Alphaman is packing his bags and braving PAX Prime for us this year as Merric and I could not make it out to Seattle.
Alpha has a scheduled time to meet with Turbine while he is there and that makes a great opportunity for you to give us some burning questions you want answered.
If you have any questions that you’d like to ask, please let us know! You can post your questions in the comments, email us, call (+1-520-261-CSTM (2786)), or send them via twitter/facebook.
We cannot guarantee that we can ask all your questions. The interview is time limited and we have our own set of questions we will want to ask first. Also realize that a lot of stuff may get a “no comment” type response simply due to the closed beta status of Rise of Isengard. However, do not be discouraged and ask what you’re dying to know. Alphaman will do his best to ask as many questions as he can in the time allowed!
August 24, 2011 at 8:20 am
Are the rumours true about a new instrument in the Lotro music system for ROI?
If yes, then what is it?
That’s the one BURNING question I have *grins*
August 24, 2011 at 8:21 am
ok, technically 2 questions, but the second it a follow up rather than a stand alone *laughs*
August 24, 2011 at 9:51 am
What’s the status with mounted combat?
August 24, 2011 at 9:53 am
Are there any new trait slots opening up (either virtues, racial, class or Legendary)?
Are there any new racial, class or legendary traits?
August 24, 2011 at 10:23 am
Not the most thrilling questions, but something I’m curious about. First the questions, then discussion of why I’d like to know.
Has the live team been converted to the expansion pack team, is the expansion team new staff, or has the live team been handed over to a new group while the old live team handles the expansion? Post-Isengard, what sort of staff/resources will be allocated to LotRO?
When WB bought out Turbine, there were theories in the playerbase that this would mean more resources provided to a proven money-making title. So far that theory hasn’t panned out. We’ve seen a slowing of live world content and bug fixes since Isengard was announced, and early reports say that the Isengard expansion is more Mirkwood than Moria in scope.
August 24, 2011 at 11:11 am
Are there any new skirmishes in the New Epics books, or coming fairly soon with the instance packs, relating to Enedwaith, Dunland or Isengard?
Be cool to have a new one with Algraid/Grey Company Rep!
August 24, 2011 at 11:41 am
Is there going to be a new hobby in the works, and if so, what and when?
Using Superior Fourth Marks, eventually, will solo players have the exact same gear, similiar gear, or different gear as raiders?
Are you considering bringing back the mechanic of identifying four legacies on a legendary weapon? It seems to me that if there are only six legacies on a first age level 75 weapon, there will be excess points.
Are the Ranger and Troll sessions in the Ettenmoors getting a much needed boost to their power pool?
Is SWtOr the reason for the delay in new small fellowship, fellowship, and raids?
Are there plans to put in any more inventory bonus things, a sixth bag, a fish jar etc.?
August 24, 2011 at 11:55 am
Given that Turbine has decided that Freep Moors access will not be available to NON-VIPs (http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?&postid=5629438#post5629438), what incentive are Creeps going to have to creep with such a limited pool of opponents? Is Turbine concerned this will unbalance the Moors?
….This really blew my destiny question out of the water.
.. Still interested to know about the timeline for Palantir opportunities for all account levels, and Permanent Swift travel though.
August 24, 2011 at 12:13 pm
I would really like to know if Isengard will see any new enemy types?
I know we’re going to see more trolls, goblins, men and orcs (although I hope some are more than reskins), but is there anything new?
I’m really concerned I’m just going to see more wolves and boars and bears. Moria at least introduced some new types, even on the low end there were the lizards.
I really hope we’ll see more variety.
August 24, 2011 at 12:23 pm
As an aside. Would you guys mind publishing the list of questions you send with him even if they’re not answered…
Hopefully we can get audio, but what-ever we get will be appreciated!
August 24, 2011 at 1:38 pm
I’m not going to be recording but I’ll make sure to write up their answers (or not being able to answer) to all the questions I ask.
August 24, 2011 at 3:39 pm
Thanks again for placing our questions directly before the staff.. It amazes me that +Sapience seemed stunned by my PvMP question. Hopefully this time he’ll have information more readily at hand (as Turbine will still be operating during those hours.)
August 24, 2011 at 1:31 pm
Will reputation be tied to questing, as we see with newer current zones, or will any of the new factions, assuming there will be some, offer reputation through dropped items from slain enemies (like several of the older current zones)?
This would possibly mean between being able to access reputation-specific items, regardless if you own Rise of Isengard (and, therefore, questing access to the new zones) or not.
Thanks!
August 24, 2011 at 6:38 pm
Oh, and I suppose another question, but it’s not super important. Will they scale up the Tasks so anyone past the current cap (and up to 75 for RoI) will be able to complete the deed and get the goodies?
August 24, 2011 at 1:33 pm
Are we expecting any new skirmishes with RoI? (If so are they part of the Epic or not?)
August 24, 2011 at 3:45 pm
This one is actually already on the list
August 24, 2011 at 4:46 pm
Additionally- Any new skirmish max trait rank? Are these included in the RoI XP purchase Aka ProductToken:(IsenStd)
August 24, 2011 at 2:20 pm
Going to have to agree that I’d love to see more questions and answers in regard to mounted combat.
As an aside, I really wish that PAX wasn’t sold out so quickly or so crowded. I live about two hours from Seattle, and wouldn’t have minded dealing with the traffic and crowds to go just once. lol.
August 25, 2011 at 1:44 pm
It’s definitely crowded, but I’ve found the crowd to be very friendly and very well-managed, so unlike something like San Diego Comic Con it’s still an enjoyable experience. There are plenty of quiet tucked away corners where you can pull up a beanbag chair or sit down and play a little D&D, and that helps ameliorate the worst of the ‘zomg too many people’ panic attacks I also get.
It does tend to sell out within a week or two of tickets going live. I follow @official_pax on twitter and that got me my passes — it’s not nearly as nuts as Comic Con in that regard, either. They also have a thread on the PAX site forum for people whose plans have changed and want to do a face-value sale of their passes. You might still be able to work out something even now if you’re interested.
August 29, 2011 at 3:58 pm
Sadly with the four teenagers we have and when school starts in WA and the wife’s travel for her job, I didn’t even try to make it. I really wish that public schools up here in Central WA started in Mid September or even after Labor Day weekend.
We actually had the cross country head coach schedule team pictures and a practice for the up coming Saturday(Labor Day weekend). Since we tend to have 2 or 3 in cross country that put us in a bind.
Anyhow thanks for the reply Taeniel, I might try to work out a way to go next year, I’ve not been to a CON of any sort in almost a decade. How time flies! Sorry I didn’t reply earlier…Tempus Fugit indeed.
August 24, 2011 at 2:42 pm
There will be any Non-Instance Raid enemy like Bogbereth or Ferndur in angmar?
i would love if any non-instance raid near isengard
August 24, 2011 at 3:37 pm
Excellent question; (Those two troll-gate guards perhaps?)
August 24, 2011 at 2:50 pm
I’d like to ask if a group finder or some mechanic to help form groups for dungeons on their radar? I find it difficult to find groups for dungeon runs and glff doesn’t seem to be much help since it dissolves into random chat most of the time. It’s really frustating that they do such a great job of adding new content to the game and I can’t play most of it because I can’t find groups running it.
August 24, 2011 at 8:28 pm
A cosmetic question. Why aren’t there any skirts and are they planning on adding them? It would really open up more options for the fashion inclined.
August 25, 2011 at 3:57 am
http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?415351-Questions-regarding-Rise-Of-Isengard
Some questions posted on the lotro forums recently
1.Is the virtue cap being increased exclusive to RoI purchasers or not?
2.Is the level cap increase exclusive to RoI purchasers or not?
3.Is entrance to the RoI zones gated by purchase or not?
4.Is continuation of the epic book avaliable only to those that purchase RoI?
5.Is the next crafting tier exclusive to RoI purchasers or not?
6.Are level 75 scaled versions of classic instances exclusive to RoI purchasers or not?
7.On crafting guild rep, will we stay kindred if we’re kindred now, or will we have to grind out another tier for rep?
8.Is the skirmish soldier trait upgrade included with purchase of RoI, or is it separate?
August 25, 2011 at 9:35 am
With the announcement of the instance cluster post-Isengard being made. Will the Update 5 cluster being coming with another armor set separate from the armor sets that will be attainable with RoI release (via skirms and Draigoch)?
August 25, 2011 at 11:39 am
1. Will players who choose to purchase RoI with TP via the LotRO store be able to purchase it and access the content on launch day (i.e., at the same time as those who pre-ordered or purchased via the Web Store)? If this is not known at present, when can we expect the information?
2. What will the configuration of the expansion be on the LotRO Store (e.g., how will one be able to purchase the non-preorder version – one item, discrete pieces, etc.)? If this is not known now, when can we expect the information?
3. What will be the expected total cost of the expansion content (regardless of configuration) on the LotRO store? If this is not known now, when can we expect the information?
4. With regard to Update 5: If a player purchases RoI in the LotRO Store for TP, will this be included in any configuration/package? If not, what will the addtional cost in TP be? Will VIPs need to purchase both RoI and the Update in order to access all content available to purchasers who buy the expansion on the Web Store? If this is not known now, when can we expect the information?
Thank you for being willing to take our questions to Sapience! I realize some/all of these might be answered or not, either due to constraints on what he can say, or time allotted for you to ask things. Any and all information you get will be most appreciated!
3.
August 26, 2011 at 9:11 am
When will the lotteries on my.lotro.com be back again?
August 27, 2011 at 9:36 pm
So, Meshockyshocky, Valariana and I went to the Warner Bros./Turbine PAX Prime party last night and honestly folks… /gripe_on…the noise was incredible! OK… /gripe_off Having said that, all the best parties are noisy and this one was PACKED! At least this time it was a private party where WB bought out Gameworks for the night and Sapience ordered Gameworks to turn the music off for the drawings which was a great relief!../gripe off again))
Two years ago when we (Myself, Shocky and Val) went in to the party area the Turbine folk had little questionaires that said things like, ”Find someone from your server” or ”Find someone who bears the title ’Crosser of Roads’ or at least knows what it means”, the idea was to mingle and get to know the other players there which was great because it was an immediate ice breaker and conversation starter. Yeah the SWAG was not as good as this time (T-Shirt, stickers and raffle tickets) but the more intimate environment of the previous party, giving more opportunity to schmooze with fellow players and the Turbine folk was more of a real ”Meet & Greet”. Last night we were herded through Gameworks like cattle to get our swag, passing several check points to make sure we had invitations and separating those who had ’VIP’ tags from the rest of us. After getting the swag we were free to mingle but most folk hit the bar for their free drinks and then dashed off to play the free games. There really wasn’t much encouragement to mingle at all.
OK… ok… The good side… The swag was a messenger-bag with the LOTRO or DDO logo on it and it had coupons for; A free mount on LOTRO (The PAX mount), A free pirate hat on DDO and 500 tp for both LOTRO and DDO along with our raffle tickets and a few buttons. They had piles of LOTRO class buttons on a table behind the swag rep. Up on the second level, I finally found the room where Turbine and the raffles were hiding. The bottom level was where the bar was and WB/Monolith was promoting the game ”Gothom City Impersonaters”, a game completely uninteresting to me.
Let’s see if I can remember what the raffle prizes were:
Gothom City Impersonaters posters – 10
Batman Cowls – 2
Monolith T-shirts – 4
Monolith Coats – 4 (I think)
Headphones – 4 (sorry, can’t remember the brand but really nice ones according to Shocky)
Killer 2100 Gaming Network Card – I won this one! Only thing I wanted too.
LOTRO Coffee Cup – wanted one of these, it was really pretty, Valariana got one.
Something DDO related but I can’t remember what it was… a game set I think
LOTRO Lifetime Accounts – 4
Blueray set of Directors Cut Lord of the Rings – 4
A very nice and big, framed Map of Middle Earth – 2
I think I remembered most of the prizes.
After the drawing it was midnight and the party was pretty much over and as we were leaving the Swag Rep was handing out T-shirts with a big White Hand on the front and the LOTRO logo on the back, all in size large which is a bit diapointing but not fatal since my Hubby wasn’t able to go with me so he gets the shirt and I picked up a second satchel for him as well
In summary, it wasn’t a bad party at all! We had a very good time. The buffet was yummy, the drinks were free ((Even if they didn’t have COFFEE!)) and the people were the very best sort… fellow gamers.
We’ll be back next year!!!
August 28, 2011 at 12:40 am
Thanks for the party writeup!