Lord of the rings online

Epic quest brought me through Aldburg. Had to help Eomer with repairs and even with persuading workers to work (of course, persuading with sword). And then, it was time for another long session about loyalty and treachery. Yes, Broadacres Reeve Frithild with her war council and ill-fated fights.
I can understand Rohirrim wishes to defend their towns to the last. Yet they stand no chance against hordes of Saruman. Evacuation is bad, but it leaves chance to mobilize troops and defeat enemy once and for all. It’s necessery evil. While leaving every Rohirrim to die as heroes is the worst.

So I quested, killing all kinds of stuff, aiding Reeve and sensing treachery. Epic now redirects me to another town – but dear epic, please let me finish with this town first. No need to rush.

Weekend would be without Lotro: travelling to relax to one town. Rohan would wait, NPCs would die anyway.

Lord of the rings oFFline

Game was offline for all day, opening only today (Lithuanian time). So – no chance to play.
Instead, developers announced incoming changes to Hunter. Naturally, this was to be expected. Hunter was popular, it delivered quality dps, Hunter was needed in groups. Of course, this had to be changed.

It is too easy to predict: Hunter would suffer heavy nerf (from 30% to 50% loss of DPS), usefull utility skills will be removed or made obsolete; maybe “Guide to…” skills would receive increased cool down. You know, when class is good it need rework, i.e. heavy nerf. If class is bad, then all is good, no rework needed.

Looks like soon I would have no toon to play with: all would become almost obsolete. But at least I had fun with many of them.

Bloxd

Only one house finished, maybe 70 to go and then – to take much needed rest. Maybe advertise lobby to get any visitors.

Lord of the rings online

Last day of Yule festival, last quest grind. Then it was Missions to reach new level. Level 98, only one level to go.

After some talk with one kind person from roleplaying Kinship – I went to follow epic. Eowyn is bringing her people to small town. Local leader is unhappy and openly dislikes Eowyn. Just how Rohirrim want to wint he war if they are divided right now? Not enough space in town? Don’t be lazy, chop some trees and building some dormitories. No men to defend? Gosh, build barricades and teach everyone how to use a primitive bow. But of course no, better to whine about your own ruler.

I helped to bring some armour, then find local kid, kill some orcs. Epic was more interesting.

By now – I have things to do. Finish epic in Rohan. FInish all deeds in Rohan. Turn in every single taskboard item for valuable xp. And when all is done – well, ride to lame Gondor, land of swan poo and copy-pasted faces.

I like my time in Rohan. Especially when I meet people who know me and we can chat for a minute. It is always good and refreshing to meet kind person in otherwise cold trolling “community” of Laurelin.
Which made me think of my own kinship. I could not tell when it was last time Kinship organized any activity. But it bothers me not. I have enough solo activity to keep me occupied.

Bloxd

One house half-done and that’s it. I am becoming too lazy. And this is a small town, only ~100 houses to be built. What would happen with the capital with maybe thousand(s) of houses, huge castle etc.?

Lord of the rings online

My questing was on some halt. First, I had over 30 active (!) quests. Then, I did not want to go to Underharrow and speed things too much. So, it was some festival (long live Yule!) + few Missions. Also, I forced myself to finish Wildermore. Navigating in some parts is pure pain there.

But things were escalating fast, quests being finished one by one. Thrymm was found, Nurzum story was seen, Orcs were exterminated and grumpy Nurzum was defeated. Of course, during Nurzum fight I was defeated once as well. So, I ended Wildermore, unlocked Survivors grind.

Then I managed to finish one quest in Brown lands and some in Evendim. A pity, I skip lots of quests there. Epic is still something I am afraid of. Run there and here, forwards-backwards, all for the sake of running forwards-backwards.

Questing unlocked Legendary reward track reward: tamed lion. Hurray, Stormsong is a proud owner of lion. After all, even nature has to bow before the might of Sauron…

Had conversation with one kind player. We rarely meet, but he is really kind soul. Always ready to help. Telling the truth, even when truth is ugly. Suggesting best action. Never judging. In short, I ended up throwing away some trash equipment and equipping half-trash equipment. I care little about armour: at level 100 and Dol Amroth – I would equip socketed one. Nadhin armour. I have some essences, may buy extra if needed. This armour would last untill Mordor…then Light of Elendil one, with new essences.

I must find some kind of activity besides Yule and missions. Grind my way to level…say 99. Do everything in green nice Rohan (which would become kind of safe). And then follow epic to Paths of the Dead and grumpy Western Gondor. You know, region with swans and copy-pasted faces where staircases are designed so that you meet your death there.

Bloxd

Was very inactive. FInished one house, started another with some 60 more houses to build. Plus, I need to finish my castle, build some extra buildings (School, Guild house, Bank, Tavern, Marketplace, Court). Then count citizens and write how many are living in Novocastrum.

And so my days are going…bit lazy, but still interesting. I need just few ideas and then I may be busy 24/7…

Lord of the rings online

Windstorms is more than happy in green Rohan. Entwade was a real drama, one that makes you feel sorry for those innocent folks. But this is the war, with its ugly, bloodthirsty face. Rest in peace, citizens of Entwade, you will be avenged (and hopefully, your leader will come to his senses).

Eowyn was upset, she was upset more when hearing about citizens. They are unhappy, morale is dropping low. Of course, I ran into humorous quest of melancholic minstrel, who enjoyed mocking me every step. At the end, of course, he understood heroism is more than just killing orcs.

Middlemead was another stop. Once again, treachery of local rich merchant. Somehow rich folks ten to be traitors. Is Mordor that full of gold and jewels? Anyway, brave local leader, armed with shield (he lost his hand, so no use from sword), aided by me, ran to deal wth local enemies. We were succesfull, so I could report to Edoras again…only to follow instructions to see how Aldburg fares.

Aldburg witnessed no treachery…just disrepair and minor disorder. So typical for Rohirrim: one leader wants one thing, another wants another, so they disagree and do nothing. It was up to me to scout orcs and help with decision. Then there were some repairs and aiding of folks outside city walls.

It was interesting. Even if I knew how it would end. Rohan is still my favourite region. Well, after it there is almost nothing to immerse to. Few epic moments – like this impressive bonfire to honour fallen at Minas Tirith – yes, of course. Other than that: nothing.

But so far I am happy, I have lots of things to do. Life is interesting once again.

Bloxd

Absolutely nothing. Just random trolling and random servers. Good laugh at these 4-9 years old with “me admin, teleport or me ban” approach. One such banned me for just experimenting with explosives. Well, I returned, nuked almost everything around this base and protected ruins…

Lord of the rings online

Wildermore is almost done. I mean, epic here is done. Quests are nice and interesting, stories are interesting and you actually immerse while reading quest texts. Ending animation is superb, as always (“Go forth, young ones…”).

And epic required me to ride to Edoras. I left many Wildermore quests. Will return one day to finish them, but now there are more pressing matters. Nurzum will fail, but Rohan still must be saved. And so I went. Everything escalated quickly – Grima defeated, yet spared. A pity, he deserved really painfull death. Then, the king’s ride West. I enjoyed – once again – Theoden’s talk with Gleowine and kind of just justice. Eowyn is left to take care of Edoras and evacuate town. Not an easy task, because many citizens are grumpy/unwilling. And all this atmosphere is just great. After Rohan we would not have anything alike. Too large and boring Gondor with bad architecture. Anorien that is mostly about flowers and nothing more. Wastelands, where you just waste your time. Mordor is great and time consuming, some really epic scenes – but too little stories. Then we have too small Beorning lands with stories and atmosphere. After that – empty regions to kill time.

So, let us enjoy Rohan, green and inviting, with stories.

And yes, I just enjoy questing. Travelling is safe, all mos are grey, so I do not over-level. In short, I like almost everything in Rohan, the last quality region. All thanks to those two kind players who helped me level up and adviced on Loremaster setup. These prove that not all Lotro community is rotten and worthless.

Bloxd

Got really stuck. Need some inspiration, ideas, visitors…and none so far.

—

And so my joy with Lotro is back. As well as realisation that I would be soloer without any real kinship. I will belong to current one, unless they expell me. BLoxd must continue, I must finish my little town and move on.

Lord of the rings online

Yule festival ran good: I managed to finish eating contest! Unfortunately, snowball fight is empty, as always. But the result was all 10 quests done. It was time for Erebor missions.

My Lynx performed good. It does some nice damage, even if I have not mastered it’s special attacks. I ran and ran, untill – boom, I was level 92. Game allowed me to reforge LIs. So from now I have only 3 levels to grind. Then – finally – add normal traceries and upgrade them all. Grind Wildermore with most monsters being safely grey.

Levelling goes kind of slow. Yule and some 5-6 missions are not enough to advance anywhere.

Bloxd

Very little done. Just blueprint of my town’s standard living house, floor 1. I probably have to stop enjoying bombing runs on creative servers…

Lord of the rings online

Can’t remember if Iw rote: Hytbold finished, I got title and that’s it. Started grinding Yule (encore). There is almost nothing to get, except valuable experience. So I do almost all I can. Except snowball fight, things are going good. Of course, eating contest can be finished on extremely rare occasions, but overall – things are doable.

After Yule grind run, I use to go and run Missions – once again, for valuable xp.

Managed to run into group of very helpfull people. They were not scared by my questions, they were often in Bree regional and they were kind to me. Their Kinship – I thought it looked very, very promissing. Today I googled them – well, a know Kinship, yet – roleplay one. I would never fit into roleplay. If it is possible to joke about “Sauron the nice”, it is not possible to roleplay, say, “Mouth of Sauron-2” for me.

Thus I am staying with my current Kinship. If only because there is nowhere for me to go to.

My role-players were really kind to explain me setup. I think I may be stronger now (even if some attacks are lacking).

Bloxd

I continue building normal houses. Castle and all ‘extra’ buildings will wait. Of course, I will return to them, just later.
Note for myself: I do need to print a plan of simple house. Otherwise I am lost at what goes where.

And so my days goes, so far – good in Lotro.

Lord of the rings online

It’s June,a happy month to enjoy Christmas. Of course, Christmas (Yule), because…because it is June. So, we would have Christmas encore at June. Well, quite good for my poor Loremaster to earn some tokens and valuable xp.

SSG is preparing another nerf. This time nerf-hammer hits Loremasters. Lots of usefull skills are moved to yellow trait tree. Some red trait tree skills become actually useless. Pet usage on red trait tree becomes pretty much useless. Users would be discouraged from actively using pets. How typical for SSG: if folks enjoy something, nerf it.
Lots of people on SSG forums are unhappy. All of them write logic arguments that clearly proves their truth. Of course, nobody would listen. I would like to ask when Brawlers would get same heavy berf – so far they got only increase in everything – but the answer would be “never”.

SSG once again demonstrates how one should NOT change game. SSG’s approach to players (“these fools play and pay…lol, let us mock them more!”) is unwise at best. Harmfull at worst. But this is how SSG functions.

My Loremaster quests in Eastern Rohan. Kindred with Norcrofts reached. Now only problematic ones remain: Wold and Entwash Vale. Both have little warbands, so I would have to depend upon daily Hytbold quests.

Kinship is totally inactive. I can’t find any sign of its activity. Regional chats are mostly dead. LFF is occasionally alive, but only for high-tier endgame instances. So, for new player in Lotro has too little chances to socialize. That’s the way Lotro works.

But I can live alone and in almost complete silence. So far I can solo most of quests or can wait to be bgi enough to solo them.

And so my days goes in Lotro. Let us prepare for summer Yule…