Lord of the Rings Online

I'm curious to know how LOTRO compares to DDO? The one thing DDO has that no other game seems to compare to are the quests. The quests in DDO have always impressed me because they have aspects which make you think. Like the quests which have those giant wagon wheels where you need to set them to the right runes and such to trigger an event. I haven't see anything like that in any other MMO. Also, every dungeon is unique unlike some other MMO's like CoH which re-use maps for different missions.

Anyway, I'd really like to hear from someone who's played DDO & LOTRO to get their opinions!

Thanks!

Originally posted by dsorrent

I'm curious to know how LOTRO compares to DDO? The one thing DDO has that no other game seems to compare to are the quests. The quests in DDO have always impressed me because they have aspects which make you think. Like the quests which have those giant wagon wheels where you need to set them to the right runes and such to trigger an event. I haven't see anything like that in any other MMO. Also, every dungeon is unique unlike some other MMO's like CoH which re-use maps for different missions.

Anyway, I'd really like to hear from someone who's played DDO & LOTRO to get their opinions!

Thanks!

LOTRO seems to have more story driven quests.

There are some quests here and there that force you to think. There is one where if you "got it" you had to enter /bow in order to show respect. My problem with something like that is that with these types of quests being so rare, it might not occur to the person playing that this is a viable option.

LOTRO has quests where you pick things up and carry them elswhere, and where you defend npc's while they either head out of an area or "lead you" to destroy something.

There might be puzzle like quests but I have yet to really see them. So again, more like you go to an area and the "bad guy" gives some sort of speech before he and his minions attack you.

some other examples

one quest where you throw rocks to get trolls to fight while you steal a lucky stone

one where you have to find and burn tents

one where you look for sheets of music that were lost

one where you fight off two brothers while a NPC is talking to his girl friend

one where you find a cure for  NPC's sick dog

one where you find the three stone trolls from the Hobbit

some where you deliver mail and not be seen by "hungry hobbits"

some really wacky fun ones where you play as a chicken character.

a series of riddle "puzzle" quests with Bilbo

tons of quests, too many to list. Some are puzzles, some fed ex, some defend a NPC or location, a lot are kill ten widgets, some find the location. LoTRO has the best quest system of any MMORPG I have ever played, bar none and I have played most of em to one degree or another.

check here for more

lotro.mmodb.com/quests/

There are a lot more quests that make you think than have been mentioned --- but yes i"ve played both DDo and LOTRO and enjoy both for different aspects.  Actually if money allowed it I"d have both accounts active.   

I enjoy the story driven content in LOTRO much better and I found DDO a LOT more repetitive however, I do see what the OP is posting.

The best direct comparisons are in higher end raid instances.   In the Anuminas dungeons there are lots of little puzzles to further the instances:

Ost Elendil for instance requires useing specific types of lighting in order to do dammage to the mobs.   You have to have mobs in the correct light or they are invulnerable and it takes some planning co-ordination and thought.   In the first Anuminas dungeons (I always forget the name hehe) you have to figure out in which order to pull some levers before the gates on each level open to the next level.   Another example is from old school BG -- you used to have to work out an order to extinguish some torches in order to reduce the dread you'd have in one of the encounters there    In the balrog fight itself there are two stages where levers are pulled to cleanse some waters and further the encounter -- all of these have to be worked out.   Yes the script is repeatable but it is also repeatable in DDO as well.   The point is in several higher end instances they've incorporated some of the same *puzzles* Turbine uses in DDO.

The riddle quest afore mentioned is a GREAT quest where you have to solve 4 word riddles and at the end is one of the best light armour hats pre 50 in game.   So you're awarded for your thoughtfulness.

Hope this helps -- there are many many more examples of what we speak in game.

Cheers

Personally I liked DDO more than LOTRO based on the quests and combat you get but DDO's population just didn't let me have fun. LOTRO has a great population but also there are enough solo quests that if you find yourself not getting a group right away you can do other things.

Imagine if Turbines next game takes the best parts from DDO (combat, character custimization and awesome quests) with the best from LotrO (Story, immersive world polish and content)!

Originally posted by seabass2003

Personally I liked DDO more than LOTRO based on the quests and combat you get but DDO's population just didn't let me have fun. LOTRO has a great population but also there are enough solo quests that if you find yourself not getting a group right away you can do other things.

I agree pretty much 100% with this. I am even considering going back to DDO with the next patch (which is supposed to make it more solo friendly).

Originally posted by Papadam

Imagine if Turbines next game takes the best parts from DDO (combat, character custimization and awesome quests) with the best from LotrO (Story, immersive world polish and content)!

 

 

They already had this game, it was called Asheron's Call 2 - Legions