Lord of the Rings Online Free Trial Begins...NOW!

[bapenguin]

Turbine has sent along a press release stating that Lord of the Rings Online has a 7 day free trial period beginning today. Beginning today, fans in North America, Australia, and New Zealand can play for free by visiting http://trial.lotro.com.

At the end of the trial you are able to purchase the full game either digitally or via retail and retain your characters.

[GunnyMo]

Nice! I'll have to give it a whirl.

[DeadlyDonkey]

Why couldn't they put a free trial out for us Europeans too :(

[JRR006]

Awesome! I've been curious about this game. I love free trials.

[GrinR]

You want to hear about my secret shame? I've become addicted to EQ2. I actually like it more than LOTRO.


*sob*

[GunnyMo]

You want to hear about my secret shame? I've become addicted to EQ2. I actually like it more than LOTRO.


*sob*

Yeah, that is terrible, GrinR. I expected better of you. Truly, I did.

As penance, you must be reminded of this:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38/GunnyMo/CrackedGrinR.jpg

[GrinR]

Yeah, that is terrible, GrinR. I expected better of you. Truly, I did.

As penance, you must be reminded of this:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38/GunnyMo/CrackedGrinR.jpg

That's not punishment! That's nostalgia. Ahhhhh Kills means skills ahhhhh!

[GunnyMo]

That's not punishment! That's nostalgia. Ahhhhh Kills means skills ahhhhh!

Alrighty then, how about this one? You have to look through me to get to yourself.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38/GunnyMo/MVC-868F.jpg

[captainstrombosis]

You want to hear about my secret shame? I've become addicted to EQ2. I actually like it more than LOTRO.


*sob*

I tried it again recently, it's actually a hell of a lot better than it was at launch. So it's not AS much shame as would otherwise be warranted.

I also think it's entertaining that my Quote in Gunny's sig specifically pertains to this MMO. Boars in Angmar? Rarglflargl!

[GunnyMo]

I also think it's entertaining that my Quote in Gunny's sig specifically pertains to this MMO. Boars in Angmar? Rarglflargl!

lol nice. :D

[GrinR]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38/GunnyMo/MVC-868F.jpg


http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/732/killfireqd6.gif

[GrinR]

I tried it again recently, it's actually a hell of a lot better than it was at launch. So it's not AS much shame as would otherwise be warranted.

I also think it's entertaining that my Quote in Gunny's sig specifically pertains to this MMO. Boars in Angmar? Rarglflargl!

I have to be honest, and this is as a lifetime sub LOTRO guy, I really think EQ2 today is one of the best MMORPGs available. I fucking hate Sony and I hated EQ and EQ2 at launch, but MAN have they changed this game.

The fact that I can "turn off combat XP" so I don't outlevel my quests? Brilliant. The fact that "quest XP" gives me xp for my Talents only, whereas combat XP gives me xp for leveling is genius. I can either grind away for levels or complete quests (and there are more quests in EQ2 than any other MOG I've played by far) for talents - or both!

It's just damn good.

[GunnyMo]

Hey, you're the one playing EQ2, not me. :)

Edit: I should say I want to check out EQ2 again but, for the life of me, I absolutely hate trying to navigate that Sony Station website nightmare to get my station name sorted out. I don't remember what it is (as it's tied to a previous install of EQ2) and I no longer have the email address it was associated with. So, in essence, I can't use my copy of EQ2 because it's already linked to a station name I don't remember with an email I don't have. Sigh.

[gawaintheblind]

HURRAY!


... oh wait.


Edit: Gunny that is, word-for-word, exactly what happened to me and why I don't currently play eq2.

I may pick it up again at some point, but honestly the best part of that game for me was the crafting system, and I don't need to pay a monthly fee for a crafting simulator.

[Chameleo]

if i had a better PC to play it on i'd be all over this.

[Balth Maligne]

Oooooh! I've WANTED to give this one a shot! Go go gadget cable line!

[Chimpbot]

Yay, free trials!

It's free and it's not WoW...so, count me in!

[OUX]

I will be trying this out.

[GunnyMo]

Edit: Gunny that is, word-for-word, exactly what happened to me and why I don't currently play eq2.



Sucks, don't it? There should be some other way to recall your account information. Credit card number, address, whatever. Then again, Sony's Station has always been a complete pain in the ass to use.

[BlackPete]

3.9GB download? Oh man, I really feel for the dial-up users...

Not that dial-up users should be playing an online game of any kind beyond solitaire ;)

[GunnyMo]

I just played a bit of this. It runs a little choppy on my antique system but otherwise it was fine. I probably just need to tweak the options a bit. It starts out well and I can see potential. I'm not sure if I want to start paying for it as of yet.

Although the rumors of much of it being a straight clone from WoW are not exaggerated. ;) But that is a good thing, interface and control wise. How the content plays out is another thing.

[Wasson_]

3.9GB download? Oh man, I really feel for the dial-up users...

Not that dial-up users should be playing an online game of any kind beyond solitaire ;)


WoW is actually very doable over Dial-up, just don't expect to win any PvsP encounters outside of the battlefields.

[bajan]

once i get back my 5mb connection i'll download this for sure!
colour me excited

[Mashidar]

I have to be honest, and this is as a lifetime sub LOTRO guy, I really think EQ2 today is one of the best MMORPGs available. I fucking hate Sony and I hated EQ and EQ2 at launch, but MAN have they changed this game.

It's just damn good.

Man I have to agree with you 100%. When I played EQ2 in 2005 I hated the game and deleted it with in a few weeks. I just went back to the game last week and things have changed for the better.

I had EQ2 and the first expansion. I bought the 39.99 edition that came out that has EQ2 and all three current expansions as well as a few bonus items and tacket the key onto my old account and more or less gave me credit as a long time player. So my account says it's 903 days old, but I've only really been playing for a week or so now.

Overall EQ2 has everything I want in an MMO at the moment and once I get the new video card and extra memory tommorow I'll enjoy the game even more. Heck WoW and other MMO's need a good hand to hand class like FFXI and EQ2 happen to have.

Right now my level 22 Brawler just kills things so quick.

On topic though, I liked LOTRO but some friends got banned for something that was not there fault and I decided not to return to that game. Then again after playing EQ2 now, I don't want to go to anything else.

[Mashidar]

Hey, you're the one playing EQ2, not me. :)

Edit: I should say I want to check out EQ2 again but, for the life of me, I absolutely hate trying to navigate that Sony Station website nightmare to get my station name sorted out. I don't remember what it is (as it's tied to a previous install of EQ2) and I no longer have the email address it was associated with. So, in essence, I can't use my copy of EQ2 because it's already linked to a station name I don't remember with an email I don't have. Sigh.

Worse case just buy the new boxed edition with all the expansions and save some cash and make a new account if you can't get your old one back. I used Direct 2 Drive and so far it's all been a smooth process.

[lockwoodx]

Considering how Turbine has completely abandoned their last two games I totallly skipped LOTROL.

[BlackPete]

So has anyone downloaded this yet? I'm wondering if it's going to force you to enter your credit card information like certain MMORPGs...

[randir14]

Considering how Turbine has completely abandoned their last two games I totallly skipped LOTROL.

I got bored of it in a month when other mmorpgs have lasted me at least a year, so I don't think you missed much.

[cp#]

I'd rather not have to download a low-res client.

[captainstrombosis]

I got bored of it in a month when other mmorpgs have lasted me at least a year, so I don't think you missed much.

Yeah, it's pretty much a game you play for the first free month and then cancel before you get charged. For that purpose, it's fun. However being a WoW clone (including the insanely fast quest lvling) without any Endgame to speak of. Means they kind of forgot one of the more important aspects of WoW.

So when me and my friends decided to quit. I took my Captain to the battlegrounds. Summoned 20 or so lvl 1 friends. And we all ganked up on monster players. Was a hell of a way to take off, (and get my Captain Banned). Was worth the money though.

[Lint of Death]

Wait, so I download this 4+ gig client but it's not installed? Please tell me it doesn't require nearly 9 gigs free just to get the working game....

[opusdeath]

Why couldn't they put a free trial out for us Europeans too :(

Different publisher unfortunately.

[Smoof]

Got really bored with this game when I hit my low 20s. The group quests become extremely frustrating, requiring you to have THE perfect group to complete them. There's only one serious healing class to speak of in the game and good luck finding one, or a tank.

Unlike WoW, you can't just throw a random group together of Rogues and crank out some group quests. You must have a full fellowship (generally) with the perfect class build. Game just got too annoying.

It was fun and pretty, certainly The Shire is awesome, but beyond that, blah.

[abso]

It's a fun game, but not meant for the "rush through content" folks. If you are a hardcore MMO player, this is not the game for you. You really have to not concern yourself with experience point numbers in order to really enjoy the game. Anyway, I've been playing since April, and while I still enjoy it, I'm growing bored (currently lvl 46). Most of the content left for me requires organized groups, or is simply grinding. I think I'm mostly just playing these days because there hadn't been anything else out to really take up my game playing time.

I don't think you need the perfect group build for this game at all though. You just need intelligent players that know when to use their skills. For example, there is one class that specializes in crowd-control. Well, if that player never uses any of his stun/mesmerize skills, you are going to have problems. Or this other group I was in where our healer wanted to double as the tank. On the other hand, I've completed group quests that suggest a full group of 6 with 2 other people, 1 a healer, and the other any other class. It can be done, but you have to adjust your strat to do it, and most people don't want to do that.

[CptTripps]

Sweet, jump on the "FireFoot" server if you download. At least there are some folks still there if you end up sticking around. I personally think this free trial is a good idea and will actually bring some people in. It may be not be groundbreaking, but it's done well, the trait system is cool and it's purdy.

I took most the summer off but recently got back at it. Almost 38 now, find it quite enjoyable with a few personal friends that play and must say that Minstrel is the best solo class evah!!

Kloee on Firefoot

[Kem0sabe]

I just played a bit of this. It runs a little choppy on my antique system but otherwise it was fine. I probably just need to tweak the options a bit. It starts out well and I can see potential. I'm not sure if I want to start paying for it as of yet.

Although the rumors of much of it being a straight clone from WoW are not exaggerated. ;) But that is a good thing, interface and control wise. How the content plays out is another thing.


Wait till you get to the forsaken inn and realise that all you will be doing for the rest of your days is killing the same boars, wolfs, spiders, till you reach the endgame (which consists of a buggy raid dungeon).

This game could have been so much more, but turbine has dropped the ball yet again, as can be attested by the huge server population loss that been affecting the European servers.

[mightbe]

I did not care for this game. I found it to be dull and fundamentally flawed for group play.

[BigJonno]

When I played it in beta, I enjoyed it and there didn't seem to be anything wrong with it. It is incredibly WoW-like and I do like the classes and the storylines. It just doesn't have anything that made me want to rush out and play it.

[Knite]

I'd rather not have to download a low-res client.

Then change the link text from LowRes to HighRes...
:cool:

[GunnyMo]

I did not care for this game. I found it to be dull and fundamentally flawed for group play.

It lives! :D

[Atorak]

I played LOTR until level 45 and quit. Once again, as is the curse of all MMOs, I felt like all I was doing was grinding, and I can't stand that! Also, be prepared to wait for groups a LOT, unless you join a huge kinship (guild) that is willing to help you complete quests. Some of them are impossible alone, and I would often find myself waiting days to complete them.

I haven't missed it at all since I quit weeks ago, but to each his own.

[roboninja]

Might try this out, but with the long weekend coming, might not get time. I tried the beta for a while, but like most people here, found it good but not great. If I do give it a shot, I will jump on the Firehoof server for sure.

[CptTripps]

Wait till you get to the forsaken inn and realise that all you will be doing for the rest of your days is killing the same boars, wolfs, spiders, till you reach the endgame (which consists of a buggy raid dungeon).

This game could have been so much more, but turbine has dropped the ball yet again, as can be attested by the huge server population loss that been affecting the European servers.

Yeah, drop out the Trolls, Orcs, Goblins, Drakes, Dragons and all the other cool mobs and I guess you could be right. Too bad your not. While there is still Wargs (wolves) now and again I have not needed to kill a boar in a long time. I am almost 38 doing Ram Duath quests which is mainly drakes, cold worms (giant lizards) and the Master Elite Dragons. If your gonna bash the game, do it truthfully.

A funny thing, when they released the expansion for Evindim you obtain a boar quest asking you to search out boars in a 30 minute period, yet they give you no clue/direction. It was a joke, there are no boars in evindim and the timer just runs out while fighting other stuff.

Anyway, for a game so young it is excellent. Look at the praise for EQ2 now, I played it on release till lvl 30 and it sucked balllllzzzz. This game is good at least and will only get better.

[Squidbot]

If any euro players try it out feel free to send a /tell to Megewyne on the Laurelin server.

[CptTripps]

I played LOTR until level 45 and quit. Once again, as is the curse of all MMOs, I felt like all I was doing was grinding, and I can't stand that! Also, be prepared to wait for groups a LOT, unless you join a huge kinship (guild) that is willing to help you complete quests. Some of them are impossible alone, and I would often find myself waiting days to complete them.

I haven't missed it at all since I quit weeks ago, but to each his own.


I did not have this huge problem you seem to. I go to the area where the quest starts and say "LFF this quest" and get in a group rather quickly 90% of the time. Alas I now play with some local friends as the EvAv guild never had anyone online, we formed our own guild and have about 15 "active" members. I am not one of those guys to play 6 hours a day though, that can burn me out on anything.

[randir14]

I did not have this huge problem you seem to. I go to the area where the quest starts and say "LFF this quest" and get in a group rather quickly 90% of the time. Alas I now play with some local friends as the EvAv guild never had anyone online, we formed our own guild and have about 15 "active" members. I am not one of those guys to play 6 hours a day though, that can burn me out on anything.

Do you play a Minstrel, most of the time my groups would sit around for an hour spamming "need minstrel for such and such quest". When the game first came out the class was so rare that Minstrels began charging people money to group with them.

[captainstrombosis]

I think it's great that you love the game Cpt. However The story was very different for my 50 Captain.

Constantly having to look for groups, and yes, BOARS EVERYWHERE. There are boars in Angmar, ANGMAR! WTF!!

Then you have the insanely buggy end game dungeon which will be a breeze or rape your face off depending on how the mobs decide to path.

I'm sure some of this might have changed, I hope it has, and the books were damned fun. However the game just has too few mobs. Sure you have trolls, drakes and all that stuff, but they are rare. While most of the quests will send you to kill furry animals rather than the big meanies.

Though, like I said, it's worth the month to play through the games content. As it can be a hell of a lot of fun in spite of it's flaws.

[CptTripps]

I think it's great that you love the game Cpt. However The story was very different for my 50 Captain.

Constantly having to look for groups, and yes, BOARS EVERYWHERE. There are boars in Angmar, ANGMAR! WTF!!

Then you have the insanely buggy end game dungeon which will be a breeze or rape your face off depending on how the mobs decide to path.

I'm sure some of this might have changed, I hope it has, and the books were damned fun. However the game just has too few mobs. Sure you have trolls, drakes and all that stuff, but they are rare. While most of the quests will send you to kill furry animals rather than the big meanies.

Though, like I said, it's worth the month to play through the games content. As it can be a hell of a lot of fun in spite of it's flaws.

Yeah, I doubt some of those issues still exist. And on Captains, I can't really say, they are definitely the bastard sons right now and need some work (though they have had a little done).

But you made 50 in a month? That seems like work to me :)

[captainstrombosis]

But you made 50 in a month? That seems like work to me :)

Not even in the slightest. 2-3 hours a day with a group of friends (burglars). You utterly destroyed everything and had a blast doing it. No content was safe from the quad 5red1blue bomb ;)

So it wasn't so bad when they were on, but when they weren't. Good luck finding a group as a Captain. Too many people think you need a Minstrel to play. When you really, really don't.

[CptTripps]

Alright all, Keepers of the Crimson Eye is back in effect. I have promoted all currently active members to officers so they may recruit good players, and also booted most in-active accounts.

If doing the trial, jump on on the server "Firefoot" and then send me a PM with your character name so I can get you invited. That way at least your trial period will be with other folks from the site and will indeed be more fun for all. I may even start a 2nd toon if we get enough trial members so I can hang.