The RP in LotRO is.. Hrm.. I think I want to write a big comment on it in the LotRO forums when I get time. But.. You get it here first then 
We play on the only english RP server. This server nominally has some anti-OOC and naming conventions in effect, but we haven't seen any GM's yet (but plenty of crap names of course ). Also, there are channels much like in SoR or WoW, so that you can cut out the OOC channel and all others except for what your char would hear in his immediate surrounding. That's nice for immersion.
So.. How much have I RP'ed the 4 days I've played the game? Only with Dustman's char. Did we attract other RP'ers while we RP'ed? Yes, 1.5 times, for a very short while, minutes, and nothing came of it. Otherwise, it's been quiet.
Everyone is running around on their own or with someone in tow, quiet. Everyone minds their own business, goes on their own quests, and do not speak, except to sometimes ask for OOC help in a raid on the IC channel. The game is.. Quiet. Sometimes there are people doing sad and OOC stuff with emotes too, but mostly everyone you meet is running around minding their own business, and it is quiet.
How can this be? On a RP server? There are two main reasons I think.
1. Roleplayers are shy: If they don't see and hear others RP'ing, they do not dare to be the ones speaking IC to someone they do not know. On the other hand, they do not want to speak OOC either.. Which results in them running around quietly.
2. The game itself does not particularly support or encourage RP. Apart from needing people for fellowship quests (quests that would be too hard doing alone), there is no ingame reason to talk to others, gamemechanic wise.
If pointing at one part of the game that is THE game, it is the quest system. These are not optional or anything, this is where you gain your XP, your good gear and your story progression. Everything revolves around these quests, and they are well-done. You do not need others for this though (Let's say you don't need others for 70 out of 75 quests in a region), so you develop a single-player attitude where you do not stop up and initiate RP unless you see it. (which you don't, as everybody else is also thinking in this way).
3. Maybe there's a third reason for the lack of RP in LotRO, or the sluggishness with which it seems to run. Your actions will have no consequence whatever. Ok, this is standard in MMO's unfortunately of course. The quests are not repeatable by you, but everyone has done the same quest as you, also when it doesn't make any sense at all, and the NPC's return to their initial 'need help' position once you save them, etc.
That's sadly normal. But even more so than with other games, the story in LotRO is locked/unchangeable. Players might not be able to change the story of ANY current MMO (sigh), but at least you have the feeling the story is going to progress and might surprise you, etc. In LotRO you KNOW what is going to happen overall. The fellowship isn't going to fail, and they will move exactly as in the books. Nothing is going to change that, and when they succeed (if the developers will even move it that close to the end), the game is going to end, because nothing can happen afterwards (that would violate trademarks and contracts, if Turbine suddenly decided to continue Tolkien's story.).
So that might also subconsciously be something roleplayers have in mind when they can't be bothered to RP on their own in this game.
Well.. APART from that. The RP could be pretty good, and there will be player housing too at a point. It's a standard game mechanics wise, apart from a few things that makes no difference to a RP'er, but the setting is powerful, and good RP'ers can get something out of the RP here. Also, I think a bigger group of RP'ers moving together, not just Dustman and I, could stimulate more RP and make more people RP, just as in Silan where we scooped up single RP'ers.
The game in itself is also mildly fun/interesting, though there's WAY too much combat. At least there doesn't need to be any grind at all, which is great. So it is worth trying for most of us I'd say (with a free buddy code that is ). Also, they will bring out new content all the time, every 2-3 or so months That's nice.
I liked SoR's (and Seed's of course) graphics much better, they had soul, whereas Middle-Earth seems somehow.. Too clean and boring, graphics wise.. Well, that is a very personal opinion I think. Also the RP in SoR was.. well, it's har dto compare really, since there has been none in LotRO apart from what Dustman and I have had. I think we could lure out RP'ers if we were more and made an effort though 
And it would be nice to always have someone to adventure with as we travelled through the lands.
So Oluf, that's my short answer to you and anyone else interested. I would say that since you have already tried the game, and looking at how you went out of EVE after your free days expired.. You will do the same with LotRO. I do not think it will hold your interest. Not that I don't want to RP with you of course I just don't think LotRO has enough for you to be satisfied when neither SoR or EVE had.
Last edited by Darkhawk (2007-06-04 16:52:17)
