Archibold wrote:Kell
I can not begin to count all the things EQ2 is better over LOTRO.
Honestly the only reason why I got in LOTRO in the first place - was to support Turbine effort in finally bringing quality product on MMO market. Which , I am sure we all agree - they did. Housing I can really not comment , because i didnt try it for myself.
In my eyes - biggest problem of LOTRO is LOTR lore itself. It limits everything about the game. And does not really give lot of shoulder space for imagination.
EQ2 has no such limit. Have variety of monsters and player races countries factions and quest storylines LOTRO can never have.
This is for me the selling point of EQ2 over LOTRO
See, I would see this kinda statement as the equivalent of someone saying that a period RPG set in WWII would be too limited. I would argue, however, that creating an individual character that exists believably within those parameters requires MORE imagination than simply being able to throw together any character concept you like. And in all fairness, LotRO is hardly complete. EQ2 is much larger, to be sure... but it's also several BIG expansions down the line. And let's be honest, while there are obviously races, countries, factions and storylines that LotRO will never have, there are plenty in LotRO that obviously can't appear in EQ2. Besides, in the end, all quests boil down to "Kill this, get this, escort this, or go there."
While I realize you're not slamming the game as a whole, I would contend that the well-established and extensive lore within LotRO is what makes it so ideal to RP in. Our more troublesome sessions didn't arise from playing along with the lore... they were when we attempted to "up the ante" somewhat and introduce baddies and situations of our own that INCIDENTALLY happened to also jar with existing lore... albeit mostly in terms of scope.
*shrugs* Personally I find that limitations make things more fun in the long run. It helps to prevent power-playing, if nothing else... but I also see that advantage of a less-structured mythos. Ultimately, it comes down to which story you want to tell.
Anyway, that's my take.