This game is not WoW and people still seem to rather like it. Am I wrong?

[Soln]

FYI, via the official boards it seems all the hosts are in Boston MA area.  So there are no West/East US servers. 

[FatuousTwat]

Thanks Cheddar!

[Triforcer]

soooo, you do or do not want it?  

FYI - as far as I know the client itself is region based; if you are in Europe downloading the American client will get you American servers.  

Sorry for my unclarity.  I now have a key, thanks again for the offer anyway.

[FatuousTwat]

Bleh, the DL link in the email sent to me doesn't work.

[Triforcer]

I was looking through the classes- straight tanks never appeal to me, and I don't like straight healers either.  Are Loremasters welcome in groups?  Good at solo?  I normally hate pet classes, but this one appeals to me for some reason.

[Cheddar]

I was looking through the classes- straight tanks never appeal to me, and I don't like straight healers either.  Are Loremasters welcome in groups?  Good at solo?  I normally hate pet classes, but this one appeals to me for some reason.

Every class can find a group; LoTRO is extremely group friendly and flexible.  Classes are not SUPER WTF RIGID and everyone can provide multiple roles within the group.  Also every class can solo; albeit to varying degrees, and depending on your skill.  Here is my personal breakdown (opinion based, but pretty accurate) broken down as to Solo (Easy, Medium, Hard) and wether its hard to find a group (completely discounting actual USEFULLNESS within a group):

Champion  Solo = Easy/  Group = Medium
Guardian  Solo = Hard/ Group = Medium
Burglar  Solo = Easy/  Group = Medium
Minstrel  Solo = Extremely Hard/ Group = Extremely Easy
Lore Master  Solo = Medium/  Group = Medium
Captain  Solo = Medium/   Group = Medium
Hunter  Solo = Extremely Easy/  Group = Hard


Ignored the 2 new classes as very few people have 40+ on them yet.  I have never had a problem getting into a group as a Champion - arguably the most popular class along with Hunter. 

[Mrbloodworth]

Bleh, the DL link in the email sent to me doesn't work.

This would be correct, there is a link in the threads here, the one in the buddykey e-mail would lead to the removed trial.

[Soln]

What Cheddar said. 

The only time I have ever seen PUG spam looking for a specific role (burg, tank, healer) was for 50+ instances.  And even then, it's rare to see it. 

The key in LotRO is a full group at the quest level cap because you can steamroll a lot of things, even if it's a group of minstrels.  BECAUSE even minstrels get a "going solo" ability they can toggle to go into melee kicking mode (heals get nerfed, defense goes up).  There's a lot of agility it seems for classes in groups.  And there are "conjunctions" which some classes can trigger (these are like EQ2 "heroic opportunities").

[Tebonas]

Guardian is hard to solo? Damn, I should try one of the other classes one of these days. I can't even begin to imagine what they would be capable of when I solo orange mobs in my 40s.

[Yegolev]

I don't think soloing with a Guard is hard, more like tedious if you are used to a Hunter.   My baby guardian is tough to kill and persistence wins plenty of fights, or allows me to run run run.  Then again I haven't tried it post-20.

The LFF I see will often just say if they already have a minstrel or not, but that's about it.

[Mrbloodworth]

The utility of the classes in this game is spectacular.

[Cheddar]

Guardian is hard to solo? Damn, I should try one of the other classes one of these days. I can't even begin to imagine what they would be capable of when I solo orange mobs in my 40s.

I solo reds on my 26 minstrel - my Champion was soloing orange signatures by 20.  


edit.  A quick addendum.  I can solo reds with my min, but cannot take on 2 whites without my ass clenching. 

[Yegolev]

I solo reds on my 26 minstrel - my Champion was soloing orange signatures by 20.  

Well damn.

[Tarami]

The utility of the classes in this game is spectacular.

I think the classes are spectacular period. There's so much more to them than meets the eye. I'm still learning the quirks of my LM, a year and a half after rolling it. Although, that class on the other hand is absolutely bloated with stuff.

[ghost]

Yep.  The captain is spectacular.  Very cool class and not like anything I've ever played.

[Soln]

what's that Friar Tuck looking pet they get?  Is that a healer of some kind?  or just a Dom DeLuise look-a-like for laughs?

[ghost]

what's that Friar Tuck looking pet they get?  Is that a healer of some kind?  or just a Dom DeLuise look-a-like for laughs?

It's basically a normal pet.  Goes and does damage for you.  Your typically still main damage and focus of mob though.  What rocks in groups is the group buffs you get. 

[trias_e]

I think I'm going to be picking this game up for christmas.  I'm thinking Burglar vs. Captain.  I like 'hard' classes to play, with plenty of options and versatility.  I also like underplayed classes with grouping potential.

[Cheddar]

I think I'm going to be picking this game up for christmas.  I'm thinking Burglar vs. Captain.  I like 'hard' classes to play, with plenty of options and versatility.  I also like underplayed classes with grouping potential.

Both are wonderful (my 2 favorite classes).  Captain is MUCH more group oriented.  Both can solo, both provide a very useful role in a group, both have a TON of abilities to choose from.  Especially burglar, who is very very tactical.

[Ard]

I think I'm going to be picking this game up for christmas.  I'm thinking Burglar vs. Captain.  I like 'hard' classes to play, with plenty of options and versatility.  I also like underplayed classes with grouping potential.

Just be aware that the burglar isn't really a wow-rogue clone, so much as a group enabler and debuffer.  They're the primary class that can start fellowship conjunctions on demand.

[Viin]

This url seems to work for trial keys in the US, but I can't tell for sure:

http://www.codemasters.com/trylotro/trialkey.php

[Ozzu]

This url seems to work for trial keys in the US, but I can't tell for sure:

http://www.codemasters.com/trylotro/trialkey.php

Doesn't seem to work. I copied the key and went and tried to enter it into the US account product key field and it says invalid. I guess you have to use it with the European version.

If anyone still has a buddy key left, I'd like to give it a whirl again. I played in beta and liked it, but never bothered to buy it. Might be something to get for Christmas. 

[Cheddar]

I believe I have 1 key left - pm me your email addy.

[Mrbloodworth]

I have keys left too.

[Cheddar]

Actually I have 3 left, now.   

[trias_e]

Question #2:  Is there any reason for me to get Mines of Moria as a noob that will likely never get past level 20?

[Mrbloodworth]

Question #2:  Is there any reason for me to get Mines of Moria as a noob that will likely never get past level 20?

2 new classes, crafting guilds...ETC. That, and while you can get the original for like 15-20$, MoM is only 39 and includes the original too.

[Ard]

Question #2:  Is there any reason for me to get Mines of Moria as a noob that will likely never get past level 20?

2 new classes, crafting guilds...ETC. That, and while you can get the original for like 15-20$, MoM is only 39 and includes the original too.

Not that I entirely encourage this, and I more or less agree with Bloodworth on just buying MoM, but you can get the original game for $12, or $13 for the collector's edition from Amazon, both cheaper than the price of a month to play.

[Mrbloodworth]

Question #2:  Is there any reason for me to get Mines of Moria as a noob that will likely never get past level 20?

2 new classes, crafting guilds...ETC. That, and while you can get the original for like 15-20$, MoM is only 39 and includes the original too.

Not that I entirely encourage this, and I more or less agree with Bloodworth on just buying MoM, but you can get the original game for $12, or $13 for the collector's edition from Amazon, both cheaper than the price of a month to play.

The issue with that is, Patching. You will have to download every patch up to Moria, and then Moria. 

[Numtini]

I tossed my DVD in the bin a month ago figuring I'd never play. Should have known. But anyway, you can download the entire high definition MOM client and there's almost no patching and it will work with an unupgraded account.

[Ard]

The issue with that is, Patching. You will have to download every patch up to Moria, and then Moria. 

I did say I didn't encourage it.  There's also the fact that you're inevitably going to be picking up Moria if you like the game in the long run anyhow, unless you hold out for their next expansion and get it rolled up there, but who knows when that'll happen.

[Cheddar]

I tossed my DVD in the bin a month ago figuring I'd never play. Should have known. But anyway, you can download the entire high definition MOM client and there's almost no patching and it will work with an unupgraded account.

I am such a tard - I never realized there was a HIGH DEFINITION version of the client!

Is anyone using this?  How does it look?  Will it make my system go up in smoke if I load?

[Ard]

I am such a tard - I never realized there was a HIGH DEFINITION version of the client!

Is anyone using this?  How does it look?  Will it make my system go up in smoke if I load?

Unless they changed something from when they launched, it just lets you use the higher quality textures (I believe it's Very High in the settings), but it's possible and likely they've changed something more significant while I wasn't paying attention.

[Mrbloodworth]

I tossed my DVD in the bin a month ago figuring I'd never play. Should have known. But anyway, you can download the entire high definition MOM client and there's almost no patching and it will work with an unupgraded account.

I am such a tard - I never realized there was a HIGH DEFINITION version of the client!

Is anyone using this?  How does it look?  Will it make my system go up in smoke if I load?

I use it, i run on ultra. As for smoking, whats your system specs? Its just higher top end resolution images (textures). Manly video ram will be your limiter i guess. (if you installed from disk, you have this already)

[Numtini]

It's very high textures, in the beta and the first year of release, you had to have the DVDs.

The performance seems to be almost infinitely better than the last time I played, I have the DX10 shadows running and still no problems. Before I had to turn them off and downgrade so much. And I haven't even monkeyed with the flashdrive thing yet. (I need to snag an 8gb flash from work and see if its worth buying for myself.)