Lotro through steam better then original launcher?

[Psychotron77]

I got Lotro a long time ago still using the old launcher.
I want to remove it and just install the steam one. I prefer reinstalling everything through steam like all my other games.
I know i can make a shortcut in steam to the game but, thats not what i want.

Question i have is if its wise or not. Since reading here i notice people are having problems with the steam launcher.
Whats your opinion on this.

[Jack Pipsam]

It's the same launcher.

[Psychotron77]

Yeah but, if i get it through steam it would auto update right?

[Thrugg]

It is an MMO, it updates automatically from the LOTRO servers every time you log in if you don't have the latest.

[Psychotron77]

Yeah i know that. So there is no benefit in getting Lotro through steam then....
No auto check and update if you dont play for like 5 months. You have to login and so on...

[Mr. Fibble]

Biggest benefit is the steam integration if you want it.

And if you have to download you dont have to infect your machine with the pando booster thing that turbine insist on using despite it being a steaming pile of fecal matter.

Updates happen after you launch the game so are handled outwith steam.

[Psychotron77]

Well that's the thing. In the past it didnt matter that much if a game was in or outstide of steam. But, nowadays i got almost all on steam.
I had lotro still installed. And now its on steam for a while. So i was thinking of just uninstalling and deleting everything. And just reinstall all through steam.

Integration and getting rid of useless background processes. I consider that improvememnts.

But, reading on the forum a bit. I notice people are having problems with Lotro through steam.
So i thought id ask around a first. :)

[76561198077869228]

Don't forget you can simply tell Steam about your existing installation. You don't have to re-install.

[Psychotron77]

Well now we are going somewhere. Those are some good tips guys. :)

If steam fully recognises my Lotro install then its solved.
I mean right now i just have a shortcut in steam to my Lotro client. This works but, its not fully recognised. ( under fully recognised i mean. Links to gamehub or store page )

So how do i add a game to steam then? Could some one explain that to me. Thanx in advance.
( just in case . we are not talking about the " add a non steam game to my library function" )

[76561198077869228]

That is something beyond my Steam experience -- I've only been working with Steam for 48 hours now... :) (But am a Founder/Lifetime with LOTRO).

All I can tell you is -- there are two entries in the Drop-down menu "Games" -- activate a product on Steaam -- add a non-Steam game to my Library.

No idea what or how those two entries imply or work, but they should be covered in a Steam FAQ someplace :)

[Psychotron77]

Ah i see. :) Still new to steam or not, your replies aer apreciated.

Im no lifetimer of Lotro. I got in there when it was free to play. And liked the game so bought a horse and some map packs. ( just a few things )
Anyways this means i got no product key or something.
So activate a product on steam wont work. Add a non steam game does work. But, then you just get a short cut. ( nothing else)

What if we just turn this topic upside down. :P
Valamar did you get steam to run Lotro? Or have both seperate?
Must be some reason you being here on this forum. Im just assuming here. :)
If you did a install of the lotro client through steam. Then, hows it working for you? ( any hiccups ? )

[76561198077869228]

I'm one of the players how spend a lot of time in the Forums supporting other players... Mac players that is. I have always played on the Mac, orginally via Codeweavers CrossOver games (WINE), and have been in every beta since the Alpha back in 2006, before which I was a DDO player.

Right now, I happen to have multiple clients on my system. I have the Turbine .dmg download client for bot the Live Servers and Bullroarer. I also still have my Crossover (WINE) installation for both the Live Servers and Bullroarer. And now I have the Steam client as well.

And yes, I have been running the Steam client since about 2100 on 8 December -- the download began about 1600, and I've not had any problems with it.

The only "issue" I have with the Steam download is that it is DOUBLE the size of the Turbine download -- why? Because Steam downloads BOTH the Mac and Windows Clients to your Mac. I.e. Steam screwed up. And, apparently, if you downloaded when Valve announced LOTRO for the Mac available on Steam, you got the Bullroarer Client -- which will not work!
(Turbine broke Mac Client access to Bullroarer on Monday with Beta 3 of Update 9. AND the Bullroarer Client is hard-coded to ONLY access the Bullroarer server.)

I've been working on Mac Client documentation at {ODKAZ SMAZÁN}LOTRO-wiki.com:
{ODKAZ SMAZÁN}http://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Mac_Client
And provide much of the "hot air" :) on the Turbine Mac Technical Support forum:
{ODKAZ SMAZÁN}http://forums.lotro.com/forumdisplay.php?710-MAC-Technical-Support

[Psychotron77]

I see. :) You know this stuff back to front and vice versa then.

I got the client from codemasters in december 2010 then, experienced the transfer to turbine in may 2011. Last time i played was back in June-2012. So you could say im super casual. :)

Just based on you mentioning that the steam version is double in size. I can already say i will leave everything as it is for now. I dont see any reason to switch to steam now.

Just a week ago i wanted to play some lotro and i spend the whole evening downloading updates and checking game files. I just switched everything off and ran it during the night.I went to bed needless to say my evening was ruined.
So thats why i was looking for some better ways through steam. :)

Thanx for your time. :)

[Marc1314]

I moved my lotro install over to steam when the steam option came out. There isn't any major benefits as like the previous posters say it is still updated via the lotro launcher and the little ring icon will still be in your taskbar.
The main benefit for me is the steam game hub and the fact it keeps a record of how many hours i've played, plus the fact that i like all of my games located in steam.

I can't remember exactly how i went about tranferring my lotro install but i think i copied my lotro folder into the steam folder then clicked on the 'install game ' link on the lotro store page. this reduced the install time i think and then i think i clicked on the verify cache button to make sure it was ok.

I know there are topics in the lotro website forums that give a good description of what to do exactly so make sure you check them out before you do anything.

[Psychotron77]

Thanx for the info Kitanode. I will take a look on the lotro forums.
If its possible to keep the size down and get the benefits you mention. Then all would be fine.
I would be back OT then. :) hehe

I'll take a look at the forums. But, im not putting that much time in it. :)

[IllIlIIlI]

Okay I don't fully understand what Valamar said... but rather than make a new thread for the same basic thing I hope you wont mind me posting here...

I have the original Turbine client.. I play all my games through steam and actually have a fair number of shortcut non-steam games. Since LotRO is a Steam game now, is it possible to have Steam fully identify my copy of LotRO as the same game or do I have to redownload? I attempted to register it but I don't have a CD key and there appears to be no other options available for registering steam games...