Playing on Evernight (EU), much more populated right now then it was last summer (or was it then one before that, when the low to mid-level zones like The Lone-Lands really were abandoned lands). Leveling up an alt around Bree and the Forsaken Inn I can definitely tell there are many new players, not just veterans leveling up yet another alt, you can see it from the questions being asked in the advice channel on a regular basis, such as "where do I buy travel rations" or "what level is the Barrows?" etc etc

From the top of my head, another example: I joined some level 20's for doing The Great Barrows with my loremaster alt and I told them I was a bit of a newbie with playing the lore-master class and they all replied aprroximately "me too, first time in here, it's my first toon!" :)

In conclusion, game is in a very healthy state with many new and old players alike enjoying this great game :)

I play on the Brandywine server and have noticed quite an interest in the Summer Festival actvities even as compared to the Spring Festival earlier this year.   The SF had a few bugs particularly with the horse racing in Breeland.  The community seems to be quite lively this summer over last year also.   I still keep going back to WOW now and again but lose interest after a couple of months.  I have a lifetime subscription to LOTRO and find it refreshing to come back to after trying out other games.  The community is by far the best I've seen so far in my 5+ years of online gaming.  I recommend the lifetime subscription as I play when I want to and don't feel compelled because I pay a monthly fee.

Originally posted by DonnieBrasco

Originally posted by einexile

I'm on Silverlode, and judging just from the free week the cities seem to have emptied out pretty badly. If you have a high level character this might not matter depending on where the endgame folks hang out, but they sure as hell aren't in Bree. More importantly to me, the people in the low and mid level areas are a lot quieter than they used to be, even considering their numbers. I get the sense they are trying to level out of there as quickly as possible.

The Ettenmoors are also very quiet, people seem bored and the mood is negative in the extreme, even compared to this time last year.

 

Exactly the opposite. (Snowbourn EU). I was just logging in to check my stuff in the AH in Michel Delving, and it had 4-5 people standing in there.

Now, I've been playing this game since closed beta, and have never ever seen more than 1-2 guys in there at the same time (very unlike Bree).  Also, all my stuff (40+ items) sold in half a day, made a great deal of money. All level morale potions were sold like cupcakes. There is clearly a huge demand for those, they will sell at ridiculously high prices... good to be a scholar these days :D
 

DB

agree, Snowbourn was always one of the most populated EU servers and nowadays i see a lot of ppl in all areas, which is great

and 21st hall is so full of ppl tha you can't move :)

Brandywine, as previously stated, is very active. I love the people who say..."well you're on Brandywine and Landroval..so of course they're packed." We can only relate to our own experience..and since I play on one server only...that is what I am basing my reply on. So you're on a low pop server...would it be so daunting to switch to an"obviously" more populated server. Couldn't be losing out on too much since there's been no one with which to group on your current server....I can understand if you're like 30-40th level...but if you're 10 or even 20th level...just come on over to Brandywine and start a newbie.

While population seems fine, finding a group on Vilya is problematic, unless you belong to a large kin or are part of the "clique" (ie. join special chat channels, stand around in zones socializing, but not doing much, for hours).  My wife and I don't do any of these things.  We log in to play a game and explore.

I stood in the 21st Hall for an hour one night looking for people to help with a group quest in th epic line.  MANY people standing around doing nothing, jumping up and down like rabbits, and emoting random crap to each other.  the zone was packed.

In that one hour I received not a single tell, peep, or offer of help from a single person.

I never finished the Volume I epic quest line for the same reason.  I log in less and less these days.

I love this game, but I'm beginning to lose interest.

hmm, i soloed all the way up to 20 and only need to party (with another 18, she was looking for help) for the final Book 1 Epic Quest.