LOTRO goes free

[Black_ice_Spain]

Ok, seeing that the game was partially empty. It went free with a "VIP status" for subscriptors.

I post it bcs i suposse many here would like to play a LOTR based mmorpg. Im doing.

For now its only beta singups. Idk if with the account you singup you can play instantly or have to wait, but im downloading the game and ill test 2morrow.

http://www.lotro.com/betasignup/index.php

btw beta will start someday in late june

[Rogal Dorn]

Yup. This seems like a pretty smart subscriber model, if it works as advertised of course. Turbine did this with DDO (Dungeons & Dragons Online) and it turned out well. I play LotRO, and as long as the game won't be affected for me (I'm paying a sub), I don't mind. The game wasn't really losing subs and was in no danger of closing down, but it was starting to stagnate. Hopefully this will bring in a new wave of players.

However, don't look for many people who'd approve of LotRO around here. It's an "abomination" of the lore. Either that or MMOs in general suck. I'm not sure which.

[SinerAthin]

who'd approve of LotRO around here. It's an "abomination" of the lore. Either that or MMOs in general suck. I'm not sure which.

MMOs generally suck lorewise, just look at the lore progression between the Warcraft games and the Warcraft MMO

[eregost]

MMOs generally suck lorewise, just look at the lore progression between the Warcraft games and the Warcraft MMO

Well you have to make some concessions to achieve fun gameplay. LotRO generally attempts to stick as close to the lore as possible. the only unlore thing that sticks out is the Runekeeper class.

[Master Necromancer]

Me signed up.

[Vifarc]

http://www.lotro.com/betasignup/vipchart.html

[Tropical Bob]

http://www.lotro.com/betasignup/vipchart.html

Aw, now that turns me off a little. I did subscribe once a while back and only played for 2 hours over a 3 month period. So I have the game plus both expansions already, but some of those restrictions seem a little disappointing (2 gold, can't spend destiny points). I realize they can't give everything for free, but hey, one can dream.

I'll still probably play if I get in for free, especially if there are other people who I can actually play with, but my excitement has dulled already since seeing the thread title..

[Umgssda]

Aw, now that turns me off a little. I did subscribe once a while back and only played for 2 hours over a 3 month period. So I have the game plus both expansions already, but some of those restrictions seem a little disappointing (2 gold, can't spend destiny points). I realize they can't give everything for free, but hey, one can dream.

You should be able to continue playing your old account as a premium one, I think.

And it's definetly not cheaper to subscribe now.

[IrishBlood]

my cousin plays LOTRO, its alright, but im not a big fan of MMO's in general

[Raymond Agustin]

Woahh!!! FINALLY!!! You don't know how much I've played for this!

Thanks for this man! OMFG!

[JustinJsen]

Thanks, I'm kind of sick of WoW and I want to start something new.
Plus, I'm a bit pissed because my account just got hacked by some who put an authenticator on it and stole all my items.

[Loomx]

How do you get premium acounts but not V.I.P. ones?

[Umgssda]

How do you get premium acounts but not V.I.P. ones?

VIPs are current subscribers and Premiums those who have done any payment before.

[Loomx]

VIPs are current subscribers and Premiums those who have done any payment before.

so if i pay one month then dont i get a premium acount?

[Umgssda]

so if i pay one month then dont i get a premium acount?

If you pay one month you are VIP for that month. Afterwards you will have to pay again to stay VIP or you become Premium. You can also make a one time buy of the mentioned Turbine points which will also make you Premium.

What I really found strange is that they deny monster play for all non-subscribers. Monsterplay ist the quick-pvp option and really fun. Without it you have to grind a playerchar to maxlevel or near maxlevel to participate in pvp, and then only at one side.

[Offensive Bias]

Hmm, this looks quite promising for the game. It goes really underpreciated but it's really, really fun to play. I can't play until my computer is repaired though Anyway, look forwarded to seeing this implemented.

[Lioncross]

All right, if it's free, then I'm game.

[MonkeyChief]

I can play almost any genre of game, but MMOs are the ones I can't stand. Its just a grind and endless leveling. Plus the games are inhabited by quite a few people who care WAY too much about the game.

I'll give this a go because its LOTR, but I havn't got high hopes.

[Bloodzen]

Thanks for the link, I have wanted to try this game before but I was put off by the subscription.

Anyway how are you installing the game already? Were you chosen for the beta or do you own a copy?

[Brevi]

'The four races of the Free Peoples – Dwarf, Elf, Hobbit, and Man – are playable in The Lord of the Rings Online.'

Without playable evil races and pvp I don't see the point in making an MMO RPG. You level up and then what? PvE is boring and pointless without PvP. You don't join a massively multiplayer game to play single player alike mission with a few friends... Fighting intelligent opponents is always better then the AI.

If there are thousands of Aragorns, Legolases, Gimlies etc bashing at the helpless npc orcs that does not really make up an epic fight. A LOTR based MMO should be an open world game with a lot of player driven features and the ability to fight the war of the ring. I bet in this game evil cannot even win. In the story of Lord of the Rings it was a miracle that evil was defeated...

I guess it has 'Monster players' but that's totally not the same. It's pretty much an Alterac Valley copy from WoW which was terrible and avoided by any good pvper.

If it had Orcs, Uruk-hai, Evil man etc... open world pvp and the ability to decide the fate of the ring. Strong class balance. Then I would definitely try it.