Monster Play

Class-infobox
Classes
Skills
Traits
Skins

Monster Play

General Topics: Ranks, Raiding

Creep Topics: Classes, Blessings, Skins, Quests, Titles, Troll Sessions

Freep Topics: Armour Sets, Quests, Titles, Ranger 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!

What is Monster Play (PvMP)?

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 20 and above), or as one of the servants of the Enemy!

For more in-depth information see:

Introductory Guide to Monster Play

Update 16.2 added the new PvMP area: The Sundering of Osgiliath.

Due to Update 31.0.2 the Osgiliath PvMP zone has been disabled until it can be reworked.

Update 33.1 made Free Peoples access to the Ettenmoors and all Monster Play classes available to all account types (VIP, Premium, Free to Play).

Playing as a Monster

Monster Play button from the Character screen

Before you are able to play Monster Play, you must create a free player and attain at least level 2.

After that, a "Monster Play" button will be active on the character select screen after login.

In Monster Play, you have one slot for each class available to play.

The available classes are(all of which start as level 150 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, and they have Mailboxes. They cannot use tools, armour, jewellery or other wearable items, but they can use potions, food and some charms. They obtain loot from defeated mobs, accumulate money and also sell spare loot to Quartermaster NPCs. Monsters can accept Quests and are usually rewarded with Infamy and Commendations (replaced Destiny Points) for completing them. They also receive Infamy and Commendations for each player defeated.

For full details on playing as a Monster Player, please see Army of Angmar & Monster Play Classes.

Playing for the Free Peoples

All players regardless of account type have access to the Ettenmoors as a soldier for the Free Peoples at level 20, and are automatically scaled to level 150 with the patch 33.1

Prior to the release of the Riders of Rohan Expansion, player characters were eligible to participate in PvMP in the Ettenmoors at level 40. With the release of Update 13, level 20 is the new minimum requirement.

All player characters (Freeps) below level 150 will be automatically scaled up to level 150 once they enter the Ettenmoors.

Audacity is scaled to 16 for below 150 characters.
Virtues are scaled to 89 for below 150 characters.

For additional information on playing as the Free Peoples, please see Coldfells Army & Free Peoples.

Recruiters for the Free Peoples

Once you reach level 20, you will find four recruiters with a quest for you: A Plea from Lainedhel. (All four offer the same quest).

Travelling

There are no connected locations to pass into the Ettenmoors.

Free Peoples (aka Freeps): A level 20 Player Character can be transported by finding one of four Stable-masters to travel to the locations.
Forces of Angmar (aka Creeps): A servant of the Enemy can be created by selecting Monster Play on the character selection menu after launching game.

Once you are at least level 20, visit one of the four stable-masters who can transport you to the Ettenmoors.

Ladrochan can be found at Elrond's stables in the western section of Rivendell. ^{[29.3S, 6.4W]}
Wíli can be found at Thorin's Gate. ^{[15.0S, 103.6W]}
Bert Goldenleaf can be found at the South Gate in Bree. ^{[31.9S, 50.4W]}
Andfast Tunnelly can be found in Michel Delving. ^{[34.2S, 75.5W]}

Stable-master (Glân Vraig)

Stable-master - Rimdal ^{[21.1S, 13.4W]}

Destination		Region	Cost	Prerequisites
South Bree	(Swift)	Bree-land	28	Min. Level: 20
Thorin's Gate	(Swift)	Ered Luin	28	Min. Level: 20
Rivendell	(Swift)	Trollshaws	28	Min. Level: 20
Michel Delving	(Swift)	The Shire	28	Min. Level: 20

Travel Skills

Completing the introductory quest Tutorial: Outfitted for Battle will award the following travel skill:

Return to Glân Vraig

These Maps can be purchased using Commendations that allow fast travel into the Ettenmoors:

Tattered Map to Glân Vraig is Consumed on Use.

Note:This item is a reward for the intro quest Tutorial: Outfitted for Battle.

Precise Map to Glân Vraig has a 30 minute cooldown and requires Rank 4.

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 earn you Commendations 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.

Audacity

Audacity shares functionality with ranked traits like virtues. Increasing ranks of Audacity will reduce incoming damage, crowd control duration, and improves outgoing damage while in the Ettenmoors.

As of Update 38 its imperative to reach 17 Audacity as quickly as possible as a priority.

Commendation

Commendations are earned doing quests in the Ettenmoors and by defeating player characters.

Monster characters use commendations to obtain new traits, skills, audacity, and appearances. It can also be used for obtaining various different potions and food.
Free people characters use commendations to acquire armour, jewelry, and class items (which drive your audacity stat), as well as potions, food, scrolls, and tokens.

Rank

Rank is a reflection of your standing and service to the Free Peoples as a player character, and the favour earned in service to Angmar's army as a monster. Each type of character, Monster or Free Peoples, can earn a total of 15 ranks.

Rank awards you a Battlefield Promotion buff that applies to your character while in PvMP only.

Renown (Glory) & Infamy

Renown (for Free Peoples) and Infamy (for Monsters) are comparable 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. You also earn Renown/Infamy by doing quests in the Ettenmoors. 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.

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 were earned with Destiny Points gained through Monster Play and levelling up, and can be purchased via your Destiny Point Wallet after level 10. The ability to spend the destiny points you earned is still available, but as of Update 6 players are unable to earn them through Monster Play, only through levelling up.

Note: Only VIP players can use destiny perks.

Prestige

This information is outdated as of the expansion The Rise of Isengard Expansion

Prestige used to be a visual representation of your PvMP rating, appearing as a collection of stars surrounding your player portrait. For every 0.100 Rating above 1.000, you would gain half a star, adding up to a maximum of 5 stars at 2.000. This mechanic has been removed as it caused "star-hugging": players would avoid fights because they were afraid of losing their stars, thereby killing the action. You can now only see your own rating, shown at The War page of your Character Journal.

Buffs from Success, Rank, and Location

There are buffs and bonuses originated from the Ettenmoors, for a complete list see: Category:Monster Play Effects

Buffs that benefit All Freeps

Buffs are provided to every Player Character in every region of Middle-earth:

Peace and Quiet (split in two separate buffs) while Freeps control both Relics and varies based on overall success in the Ettenmoors.
A Quiet Calm (split in two separate buffs) can take effect and replace Peace and Quiet depending on the sway of battle.

Note: Peace and Quiet and A Quiet Calm are one and the same in its effect types yet replace one another depending on Keeps switching control.

Enhanced Abilities while Freeps control of both Relics and control all of the Keep locations in the Ettenmoors.

Note: Enhanced Abilities is reduced to -5% chance of item wear & +50 Morale when not in control of Creeps Relic but hold their own and all Keeps.

Buffs only while in the Ettenmoors

Some buffs only affect Players and/or Monster Players while in the Ettenmoors:

Battlefield Promotion applies to your character as either a Freep or Creep monster in PvMP. This buff is based on your earned Rank.
Monster Play Vigour is applied to all Freep Player Characters while they're anywhere in the Ettenmoors. Monster Play Vigour

Winning the War Buffs

Certain buffs exist when in control of Keeps and/or Relics:

Monster Players controlling both the Relics and all Ettenmoors Keeps receive a buff: Gift of the Eye. This buff is reduced to Watchful Gaze in the event one or more Keeps are lost. If they lose control of the Gift of the Carrock, the buff will be lost.
Creeps controlling only The Fragment of Mordírith's Crown will receive the effect, Fragment of Mordírith's Crown. Additional benefit for Freeps in capturing this is removing the effect Creeps receive from holding their own factions Artifact.
Freeps controlling only The Gift of the Carrock will receive the effect, The Gift of Carrock. Additional benefit for Creeps in capturing this is removing the effect Freeps receive from holding their own factions Artifact.