Last week Eurogamer interviewd Turbine about mounted combat and LotRO’s Future. Here are the interesting things they found.
“He’s (Saruman is) sending out these packs of mounted orcs, 40 or 50 at a time, and they’re devastating the town’s people and the landscape of Rohan – as is written in the books.” ”And you, as a player, are meeting that challenge with something equivalent.”
This sounds amazing. When I heard warbands from previous news, for some reason I thought that number was a lot lower then 40 to 50 mounted orcs. Also it says that they are devastating the people and landscape of Rohan which sounds almost like dynamic events happening all the time, all around you, throughout Rohan.
The only named mounted combat skill so far is Trample, which all classes can use. There’s been no detailed description of what Trample does, beyond what it suggests. Paiz said there will be class-specific mounted combat skills, too.
I think in retrospect being so excited about mount emotes seems rather foolish now that we know we can trample orcs in the name of Rohan. The interview continues on to say that you have both new mounted skills and you can use most existing character skills while mounted. This means that I still can hope that burglars will be able to go into stealth while mounted on their war horse.
The article continues on to talk about LotRO’s future…
“Helm’s Deep is a big story, obviously. It’s a huge challenge for an MMO technically to have – from the books, – 10,000 orcs cresting a hill, running towards the keep. That’s a really robust effort from us and the investment is significant. “So we need time to get that tech ready for launch so we can bring it to life in a way that players will find credible and in a way that will meet their expectations.”
I am glad that Turbine is taking their time with Helm’s Deep because I want it done right. What I think will be more amazing is 10,000 orcs being ambushed by several thousand Riders of Rohan storming down the hill into the giant mass of orcs. Also notice how they say that we will see the orcs cresting over the hill implying that we will be part of the defense force of Helm’s Deep and not the riders comming to save them (with Gandalf and what not) yet we still may ride out with the King of Rohan. Also I think that this is almost garanteed to happen since they talk about all the effort and investment they have put into this project.
Now on to Gondor?
Minas Tirith, the white-stoned and multi-tiered stronghold of Gondor, is also on the cards. Paiz described it as “huge”: “There’s a tremendous amount of white stone that has to be laid. They had thousands of years; I’m sure it won’t take us anywhere near that long, but it is a significant undertaking!”
This sounds like it will take a long time to build. Also keep in mind the fact that at Gondor there were 100,000 orcs if I remember right from the books. This could mean that we will go on a few detours before arriving at the white city so that Turbine can perfect the tech. It does sound very impressive though as it is the largest settlement in Middle Earth at this time. Keep in mind that they have to populate the city, then have it attacked, then have the Men of Rohan come save them. All in all this will be a huge battle that even LotRO might not be able to pull off. Even if they do, will there be incentive to fight against an army of that size. Will we actually make a difference on the battlefield at that point? Oh yeah…Gandalf will be there…never mind. I am ready to fight those orcs to the death…and then respawn…and fight them to the death again!
I hope you are looking forward to the future of LotRO with excitement as it seems Turbine has a good game plan.
Also let me say that the Mordor expansion has to be called Eye of Sauron.
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February 3, 2012 at 10:10 am
I am not able to read the article as linked above right now (damn my workplace’s computer use-and-abuse policy!!!!), but does the article mention anything about mounted combat being restricted to certain areas or zones?
While I think the addition of mounted combat is something that is fun and exciting, I wonder how it will impact how people learn to play their class.
After all, since you can now get mounts as soon as you leave the starting area, instead of having to wait until level 20 (or level 35 as the “old timers” will remind you), will players just start running around the Shire, Bree and Erid Luin on their horses/ponies running over every mob in sight?
February 3, 2012 at 10:35 am
I’ve heard it’s only limited to one of the areas in the Rohan expansion. Can’t quite remember what the name of the area was.
I’m interested to know if you can ride your mount other places. I would hope so.
February 3, 2012 at 1:03 pm
@ Calab Kester- Mounted combat is limited to the Rohan zone (just one zone) in this expansion but it might be availiable in future zones as Turbine has said in other interviews. However, when Turbine was asked about mounted combat in monsterplay they did not give a definitive answer in the interview on Ten Ton Hammer.
February 3, 2012 at 1:03 pm
@ Vraeden- Mounted combat is limited to the Rohan zone (just one zone) in this expansion but it might be availiable in future zones as Turbine has said in other interviews. However, when Turbine was asked about mounted combat in monsterplay they did not give a definitive answer in the interview on Ten Ton Hammer.
February 3, 2012 at 10:50 am
I’m with the author in saying, “Dynamic encounters?!”.
This is something I wish they’d had the foresight to include from the start. It makes so much more sense to include roving bands of orcs for players to intercept and kill than to have them mucking around in these little camps. Granted, there are some areas where it couldn’t work (Shire and the like), but places like Angmar, North Downs, Dimril Dale, Mirkwood, all of these lend themselves to seeing parties of orcs/evil Men on the move and taking certain points.
It seems like they toyed with this idea with “battle grounds” thingy they included in Annuminas and Forochel but never saw it through.
Hopefully this will be a new thing they expand in to current zones as well!
February 3, 2012 at 1:08 pm
@ shipwreck- I agree with wanting previous zones to have dynamic encounters…hopefully Turbine will go back someday and redo older zones to help improve the overall game.
Also I love what you are doing for LotRO on LotRO Beneath Your Feet and I hope you keep it up
February 3, 2012 at 11:16 am
Another question I have about mounted combat in other zones:
Will it be allowed in the Ettenmoors?
What if Freeps can stay mounted, trample Creeps (‘cuz they deserve it) and run off when they’re being zerged, all the while still able to use most of their skills? Or will Creeps get their own mounts?
February 3, 2012 at 12:19 pm
I don’t have a link but it has been confirmed in the official discussion thread on the forums that mounted combat is only going to be in Rohan and not in any of the previous zones including the Ettenmoors.
February 3, 2012 at 1:05 pm
While I would love to see a host of Freeps sweeping down from Tirith Rhaw and crushing an army of creeps, I think from the perspective of game balance, restricting mounted combat to Rohan and against NPCs only is a good move.
February 3, 2012 at 1:15 pm
Yes…if you want to know more on my opinion about this, look on my article called “Riders of Rohan- A Monster’s Perspective”
February 5, 2012 at 2:40 pm
Andang, i’m sorry but as a proud warg and dedicated creep, I wsould never sink so low to allow orcs or uruks ride me. But I am getting more exited for RoR by the minute.
February 5, 2012 at 2:55 pm
@ Pounceclaw- I understand why you would not allow orcs and uruks ride on you and I am glad that I may have enstilled some excitment about RAWR!
February 3, 2012 at 1:13 pm
@ Felaros- Did it say that it will not be in PVMP because when Ten Ton Hammer asked Turbine if mounted combat will be in monsterplay (not necissarily Ettenmoors but monsterplay) and Turbine did not give a definitive answer and so there could be a new zone in Rohan w/mounted combat (but don’t read into that too much).
February 3, 2012 at 1:10 pm
@ Vraeden- Mounted combat is limited to the Rohan zone (just one zone) in this expansion but it might be availiable in future zones as Turbine has said in other interviews. However, when Turbine was asked about mounted combat in monsterplay they did not give a definitive answer in the interview on Ten Ton Hammer. They could be making a new zone in the areas of Rohan to allow this to happen (but don’t read into it to much).
February 4, 2012 at 11:50 am
Hmmm.. It won’t take them anywhere near the thousands of years the Gondorians took to build Minas Tirith can STILL mean it will take them at least one thousand years.
We have to wait a thousand years to see Mins Tirith!!! Gaaaaaah!
February 4, 2012 at 12:51 pm
@ Foxfire- I hope not…lol
February 4, 2012 at 6:17 pm
From the article:
Not all on-foot abilities will work on horseback. “There will be some classic skills that can apply to this experience, but there are certainly going to be skills that don’t apply,” Paiz said, “that make sense when you’re standing there, plinking at someone with your bow and arrow: when you’re racing across the plains at high-speed you can no longer do focus elements like this.” (Syntax edited for clarity)
If Hunters can’t use focus skills, I doubt Burgs will be able to stealth (nor Champs shing-shing from horseback, more’s the pity).
February 4, 2012 at 11:01 pm
I know…that is why it is only a hope and nothing more (but would that not be awesome)
February 5, 2012 at 2:45 pm
I wonder how they will work inductions too, Mounted combat is all about speed and mobility, how will classes such as the waarden and hunter work if they can’t get off inductions.
February 5, 2012 at 2:56 pm
@ Pounceclaw- It will be interesting to see how it works. I think there are a lot of changes with this expansion and maybe not enough thoughts like how will this work?
February 6, 2012 at 4:02 pm
re: Now on to Gondor?
IMO, Turbine seems to be heading toward a semi-Instanced World. It will not progress to the extent of Guild Wars’ use of instanced areas (and cannot without serious alteration of fundamental game-play mechanics and concepts), but it will add more linear and temporal instanced areas.
Temporal Instances are simple, one-shot “forks” to regions / areas to account for some difference in time or events. That is, the character cannot enter these areas without completing some quest. Current examples include Archet and the Walls of Moria.
Linear Instances might be instance hubs (but I cannot be certain as none of my characters are high enough yet). I see Linear Instances, as a means of segmenting complex NPC actions and world events into discrete, manageable programming, but linking the completion of one segment to the start of another segment. Imagine playing the Epic Storyline only, chapter after chapter, without any other portion of the game at all and you have a type of Linear Instance. Although I imagine more of a Before, several During, and an After segment to account for complex events.
With the forthcoming release of The Hobbit, I expect that WB and Turbine will try to capitalize on renewed interest (thus the 2017 license period). They would need to re-create The Hobbit Storyline (adding a new story arc to the game – either expanding that story as they did LotR, or as a “historical re-enactment”) which would entail the creation of about 3-5 new regions between the Misty Mountains and the Lonely Mountain. Which, if Temporally Instanced, can be re-used as an “instant expansion” to the current game timeline during the War of the Ring.
If this proves commercially viable, other types of time-forking might be considered. Speaking to Galadriel allows a return to Aman, the Undying Lands, during the time of the Two Trees. Allowing characters to experience Morgoth and Ungoliant destroying the Two Trees; Feanor creating the Silmarils along with their subsequent theft.
Pretty much all of recorded time within Middle-Earth is accessible.
February 6, 2012 at 5:11 pm
@ Loqacious- Turbine said in the article that they will keep making stuff as long as the fans will continue to play and so I think that your guess is valid and likely.