Has the game been out too long for a newbie to start playing. I went back to DAOC after 6 years and i love it, but the classic servers are dieing quick.

So i would love to give LOTRO a try, but i dont want to spend a year learning eveything (If there is a steep learning curve)

Thanks guys/gals

Don't think it would be too bad. then again i'm one of those that can pick up on mmos rather quick.

The learning curve isn't that steep at all. A comprehensive tutorial pretty much covers the first few levels and eases you into the main game nicely.

As for timing, now is as good as ever, if not better! There are still newer players joining due to Moria's release, plus the 2 year anniversary offer is a good deal and is bound to attract a few more players. Plus, with alt rolling so popular in LOTRO, there's still a nice spread of levels thoughout the game.

I'm on the EU servers, so I can't speak on behalf of the US servers but all of the EU seems pretty populated and busy. I've been playing since launch and never had any issues finding groups but now is even easier when I roll a new alt.

Good luck! I'm sure you won't be disappointed!

Originally posted by cvette

Has the game been out too long for a newbie to start playing. I went back to DAOC after 6 years and i love it, but the classic servers are dieing quick.

So i would love to give LOTRO a try, but i dont want to spend a year learning eveything (If there is a steep learning curve)

 

Thanks guys/gals

There is certainly not a steep learning curve. Very easy game to pick up.

From what i read online i have to buy the DVD to get the high res files?

I found a highres client ( big mother)

Learning in lotro is easy because it has a great tutorial and also a nice community that will help you with anything you do not understand.

Originally posted by sarahstewart

Learning in lotro is easy because it has a great tutorial and also a nice community that will help you with anything you do not understand.

Sometimes I think I must play a completely different LOTRO than everyone else...(which would also explain why the game is so empty...)

I just bought this game yesterday and I used the "suggested servers for new players" that comes up on the splash screen.  I rolled 2 guys on both of the suggested servers and it's got quite a few people.  Interaction is very minimal though but I did talk to a few people here and there.

I am only level 10 so I haven't gotten too far yet.  I haven't gotten to a part where i require a group yet but it's fine because I am still learning the game.

Difficulty isn't too bad because instead of a tutorial they just give you access to features as the game moves on.  It drove me nuts that there was a mailbox on the minimap and i searched high and low with no luck.  But on the next level it was available to me on the same spot on the minimap.  Also they don't give you a something to return home quickly, like a spell or a rune.  I was getting mad that I had to run everywhere.  I was also mad there was no flee or run fast a few a seconds button.  Turns out on the next level I got both of these.

I haven't even done crafting yet or been introducted to it.  I think it is in the town I am about to go to though.

The only advice I can give you is if you get it, read the wiki and look at the classes.  The classes aren't your typical fighter, warrior, wizard, thief.  I am still mad there is no true Wizard class, this the first MMO that I ever rolled a Warrior Class.  As an example my main is a Captain who apparantly has the only resurrection during combat ability.  Their healer type class can only res in later levels and not in combat (not sure if I am exact on this but I am pretty sure it's what I read).  

Yes.

yeah your correct the healer cant res untill higher levels and out of combat which kinda sucks I know :)

Actually the Minstrel and Captain can rez at level 20, not sure about the Rune-Keeper and Loremaster.

The minstrel gets a Legendary trait at the higher levels for a in combat rez.

Minstrels, Lore masters and Rune keepers get out of combat rezes.

Captains have 2 different in-combat rezes, a normal one at lvl 20 and 1 you get at higher levels called Cry for vengence that is a bit tricky to pull off since you only have like 5 seconds after the guy dying and most be within 10 meters.

Minstrels get a legendary trait for in combat rez.

Rune keepers also get a wierd in combat rez that is a buff you put on a fellow and if he dies wthin a minute he gets rezed.

And to answer the OP: No its not to late :)

Originally posted by Papadam

Minstrels, Lore masters and Rune keepers get out of combat rezes.

Captains have 2 different in-combat rezes, a normal one at lvl 20 and 1 you get at higher levels called Cry for vengence that is a bit tricky to pull off since you only have like 5 seconds after the guy dying and most be within 10 meters.

Minstrels get a legendary trait for in combat rez.

Rune keepers also get a wierd in combat rez that is a buff you put on a fellow and if he dies wthin a minute he gets rezed.

And to answer the OP: No its not to late :)

I think Papadam hit the nail on the head, probley the best answer :P

Originally posted by trancejeremy

Originally posted by sarahstewart

Learning in lotro is easy because it has a great tutorial and also a nice community that will help you with anything you do not understand.

 

Sometimes I think I must play a completely different LOTRO than everyone else...(which would also explain why the game is so empty...)

Judging by your posts, yeah, you are not playing the same game as everyone else, that, or you like to be intentionally wrong.

Originally posted by mvirata

I just bought this game yesterday and I used the "suggested servers for new players" that comes up on the splash screen.  I rolled 2 guys on both of the suggested servers and it's got quite a few people.  Interaction is very minimal though but I did talk to a few people here and there.

I am only level 10 so I haven't gotten too far yet.  I haven't gotten to a part where i require a group yet but it's fine because I am still learning the game.

Difficulty isn't too bad because instead of a tutorial they just give you access to features as the game moves on.  It drove me nuts that there was a mailbox on the minimap and i searched high and low with no luck.  But on the next level it was available to me on the same spot on the minimap.  Also they don't give you a something to return home quickly, like a spell or a rune.

You should have a map home that transports you to the last milestone you've activated.

As for the original question.  No its not too late.  When I get back to Bree I still see group requests for beginning quests.  Plus new stuff gets added at a good rate.

@Mvirata: there isn't a pure wizard class in LOTRO, because in the Tolkien lore there aren't really any wizards or sorcerers, save Gandalf, Saruman and a few others (5 or something?), and they aren't exactly regular folks like you or I are playing in-game. If I recall correctly, Gandalf isn't even a human. Nor a dwarf or an elf or a hobbit. Gandalf is a kind of Yoda, to use a comparable metaphor. Sure, you can play a Jedi, but you can't play a Yoda.

@the OP: I just returned to the Laurelin EU-RP server, after a year's absence, and it's still busy as heck. I've been logging in at various times the last couple weeks, and there's always people about. And I still see many of the old, large, guild names that were there when I played around release. So it's still alive and kicking. I can recommend re-subbing.

Originally posted by Mrbloodworth

Originally posted by trancejeremy

Originally posted by sarahstewart

Learning in lotro is easy because it has a great tutorial and also a nice community that will help you with anything you do not understand.

 

Sometimes I think I must play a completely different LOTRO than everyone else...(which would also explain why the game is so empty...)

 

Judging by your posts, yeah, you are not playing the same game as everyone else, that, or you like to be intentionally wrong.

Some consider this kind of behaviour trolling, and some are actually right.

DB

Originally posted by cvette

Has the game been out too long for a newbie to start playing. I went back to DAOC after 6 years and i love it, but the classic servers are dieing quick.

So i would love to give LOTRO a try, but i dont want to spend a year learning eveything (If there is a steep learning curve)

 

Thanks guys/gals

Usually when someone talks about a game having been out "too long", it's either because of a perception of competition with the existing playerbase or because of population concerns.  In LoTRO, you don't really need to worry about competitive concerns.  Sure, some people are at the cap already and may have lots of money, but there's not really any competition that would somehow make you feel inferior about starting from scratch.  Also, PvP isn't like most other games.  You don't play against the other players you see - just their monsters when they decide to make a monster toon, and most people don't really spend a high percentage of their time doing it.

As to the population concerns, the servers have relatively stable populations, and although the starting zones aren't as packed as they were when the game came out, you can usually find at least a few people to group with.  It really doesn't take long to get past the content in the newbie areas.

If you like the lore and the mechanics of the game, give it a try.  The length of time it's been out (only 2 years) shouldn't affect your enjoyment much at all.

You know, I have really been looking for an MMO to play for a very long time...and I really can not get into any game out right now...but LORTO seems to be the MMO where I could just get on and play and do stuff until a game that really interests me comes out. Might d/l and play the free time they are giving out till the 30th.

I bought lifesub when the game was released, but it didnt caught my attention then and I stopped playing it.

Short answer in this colour below.

Late last year I started to play the game again. I play on a EU server called Gilrain. I went into the game with the same question as you, is it too late to start? I have played 5-6 months now and the answer is no, this game is very young and alive. Its only 2 years young with many people joining and many lower lvls of alts. Sure the first 15-20 lvls may be a little spare, but its because those lvls fly by very quick even if you solo.

The game was very easy to learn and the game even has a "advice" channel in the chat to ask newbie questions in. I found the attitude very good in the game and the higher lvl people really helpful(even beyond what is required). The only hard thing I encountered was to learn how to set up the UI, but after 30-40 minutes of Google and trying ingame I got the hang of it and its very customizable.

I play as a captain(race of Man). Im not a hardcore player, I explore a lot and I guess you could get a lot higher lvls in 5-6 months if you were more hardcore then me.

Level 1-10:

This is the tutorial levels. I did it solo and the levels just flew by.

Level 11-20:

Now you start your adventure out in the big LotRO world from the safety of the starting zone. I soloed most of it, at the higher levels of the tier more group quest started to show up in the quest journal. I was suprised how many who was on the same group quest as I when I asked in the LFF channel (LFF= looking for fellowship(fellowship=group)). The levels come and go quickly.

Level 21-30:

This tier I grouped a lot and had a blast. I got the feeling this tier got the most players so far I have played. The phase of the leveling starts to slow down a litte with a little more depth in the quests. Im pretty sure you could solo thru this tier pretty easy, avoiding the grp quest, but with so many people to group up with I grouped a lot.

Level 31-40:

This tier took me the longest time to get thru, to begin with it was fairly hard to get a group and the solo play a little harder(but still possible). But then Mines of Moria expansion was released and people started to play alts(two new classes was introduced). From lvl 35-40 I grouped a lot with people. Right now Im lvl 40 of 60 possible.

Standing in Bree I mostly see lower level characters(15-25) and high levels(50-60) and its quite a lot of people running around. Its never really empty, except at very late hours of the day. The other day I was out in the middle of nowhere, in some forest in the corner of the map, exploring, and suddenly there where 3 people running by. I almost did number two, because I though I was alone out there. :D

Right now Turbine(US)/Codemaster(EU) try to get more people into the game with very low prices on the game and 2 year anniversary deals(The game had its 2 year birthday last Friday). Codemaster made a deal with a site and they gave away 5000 subs for free last week.  I see a lot of low lvl characters and there is still many alts after the last expansion, I think this time is a idealistic time to start playing the game.

Im happy I gave it a try. After the first 20 lvls the game really starts. I joined a guild pretty early too, but I didnt start to group with them until a higher lvls when the expansion was release and they started to play alts. :)

Hope you give it a try mate.

All I write here is my own experience and I dont talk for the whole community.

Take care all!

Niim