ZAM's Lord of the Rings ContestFollow

I have played LOTRO off and on since the launch. I think the world environment and graphics are superb.
I am pleased with the attention paid to Tolkien's work. I get a kick out of discovering a new plot twist. I get a real sense of immersion and character growth in this world.
The crafting system is fun and simple to maneuver. The addition of personal houses is great! The trophy system is also fun. Who would have thought I would enjoy whiling away the hours fishing. '-) I did not get into it in WoW.
I am almost ready to explore Moria and the idea of the Legendary Weapons is exciting.

I enjoy the story lines that run through most quest chains. So far the Misty Mounts chains have been my favorite. Goblin Town is a blast.
The only thing that bugs me is how some quest chains end in a group quest. I can be soloing a chain just fine and then get stopped in my tracks by a group quest.

All in all, I great game!

I was fortunate enough to find this game as my first mmo.So i went ahead and got an founders account and have never regretted it to this day.I did not pay any attention to the hater geeks who have come over from other mmo's just to go negative on lotro and compare it to games they have invested much of thier time in.After 2 years I'm still blown away by the graphics and the story line.And hope to be there when the ring is cast back into the fiery depths from whench it came.Congrats Turbine Very Well Done!!!! we sure have come along way since pong and asteriods havent we.

Not being the biggest fan of Lord of the Rings I am a fan and love the lore. This game takes you to a new level of Middle Earth that you crave after reading all the books and watching the movies. The devs did a great job of tying things together and giving you an authentic feeling game. I wish I started playing this game at launch. I wasted to many years on other MMORGS that need not to be mentioned here. Lets just say Im a video game addict since I played my first set of pong. I like the adventuring,crafting and the fact I can play Slayer on my Lute. I really havent played long enough to point any bad things about LOTRO. I can just say coming from a long time gamer, Great game cant wait to get off this post and go back to playing.

My brother has been playing this game for a long time and has loved it himself. I had never really been interested in the game until recently. A couple days ago my brother convinced me to try the 10 day trial and I can honestly say I loved it.

The game holds a great story and magnificent scenery to go along with its intense and unique style of combat and gameplay. It makes you feel almost as if you are there yourself as you battle through the landscapes and meet up with the familiar characters. The different classes offered make you feel like whatever path you take you are an irreplacable asset to any fellowship you join in with.

This game is a step above many games I have played before. I have only the trial, but in the short days I have been playing I have already learned to love it.

Hello, i played lotro on a 14 day free trial and i loved it so much. I bought 6 months worth of playing time and i loved even more. However, it was getting expensive and i had to stop. The thing i loved the most was the great PvE. i really liked it becuase animals dropped things that animals actually drop(not like swords and money and stuff). The crafting system was terrific, the nvironment was beautiful. i could spend all day just wandering around the shire. In short it is the best game ever made hands down(better that WoW)

I beta tested this game and had to leave due to not haveing the money at the time to paly. Life, wife, kids lol. I loved it then and love it now that i'm able to aford to play now. Love the rich game textures makes you feel like your in tolkens world. Plus the lore behind teh quests makes you feel like watching the movies again or re-reading all his books again. kudos to the tribune staff for make a great mmo.

I first read LotR in the mid-60's and have reread it many times since. So I have always been fascinated with Tolkien's world. When the opportunity came to play an MMO based on the world I jumped at the chance. I had been playing EverQuest, EverQuest II, Star Wars Galaxies (before the the change) as well as Dark Age of Camelot (briefly). So I signed up for LotRO beta and was accepted and have not looked back really. I plunked down $400 for two lifetime subscriptions and have been playing regularly since the game went Live. I also remained active in EQII for over a year but finally dropped my accounts with SOE (Sad that). As an alt-aholic I have 14 characters I actively play. However, recently I pushed to take two characters (hunter and loremaster elves) to level 60 just to see the new stuff in Moria and Lothlorien. I still have to go back and finish all of the Volume 1 Epic quests as well as the new Vol II quests. I plan to do that initially with another pair of characters. These two are lady hobbits that a pretty tough if I do say so myself. The leader (sort of) is a guardian and the helper is a burgler. So far (level 29 now) they haven't died too much and are pretty good at taking care of the badies.

The graphics as everyone has said are spectacular and the quests have been interesting enough that I am willing to do them many times.

The only poor things about the game, to me, has to do with the most recent stuff in Moria and Lothlorien. The repeatable quests could do with some other monsters. The easiest seem to be the bugs and the delvers in the crafting supply instances. As I need lots and lots of hides I try to only do those instances with the delvers. I have never even tried the bats and Morrowval instances. What do they drop that I can really use?

I do plan on being around for a LONG time.

Sunlar(HTR Elf), Sunlir(CHP, Elf, Lirsun (WAR, Elf), Sunbelle (LM, Elf), Yanamila (HUM LM), Eadalstan (Hum Cpt), Eadalwaru(Hum Bur), Faerlynie (GRD Hob), Faracar (War Hob), Helga(HTR Hob, Taelaeri(Min Hob), Namri (Bur Hob), Zharyl (Min Dwarf), Vaer (RK Dwarf) : Nimrodel

Edited, Jul 16th 2009 6:59pm by Sunlir

I first played LotRO a few months after launch, mostly because my friends and I were waiting for WoW's first expansion to come out. I thought LotRO was decent back then, but stopped playing it for WoW which I quit about a year ago. WoW became too easy, I didn't like where PvP ended up (resilience killed it for me), and there are plenty of more things I could rant about but this is about LotRO, not WoW.

I recently started playing LotRO again after discovering they had some great deals on the expansion download and 3 monthly packages, and I was thoroughly impressed with the improvements that were made while I was not playing. The game is absolutely beautiful with DX10, frustration free with the quest-guide system (though many quests are still challenging), the attention to detail is great, the crafting system actually seems to be useful and is also robust, the deed system adds another element besides quest grinding to keep you busy, instances are fun and much of the time actually require thought and strategy to complete, the classes all play uniquely, and the list goes on. There are many similarities to WoW, but while the basic formula is similar, I've found LotRO to have made itself into its own game and surpassed Blizzard's giant through new ideas and good updates.

My single biggest suggestion for LotRO is that Turbine could stand to add about twice as many emotes as they currently have in the game, but that's not even a huge deal. I'd have to think a little harder to find another issue that really irks me about this game.

Edited, Jul 16th 2009 7:52pm by Fruban

I started playing LoTRO last month. I did briefly play in the original beta for the game, but at that time I didn't care much for the game as compared with what else was on the market.

I decided to take a trial out and check LoTRO out again when I wanted a new game to play more recently. Within two days I'd purchased and downloaded the full game, but honestly the $9.99 deal was just too good to pass up.

So what brought me to enjoy the game?

*being set in Tolkien's Middle Earth
*nice looking game outside of the animations
*nice overall community
*healthy RP community (haven't seen any vampires, drow or werewolves yet anyways, lol)
*no parsers for e-peen measuring at endgame
*somewhat complex crafting system
*having a housing system available even though I think it needs improvement
*option to PvP via the PvMP system for those who want to
*a seamless world - not a whole lot of loading screens between zones
*free myLoTRO blog offering
*no world free for all PvP, but instead a creatively done Player vs Monster Player system
*no real factions (ie, good vs evil players, everyone is on the same side)
*unique and interesting classes instead of stereotypical MMO types (paladin, cleric, mage, etc)
*names given to some game mechanics such as "Morale" instead of "Health" and "Defeat" instead of "Death"

What I think needs improvement:

*Character animations (running, horse riding, fighting)
*Housing system as a whole could learn a thing or three from EQ2
*Better interface options, some of it is rather clumsy to use
*Storage options - the only account-shared storage is available if you buy a house and still is rather limited. They should consider a crafting storage amenity due to the large amount of crafting materials you need.
*Better ways to remain truly anonymous (could be wrong, but I don't believe there is a way to make your character anon on the leaderboards)
*Consider expanding the barber to allow for complexion and body shape changes.

Think that's all for me!

Thanks,

Tinrae


Edited, Jul 16th 2009 7:56pm by TinraeofAB

I have been an MMO addict for many years. I have played everything from EverQuest and it's sequel to Wow(Boo! I know!), and now Lord of the Rings Online. Honestly, I have had a blast from the beginning. I enjoy the complexity and depth the game has to offer. LOTRO has much more to offer than most other MMO's currently dominating the market.

Of course, there are going to be hiccups occasionally, as it is with ALL MMOs. You are dealing with computers, and MASSIVE amounts of information being transfered at any given second, issues can and will arise. That being said, I have had more pain and aggrivation from other games than I have ever had with my experience with LOTRO. The only real issues I have had are minor glitches, and laggy situations, nothing major at all.

I prefer games that require intellect and strategy, rather than button-mashing, mindless entertainment. The Instances, and Bosses you encounter among your travels throughout Middle Earth, require much of both. Although, I haven't had the opportunity to be in a raid situation. I can only imagine how intricate and difficult the upper-tier raid encounters will be.

LOTRO has incorporated many features that long-time fans of MMOs have resort to using third-party mods and other applications to provide the best playing experience they demand. Many features like In-Game Voice Chat, and the ability to customize your interface to a certain degree without the use of third-part mods. Other features as in quick-travel throughout Middle Earth, without having to depend on cooldowns nor other players/NPCs to port around. Although, in some areas and at some times, I enjoy the challenge of reaching my desired camp when there is no "Summon" available.

I have been tenacious, yet unsuccessful in my attempts to sway people to at least try out LOTRO. I will continue to recommend this game to MMO addicts and the occasional player because it is a great game, and I believe everyone should give it a chance to grow on them.


Havix of Brandywine

Have been in Middle Earth since the closed beta and think the game is fantastic. I've read the Tolkien books many many time and think that the game has captured the feel of Middle Earth perfectly. Also the players I've met online have been a fantasticly friendly and helpfull lot of people from all over the world. I'ts so good I have a lifetime membership and bought a lifetime membership for my wife for christamass :)

Hi. I've been playing LOTRO since Beta. I've tried some of the other MMOs that have come along. I started with Everquest, then played DAoC, Star Wars Galaxies and then WoW for a week. LOTRO is the one that has kept me. The questing is without peer in the MMO world. I have never had to sit and 'camp' a spot for a monster or just trying to get xp, which was my main complaint with other games. The continued free content that is made available and the fact that Turbine is willing to admit when things don't work quite like they hoped and make changes have helped to keep the game fresh and I haven't tired of it one bit. It also has the best crafting of any game I've played.
And let's face it. Being able to visit and see places we all know from the books has been a lot of fun.