Use this thread to post the name of your toons in LOTRO and any observations, likes, or dislikes about this game as our future home.

Link to google docs spreadsheet with all our toon info:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ArqasQ9juGiddFl5SUhoSDhIb29LMGIwamd6bHFwWmc&usp=sharing

I played this game with Mal over a year ago and liked it a lot. While its a bit old and disused to be a strong contender, its a nice distraction right now.

I started Victorious Secret on Menledor server.

Brendar, Man Hunter (lvl 49 currently)

Bren, with all due respect, take your Coup d'etat elsewhere. You are being a bully and it's rude.

It's no coup, Pils. All the officers discussed this in the officer forums before bringing it out here. We're all agreed that its time to look for something else.

This does not mean we're going to stop playing WoW entirely, so you are free to continue to do so, as is everyone else, but there are a lot of us here that feel that VS is bigger than WoW, don't play or don't want to play WoW anymore, but still want to hang out in game together. That's all.

I've got several toons on Meneldor. Sadly, my highest is 62(I think) and I recently found my account was hacked. They only messed with my high level hunter, who they stripped of all available non-bound items. The only nice part was that my bound but unsellable items are still there. I petitioned and got 100 marks and 31 gold with a message that the gamemaster was unable to determine my loss and they appreciate my understanding. In all honesty, I didn't have anything really nice. But faced with a naked toon, I haven't tried to do anything else at this time.

What I think are the nicest features of LOTRO is the crafting, which includes farming. There is also the ability to play music, which can be automated using ABC file system (http://city.navsplace.net/lotro/?p=399). I also like the specific classes. Legendary items are way neat. The deed system allows you to collect points that you can spend to add to the game. Using this feature you can slowly add things that normally cost money. It's a nice, if very slow, system that allows free play. Even without the points the deed system is fun. And of course, the lore is pretty awesome. I can say that Moria graphically looks kind of aged, but I was still pretty blown away by it. I couldn't help but pine for being there at release when the place had more traffic. I almost felt like a real dwarf that missed the glory days of Khazad Dhum.

All in all, probably my favorite fantasy MMO, followed closely by Rift. Because of my general MMO burn-out described earlier I have not been playing for some time.

The download game ROCKS!

The download game ROCKS!

I AM WINNING!

My biggest annoyance so far is that I never know where I'm going. The larger map doesn't help much, the icons are hard to see (the ring icon for the main quest blends in too much), and half the time my coloring of quests doesn't work. Following the arrows on the mini map result in me ending up halfway across the map and still no clue where I'm going or what to kill. Quest details aren't very helpful either.

So yeah, I've basically wandered around the same area between two towns trying to figure out what to kill, what to collect, etc. I don't feel like I've gone very far because it's going round in circles.

I'm playing Kethi the minstrel.

I've acquired *cough cough* a purple tanky sword for a level 10 character. Send Hurthelund a message or tell when you see me.

I'm not sure if it's the learning curve of the game or not, but I'm really not digging the captain. I did read that you really can't get a feel for how a class really plays this early, so I'm going to stick with it for now. Anyway, her name is Trianya.

Downloading now!

Downloading now!

It's a LOOONNNGGG download because you also have to patch and that is long too.

BTW how many people use Steam and are downloading through Steam? If so, make sure we all friend up and you can tell who is playing LOTRO through Steam without logging in.

I am either apewty or Maligner on Steam. I know Necrolust and eyeshark are on Steam all the time.

Downloaded...

I might have to check in on this. Played with Maligner a year or so ago and it was nice... Lately I've been playing all sorts of games trying to fill the wow-gap. Guild Wars 2, Diablo 3, League of Legends, and Borderlands 2 mostly.... Just whatever I have someone to play with at the time ill hop on that.

Also add me on steam if you like. Name is eyeshark, ya dingus.

Man Hunter

"You DON'T hunt man!" - Frank Reynolds

I may as well download this sucker!

I apologize, I popped off without knowing all of the information, that is a problem of mine.

Bren, I called you a bully, which was unfair. I'm sorry.

I apologize, I popped off without knowing all of the information, that is a problem of mine.

Bren, I called you a bully, which was unfair. I'm sorry.

No worries Pils, if I can take flung Iraqi sewage, I can take angry Pils.

And believe me, I completely understand where you are coming from. I remember not so long ago looking at people posting what other games they were trying out and thinking to myself "I wish you would shut up and stop trying to poach people". But at that time we were raiding, there were tons of people on every night, and everyone was having fun.

I'm not trying to take WoW away from anyone- some of you I'm closest to will still continue to play even as you might take on a second game. That's fine. Its just that now we're past that tipping point where we have a minority of active players vs. a large bulk of our membership in this limbo of potentiality, waiting for something to happen.

If it was just me that was sick of WoW, I'd be silent (much as I have been the last year or so). But I still talk to many of you VSers via facebook or gchat on a daily basis, and I know I'm not the only one anymore. By any objective measure VS isn't thriving like it used to and that makes me sad and I want to do something about it.

I'm having a hard time finding a truly up-to-date resource site.

lotro-wiki.com is good for general info ala wowwiki. You can always find map coords for what you are looking for or understand factual relationships between crafting materials/quest items, etc. Nothing in the way of subjective strategies, however.

http://lotro.mmorsel.com/ seems to have a lot of good info, especially the new player info. Those of you who may be regretting your uninformed first character creation may do well to read the class/race and combo guides. Also great easy levelling plans to follow. Once we're all level 15ish and through the starter areas, we should be able to be grouping up fairly easily. Group questing is WAY easy in this game, and fun.

Reading this page now...
http://lotro.mmorsel.com/2010/03/lotro-leveling-basics.html

Neat! -
Tip #5: Use a Follow macro
You'd be surprised how handy it is to be able to follow other players, NPCs, gathering nodes, chests and even mobs. That's right, folks! Follow in LOTRO is not limited to party members. Melee classes can run straight to the next mob with follow. Want to step away for a drink? Follow another player. Are you a prospector? Follow that Deposit of Tin Ore!

I am Steamloading it now. I will try to setup and be online for a bit tonight.

Hathildor, Man, Champion.

I've been reading the guide and chatting with Bren today and a lot of things are making more sense now. I think Dondoh and I are going to start some new Mans tonight and level together.

I am Kneesa the hobbit hunter :D

A lot of you have been asking me about the purple 'vendor trash' you collect. Yes, you can sell most of it, but read this before you do:

http://lorebook.lotro.com/wiki/Task_System_Guide

Basically you can turn in X amount daily for XP and rep. Once you've hit that cap, sell the rest until the reset the next day.