In Lord of the Rings Online you will soon be able to buy level 95 characters.
In the patch notes for the upcoming patch 17.1., there are all sorts of “normal” changes, quality-of-life changes. Minas Tirith is getting a crafting hall. In PvP they are changing this and that. Some complain: This is terrible. Others say: Finally, you are doing something right, it’s great.
One change, however, is particularly noteworthy and surprising. They are introducing two new cash shop items.
- The Blessing of Valar brings a character to level 95.
- The Blessing of Valar (Upgrade) raises a character that is already over level 51 up to 95.
At the moment, we do not yet know the final prices. One can assume that the “Upgrade” will be cheaper than the normal blessing.
In the video from the test server, it is also set up a bit differently than in the patch notes. There is a buff at level 50 for 3995 Turbine Points, a buff at level 95 costs 5995. That would be approximately 35 Euros for the “small” buff and 45 Euros for the “large” buff.
The patch notes are for the test server Bullroar. We do not yet know when it will go live.
Mein MMO says: This is not a sin in the genre. World of Warcraft has had such a “pay instead of leveling” thing for years. For money, you can buy yourself up to “a bit below the maximum level” so that you can tackle the current game content without having to play the “outdated.”
It does not seem very kosher to outsiders. The abstract problem associated with this: Instead of making leveling more enjoyable and keeping old content attractive enough for players to enjoy tackling it, players are made to pay for not having to play.
