Hi,
I am a researcher writing about LotRO, particularly focusing on Monster Play vs. regular game play. It would be really valuable to hear about your experiences, so any comment, short or long is very much appreciated. I am particularly interested to hear:
- Do you like to do Monster Play in LotRO? Why?
- In PvMP, do you prefer playing a creep or freep - and can you give some reasons for your choice?
- Which things do you consider while creating characters in LotRO?
Many thanks in advance - you can send your responses to: fransmayra@gmail.com. You can learn more about my work from here: http://www.uta.fi/~frans.mayra/
Cheers; - Fransiscus, a LotRO player and games researcher
- Forums
- Cross Site
- General Video Game Discussion
- Questions about Monster Play
Questions about Monster PlayFollow
I have not played since Moria went live. The vast discrepancies between creep and freep functions and the fluctuations in play by the constant attempts at balancing the two sides has made the whole system ponderous and unsatisfying (in my opinion). Still many people still play and if you read the LoTRO forums are still quite passionate about the format.
I think it would have been better served if you played a freep much like you play a creep (not on your PvE avatar), where you choose from a list of 'classes' for PvP. Both sides could have been better balanced without affecting PVE at all.
I think it would have been better served if you played a freep much like you play a creep (not on your PvE avatar), where you choose from a list of 'classes' for PvP. Both sides could have been better balanced without affecting PVE at all.
You state that you are a "researcher". Does that really mean you are a college student doing a paper on the subject of MMOs?
3 posts
Hi all,
Many thanks for all the responses - and even more of those are most welcome. To the question about my credentials to do research, I can of course provide my cv (http://www.uta.fi/~frans.mayra/cv.html) -- the games research work that I have been leading has particularly focused on game design research, and study of games as culture, but RPG/MMORPG field is a personal interest of mine, so I am very happy about all the information sent to my questions.
Greetings; - Fransiscus
Many thanks for all the responses - and even more of those are most welcome. To the question about my credentials to do research, I can of course provide my cv (http://www.uta.fi/~frans.mayra/cv.html) -- the games research work that I have been leading has particularly focused on game design research, and study of games as culture, but RPG/MMORPG field is a personal interest of mine, so I am very happy about all the information sent to my questions.
Greetings; - Fransiscus
OBD said: I think you jumped the gun a tad OBD :) If you had clicked on his link you would see he looks to be legit (even if it is Finland). This does not look to be one of the myriad requests from lazy people for information for half-baked student projects.
Although looking for answers about LoTRO on Allakhazam might not be the best forum, (unless he is REALLY reserching who goes to which LoTRO forum sites hehe).
If he does in fact play LoTRO like he claims, he should know about Turbine's extensive forums. You would garner much more information for your research there than here.
Quote:
You state that you are a "researcher". Does that really mean you are a college student doing a paper on the subject of MMOs?
Although looking for answers about LoTRO on Allakhazam might not be the best forum, (unless he is REALLY reserching who goes to which LoTRO forum sites hehe).
If he does in fact play LoTRO like he claims, he should know about Turbine's extensive forums. You would garner much more information for your research there than here.
Dottiel wrote:
I think you jumped the gun a tad OBD :) If you had clicked on his link you would see he looks to be legit (even if it is Finland). This does not look to be one of the myriad requests from lazy people for information for half-baked student projects.
I'm not convinced Dot. Who is to say that this page is his and not that of his professor?
Beyond that is there really that much distance between a student who is looking for an easy road to a passing grade and a professor who is looking for an easy road to research funding?
It always rankles my fur when outsiders come to the forums here with the desire to gawk and point. Beyond that, MMOs are the flavor of the month and I resent being used for a quick stroke.
Well not being as cynical as you, I did have some reservations about the OP and I always have reservations about so-called 'research' into MMO gaming. The only research you need do is play the game (imho).
Many of these 'studies' seem like the questions are written by aliens coming to earth to interview humans. Too many start with the assumption that these people (gamers) obviously have something wrong with them and they try to apply pseudo-science to explain behaviors. It's a game. It is like reading a book. You will gain no insight into the human psyche from whether a person creates a female elf Lore-master or a warg Stalker. You are writing (fantasy) fiction, you are not exhibiting latent behaviors worthy of Freud or that other guy [Jung].
The OPs questions seem innocuous enough, but again I would be curious as to his real research objective (be it a student poser or whatever). You must be some deviant to want to play an Orc Defiler (named Flingdung no less)...oops...tmi...:)
Edited, Nov 20th 2009 9:41am by Dottiel
Many of these 'studies' seem like the questions are written by aliens coming to earth to interview humans. Too many start with the assumption that these people (gamers) obviously have something wrong with them and they try to apply pseudo-science to explain behaviors. It's a game. It is like reading a book. You will gain no insight into the human psyche from whether a person creates a female elf Lore-master or a warg Stalker. You are writing (fantasy) fiction, you are not exhibiting latent behaviors worthy of Freud or that other guy [Jung].
The OPs questions seem innocuous enough, but again I would be curious as to his real research objective (be it a student poser or whatever). You must be some deviant to want to play an Orc Defiler (named Flingdung no less)...oops...tmi...:)
Edited, Nov 20th 2009 9:41am by Dottiel
3 posts
Hi all,
I just wanted once again to thank everyone who responded, here, in email and in other forums, and let you know that I am closing this phase of my research now, so I cannot process any more responses, thank you. I am mostly using my own gameplay experiences as the material for my analysis, but I also believe in benefits of interdisciplinary and multi-methodological dialogue (it is good to hear other people's views, too). The key emphasis of my analysis will be on the particular aesthetic and cultural traditions that monsters of various kinds have served in the history, and how the situation changes (if it does), when yourself will 'be' the monster (in the various senses that the players give to their Monster Play experiences, slightly different from case to case). In addition to LotRO, I will be discussing several other games where monstrosity, demons or 'playing the evil side' is somehow a notable feature (ranging from Doom to Dungeon Keeper to World of Warcraft). A somewhat theoretical earlier book of mine on the related themes can be found online here: http://www.uta.fi/~frans.mayra/Demon_2005/ - and the book on LotRO including my article should be coming out from Manchester University Press at some point in 2010, if everything goes as planned. Again, many thanks -- play well, play hard! :-)
- Fransiscus
I just wanted once again to thank everyone who responded, here, in email and in other forums, and let you know that I am closing this phase of my research now, so I cannot process any more responses, thank you. I am mostly using my own gameplay experiences as the material for my analysis, but I also believe in benefits of interdisciplinary and multi-methodological dialogue (it is good to hear other people's views, too). The key emphasis of my analysis will be on the particular aesthetic and cultural traditions that monsters of various kinds have served in the history, and how the situation changes (if it does), when yourself will 'be' the monster (in the various senses that the players give to their Monster Play experiences, slightly different from case to case). In addition to LotRO, I will be discussing several other games where monstrosity, demons or 'playing the evil side' is somehow a notable feature (ranging from Doom to Dungeon Keeper to World of Warcraft). A somewhat theoretical earlier book of mine on the related themes can be found online here: http://www.uta.fi/~frans.mayra/Demon_2005/ - and the book on LotRO including my article should be coming out from Manchester University Press at some point in 2010, if everything goes as planned. Again, many thanks -- play well, play hard! :-)
- Fransiscus
Recent Visitors: 84
All times are in CST
Anonymous Guests (84)
- Forums
- Cross Site
- General Video Game Discussion
- Questions about Monster Play
© 2024 Fanbyte LLC