun and makes playing the game more enjoyable.

I also think the community on a whole is a lot friendlier, and I've not seen anyone being rude or snidey in the chat channels. It's a refreshing experience, especially for a MMORPG.

That sounds interesting. I'm a bit of a geek for LOTR as it is and I love WoW (or did) and so it seems like a natural progression, haha.

Next I'll move onto crack cocaine as they seem similar in many ways.

[Keerin]

Wait, Warhammer MMORPG?!

[scottyboy]

Originally Posted by Keerin

Wait, Warhammer MMORPG?!

EA Mythic - Warhammer Online

if i get it im thinking ill pick a goblin squig herder

edit: and its been moved back til 2008, bugger

[Keerin]

Well I play Orcs and Goblins anyway so I'd probably choose something similar. If you get Black Orc's I'd be them! haha. Create my own Grimgor Ironhide!

[scottyboy]

Age of Conan : Hyborian Adventures

if anyones interested. even though this has loads of classes, you start out without a class, before picking an 'archetype' after a few levels, then after some more levels you pick the final class. so you could pick mage as your archetype before eventually choosing necromancer as your speciality, for example. also, the game is apparently aimed at older players, as opposed to wow or even warhammer.

neither warhammer, conan or even lotro can fail to be better than wow though. it was great when it came out in 2005; its been a massive pile of wank for at least a year.

[scottyboy]

Originally Posted by Keerin

Well I play Orcs and Goblins anyway so I'd probably choose something similar. If you get Black Orc's I'd be them! haha. Create my own Grimgor Ironhide!

yes, black orcs are in there...

[ubermensch]

Oi, enough of your Warhammer pish.

Back to LOTR!

[Johnny5]

I (foolishly?) bought this off Play at the weekend. Should arrive tomorrow. Looking forward to trying it out at least. I grew bored with WoW months ago so it'll be nice to have a 'new world'. I hope it's not too similar.

Plus it's Lord of The Rings of which i am a massive geek.

Looking forward to the friendly community you described. Hopefully not full of little kids 'owning' each other.

[Johnny5]

Awesome game.