The state of LOTRO?

[Max Peck]

Transfers to the new 64-bit servers go live this week. I haven't actually played in years, but I need to touch base with some friends who do still play to see if they will be jumping to one of the new servers, and if so which one so that I can tag along.

64-bit Servers FAQ

The Lord of the Rings Online is excited to announce that four new 64-bit servers will make their debut on March 5th, 2025! Two of these servers are based in the United States, and two of these servers are based in Europe. With the inclusion of our existing 64-bit VIP access servers called Angmar and Mordor we will now have six 64-bit worlds to give you the fastest and best in-game experience possible!

We intend to keep our existing 32-bit game worlds open into the future, but we hope and expect many players will want to transfer to these new worlds. So, we are announcing a free transfer plan to allow players on 32-bit North American worlds to transfer to our new 64-bit North American worlds, and players on our 32-bit European worlds to transfer to our new 64-bit European worlds.

Here are the details:

Monday, March 3rd 12:00 PM Eastern (-5 GMT): VIP subscribers will be able to log into the game world to access the character creation screen on their destination world and secure up to three names per 64-bit world of their choice. VIPs will not be able to log into the game world to play, or be able to transfer their existing characters, but they can create characters with their desired names and then later rename their transferred character to their preferred name after deleting the placeholder character.

Tuesday, March 4th 12:00 PM Eastern (-5 GMT): Free transfers from 32-bit to 64-bit worlds will be available to all players. The new game worlds themselves will remain closed, but the transfer tool will be enabled to allow for transfers to these worlds.

Wednesday, March 5th 1:00 PM Eastern (-5 GMT): Our new game worlds open! Free transfers from 32-bit to 64-bit game worlds will continue through August 31st, 2025. Free transfers between the new 64 bit worlds will operate on a rotating weekly basis and continue through April 30th 2025.

Wednesday, March 12th: We will begin offering free transfers from many previously-closed game worlds to these new 64-bit worlds. See our table in the FAQ below for specific server order and timing. After this final transfer period these previously-closed worlds will be permanently closed, and no future character transfers will be possible.

Also, how crazy is it that this game is coming up on its 18th anniversary next month?

[Fardaza]

Also, how crazy is it that this game is coming up on its 18th anniversary next month?

Thanks for the server transfer reminder.

I bought (and still have) the original beta game in a box at Best Buy. Biggest gaming mistake I ever made was not buying the lifetime pass. For about 3 years, I paid $15 dollars a month! Now I just play the free stuff whenever I login.

[msduncan]

My lord. I had no idea LOTRO was still in existence. It must be carrying the One Ring to extend it's life so far beyond what is natural.

[Baroquen]

I have the lifetime pass, so I reserved my three names Monday. I'll transfer my characters today (supposedly can do it all at once. we'll see). And I should be refunded my housing cost, with all the items automatically put into escrow. Hopefully, things work smoothly. We'll see.

It's about time for an MMO binge, so I might dive in and play for awhile after the transfer. We'll see.

[Max Peck]

I'm perennially intending to get back into the game, but I'd have to start a new character or twelve from scratch. I have no idea how to play any of my existing stable of characters any more.

[Daehawk]

Also, how crazy is it that this game is coming up on its 18th anniversary next month?

Seems totally unreal. I can still remember being in the beta in 2007. I recalled asking in chat about flat panel monitors and the replies I got . I was still using a 17" CRT at the time. Right after the game released i got my first LCD thanks to the replies and answers of my fellow players. Always appreciated them for that.

I can also remember playing songs on my lute and such with a mod player that we used. It was really weird and nice hearing myself play Dust in the Wind on it in the Prancing Pony.

[NickAragua]

Yeah, I suppose I'll transfer my characters over. I haven't played for a while, but I spent most of the pandemic years plowing through all the free content (I think it honestly took me two years of on and off play-time to get through everything). I eventually wound up ponying up actual cash for one of the most recent expansions. The one thing that LOTRO does that I truly admire is that it advances and expands the setting, rather than doing prequels. I know it's basically neckbeard fan fiction, but they do an amazing job of storytelling given the limitations of the medium. The gameplay is super chill (as a hunter anyway) and the environments are beautiful. The uh, characters and animations are a little bit "early 2000s", but I don't even mind.

We should form a guild or something.

[Punisher]

I'm pretty sure I have a lifetime pass. I think i bought one for every game that had that option star trek online comes to mind as well.
Can't really remember when I last played but I'd guess at least 6 years.. unless I played in the now times and forgot.
Might have to look into this at a later date though. We are in the middle of a large house cleaning so it may be a while

[Max Peck]

I'm pretty sure I have a lifetime pass. I think i bought one for every game that had that option star trek online comes to mind as well.
Can't really remember when I last played but I'd guess at least 6 years.. unless I played in the now times and forgot.
Might have to look into this at a later date though. We are in the middle of a large house cleaning so it may be a while

Heh, I went through the same phase. Along with the lifetime sub for LotRO, I have them for Champions Online and Star Trek Online too. Sadly Cryptic must have figured out that it was too good a deal for longterm players, so they never offered it for Neverwinter. I haven't played any of them in years, but the accounts were still accumulating their monthly stipends of microtransaction currency the last time I checked.