Lord of the rings online

Yule festival only. Eating contest was crowded, so I intentionally did first quest only, letting others to expire. Theatre was empty, so had to return later. All other quests were done, I advanced LI track. Of course, tracery boxes are auto-deleted (you get random, so I could get, say, Warden one), only LI runes are valuable.

I really feel invisible. Whatever I type, nobody reacts, wherever I go, nobody reacts. So I decided to…play a bit. Just typed that my texts are invisible (they are visible!) and I am invisible too (while I can be perfectly seen). Only one person on entire server told he actually saw me. So, for everyone else I am invisible. And let it be.

For some reason I feel tired even from Yule. Even when most quests are a success and I gain xp. Also, when Yule ends, there would be nothing for me to do. Developers’ logic is too easy to predict [mostly] to know that next year would bring me absolutely nothing, except nerfs. Community is so cold, so toxic and fan-boyish, so unpleasant, with too little kind players (maybe 20 per server).

This week will finish Yule deeds (final) and then would probably have to grind all easy Missions I could get. All for the sake of level 150 and level 150 for the sake of Delvings, these – for the sake of half-trash armour. Very SSG’ish logic, I know…

Lord of the rings online

Days are almost all the same. Yule, 10 or 11 quests, advancing a bit, trying to chat (mostly to no results), logging off. Yesterday I had almost no will to play. Same quests, same texts, same rewards, same everything! Nobody to socialize with. Chats – dead. I wonder why SSG keeps chats – delete them and let all toxicity flood Discord/voice channels.

LFF is 99% about Storvagun. One player kept asking about Watcher/Turtle, but there are instances I rarely aid and there even I can be damaged.

I feel a bit tired. Problems in real life. Problems in Lotro. Almost nobody to talk to or ask for advice. No content to run in Lotro. Some regions are so nicely hidden one could not even calculate how to get here.

Started to think about my resolutions for next year. They sound too propagandistic (and there is no place for propaganda on my blog) or too grumpy. None seems realistic or inspiring. Best resolution would be: grind like mad this year so that January 1st I meet as level 150. That would require insane amount of grinding.

Bloxd

Nothing new. I keep thinking about my own lobby. On one short-lived server I found excellent, perfect medieval houses. If only I knew owner – would invite him to share knowledge and, of course, credit him. These houses do inspire to build one really huge town, worth to be called Imperial capital.

And so my days flow – a bit grey with very little inspiration. I need something new, be it ideas or mmo. Or just one friend online.

Lord of the rings online

Yule festival continues. I am good at it, completing everything, even eating contest. By accident, reached level 149. So now it is some 26 million xp to go and I am not sure if I would be able to reach it this year.

Regional chats are now almost empty. Those rare who are there – mostly ignore my attempts to start any talk. They just don’t respond and I don’t know why. Unless typical Lotro approach: get off with your social activity.

One person told me to “join some kin”. He obviously did not notice I was in one. Another person, who has always been nice and kind, told me to rejoin World. Rejoin cold, toxic space where everyone hates me? She told she asked people in World, nobody knew me, so I can rejoin. Oh, holy naivety! She is kind person, who treats everyone with kindnes and think all people are like here – nice and kind.

They are not. Sancta simplicitas is really good and almost holy – but it does no reflect reality. I know World, I saw its activists in action and so far have no wish to return. Return for what? For being called itiod and retard? For being ignored, called in other hihgly insultive words?

No, thanks.

Now my goal is to reach level 150 and then start gridning easy delvings. Other than that, there are no more goals, nothing more to achieve.

Lord of the rings online

Yule festival went kind of good. One eating contest failed, because I picked wrong food. Others were won and it is good. Snowball fight, as usually, is passive. Players rarely gather, so most of time field is absolutely empty. In theatre I met two Lithuanian players and managed to act as “Darth Frodo the Evil” or, of course, “Darth Gandalf, the Evil”.

Exploring: Anfalas region was farmed for ore. I avoid any combat: it is just time waisting. Result: there are entire two (!) Scholar chests in all Anfalas, all guarded by hordes of Darkwaters. Ore is plentyfull, one just needs to ride, avoiding red dots. Result: I got enough ores to level up Stormsong’s prospector and transfer what was left to Naktieskarys.

Then, it was tailoring time. Ahelissa bought some hides, crafted shavings from leather, leather from shavings and finished Gundabad crafting tier. I was able to use recipes – yet they are expensive. Each looted requires 2 red stones. Observation: I looted 2 red stones from at least 2000 resources (Scholar/Prospector). Normally, you can get 2 stones within 1 week, so 1 set armour – some month of work.

And this was the point: I was glad to stand and craft in silence. Nothing to worry about, just calculate and craft, repair, calculate and craft. Perhabs this is what I need: peacefull crafting without worrying about anything.

Levelling meanwhile goes slow, really slow, too slow.

One wise MOP person told I should probably quit Lotro for a while, since it makes me nervous. Well, this is what happens to me in Lotro. If only I had some … temporal refuge. Some friendly f2p game, not too hard that I could live in. At least for a while. I know there (probably) is none – tried almost all famous titles, almost all I was suggested to. Only SWTOR caught my attention, yet auto-scaling and severe restrictions leaves it to some nerves and movie watching. Of course, I may watch movies on Youtube.

Bloxd

Yet another plot lost its protector and was immediately vandalized, robbed. This is how all nice enviroments die. I thought to take valuable stuff, deposit in some box and await return of owner. You know, so that his valuables are not lost. One kingdom is almost ruined, another plot will be ruined soon – my server becomes just a collection of ruins.

Start new one? Then I would have to build lots of things, my fantasy sometimes is not enough.

I explored prison servers. All of them have zero exits (that’s why they are done), one owner openly admitted the only exit was to use some exploits. When I point out that no exit exists (whch is true, confirmed by thorough exploration, block by block), they typically deny everything, instead of admitting: yes, I intentionally made no exit, suffer you noobs.

And so my weekend has ended. Little positivity, just a grind and grind and grind. Little socialization, little anything.

Lord of the rings online

Yule festival went nice. By some magic eating contest was won once again – Lotro did improve great with this one. Earlier this was a ‘Mission Impossible’, due to always being too many people. Now it is really possible, all thanks to some unknown magic of developers. One kind player used to stand as a target in snowball field for some hours – so if anyone needed snowball fight, here is target. Really nice and kind. I wish we had more kind players.

My questions were, as always, ignored. Only one person answered…and he could not offer solution. Well, I needed to know places for Umbar scholar materials – outside Umbar. Unucky for me, that player was using ingredient crates. It’s not an option, I could need tens of thousands, should I join Umbar guild.

Solution was simple: teleport to Anfalas and explore it. “Track artifacts” should help and there are enough abandoned structures. Everything is ok, right?
Wrong. In terms of Scholar materials, Anfalas is absolutely empty. I searched almost everything wiki could offer, riding forwards and backwards. Umbar ore is in normal quantities – but absolutely no Scholar materials.

Well, I got some ore. Would need much more, but well, it is doable. Minas Ithil ore is more problematic (too little, spread in too large area), but doable. G-bad ore is mostly not doable. WHich leaves my prospecting in rather grumpy perspective. Up to Minas Ithil tier, everything is doable with more or less hard work. Minas Ithil is a problem, since it’s in one region only and going there is a bit problematic. G-bad is really bad: n G-bad proper it is rare and if it is met outside – well, it is in region one could not have a hint how to get to. Like cursed “King’s Gondor”.

Lotro forums have criticism about Umbar guild. I read them, pretty much logic thoughts, based on logic, not emotions. Yet – Umbar guild stays and developers, as always, won’t listen to critics. They need fanboys only. This “Crafting guild” has gone to such nonsense, that somebody posted a video on how to get there! Think about video “How to get to Esteldin”…

Ran missions, managed to finish one deed, taking crafting materials. Of course, most valuable Umbar scholar, since everything else can be found. Reached another level, yet – too many levels to reach untill I am lvl.150.

My situation is a bit grim. While there is Yule, I have things to do, I gain xp and have some fun. Crafting seems to have absolutely no future. On Scholar, I can’t mine any material (monsters drop too little, like 50 monsters – 2 items). I can’t join Umbar guild, because it would require tens of thousands of materials and probably years to reach any higher level. I cannot get enough xp to quickly level, reputation with Umbar would take year to achieve: I start as “enemy” + taskboard items for Umbar drop rarely. I am still ignored on chats, socializing is almost zero and outside Yule, there is absolutely no activity (Storvagun – not an option, it’s for lvl.150 top-geared players). If one is to look at the future – there seems to be [almost] none.

Lord of the rings online

We had an update that introduced…well…update to crafting guilds. Some invention, made by really sick mind. And so: we have Umbar crafting guild with its own reputation. To enter Umbar guild, you have to be top reputation with normal ones. Of course, crafting tokens are null and void for Umbar. There is a huge tree of dailies and convoluted weeklies. Which means – trash all your guild patterns and tokens, they have no more value. Then – you could craft upgradeable items, they are bound to toon and require huge resources. Fully upgraded would cost hundreds, if not thousands. What’s funny – developers acknowledge they had other vision, but since it could not be implemented…

I dare to say: if one has no ideas, one switches to propaganda or grind. Why think, when you can make painfull grind for the sake of painfull grind? People are busy for neariest 2-3 years to reach reputation, accomodate tens of thousands of all resources.

Then: Combe lame “forester event” should be on. Another useless, lame event that nobody needs and first player to have crafted tool would be honoured 1,5-2 or 3 years later. But SSG is stubborn: let us waste resources and time for event that nobody needs.

To add to series of down-grade events: one cool place in Anfalas, that used to have up to 10 scholar chests, is now just a settlement. No scholar chests there or in entire Anfalas. Which means – obviously – and end to my Scholar crafting. My income, some 10 scholar items in a week.

I tried my best to ask for advice in Anfalas, Bree, festival…no results. Few kind souls responded, but they were too low levels. Others ignored me. As always, so-called “community” just hates and ignores me, for absolutely no reason. I did no harm to any of them, yet I “deserve” pure hate.

Yule festival went nice, once again by some miracle managed to participate in few snowball fights. In theatre I was in Nazgul costume and one player (impressive sense of humour) – in Gollum’s. View should have been…wonderfull.

Talked to another nice player who is into fashion and some roleplay. A really nice person, never trolling anyone, always respecting everyone. And one who choses fashion according to the Lore. I was happy enough to provide him with one piece of clothing. Once nice, kind player needs – if I can, I would aid with whatever physically possible.

Yestersday I was feeling like I am facing the Void. Whatever future is, it is dark. Umbar scholar materials are impossible to get in any decent amount. All sub-region with zero of them is just…too much. Umbar ore is possible to find, even if spawns are very rare. My crafting just has no future. Guild “upgrade” is such, that I would never have such amounts of crafting materials, like, 18750 Umbar basic scholar items, same amount of wax and candles. Umbar (where rumour tells these materials can be found) is out of reach. Even if I reach, I could not get back. Lame “Gondor-2” is in same way out of reach. Levelling is really low, with no help available. Community just hates me and ignores me, so almost all my question are intentionally unanswered. Except one instance for level 150, there is no activity.
All that remains for me is…well… Yule. When it ends, I will be left with almost nothing.

Bloxd

I witnessed downfall of one nice kingdom. They had protectors, did not log long enough - protectors got removed. One player griefed all gold he could find. I took what was left of valuables, deposited in separate storage. If anyone from that kingdom returns, I would return all that I took: I keep them for this purpose only.

Result of a day: no optimism. Light grind, very rare talks and just lonelyness. Yeap, no way out of this too.

Lord of the rings online

Once there was a singer (later turned to evil) who had song “Solo” with refrain – “I’m going solo – o – o”. So am I. Almost always solo and alone.

Yule went almost perfect. Eating contest failed due to minor error of me. I was lucky to participate in snowball fight. It’s great, because mostly nobody wants this fight.

Finally reached first tier of G-bad prospector, so now could turn my attention to Umbar. I got local ores, can freely mine them in Anfalas region. Absolutely no problems with these, it only takes some time and route planning. Well, fighting animals takes away time and gives no ore, so fighting animals is not an option.

Delvings were complete disappointment. Managed to get maybe 4 task items by running 4 delvings! With such “speed” I will reach Kindred with Umbar…maybe 20 years later (if I am lucky).

Talked to one new player. So refreshing to find one who thinks logically and is not troll/hater! Server has some nice, kind and wise players – but once again, what matters one player versus 99 trolls?

Today we will have another update. Another grind, another over-grindy system to be implemented. When there is no brain involved, one turns to propaganda or grind. Somehow for SSG, grind equals fun. They fail to see through single player’s perspective. Newest crafting guild would most likely demand Umbar expansion. Since developers deny it, then it most likely would be contrary.

I feel a real pity about Lotro forum members. They are described by very cool phrase: “Toxic Positivity”. Which means: only good and bright positive things are allowed, rest is forbidden. Those poor souls, vocal minority, that dare to complain, are met with silence or “stfu” approach. In any normal game those who voice logic critic, would be most valuable. Not in Lotro, not for SSG.

Anyway, my solo play continues, Yule goes well and no activity anywhere, except LFF chat’s “Storvagun T2” ads.

Lord of the rings online

Yule activities: almost all time I could afford. All dailies, even finishing eating contest. To my surprise – managed to get into several (!) snowball fights, even with some 3 players. Which is huge achievement in Lotro, where snowball fight is typically not played at all. Was able to respond to some player’s ask for help with this fight.

Regional was half-silent, but this is better than those organized trolls. I still feel not good for ignoring them. Yes, they are trolls, their purpose of life is to make everyone miserable (since they are miserable) and hate almost everyone. However, if they ever grow up – I will not know if they became actual human beings.

When I think about this year, it sounds like year of [almost] bad fortune. Nerf first, then – losing friends and any organized activity. What makes me really sad – losing people I used to count as friends, that once were nice and kind to me…now they take their time by just insulting me. For no reason, for just me being in regional chat. That – hurts. When random troll attacks, it never hurts.

And yes, I have finally sold and filtered “King’s Gondor” task items. Would never need them anyway. Umbar task items are very rare. One delving mission drops from 2 to 4, while I need thousands of them. Well, Umbar reputation starts with Outsider, so you just waste your first reputation (entire 15.000, all week of work).

How refreshing was talk with one nice and kind player! We shared thoughts, laughed, just discusse things. It was like a breath of fresh air in the middle of toxicity and hate.

If only I knew more players like this one! Then it could be possible to socialize with normal, sane people and not feel too grumpy. But let us hope for the best…

Lord of the rings online

Yule is there, so I have things to do and even joke. As always – 10 quests, avoiding snowball fights and “Moving them off”. Well, making bad things to unfortunate people is against spirit of Yule.

Other things are just great. Even eating contest is possible to finish (not sure what miracle causes this). Theatre is pure relax. If I am Gandalf -well, time for Witch-king costume and appropriate speech. Everyone knows it was Darth Gandalf the Evil who causes war of the rings and eventual extermination of many races.

Snowball fight is just a failure. Only 2 or 3 times did I notice more than 1 player. One time was just fantastic, some 4 or 5 playing! Yet this is exception. This season rewards are…well…not of my taste. I bartered some pet and that was. all. Steeds are unimpressive.

Unfortunately, met with organized attack against me. Initially one player comes, tells that he dislike regional chat and it is bothersome that I use it. Then next and next come, repeating same ideas in different words. I could easily trace it to haters’ server on Discord – yet won’t do it. No use to confirm that 2 + 2 equals 4. Actually, it is fun. One comes to chat he hates, to see person whom he hates and tells that he hates fact this person is chatting. If you hate it so much, just do not go to Regional. Contrary to my beliefs, I had to put these trolls on ignore. Sorry, but insult, mocking, hate are not virtues I would like to see.

I was lucky to meet nice and kind players. We shared jokes, talked a bit, helped one nice Dwarf to advance some Yule deeds. Yes, those famous “throw petails / rotten fruits”. Looks like they liked my Nazgul costume. Players like these make community better…even if community consists mostly of trolls and elitists that just refuse to interact with those, who are not trolls and elitists.

Another drama is with SSG inability to use English language. Situation: taskboard item “A” has description: “This item may be used in region B and D”. Ok, I look at taskboard – region B does not list it. Not a problem, taking ride to another town – same nonsense. Well, maybe I missed something – asking one wise and friendly player…only to get answer that item “”A” is NOT usable for region B taskboards. Ok, dear SSG, maybe you should learn some basic English, ok? As for trash item “A” – I filtered it. Absolutely no use for it, even to sell. One day I will throw away all ~600 of these items. You know, there is no use to advance reputation with region one could not travel to.

Overall, my days are going mostly good. Socialization is very rare, but mostly quality one. One player of top kindness once again supported me with most rare metal ore. I met some nice persons and had fun in Yule. So, not everything is bad in this world, after all…

Lord of the rings online

We had an update. It introduced lots of minors things (like “this NPC was stuck in the mud, now is unstuck”). Also, developers listened and corrected some nasty things – like invisible enemy attacking or some crabs actually not dropping crafting materials. Kudos to them for (at least sometimes) listening to players. One change is of interest to me: some part of Anfalas now has “proper crafting materials”. Right now it had Umbari stuff. If they change to G-bad – well, it would be something really, really good.

Just -will they?

Meanwhile todya is Yule day. Little reason to join festival immediately: half of server would rush. Just – finally, I would have something to do. Untill now, it was almost nothing, except standing in Bree. Safe quests are almost all done. LFF chat is mostly silent or offers runs for level 150 only. Nobody in LFF needs any help. Kinship activity is not found. Regional chat is either full of life or empty like politician’s brain. Yule means activity, Yule means new presents and also my beloved acting in theatre.

If there is any warm, inviting, non-violent activity that people can enjoy – it is Yule. So I will just start enjoying it (and maybe running Delvings if everything is too crowded).