A while back, I finally talked my husband into buying his Elf Warden a basic Hobbit house in Lord of the Rings Online. He did not actually want a house, and so far as I know, he hasn’t actually ventured inside or put down a single piece of deco. No, what helped me convince him was the teleport-to-house that you get as soon as you become a home owner. It’s a super cheap port to a spot right next to the VIP vendor, tasks turn-in, discounted mats, and most importantly, a stablemaster so he can easily get to most of the other places he needs to go as a lowbie. He really, really needed that extra port to get him back to towns, especially as an Elf who can’t even get to Rivendell yet.
Superficially, I’m a fan of LOTRO’s hybrid travel system and how it fits the gameworld. I like that you generally have to unlock places and can then travel there by horse, and I also appreciate the teleports common to other MMOs. (I’m also completely in love with the horses’ super-realistic sound effects.) What I don’t love is how the game’s travel system is deeply entwined with the cash shop, which dispenses faster rides, extra binds, and speedier horses for money, all of which starts to look much more appealing when you remember that you often have to figure out your route and manually hitch rides at each stable. Restarting in the game reminded me once again that these kinds of travel systems really are not my favorite, especially when I feel as if they’re pushing me into the cash shop, ensuring that whatever immersion they engender is lost.
What would you argue is the most annoying travel system in an MMO?
Every morning, the Massively Overpowered writers team up with mascot Mo to ask MMORPG players pointed questions about the massively multiplayer online roleplaying genre. Grab a mug of your preferred beverage and take a stab at answering the question posed in today’s Daily Grind!
