Landroval vs. Windfola :: LOTRO Server Decisions

For the last couple of weeks, I’ve struggled with this decision; going back to April 20th, if I run through the blog. Over the last week to week and half, I’ve mainly been on Landroval and so I think I have a decent feel for each and here is my assessment, for whatever that is worth. (Mondays – sometimes productive and other times – not so much ).

Let’s begin with Windfola. I’m not really certain why I picked the server other than it looked like a nice server in the official forum website and most, if not all people, seemed pleased with their decisions. So it seemed like a good place to look around. I found “The Watch” Kinship on the server and it is a great group of respectful and appropriate players with a great active website. So after looking around a bit, I started on Windfola with a Hobbit Burglar.

Once on the server, I was pleased with the general attitudes and behavior of the players – really a very nice server. The Shire was great! It had a slower feel and people were kind and nice. The Watch is very active and there are always plenty of players online. Honestly, I’m behind the vast majority of them in level and so I rarely traveled with any of the Kinship. Roleplay-wise, there was honestly very little. Not none and not anti-RP, but certainly not something that you would stumble upon that often in your travels. That said, I think within the Shire I was happy.

Slowly Dermid outgrew the Shire and needed to see the world and that took him into Bree. Bree is a huge town where masses of players congregate and honestly where I began to be a little frustrated. The town is large and with the masses of players, there was little to no RP. Occasionally you might catch someone playing an instrument and occasionally someone would help if you asked an in-character question about a quest rather than posting on the advice channel, but often, those in-character questions were ignored as the masses ran by. I ended up turning off the kinship channel for The Watch because it was OOC and I really don’t enjoy seeing a rolling OOC line of text. I’m in game to escape. I go to the forums for help or assistance, but that isn’t what I log onto the game to do. I just enjoy keeping that separate and being new to MMORPGs, I’m still adjusting to “what to expect”.

Next was Landroval. It is the “unofficial RP” server. I’m not sure why I avoided it in the first place. It seemed a little high on forum board drama in the pre-release days and so I stayed away. My first character was a elf. I wanted to see the introduction from an elves perspective and thought why not. The experience was pretty good but I was never happy about trying to roleplay an elf with such limited knowledge of Tolkien on “RP” server. So I momentarily went back to Windfola and hoped with the help of the LOTRO RP Haven that I would have a great time.

My first RP event really went well and there was excellent support from the Kinship. That and the fact that I really like my little hobbit burglar the best has created much confusion over the decision. But the longer I’m on Landroval, the more I’m convinced that it is a “better” fit – at least for me.

Pleasantly, I’ve found some roleplaying in just about every session on Landroval. I’m playing a man and so we begin closer to Bree in the busy Bree-land region and even there, I’ve been very pleased with the ability to speak and stay largely in character and quest and join fellowships. I’m not saying everyone is roleplaying or that it is a more respectful place than Windfola, but the odds of finding someone roleplaying are at least 3 times higher and that makes my game time more productive and enjoyable with less searching required.

I’ve built a QUIET tab where I can only see tells, emotes, says, and fellowship messages and that is generally where I sit. I’ve had good luck in finding pick-up groups without the support of a kinship and I’m planning on taking any kinship joining decision very slowly. It may be that I use LOTRO Haven for my “kinship” more than any particular guild. Time will tell.

As far as Dermid goes on the Windfola server, I’m not real sure. I have a “freeze tag” event scheduled for the kinship on Tuesday and I think it will be great. It fits in with the guild and I expect a big turnout. It may be that I play on both servers. A more guild tilted approach for Windfola and a more RP tilted approach on Landroval. I’ve enjoyed both to be honest and maybe splitting time might be reasonable until I accumulate more time and see that it stays more RP-oriented once I reach Bree on Landroval.

Today, despite all the things on Windfola that make me happy – the kinship, the active board they have, the hobbit burglar (my favorite character); I lean towards Landroval as the place where I will be happiest the longest. I guess, at heart, I enjoy pretending to be in Middle-Earth so getting there should be the goal.

The Party Tree: A Good Thing Gone Bad?

A role-playing storyline taken from an event run on the Windfola server for Lord of the Rings Online. For context on the event, please see the following two links:

The Party Announcement

Dermid, Spider-Sting Journal Entry: The Night Before

What follows below is an account of the event through the Eyes of Dermid of the Harfoots now living near Scary; Second cousin of Dermid, Spider-Sting. Throughout the account, he is openly shaken but has attempted, the best he can, to recall the events of the evening.

First things first, be reminded that I’m Dermid of the Harfoots and not Dermid, Spider-Sting. I’m a cousin of the hobbit and a good friend. I’m a farmer from near Scary and Spider-Sting is my 2nd cousin on my fathers side. You see, Spider-Sting recently decided to throw a party and invited several folks to meet at the party tree and it having been several good years since I traveled anywhere near that side of the Shire, I made the long trip.

The day seemed to began pleasantly enough. I showed up quite early and spent a good half-day cleaning tables and baking pies in the nearby ovens. I knew I’d have to help and didn’t expect Spider-Sting to arrive until near the start of the party so this wasn’t unexpected.

A good handful of visitors arrived during the early moments of the gathering. I really think that Spider-Sting would have been most pleased. People from the “Lone-Lands” to other short people, dwarves I believe they are called from the cold mountains, all within the Shire. It was a pleasant sight and one I wished I could of enjoyed. Some danced, a few enjoyed a good smoke, and I think most, if not all, partook in the pies.

As the time rolled past, it became increasingly obvious to this hobbit that something bad was afoot. Spider-Sting is not one to be early, but not one to be late; especially at his own event. I remember nervously waiting with the others, trying to keep up a decent mood. From standing upon tables for a better view, to trying to see if pipeweed might ease the nerves, little to nothing seemed to settle the knot quickly forming within my belly.

It was nearly a quarter past before I broke down. I’m quite saddened, now in looking back, that I didn’t give into my gut a bit earlier. It pains me to no end that I could have altered fate. *A tear comes into his eyes. After pausing for a moment to gather himself, he paints a rather timid smile on his face and continues to recount his memories of the event.*

The time had come for action so I took to the stage and made, for me at least, a bold step. I announced my fear that Spider-Sting was in trouble. It was the reason for my nervousness, for which I apologized, and I supplied his final journal entry as proof of my concern. I know that hobbits can be a little paranoid at times and even I myself only rarely leave Scary but something within me knew that all was not well.

Questions ensued and I attempted to remember all that I could from the conversations I had had with Spider-Sting. I remembered talk of bandits or thieves or something… as well as a waterfall and or a camp. Details slipped as I’ve never cared much for adventure and Spider-Sting can often ramble. After sharing my memories, several within the group apparently thought he went South into a camp of brigands in search of greater treasure. Sadly this made all too much sense. He is a pleaser and was clearly nervous about the event and wanted “grand prizes” for whatever simple contests might evolve during the festivities.

Thankfully I had brought the fireworks for the party. A member of the crowd had a wonderful idea to use them as flares; I hate to admit that I have forgotten who it was by name but much of the last is somewhat of a blur. I handed each of the leaders of the 3 groups a firework to use when they or if they found Dermid, Spider-Sting. You see, they’d rise high above the Shire and be a clear signal for all, much faster than the mail system in the Shire which always seems to be in a state of chaos.

There and then, I think I must have fainted at the base of the tree. I remember little else until I awoke within the The Ivy Bush Inn some several hours later with my cousin lying next to me.

Within the inn, I was told it was as I had feared. Dermid, Spider-Sting had gone into a camp of thieves alone in search of prizes for those who might attend. He carried a small pouch labeled “Prizes” that carried several hand-crafted pieces of jewelery that, at least to this hobbit, seemed quite enough and then some. But he’s always one to go a step beyond and so I guess it is not surprising.

*Moves over to Spider-Sting, still barely clinging to life, and places a hand on his chest.* I can only imagine what you have seen and what you might have been through. *Dermid of the Harfoots lies down next to his cousin and slips into a more peaceful rest now that this tale is told.*

Dermid, Spider-Sting and the Party Tree Event

*Nervously jots down a new entry into his journal*

I think the plans are coming together quite nicely. Quite nicely indeed. My 2nd cousin on my fathers side, also named Dermid if you can believe that, from near Scary will be making the trip over, so I have high hopes. High hopes indeed. I certainly hope he remembers the fireworks.

I do still worry that I don’t have enough gifts to impress those that might attend. Oh how I would like to be one looked up to rather than down upon. I wish I had a little more that I could offer up…bah, there is that word again – always sneaking into my mind. But, perhaps, it isn’t too late and maybe I under estimate myself sometimes.

Sleep calls though and my eyes weigh heavily, but maybe tomorrow I can put this nervousness in the hands to good use.

*Dermid grabs a quick bite to eat, closes the journal and lays down, attempting to get some rest as visions of wild adventure begin to stir within his mind*

A Party at the Party Tree!

*The follow note is found posted on various trees and found in mailboxes across the lands of the Shire*

Please join other friends of the Shire at the Party Tree on the 15th of May at 10 PM EST. Drop in for a quick break from the recent troubles of the Shire to rest, share stories, smoke a bit of pipeweed, and perhaps partake in a few beers with new and old friends alike.

~Signed Dermid~

Dermid, the organizer of this little event, beings to get a little anxious at having posted the notice with no real plan. After a short moment of nervousness, he lights his pipe and all seems better. He thinks that maybe a minstrel or two might show and we could have a little contest, but that would mean prizes….searches the bag…nothing, well at the best very little. He takes another deep breath from the pipe. Tomorrow… I’ll plan Tomorrow.

OOC:

This is an roleplaying event on the Windfola server. I’m trying to gather some momentum on that server and see if I can find some like minds. This is event is posted in several locations within the LOTRO community, but it needed to be here as well.

Please stay IC for the meeting. We will use the /say channel for this event. It will be a great opportunity to begin to meet the members of the guild and meet new friends. The Party Tree is just south of Bag End, pretty much in the center of the Shire. All levels and characters are welcomed. I’m hoping to meet others within the guild that, at least on occasion like to take a break and sit back and RP a bit.

I included a few tags for this post, because if you are here for NWN, you’d certainly be welcomed at the event.

Role-Players Haven in Middle-Earth!

I’m adding a new link to the page here.

LOTRO RPHaven

Basically, it is a site that seems similiar to NWConnections in many respects dedicated to the role-playing community in Middle-Earth. It is a scheduling site and has forums and I’m hoping it will evolve into a nice place where role-players on any server can go to extend the gaming experience.

The site looks great and I’m happy to see several kind words about the Windfola server. At least in my experience the average player on that server has really been very nice and appropriate. I enjoy my character and I’ve only run into 1 somewhat rude player. So I’m inclined on staying put. The “unofficial” RP server is Landroval and I actually have a character on that server but I’m hopeful that rather than spending my time chasing something, I can help get a handful of players together on the Windfola server and bravely carve out a small niche group on this otherwise, great server.

Right now, it is small with only about 40-50 members, but it looks like an excellent addition to the community and I’m certainly going to support it.

I’ve gone ahead and started it off with a meet and greet type event at the Party Tree for the 15th of May. We’ll see if anyone shows up for the gathering. Maybe we can get a small group together and create some momentum.

Intros at the Party Tree!