LOTRO Free-to-Play Head start, September 8th

[hdwei]

Current Subscribers and returning players will be able to access LOTRO Free-to-Play on the North American servers starting September 8th! The servers will be brought down on September 7th in preparation for the head start program. When they return on September 8th all current subscribers and returning customers will have full access to all Free-to-play features, the Volume III, Book 2 epic story, and the new Enedwaith region two full days before the official launch! You’ll also be the first gain access to our new servers and claim your name or start building your new kinship.

If you’re a returning customer, make sure you have your client installed and ready to patch up on September 8th so you can be among the first to experience LOTRO Free-to-Play. You can download the most recent LOTRO game client here.

View the official discussion thread for more information about Head start or to share your thoughts.

Source : http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?t=350862

[chili01]

that's nice, well I'm playing right now and NO ONE is in the game lol I saw like 2 people in my server

[korncob]

Anyone in the beta that can tell if this is worth bothering with or not? like can you still get to endgame and do that without having to grind a lot?

[MageMoa]

Anyone in the beta that can tell if this is worth bothering with or not? like can you still get to endgame and do that without having to grind a lot?

It is definitely fun. I didn't grind a lot [it's a beta after all], but I have to admit that it is enjoyable.

[neothaka]

a full free player it is impossible to reach endgame without mindlessly grinding, because the campaign quests alone give you very little xp.

The thing is, you never have to grind in lotro because the amount of quests is simply overwhelming. But as a free user, you are limited to campaign quests after you leave Bree.

[ttoz]

Anyone in the beta that can tell if this is worth bothering with or not? like can you still get to endgame and do that without having to grind a lot?

right, it is worth bothering with.

[chili01]

IMO it's worth it especially if you download the HD version.

Also which servers has a lot of low level population? I'm on Brandywine and again it's just me there

[cyber7chink]

IMO it's worth it especially if you download the HD version.

Also which servers has a lot of low level population? I'm on Brandywine and again it's just me there

My main, as well as my alts, is on Silverlode. I have found there is a lot of players of different levels on this server.

I am sure that there will be a flood of new players on the tenth. Just take this time to get ahead of the pack and farm so you can make profit when the tenth hits.

[thedudesam]

that's nice, well I'm playing right now and NO ONE is in the game lol I saw like 2 people in my server

Yeh lotro was dead when i played it.

[Ahunt5714]

The game has a great population. Especially on Brandywine (my server).
I think you are still in the tutorial area.
When you start you do a quick tutorial, then if you are a man/hobbit you end up in Archet. That is still the tutorial/beginners area. You have to continue questing in Archet and finish the prologue before you are set loose in the actual game. Then you will see hordes of people. Especially on Brandywine. Of every level and race.

Keep playing.

I've also been spending some time with the Beta. At 5-10 turbine points per deed, you can expect to "grind out" (by doing the quests associated with them) 40 or so deeds to be able to afford the lone-lands/north downs quest pack to continue on. 40 deeds by your mid 20's is not much of a grind. That will shoot you along to mid 30's even low 40's if you chose the North Downs quest pack over lone-lands.

Dont expect NO grind. Its an mmo, they all have some kind of grind somewhere. But from hands on expeirence as a veteran player with a life-time sub sense launch, you can progress through the game at an enjoyable pace still.

[chili01]

oh ok, actually I made an Elf so and I'm still near the beginning Area.

Also I forgot to mention that for Elfs, depending on your background, you can get different set of colors for your hair
i.e. if you're background is Lorien you can get lighter hair colors

[Kraw]

does the game run on the same engine as ddo, it has the same choppy npc movements

[diztar]

I'm getting back to Lotro when it goes F2P I think. But of course I will pay. I got an end-game char so F2P is not an option for me.

I hope this F2P thing will bring more people to the newbie zones, as it was pretty empty last time I played but when I arrived in Moria, damn! LOADS of people! I want to see people in Bree again! Just hanging around, playing music or whatever.

This F2P is not just for the US version right?

PS: New euro players, join Snowbourne! ^^