Lord of the Rings Online: Making Music in Middle Earth

Szark · April 2007

The official site for The Lord of the Rings: Shadows of Angmar has been updated with an overview of the game's music system, where players can compose their own music for their characters to play in-game.

The Iron Hills are alive... with the sound of music! One of the most unique social systems in The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar (LOTRO) is our player-generated Music System, which allows players to train specific instruments and play their own music!

Composition

You'll be able to play an 8-note octave by pressing number keys 1-8, which correspond to do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do, respectively.
Pressing shift and a number increases that note by an octave. Pressing control and a number makes that note a flat.

Make music here.

Alienovrlord · April 2007

This game mechanic sounds good (no pun intended) on paper but it has unfortunate side effects - all resulting from the fact that the majority of people are lousy RL musicians I played the free LotRO World Tour and the air in Bree was filled with disharmonious noise that reminded me of kids banging on a piano. I even saw one or two 'jam-session' groups of people trying to play together, emphasis on trying.

Running away from the tumult, I was shocked when I actually heard someone playing a competent tune. I don't know what percentage of gamers are also decent musicians, but LotRO is about to find out. I imagine there's a way to turn off the music from other players, if you play this game get ready to enable it.

OniMibu · April 2007

I think its an awesome idea. I played the beta but didn't bother trying the instrument out, had I known I could make my OWN music, I would have been more inclined. Now that I know, I'm going to be giving it a shot too (when my preorder gets here!), but in a less crowded area

Techleo · April 2007

I wouldn't be to worried. In Asheron's Call 2 people got fairly good at playing. Most people became satisfied with drumming out a few beats while a competent musician played the complex riffs. I actually want to play Lotor now that I know music is in it... I really miss playing my Lute

I actually quit WoW awhile ago because of monetary issues. Seems this mite be the casual game to get me back into the fray. Albeit CoX sorta owns that title.

Brynn · April 2007

You can mute the player music in options, under audio. Then if you choose to play with others, you can unmute.

jdong · April 2007

I listen to Power Metal while playing mmos, Death Metal while playing shooters and when I am playing anygame in the gta series I listen to the classic rock. So this wont apply to me. Good idea though.

madmikethegm · April 2007

Yep... nothing says "immersion" like walking up to a town square to find a group of Captains, Loremasters, Burglars, etc standing in a circle playing Emperor's March from Star Wars or AC/DC's Back in Black.

Pass the amplifier, Bilbo... it's time to rock this town like it's a new age!