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Some Questions From An Interested Gamer.....
Nichole222
Member Posts: 47
Hello I was wondering if anyone around here can answer a few of my questions about the game....
1.) The graphics look great from what I've seen so far, but I'm wonder how the character creation is? Are there a lot of feature to make your character look unique and different from others. How is it compared to other games such as EQ2, WoW, Vanguard, SWG, GW....?
2.) Is there a release date, or is there an estimated time for release?
3.) For people who have played what is the best healing class? I'm interested in trying a healer type and Minstrel sounds very interesting, but I see that Lore-master and Guardian can heal as well. I plan on duoing the game with a friend and she will most likely play something like a hunter or DPS type class, so I'm looking for a good class to pair.
I know I had more questions but I can't remember all I was planning to ask. I I remember I'll post them.
Thanks everyone.
-Nichole
1.) The graphics look great from what I've seen so far, but I'm wonder how the character creation is? Are there a lot of feature to make your character look unique and different from others. How is it compared to other games such as EQ2, WoW, Vanguard, SWG, GW....?
2.) Is there a release date, or is there an estimated time for release?
3.) For people who have played what is the best healing class? I'm interested in trying a healer type and Minstrel sounds very interesting, but I see that Lore-master and Guardian can heal as well. I plan on duoing the game with a friend and she will most likely play something like a hunter or DPS type class, so I'm looking for a good class to pair.
I know I had more questions but I can't remember all I was planning to ask. I I remember I'll post them.
Thanks everyone.
-Nichole
Comments
The Minstrel class is the primary healer.
The Captain, I believe, has a single target heal on a decent cooldown timer - other than that, I don't know. They get an in-combat rez, and some abilities that require you to kill mobs to activate (I think). One of those may have a heal component.
The Loremaster is, at best, a backup healer. You get a single target heal, that heals half as good as any given Minstrel heal, and it's on a 30 second cooldown timer.
Any of those classes can effectively duo with a DPS class, but I believe the Loremaster and Minstrel classes stand out. With a Loremaster, you can kite with your main nuke (that doubles as a snare), and keep multiple mobs out of combat with mezzes and stuns. Loremasters are also one of the most annoying classes to fight in MPvP with their arsenal of crowd control spells.
Minstrels are hands-down the best healers, and some of the best soloers (and by extension, duoers) in the game. They have very effective crowd control by using fear, which can be chained if you have two minstrels.
Release date currently is 4/24
The Minstrel is really the only healing class. Others can do very minor heals to themselves or others but they are no replacement.
The graphics are breathtaking, especially if you're a big LOTR fan seeing Hobbiton up close was just surreal to me, it was like they plucked it right our of my head....)
Character creation is decent, but pretty standard, nothing really groundbreaking there (but do you really need ground breaking there?)
The main 'healer' is the Minstrel, who is a great class, but remember - in this game there is no 'healing', it's all based on Morale (a minor distinction, true, but anyway...) - Captain and Lore Master can also do some 'healing'/morale regen....
As for your friend - Hunter and Champion both do great DPS, hunter is more ranged (obviously) and could actually be compared to a mage/nuker type class, plus traps for crowd control. Champion is just a dual-wield DPS machine, and with a minstrel or even captain backing him up, is a very formidable class.
When scary things get scared, that's bad...
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Post above have pretty much covered it...I'd only add that the Loremaster is great at 'healing' power (as opposed to morale). Loremaster and Hunter duo is pretty nifty as the Loremaster can feed the Hunter's power-sucking dps.
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Currently Playing: LOTRO; DDO
Played: AC2, AO, Auto Assault, CoX, DAoC, DDO, Earth&Beyond, EQ1, EQ2, EVE, Fallen Earth, Jumpgate, Roma Victor, Second Life, SWG, V:SoH, WoW, World War II Online.
Games I'm watching: Infinity: The Quest for Earth, Force of Arms.
Find the Truth: http://www.factcheck.org/
Anyway, now it's time to give LOTRO a try. Everything sounds great so far, there are some thing I wish it had, but I'll learn to live without I guess. I'm planning on stress testing this weekend, so I'm looking forward to giving it a go. If I'm happy with what I see this weekend I will definitely pre order....
OH, here's another question....
It says if I pre order I get to be in the open beta, that's what is taking place now correct? Also, it is true that if I make a character in this open beta from pre ordering I get to keep my character when it goes live, correct?
Thanks again everyone.
Glad to help. A word of caution about the stress test--it's going to be stressful
Having been through three stress tests myself since August, it aint purdy. My advice would be to pre-order and if you don' t like it during your open-beta pretrial, then cancel. Nothing lost but a little time--unlike spending 50$ on a game and then not playing 
As of now, we are still in closed beta. Open beta for pre-orders begins March 30th, and goes till launch on April 24.
And yes, you get to keep your character from the open beta. But it will likely be level-capped. No word yet on the cap-- I'm guessing around 15 to 20 level.
Here's the link for beta questions:
http://lotro.turbine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8429
_____________________________
Currently Playing: LOTRO; DDO
Played: AC2, AO, Auto Assault, CoX, DAoC, DDO, Earth&Beyond, EQ1, EQ2, EVE, Fallen Earth, Jumpgate, Roma Victor, Second Life, SWG, V:SoH, WoW, World War II Online.
Games I'm watching: Infinity: The Quest for Earth, Force of Arms.
Find the Truth: http://www.factcheck.org/
So a Captain seems to be like a EQ2 Paladin correct? Also what role does the Champion play?
That would give you a better idea what each class is useful for.
http://lotrovault.ign.com/View.php?view=GameInfo.Detail&id=3
They don't have all skills listed in that link and the ingame list from the betaboards would fill a lot to repost here plus they might change as the beta progresses but i can repost 1 class to give you an idea.
The skills grow better when you level so you use alot of your "lowbie" skills too that you learned at low levels.
Important.This list is not up to date and some may not be ingame anymore.
Kudos goes to Faye from the EU kindred Circle of trust
CAPTAIN
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS:
Two-Handed Swords - Allow wielding of Two-Handed Swords
Two-Handed Axes - Allow wielding of Two-Handed Axes.
Medium Armour - Allow wielding of Medium Armour.
Light Armour - Allow wielding of Light Armour
Daggers - Allow wielding of Daggers
One-Handed Axes - Allow wielding of One-Handed Axes
One-Handed Maces - Allow wielding of One-Handed Maces
One-Handed Swords - Allow wielding of One-Handed Swords
Baubles - Allow wielding of Baubles
Rings - Allow wielding of Rings
Necklaces - Allow wielding of Necklaces
One-Handed Hammers - Allow wielding of One-Handed Hammers
Two-Handed Hammers - Allow wielding of Two-Handed Hammers
Earrings - Allow wielding of Earrings
Bracelets - Allow wielding of Bracelets
Crafting Tools - Allow wielding of Crafting Tools
Two-Handed Clubs - Allow wielding of Two-Handed Clubs
One-Handed Clubs - Allow wielding of One-Handed Clubs
Level 10 - Spear
Level 15 - Shields and Halberd
Level 20 - Heavy Armour - Allow wielding of Heavy Armour.
SKILLS
Start with:
Defensive Strike - You attack defensively, causing light damage, but recovering quickly to protect yourself from returned attacks.
Enraged Shout - Your fearsome Shout strikes terror into the hearts of your enemies and puts you into a battle-readied state.
Rallying Cry - When your enemy is defeated, your Cry rallies the morale of your nearby companions.
Rest - Allows you to regain Power and Morale more quickly
From level 2, you can purchase your new skills from the Captain Trainer to be found in various towns.
Level 2:
Devastating Blow - The Effects of your Enraged Shout allow you to make a light attack with a chance of causing great damage if you critical.
Level 4:
Cutting Attack - A light bleeding attack, which causes your foe damage over time.
War-Cry - When your enemy is defeated, you let out a Cry that rallies your nearby companions to attack with greater speed and determination.
Level 6:
Telling Mark - You leave a Mark on your enemy, pointing out a weakness in the enemy's armour, which increases the chance that your companions will critically wound it.
Level 8:
Routing Cry - When your enemy is defeated, you let out a fearsome Cry which slightly demoralizes all other foes nearby.
Command: Make Haste - You command your Fellowship to make better speed, both in and out of battle.
Level 10:
Words of Courage - You are able to renew one of your companion's morale over time.
Level 12:
Pressing Attack - The effects of your Enraged Shout allow you to swing twice at your enemy, inflicting medium damage.
Level 14:
Call to Arms: Herald of War - You enlist a Herald of War to carry your banner into battle.(a sort of pet)
Level 16:
Muster Courage - You are able to renew the courage of your nearby companions, removing existing fear effects and bolstering them against other fear-inspiring attacks.
Motivating Speech - You are able to raise the morale of your nearby companions with a motivating speech.
Level 18:
Command: On Guard - You command one of your companions to be on their guard, increasing their chances of parrying attacks.
Level 20:
Hands of a Healer - You are able to revive a fallen companion.(resurrect)
Level 22:
Last Stand - When your morale is low, you are able to maintain your remaining morale and resist succumbing to defeat for a short time.
Level 24:
Call to Arms: Herald of Hope - You enlist a Herald of Hope to carry your Banner into battle.
Level 26:
Threatening Shout - Your Shout threatens your enemy, increasing the chance that it will attack you.
Level 28:
Command: Relentless Attack - You command one of your companions to attack relentlessly, allowing them to critically wound with their attacks more often.
Level 30:
Revealing Mark - You leave a Mark on your enemy, pointing out a weakness in the enemy's defence. Any of your Fellowship who wound that enemy may have their morale renewed.
Level 32:
Cry of Vengeance - When one of your companions falls, your Cry inspires your nearby companions to greater feats of skill.
Level 34:
Call to Arms: Herald of Victory - You enlist a Herald of Victory to carry your banner into battle.
Level 36:
In Harm's Way - You put yourself in harm's way to defend your nearby companions, taking all damage dealt to them upon yourself.
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So a Captain seems to be like a EQ2 Paladin correct? Also what role does the Champion play?
Champions are what a Rogue typically is in other MMO's - a dual wielding melee powerhouse. Although, LotR:O has a rogue class, but it's job (beyond hitting things) is mainly to debuff mobs and to start Conjunctions.
The Captain is like a paladin, yes, but you may want to steer away from them until they un-nerf it. As it is, they're the single worst class for soloing as their single target heal can't be used on themselves. They are usually wanted in groups though, if nothing else but for their in-combat rez and herald pets.
I just use the Heal over time after i smacked a monster.
Later on when they get heavy armor they really start to shine solo.
Not sure if they have changed their skills since last patch,because i haven't played my captain after that patch.
I'm mostly running around and mapping the world/quests/locations atm.
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