Summary: Cari is gone this week, dealing with trauma from hosting alone last week. Layanor leads the show with Braxwolf of LOTRO Players, and Rorgg, a theater actor that happens to love the game. What we did in game: What We Did in Game Layanor I moved! So I did nothing... Braxwolf Got LM to 92 Got captain (95) through 2nd EB Played in LOTRO Players Adventures, hunter level 35 Rorrrrgrrr Finished gearing BW champ Lots of skraids Got Landy Warden through HD content. Beyond Bossfights - Mini Bossfight If your game doesn't start until the end, why did you even bother designing anything else? The people who realize your early game is a weakly designed timesink will leave. The people who prefer that first third will be disappointed that the game at the end is not what you trained them to like and leave. People who like alts and midgaming will be annoyed that most of the "coolest stuff" is too distant for them and leave. And worse? The rushers will see right through your "replayable content" and still leave. Endgame is the worst thing that ever happened to MMOs by Brianna Royce Over the years the quality has really been steadily rising to the point where we have some brilliant narrative and exciting storylines in many MMOs today. We still thrill at completing a quest to kill the dragon or save some poor townsperson who was unlucky enough to get kidnapped by orcs. The real issue is a simple one – our ability to consume that content as players has gotten to the point that most content is done by the players nearly immediately after it’s released. … The thing that is tough as a game maker is that players are going through the content we make so much faster then we can make it that we’re constantly in a state where our players are looking for stuff to do. The Sandbox MMO by John Smedley Does LOTRO suffer from a lack of end-game problem? If so, should the problem be solved with more sandbox content, or more end-game content? (if not, which one would improve on the existing game?) Turbine has experimented with different types of end-game content to help cater to solo and small group players. Are Epic Battles and repeatable quests viable end-game content or are raids and PvP the only end-game content capable of holding players’ interest? If you're looking for a new PC, then check out doghousesystems.com and use the coupon code MMOREPORTER to double your RAM! Go to audibletrial.com/mmoreporter to get a one month free trial. Contact Information: Email: lotro.reporter@gmail.com Twitter: @lotroreporter Facebook: LOTRO Reporter Voicemail: 616-666-6778 or the widget on the right side of the screen when you visit the site. YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/mmoreporternetwork www.lotroreporter.com www.twitch.tv/mmoreporter Cari Twitter: @thecarimac Layanor Twitter: @Layanor Braxwolf: Twitter: @braxwolf blog: braxwolf.com (Beyond Bossfights Podcast available on iTunes or Stitcher) LOTRO Players: lotroplayers.com Rorgg: @Rorgg Rorgg’s play plug: Brighton Beach Memoirs in Elgin IL -- late June
