A diversion of sorts

[Gidgiddoni]

Don't holler at me like the folks on VN for posting on the wrong board!

I mentioned this to Morreion and will just note it here for what it's worth. I decided to go back and try out the Warhammer Free Forever T-1 play for a bit. I am not sure you can do it with your old account, I just created another and hopped on it. There is a bit of a download and it also continues to stream stuff while you play - which can cause a bit of hitching and jerkiness now and then.

If you find yourself wanting to scream in Aion because it seems like there is nothing you can do, hopping into Warhammer for a little T-1 scenario action can be an interesting change.

The game isn't any prettier since I last played. In fact it is butt ugly compared to Aion. But the PQs are a nice change and being able to PvP from the lowest level is a very nice change from the grind of Aion.

The Free Forever T-1 is limited to a couple of servers - I can't remember which ones. But you only see two highlighted to join.

I will probably be off and on there a fair bit. I sort of doubt I will keep up Aion after Nov. 28, unless they make some radical improvements in Bots and other areas.

[EchoVamper]

Warhammer had its own set of problems. But I will gladly acknowledge that I did enjoy Tier 1. The PUG mentality in scenarios could only be taken in small doses after a while. But a lot of the content was enjoyable.

Tier 2 actually was a little bit of fun too. However, I abhorred the all too prevalent dynamic of running from the enemy, realm hopping, and then basically PVEing the PvP/RvR objectives. It just rubbed me the wrong way.

The few times one would encounter a real sustained RvR battle were a lot of fun. I remember a sortie in Dwarf Lands that lasted almost two hours...the two realms going head to head without really a sliver of advantage for either side.

The game devolved in later Tiers, and I'm not sure if any of that has been fixed. But Tier 1 and Tier 2 would be salvageable with a little competence and savvy on the part of Mythic.

I was disappointed in Warhammer. But I am not yet convinced it is an inferior product to Aion. It's too early for that. Damn those bots! I hate them, hate them, hate them!!

[Morreion]

I'm going to try the free WAR Tier 1 experience again- WAR Tier 1 was fun, I enjoyed that. Can't hurt, it's free

I'm currently on a tour of trying out some other games (Istaria and DDO most recently, hey they're free).

Still playing Aion but all the signs so far are not good for a long-term experience there.

[EchoVamper]

I'm thinking about re-installing Warhammer and LOTRO on my computer and giving them a spin.

Warhammer because the KoBS and Warrior Priest classes have features reminiscent of the DII Paladin that I enjoyed so much. (My Chaos characters on Ostermark got the short end of one of the mergers, I'm not sure they are even there any more).

LOTRO because reliable sources assure me that it is a solid game .... and I never really have given it a decent chance to win me over.

I'll be checking in to Aion every night to see if there is anything happening there.

[Morreion]

LOTRO is a good game, Echo- I have a lifetime subscription. Create a character on Landroval, the unofficial RP server!

LOTRO has great lore and it looks good graphically. I've always thought that LOTRO was perhaps the highest expression of the class/level/quest MMO model. I go back and play it occasionally.

As a matter of fact, I'd be happy to play exclusively in a group from level 1 as a new character if enough of us were interested in doing that. A once a week regular group night would be fun to do in any game. Four of us tried doing this in Vanguard a couple years ago, each having a character that they only played when the others could play as a group. That was fun.

[EchoVamper]

I've always thought that a group of complementary characters (a somewhat engineered group if you will) was a great way to experience a game. With just a modicum of planning I think your idea would be a blast.

I have a couple of characters on Landroval last time I checked. None of them has progressed out of the starter area I believe.

I get emails every few weeks from the company asking if I would like to come back, offering free trials etc. It's actually rather ingratiating when stacked up against the non-communicative nature of other companies. To be honest, it's nice to hear you are wanted even if it is an electronic program that's spamming you. At least they noticed you were gone and designed "something" to try to get you back.

We'll see how Aion unfolds ... though from the sound of things ... things are breaking down rather fast. Meanwhile, I'm going to download LOTRO again just in case. Do you recommend all of the expansions?

[Morreion]

I have the Mines of Moria expansion (the Shadows of Mirkwood digital expansion is releasing next month) but oddly enough I've never been to the Moria expansion yet. I leveled up my Guardian to 50 (before the expansion) and then promptly rolled up alts to start leveling up again and none of them are old enough to hit Moria which is for level 48+ I believe (level cap went from 50 to 60). I'd recommend holding off on the expansion until you find out that you really like the original game over some months (that's what I'd do anyway, having bought expansions for games I ended up not staying in!).

Last year Kul, Grigorian, Ariesel and I did most of the epic book quests (storyline quests that follow the lore of the books) as a 4-person group. That was fun. We played every Sunday or 2. I have fond memories of that and would enjoy playing as a group there again. Imagine a group of 4 to 6 Hobbits (or Elves!) roleplaying their way across Middle Earth It's a nice thought anyway!

[Gidgiddoni]

I don't remember exactly if I said this in my original post.

But, as I was running a couple of War scenarios today and last night, I was just sort of reminded what it was like to be in a game that offers you such quick and easy access to PvP fun. There is a lot to be said for that.

It's a big part of why some of my fondest memories of DAOC are from Thidranki. Of course ... my scout met his cleric and the love of his/my life there ... so that helps.

And, I think I could stomach Aion - bots and all - a LOT better if they had some sort of option something like that.

In Aion the rifts are ... well ... heck ... what are you supposed to do? I mean, I have seen people mark the map and say "Asmos here," but what good does that do my level 22? Its way across the zone, through god knows what aggro, and by the time I can wander over there they will be gone or dead or I will just die a miserable death.

I think this is also one of the reasons WoW held my attention for so long. The battlegrounds, even though twinks made them a lot less fun at times, still they offered easy diversion.

And it also makes you wonder about Aion, which is supposed to be such a PvP focused game. Well, you really can't find any PvP for certain until 25 or more, and you can't have much chance of fun PvP until ... what .. 35, 40, 45?

By that time, what do you do if you find you are in a class that sucks at pvp. Can you IMAGINE leveling another toon in Aion? I rather jump off Sanctum with no wings ... which I have been known to do from time to time.

[EchoVamper]

A combined response to both of you:

I think a band of hobbits, elves etc would be great fun, just as you describe. The roleplaying would be fantastic. If the veterans truly wouldn't be bored doing something like that again, and didn't tire of ushering noobs through the books, then I think that would be a great experience for everyone, including those who didn't have quite the familiarity with LOTRO.

I agree with Gid about War Scenarios and Thidranki. They are fascinating. If one is able to skirt the typical shortcomings of the PUG dynamic that so often arises in those settings (with a trusted group) they can be a blast. So can taking lakes or even doing PQs.

Warbands however can get maddeningly stupid if one is not very selective.

It would indeed be fun to take a Warhammer race...make at least one of each, and then play together as a group. It would be a nice way to learn the nuances of the various classes in that race. And it could be done over and over with different races. Or one could simply construct an effective group from the best/funnest archetypes available and go that route.

Almost anything along these lines work, if the participants are uniformly committed to it and are enjoying the experience.

[Morreion]

Check out Grig's thread under the Thoughts and Musings category for the LOTRO group idea. I'm also open to trying out WAR Tier 1 free play as well.