Website/Blog Info

I guess I didn't realize that anyone would even check this place anymore, but should probably still post a link to where my blog now lives!

http://geeksprinkles.com/

Much thanks for the time my live-in web dev put into making my site exactly what I asked for!

~Bridget (AKA LOTROgirl)

A New Blog On The Horizon...

Since it doesn't look like I'll be going back to LoTRO -- *sigh* I had really hoped that things would work out for us, Turbine -- I'll be starting a new gaming blog along with the launch of GW2... possibly sooner!

~Bridget (formerly, LOTROgirl)

Goodbye... for now.

So, LOTROgirl has un-subbed to LoTRO.

I don't think that Turbine/WB will likely ever implement the changes to the LoTRO Store and their policies to make the game playable for me (and many others) again, but I'm still *hoping* it will happen.

Someone let me know if it does?

I miss my game.

~LOTROgirl

Time to say goodbye?

I need to start by saying that not only have I been an avid LOTRO player/supporter for the last 4 years, but a Turbine fan ever since playing Asheron's Call -- which was my first ever MMO.

Lord of the Rings Online has a deep story, an amazing community of players, well-balanced end-game content and unsurpassed graphics.  It also has changed... for the worse.  When the Turbine Store was first launched with F2P, I left the game for a few months.  I was angry and disheartened by the items that were attainable by spending real life money.  I was angered at the outright LIE to us as a community by Patience who before launch said, "The LOTRO Store will offer convenience, not advantage."

After three months of not finding anything to replace LOTRO with, I gave up my idealistic boycott and came back to what still is the best MMO I've ever played.  When I came back, I had hope for the direction of the store.  I hoped that maybe it would change, maybe Turbine would hear the cries of the players that were leaving in droves over the sound of their profits.  In order to "keep up" with end-game and my raiding comrades, I gave in and did something that I swore I would never do.  I bought Turbine points... which I used to get the stats tomes for my main character.  I hadn't seen ANY drop in game.  The full set of stat tomes for ONE toon cost all the points and I had, and then my wardrobe and vaults got full, and then there were NEW stat tomes and then new cosmetics, and then NEW NEW NEW!  So, I recently bought another round of TP.  Which made me think about how many hours I've put into earning things in this game over these last 4 years.  And I got angry again.  Every 'new addition' and announcement for the store just makes me more and more upset.  I sincerely wish I had stuck to my ideals 18 months ago, because at that time I predicted that there would be more and more "needed" items from the store that would be too good to pass up.  I predicted that Turbine would do exactly what they ARE doing, and that most of us would fall for it.  I understand the argument that I could just NOT buy the store items.  But I want my main toon -- of whom I am very proud -- to have, and be, everything that she can.

I know it sounds hackneyed, but Turbine and LoTRO (under the new WB regime) have sold us out.  Enjoying immersion into Tolkien's world while truly EARNING every possible reward is a thing of the past, and given the financial profit, that isn't going to change.  And I get it.  I understand that they are trying to make money.  That is what all MMOs are trying to do.  That is what the Turbine Store is.  I also understand that when they give us a dozen new possible cosmetic items that won't fit in our already stuffed vaults and wardrobes along with the ability to suddenly upgrade those both again only through the Turbine Store.. that WE ARE BEING PLAYED.

I've really missed the game and my friends these last couple of weeks that I haven't been able to play (for real life reasons), but I don't know if I can come back again.  I don't know if I can continue to sit back and declare myself mindless enough to keep throwing away my money and my ideals at something that used to only cost me $10 a month and some time.

I'm not sure what I am going to do at this point and how much compromise I am willing to make.  This is all going to require a lot of thought.

In the meantime, I miss my in-game friends.. and Trucido of Windfola remains the most amazing kinship/guild ever.

To Be Continued...

An Unwanted Hiatus

A death in our immediate family -- coupled with the holidays -- has left me drained and barely able to game, never mind blog.

After the holidays are over and my stress level has returned to its normal state of crazy-yet-functional, I'll be back.

Till then, here's a screenie of my minstrel, Cherrydue, all dressed up for Yule and carrying home her tree:

Hope everyone else is happily gaming through the holiday madness...

~LOTROgirl

Gamer Girl Survival Guide # 2

In the first Gamer Girl Survival Guide post we talked defense.  Now it's time to look at the other side of that shiny coin:  offense!

Not only do we need to learn to lithely mitigate the barrage of whatever is thrown at us in our virtual worlds, but we can also sometimes avoid being the target at all by having a respectable in-game arsenal.  Girls, we need to arm ourselves!*

Literal weapons and other in-game gear are a part of being well-armed in an MMO.  It's less likely that people will be condescending to a female player that has gear that is as good -- or better than -- theirs.  It's also easier to not be phased by occasional ass-hattery and chauvinism when you're decked out in high-end stuff. So, let's run the content and get the goods!

Another -- and even more important -- way that we need to arm ourselves in-game is knowledge and skill.

When I say that women need in-game knowledge, I'm not just talking about knowing which NPC is named "Jenny Greentoes" or when the next festival starts.  I'm talking about the following:

- Have general knowledge that affects game-play.  Know what virtues we should trait for various fights, what buffs we want, and what consumables are most useful.  Be prepared to answer questions for other players when they arise, too.  Why?  Out of helpfulness, sure, but also because it makes us look good!  Example (thanks, Palin!) general knowledge question: "Are there other places than a skirmish barterer to get Greater Scrolls of Delving?"  Answer:  "Yes.  You can also buy them with TP through the store OR spend over 6,000 shards on them at a relic master."


- Know everything to do with our classes.  Know all of our class skills, our class trait sets, and how virtues/stats affect our classes.  Know our gear and be prepared to defend why we use each piece!  Read the class/beta forums and stay informed about current issues and future changes.

- Have a basic understanding of the other classes.  No one expects every player to be an expert of every single class in a game, especially those we don't play, but knowing other classes and how they affect us in a group, is essential for being a good group player... especially at end-game.  Having at least a basic understanding of the other classes will also help us to be able to give advice and feedback to others.  And helping people gains us respect. 

- Learn some strategy!  We need to know the fights we're going to be joining.  Let's always go in with a basic idea of the strategy so our group leaders don't have to hold our hands.  Have some basic foreknowledge of what is going to happen and how to handle it.  For example, knowing what kind of debuff a boss lays down in an instance is not only good for success of the fight, but being able to answer these kind of specific questions when they arise -- much like understanding other classes -- can gain us respect.

Aside from being a knowledgeable player, let's also be prepared to back up that stored information with SKILL!  Knowing that the Lieutenant of Dol Guldur puts a purple eye over our heads that will kill our fellows is good.  Running to the designated spot on time and NOT killing our fellows is better!

Showing that we play as well as others will help chip away at the gender prejudice that we sometimes face, and hopefully we will someday be thought of as more than just "gamer girls" but also as equal and essential members of the gaming community.  This isn't a female specific concept, by the way.  ALL end-gamers in MMOs have to prove themselves worthy of being considered "good players."

By being geared, knowledgeable and skillful players we'll have a full arsenal to not only use in social combat, but to hopefully avoid ever even being the target when it arises.

~LOTROgirl

*Most of my examples and information will be taken from LOTRO, since it is where I have the majority of my MMO experience.  The basic advice can be applied to all MMOs**, however.

**"Hello Kitty Online" might be an exception.

Draigoch Revisited

In October I wrote about my disdain for the current "dragon raid" with a lot of heart-felt detail, but several weeks later my feelings have changed a bit.  It seems only fair to share that, too.

So, what's changed about the fight that makes me like it better?  Nothing.  My kinship, Trucido, just has it completely DOWN at this point.  I no longer find myself dreading the once tedium of fighting the great dragon, and I think it all comes down to... speed!  If the fight is finished quickly, the repetitive nature of the first two phases isn't nearly as painful.  Since there is still a lack of real raid-wide strategy (and excitement compared to other, better raids) it's best when it all goes like:  Boom! Loots! Yay!

I look forward to Turbine lowering Draigoch's morale in the next update simply to make the process go even faster.  Moreover, I look forward to new instances and a raid that I can only hope is reminiscent of far better fights that we've seen in this past.

*X-ing fingers*

~LOTROgirl