Monster Play
From Lotro-Wiki.com
| Monster Play Topics: Classes, Traits, Skills, Stats, Titles, Ranks, Raiding, Troll Sessions |
- Conflict in the Ettenmoors:
- A storm gathers in the land between Angmar and Rivendell. The forces of Darkness amass at the foot of Mount Gram whilst the free people of Middle-earth gather to fight back the spreading shadow of the north.
Monster Play. Often spoken of in hushed and fearful tones over a pint of ale, some believe the stories, while other stalwarts consider them simply fireside tales told to frighten wide-eyed young hobbits. Now you'll learn the truth!
You've read all about the Ettenmoors, home to Monster Play in The Lord of the Rings Online™: Shadows of Angmar™ (LOTRO). You've heard tales from our Beta Program participants about their adventures on the wild side. You've said to yourself, well, how does one begin this dark journey? The following overview will tell you everything you need to know to get started!
Contents |
What is Monster Play?
LOTRO offers a unique form of player vs. player combat known as Monster Play. Players are transported to the Ettenmoors, a consensual PvMP (Player vs. Monster Player) region about the size of the Shire. Here, the Free Peoples and the Forces of Angmar are in constant active conflict, and players can choose to join the fight as either their normal player character (at level 40 and above), or as one of the servants of the Enemy!
Playing as a Monster
To access Monster Play, you must create at least one Free Peoples player and attain level 10 or beyond. After that, a red "Monster Play" button will be active on the character select screen after login. (Prior to Book 10, Fell Scrying Pools were used in-game; these have been removed.) In Monster Play, you have one slot for each class available to play: Orc Reaver, Orc Defiler, Spider Weaver, Uruk Blackarrow, Uruk Warleader, or Warg Stalker (all of which start as level 50 monsters). Once created, each monster character will persist and be available for further play, unless you choose to Reset it.
Monsters are named when you create them, and can receive surnames from an NPC in Gramsfoot. You can also form monster Kinships, called "Tribes", similar to the Free Peoples.
Monsters can trade with other monsters, but they do not have Mailboxes. They cannot use tools, armour, jewellery or other wearable items, but they can use potions, food and some charms. They can loot defeated mobs, accumulate money and also sell spare loot to Quartermaster NPCs. Monsters can accept Quests and are usually rewarded with Destiny Points (DP) for completing them. They also receive a smaller number of DP for each player, mob and NPC defeated.
For full details on playing as a Monster Player, please see Army of Angmar.
Playing for the Free Peoples
If you wish to take the side of the Free Peoples, your player character must first attain level 40. Once you are at least this level, visit one of the stable-masters that can take you to the Ettenmoors. One such route can be found at Elrond's stables in the western section of Rivendell, just west of the Trainer area. Speak to stable-master Remros about the Ettenmoors, and he'll send you on your way.
Exploring the Ettenmoors
You'll arrive in the Ettenmoors at your starting base (Glân Vraig for the Free Peoples; Gramsfoot for monster players). This area is safe from attack, but once you venture outside your starting base, all bets are off! You'll find several types of NPCs - quest starters, provisioners, and skill trainers (Bards for the Free Peoples, and Corruptors for monster players) - within this starting base.
There's plenty to do in the Ettenmoors, and your actions will often earn you Destiny Points and Infamy or Renown (see below). Take on solo quests or head out with a group of friends, looking for (and finding!) trouble. Besides the smaller-scale battles you'll find yourself fighting in while exploring the Ettenmoors, you can also engage in pitched battles for the control of various points of conflict. A dynamic map-note displays a flag - red for monster players and blue for Free Peoples - at these key locations to show which faction currently controls them. Fearsome enemies or allies may await you within contested strongholds (depending on which side currently holds them), and you would be well advised to attack one of these locations only with a large force - but be on your guard! PvMP players might be defending their location, or attacking yours while you're gone!
Monster Play Advancement
As if ravaging Hobbit villages as an Orc and sending their furry little feet fleeing in terror weren't reward enough, there are other incentives for participating in Monster Play. In this section, we'll talk about the basic aspects of advancement. The rank, rating, renown/infamy and other information about your participation and advancement appears on The War page of your Character Journal.
Destiny Points
Only monster characters can directly earn Destiny Points (DP) in the Ettenmoors, but both your monster character and your Free Peoples characters will share and benefit from this point pool. DP can be used to purchase new skills, improvements to armour, extra damage, and so forth for your monster. In addition, Free Peoples characters can spend them on Perks. Destiny Points appear on the main character page of your Character Journal for both monsters and Free Peoples. Additionally, you will see a handy UI window appear after level 10 showing you how many DP you currently have, and a button allowing you to buy Perks wherever and whenever you like outside of combat with your player character.
Rank
Rank is a reflection of your standing and service to the Free Peoples as a player character, and the favor earned in service to Angmar's army as a monster. Each type of character, monster or Free Peoples, can earn up to 15 ranks.
Renown & Infamy
Renown (for Free Peoples) and Infamy (for monsters) are similar to experience. Each time you defeat an enemy, whether solo, in a fellowship or in a raid, you earn an amount of Renown or Infamy based on the rating and rank of the defeated foe versus your rating and rank and the amount of damage you and/or your fellowship/raid members dealt to your target. Earned points are never lost, and continue to drive you closer to ever higher ranks.
Rating
Rating is a fluctuating number that rises and falls based on your victories and defeats in player vs. monster player combat (PvMP). The amount of rating points earned or lost depends on your rating and the rating of your opponent or opponents. A higher rating grants bonus Renown/Infamy from PvMP victories.
Prestige
Prestige is a visual representation of your PvMP rating. Prestige appears as a collection of stars surrounding your player portrait. For every 0.100 Rating above 1.000, you will gain half a star, adding up to a maximum of 5 stars at 2.000.
Perks
Perks are short-term buffs which benefit your normal player characters, and can be used to boost your strength, increase your speed, and even give you rested experience points. They are earned with Destiny Points gained through Monster Play and leveling up, and can be purchased via your Destiny Point Wallet after level 10.
We hope this overview has whetted your appetite for a taste of LOTRO's Monster Play, and provided the information you need to join the fight. Happy hunting!
Sources
Game Systems: Monster Play Overview (03-Apr-2007) on www.lotro.com
