Lord of the Rings Online

Searched several times for the topic and to my bemusement couldn't find it.

I've always actively avoided this game for 3 reasons: I don't have the money to invest in an MMO, it seems like it would take up too much time and I dislike the idea of a primarily PVE online game.

2 of those problems have since been dealt with somewhat insofar as the game has gone free to play (with a microtransaction system in place) and there are PVP elements integrated into the system (so I'm told).

Also, LOTRO has been the "casual" MMO of choice for a while, so I'm reasonably confident I can avoid spending too much time on it. I'm downloading the client now. Any tropers up for a trip to Middle Earth?

I've avoided this for a long time.

Some of the game concepts seem far too Lot R-specific, if you ask me. Such as the highest grade weapons being reforged remains of artifacts from previous Ages. That was Aragorn's schtick and overusing it cheapens everyone. Having magical weapons full stop is kind of a funny move, since only a handful of the greatest warriors had them; even the likes of Boromir and Eomer had mundane blades, letting their skill in battle speak for itself. In addition, magical weapons in Lot R don't confer combat advantages, their power lying in what they represent.

Stuff like that.

Mm, agreed. From what I understand, though, part of the joy of the game is the silliness. You can get drunk and play music in-game, apparently.

Anyway, the point is that at this stage there's more or less no reason for me not to try it.

EDIT: Considering liveblogging my blind floundering in this brave new world.

edited 19th Mar '11 4:52:24 AM by DanEile

I've been playing the crap out of Lot RO since it went free to play. The fact that a diligent player can earn Turbine points (the game's cash shop currency) gives something besides leveling to work towards.

Best F 2 P game there is, in my opinion.

^Try DDO sometime Turbines other F 2 P mmo

Actually, I did. Didn't really enjoy it as much as I did Lot RO. I prefer the more open world game over the instance-heavy game. I can't really bring myself to delete it, though, if that says anything.

Anyway, who here goes freebie on Lot RO and who goes VIP (or payed at all)?

Got F 2 P Lo TRO today, really enjoyed it. I'm playing a level 12 Man Champion at the moment. Eocern of Rohan. Pretty awesome.

Downloading it right now. It'll be my first MMORPG, since I don't have the time to make paying to play worth it. I may not stick around, but since it's free and I'm getting into LOTR, I thought I'd give it a shot. Any tips for character creation?

This one enjoys this game. It treats the Tolkien lore just the right way - taking manyliberties with it but following the spirit rather accurately. Also, nice community, solid plot and no Pv P, which is a good thing in my book.

Just remember that it is not actually free to play, and never been intended as such. Basically, you have a choice of paying via subscription for everything the game has to offer at once or paying for features as you progress through the game and need them.

However, it is definitely not "Pay to win" - you'll have to pay for access to quests, areas and slots, but not for powerful items

It seems that way now that I've started playing. Is it more about purchasing Turbine points or just the expansion packs?

There are two major expansion packs with new areas and quests, and once you purchase them, all their contents are yours to keep and aren't going anywhere. Plus as far as I know you receive a couple of months of active subscription when you buy an expansion, which will get you additional Turbine Points (if you have an active subscription, a significant number of Turbine Points is automatically added to your account every month. Which is rather good idea, as it prevents those who have a subscription from feeling as if they are pressed into additional spendings by the very presence of the store). Turbine Points you'll need for the "old" areas and for unlocking stuff like transportation in there.

edited 5th Apr '11 8:15:59 AM by Beholderess

Graphically I like LOTRO, it is pretty, at least in terms of the environment. Characters less so.

But I just can't get into the game long enough to play it. Never felt involved in the community I guess.

If there's anybody on a given server, let me know, maybe I'll give it another try.

edited 5th Apr '11 9:24:06 AM by blueharp

In a recent aversion to my usual stealthyfella character, I decided to tank stuff. I'm up to level 7. I gotta say, I like DDO more. LOTRO seems more like standard WOW combat-wise.

I really like LOTRO. I have a level 25 Captain that I play during my rare long stretches of free time. The thing that really sold me on it was when I climbed a tower in the Elf-country, looked out at the mountains and plains stretching away as far as the eye can see, and then realized that all of that was world I could go explore. The community is great, the combat is tactically interesting, and there's countless little details to explore. Also it does an excellent job of doing justice to Tolkien's legendarium. And that means a lot coming from me, a die-hard canonical LOTR fan.

edited 15th Apr '11 7:32:10 PM by EdwardsGrizzly

I agree with you on all of that, I'm just not that interested in the combat.

I have a Lvl 12 Hobbit Burglar and a Lvl 13 Elf Minstrel. I'm really getting into it, cause it's a beautiful game and awesome for me as I make my way through LOTR (just finished Fellowship).

I also enjoy the combat, even as someone who doesn't like MMORP Gs or turn-based combat in general. I play on Riddermark server if anyone wants to hang out on there.

edited 15th Apr '11 10:57:40 PM by HopelessSituationWarrior

That's probably because you are playing a tank. If you want to have fun, play a Captain, a Hunter, or a Ministrel.

As a level 25 Captain, I have decent melee abilities and an awesome summon, plus I can buff my allies with a wide variety of skills. I have an ability that gives some of my health to an ally, allowing me to shore up weaker friends, and an ability that makes me completely immune to death for 30 seconds, allowing me to run clear and drink a potion or go hero and buy time for my friends to run. I'm also the only class that can revive friends in combat.

When I find time to play, I play on the Imladris server, where I was one of the earlier members of the dragon knights kinship.

I think that I'm either a Captain or a Champion or something. The one that lets you summon NPC guys to follow around, I think. Of course, I got to level 7 by myself (As in, not doing quests with anyone else) so that might be part of the problem.

Say, anyone think we should start a Troper kinship/fellowship/whateverthefunkynameforguildisinthisgame?

That'd be a Captain. Champions are the melee dps class. And yes, Captains don't really come into their own until they reach the lower teens. That's when they get their better buffs and become very popular as recruits for instances. I didn't do much teaming until I had finished the quests in the prologue arc and moved on into Bree. If you can, try to team up with some higher level players in a area with high-level monsters. The game awards xp to everyone in a fellowship whenever anyone scores a kill, so just by tagging along and throwing the occasional buff you can level up very quickly.

If you ever feel like starting a new character, make it in the Imladris server and maybe we can run a barrow together sometime.

I think I'll make a new guy now.

I can as well, if you like.

Imladris or somewhere else?

Sounds fine to me.

Say, are the player names specific to the server? I'm asking because my first character was gonna be named Lanyard, after the name I always use in RP Gs for some reason, and it was taken.

I'm not sure but I think they are. Characters don't carry over between servers, so I doubt names do.

Oh, good. Thanks. I'm gonna go make a new guy.

Imladris is SO LAGGY ARRGH