Frequently Asked Questions (LotRO)
General LotRO
What is LotRO?
The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar (LOTRO) is a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG) set in J.R.R. Tolkien's fictional world of Middle-earth.
When does it release?
The Lord of the Rings Online launched in the United States, Australia, Japan, and Europe on April 24, 2007.
What is an MMORPG?
An MMORPG is a game where millions of users connect to play cooperatively and against each other in a persistent, never-ending world.
How can I play it?
You can play LOTRO on any personal computer that meets the minimum system requirements. There are no plans to make it available for any console or for Mac's.
What are the system requirements
Minimum requirements:
- Processor: Intel Pentium 4 1.8 GHZ or equivalent
- Video Card: 64 MB nVidia GeForce 3 or ATI Radeon 8500
- Direct X: DirectX 9.0c
- OS: Windows XP or better
- RAM: 512 MB
- Disk Space: 7 GBs
- Internet: 56kbps Modem
- Optical Drive: 2x DVD-ROM
Recommended requirements:
- Processor: Intel Pentium 4 2.8 GHZ or equivalent
- Video Card: 128 MB nVidia GeForce FX 6800 or ATI Radeon X850
- DirectX: DirectX 9.0c
- OS: Windows XP / Vista
- RAM: 1 GB
- Disk Space: 10 GB
- Internet: Broadband DSL / Cable
- Optical Drive: 2x DVD-ROM
Is there a subscription?
Yes. The standard fee is $14.95 USD with discounts available for subscriptions paid in three, six and twelve month lengths. A special Founders Program was offered at launch for a Lifetime subscription. LotRO now has a Free-to-Play option. See Subscription for more information on levels of play. F2P players have certain restrictions, most of which can be alleviated by purchasing unlocks in the LotRO Store.
What payment methods are available?
Subscriptions may be paid via credit card or game cards. See also: Subscription.
Is there an offline mode?
No. The game can only be played online, with the subscription service.
Middle Earth
Middle-earth? What is that?
Middle-earth is the mythological world created by J.R.R. Tolkien for use in his fantasy stories, including the Lord of the Rings. Accordingly, it is this same world that will be available to players in the Lord of the Rings Online!
What areas of Middle-earth will be available at launch?
The region of Eriador, which includes the following sub-regions: The Shire, Ered Luin, Bree-land, Lone-lands, North Downs, Ettenmoors, Angmar, Trollshaws and the Misty Mountains. As the game has expanded many more areas are and will be available including, so far: Eregion, Moria, Mirkwood and Enedwaith.
When does the game take place on the time-line?
The game takes place at the end of the third age, beginning with the time when Frodo Baggins leaves his home at Crickhollow.
Does this mean the timeline advances as the game progresses?
Yes. This is done through player actions and game updates.
Am I able to interact with famous characters like Gandalf?
Yes. Famed characters from the trilogy - Merry, Pippin, Gandalf, Gimli, Aragorn etc - appear in the world to help players along with various tasks.
Will I be able to influence the story?
No, you will not. The main story of the Lord of the Rings cannot be altered by any actions of players.
How stringent is the Lord of the Rings license then?
Turbine, Midway and Tolkien Enterprises are determined on sticking as close to the books as possible, but they are being granted space to make the game fun.
If we are not involved in the main storyline of the books, will there be an enjoyable storyline for us to be involved in?
While the fate of players will not be the same as the Ring-bearer or his fellowship, you will have a very Lord of the Ringish storyline to participate in that leads to the Witch-king of Angmar!
How much of Middle-earth will be expanded upon in expansions?
Whilst this is largely wild speculation, Turbine has stated a number of times that more and more of Middle-earth will be included as expansions are released.
Core Game Dynamics
What races are available?
The free people of Middle-earth are available for play: Men, Elves, Dwarves and Hobbits.
What classes are available?
The seven cardinal classes are Hunter, Guardian, Champion, Burglar, Lore-master, Captain and Minstrel.
Can I switch my class at any time?
No. Once you choose your class at character creation, it cannot be altered.
How do I acquire skills to further my character?
Assuming you possess the requisite coin and level requirements, skills can be learned from class trainers located throughout Eriador.
Outside of purchasing skills from class trainers, what other ways can I advance and customize my character?
Speaking strictly on non-aesthetic terms, you can acquire traits from accomplishments. These [1] are boons to skills, abilities statistics and more! For more information on the trait and accomplishments, read our guide on the system here.
What are the ways I can acquire traits?
This is done through the many different kinds of accomplishments: racial, social, killing, lore and more! For more information on accomplishments, read our guide on the system here.
How many levels are included at launch?
Players will be able to advance to the fiftyth level.
How long does it take to reach the level cap?
It should take casual players 6-8 months, and only a couple months for the more hardcore [2].
Is level advancement done primarily through quests?
While players can advance in any manner they desire, it is optimally done through quests.
What kinds of quests are offered?
Quests come in a variety of forms which include social, delivery, kill and instances.
How do I know when an NPC has a quest for me?
When an NPC has a quest for you, the One Ring will appear over their head.
Are quests balanced for solo and group?
There are quests available for both playstyles, but solo quests are more common with the exception of dungeons, instances and storyline occurences.
What about mandatory quests?
There are no mandatory quests; how players advance is completely up to them.
Will there be dungeons?
Certainly so! Examples include the Great Barrows in the Barrow Downs and the ruins in the tainted land of Angmar.
Are these dungeons available to soloers or just those who group?
There are no 'solo dungeons'; but many of the dungeon instances are now available to solo players using hwat is called the Inspiration Buff. This basically makes you as strong as, and hit as hard as, a full Fellowship. Rewards are, however, scaled down a bit. You have to be in a real Fellowship to get the best drops.
Combat
Is combat time based like other MMOs, or hack 'n' slash?
Like in other MMOs, all offensive and defensive capabilities are derived from skills, and each of these have a use and re-use timer. So yes, it is time based in the common sense.
What about the pace? Is it expedient like World of Warcraft?
While comparisons of this nature are difficult to make, combat has a solid pace to it.
Is combat gear dependent or based on player skill?
Both. An unskilled player will have tremendous difficulty, as well as an under-geared combatant.
Are battles button-mash, 'wait and see', or reaction based?
If anything, it is reaction based. It is important to pay attention to battle at all times - be it solo or group - lest one wants an easy defeat.
Will skilled players have distinct advantages?
Players who master their class wholly will stand out above the rest.
How does combat change from solo to group?
In groups, players have specific roles based on the current makeup of the fellowship. For example, it is the role of the Guardian to take damage (tank) and the Minstrel to heal his or her allies. Contrast that to the 'jack of all trades' that every class has during solo play and you have the answer.
How does strategy factor into solo and group experiences?
The enemy AI is neither simplistic nor stupid; if players do not adapt their combat styles from one enemy to another, many defeats will occur.
What about Fellowship Attacks? What are these and how are they activated?
Fellowship Attacks are very powerful skills that are only available to grouped players. They are only activated when players are fighting challenging opponents and a special set of events occur.
What do the different colors of the mobs names mean?
The color indicates the mobs level relative to your own. See Targeting for complete information.
Crafting
What crafting professions are there?
Crafting professions are organized into Vocations, and they are as follows:
- Armsman: Prospector, Weaponsmith and Woodworker.
- Armorer: Prospector, Metalsmith and Tailor.
- Explorer: Forester, Tailor and Prospector.
- Historian: Farmer, Scholar and Weaponsmith.
- Tinker: Prospector, Jeweller and Cook.
- Woodsman: Forester, Woodworker and Farmer.
- Yeoman: Farmer, Cook and Tailor.
See Crafting for more information.
Crafting Vocations? What are these?
Crafting Vocations are simply bundles of professions that players can train to learn the 3 professions contained in them.
See Crafting for more information.
How do I train a Crafting Vocation?
Simply speak with a Master of Apprentices NPC who is located near the major crafting junctures to start a Vocation or change your current one.
Where are all the crafting stations located?
All of the major towns in Eriador have a variety of crafting stations, including some villages as well. Many are simply found in the world but some places, like Bree-town, have a Crafting Hall which has stations and NPCs to help and supply your needs.
How do I initiate the crafting process?
Double-click on an appropriate crafting station for your vocation, or press T when near a crafting station, to bring up the crafting menu. You can then select a recipe to craft. You do not have to keep the station targeted, just be near it.
How do I gather the necessary materials?
First you need to purchase the necessary harvesting tool for your gathering profession (i.e. mining pick for prospectors and axe for foresters). Then you can activate your resource tracking skill to locate the node for your particular profession. Then, once you have found a node to use, double-click or right-click it to gather the materials.
There are some materials that I cannot gather for my recipe! How do I obtain them?
Some resources that you need cannot be gathered by any profession in your vocation; you need to visit either the auction hall or another player who can gather them to supply your requirements. Also, many recipes require some materials that can be purchased from any Supplier.
Crafting has a culture of inter-dependency, then?
Absolutely. You will need to co-operate with fellow crafters to produce particular items.
How do I sell my creations to other players or fellow crafters?
You may either open the trade window or put them up for sale at the Auction Hall.
I need to store some of my materials! Do I have a usable storage?
Every player has a number of storage slots at their bank vault. Visit one of the Vault Keepers in every major town! A Shared Bank is also available, as well as chests that can be placed in your House or Kinship House. Additional Vault and Shared Bank space can be purchased with in-game coin or via the LotRO Store up to a limit.
Monster Play (PvP)
Monster Play? What is this? Some sort of PvP?
Monster Play is Turbine's response to the player versus player question in LOTRO. It essentially pits monsters (known as Creeps and controlled by players) against other regular players (known as Freeps for Free Peoples) in some of the greatest battles in Middle-earth history! LotRO calls this PvMP.
Why can't we have free-for-all PvP?
Such a dynamic would be against the lore of Professor Tolkien's mythological world, and so it will not be utilized.
So, is it like World of Warcraft's battlegrounds?
It is very similiar in the respect that it pits two sides in an instanced setting, complete with diverse objectives. The difference, however, is that your monsters can complete PvE objectives independent of the PvMP instances. These accomplishments lead to the accumulation of Monster Points, which can be used to upgrade your monster, among other things.
Our monsters can complete PvE quests?
Yes. There will be a whole slew of PvE quests that will be only available to monster characters. Many of these are also repeatable daily quests.
Monster Points? We can upgrade our Monsters?
Yes. One of the many functions of Monster Points is the ability to purchase more advanced and powerful monsters!
What about other rewards?
Besides more powerful monsters, players can spend their points on equipment and boons to their regular characters.
What are all the ways we can earn Monster Points?
Aside from completing quests as a monster, players can earn Monster Points by defeating other players and completing objectives.
So is it Monster versus Monster?
No. Players enter either as a monster (Creep) or their regular player (Freep); the two sides then engage in combat in an instanced battlefield.
What about level requirements to participate?
If you wish to enter as a player, you must be of the fortieth level. Alternatively, if you want to enter as a monster, you only need to be of the tenth season.
How does one participate in Monster Play?
To fight as your regular character (Freep), speak to a Stable Master to travel to the Ettenmoors. This is the PvMP zone. There is no other way to enter the Ettenmoors. To play a monster (Creep), choose Monster Play at the Character Select screen (available only after any one of your characters reaches level 10).
Will I be forced to participate in Monster Play?
No. If you want to avoid Monster Play completely, you may do so; PvE and PvMP content are distinct and separate.
End-Game
What are the end game options in LOTRO?
When players reach the initial level cap of fifty, there are six distinct activities to participate in: soloing, crafting, grouping, raiding and monster play (player vs. monster player). So yes, there will be high level content available for each of these categories. This said, End-game is no the game here, the story is the game. One player put it this way, "End-game is just stuff to do between content releases."
How can crafting and solo play be feasible end-game content?
The best items available to players will come from crafters - that is how crafting is feasible. As far as soloing, however, high level loot will drop off normal mobs.
Oh, so "epic" loot will be available outside of raids?
Contrary to other online titles, this is a big yes, and they can be obtained in the following ways: soloing, grouping, crafting and raiding, of course.
What about raids themselves? Will they be stereotypical, complete with person requirements?
While raids in LotRO will be similiar to that of many other online titles, there will be substantial differences: the amount of players required will be reduced, there will be more 'check points' (places where you can resume your quest later) and they will be designed to be less repetitive and more fun!
Even with high end loot available outside of raids, will ??? be mandatory?
While high level raids will tell more of the story of Middle-earth, they certainly aren't a required function of gameplay.
How many raid dungeons will there be?
While the number is hard to pin down, it is expected there will be several in Angmar, Misty Mountains, Ettenmoors and more! Much of the raid content is launched by acquiring raid quests from various NPCs in Rivendell. There are a few that initiate elsewhere, too.
What about raid variety?
The raid instances will come in many different aesthetic designs, person requirements, storyline impressions and loot rewards.
What kind of bosses will be available in raid dungeons?
There will be all kinds of servants from the Dark Lord of Mordor to Orc Chieftans, Spider Queens, and Dragons! But there will be no Balrogs, ancient servants of Morgoth.
Why not the Balrog of Moria?
If Gandalf the Grey - one of the Maiar - could not topple the Balrog without death, what makes you think you could? Srsly?
User Interface
Can I create my own interface and use it?
Yes! LOTRO fully supports the complete customization of any piece of the user interface. Turbine has recently, with the launch of Free-to-Play, moved to an LUA-based UI, opening up worlds of UI-Modding bliss. LUA is the same scripting language used by WoW and Warhammer Online. See LotRO Interface for more.
How do I use my new interface?
Simply unzip the skin files into the "documents>\ui\skins" directory, then activate your skin in the options menu!
Where can I download new interfaces?
You can download many interfaces (or select pieces) at LotRO Interface!
How do I move around individual interface pieces?
Simply hold CRTL and click the \ key and that will allow you to move individual pieces around; use the command again to hold your interface in place.
How do I re-size my chat boxes?
On the bottom right-hand corner of the chat box there are three diagonal lines; click and drag to expand or shorten.
Social Dynamics
How do I talk to other players?
Simply type in a message in your chat box and hit enter. Alternatively, if you want to speak to only one person, simply type /tell .
Are there areas where people gather for casual chatter?
Whilst any locale is possible for this, taverns like The Prancing Pony in Bree is suited for this purpose.
Do many people roleplay?
Roleplaying is certainly encouraged in LotRO, so more roleplay than in other online titles.
What tools has Turbine given us for roleplay?
No more then any other titles, but there are rewards for communicating in the form of social traits.
Social traits? There are rewards for socializing / roleplay?
Yes! Currently, when you use emotes X number of times, you are rewarded with new titles.
Are there guilds?
Yes! You can organize into larger groups called Kinships.
How do I create or join a kinship?
To create a kinship, simply gather at least ten of your friends and seek out a requisite clerk to purchase a charter. To join a kinship, however, you will need to ask an officer to invite you.
Is there content only available to kinships?
While no content is restricted to kinships alone, the larger grouped experiences - raids - certainly do cater to well organized groups.
Can I organize social events, like a party?
Yes! You are free to do such a thing if you wish.
Does Turbine help in advertising these events?
Currently they do not, but the official forums can certainly be used for this. There is a forum for each server there.
Travel
How fast are the walk and run speeds?
The walk speed is abysmally slow; it is rather like a crawl in fact. Alternatively, the run speed is comparable to that of World of Warcraft and EverQuest II.
How long would it take to travel from one end of Eriador to the other?
While the developers have been very protective of that number, it would likely take many hours on foot (assuming you do not get eaten by a Troll).
Does it take long to run between towns?
In the starting areas the time is rather small; as you progress, however, the time lengthens.
Are there hearth stones, like in World of Warcraft?
Yes! You choose a milestone to set as your home-point, then you can use your map to return home (it's set on a one hour cooldown timer).
Is there a fast travel option?
Yes! In each village, town and city there is a stable master. Simply speak to him (or her) and you will have acquired that location; you can then travel to that locale via a stable master from another bastion of civilization. In addition, you automatically acquire all the starting villages stable master locations.
So, can we own our own horses eventually?
Yes! At higher levels you may purchase a horse or pony, as your race allows.
Are there epic mounts, like in World of Warcraft?
Yes, but these require Reputation with one of the various factions to obtain.
What about multi-person mounts?
No.
Any flying mounts?
No.
What about teleportation spells?
Hunters gain access to abilities that transports themselves and allies to the major cities. Also, certain factions can reward a travel spell that will teleport you direct to their hometown. Also, all Elves get a Return to Rivendell skill.
Free-to-Play
How do I get started as a Free-to-Play player?
go to lotro.com, download the client and create an account.
Can I do everything as a Free-to-Play player?
yes, and no. F2P players have a number of restrictions, many of which can be relieved by purchasing unlocks in the LotRO Store. You can go anywhere you wish and see the entire world but to access quests in any zone outside of the starting zones of Ered Luin, The Shire, Archet and Bree-land you will need to purchase a Quest Pack for that zone.
So Free-to-Play is not really Free?
More like Free-to-Taste. Some Turbine Points (the currency used in the LotRO Store) can be accrued by the completion of Deeds (like achievements) you will almost certainly feel the need, at some point, to buy some Turbine Points.