User:The Wandering Bard
About
I started playing LOTRO in early 2016 after listening to a podcast discussion hosted by The Tolkien Professor. I was not merely just new to LOTRO: LOTRO was, in fact, my very first MMORPG ever!
Playing LOTRO, the LOTRO wiki is always my first - and often my only - reference for the game: its universal scope is impressive, and the depth of many of its articles comprehensive.
When I edit LOTRO wiki articles, it is mostly to answer obvious questions on matters that more experienced players overlook because they are assumed knowledge. Fleshing out additional details, rewording definitions to make them more precise, adding clarity on some particular issue: these are the ways I aim to add value to the LOTRO wiki.
I am also a regular contributor to the LOTRO players: which is an additional avenue for players to access useful guides, podcasts, and LOTRO community announcements.
LOTRO Gameplay - Thoughts & Reflections
F2P
LOTRO's F2P model is brilliant: allowing players of any-skill level to try out most of the game features while deciding whether or not to sign up for a premium account. LOTRO's FTP account allows a player to progress up to two characters to Level 50: up to the gates of Moria, unlocking Trollshaws on the way.
The in-game training provided is sufficient to introduce game features to players: but I've found the LOTRO wiki indispensable in mastering the mass of detail built into the game. Of course, various features, quests, and maps remained locked to FTP players: but none are so important as to seriously detract from the gameplay at lower levels.
F2P players should consult A Beginner's F2P Strategy for tips and pointers for this account type.
Additional Character Slots - should I bother?
Is a single LOTRO avatar enough?
Maybe. It depends: how immersed does a player wish to become in Tolkien's Middle Earth?
Some players seem wedded to a single, preferred LOTRO avatar: but the advantage of using multiple character slots should not be lightly dismissed.
Experiencing Middle Earth using a difference race, class, and vocation not only unlocks an entirely new set of race-, class- and vocation-specific quests, but broadens a player's understanding of the intricate details underpinning LOTRO - and how Middle Earth works.
A player's second and subsequent characters will always level-up faster and more efficiently than their first: as additional aspects of the game are understood and mastered.
Leveling Up
Starter Question. I've created my character: so how best do I level up?
There are two standard ways of gaining experience points or XP to level-up. These are:
- 1. Questing. Completing a quest gains bonus XP per quest plus (often) bonus reputation. This is true also for completing scaled instances (see below).
- 2. Crafting. Crafting is a very efficient way to generate XP: especially for lower level characters. Crafting items via recipes gains normal XP plus crafting XP. (Please refer to this article for explanations of the different XP types used in LOTRO.)
Upgrading Skills & Equipment
Starter Question. How do I decide which item is best for my character?
The myriad of items available can, at times, become overwhelming. "Which item is it best for me to choose (for this class, at this level)?" does not always have a single, straight-forward answer: because item often confer multiple, differing bonuses to multiple character statistics. A piece of armour rarely or never improves just your armour rating: but confers additional bonuses any number of basic statistics, which in turn affect offence / defence ratings to various attack types.
Primary attributes. Determine the primary attribute for your class: Might, Agility, or Will. Make increasing this attribute your first guide when selecting equipment upgrades. (Due exceptions are noted for Wardens and Beornings - see below.)
Classes by Primary Attribute
| Might | Agility | Will |
|---|---|---|
| Captain | Burglar | Lore-master |
| Champion | Hunter | Minstrel |
| Guardian | Rune-keeper | |
| *Warden | ||
| **Beorning | ||
| * Wardens benefit equally from Might and Agility. | ||
| **Beornings benefit equally from Might, Agility, and Will. | ||
The following considerations can be a useful guide:
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- Does it help me to 'hit harder'? To stay alive in combat means taking down foes as quickly as possible: increasing the damage done in each attack (see Damage-per-second or DPS for more details & definitions). Do this by:
- Higher level weapons. Higher level weapons inflict greater damage-per-second (DPS).
- Damage Type. Each weapons inflicts a specific damage type. Different damage types are more effective against different species of opponents.
- Higher Character Statistics. Character statistics - especially Might and Agility - increase the damage inflicted by weapons. Select items that increase your Might (melee weapons for Beornings, Captains, Champions, Guardians and Wardens) or Agility (ranged weapons for Beornings, Burglars, Hunters, and Wardens) to maximise the DPS for each hit.
- Does it help keep me alive? To stay alive in combat also means being able to mitigate - or avoid - incoming attacks. Do this by:
- Leveling up. Every level by which the player exceeds the level of their opponent confers an additional combat bonus: which is reflected in both the ability to land a successful hit, and the damage inflicted per hit.
- Higher level armour. Armour mitigates against common (read: physical) damage: increasing the chance a player has to block / parry / evade any given attack. All players should take every opportunity to upgrade to the highest armour rating available for their class and level.
- Higher Character Statistics. Maximising basic stats mitigates against "non-common" (read: tactical or non-physical) damage: increasing the chance a player has to resist any given attack. All players should take every opportunity to increase their basic statistics (primarily Fate and Will), and relevant virtues (namely: Innocence, Tolerance, Mercy, Compassion, Fidelity and Honour).
Instances
Using the Instance Finder window allows each character to access "instances": ie. special quests and battles located across Middle Earth. Scaled instances are especially valuable: as the loot and rewards scale up automatically to match your character's level. Players should consider putting aside some regular time to complete instances for the following reasons:
- Earning marks. Completing Skirmishes will earn marks: which can be traded at Skirmish camps for valuable equipment upgrades.
- Earning reward jewelry. Completing Epic Battles will earn class-specific reward jewelry: allowing characters to upgrade equipment immediately upon completion.
Crafting
Starter Question. I've got a lot of questing to do in Middle Earth: why should I bother making time to craft?
There are some good reasons to take time out for crafting, namely:
- 1. Gain XP. Gathering resources, processing, and creating craft items all generate normal XP in addition to craft XP. Using tier one resources will produce items usable by level 10 characters (and above); tier two resources produce items usable by level 20 characters (and above); and so on. Crafted items can then be used to either equip your own character, or sold at auction for cash (see below).
- 2. Equip your character. When crafting you can produce items to match your character's specific level and class: meaning you can make items "crafted to order" to equip your character immediately. Crafted items are literally made-to-order: with few exceptions, they will be equal to the best available for your avatar's particular level and class.
- 3. Bring to Auction. The Auction House is LOTRO's open market. Players can offer most any item for sale at their preferred price: moderated only by market forces. Players can sell their surplus items via the auction house for gold pieces: then use their earnings gold to purchase whatever items they need.
Final notes. LOTRO's built-in craft interdependence ensures that no-one can themselves craft everything they need: rather, every profession crafts items required by another. This means, in short, that every profession is encouraged to trade with others for items they need to equip their character using the Auction House or their kinship. Failing this, players can also purchase various items from NPC vendors located variously at: town marketplaces, Skirmish Camps, Faction Headquarters, and Crafting Guilds.
Traits
LOTRO provides traits to augment your character's abilities. There are three kinds of traits: class, race, and virtue. Each character can slot any of their available race and virtue traits on-the-fly to provide special abilities and/or bonuses whenever required. Class traits work a little differently.
- Class Traits. Class traits cannot be slotted (unlike race or virtue traits): they must be bought with Class Trait Points, and then saved as part of a configuration. Available to each class are three separate Trait Trees: players should purchase traits within their selected specialisation to get maximum value for Class Trait Points expended. F2P players have two configurations available for each character: choosing a different specialisation for each configuration will maximise the number of different skills available. Trait Tree configurations can be changed on-the-fly: meaning your character can select the pre-saved skillset most useful for the task at hand.
For more information on class Trait Trees, please refer to the following class pages: Beorning, Burglar, Captain, Champion, Guardian, Hunter, Lore-Master, Minstrel, Rune-keeper, Warden.