Lifetime membership contemplationsFollow

I pre-ordered the Shadows of Angmar game, played it through about 6-9 months just when housing was added, then stopped. At that time, I felt that population was kind of low, based on the number of auctions available that I could bid on as a player, or that I could put up without being returned, even for decent prices. Ie, it didn’t seem like there were a lot of people buying and selling.

But I was reading the books one day this year and decided, almost exactly one year later, to reactivate the game. I started with just a 1 month purchase in case that things have gone worse for the game and population, and I wanted a trial period to see if I could get back into the game itself. One good benefit is that I have since upgraded my video card, so the game looks even more beautiful than before.

I find myself being drawn back into the game, so I have no doubt of my interest for the soloing content. My concerns are for the grouping aspect for instances, as well as the auction house action, which I tend to enjoy, so that I won’t just be playing a solo game in a multiplayer-capable game. In this one month, I have been part of one Fornost instance run, and another one which failed to fill up and continue. Both times were because I sat around the zone, pretty much nothing else to do in the zone itself since I was above the range, except calling for and waiting for the instance groups.

However, as I contemplate how to pay for my 2nd month, I am left wondering what people’s opinions are for the lifetime membership? Are you still happy with it (granted, you’ll have to play about 20 months before you break even). I believe LOTRO would have enough demand for at least one more paid expansion, combined with the other good content that we get for free between actual expansions.

I just wanted to see how everyone feels about this game so far, for those who have been going on longer than 1 month, which is the time I’ve seen this game in its current form.

I started playing during beta, and pre-ordered and went with a lifetime subscription from the beginning. I've never regretted it. I did take a couple of breaks along the way due to real-life issues, and I'm sure there will be more breaks over the years. I find the game to be very well populated, and the auction house keeps me in coin just fine.

I think, worst case scenario, there will be at least 2 more paid expansions. Of course, with the current economy, Turbine could fold tomorrow and the LOTRO servers could be sold for parts.

I tend to find a game I love and stay with it. I knew back in beta I would play this game for a long time, so for me the lifetime subscription was an easy decision.

I continue to have problems selling things at AH but am enjoying the soloing aspect of the game. Now and then, there are groups to do things, so it's not all desolate all the time.

I've decided to go with lifetime membership, and look forward to at least 20 more months to break even.

Thanks all!

I've had the lifetime since I got retail, was in the beta and as soon as I heard they were offering a lifetime I option I knew I was going to take it. It's such a no worry deal, I don't have to sweat monthly payments, switch credit cards if I close one or something, if I want to take a break I don't have to worry about a reactivation down the road, and I certainly don't feel an obligation to play extended periods "to get my money's worth".

To the AH, hehe, I rarely bother with it unless I'm selling mats of some kind or maybe a crit crafted item to try to make a buck but I don't expect it to be a money tree like the AH in other games. I get by and usually have enough for new skills and if I want to browse for a new shiny ring or something, I bid and hope for a deal and never use buy out.

Your best sellers on the AH in LOTRO will be raw harvest materials and high end drops (teal and some purple). Most (ok, almost all) yellow stuff doesn't sell and I have never sold anything common.

You might be able to sell some house items although I hardly ever can.

The biggest problem with the AH is that since you're limited to 48 hours of auction time max, it's risky to put up anything for sale that could remotely be considered an iffy seller.

Sad really since the broker system in EQ2 is such a reliable revenue stream for new and vet players alike...