The information about Lua scripting coming to LOTRO just came out and the reactions has been very mixed. Today, Frelorn weighs in with some information that may help put some fears to rest.
We wanted to clarify a few things about the potential implementation of LUA scripting. As it stands right now, the LUA scripting ability is completely controlled by us and its use is limited.
The Framework API, which controls what can and cannot be done, is separated into two main functional areas. The Framework API provides the basic structure of the scripts (classes), UI creation (windows, buttons, images, etc.), and a controlled setting to receive input, events, and actions generated by the game. The Gameplay API provides access to internal gameplay systems. The first pass of the gameplay API includes access to your own character’s vitals, the ability to interface with quickslots, and the methods for interacting with items in your inventory.
So what does this all mean? Right now, given the limitations we have in place, the “plugins” players can create are restricted to the above Gameplay API areas. They can change some of your UI elements, add built in HUDS and allow for things like a travel panel or a single window inventory bag. Our intent is to not allow players to make “plugins” that will give them any kind of advantage over other players. The main idea here is that LUA allows the players the ability to customize their user interface the way they want to.
We are going to handle things very carefully as we move forward; to be very clear, LUA Scripting is still in the early stages of testing and we don’t yet have a date for when the system will go live.
I know that some are saying that it’s just a start and maybe there will be options opening in time. That could be correct but for now we may be able to put down the torches and pitchforks. Instead lets think about what the programmers will dream up for us!
Patience echoes Frelorn’s final statement about the timeline on her twitter. This system will not go live with Free to Play this fall if it is not ready so this may not be something we’re dealing with in the near future.
Thank you for commenter Urailas for sharing the link to Frelorn’s forum post!
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July 14, 2010 at 8:16 pm
Thanks for posting this, hopefully it will settle some people’s fears.
I for one am excited!
July 14, 2010 at 9:18 pm
“As it stands right now, the LUA scripting ability is completely controlled by us and its use is limited.” Can anyone say… Addon Store!?! Hmmmm……..
July 15, 2010 at 12:18 am
Elahndria: I doubt it; player-created skins are going to be the big lure here, because they’re effectively getting free UI developer time by releasing this API.
I’m definitely thinking remove the help button(or make the quick-jump-to-window buttons flexible), add an easy travel menu, more quickslots with different key binding options and visibility choices, easier mount selection, clicking on legendary trackers taking you to the relevant window… yeah, this has potential.
July 15, 2010 at 4:08 pm
i Hope not, it was just the 1st thing that popped in my mind… especially with f2p and the lotro store i wont be suprised if se se some addons in the store itself… but ll in all i am looking forward to being able to cutomize the UI a bit more… i play a hunter, and am sick of having slots taken up by ports
and the single bag thing would rock also… guess we will wait and see 
July 15, 2010 at 2:17 am
I would love an addon for selecting hunter ports. Talk about freeing up quickslot space! Or one that randomly selected a mount (or pet if you’re a LM in a safe place) would be great too.
Hmm, time to get cracking…
July 15, 2010 at 7:44 am
> I would love an addon for selecting hunter ports. Talk about freeing up quickslot space!
You can use hunter ports directly from your skills window now. Minimise all skills, expand Wayfaring, and you have a list of ports waiting for you at the press of the k key.
So you don’t really need to have all of them on your quickslots anymore. I only keep Mirkwood, 21st hall and campfire on mine now.
July 15, 2010 at 9:23 am
It’s hard to talk about this since beta players are under NDA, but I assume we can talk about what they talk about…
From what I’ve seen they’ve specifically limited things that give anyone any clear advantages they shouldn’t have. Their examples include a single inventory display, an improved morale display, etc.
I know a lot of people read Luaand think of crazy raid speccing on WoW. Really, at the end of the day, that’s for a specific group of players — those types of players already exist in LOTRO and run things like super hardcore raiding Kinships.
If you’re not in one of those, I don’t even see how that sort of thing would affect you. The average WoW player doesn’t even use them and neither would the average LOTRO player… from what I’ve seen, that sort of thing won’t even be happening as it is.
Whenever I run WoW I have addons that improve my health display, improve my auction display, adjust my bag display, improve my radar icons… I mean, it’s so much more than making a MMORPG some stats-driven hellhole.
Sometimes people like things to look and work different ways. The original developers don’t have the time for these things. Lua bridges that gap.
More importantly, I think that has the negative side effect of completely glossing over all the awesome stuff LUA does do. I’m very excited for it in LOTRO and I think adding it to the game will really expand its appeal.
July 17, 2010 at 4:34 pm
I am also looking forward to this. It’ll be great to have different option for the old standard quick slots and UI.
The great thing about LotRO is that it isn’t a PvP driven game… so any crazy LUA stuff that goes on in other games wouldn’t really matter here anyway. Like Tony said, the raid spec stuff is for the serious hardcore players that exist anyhow.
Nothing but another positive on the way to the game in my opinion.