Between the 2, it really depends what you want, drastically different games. Are you into PVE? Then go with LOTRO. If youre into PVP then go with WAR. Lotro doesnt have any pvp worth mentioning, and WAR is a pvp focused game with PVE thats mainly just used to pass some time when theres no pvp.
And no WAR isnt dead. The population died out a lot since launch, mainly becaus eof a lot of issue sthat were around the first year the game was out, but the majority of them have either been fixed, or are in the process of being fixed. Great example is the upcoming changes to City Sieges. The siege system has always been one of the downfalls of the endgame in WAR, and one of the major reasons people would reach endgame and then leave. However the next pathc 1.3.5 is going to completely revamp the siege system into a 100% PVP based battle, rather than needing to complete PVE tasks/missions in order to advance the siege to the next stage.
The population has actually ben picking back up slightly due to a lot of players returning (or joining) because of the last patch (major performance, bug, and balancing changes) and the next patch. Personally ive left WAR several times and checked back with it a few months later, and this is my 4th time on it, and its by far the best yet.
Either way both games offer free trials, LOTRO is either 14 or 21 day, i forget, and WAR has an unlimited free trial where you can play all you want and pvp and stuff, but youre just locked into Tier 1 (of 4) zones.
I liked LOTRO a lot for what it was, a great soloable PVE game, but im a big fan of PVP, and it doesnt get much better than WAR, its lots of fun.
I have tried both, and remain in LotRO, tho I dabble in other mmo's (depends on my mood). As explained in a previous reply, one is PvE, the other is PvP. The community in LotRO is one of the best I've seen and rarely has global chat been anything less than pleasant and helpful.
Again those things are also rather different between the games. The UI itself isnt too different, both pretty standard compared to other MMOs, with a few differences to suit the game. Though with WAR (cant remember for sure about LOTRO) there are lots of addons, and lots of custimizaqtion you can do to you UI with the layout editors and stuff.
Housing - Lotro has it, WAR has none
AH - both have em, though in WAR there are a few flaws with it (such as picking a class in the search doesnt actually limit it to your class, youve also got to choose the specific type of weapon/armor too). LOTROs AH seems to work pretty much perfectly
Animations - WAR wins that one, LOTRO animations are rather bad and boring
Graphics - well, 2 different styles here. LOTRO is more of a realist art style, whereas WAR is slightly cartoony (sort of like WoW only not quite as cartoony, and a bit darker looking)
Mounts - as far as i remember LOTRO is basically just horse mounts ( i could be wrong, correct me if i am). WAR offers class specific mounts suchs as horses, gyrocopters, lizard, wolf, etc
Unfortunately neither game offers a whole lot as far as customizing looks of things to a great extent compared to some other games, though they do have a few pretty nice things you can change. Really the biggest thing to consider besides the PVE vs PVP is if your elooking for something with an epic storyline with a vast world to explore and do things in, or if you prefer more confined but to the point areas. With LOTRO, its a very big world with lots of cool things to explore. With WAR, as ive said its mostly about the pvp, and so while there are a few things to explore and cool things to see, its usually a "did that once, not gonna waste my time" sort of exploration, and you tend to stick close to where the PVP is in the designated RvR areas.
Basically LOTRO definitely feels more like a great adventure youre going on in a big world, but with WAR its more instant gratification, jump right in and go where the pvp is from level 1.
No problem. Playing WAR myself currently, but with my schedule (late night player) its tough to find much to do other than PVE half the time, so im debating between getting back into LOTRO or possibly EQ2. Kind of a tough decision, loved both games, overall i kinda liked LOTRO a bit better, but at leats with EQ2 i can get in some pretty decent pvp too.
Unfortunately neither game offers a whole lot as far as customizing looks of things to a great extent compared to some other games, though they do have a few pretty nice things you can change.
Sorry, I have to call total BS on this part. LotRO is actually probably the best mainstream game out there atm as far as customizing looks goes. You can have multiple different sets of "visual" armor/gear, regardless of what you are wearing for stats and there is an amazing variety of clothing/armor available, all of which can be dyed in various shades. I have never, in nearly 3 yrs of off and on playing, seen a character who looked even vaguely like one of mine after level 30 or so.
Beyond that, LotRO *might* have some minor population issues in the lower level zones; but even worst case soloing is quick and easy. Mid-level and up generally has at least functional population in "normal" play hours and there are plenty of people at the 45/50+ level.
As others have said though, LotRO is pure PvE...the pvp system is a pathetic side joke...WAR is all about the PvP and the PvE is pretty sad really...
Of course, BOTH have free trials...so check them out, the DL is free
Great! I've started playing LotRO yesterday and I'm playing right now, so far it seems like it is very polished. The texts are well-written, there's interactions in the quests, the UI is way better than other of the same genre.
While reading what you've written I saw a lot of stuff like in EQ2 :P I loved EQ2 but it's getting old, (they should bring shaders 3 soon) but LotRO seems very cool!
You'd be more disappointed in the lack of population and dated graphics and game-play of LOTRO than WAR. You're only open to those 2?
Wait,,, did you just say LOTRO has dated graphics?!?! LOL Honestly, LOTRO has the best graphics of any MMO out now period... WAR's graphics is similar to WoW with the cartoony little boy/girl flavor to them... You must have a dinosaur of a computer to say the graphics in LOTRO are outdated, lol.... WOWZERS the thing these kids say nowadays...
Rallithon Oakthornn (Retired Heirophant of the 60th season)
Comments
Go with Lotro not only is it the better game WAR is dieing fast....
You'd be more disappointed in the lack of population and dated graphics and game-play of LOTRO than WAR. You're only open to those 2?
Dated graphics? Hmmm, it was one of lotro's few strong points imo.
Between the 2, it really depends what you want, drastically different games. Are you into PVE? Then go with LOTRO. If youre into PVP then go with WAR. Lotro doesnt have any pvp worth mentioning, and WAR is a pvp focused game with PVE thats mainly just used to pass some time when theres no pvp.
And no WAR isnt dead. The population died out a lot since launch, mainly becaus eof a lot of issue sthat were around the first year the game was out, but the majority of them have either been fixed, or are in the process of being fixed. Great example is the upcoming changes to City Sieges. The siege system has always been one of the downfalls of the endgame in WAR, and one of the major reasons people would reach endgame and then leave. However the next pathc 1.3.5 is going to completely revamp the siege system into a 100% PVP based battle, rather than needing to complete PVE tasks/missions in order to advance the siege to the next stage.
The population has actually ben picking back up slightly due to a lot of players returning (or joining) because of the last patch (major performance, bug, and balancing changes) and the next patch. Personally ive left WAR several times and checked back with it a few months later, and this is my 4th time on it, and its by far the best yet.
Either way both games offer free trials, LOTRO is either 14 or 21 day, i forget, and WAR has an unlimited free trial where you can play all you want and pvp and stuff, but youre just locked into Tier 1 (of 4) zones.
I liked LOTRO a lot for what it was, a great soloable PVE game, but im a big fan of PVP, and it doesnt get much better than WAR, its lots of fun.
Lotro graphics are stunning and they are adding DX11 soon
3 years ago. I was wondering if the OP was open to anything else. I consider this a choice of the lesser of 2 evils.
Which one is "best", is relative.
I have tried both, and remain in LotRO, tho I dabble in other mmo's (depends on my mood). As explained in a previous reply, one is PvE, the other is PvP. The community in LotRO is one of the best I've seen and rarely has global chat been anything less than pleasant and helpful.
Good luck on your choice.
Thanks for your answer!
I always loved PvE, but never really did enough PvP to like it. I mean in WoW the PVP was pretty bad...
Hurm, I think I'll try both lol. Both seem to have something great...
Out of the PvE and PvP subjects, what's their strengths and weaknesses? UI, Auction house? Housing? Animations? Graphics? Mounts? etc. etc.
Thanks!
Again those things are also rather different between the games. The UI itself isnt too different, both pretty standard compared to other MMOs, with a few differences to suit the game. Though with WAR (cant remember for sure about LOTRO) there are lots of addons, and lots of custimizaqtion you can do to you UI with the layout editors and stuff.
Housing - Lotro has it, WAR has none
AH - both have em, though in WAR there are a few flaws with it (such as picking a class in the search doesnt actually limit it to your class, youve also got to choose the specific type of weapon/armor too). LOTROs AH seems to work pretty much perfectly
Animations - WAR wins that one, LOTRO animations are rather bad and boring
Graphics - well, 2 different styles here. LOTRO is more of a realist art style, whereas WAR is slightly cartoony (sort of like WoW only not quite as cartoony, and a bit darker looking)
Mounts - as far as i remember LOTRO is basically just horse mounts ( i could be wrong, correct me if i am). WAR offers class specific mounts suchs as horses, gyrocopters, lizard, wolf, etc
Unfortunately neither game offers a whole lot as far as customizing looks of things to a great extent compared to some other games, though they do have a few pretty nice things you can change. Really the biggest thing to consider besides the PVE vs PVP is if your elooking for something with an epic storyline with a vast world to explore and do things in, or if you prefer more confined but to the point areas. With LOTRO, its a very big world with lots of cool things to explore. With WAR, as ive said its mostly about the pvp, and so while there are a few things to explore and cool things to see, its usually a "did that once, not gonna waste my time" sort of exploration, and you tend to stick close to where the PVP is in the designated RvR areas.
Basically LOTRO definitely feels more like a great adventure youre going on in a big world, but with WAR its more instant gratification, jump right in and go where the pvp is from level 1.
Oh great, now I want to play LotRO badly!
I'm downloading it right now, thanks for this.
No problem. Playing WAR myself currently, but with my schedule (late night player) its tough to find much to do other than PVE half the time, so im debating between getting back into LOTRO or possibly EQ2. Kind of a tough decision, loved both games, overall i kinda liked LOTRO a bit better, but at leats with EQ2 i can get in some pretty decent pvp too.
Sorry, I have to call total BS on this part. LotRO is actually probably the best mainstream game out there atm as far as customizing looks goes. You can have multiple different sets of "visual" armor/gear, regardless of what you are wearing for stats and there is an amazing variety of clothing/armor available, all of which can be dyed in various shades. I have never, in nearly 3 yrs of off and on playing, seen a character who looked even vaguely like one of mine after level 30 or so.
Beyond that, LotRO *might* have some minor population issues in the lower level zones; but even worst case soloing is quick and easy. Mid-level and up generally has at least functional population in "normal" play hours and there are plenty of people at the 45/50+ level.
As others have said though, LotRO is pure PvE...the pvp system is a pathetic side joke...WAR is all about the PvP and the PvE is pretty sad really...
Of course, BOTH have free trials...so check them out, the DL is free
Great! I've started playing LotRO yesterday and I'm playing right now, so far it seems like it is very polished. The texts are well-written, there's interactions in the quests, the UI is way better than other of the same genre.
While reading what you've written I saw a lot of stuff like in EQ2 :P I loved EQ2 but it's getting old, (they should bring shaders 3 soon) but LotRO seems very cool!
Thanks
I'm not particular a fan of WAR, even though I'm playing it, but I gurantee you WAR never near dead now!
Especially after the server merge, you hardly not finding stuffs to RvR and PvP !!!!
I'm even in T2 areas and constantly finding RvR and Scenarios
However, though if you prefer PvE, LOTRO is the best out there in the market!! You will not regret it. but for PvP WAR is fun as hell !!!!!
Wait,,, did you just say LOTRO has dated graphics?!?! LOL Honestly, LOTRO has the best graphics of any MMO out now period... WAR's graphics is similar to WoW with the cartoony little boy/girl flavor to them... You must have a dinosaur of a computer to say the graphics in LOTRO are outdated, lol.... WOWZERS the thing these kids say nowadays...
Rallithon Oakthornn
(Retired Heirophant of the 60th season)
LOTRO does not have dated graphics if you download the high resolution package. Not even close.