Which has more grind?

[Arkat]

Which game has more grind? LotRO or DDO?

Now that LotRO is going F2P, I've been mulling over a game change but don't want to leave DDO for a "grindier" game.

Thank you.

[FluffyCalico]

Which game has more grind? LotRO or DDO?

Now that LotRO is going F2P, I've been mulling over a game change but don't want to leave DDO for a "grindier" game.

Thank you.

Well we have seen that FTP increases grind. So however much LOTRs had before it will soon have alot more.

[Arkat]

Well we have seen that FTP increases grind. So however much LOTRs had before it will soon have alot more.

Hmmm...ok.

Anybody have any suggestion for a non-F2P MMORPG where there isn't much grind?

[grodon9999]

Hmmm...ok.

Anybody have any suggestion for a non-F2P MMORPG where there isn't much grind?

Perma-Death DDO :)

[Vynnt]

Hmmm...ok.

Anybody have any suggestion for a non-F2P MMORPG where there isn't much grind?Grind is part of MMORPGs. Imagine DDO with no grind, meaning either no raid/crafted gear or really easy to get gear. What would you do after you hit level 20? Would you do epic, if there was no reward besides randomly generated items? would you run raids?

Grind is bad, but it also gives you something to do. Without it, after being 20 for a week, you would self impose grind on yourself and TR.

[Arkat]

Grind is part of MMORPGs. Imagine DDO with no grind,

I don't have to imagine it. I remember DDO when there was hardly any grind at all! It was a much more fun game back then.

[sirgog]

I don't have to imagine it. I remember DDO when there was hardly any grind at all! It was a much more fun game back then.

Didn't people call grinding 'lootruns' back then?

[carlosjuero]

In my opinion, which I am betting will be discounted readily, LotRO has very little required grind - DDO has a bit more (as you tend to run the same quests/areas over and over and over and over again). There are enough quests in LotRO to keep you going all of the way to the cap (there are a few level ranges where the level gap can be annoying, but that usually depends on player and class), the "grind" comes with the Deeds for traits & virtues [Virtues & Traits are a little like Enhancements/Feats - only you can upgrade them by completing deeds instead of picking new ones at certain level points].

I like both games though - DDO because its D&D, and LotRO because its Middle Earth and I can be a frikkin Hobbit :)

[carlosjuero]

Well we have seen that FTP increases grind. So however much LOTRs had before it will soon have alot more.

How do you reckon? I don't think Turbine is going to change how the base game works just to add more grind - DDO is a different species entirely, all quests are instanced - XP is much slower accumulating than LotRO - and there are far far fewer quests [with no over-arching Epic Quest] than in LotRO.

[Rickpa]

The grind in LOTRO is finding the **** quest giver, finding the quest, and long periods of travel. For those who love crafting, LOTRO is grindelicious! I have decided that when it comes to crafting, DDO's is the most tolerable.

Another thing that helps in LOTRO, and other MMOs maximize grind is public instances where you have to compete with other groups for a rare spawn.

I find LOTRO, WoW, and all the imitations to be frustrating and infuriating.

[carlosjuero]

The grind in LOTRO is finding the **** quest giver, finding the quest, and long periods of travel. For those who love crafting, LOTRO is grindelicious! I have decided that when it comes to crafting, DDO's is the most tolerable.

Another thing that helps in LOTRO, and other MMOs maximize grind is public instances where you have to compete with other groups for a rare spawn.

I find LOTRO, WoW, and all the imitations to be frustrating and infuriating.

O.o - You have an interesting definition of grind. Quest givers are marked on the mini map by Ring icons - they have big rings floating over their heads (flaming rings for Epic quests); Reading the quest log usually gives a good idea on where to go/who to talk to [heck, its easy mode now with the Quest Guide pointing the way].

LotRO doesn't have "public instances" - the world is open, instances are group/raid/singleplayer based. You dont have to compete for rare spawns - quest mobs/named quest mobs spawn regularly and there are very few quests that you will "run out" of mobs to kill.

Again, there is very little required grind in LotRO (how many Shroud runs to people have to "grind" to get the drop they want?)

[DaggomaticDwarf]

I don't have to imagine it. I remember DDO when there was hardly any grind at all! It was a much more fun game back then.

Dang bro ur talking ancient history, hehe :) The slow decline to the grind. I remember when UO was fun before then grind. Right now I think I'm just waiting around here to see how GuildWars 2 looks and feels or even Old Republic online whne ever it finally hits. Til then call me a "Grindaholic" . Admitting it is the 1st step...

[Braegan]

Didn't people call grinding 'lootruns' back then?

Not quite the same as I remember it being.

Lootruns were times characters were on timer for raids and would just sac Threnals, Co6, etc. We weren't really looking for anything in particular most times. (well for a long time I was looking for +5 FP ~ ahh the good ole days) Most of the time it was just looting.

Grinding in one example is running Prey 3x so I can crunch em into a Sov rune only to be no closer then when I started and having to repeat the process.

[Dark_Helmet]

LotRO doesn't have "public instances" - the world is open, instances are group/raid/singleplayer based. You dont have to compete for rare spawns - quest mobs/named quest mobs spawn regularly and there are very few quests that you will "run out" of mobs to kill.

Again, there is very little required grind in LotRO (how many Shroud runs to people have to "grind" to get the drop they want?)
You don't HAVE to grind for shroud weapons either.


I define LOTRO grind as including inane quests:
Deliver Mail

The Shire’s Postmen need your help! It seems that with all the gossip flying around the Shire about Lobelia Sackville-Baggins’ party the daily post has fallen behind.
There are 13(+1) Postal Quests that comprise Restoring the Quick Post. They are all essentially the same quest, but because of the Shire’s geography they all take different amounts of skill and luck. To complete them you must grab a satchel of mail from the table of the Postman you just accepted the quest from. Then RUN!
As soon as you pick up the bag, a you will see a timer on your screen you must carry the bag of mail to the next Postman within that time. And you can’t take damage or fall in the water along the way. Did I mention to watch out for the Nosey Hobbits? Fortunately they show up on your mini-map so you can easily avoid them.
Deliver pies

When you returned from delivering a pie to The Green Dragon, Holly Hornblower had another delivery task waiting for you: she has asked you to take the pie she baked for Lobelia Sackville-Baggins's birthday party to Opal Goodbody at the Party Field in Hobbiton, south of Bag End and north of the town proper. Make sure that no hungry hobbits catch a whiff of the pie, or they will be pestering Holly for a slice!

Just kill them alllllll! :cool:

[Hurak]

As a player just recently migrated from LOTRO, I can assure you the grind there is worse and IMO the FTP will make it worse... Examples are as follows (Remember LOTRO characters are currently lvl 65 at max):
- Crafting system: Raw materials very expensive on the AH so farming nodes is the considered method of gathering materials. 6 Tiers of crafting per craft, each one takes twice the crafting points to master than the previous tier. Most of the crafting professions don't add value to your characters worth at end game so the system is regarded poorly.
- Legendary weapons: Class specific weapons that have completely random tiers and skills. Require xp to level. Won't say too much but it isn't a highly regarded system atm.
- Game maps: LOTRO is a huge game area wise and the time wasted travelling from location to location is significant. Fun the first time through but becomes old hat real quick.
- MAjor game quests: These are faun if you enjoy wasting most of your time riding from one point of a map to the other side only to ride back again. Recently, the major game quests have continued to cover the older areas over and over and over again...sigh
- Raiding: One raid at cap, 3 bosses with a normal and hard mode. Rewards are worse than the crafted gear players can make. The raid is radiance capped, meaning you have to grind through the 4 (at cap) instances to find tokens to get the gear flagged for radiance.
- Instances at cap, currently 4. 3 3-man and one 6-man. With the 3-man instances, each drop the same rewards, but one is easy and takes 10 minutes while another can take several hours and a frustratingly bugged final boss. only the 3td 3-man is actually at the sweet spot for timme vrs reward but why run it when you can farm the 10 min instance for the same gear.

LOTRO does have some good instances at the earlier level but these are generally by-passed in the rush to cap. If you go in with a group of mates at the same level and stop to enjoy the graphics and quest story lines, you'll have some fun. If your in it for the end-game experience only, don't waste your time.

[Arkat]

As a player just recently migrated from LOTRO, I can assure you the grind there is worse and IMO the FTP will make it worse... Examples are as follows (Remember LOTRO characters are currently lvl 65 at max):
- Crafting system: Raw materials very expensive on the AH so farming nodes is the considered method of gathering materials. 6 Tiers of crafting per craft, each one takes twice the crafting points to master than the previous tier. Most of the crafting professions don't add value to your characters worth at end game so the system is regarded poorly.
- Legendary weapons: Class specific weapons that have completely random tiers and skills. Require xp to level. Won't say too much but it isn't a highly regarded system atm.
- Game maps: LOTRO is a huge game area wise and the time wasted travelling from location to location is significant. Fun the first time through but becomes old hat real quick.
- MAjor game quests: These are faun if you enjoy wasting most of your time riding from one point of a map to the other side only to ride back again. Recently, the major game quests have continued to cover the older areas over and over and over again...sigh
- Raiding: One raid at cap, 3 bosses with a normal and hard mode. Rewards are worse than the crafted gear players can make. The raid is radiance capped, meaning you have to grind through the 4 (at cap) instances to find tokens to get the gear flagged for radiance.
- Instances at cap, currently 4. 3 3-man and one 6-man. With the 3-man instances, each drop the same rewards, but one is easy and takes 10 minutes while another can take several hours and a frustratingly bugged final boss. only the 3td 3-man is actually at the sweet spot for timme vrs reward but why run it when you can farm the 10 min instance for the same gear.

LOTRO does have some good instances at the earlier level but these are generally by-passed in the rush to cap. If you go in with a group of mates at the same level and stop to enjoy the graphics and quest story lines, you'll have some fun. If your in it for the end-game experience only, don't waste your time.

Oh wow, that's very helpful. Exactly what I was looking for concerning LotRO. I don't think I'll play it now.

Thanks and +1 rep for you. :)

[Cernunan]

Well if you are a super powers fan, Champions online is a whole lot of fun as a short term distraction. Not a whole lot of grinking at all if you dont want to.
The costume creator for the game is a blast, the game is fast paced and mildly humorous.
It is extremly content shy though. You will get to cap quickly, then you will build a few alts to try out different power sets, but will rerun same exact content to relevel.
If you are looking for a few month distraction thats a lot of fun you should give it a try.