Ive been thinking very hard about playing lotro again. The new xpansion makes me very eager to try it but im wondering if its still hard getting groups to do anything with besides books.

Is the community and the popular fuller?

What major differences will there be and is there an advantage choosing a newly made class over the orignal classes?

I might be asking questions not even you know, but my main question is. What big differences both pro and con are there since about 6 months ago.

Originally posted by xgridlockx

Ive been thinking very hard about playing lotro again. The new xpansion makes me very eager to try it but im wondering if its still hard getting groups to do anything with besides books.

 Its not that hard to find fellowships. I usually go for fellowship quests at the primetimes, afternoons and weekends. And then solo or help other players in the odd hours.

Is the community and the popular fuller?

It seems to me after the announcement for MoM the community has grown. With both new and older players. Its far from a dead game thats for sure.

 

What major differences will there be and is there an advantage choosing a newly made class over the orignal classes?

 As I understand the two new classes are designed for advanced players. So it will be a great advantage if you are familiar with the game mechanics if you are gonna play those classes. But hey, if you want a challange. Roll a Warden or a Rune keeper. I can see no harm in that.

I might be asking questions not even you know, but my main question is. What big differences both pro and con are there since about 6 months ago. 

Regarding new stuff in the last 6 months, there was a whole new zone that may have not been out yet when you were playing (Forochel).  It's for lvl 45+ so makes getting to 50 easier.  Bk 13 and 14 came out in the last months.  Bk 14 is pretty epic.  The added some new endgame instances.  New gear, new cosmetic gear etc... Usually the updates they bring out every 3 months are geared towards new endgame content.  I would love if they added another zone for levels 20-35 of the game... Lonelands and ND really got old for me the 2nd time around.

I see a thread like this everyday, I think if you can't convince your self , then you shouldn't play. That is just being honest, you shouldn't have to rely on others to persuade you, if the game didn't appeal to you before, than it will 80% not appeal to you now. We have seen a 20% chance that the new content will appeal to people who tried it at luanch. If you own the game, drop a few bucks for a month test driver.

Seriously don't see how renewing your subscription is such a huge event, and I'm not saying this to just the OP , but as an mmo community in general,it is like we have to have a big parade wbout our announcements of "I'm Returning " "Im leaving"... even I'm guilty of making a production of some things, but now I realize it is all really trivial , specially if I already own the game , games like Vanguard , Lineage 2 (I own 2) , Eve online, HG: London , COH, CoV, I could play anyone of them right now just by resubbing, it is not as hard as people try to make it be, just try it and see for yourself.

Be well OP and dont take half my post personal.

Try the welcome back weekend & find out for yourself ! 

Scholes

I don't know solares, I have seen quite a few posts where people say the game didn't really grab them the first time and for whatever reason they get hooked the 2nd try.  If you played before you can play for free for a few days so try it out and see if it's more your cup of tea now.

Don't get me wrong, I have a lifetime sub to LOTRO and I enjoy the game... However, if you need someone to convince you to come back, you probably shouldn't go back.

You should play a game because you want to play and enjoy it, not because someone else has talked you into it.

You shouldn't come back, go play a free Asian grinder instead.

As an ex-AC/SWG/CoH/WoW person, I found LOTRO graphics and combat far more immersive than any other MMO I've ever played.

That "staying power" is still there. I can't bear to log into the uber-leet cartoon world of WoW anymore, even the lure of CoH isn't quite strong enough to pull me back.

Rather than convince you why to come back... I'll give you some suggestions on how to make your return as enjoyable as possible:

1. DO make an effort to join a medium to large, established and friendly kin. Friends and small fellowship groups of kinmates make a huge difference to enjoyment and access to group quests. It took me 3 shots before I found the right kin for me (check mine out http://nienna.lore.cc)

2. DO switch between zones when you run out of solo-able quests. Angmar used to be very group intensive (what do you expect, it's the seat of Sauron's power in Eriador) but as someone mentioned you can now level in Forochel AND Angmar has been made more solo friendly.

3. DO join the unofficial global looking for group channel and use it. On Elenendilmir server it's very popular. You type /joinchannel GLFF and then type /1 to type into it (don't forget to enable your User Chat 1 filter)

4. DON'T despair when you can't find a group. Even if your in a kin people get busy and you can't find one. Log into an alt and try a different class - you never know you might like it.

5. DO something other than grinding quests. Explore areas that are now grey to you. Work on your deeds to enhance your character to epic abilities. Discover crafting. Do fishing. Learn to cook and make your own buff food!

6. DO read the Similarillion or LOTRO books... immersve yourself in the lore of Middle Earth and you'll continue to boggle your mind when you recognize the significance of places and people you meet.

Overall, the choice to return is yours.. but the ability to enjoy is also yours. Don't limit yourself to traditional things. My #1 advice to you is to find friends or a kin... it's what keeps me in LOTRO even though I've maxed all my character slots with 50s (and I do like to run and help lowbies with group quests and repeat Rift quests - it gives me satisfacation to know that other people are enjoying the game as much as I do especially as I am a huge Tolkien fan.

Kaldris of Elendilmir
Officer of the Knights of Nienna
http://nienna.lore.cc

My 5 cents: when mom comes out roll a min tank or burg, you'll have a lot less troubles finding a fell.

Since everyone will want to try the new classes you'll see fell with 4 RK and stuff like that.

Originally posted by Kaldris

As an ex-AC/SWG/CoH/WoW person, I found LOTRO graphics and combat far more immersive than any other MMO I've ever played.

That "staying power" is still there. I can't bear to log into the uber-leet cartoon world of WoW anymore, even the lure of CoH isn't quite strong enough to pull me back.

Rather than convince you why to come back... I'll give you some suggestions on how to make your return as enjoyable as possible:

1. DO make an effort to join a medium to large, established and friendly kin. Friends and small fellowship groups of kinmates make a huge difference to enjoyment and access to group quests. It took me 3 shots before I found the right kin for me (check mine out http://nienna.lore.cc)

2. DO switch between zones when you run out of solo-able quests. Angmar used to be very group intensive (what do you expect, it's the seat of Sauron's power in Eriador) but as someone mentioned you can now level in Forochel AND Angmar has been made more solo friendly.

3. DO join the unofficial global looking for group channel and use it. On Elenendilmir server it's very popular. You type /joinchannel GLFF and then type /1 to type into it (don't forget to enable your User Chat 1 filter)

4. DON'T despair when you can't find a group. Even if your in a kin people get busy and you can't find one. Log into an alt and try a different class - you never know you might like it.

5. DO something other than grinding quests. Explore areas that are now grey to you. Work on your deeds to enhance your character to epic abilities. Discover crafting. Do fishing. Learn to cook and make your own buff food!

6. DO read the Similarillion or LOTRO books... immersve yourself in the lore of Middle Earth and you'll continue to boggle your mind when you recognize the significance of places and people you meet.

Overall, the choice to return is yours.. but the ability to enjoy is also yours. Don't limit yourself to traditional things. My #1 advice to you is to find friends or a kin... it's what keeps me in LOTRO even though I've maxed all my character slots with 50s (and I do like to run and help lowbies with group quests and repeat Rift quests - it gives me satisfacation to know that other people are enjoying the game as much as I do especially as I am a huge Tolkien fan.

Kaldris of Elendilmir
Officer of the Knights of Nienna
http://nienna.lore.cc

your post helped me the most thanks alot for that! The problem is your right having people to play along with and coming back having no friends is a struggle at best. Having no one to share me experiences in middle earth with is a pull back.

but i think im going to give mom a try hope to see you all there.

hope it works out for you i just too bored with the game maybe mom might be different..

I'm glad to hear that you have decided to give LoTRO another shot. Personally I think that kinship can make or break the game. There are at least 5 people kin my kin that used to be a a huge Mega-Kin (I won't name the name here but they know who they are) and got tired of the game very quickly. There's nothing like having 20 other people in your kin the same level as you who refuse to group with anyone.

After joining my kin they decided to buy lifer memberships. Depending on your play schedule and how you like to play you should be able to fkind a good kinship. Also, don't let the idiots that are in the game discourage you. Every single game has them. Luckily LoTRO seems to have a slightly lower precentage of them than most MMOs out there (IMO).

If you wanna check us out we're on the Brandywine Server. Look for Warriors of Shadowbane. We'd be more than happy to help you come back

Originally posted by RaySkye

I'm glad to hear that you have decided to give LoTRO another shot. Personally I think that kinship can make or break the game. There are at least 5 people kin my kin that used to be a a huge Mega-Kin (I won't name the name here but they know who they are) and got tired of the game very quickly. There's nothing like having 20 other people in your kin the same level as you who refuse to group with anyone.

After joining my kin they decided to buy lifer memberships. Depending on your play schedule and how you like to play you should be able to fkind a good kinship. Also, don't let the idiots that are in the game discourage you. Every single game has them. Luckily LoTRO seems to have a slightly lower precentage of them than most MMOs out there (IMO).

If you wanna check us out we're on the Brandywine Server. Look for Warriors of Shadowbane. We'd be more than happy to help you come back

i played on brandywine and ill check your kin out, i had a lvl 50 loremaster and im going through some issues with turbine to get it back but if i dont get it back looks like ill be starting over with a new character.

Well, I'm not about to bribe people into my kin but I must tell you, I can't abide poorly dressed members in my kinship

Why does it matter how i dress as long as i lvl up quickly to 60 ? and who said i would join i said check it out.

Originally posted by beaverz

My 5 cents: when mom comes out roll a min tank or burg, you'll have a lot less troubles finding a fell.

Since everyone will want to try the new classes you'll see fell with 4 RK and stuff like that.

obviously a nicely meant reply.

However the truth is that the people tryin the new classes have 2 level 50s and 2 or 3 level 40+ average. This means their "new" toon will be twinked beyond believe and they know the old content by heart. Usually means they rush through it and have little patience for slower people reading the texts and enjoing the scenery.

Least thats my experience with such experiments.

For me, thats not enjoyable.

Bursche

I played the game since BETA.  I put it down about 5 months ago and went to Warhammer.

I have a lvl 46 champ that I just got bored with, and a 50 hunter that I main with.

I've completed all of book 14 and really didn't have anything I wanted to do in the game so that is why i took a long break.

I try to live the PVmP. I'll play fora bout an hour, but it turns in to a zerg fest, run across the bridge, kill a few, run away, repeat for hours. Gets very boring.

I'm debating on getting the addon also. We'll see. I am doing the free weekend now, and really have no desire to go around and do deeds so I am back in the moors til I can't take it anymore.  Doesn't look like much has changed in teh 5 months I've been gone. We'll see.

Originally posted by gizbug

I played the game since BETA.  I put it down about 5 months ago and went to Warhammer.

I have a lvl 46 champ that I just got bored with, and a 50 hunter that I main with.

I've completed all of book 14 and really didn't have anything I wanted to do in the game so that is why i took a long break.

I try to live the PVmP. I'll play fora bout an hour, but it turns in to a zerg fest, run across the bridge, kill a few, run away, repeat for hours. Gets very boring.

 

I'm debating on getting the addon also. We'll see. I am doing the free weekend now, and really have no desire to go around and do deeds so I am back in the moors til I can't take it anymore.  Doesn't look like much has changed in teh 5 months I've been gone. We'll see.

 

 

No not much have changed in the last 5 month... since they have been working on the expansion so its better to wait untill Mines of Moria since there will be ALOT of new stuff to do.
 

Originally posted by gizbug

I played the game since BETA.  I put it down about 5 months ago and went to Warhammer.

I have a lvl 46 champ that I just got bored with, and a 50 hunter that I main with.

I've completed all of book 14 and really didn't have anything I wanted to do in the game so that is why i took a long break.

I try to live the PVmP. I'll play fora bout an hour, but it turns in to a zerg fest, run across the bridge, kill a few, run away, repeat for hours. Gets very boring.

 

I'm debating on getting the addon also. We'll see. I am doing the free weekend now, and really have no desire to go around and do deeds so I am back in the moors til I can't take it anymore.  Doesn't look like much has changed in teh 5 months I've been gone. We'll see.

 

 

I feel the same way! I signed up for a 3 month deal after quitting and played about a month into it and got bored again and never logged back in until this free weekend. My kin is trying to talk me into grabbing MoM but I don't know, I fear that it'll just be an exciting month and a half before I just ignore the LOTRO:MOM icon on my desktop for another 2 or 3 months.