The state of LOTRO?

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Tue Apr 19, 2022 9:57 pm

Ive been wondering about this lately myself. I was in the beta in 2007 then moved into the full game for a few months. Left then returned about a year later and played another few months.

I think last time I tried was about 9 years ago or whenever it opened the free option to play. I tried it but they SEVERELY gimped the free play. I mean no inv hardly no bank no msg'n no nothing. I hated it. Is it truly free now and not gimped?

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Tue Apr 19, 2022 10:43 pm

I guess those lifetime subs really paid off.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Tue Apr 19, 2022 10:53 pm

I decided to download it anyways. Couldn't remember my login so went looking at old emails. Found one from 2008 when I won LotRO Complete Edition. Strange I dont recall getting that. Not sure what that would mean anyways.

edit: Well I used two emails it seems so now Im not sure which login is which lol...guess its time to test.

EDIT: had THREE accounts lol. I kept resetting passwords to the same one until I found the oldest with the most dlc...I had a free account in 2010, a normal account in 2009 and finally an account with Shadows of Angmar™ Standard and Mines of Moria™ Standard. Ill use that one. Strange though as I know I played in 2007. Maybe I used another email...can test it I suppose. but it was 2008 I supposedly won that complete edition.

EDIT: I guess I DID win it...found the box.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Tue Apr 19, 2022 11:08 pm

I used to like getting a lute and using mod files before they added the music stuff to the game and stand in town playing Dust in the Wind lol. people couldn't figure out how I did it. Then they released the easy music stuff and that was that.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Tue Apr 19, 2022 11:55 pm

What server is good? I think last time i logged in I was on brandywine but dont see anything listed as being there now. So its all new to me.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Wed Apr 20, 2022 12:03 am

I think it's all new to all of us. I loved the hell out of this game - it had better storytelling and atmosphere than any other MMO of its era. I always played on Landroval, FWIW. It was the Wanderers server back when that was still an OO thing, and it was the unofficial RP server, which generally meant fewer asshats.

Max Peck · Post by **Max Peck** » Wed Apr 20, 2022 2:12 am

There was an OO guild (Eyes of the Watcher) on Landroval back at launch, but it eventually died off after an almost complete membership turnover when someone usurped the guild leadership and disbanded it (presumably after looting the guildhall). I still have one character on Landroval, but I migrated the rest of my toons to Crickhollow so that I could hang out with some friends from back in the SWG days who have a guild there.

Baroquen · Post by **Baroquen** » Wed Apr 20, 2022 5:58 am

I think my characters are on Landroval too. Since I was lucky enough to buy the lifetime sub, I return to this game everyone once in a while. The anniversary event might be a good time to stop in catch up, though I hate the LI system and the revamp didn't sound any more interesting. I'll see I guess.

Max Peck · Post by **Max Peck** » Wed Apr 20, 2022 8:16 am

Isgrimnur wrote: Tue Apr 19, 2022 10:43 pm I guess those lifetime subs really paid off.

Cryptic copied the LotRO lifetime sub scheme, including the monthly stipend of company scrip, so people who opted in early for Star Trek Online and Champions Online got fairly similar value over the long term given that both games are still active.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Wed Apr 20, 2022 10:51 am

So I figured I'd give this another look, but it seems like they're getting pretty hammered right now. The game seemed to install OK, but any time I put my name and password into the launcher I get a "Failed to read authentication response (unexpected end of file)" error message. Google tells me that happens when their server is unreachable.

The error has continued from about 8:00 last night until nearly 9:00 this morning, so either they're not able to handle an influx of tourists like me, or my system just doesn't like the game at all. Either way, not great.

Is anyone else giving it another go and able to get in?

Max Peck · Post by **Max Peck** » Wed Apr 20, 2022 11:02 am

I'm getting the same error from the launcher at the moment.

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Wed Apr 20, 2022 11:30 am

I believe there's some scheduled server downtime today.

It looks like the last time I played this was 12 years ago? Crazy.

As I recall, I had a pretty jacked up elf archer chick. I spent way too much time grinding "deeds" to get LOTRO coins so I could unlock content (I'd barely started my first real job that paid actual money back then and didn't value my free time as much as I do now). Eventually, I hit a content wall where the next batches of content cost more LOTRO coins than I could reasonably grind up, and also (I shit you not) my character started getting hit on by random creepy internet dudes (hot elf chick with pretty name, internet, you do the math).

Quite the object lesson on what it's like to be a girl on the internet.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Wed Apr 20, 2022 12:06 pm

Max Peck wrote: Wed Apr 20, 2022 11:02 am I'm getting the same error from the launcher at the moment.

Thanks, good to know it’s not my system. I actually deleted and reinstalled this morning (before I googled the error) because I figured the install was borked.

Seems like a “Server is currently unavailable” message instead of a cryptic error would have been a much better option.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Wed Apr 20, 2022 12:12 pm

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Wed Apr 20, 2022 12:15 pm

In the old days you could create a female and all the guys gave you free stuff lol. Then again i had a male mage in EQ who had the last name Flaymewielder. Strangely a female character...not sure who was playing her but seemed female....named Flayme started following me around being my 'gf' lol. I could not shake this woman. I was always horrified my wife would pass by and ask who is that?

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Wed Apr 20, 2022 12:18 pm

Gotta say, I love all the different interpretations you could make of those character names.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Wed Apr 20, 2022 1:39 pm

Still getting the error, looks like they had to take everything back down again.

I'll just try again tomorrow. Don't really have much time to play today anyways.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Wed Apr 20, 2022 1:47 pm

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Wed Apr 20, 2022 2:11 pm

"When I said *keep the rune*, I didn't mean *forever*" :'(

coopasonic · Post by **coopasonic** » Wed Apr 20, 2022 4:17 pm

I am pretty sure I did a lifetime sub. For this and a couple other games, though damned if I can recall which. Yeah, I didn't play any of them long. I think I loaded up LOTRO a while back and thought it looked like ass and wandered away.

Baroquen · Post by **Baroquen** » Wed Apr 20, 2022 6:29 pm

Looks like the downtime is going to be at least a few more hours. Oh well. No rush on my part, though I'm sure that a lot of the mildly curious will just pass instead.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Wed Apr 20, 2022 7:00 pm

Baroquen wrote: Wed Apr 20, 2022 6:29 pm though I'm sure that a lot of the mildly curious will just pass instead.

That was my thought as well. Really bad timing for a multi-day server outage.

I’m sure there were lots of folks thinking “I remember hearing about LOTRO, I ought to give that another look since it’s all free now. It doesn’t work? Oh well.” And they wander off, never to be seen again.

Sawyer · Post by **Sawyer** » Wed Apr 20, 2022 9:28 pm

When asking about what server in 2022, the right answer is Treebeard. Treebeard is a progression server currently on Moria until June. There's still time to catch-up. While there are definitely some super hardcore LOTRO players on the Treebeard server, it is a great environment for everyone including new players. The advantage of a progression server, for those who don't know, is the ability to find people on-level for the lower level content. If you haven't experienced LOTRO before, this is the way to do it. I played on Arkenstone for a number of years, but everyone is max level and you're going to have to solo all of the lower level stuff.

Personally taking a break right now, but I've had sooo much fun over the past 6 months running Angmar and Moria stuff on-level. I'm in a guild, Better Biscuit Bureau, doing the Moria raid a couple times a week.

If you look at my past OO posts, and I don't have many, you might see I'm a big fan of developers who love their source material. It comes through in games in a hard way to quantify. Every time I play LOTRO it is so obvious to me the developers love their source material.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 4:55 pm

Sawyer wrote: Wed Apr 20, 2022 9:28 pm When asking about what server in 2022, the right answer is Treebeard.

Looks like Treebeard is a VIP only server.

Sawyer · Post by **Sawyer** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 6:31 pm

Yes, that's true. Unfortunately, if you really want to play the LOTRO as an MMO, you're going to have to play VIP. It really is the best way to play the game though.

Alefroth · Post by **Alefroth** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 7:11 pm

Sawyer wrote: Thu Apr 21, 2022 6:31 pm Yes, that's true. Unfortunately, if you really want to play the LOTRO as an MMO, you're going to have to play VIP. It really is the best way to play the game though.

What makes VIP a must have?

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 7:40 pm

Still have no idea what server to create on. And Im not paying anything for LOTRO. I remember how it is and looks. Too old.

Max Peck · Post by **Max Peck** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 7:43 pm

VIP Benefits

Sawyer · Post by **Sawyer** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 7:57 pm

Alefroth wrote: Thu Apr 21, 2022 7:11 pm
Sawyer wrote: Thu Apr 21, 2022 6:31 pm Yes, that's true. Unfortunately, if you really want to play the LOTRO as an MMO, you're going to have to play VIP. It really is the best way to play the game though.
What makes VIP a must have?

The VIP allows you to play on a progression server. Playing on a progression server means you can play with people on-level, for the lower level content. Right now, max level is 60; basically through Moria. In June, the progression server is moving to Mirkwood and will make the top level 70. As the progression server moves on, the overall player base gets higher and higher level. If you get on the free servers, most people playing are already at the top most levels (130?). This makes it impossible to find groups for the Fellowship quests unless you are at top level. Fellowship quests are easily the best content in the game. Don't get me wrong, what is commonly called "overland" is pretty cool in its own right. But the game really shines in the Fellowship quests.

VIP gives you other bonuses as well; inventory space, no max gold, crafting speed, and a bunch of other things I don't remember. These things are great to have, but the star of VIP, to me, is access the progression servers. The community in LOTRO is unlike anything else I've experienced. I would say 50% of the player base is ~40-50 years old and super chill.

All of this explanation is to say, if you are going to play the game as an MMO, play on Treebeard. If you are a solo only person, which I get, play on a free server (keeping in mind you're going to miss out on arguably the best content). I'm not usually a super social person (long, long time lurker on OO), but LOTRO will provide you with a good mix of solo content and those wonderful Fellowship quests. Or try the game out for 10 hours on a free server, see if you like it, and then start a new toon on a progression server with a VIP membership.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 8:32 pm

Thanks for that info Sawyer.

I rolled an elf Champion, but kinda hated both the melee combat and the starting area. Maybe I'm missing something, but I can't find stuff on the map for the life of me. Only played a couple hours, but most of that was spent randomly running around trying to find the next questgiver. There's a whole bunch of quest markers on the map, but none of them seem to indicate which is actually for my current quest or the main quest. Nor does it point me in the right direction if it's a ways away, which seems weird in an MMO.

I'm going to reroll a Human or Hobbit Hunter and see if I fare any better.

Sawyer wrote: Thu Apr 21, 2022 7:57 pm Or try the game out for 10 hours on a free server, see if you like it, and then start a new toon on a progression server with a VIP membership.

I think this is the route I'm going to go.

Baroquen · Post by **Baroquen** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 8:59 pm

Skinypupy wrote: Thu Apr 21, 2022 8:32 pm Thanks for that info Sawyer.

I rolled an elf Champion, but kinda hated both the melee combat and the starting area. Maybe I'm missing something, but I can't find stuff on the map for the life of me. Only played a couple hours, but most of that was spent randomly running around trying to find the next questgiver. There's a whole bunch of quest markers on the map, but none of them seem to indicate which is actually for my current quest or the main quest. Nor does it point me in the right direction if it's a ways away, which seems weird in an MMO.

I'm going to reroll a Human or Hobbit Hunter and see if I fare any better.

Sawyer wrote: Thu Apr 21, 2022 7:57 pm Or try the game out for 10 hours on a free server, see if you like it, and then start a new toon on a progression server with a VIP membership.
I think this is the route I'm going to go.

I don't remember having problems with the mini-map and quest markers. The main quest has the flaming ring icon, compared to the regular gold ring. And if I recall, quest progress/completion icon is a different ring icon or a different color? I can't remember. It's similar to the "Quest Available" icon, but different enough that I could recognize the difference.

I finally got things updated, and am going to check in with my characters tonight. I enjoy the anniversary event, but not sure I'll get into this too deeply this time around. But I did just let the FFXIV sub lapse. So there's no MMO currently in my playlist, so to speak. Who knows.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 10:04 pm

Once you find the NPC it’s easy to tell what kind of quest it is (fiery ring, blue ring, etc), but they all appear as the same icon on the minimap.

The map also only randomly indicates which direction the NPC can be found. There’s an arrow that points the direction for some quests, but not for others. Not sure what the distinction is.

It’s really weird…I’m sure I just need to get more familiar with the layout.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 11:10 pm

From looking at what VIP gives you it looks like the 'free' game is still badly gimped.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 11:14 pm

Like every other free game anywhere, ever, it's designed to convince you to pay. Why would they spend the kind of money they do to develop and maintain the game just to give you a free experience? They're spending money to make money. Free to play games serve the same purpose that demos used to - they let you sample what you'll get if you pay. Some are more or less generous about what you get for free (Rift's free game was great), but they're all going to put roadblocks into the free game, or else they're going to go out of business.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 11:28 pm

Many free games are actually free BH. They dont gimp your gameplay experience. They provide incentives for paying in the form of cosmetics and things. If I try to play a game and have a limited inv or no access to chat or cant join a guild Im not giving them money. Granted I didn't read the list through but saw enough that it seems the same old game that I dont play after all that I tried when it went free to play years ago.

Its ok, it saves me hard drive space.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 11:31 pm

I did a month of VIP, with the intent of taking Sawyer's advice and starting on a Progression server. Rolled a Hunter, which was a FAR better fit for me.

The flip side of a Progression server (at least right now) is the limited number of players. Treebeard had 140 people total on the server, about half of which were level 60. Gladden (the free server I rolled) has around 650 players with about half of those being under level 60 and lots of noobs. That's probably just a function of the renewed interest right now, but is a pretty significant population difference. I'll be playing mostly solo, so I haven't decided which route to choose yet. In the hour or so I played on both, there was quite a bit of world chat on the free server, but almost nothing at all on the VIP.

I also think the Human and Hobbit starting areas are much better than the elf. The elf throws you right into what felt like a major city, which felt a bit overwhelming. Both the Human and Hobbit stories start you out in a smaller village and let you get familiar with things before getting to a larger area. That fits my style a bit better.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 11:48 pm

Had a Hobbit. Its a pretty area. I got more fun out of music and fishing that actually playing the game back in the day. Id spend all day doing just those two things.

I think I was one of the only ones that fished in Star Wars Galaxies. I had trophies for my home wall. If Im in a mmo and it has water it better let me fish or its a bad mark to me.

DOS=HIGH · Post by **DOS=HIGH** » Fri Apr 22, 2022 12:01 am

IMO, F2P is fine if you're looking at the game as a single-player experience. I played Oct/Nov last year as F2P & VIP and the only thing I missed as F2P was the access to bank/mail/vendor from anywhere. I previously played years ago, so I did have preferred status and a bunch of points that can be used to offset some of the VIP stuff like inventory. Can't remember how quickly you gain points but I think there are some guides out there that give suggestions on how to spend them for new players and characters. My Anniversary gifts this year included a couple of carryalls that help a lot for inventory. Crafting is almost impossible with only a single character on non-progression servers since materials for non-max level are rarely available on AH or at a price you can afford. The same goes if you need to upgrade a piece of gear but you can usually get by if you run enough skirmishes. The daily login gift can drop 1 or 2 gold so try and collect that every day even if you're not going to play. Gold is somewhat worthless to max-level players so you can always ask for 1 or 2 on chat to help get started. I ended up with 4 gold on Landroval just commenting how it sucks having no gold in the beginning.

Max Peck · Post by **Max Peck** » Fri Apr 22, 2022 12:06 am

Daehawk wrote: Thu Apr 21, 2022 11:48 pmI think I was one of the only ones that fished in Star Wars Galaxies.

Not the only one...

Alefroth · Post by **Alefroth** » Fri Apr 22, 2022 2:17 pm

DOS=HIGH wrote: Fri Apr 22, 2022 12:01 am IMO, F2P is fine if you're looking at the game as a single-player experience.

This. If you're looking to enjoy the world and the Lord of the Rings lore, then F2P will allow that. If you want to wring the maximum out of every system, you'll probably need to pay for VIP. LotRO does allow you to earn currency in game that will buy you things in the store.

If you login now, you get a staggering amount of content for free.