I have a lot of friends who play MMORPGs. Most of them don’t play LotRO. There’s a lot of reasons for this, but I think one of the biggest is simply that most people have not looked much into what the game offers. There are definitely areas in which I think LotRO can be improved, but there are obviously a lot of things I like about it. It’s still the only MMORPG that has really won me over.
I thought it might be a good idea to start a series where I talk about the things I enjoy about LotRO. Maybe others can add their own input as well. I think it’s important to not only focus on what the game does well, but that it’s also important to shine more of a light on some of the less than true assumptions people have about the title.
Why LotRO?: Story, Lore and Those Less Fanatic
Much to my surprise, one of the most common excuses I’m given by friends as to why they don’t want to bother with LotRO is because of its subject matter. This can come as a shock given the incredible success of the films and the Tolkien’s general effect on fantasy work in general (even including competing MMORPGs). It’s not so much that they don’t like Tolkien’s work to some degree, it’s that they have the belief that they have to be incredibly familiar with it to get anything out of the game. It becomes a fairly large obstacle for them.
Like any other franchise out there, there’s clearly something to be gained from being familiar with the source material ahead of time. If you are, chances are that references to characters and events will have more meaning and finally reaching specific areas of note will be more thrilling. I’d say this is even true for fans of Warcraft or Warhammer that have played previous games, read related books and so forth.
As someone who has never managed to finish the books and only has passively watched the movies, I have to say being overly familiar with the subject matter is not required here. Turbine has done an excellent job of making the games as inclusive as possible. If you have to interact with an important character, you’ll always find out what you need to know. Any that deserve special focus (like the Fellowship) are given enough attention in-game so that their personalities and goals are clear. This helps motivate you to want to do the quests in the first place, but it also allows you to form some level of an connection with important NPCs. While there’s still definitely a gap between the development of these characters and, say, those in a game like Mass Effect, it’s definitely beyond what many other MMORPGs are attempting.
A lot of this works so well due to the excellently crafted quest text. I have to admit that I don’t typically read quest text in MMORPGs; I just want to know where to go, what to kill and who to tell about it. This isn’t because that’s the only way I want to play these games, but more that it’s the only way I felt I could play these games without getting ridiculously bored. In most MMORPGs, I feel like I’m an anonymous character running around for random anonymous NPCs. I feel little to no connection to the game world, let alone the actual inhabitants of it. Eventually this leads to me not caring about what happens to anything and I leave the game entirely.
LotRO has been the only exception to this for me thus far. Quest text is generally interesting, informative and given some aire of importance (I have to say that there are exceptions here, but I find them to be relatively rare). I find my motivation in the game is higher because of it. Even quests with basic goals are given a purpose or background that makes them feel as though they’re matters of import . Why I’m being asked to do something is slightly more important to me than what I’m getting out of doing it.
Additionally, LotRO features so-called “epic” quest lines. These are divided up in the game by Books and Chapters. Each Book has its own general storyline and the chapters are the quests within it. While not every Chapter quest is riveting, they do string together a story that is more significant than what MMORPGs typically present to players. Turbine has managed to integrate story into the title to an extent that is extremely rare for the genre.
What makes these quests special is that they actually make you feel like you’re having some impact on the game world. Sure, most of these quests are instanced and likely thousands of people have done them before you. At the same time, their use of narrative and sense of progression creates something that feels more like an actual RPG with a set storyline than a combat and crafting simulator.
All of this comes together well and forms a strong focus on a storyline, which is extremely important to me. While I’m certain there are many, many LotRO players who enjoy other features of the game, this aspect has grabbed hold of my interest. Until this game came along I had started to become convinced that MMORPGs were not for me.
well, i AM a huge Tolkien fan (read the Hoobit through Return of the King at least 10 times, and read the Silmarillion twice) and i have to say that while you guys have fun with it because you don’t know whats going on, my wife has to nearly restrain me from jumping up and down because i do, and its so &#@%ing cool to actually be able to see it all in play. and while there is more combat, and the hobbits are a little less insular than they should be, exception do have to be made. at least they tried to stay true. all in all a wonderful game, compared to most others out there.
I agree with this article whole-heartedly (and also Scott’s follow-up comment).
I’m a fairly long-term Tolkien fan (about 25 years now), and played MERP when it first came out, reading LOTR every year as a tradition, and thoroughly enjoy watching the movies over and over again.
It’s incredibly exciting to visit places in-game that are historically accurate. In addition, the biggest bonus and attractive attributes to LOTRO are:
1. ‘Realism’ — Due to the extensive printed material from Tolkien, many who have read one or more of the books have visions in their heads about what things should look like. When the movies came out, many of these visions were realized, and the same excitement is found in-game with the epic landscapes (WOW, although massive, is way too cartoony with purple trees, and sparse/unmoving landscape). The way the grass blows in the wind, or the breeze through the trees add even more credibility to their vision.
2. Deeds and Traits. In addition to your run-of-the-mill spells, abilities and special attacks, you can truly customize your character with deeds and traits. In addition, the Deeds allow you to increase your immersion in the game by making you personally involved in the lives of the NPCs. For example, I’m currently adventuring in Lonelands, and Radagast has been enlisting my assistance. You feel like you have some personal responsibility for the well-being of Middle-Earth. When you visit ruins and achieve titles based on your passive exploration, that adds even more customization and enjoyment. If you don’t feel like doing Epic quests and just want to craft and explore, then feel free — you’ll still get some title of respect and feel like you’ve participated in Middle-Earth.