Subscription cancelled.

posted this on June 2nd, 2010.
Categorized as subscription-cancelled.

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Full link: http://4myrtlecourt.blog.co.uk/2010/06/02/subscription-cancelled-8720961/

Cancellation

Yesterday evening, I cancelled my subscription to LOTRO, along with "Star Trek Online" and "Age of Conan". This was not in any way a difficult decision and further more it can be easily reversed should need arise. I shall be saving approximately £30 a month, but the financial expenditure was not in anyway a determining factor. As I'm not alone at reaching this point, I thought I'd share some of the reasons as to why I made these decisions.

LOTRO has become increasingly dull for me over recent months. I thought that starting a new alt and progressing through the game with a group of friends would rekindle my interest. Unfortunately, this was not the case. By level 45 we all new what was coming next with every quest. The predictability of the game was an immense impediment. Kinship loyalty and the social dimension of the game has kept me checking in over recent months, but this simply does not outweigh the lack of activities to do. Ultimately, I do not think that a monthly subscription in return for a glorified chat channel is a good deal.

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Frank Frazetta (1928 – 2010).

posted this on May 20th, 2010.
Categorized as frank-frazetta.

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Full link: http://4myrtlecourt.blog.co.uk/2010/05/20/frank-frazetta-1928-8632460/

Frank Frazetta

The artist Frank Frazetta died on the 10th May. He was an immensely talented and influential artist, whose work shaped the public's perception of "Conan", much in the way that Alan Lee and John Howe have defined the accepted depiction of "Middle Earth". His work was not just confined to the Robert E. Howard franchise and he did several paintings that were inspired by Tolkien's writing. Like everything that he did they were both intriguing and different.

Frank Frazetta Gollum

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The "Allies Of Light" new website and forum.

posted this on April 19th, 2010.
Categorized as allies-of-light-website.

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Full link: http://4myrtlecourt.blog.co.uk/2010/04/19/the-allies-of-light-new-website-and-forum-8400447/

alliance website

The "Allies of Light", (an alliance of kinships on the Gilrain server) recently decided to consolidate their online resources, with a single website. As of last week, the new website was made available to kinship members and there has been a very positive response. The administration of any kinship can be quite a complex task with many different aspects. An online presence can be invaluable in managing these requirements.

A few months ago, I did some research into message boards and custom website templates. The aim was to simply find a replacement forum for the existing one. This had been a free facility that although originally well supported, had declined in use in recent months. Essentially a more flexible product was sought. It was through this line of enquiry that I discovered "Guild Website Hosting". A company that specialises in providing online portals, featuring all the necessary tools for kinship administration, with a wide set of customised templates, covering all major online games.

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LOTRO epic quests guide.

posted this on March 15th, 2010.
Categorized as Uncategorized.

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Full link: http://4myrtlecourt.blog.co.uk/2010/03/15/lotro-epic-quests-story-guide-8180566/

LOTRO pdf

Brunop has compiled this rather useful guide that details all the specifics of the epic quests in LOTRO. It covers all of volume I and up to book 6 of volume II. The single PDF is available for download via the link below. At 0.3MB this is not a major download :)

LOTRO Epic Quests Guide.

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LOTRO and its regional variations.

posted this on March 11th, 2010.
Categorized as lotro-regional-variations.

Shorthand Link:
Full link: http://4myrtlecourt.blog.co.uk/2010/03/11/lotro-and-its-regional-variations-8159403/

I was prompted by a recent article on "A Casual Stroll to Mordor" to look into the different regional variations there are to LOTRO, at present. The obvious difference that most of us are familiar with are between the US and European servers. Also that the two different official forums require you to use your user account as your log on. Thus, those with European Codemaster accounts cannot post on the US forums and vice versa.

The aforementioned article highlighted that there is a LOTRO community in Russia, who I thought simply accessed the European servers. They obviously do not and it would also seem that their bespoke servers also offer features not open to us or even the US. The "Creep Raid" in Forochel is one example of this which raises the question, what others are there?

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LOTRO. 14 months on.

posted this on March 5th, 2010.
Categorized as lotro-after-14-months.

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Full link: http://4myrtlecourt.blog.co.uk/2010/03/05/lotro-14-months-on-8121964/

10 day trial

I was prompted to write this commentary due to two reasons. Firstly, the relatively high profile promotion that Turbine is pursuing at present to attract new customers to LOTRO. When I installed new ATI drivers yesterday it left a desktop icon for "10 days free". Secondly, as a direct result of this weeks new content release.

I do not consider myself a hardcore gamer, but then again, I do not fall into the "casual" demographic. I had several consoles during the 90's and then moved onto PC gaming. I then went online with "Unreal Tournament" in 1999 and ran a custom clan server for "Hidden & Dangerous 2" during 2004. In December 2008 I picked up a copy of SoA & MoM combo pack for £20. I was surprised to see that the game would run on my Dell P4, 2GB RAM, ATI Radeon X800, so I bought it. Due to my lifestyle, I had plenty of time to play the game and soon made it one of my foremost leisure activities.

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Kinship rules.

posted this on February 17th, 2010.
Categorized as kinship-rules.

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Full link: http://4myrtlecourt.blog.co.uk/2010/02/18/kinship-rules-8028278/

CoTs do not have any hard and fast rules. By and large this is a good thing and suits the style and dynamics of the kinship. However, not all kins are the same and I am amazed sometimes at some of the recruitment shouts that go out on the OOC channel. I will not name any specific kinships as that would be inappropriate, but some certainly do have strict criteria. One even goes so far as directing potential new recruits to their website where they can fill out and submit an application.

Kins are obviously free to govern themselves in whatever fashion they see fit, as log as they do not breach the "terms and conditions" of the game. I personally would not apply to join a kin that took its membership, gameplay and activities that seriously, as it would appear to be at odds with the simple pleasure of playing. But that is just me and these kins have members and seem content. LOTRO like any other community is subject to the social dynamic of "birds of a feather....."

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Shameless self promotion.

posted this on February 16th, 2010.
Categorized as shameless-self-promotion.

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Full link: http://4myrtlecourt.blog.co.uk/2010/02/16/shameless-self-promotion-8019676/

I write another Blog which covers my love of films, TV, music and literature.

It is called "Contains moderate peril". Please feel free to visit and leave comments.

Xusia.

Comments

Even more screen captures.

posted this on February 16th, 2010.
Categorized as screen-captures.

Shorthand Link:
Full link: http://4myrtlecourt.blog.co.uk/2010/02/16/even-more-screen-captures-8019631/

Here are a few that I took myself. The first being from the utterly pointless, but amusing Barrow Downs survival skirmish.

ScreenShot00001

Okay, they were low level bad guys, but it still looks good.

ScreenShot00013

Medallion farming on the Grand Stairs.

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The night we broke the server.

posted this on January 31st, 2010.
Categorized as Uncategorized.

Shorthand Link:
Full link: http://4myrtlecourt.blog.co.uk/2010/02/01/the-night-we-broke-the-server-7914398/

Due to the excitement there was last December, with the release of SoM, I totally neglected to write about this at the time. Most remiss of me. I shall correct this now and commit to history the tale of "The night we broke the server". It was a very unique event that cannot be repeated. So gather round, sit comfortably and take your perscribed medication and I'll begin.

In the days before the release of "Siege of Mirkwood" many a Man, Elf, Dwarf and Hobbit had pondered what mysteries lie on the Eastern banks of the Great River Anduin. A few of had tried to enter that land, but the great and powerful God "Turbine" had forbidden it and would smite any silly sod who stupid enough to trepass.

Then one night, a farsighted soul called "Mikeemoo" decided to organise a mass crossing, using the principal of safety in numbers, as a chance to get past the one shotters. Word went forth throughout Middle Earth that those brave enough should gather at 10:00 at the Gates of Caras Galadhon, on the evening of December 2nd 2009. There was little hope that many would accept such a quest.

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