SoM New Eglain Faction and Changes to Rep/Factions - Orion speaks out!

[Arandlas]

Here is the link to Orion's blog in which he lays out his thoughts and now master plan for the improvement and diversification of the reputation/factions system: http://my.lotro.com/orion/2009/10/16/factionreputation/

I really would encourage people to read it as its not too long, but I will summarise it for you lazy-bonses out there:

*The new Eglain faction came about as a result of the Lonelands rework coming in Book 9.

*Aquaintance standing is needed (gated) for Book 2 with the Eglain, thus introducing you to factions system (it will only take a few quests to get aquaintance standing).

*Average players completing the remainder of the quests tied to the Eglain will reach friend , this puts folks at the first reward tier. An initial piece of a jewelry set. This is a specialized set to one of three stances - tactical, defensive and offensive melee. They are somewhat costly - but likely worth the expenditure.

*At Kindred, players can purchase a tailored pocket item. I say tailored because it is built specifically for your class and usable only by your class. The set bonus is a pretty nice and focuses on morale and class functionality over more stats. Those are reserved for the items.

* 1. At Acquaintance players will earn a title indicative of their standing with the group and gain access to items to improve standing or relevant level rewards.
2. At Friend players will earn a title indicative of their standing with the group, gain access to further rewards and receive a 10% discount on all stable-masters associated with the rep faction (Ost-guruth has one stable-master), this bonus will stack with the travel reward given out earlier this year to “elder” players.
3. At Ally players will earn a title indicative of their standing with the group, gain access to further rewards and receive a 5% discount on all vendors associated with the group. This bonus should extend to repair costs as well.
4. At Kindred players will earn the last title for the group, gain access to further rewards and receive a travel skill - sharing a cool down with all racial-based travel in the game that will take the player to the group’s chosen home. This travel skill will require the use of a travel ration. We are aware that this will likely cause crossover into player skills, but the time investiture into these reputations is significant and we feel that this is a legitimate reward to offer.

*Again all these are implemented for The Eglain faction and The Eglain reputation faction only. As time allows other reputations will see inclusion and the same enhancements. The earliest this is to be done is 2010, likely later Spring or early Summer.

Here is a list of future reward ideas:

•Deeds for completing multiple reputations - with titles and possibly specialized rewards.
•Kindred cosmetic rewards to display individual factions as cloaks.
•Kindred mount rewards (yes, we have some of these already - this would be revisiting those that do not)
•Ally and Kindred recipes for production crafting skills that are unique and have broader appeal: These might include; cosmetic items, food recipes serving multiple people at once, bind on acquire gear, class specific gear (rep clothes for your banner-bearers, unique looks for your summoned pets, special instruments, etc…), housing items (functional and non-functional) - all recipes would be and produce level appropriate on all accounts where the item would have gameplay impact.
•Swift travel routes to areas of importance to the group or relevant relation.

Thats all for now, now discuss!

Personally I think this is at least an improvement just so long as Thorin's Hall rep doesn't give us another horrid goat. I can see that some travel skills will cross over with certain classes' skills as Orion mentioned (mainly Hunters and Wardens) but faster travel for everyone can only be a good thing imo.

[Kit Caboodle]

Given that the travel ports will share a cooldown with your racial travel skill (return to Bree, etc.) it shouldn't clash with hunters & co. The biggest upset it will be for them is the extra skills to fit on already full hotbars!

[Tarmas]

Originally Posted by Arandlas

I will summarise it for you lazy-bonses out there

And I'll point you towards the existing thread on the subject, for all the lazy bones who didn't look for it before posting .

Changes to Faction Reputation

[Arandlas]

Originally Posted by Kit Caboodle

The biggest upset it will be for them is the extra skills to fit on already full hotbars!

Yup yup, Loremasters at least are already strugglign to have everything within our toolbars, it isnt always a probkem for some classes but most Loremasters use nearly all their skills regularly.

[Arandlas]

Originally Posted by Tarmas

And I'll point you towards the existing thread on the subject, for all the lazy bones who didn't look for it before posting .

Changes to Faction Reputation

Oh thanks, I did look though I dont trust the search function enought to use it, I just assumed that as it was part of the Siege of Mirkwood expansion it would be under that category, in any case hopefully my summary will still be useful as it took some time

[matobi91]

Very nice too see some changes to the system, btw when did he say these changes where coming book 9?

Any way id like to say thank you to Orian, unlike dev diares he does these in his own time and it is very much apresiated.

[Murky Majare]

Question...

How often do people use their racial travel skill today? Because if it is less than once per hour, then of course it affects the hunter's taxi ability.

I am very happy for this new rep. group and that it will have nice rewards all the way... and a travel reward is indeed a nice reward.

[Lilka]

I use Return to Bree all the time, because from Bree you can go almost anywhere. Return to MD is useless, seeing as all you do in MD is go to Bree.

[Tazok]

Just a quick thought. What if all tiers of rep standing was level capped?

Say, just as an example, that you have to reach lvl 10 to get acquaintance and lvl 50 to reach ally. Maybe differ the levels required for each tier in each individual faction. The rewards in themselves would then be more meaningful as well as a reason for going back to a faction throughout you leveling process, unless they are largely inferior to end-game gear/stuff/fluff/whatever so as to discourage you to go back. The grind for kindred would also be spread out more to hinder one from blasting through from zero to kindred in a couple grind sessions, which is not appealing.

However, i don't know if it would work or if it's even an idea to be considered. Am i missing something? Is it feasible at this point? Does anyone at all want it? Where am i? Who am i? Why am i wearing pink trousers? Stay tuned

[James_Ross]

Originally Posted by Tazok

However, i don't know if it would work or if it's even an idea to be considered. Am i missing something? Is it feasible at this point? Does anyone at all want it?

I really hope not, some of my lower alts have gotten kindred before my main in some factions purely for the crafting benefits! This would be an awful idea for me, as it would probably involve Turbine stealing rep from my poor scholar and getting them locked inside the Mathom house