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So is LotRo free to play then?

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ORIGINAL: hadberz

Yep it's free, but that's only 3 quest packs. The rest of the content you need to buy. If you want to save some money and get more content buy the Mines of Moria expansion (do a search for cheapest price). I paid 14 bucks for it. This gives you all the expansion content even if you stay with the free to play, 30 days VIP (access to all content for 30 days), and 500 points to use in the in game store. This is much cheaper then buying it all from the in game store. This tells you how to upgrade a free account Link

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ORIGINAL: diablo1

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that "hardcore" really means: la masochistic liking of complexity/difficulty?

That's me when playing role playing or adventure or MMO's in a nutshell. I want the world to feel like the real thing. I want to be afraid of losing my life or my toys. It's a rush when things are going bad in worlds like this. EQ even had an even harder hardcore server for awhile. If you died you went back to level 1 no matter what level you were. I loved this kind of play.

Too many of these MMO's MMORPG's just allow you to rush to maximum level now and there's really no penalties for dying. DAOC and SWG has or have deterioating items now. I think that's GREAT in these worlds. This keeps everyone adventuring for more stuff and nobody remains king of the hill or "I got the best stuff cause I rule blah blah lol". Also with things growing old or breaking this keeps those that enjoy crafting busy and doing what they enjoy continously. SWG's was like this but I've found it's not like it used to be.

See the carebears whine about they can't keep up and enough of them whined the developers and companies listened. Now the carebears run around with all the great stuff and they are happy but the hardcore players aren't. We get pushed aside in nearly every game out there now. I don't want some snotty nosed 8 year old playing next to me with stuff he doesn't deserve but because the developers made the game so easy he can have all of it by just whinning to guildies or even worse whinning to daddy to buy him gold off ebay so he can buy it. I'm a firm believer in NO DROP NO TRADE SUPREME items. You have to earn these items yourself you can't buy them or trade for them. Only the hardcore will ever get to play with these puppies. [:)]

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ORIGINAL: LarryP

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ORIGINAL: hadberz

Yep it's free, but that's only 3 quest packs. The rest of the content you need to buy. If you want to save some money and get more content buy the Mines of Moria expansion (do a search for cheapest price). I paid 14 bucks for it. This gives you all the expansion content even if you stay with the free to play, 30 days VIP (access to all content for 30 days), and 500 points to use in the in game store. This is much cheaper then buying it all from the in game store. This tells you how to upgrade a free account Link

Thanks for this information. I just now spent $25 for a free game. [:)] I bought the expansion at Amazon. I'm so impressed with the content and the beauty of it all, and have compared it to Anarchy Online, EverQuest 2, WoW, and the upcoming Rift at Steam, I can't imagine playing any other. This game being based on a fantastic trilogy starts it off right. The others have pathetic attempts to make an interesting story line but fail in my opinion.

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ORIGINAL: LarryP

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ORIGINAL: ilovestrategy

It really depends on taste. What is good for you may not be good for me. For example I have been playing Lord of the Rings for over 3 1/2 years and LOVE it! Some folks don't like it because it does not emphasize magic and it not a flashy game. It's also PvE based, very little PvP.  If you're a die hard pvper you will not enjoy it. 

I want to thank you for this recommendation of LOTRO (Lord Of The Rings Online). [&o] I have been playing it for a couple days now, and this has to be the finest game of this genre ever. I hate MMO games, and also hate PvP which is usually what MMO's are about. However, this is different since it's like you said, mostly PvE. Turbine paid close attention to detail too. The menus, the tooltips, colors, options, scenery, just everything is superb. I turn up the settings and my laptop fan seldom even comes on! Now here's the best part too... it's FREE! Even the game is a free download. World Of Warcraft, I had to buy it then install it before logging onto their server. Then pay per month. Not so with LOTRO. FREE all the way. I'm still amazed. [8D]

Their attention to the details of every aspect of this fine gaming environment is a must see. I can interact with other players, or I can do quests solo. There are so many options for every item, that the most fickle gamer should be satisfied. The way the inventory works with buying and selling items should be the gaming standard. I can't say enough good about this game.

Thanks again for posting what you did about LOTRO. I will be playing this for a loooooong time. [:D]

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ORIGINAL: Scott_WAR

'Free to play' MMO's..........................The MMO way to take advantage of impulse buyers.

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ORIGINAL: LarryP

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ORIGINAL: Scott_WAR

'Free to play' MMO's..........................The MMO way to take advantage of impulse buyers.

I guess that's me then. Being "taken advantage of" has never felt this right though. Although there were a few other times when... 'snip' [:D]