B7 - Early Early Impressions

[Haleabor]

I woke up this morning to a completed download and then waited until 06.30 for the daily restart to finish. This meant that there were only a handful of people online so I thought I would check things out a bit.

First as Haleabor I logged and immediately mapped to Bree to go to the festival grounds and the maze (noting that there's a duplicate deed for V2 .... stupid Turbine)

The maze looks perfectly in place and very natural...good work there.. and I had time to complete one quest - the Elf one. It was fairly simple and I didn't even have to stop to ask directions (which is lucky cus as a man I'm incapable of this)

Anyway it was relatively fun and I'm looking forward to trying it some more, however (like the rest of the game) I bet it's a nightmare when it's full of people.

Then I logged Haleawyn....first thing I noticed (bad) was that almost every skill icon had changed...ok the artwork is pretty and I'll get used to it (the fear icon is certainly easier to spot!!:shock:)

Then I tried a few skills and "wow" my inductions are virtually non existant...that and the new "heal buff" on all ballads...Expect a lot more healing and buffs from now on guys. Nice work Turbine as Minstrels had been moaning since MOM about lack of MNS development.

Anyway I headed down to Lothlorien (border) and started the first 2-3 quests. Early days but with noone else there (well 2 other peeps) it seemed like a nice calm location and the quest text was good.

I think this is an area NOT to rush through with the crowds and I'll be keeping to late night ventures here - otherwise I think it will spoil it. With a bit of RP in mind...can you really imagine the Elves letting 200 people across their borders at once simply because they are an acquaintance!!!! Nope :)

So...there you go (and no Spoilers I think)

Feel free to add your own first thoughts below - although no bitching about the download process - we've done that to death

Hal x O+

[Rhyaehar]

I noticed the Minstrel thing yes. I logged on my level 10 minstrel last night and found myself looking at my skillbar, hovering every single one to find it's purpose. On the first bear I killed, I shot up three levels though :p

I found it very amusing to be wandering the border of Lothlorien. Being that I was acquaintance and actually completed the quest to gain access, it was very amusing to see people who assumed they would be automatically allowed access.. to be shot instantly. A word of warning to those who have reached acquaintance: Talk to a sentry at the entrance. He has a quest for you, which you must do before entering.

I'm yet to go to the Festival Grounds, think I will go tonight.

The XP curve change was good on my characters, though I regret it on my Loremaster, as she's going to outlevel the Eregion quests real fast.
Captain: 54 => 55
Loremaster: 50 => 52
Champion: 37 => 39
Burglar: 25 => 28
Minstrel: 10 => 13

[Raedwulf]

First impressions? If you're going to do the Nanduhirion quests (i.e. the vale 'twixt Moria & Lorien), do them in the slack period or you may be struggling to complete them - competition for available targets will be fierce.

There is an interesting twist on some of the Rep quests - a plus. Lorien is very pretty - another plus. However, I have already seen comments that suggest that Bk7 is entirely solo - a minus - and completable in @ 90 mins - another minus; plus the raid (tank & spank is all there is to it - minus) & all its precursors are locked - minus! It could yet turn out to be a 5 month wait for precious little content... :(

But, to be fair, I only spent about 2 hrs on last night, so there may be oodles of content for me to find... As to levels, well I already have 3 capped & 3 above 50, so just 6 levels for me in a quick session this morning. One level for each of the 50's (though RK is very close to the following level, only 8K short), & 3 for the WDN, now 31.

[Abarax]

I gained 8 levels in five minutes last night (patched in two hours ;)) merely by logging Kim, Kad and Aig. What a nice touch that was, breathing a bit of life (via an XP gift) into some alts I was seriously considering the future of...okay, well Aig (again) anyway.

I agree the new icons look good, and I even approve the new deed log design, but that aside I saw little before hitting the sack.

Content-wise, I don't think players like myself will notice any lack of new stuff, if indeed there is a lack, and first impressions from me are pretty (though admittedly lacking in true exposure) positive.

[Daphne]

Hm some comment on the Crafting instances ... pretty ... pretty boring... will be horribly repetitive (and boring) after about the third run ... quests all the same pattern ... confusing architecture while being at the same time a 'run straight through to the end' (how they managed to make it so you can still get lost trying to get back out is beyond me) - was looking forward to them, now I'm slightly dreading them in case they turn out to be the only reliable source of gold leaves.... haven't seen too much of Lothlorien yet, but there is a: a bit too much empty spaces and b: too many bloody ladders!

Seriously hoping to be a bit more impressed later,
/huggels
Daphne

p.s.: I think I'm mostly a bit cranky because playing a guardian with a third age weapon has gone back to 'whack whack whack when will this annoying thing in front of me finally give up and die' :(

On the upside the dps of a Runekeeper has certainly ramped and the class now plays ever so much nicer.

[calabam]

the lothlorien quests are pants making you do the same quests 3 times etc especailly that one you need to carry the arrows about . lame !

[bothorn]

Heh yea altho if you finished book6 you dont need to do em at all, there just there to get rep if you havent.

[calabam]

em finished bk 6