Lord of the Rings Online

Which one of these games, Lord of the Rings or Everquest2 do you ppl think are more geared toward the casual gamer? and please give a reason for your answer. Im just trying to decide which one to devote my time toward until WarHammer comes out.....like a lot of us are lol

Go for LotRO. Why?

1. LotRO is easy.

2. LotRO is linear.

3. LotRO is beautiful.

4. LotRO is very casual friendly.

5. LotRO has a great community.

Why not EQ2?

1. EQ2 is dull...well, is the more boring game out of the two.

2. EQ2 can still be a system hog of a game.

3. Too much zoning in cities like Freeport.

4. Subscriptions and thus people playing this game are lower than LotRO. You'll find more people in LotRO.

5. Harder than LotRO, having to deal more with multiple mobs and needing groups at the lower levels.

In both games, I could not manage a character pass level 20. Both of these games are "yawners" to me. If you wanted a more serious fantasy game to devote yourself to, I'd suggest Vanguard...but it looks like you just want something to dick around in until WAR. In that case, I'd definitely go for LotRO.

Originally posted by MChavez

Go for LotRO. Why?

1. LotRO is easy.

2. LotRO is linear.

3. LotRO is beautiful.

4. LotRO is very casual friendly.

5. LotRO has a great community.

Why not EQ2?

1. EQ2 is dull...well, is the more boring game out of the two.

2. EQ2 can still be a system hog of a game.

3. Too much zoning in cities like Freeport.

4. Subscriptions and thus people playing this game are lower than LotRO. You'll find more people in LotRO.

5. Harder than LotRO, having to deal more with multiple mobs and needing groups at the lower levels.

 

In both games, I could not manage a character pass level 20. Both of these games are "yawners" to me. If you wanted a more serious fantasy game to devote yourself to, I'd suggest Vanguard...but it looks like you just want something to dick around in until WAR. In that case, I'd definitely go for LotRO.

Amazing, not a single toon past lvl 20 and he thinks he has enough experience to give these kinds of judgements.  That's like the local handyman advising you on brain surgery.

To the original poster.  For me EQ2 is the much better game but everyone is different.  Both have free trials, why not try them both and then make your own mind up.

Well 20 levels gives you a decent idea of what the game is all about.  I haven't played EQ2, but it's hard to imagine a more casual friendly mmo than lotro.  It's filled with interesting, well written quests.  This includes an "epic" quest line that takes you all around Eriador (the NW quarter of middle earth) using cinematic-like, story-based missions that have you indirectly (and sometimes directly) assisting the fellowship and battling all kinds of threats and villains.  Right now the epic quest line is made up of 12 books (13th coming out this month) which usually have about 10-12 chapters. 

Definitely LOTRO!  If you liked the Books and Movies, then come play the Game and get all the filler storyline that was never mentioned before!  Its really fun running around and seeing what everyone else in ME had to deal with.  The quest text is engaging also, with some interesting storylines as to why an NPC wants something dead, not just go kill 5 bears or what-have-you. 

The best parts though are the books where you actually play through scenarios with major and minor chars, protecting them, thwacking mobs, listening to a story, a funeral, etc....heh

Why not trial them both, and see....

If you want limited classes and racial selections, a more "real" world that is low on magic, as Mchavez says, a linear game...then by all means...pick LOTRO

If you like a more "fantastical" fantasy world, more to do besides questing, more in depth crafting, almost 3 times as many classes and twice as many races...pick EQ2

Later

As was suggested try the free trials and get a sense of the game and community. I did not like LOTRO, and I play EQ2 casually and it's become a great game for that. I pretty well disagree with everything the second poster said, and that's the problem when you ask questions like this. It's all personal opinion and the only real way for you to make an informed choice is by experiencing it yourself.

I prefer EQ2 myself, but it doesn't seem very casual friendly to me.  It seems to be a bit slower paced than LOTR, at least at the low levels.  The crafting system also seems to be more involved (although I don't know  lot about LOTR's), which is a good thing as far as I'm concerned, but might not be as casual friendly.  LOTR alsways seemed fairly similar to WoW to me, with graphics that have a much more real feel.  If you were only going to try one, and casual was your goal, I'd go with LOTR, but if you can try trials for both, or you want a world that seems (to me) more complex, I'd go with EQ2 first.

I have a few characters to 50 in LOTRO, and a few 40'ish in EQ2. I currently am still playing LOTRO.

To anyone considering either game, I would easily recommend them both. They are very good games all the way around. I would try them both and make good use of the trials to see which one you like more. You never know, one might really grab you more than the other. You can easily solo, group, or play casually in both.

With that said, if you are strictly looking for the one that is most casual friendly, I would recommend LOTRO. The game is very casual as needed, or can be played a bit more in depth if you like that as well.

Again, you can't really go wrong with either, but I would still give both games a valid try and see what you like the best.

Originall