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RETURN OF THE KING, Part One
Lord of the Rings Online the One MMO to Rule Them All
LQGaming Services:: Given the over-saturation of Lord of the Rings content lately, why will gamers want to play this title for months on end? And what's going to keep them coming back: We've seen a lot of combat, but what's the score on crafting, PVP, etc? Do you offer alternate paths besides base hero archetypes (e.g. can I be an exotic Elven dancer)?
Jeffrey Steefel: There has been a great deal of saturation in WATCHING the trilogy, and single player action titles, but there has never been a real living, breathing Middle-earth to play in with friends and to adventure and explore. As for the longevity of the game, there will indeed be crafting in the game and a mode of gameplay that we believe will scratch the PvP itch while also opening up other alternate ways of playing in and interacting with Middle-earth.
As for the gyrating elf, let’s just say that you’ll have plenty of emotes, and how you use them is out of our hands. (TOS-police notwithstanding). But given the tone of Middle-earth, I doubt any of them will be as "uniquely suited to the NIGHT-time" as you've seen elsewhere.
LQGaming Services:: Hunter, burglar, captain, champion, guardian, champion, lore-master... these don't sound like the most exciting roles to play. Why do you beg to differ? And, uh, what's up with the minstrel archetype – is he a subtle ode to Queer Eye for the Straight Guy?
Jeffrey Steefel: You're right; who would ever want to be a Champion in Middle-earth? ;) All kidding aside, it was especially important for us to honor the source of so much of what people come to expect from fantasy literature and gaming, and not just emulate the "copies of copies" that have followed it.
These classes are very fun to play, accessible to the MMO fan, and themed to tap deeply into Tolkien's universe. I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone, so look forward to more details as they are released. As for the Minstrel, he/she is a very important contributor to the success of any Fellowship, especially considering they are the main contributors to morale (our measure of vitality or HP)…
LQGaming Services:: Oh, and uh, dude, we have to mention it but - you seem to be missing magicians on that list. Not paying the design team enough, are we?
Jeffrey Steefel: Unless that's a copy of Harry Potter under your LOTR dustjacket, I'm sure you realize that there are only five wizards in all of Middle-earth! Magic in LOTRO is a more subtle thing. (I think there’s another IP out there that does the more direct thing… where you can even make a "missile" out of "magic"… what is that game again?).
That said, to an MMO magic user, the Lore-master will feel just as interesting and influential. And over time, they will have some stunning effects to conjure.
LQGaming Services:: Mind sharing some info on conjunctions and how they work?
Jeffrey Steefel: Sure! Conjunctions are group-based maneuvers that allow an organized Fellowship to unleash devastating techniques against their foes, or seize the moment to boost their morale. Each member of the Fellowship contributes to determine the exact maneuver that is performed, but they only have a certain amount of time to contribute, so the order of execution is crucial.
Expect more on this later, as it sounds far more complicated than it is. More than anything, it’s just plain a blast to do with your crew! Other games have given groups ways to perform "combo attacks," but we think LOTRO's conjunctions bring a level of ease-of-use and presentation that you haven't seen before, and let more players get involved in deep and satisfying battlefield tactics.
- Scott Steinberg
Stay tuned for Part 2 of LQGaming Services:'s special interview with Turbine's LotRO Executive Producer Jeffrey Steefel.
COMING SOON!
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