LOTRO

[frogopus]

Well, squerl and I just picked up LOTR:O and its turned out to be real fun so far. It'll be a little while before I know how well some of the different mechanics work out but the overall world is very impressive and well done. We're coming from a few different MMO's and it definately competes; I've enjoyed starting out in this game more than any other mmo to date.

I've been pretty out of touch with the board the past few days now, our inventory at work (Borders) has been so backed up that I've been putting in a lot of extra hours. So that and spending some time playing lotro and enjoying time with my girl now that we're both home from school has kept be distracted.

[dontleave]

What server? Anyway, if your name is frogopus in game change your lineage to frogs and octopi. That'd be funny, you could be related to the "Watcher'!

I have the game on brandywine but Im not playing, so far too much going on to settle down and start playing an MMO, so im in a friends guild, log in every now adn then to make sure nothing happens to my account (I got that pre order pack and paid 200 bucks for life time so I dont want them to dismiss it because im going for a couple months) I DO play though, im level 28 Man Champion (yeah ahah funny title) been playing since beta though, so its not really an accomplishment.

[frogopus]

We started on a newer server, I believe: Firefoot. I'm running a Halfling Burglar and squerls started a Dwarf Guardian. The Burglar seems fun so far and its much more my style rogue than a lot of the newer MMOs. The whole game gives me a DAOC feel (this is a good thing) especially with some of the reactive attacks like the Guardian's shield smashes and parry returns and the Burglar's crit follow ups.

I dunno, we were looking for a more relaxed game that we can enjoy the story/world without really doing the power grind to get the level cap and this might be a winner. How does the later game play out? Right now things have been very solo oriented and there's little reason for us to duo (just level 7 right now of course). I've heard that things are very solo focused and then the game suddenly requires full groups to really get by. In Everquest 2 we typically avoided full groups because people usually just caused headaches, so I'm wondering how much socializing we're going to be having to do. Guess it may be time to start up a guild for a reason other than raiding.

[cush]

Hmmmm....I was thinking about picking this game up to play during the summer, but I haven't been completely drawn to it. The only MMORPGs that I ever really played were FFXI, WOW, and EQ2. ATM I'm not playing any MMORPG, but definitely would like to get into a new one.

Is it worth the monthly charge?? And do you have to be a hardcore player to enjoy the game??

[A DUCK]

i hate games that have monthly fees >:O

[KashMunni]

yah me 2 :d

[frogopus]

Well, I'm coming from playing EQ, DAOC, SWG, and EQ2 plus some others for small periods. Of those, the game feels a lot like DAOC and SWG, borrowing a lot of good elements from both. I've only gotten a couple evenings with it and I'm not certain how things will work out with the heavy focus on quest instead of grinding mobs for xp, but its promising. I absolutely love the world; EQ2 (my primary grindfest off and on the past few years) always felt like boxes with monsters connected by little bells. The cities were souless and just a cheap attempt to remind players of cities from EQ1 and put everyone right next to each other. Here, the cities are sprawling and much more full of life. Sure it may take a bit of a run (there is fast travel by buying horse tickets) but it does so much more for the immersiveness imo. My favorite part so far was venturing through Bree and the Shire to reach squerl in his dwarven home. If you're looking for a more open world (minimal zones, much more seamless than EQ2) that has a heavy focus on story (the only time i've ever read dialogue and paid attention to a story in an mmo), and rewards questing (really the only way to level), then I think this would be a good game for you.

You asked if the game requires hardcore playing... So many people have commented on how they used to play mmos hardcore but with LOTRO they feel that they can log on for a couple hours and just have fun. I think, and hope, this is going to be my experience as well.
i hate games that have monthly fees >:O
Turbine is planning monthly FREE expansions with promising new content: http://pc.ign.com/articles/789/789004p1.html
At least this makes me feel like my monthly fee is going somewhere.

[hooray for zombies]

What are you doing playing a MMO? Get to work on part 2 damnit. *Continued verbal harrasment here*

[frogopus]

Part 2 is being written entirely in Elvish so this is all research. I'd suggest you start working on the same if you want to get any info out of it.

[hooray for zombies]

But you're playing a halfling and you're allied with a dwarf...... *sniff* liar.

[frogopus]

A large part of mastering any language is understanding their unique culture. I could study the Elvish language all I want, but the MMO gives me a chance to focus on the Elves intercultural relationships with the other races in a unique perspective. Trust me, this is all a very vital part of the part 2 process.

[dontleave]

DAOC was fun, my first MMO and I stumbled into it when my uncle gave it to me for free, account fees paid and everything. Coincidentally I was obsessed with Arturic lore at the time so just the word "Camelot" set me off.

SWG I got also because I liked Star Wars at the time, not really the movies or anything by George Lucas except the universe. I was more interested in the stuff written outside a Lucas office. Because most of the lore came from other contributors, the greatest lore also being the stuff GL never really touched in to.

I used to speak Elvish, im a big J.R.R Tolkien fan. He rights all his lore, Im pretty sure its what makes LOTRO so great, and at the same time not over the top like WoW. Its the primary reason I got the game, didn't know it'd be so good either. Plus when I got it there was no such thing as Firefoot rofl. There were seven servers.

I'll be bathing in the White Court of Minas Anor (Tirith) in a couple years time enjoying it more than just any MMO player, because I am a true fan of LoTRO. Enough for this to be my first self funded MMO. The game will get so much bigger so im sure it was worth the monthly fee.

[Sandman77]

I miss Ultima Online old core days... Ive had most and played most MMO`s. I can safely say most fun was UO and Neocron (using the old source engine that powers Halflife)

SWG was partial fun also WOW then comes your to low to quest with me crap and I was gone with the wind...

Is LOTRO made so that if you venture with low level your gain as higher level is low or nothing like most MMO`s? if so no thanks. I also dont have time to spend hours online I like to log on, get into the action, play with friends have fun awhile and log off. Is this possible in LOTRO?

What I loved about UO and Neocron was the adrenline packed fighting realtime no turnbased or auto crap like WOW or EQ etc...