Lord Of The Rings Online: Best MMORPG Ever

when you click on the link it will take you to the sign in page, towards the bottom of that page you will see a big green get started button, just under that there are three links...."trailer" "what is LOTRO" and "screenshots", you can click on these three to learn more about the game if you are not sure it is something you would like or not.

A couple of months ago, I came across an ad for LOTRO. Being a huge Tolkein fan, it was only natural that i should investigate it. I have been playing it since. I even started my own kinship called "It Is Not This Day". I named it for the part in the movie where they are before the black gates of Mordor and Aragorn is giving his men a stirring speech designed to give them courage. I have quite a few members now, and we have great fun, and enjoy helping each other...but the thing I and my first officer Melly enjoy a great deal is searching out new players to the game and recruiting them so we can help them and guide them as they learn the ropes of the game.

When I first started, I chose to be a Guardian (race: man) for a couple of reasons. I can relate to the Guardian...and the Guardian was inspired by Sam, who happens to be my favorite LOTR character. the Guardian is a powerful character, but it takes a bit longer to level up. Still, you have more power at lower levels. I have recently created my second character, a Lore-Master (race: elf), mostly because I wanted to see what it was like having animals fight by my side. The biggest difference I have seen between my two characters is that the Lore-Master levels up faster, but is weaker from the start, slowly getting stronger...While the Guardian is a powerhouse almost from the start and just keeps getting stronger. The LM can do things my G can't do. And visa versa.

The class you choose determines where (location) you start the game. As a human, you start in Archet. As an elf, you start in Celondim. I have not tried being a dwarf or hobbit, but I assume dwarves start near Thorins Hall and Hobbits start in the Shire somewhere. I will try to give a short summary on each of the classes:

Guardian: Inspired by Samwise Gamgee, whose loyalty to Frodo Baggins knew no limits. Available to all four races. Class Difficulty: Basic. Role: Defense. Gameplay: Guardians wear heavy armour and have many defensive skills that allow them to survive battles against the most fearsome enemies. In fellowships, the Guardian acts as a tank, protecting the weaker or more fragile allies and also drawing attacks upon themselves instead of their allies. Lore: Guardians are the stout protectors of the weak and defenders of those in need, loyal companions to the end. True Guardians stand to the front of battle, shielding their allies from enemy assaults.

Lore-Master: Inspired by Elrond Half-elven, Elf Lord and master of Rivendell. Avaiable to Elf and Human. Class Difficulty: Advanced. Role: Support. Gameplay: Lore-Masters are the masters of crowd control, using skills to trap enemies and preventing them from fighting. They are able to summon animals to fight by their side and can even call on elemental forces to damage their enemies. In Fellowships, the Lore-Master concentrates on supporting his allies, primarily by hindering the enemy's ability to deal damage. Lore: Lore-Masters are seekers of knowledge and the guardians of wisdom. Through study of bygone ages, they learn ancient secrets that allow them to hinder enemies, as well as protect against the dark powers of the enemy. They have many skills that invoke the natural world of Middle-earth, but it is draining on the will, thus costing them morale to fuel some of these powerful skills.

Hunter: This class was inspired by Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood, A mighty hunter and companion of Aragorn. Available to all four races. Class Difficulty; Basic. Role: Damage. Gameplay: Hunters are proficient at dealing significant damage to a single enemy at long range. This class can wield dual weapons. In Fellowships, the Hunter concentrates on quickly killing enemies one at a time. Lore: Hunters are masters of field and forest, unmatched in their dexterity with a bow. They use their survival skills to guide companions and lay traps for the enemy.

Minstrel: Inspired by Luthien Tinuviel, whose elven voice beguiled friend and enemy alike. Available to all four races. Class difficulty: Moderate. Role: Healer. Gameplay: Minstrels are known for their healing abilities and are capable of dealing respectable damage with their war speech. In a Fellowship, the minstrel keeps their allies healed and supported. Lore: Supported by a minstrel, the members of a fellowship will have boosted morale and be able to fight harder. Minstrels can utter words of power to protect against the forces of darkness.

Rune-Keeper: inspired by the master elf-smith Celebrimbor, whose skills with runes was unparalleled. Available to Elf and Dwarf. Class Difficulty: Moderate. Role: damage/healer. Gameplay: Rune-Keepers must choose during each battle to focus on damaging skills or healing skills. In Fellowships, Rune-Keepers keep allies healed or deal significant damage to the enemy. Lore: Through unparalleled mastery of Angerthas and Tengwar runes, a Rune-Keeper evokes much more than a normal scribe. Dagor runes deal with battle, Nestad with healing and Thalas with support.

Warden: Inspired by Marchwarden of Lothlorien, Haldir, and his brothers Rumil and Orophin. Available to Elf, Human and Hobbit. Class Difficulty: Advanced. Role: Defense. Gameplay: Wardens are mobile melee combatants who use javelins to initiate combat and against ranged enemies. Their unique Warden shields and variety of defensive skills allow them to stay in the fight longer than most. In Fellowships, Wardens force the enemy to attack him so their weaker or more fragile allies will not be harmed. Lore: Wardens limit themselves to medium armour so they may travel swiftly and silently to defend those they protect from threats. Wardens all have some military training and have mastered a style of combat that uses combinations of basic attacks to create masterful gambits.

Champion: Inspired by Gimli, son of Gloin, whose skills in arms matched the bow skills of Legolas. Available to Elf, Dwarf and Human. Class Difficulty: Basic. Role: Damage. Gameplay: Champions wade into battle swinging their weapons in all directions at once, dealing significant damage to many enemies at once. In Fellowships, Champions concentrate on engaging as many of the enemy as possible. Lore: Unrelenting in battle, Champions are the consummate warrior. Not caring for his own well-being, the CHampion relies on his strength and prowess in battle to slay the enemy.

Captain: Inspired by Earnur, last king of Gondor, who was revered both as a captain skilled in arms and as a lore-master. Available only to humans. Class Difficulty: Moderate. Role: Support. Gameplay: Captains are armoured melee fighters and masters at buffing, skills that enhance allies. They may summon a companion herald to fight by their side, ensuring they always have an ally to buff. They can also mark enemies, giving benefits to all who attack them. In Fellowships, Captains support their allies with healings and buffs while still dealing respectable damage. Lore: The Captains of Middle-earth hold the future in their hands. By their own strength in arms and the inspiration they instill in others, they must lead the Free Peoples to victory.

Burglar: Inspired by Bilbo Baggins, who accompanied Thorin and Company on their quest to the Lonely Mountains. Available to Humans and Hobbits. Class Difficulty: Advanced. Role: Support. Gameplay: Burglars are masters at debuffing, skills that cause the enemy to deal less damage or be easier to kill. A burglar has stealth skills. In Fellowships, a Burglar supports his allies by debuffing enemies, while dealing respectable damage. Lore: Burglars are masters of stealth and misdirection. They rely on sleight of hand and startling attacks that allow their companions to overwhelm their enemies.

That completes the list of classes played in the game. This is turning out a bit longer than I intended, so if there is enough interest, I will later add to or make a second part.