Hello, all, it's me, ThuBioNerd. The crazy one from way ore yonder in the roleplay section.
I'm here to tell you about Jesus.
Just kidding, I'm here to tell you about an amazing game. It's called Lord of the Rings Online, or LOTRO, or LotRO, for the nitpicks like me. It's an MMO RPG, which stands for massive multiplayer online roleplaying game. Set in Middle Earth, in a sandbox-style free-to-explore world, you are an adventurer with a race and class of your choice. You can either follow the main quests and defeat the evils of Angmar, Dol Guldur, Isengard, and Mordor, or you can get massively sidetracked and spend time gathering lizards for fishermen, delivering mail for Hobbits, or fighting Goblins for the Dunedain! What's so special about this? Why is he talking about it? Well, let me emphasize the RPG, roleplaying game. Most of you know roleplaying as the hobby of those coots over in the RP section on the forums whom Tibbles loathes with a vengeance befitting only a Dutchman whose primroses have been snitched by an Englishman, but roleplaying is actually a very fun and huge thing, and not just for geeks on forums! This game even has servers that encourage roleplay!
I seek to form a party of mighty roleplaying adventurers, up to any task, travelling Eriador, Wilderland, Rohan, Gondor, even the wildscapes of Rhun and Harad, in search of adventure and evil to combat.
First I want to say I am NOT Google. I will not take time to explain how to download, where to find, etc. The game IS free, although VIP is totally worth it. You can just search LOTRO. Once it's taken its very sweet time to download (and boy does it) you can start up and join a server. The servers have nothing distinct about them - all are the same worlds, except you can have 2 characters on every server, and some of these servers encourage roleplay. Most servers are timezone-specific, so we will have to organize what server we'll join in the comments. As per stereotypical RPG, you can be a man, Elf, Dwarf, or Halfling of any gender (except the sexist Dwarves who only have men, because it's true you don't see many Dwarf women). There is a new and fifth race, the Beorning, but this costs turbine points - in game currency which you gain by completing deeds in the game.
Different races can have different classes, and some are better at it than others, as per their stats. For instance, Dwarves favor melee, while Elves do a lot of ranged and magical things, and humans get almost everything. The classes are as follows:
Guardian - the tank, guardians focus on heavy armor and a shield. Their weapon is secondary, and in a fellowship the guardian is used to soak up the damage and take agro while his friends pound the enemy unhindered. He is the wall of meat, the tank. Dwarves are superb at this, as they can easily carry heavy armor and shields and are tough enough to shrug off all but the greatest of hits. Hobbits can also use this class effectively. Elves are more fragile than these races, and I don't suggest them for this play. Men are good for everything, somewhat, though they excel at nothing, but they can use this class well.
Available to: All
Champion - the stereotypical warrior, champions can dual-wield or wield two-handed weapons. They're all about the DPS, focusing on critical hits or whirling AOE attacks. The classic berserker, the champion will wade in hacking and slashing, dealing AOE to everyone around him, or pick them off one by one with crit attacks. Dwarves are good for the champion, as they are naturally tough which gives them a needed edge, as they have no shield. Men can also use this well, and Elves as well.
Available to: Elf, Dwarf, man
Hunter - the ranged unit, hunters are the rangers of the wild. They wield a powerful bow, picking off opponents from a distance, sniping, and shooting at enemies who are focusing on the guardian. They are lacking in armor and health, but are competent and extremely dangerous at higher levels. Elves are superb at this class, with their affinity for the bow, though it is available to all, and one can also choose to be a human ranger-type, a Hobbit hunter or poacher sort of guy, or a Dwarven trapper.
Available to: All
Burglar: the rogue of the outfit, burglars are sneaky buggers who creep around. While they can often sneak past enemies when soloing, it is usually a good idea if they hide in the shadows until the ranged units start firing, then jump out and stab the opponent in the back. Hobbits are masters of this class, with their natural stealth and short stature. Men can use this class, but are not remarkable at it.
Available to: Man, Hobbit
Minstrel - Swords and arrows are fine, but what about when you've been fighting a guy for two minutes, you have a disease, your morale and power are low, you've got several wounds, and you're out of power moves, and the enemy keeps coming? This is when it's nice to have a minstrel along. The bard of the company, minstrels can assemble a great arsenal of ballads and songs, from inspiring war cries to healing tunes. The minstrel will stand well back from the combat, shouting battle cries at the enemies that deal damage, healing his allies, and even giving them buffs to attacks, defenses, morale and power, etc. Anyone can play this class, and from what I can tell anyone can do well at it.
Available to: All
Loremaster - Some prefer the blade, but there are some who have poured over ancient tomes in search of knowledge and power. These loremasters can control the elements and even strike fear and doubt into the heart of the enemy. They can operate like a minstrel, healing their friends, but this takes away from their own health, and they are better firing spells and buffing their companions. Elves are great at this, and men can do well.
Available to: Elf, man
Warden (Note: point class) - Wardens are powerful martial warriors. Carrying great shields and an assortment of javelins and melee blades, wardens use a variety of tactics against their opponents, and can operate as a fighter or a tank, and can even buff their allies. Elves, men, and Hobbits should all consider this as a class if they have the points, and especially if there is no tank or champion in the group.
Available to: Elf, man, Hobbit
Rune Keeper (Note: point class) - These mighty loreseekers have studied ancient lore and have learned the true names of many things. Using mystic stones engraved with strange symbols and letters, this class can call down lightning to strike their foes or summon flames, and can also buff their companions! Elves and, oddly enough, Dwarves, are both superb at this, and a rune keeper is a devastating foe.
Available to: Elf, Dwarf
Captain - Some men are great captains among their people, and are capable of inspiring great feats in their friends and allies. The captain can give buffs to his friends while doing respectable melee damage. Only men possess the spirit to be a captain, and they are great at it.
Available to: Man
Beorining (Note: only class available to Beorning race) - These surly men are berserkers, lashing out at the forces of evil and capable of transforming into great black bears when angered, as well as summoning animals to help them.
Available to: Beorning
All classes fall into several categories:
Fighter - the fighting person who focuses on DPS. This includes champions, the half-fighter half-tank warden, and the captain, champion or warden being the desirable choice.
Tank - tanks soak up damage and take agro so the squishier people can kill the enemy. Guardian is the main tank, with warden being able to semi-tank with its special type of shield.
Healer - minstrels make the best healers, as loremasters' heals take health away from themselves. Also, a healer eliminates the need for another buffing class like the loremaster, unless we want a wizard-type.
Controller - controllers focus on buffing their allies. A healer is an excellent buffer and a healer to boot, but loremasters, captains, and even wardens and rune keepers can buff.
Rogue - hunters and burglars are rogues, a squishy yet combat unit designed to either shoot from a distance or from a hidden position.
I'm looking for a
Guardian
Champion/captain/warden
Minstrel
Loremaster/rune keeper
Burglar/hunter
We only need one of most of these, but we can do with a variety of people from the second, fourth, and fifth lists.
Here's a tip: Pick your class FIRST. Your race should not dictate your gameplay, that's your class's job. For instance, if you like shooting, you'll want to be a hunter, then you can look at what races have hunter, what races are best at it, and what race you want.
Remember, we're roleplaying. We will be building campsites, buying useless mugs of ale at inns, resting for most nights, not be jumping off cliffs, even if it's quicker, etc. Remember to use ((double brackets)) or type /ooc, then enter, then type your message to say it in the ooc chat. If you've joined the fellowship you can also type /f and your message, which will put it in fellowship chat, which will show up green.
Vocations are also a fun thing of LOTRO. Early on in the game you will be given a quest to choose a profession. Each profession is made of of 3 kinds of jobs, and has its own name, for instance Armsman gives you prospecting - the craft of mining and refining minerals - weaponsmithing - the art of making metal weapons - and woodworking - the art of making spears, staffs, bows, clubs, etc.
I don't have to explain much else about the game, because it's very simple. Everyone list off the servers you can join and we'll compare until we find one we can all play on. We'll designate time every day or so to play on it. First time around we'll do our intro quests separately, then we'll head to Bree and meet at the inn of the Prancing Pony.
Questions?
I'm here to tell you about Jesus.
Just kidding, I'm here to tell you about an amazing game. It's called Lord of the Rings Online, or LOTRO, or LotRO, for the nitpicks like me. It's an MMO RPG, which stands for massive multiplayer online roleplaying game. Set in Middle Earth, in a sandbox-style free-to-explore world, you are an adventurer with a race and class of your choice. You can either follow the main quests and defeat the evils of Angmar, Dol Guldur, Isengard, and Mordor, or you can get massively sidetracked and spend time gathering lizards for fishermen, delivering mail for Hobbits, or fighting Goblins for the Dunedain! What's so special about this? Why is he talking about it? Well, let me emphasize the RPG, roleplaying game. Most of you know roleplaying as the hobby of those coots over in the RP section on the forums whom Tibbles loathes with a vengeance befitting only a Dutchman whose primroses have been snitched by an Englishman, but roleplaying is actually a very fun and huge thing, and not just for geeks on forums! This game even has servers that encourage roleplay!
I seek to form a party of mighty roleplaying adventurers, up to any task, travelling Eriador, Wilderland, Rohan, Gondor, even the wildscapes of Rhun and Harad, in search of adventure and evil to combat.
First I want to say I am NOT Google. I will not take time to explain how to download, where to find, etc. The game IS free, although VIP is totally worth it. You can just search LOTRO. Once it's taken its very sweet time to download (and boy does it) you can start up and join a server. The servers have nothing distinct about them - all are the same worlds, except you can have 2 characters on every server, and some of these servers encourage roleplay. Most servers are timezone-specific, so we will have to organize what server we'll join in the comments. As per stereotypical RPG, you can be a man, Elf, Dwarf, or Halfling of any gender (except the sexist Dwarves who only have men, because it's true you don't see many Dwarf women). There is a new and fifth race, the Beorning, but this costs turbine points - in game currency which you gain by completing deeds in the game.
Different races can have different classes, and some are better at it than others, as per their stats. For instance, Dwarves favor melee, while Elves do a lot of ranged and magical things, and humans get almost everything. The classes are as follows:
Guardian - the tank, guardians focus on heavy armor and a shield. Their weapon is secondary, and in a fellowship the guardian is used to soak up the damage and take agro while his friends pound the enemy unhindered. He is the wall of meat, the tank. Dwarves are superb at this, as they can easily carry heavy armor and shields and are tough enough to shrug off all but the greatest of hits. Hobbits can also use this class effectively. Elves are more fragile than these races, and I don't suggest them for this play. Men are good for everything, somewhat, though they excel at nothing, but they can use this class well.
Available to: All
Champion - the stereotypical warrior, champions can dual-wield or wield two-handed weapons. They're all about the DPS, focusing on critical hits or whirling AOE attacks. The classic berserker, the champion will wade in hacking and slashing, dealing AOE to everyone around him, or pick them off one by one with crit attacks. Dwarves are good for the champion, as they are naturally tough which gives them a needed edge, as they have no shield. Men can also use this well, and Elves as well.
Available to: Elf, Dwarf, man
Hunter - the ranged unit, hunters are the rangers of the wild. They wield a powerful bow, picking off opponents from a distance, sniping, and shooting at enemies who are focusing on the guardian. They are lacking in armor and health, but are competent and extremely dangerous at higher levels. Elves are superb at this class, with their affinity for the bow, though it is available to all, and one can also choose to be a human ranger-type, a Hobbit hunter or poacher sort of guy, or a Dwarven trapper.
Available to: All
Burglar: the rogue of the outfit, burglars are sneaky buggers who creep around. While they can often sneak past enemies when soloing, it is usually a good idea if they hide in the shadows until the ranged units start firing, then jump out and stab the opponent in the back. Hobbits are masters of this class, with their natural stealth and short stature. Men can use this class, but are not remarkable at it.
Available to: Man, Hobbit
Minstrel - Swords and arrows are fine, but what about when you've been fighting a guy for two minutes, you have a disease, your morale and power are low, you've got several wounds, and you're out of power moves, and the enemy keeps coming? This is when it's nice to have a minstrel along. The bard of the company, minstrels can assemble a great arsenal of ballads and songs, from inspiring war cries to healing tunes. The minstrel will stand well back from the combat, shouting battle cries at the enemies that deal damage, healing his allies, and even giving them buffs to attacks, defenses, morale and power, etc. Anyone can play this class, and from what I can tell anyone can do well at it.
Available to: All
Loremaster - Some prefer the blade, but there are some who have poured over ancient tomes in search of knowledge and power. These loremasters can control the elements and even strike fear and doubt into the heart of the enemy. They can operate like a minstrel, healing their friends, but this takes away from their own health, and they are better firing spells and buffing their companions. Elves are great at this, and men can do well.
Available to: Elf, man
Warden (Note: point class) - Wardens are powerful martial warriors. Carrying great shields and an assortment of javelins and melee blades, wardens use a variety of tactics against their opponents, and can operate as a fighter or a tank, and can even buff their allies. Elves, men, and Hobbits should all consider this as a class if they have the points, and especially if there is no tank or champion in the group.
Available to: Elf, man, Hobbit
Rune Keeper (Note: point class) - These mighty loreseekers have studied ancient lore and have learned the true names of many things. Using mystic stones engraved with strange symbols and letters, this class can call down lightning to strike their foes or summon flames, and can also buff their companions! Elves and, oddly enough, Dwarves, are both superb at this, and a rune keeper is a devastating foe.
Available to: Elf, Dwarf
Captain - Some men are great captains among their people, and are capable of inspiring great feats in their friends and allies. The captain can give buffs to his friends while doing respectable melee damage. Only men possess the spirit to be a captain, and they are great at it.
Available to: Man
Beorining (Note: only class available to Beorning race) - These surly men are berserkers, lashing out at the forces of evil and capable of transforming into great black bears when angered, as well as summoning animals to help them.
Available to: Beorning
All classes fall into several categories:
Fighter - the fighting person who focuses on DPS. This includes champions, the half-fighter half-tank warden, and the captain, champion or warden being the desirable choice.
Tank - tanks soak up damage and take agro so the squishier people can kill the enemy. Guardian is the main tank, with warden being able to semi-tank with its special type of shield.
Healer - minstrels make the best healers, as loremasters' heals take health away from themselves. Also, a healer eliminates the need for another buffing class like the loremaster, unless we want a wizard-type.
Controller - controllers focus on buffing their allies. A healer is an excellent buffer and a healer to boot, but loremasters, captains, and even wardens and rune keepers can buff.
Rogue - hunters and burglars are rogues, a squishy yet combat unit designed to either shoot from a distance or from a hidden position.
I'm looking for a
Guardian
Champion/captain/warden
Minstrel
Loremaster/rune keeper
Burglar/hunter
We only need one of most of these, but we can do with a variety of people from the second, fourth, and fifth lists.
Here's a tip: Pick your class FIRST. Your race should not dictate your gameplay, that's your class's job. For instance, if you like shooting, you'll want to be a hunter, then you can look at what races have hunter, what races are best at it, and what race you want.
Remember, we're roleplaying. We will be building campsites, buying useless mugs of ale at inns, resting for most nights, not be jumping off cliffs, even if it's quicker, etc. Remember to use ((double brackets)) or type /ooc, then enter, then type your message to say it in the ooc chat. If you've joined the fellowship you can also type /f and your message, which will put it in fellowship chat, which will show up green.
Vocations are also a fun thing of LOTRO. Early on in the game you will be given a quest to choose a profession. Each profession is made of of 3 kinds of jobs, and has its own name, for instance Armsman gives you prospecting - the craft of mining and refining minerals - weaponsmithing - the art of making metal weapons - and woodworking - the art of making spears, staffs, bows, clubs, etc.
I don't have to explain much else about the game, because it's very simple. Everyone list off the servers you can join and we'll compare until we find one we can all play on. We'll designate time every day or so to play on it. First time around we'll do our intro quests separately, then we'll head to Bree and meet at the inn of the Prancing Pony.
Questions?
))
