Discussion: Impressions at level 10

First off, I'm probably older than most at 46, but have been a gamer since the Colecovision days. I've never been a big online game player, and a friend coerced me into playing WoW 4 years ago and I fell in love with MMO's. Well that one anyway. however, being recently laid off, and between expansions I wanted to try something new without having to shell out a monthly fee. I dl'ed LOTRO last week and decided to give it a whirl. I had tried D&D online, but that wasn't my cup of tea.

LOTRO certainly seems to be. Having gotten two toons to level 10 (I alter playing them so I don't get too bored), I've really fallen in love with the gameworld. The graphics are sometimes breathtaking, aside from the rather low polygons of the player characters, it's truly a beautiful game. The fact I can get a decent frame rate on a year old laptop with settings on high is pretty impressive to me.

The quests, while of the standard fetch and deliver variety seem to be a lot more fluid, and enjoyable. So far the quests have been enoyable, and having npc's help out in certain early areas is actually fun. The story line for the human and dwarves are really top notch (and being a writer myself, story is important to me).

The combat is pretty standard, but I really love how different the typical roles feel. They are unique and really give you a sense of playing a certain way.

My biggest problem so far is the mapping system and getting to, or finding quests. I know there are things I can purchase that may make it easier, but in the elven starting area in particular, it can be not frustrating, but annoying.

I truly am enjoying myself and wish I hadn't waited so long to play.

First off - Welcome!

Second - Yes the Elven area is a pain. I prefer to move my Elven toons as quickly as possible too Bree. Or Michel Delving. The Shire is just sooooo cute!

Having levelled 10+ toons to cap I can tell you that the game doesn't really get started until you pass through into Angmar. Then things heat up.

If you haven't already - READ (notice I don't say watch the movies) The Hobbit, Followed by Lord Of The Rings.

You will only then really appreciate all the work that went into bringing Tolkien's Middle Earth alive!

Thank you for the welcome! I'm definitely looking forward to playing much more. I've read the books and have actually every couple of years since I was 16, so the hard work hasn't gone unnoticed and can't wait to see all my favorite places!

Envoyé par karbax

My biggest problem so far is the mapping system and getting to, or finding quests. I know there are things I can purchase that may make it easier, but in the elven starting area in particular, it can be not frustrating, but annoying.

Im alsoe a brand new LOTR online player.
I stopped playing WoW just recently, after 5 years of playing it I just got too bored of it.
But I still like mmorpg, and a friend adviced me to try Lotr online.


So far it seems like a game I could rly like.
Just wanted to say I do alsoe find the Quest and track them a little pain some times. I just jumped straight innto playing it, and havent read much about how to play, just take it as it goes.
But the quests, mapping and tracking of it I do feel its a little difficult to grasp all the time.

I must admit to finding it a little surprising that you are having problems finding the quest chains, particularly in the low level areas.
I have always found that if you do the quests in the start area, then that naturally flows you onto the next area, quest chain, etc.
If you really get a little stuck for whats next, use the official wiki site. There is lots and lots of good info there not only for new but seasoned campaigners as well.

Also if in doubt, ask, in game. Plenty of helpful people in the game.

Like you I like to play a variety (currently running 11 toons). variety is after all the spice of life

On a different note, at 46 you are nowhere near being oldest. Lots of people older than that in our kin (The Last Alliance) alone, never mind in the game in general. In fact your not even the oldest contributing to this thread . There are a number of decent "mature" ,ahem, kins out there. Although I have to say that, in general, the kids dont behave the same in lotro as many other online games. Very few issues with juvenile pia's.

Welcome to Middle Earth! If you want a starter area that flows a little better I'd suggest taking your level 10 toon to Combe. This is near Bree and I believe there is even a swift travel option to get there for 1 silver. To me, I always take all my toons to this area (which is the race of man starter area) even if they are Hobbits, Elves, or Dwarves just because I like the flow of it and things are so much smoother. This area along with the nearby Stock area will get you to level 15ish at which point you can move over to the BrandyBuck area on the East side of Breeland and begin working on the Old Forest, then move around level 17 or so into the Barrowdowns and the rest of Bree Proper. Once you get to about level 20, do your skirmishes that become available and if possible get into the Great Barrows instances (one begins at level 20, next at level 22, and last at level 24) and after you do those and get the Great Barrows armor move on into Lonelands and work that through to level 30. At that point go to Oatbarton and begin the Evendim quests. This will take you to level 40ish. After that you have more of a choice. My advice is to go to Angmar and do the quests in Aughaire up until you get your Fem Armor set at which point you should be somewhere around level 43. Once you get that you can either continue in Angmar though there are lots of fellowship quests that may or may not be something you care for. It is a great area if you can get a group to help you through it. Solo, I would not recommend it except for those first quests in Aughaire for the Fem armor set. After this, move over to Forochel if you have it and this area can easily take you to level 50. However, when you hit level 45 go immediately to Echad Dunnan in Eregion and do the Volume II epic intro which will give you your first legendary item and will also give you access to Moria. However, I would not go into Moria until atleast level 50.

Once you hit 50 in Forochel I'd recommend going to Eregion and atleast doing enough quests there to get you to level 52 at which point you can safely enough go into Moria. Moria will easily get you to 60+ but you could leave Moria as early as 58 if you so choose(some people will say 56 but I would not recommend it unless you are with atleast one other player). When you leave Moria at level 58 you will be in the Lothlorien area but you will not be able to enter Lothlorien proper until you become atleast acquaintance level with them. You get this by getting 10,000 reputation points which you can get either by completing quests in the Lothlorien Pre-area (killing orcs and such) or by completing Volume II, book 6 which will grant you 10,000 Lothlorien reputation points. After you get into Lothlorien get yourself to level 60 atleast and then you can decide to either go into Mirkwood or Enedwaith. Either one of these can easily and relatively quickly get you to level 65. Once you hit level 65 you can begin the Dunland quests and work your way to level 75 which is the current level cap. Good luck, have fun, and take your time because you will only go through all this one time for the first time and it is quite enjoyable. Also, don't forget to do your epic story because it is the best story in the game.

Envoyé par djr955

I must admit to finding it a little surprising that you are having problems finding the quest chains, particularly in the low level areas.
I have always found that if you do the quests in the start area, then that naturally flows you onto the next area, quest chain, etc.
If you really get a little stuck for whats next, use the official wiki site. There is lots and lots of good info there not only for new but seasoned campaigners as well.

Also if in doubt, ask, in game. Plenty of helpful people in the game.

Like you I like to play a variety (currently running 11 toons). variety is after all the spice of life

On a different note, at 46 you are nowhere near being oldest. Lots of people older than that in our kin (The Last Alliance) alone, never mind in the game in general. In fact your not even the oldest contributing to this thread . There are a number of decent "mature" ,ahem, kins out there. Although I have to say that, in general, the kids dont behave the same in lotro as many other online games. Very few issues with juvenile pia's.

It's not the quest chains per se, more like relying on the map on where to go to complete a quest. I'll be the first to admit I got very spoiled playing wow and utilizing all its addons. Carbonite was a must have for me while questing, and I guess I just got used to being led. I've forgotten what it's like to explore again; having said that, the maps and where quest mobs are could be a little easier to read. Not a deal breaker, I'll adapt, just getting used to a new system.

Also nice to know there's a more mature player base, wow was making me feel very out of place.

Really like the community here so far.

Again agree on what Karbax is saying.
Its not finding the quest chains.
Its more to follow them, where to go, who to talk too.
You enter a city, the one that is where Dwarfs start. When watching the map inside it you dont see any quest npcs on your map.
You need to go look for them, and I couldnt see if I was in the right district either.
Had to read the quest, and guess where the Npc was. Could be done better, at least thats my first impression.
Might get the hang of it later as I progess and get more used to it.

And yes, coming from WoW where you are more or less guided trough all the quests it might be me beeing spoiled.


The community, one of the reasons I left Wow couse its gotten rly bad lately.
Looks to me to be way more mature then Wow is atm.

Lotr looks promising.

Welcome, and two pieces of advice.

Read the quest texts. Often they will tell you significant details about where to find the npc or item in question.

Explore the map. Even if you're not getting quest rewards, the design detail is amazing, and if you've read the books you'll trip over little things and find yourself squeeing with joy.

I got to save Bill the Pony, and it's still one of the highlights of the game for me. I only found him because I was wandering over the zone in question.

Welcome to Middle Earth!

In regards to the somewhat more difficult ways of finding and getting to quest objectives;

In the beginning, lotro didn't even have quest guides, that was added later, close to a year after launch I think. The idea behind it I believe was to make it more immersive. You had to actually read quests and think. You also really got to know the layout of the world better, when you had to pay attention and not mindlessly follow an arrow or glowing area.
The addition of a quest guide made functioning in the game a hundred times easier, and I think is a decent compromise instead of direct teleports, glowing paths, or whatever other games offer to make it easier. They just want you to experience the world a bit more.
I assume you DO have the quest guide enabled? I think it is by default, but it can be turned off, if that happened, it could be pretty tough, yeah

<edit> I realized after reading your original post, you were't talking about objectives, but rather quest hubs.. doh! But like others said, pretty much all of the time the quest's progressions will send you to the next hub. But if you like exploring first, picking up quests second, you might get a little lost and end up not at the beginning hubs, but the middle or end hubs, which might not send you to another. After reading this, I bet you're really confused. My specialty! <bows>

Envoyé par MorenaT

Welcome to Middle Earth!

In regards to the somewhat more difficult ways of finding and getting to quest objectives;

In the beginning, lotro didn't even have quest guides, that was added later, close to a year after launch I think. The idea behind it I believe was to make it more immersive. You had to actually read quests and think. You also really got to know the layout of the world better, when you had to pay attention and not mindlessly follow an arrow or glowing area.
The addition of a quest guide made functioning in the game a hundred times easier, and I think is a decent compromise instead of direct teleports, glowing paths, or whatever other games offer to make it easier. They just want you to experience the world a bit more.
I assume you DO have the quest guide enabled? I think it is by default, but it can be turned off, if that happened, it could be pretty tough, yeah

<edit> I realized after reading your original post, you were't talking about objectives, but rather quest hubs.. doh! But like others said, pretty much all of the time the quest's progressions will send you to the next hub. But if you like exploring first, picking up quests second, you might get a little lost and end up not at the beginning hubs, but the middle or end hubs, which might not send you to another. After reading this, I bet you're really confused. My specialty! <bows>

No more so than I was before! To be fair, it's only been the elven area so far I've had issues with, and I do like this way of questing, just a matter of getting used to it.

Welcome to the LotRO Community!
I would love to cut an paste and quote all the folks before me and the great advice they have given. I think Mandragaron summed up the entire levelling arena in the shortest most concise method I have seen yet. (Nicely done!)

I am an entirely solo player. I have joined fellowships three times in the last two years. I am not anti-social by any means (kind of defeats the purpose, right?) but I do so for two reasons: 1) The limited time I am able to play and 2) I have less to offer groups/fellowships/kins than other players since I can not play as often or learn the styles needed for larger groups. I am not trying to criticize myself or anyone else, nor try to play-down my abilities. Just calling it like I see it.

THAT SAID: I have thoroughly enjoyed playing LotRO for the past two years. I keep bouncing from Free-To-Play (FtP) to VIP for a few months. I have one main toon (currently 57 Hunter- great for soloing by the way) and several alts to goof around with.

I just wanted to mention the early levels. Agreed, they send you to see several NPC's or to go to several locations without a real hint as to where they might be besides the "Ring-Pointer" on your map. It is frustrating. Almost as frustrating as using a GPS that would basically tell you how close you are to a destination without actually giving your directions ("Turn your Elf left at the Elm Tree near the Big Rock that looks like a poor rendition of Abraham Lincoln"). However, you soon learn how you get from Point A to B in this game, and it is almost never a straight line. I believe the intention was to teach us the landscape of the game so that later on, when it tells you "Find insert bad guy name here and wreak havoc upon them" you know it is probably on the other side of a mountain inside a cave which is inside two other caves and you will have to fight your way in... and sometimes back out again. Heck, even with Aragorn, the path wasn't always clear (in the books), so I think they are keeping to the spirit of things.
Enjoy the landscape and the intricacies. This is been the most enjoyable MMORPG I have had the pleasure of playing, and despite the occasional issues, Turbine does a fine job (Kudos to them).

Welcome to Middle-earth!

I will ''spoil'' it a bit for you with this video about the game

LotRO youtube

As the comment there says : ''This game is gorgeous, heads and tales above any other MMO ever released in terms of immersion and beauty of graphical design.''

I havent played many other mmos but i can pretty much agree with that comment

Envoyé par karbax

It's not the quest chains per se, more like relying on the map on where to go to complete a quest. I'll be the first to admit I got very spoiled playing wow and utilizing all its addons. Carbonite was a must have for me while questing, and I guess I just got used to being led. I've forgotten what it's like to explore again; having said that, the maps and where quest mobs are could be a little easier to read. Not a deal breaker, I'll adapt, just getting used to a new system.

Also nice to know there's a more mature player base, wow was making me feel very out of place.

Really like the community here so far.

I assume (dont take this the wrong way) you realise that if you hover over the quest in the map box it highlights that objective area. Also you can change the colour of the highlight. Personally I make them ALL white - colour blindness is a terrible thing. Also the marker on the mini map ingame shouldhelp you get to the general area.

After a little while I think it will be second nature. I jumped to Lotro from GW and took a little while for the stuff to click, now going back to GW (on the very odd occassion) is a nightmare.

Envoyé par djr955

I assume (dont take this the wrong way) you realise that if you hover over the quest in the map box it highlights that objective area. Also you can change the colour of the highlight. Personally I make them ALL white - colour blindness is a terrible thing. Also the marker on the mini map ingame shouldhelp you get to the general area.

After a little while I think it will be second nature. I jumped to Lotro from GW and took a little while for the stuff to click, now going back to GW (on the very odd occassion) is a nightmare.

I did notice that, and use it when a quest shows up. I've noticed they seem to disappear from view, depending on how far away you from the quest. It's much easier now as I've played more, and you're right, going into from another mmo, takes some adjustment. Still loving the game!