January 12, 2009

LoTRO: Day 3

I did manage to get a little more time in LoTRO this weekend, which was nice. Not nearly as much time as I had wanted, but I’m still learning and meandering my way around. The quests I’d gotten were much the same they are in any ‘mainstream’ mmo, go kill x number of y creatures, or loot x number of y items, or go talk to random_npc_101. Things along those lines. While this may seem like a ‘grind’ and it’s not ‘new’ that’s fine by me. I enjoy these type of quests, I’m familiar with them. I don’t mind ‘grinds’ in the least bit. I can stand for hours in one location killing the same things over and over and it doesn’t bother me. I suppose it comes from camping items in EQ1, specifically those rogue clicky masks to add to my collections. I actually miss the way EQ1 groups would go, where instead of constantly roaming through a zone you’d find a ‘camp’ and park yourself and your group there for a while. In EQ2 you are never standing still, you’re constantly on the go, and moving. These camps are not around any more. 

So I killed boars for meat, wolves, a spy. I gathered together some plants and that’s where I learned that you have a ‘quest’ bag where that sort of stuff gets dumped into, and not your inventory. WAR works much the same way, and I love that. In other games I’m always cranky when my bags get filled up with quest objects and I can’t actually loot anything any more and then I’m not sure what to delete. 

I looted a few furs off of a wolf that says they’re able to be used in crafting though I haven’t the slightest idea how to start crafting, what it intails, what sort of crafting there is or if it’s even useful. I’m hoping that it gets explained to me some where along the way. 

So far nothing has been overly difficult. I realize I’m still very low level (I’m level 5 now) but it’s been nice to play here and there and not feel overwhelmed. I have seen a few people running around, and I’m enjoying taking my time to learn the mechanics. Where as in EQ2 I tend to rush by everything because I’ve already done it quite a few times now. 

I haven’t had any issues with the game running so far, I did turn down some sound aspects (npc’s talking is great, but their voice was booming out at me louder then anything else) and I’ve changed some of my key bindings. We’ll see how it goes the more I play! Hopefully I can meet up with some friends there and we’ll see how it goes.

Visiting Lucan D’Lere and the Moors of Ykesha (again)

The coercer is resting comfortably at level 61, and part way into it so yesterday I decided it would be a good time to get the defiler started on the Moors of Ykesha quest chain. Grouped up with Wpus from guild, we set out to complete at least the first quest hub worth, so that I could move on to the ‘meat’ of the content. I’ve already done all of these quests on various other characters, so none of it was new, but having a duo to take them down with was a lot more fun – especially with the lack of dps on my little healer girl. 

By the time all was said and done I’d made a good chunk of coin and managed to get to 81% through my level. Not too bad considering I’d already dinged 76 the night before in Nizara. The only thing I dislike about the Moors quests is that they reward more coin then anything at all so there are very few gear upgrades. I suppose that makes sense when you think that TSO did not raise the level cap, so most people should already be sporting gear from the RoK zones. I’ve managed to (thankfully) avoid most of the quest grinding that goes on in RoK, the defiler has the sokokar posts in Fens of Nathsar and Kunzar Jungle, but has done relatively few quests. It makes for an interesting time when most of the locations she visits are still all agro. 

I meant to get a little crafting in, but alas that did not happen, maybe today.

I’m eager to see the next game update get implemented, though I’m torn between everyone else’ comments about the changes. It’s one of those wonderful things with MMO’s, their ever evolving and changing worlds. I don’t typically make too much of a fus, and just sort of roll with whatever happens. 

I’m contemplating starting (yet another) alt on Kithicor, so that I can work up a transmuter. Kasul has been leveling one on Najena, and hearing about his adventures with the shards and powders makes me cringe in fear – but it’s a good skill to have on at least one character. I enjoy being able to make my own adornments. Not owning them certainly doesn’t make or break the game, but the whole ‘self sufficient’ aspect comes into play. 

Hopefully everyone had an amazing weekend, I’m looking forward to reading about all of the fun that went on!