Thinking of starting LoTRo. Is now a bad time?

_Jord_

I only played LoTRO for a week near the end of beta. I didn't have anything against it, persay, but it didn't really catch my attention, either.

Fast forward two years. I'm bored (again) with WoW and I'm completely over WAR and looking for something new. I have seen a lot of buzz about LoTRO and have been considering buying it. I understand that the $40 expansion comes with the full game, too. To me, that is a smart marketing decision because I would not be considering it if I had to buy the game AND the expansion.

Anyway, I have heard random complaints around the internet that low level content is nearly impossible to complete due to lack of population, and that it makes leveling boring. I also remember that the content goes in chapters, so would missing lower level content stop you from enjoying higher level content?

Overall, do you think LoTRO is a newbie friendly game in it's current state?

Also, is player housing accessible to new players? I know there is a level requirement, but having my own house a feature that was lacking in every MMO I've played since UO, and I'm pretty excited for it!

Thanks

Lobotomist

The newbie areas are swarming with new characters. In fact its a very good game to start.

But

Taking in account that you are bored with WOW, and with WAR. And that you played LOTRO trial and didnt like it...

I wouldnt recommend you getting into LOTRO. Basics of the game didnt change. And in its core its similar to above games that you are bored with.  (albeit much better)

 

 

SuperNick

LOTRO is a great game now and it's currently #1 on my list.

This isn't the opinion of a hardcore fanboy either.. I played the game for a year and became very bored with it, the developers weren't really taking it in any new directions at all.

I returned for Moria and haven't had more fun in an MMO in a long time. It's definitely one of the best expansions i've ever played and really updated the game well.

In answer to your questions:

1) The expansion has provided a bustle of activity in low level zones, but it all depends on the server. 

2) You can get your own house at level 15, which costs a minimal amount. The deluxe house is more for max level, as it costs significantly more.

3) I wouldn't listen to complaints of not being able to complete low level content. There isn't a huge amount of group required quests, there's a nice balance but it's hardly game breaking. The books don't need to be completed at all.. They're just added quests for okish items all the way through to the last book of Volume 2 (Moria). You need to complete 1-5 in order but at 40 you can jump straight to 6 without ever doing 1-5. There's a good balance of grouping and solo in LOTRO, and complete solo levelling would not really be any less fun than the odd group here and there, as grouping is more a max level thing in this game. If you missed every group quest in game, you still wouldn't have to grind levels.

I recently levelled a minstrel to 54 so far, and had great fun with it. I found high lvl friends and often groups for a bunch of quests..

LOTRO has always and still remains newbie friendly, but than again so is pretty much every MMO in the last 5 years.

As an ex-wow player, I enjoy the game because there is a lot more focus on PvE content than WoW. I personally feel that WoW is spreading themselves so thin over too many areas of the game, what you get is blandness in all of them.

PS: There is PvP on LOTRO but it's more for just enjoyment, there is no big time item rewards like arenas. You can play as a Monster (or creep) against other players

Quizzical

Now is definitely a bad time.  Wait about 15 minutes and it will be a better time.  

More seriously, if you're looking for something new, and have played LotRO before, it's not new, or even new to you. 

idamelio

Now is a great time to start! There is a plenty of new characters running around. I started a new character not long ago, and had no trouble finding help to do group quests.  I even got my first house at  about level 20! 

silkakc

Now is a great time to give it a 2nd try. I'm on Landroval and the server is jam packed. It surprises me still that daily I see newbie questions asked in the General chat and I'm amazed at the amount  of new ppl still pouring into this game. I'm from a large adult Guild and we've picked up 4 new members in the last week alone. It amazes me that the server is just as populated now as it was at launch in 2007!

Even before the XPac came- the newbie areas were never barren because this game is MADE for ALT-aholics. The Classes are so damn good that you actually want to play outside your comfort zone. I always play ONLY Hunters in other games but in LoTRO- I frigging love my Hunter....and my Loremaster...and my Burg.....and my Captain LOL!

Plus- what other MMO is going to give you an Expansion every single year to look forward to? And then give you free huge Patches every 2-3 months with massive amounts of new quests and new areas to explore?

You can't go wrong with LoTRO. It's an excellent game and the company that runs it puts 150% effort into it.

And dude... do you REALLY wanna go back to watching TV every night? Play a MMO for God's sakes and play the cream of the crop!