Now that I've been out of MMOs for far too long, I've been looking into the current market. I refuse to play WoW as my brain works beyond point and click, and roughly 8 million 12 year olds isn't an entertaining market for me to buy into.
However, I'm at the point where I'm butting heads on two options here. Mainly I'm posting here to get conjecture and input to help me make my decision. To make this a bit more relevant, my background of MMOs includes Dark Age of Camelot (49 Ranger) and EverQuest (50 Druid). I've put some time into Guild Wars but was incredibly disappointed with it. I'm looking for an experience relatively similar to what EverQuest was at launch and with the customizable options of a hybrid EQ/DAoC system, or damn near close to it.
1.) Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar - I have essentially one question here that'll help tip the balance.
Is the gameplay too linear?
From what I've read so far it plays like a book, which isn't really surprising, but this was the reason I can't stand Guild Wars. I want an MMO that lets me wander around, towns that allow me to interact, free roaming all races and interaction.
Just how customizable are the classes?
From what I've read again, it seems like everyone is ultimately the same, you unlock abilities for your class, buy them, and move on, no real free choice or mix and match. I understand it's how you use those abilities but I'd rather be discernible from other players of the same class.
Thanks for any replies guys.
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Also, if it were possible, would someone be willing to toss me a trial key? I'll probably head out tomorrow and pick up LotRO:SoA but a trial would be nice. As for the stickied thread about requesting a key, my post count is low as I've been out of the MMO scene for a while, but I was much more active way back when the Alla forums only really had EverQuest and Out of Topic, Smash, Kao, fun folk like that, was when I was active. Mainly in the asylum you'd find people who recall me.
Hey Black. I remember you. PM me your e-mail and I'll send a code to you this afternoon. I need the e-mail because Turbine generates the code and e-mails it directly to the trial user.
Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
I realize I did jack to answer your questions... heh
Gameplay: The game is somewhat more linear than others I've played but I don't think it's terribly so. You are virtually guaranteed to over-shoot some quest chains by out-levelling them simply by taking on other quests. Probably the tightest bottleneck is around lvls 10-18 when most everyone is in Bree & the first part of Lone Lands but it geographically splits after that and nothing is keeping you from exploring except fear of your own death. Keep in mind that you're not likely to find many quests as a lvl 15 in a lvl 40 zone but that's no different than any other MMORPG.
The gameworld is on the smallish side, though. I found plenty to explore and check out but it's no Norrath or anything. Not even really a Classic Norrath yet. But they do pack interesting things in fairly densely as opposed to vast open Plains of Karana which serve no purpose except to make the walk take longer.
Characters: Well, a lvl 25 Champion is a lvl 25 Champion for the most part but that's the same in most games. Besides changes in equipment from character to character, the biggest place to customize yourself is with traits. Traits are bonuses you earn by completing generally involve grinding a specific mob type (I won't lie to you) or exploration. For example, completing enough quests in Lone Lands earns you a point of the trait Charity whereas exploring North Downs earns you a point of Confidence. These traits are cumulative with themselves (another point of Charity will stack to make Charity2) but you can only slot so many at a time. Basically, this gives you the ability to customize your character with extra bonuses. So you can have a Lore-Master with lots of Fate for extra Power regen or else instead boost up his low mitigations and Morale (hit points) via other traits. You can customize your Champion to make for a better off-tank or else raise up his chances for critical hits and extra strength. Those are mainly "virtues", but other traits are class or race specific and may increase your damage with a weapon type or grant special abilities or buff your pets or whatever.
Intelligent slotting of traits can really help define your character and help it match your play style.
Edited, Aug 23rd 2007 2:11:02pm by Jophiel
Gameplay: The game is somewhat more linear than others I've played but I don't think it's terribly so. You are virtually guaranteed to over-shoot some quest chains by out-levelling them simply by taking on other quests. Probably the tightest bottleneck is around lvls 10-18 when most everyone is in Bree & the first part of Lone Lands but it geographically splits after that and nothing is keeping you from exploring except fear of your own death. Keep in mind that you're not likely to find many quests as a lvl 15 in a lvl 40 zone but that's no different than any other MMORPG.
The gameworld is on the smallish side, though. I found plenty to explore and check out but it's no Norrath or anything. Not even really a Classic Norrath yet. But they do pack interesting things in fairly densely as opposed to vast open Plains of Karana which serve no purpose except to make the walk take longer.
Characters: Well, a lvl 25 Champion is a lvl 25 Champion for the most part but that's the same in most games. Besides changes in equipment from character to character, the biggest place to customize yourself is with traits. Traits are bonuses you earn by completing generally involve grinding a specific mob type (I won't lie to you) or exploration. For example, completing enough quests in Lone Lands earns you a point of the trait Charity whereas exploring North Downs earns you a point of Confidence. These traits are cumulative with themselves (another point of Charity will stack to make Charity2) but you can only slot so many at a time. Basically, this gives you the ability to customize your character with extra bonuses. So you can have a Lore-Master with lots of Fate for extra Power regen or else instead boost up his low mitigations and Morale (hit points) via other traits. You can customize your Champion to make for a better off-tank or else raise up his chances for critical hits and extra strength. Those are mainly "virtues", but other traits are class or race specific and may increase your damage with a weapon type or grant special abilities or buff your pets or whatever.
Intelligent slotting of traits can really help define your character and help it match your play style.
Edited, Aug 23rd 2007 2:11:02pm by Jophiel
Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
Indeed. One of the older LMs that quit (can't recall his name) had close to 4k morale, and apparently had over 250 might, due to traits and equipment. Needless to say, he was a pain.
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