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The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar

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The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar

Developer(s)	Turbine, Inc.
Publisher(s)	Turbine, Inc., Midway Games, Codemasters
Engine	Turbine G3^[1]
Released	April 24 2007
Genre	MMORPG
Mode(s)	Multiplayer
Ratings	Teen
Platform(s)	Windows
System requirements	Minimum Specifications CPU: 1.8 GHz or Athlon equivalent: 1800 RAM: 512 Mb Video card: 64 Mb, DirectX 9.0c HDD Space: 7 Gb DVD drive: 2x Internet connection Recommended Specifications CPU: 2.8 GHz or Athlon equivalent RAM: 1 Gb Video Card: 128 Mb HDD: 10 Gb DVD: 2x
Input methods	Mouse and keyboard

The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar (commonly abbreviated to LOTRO) is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) for Microsoft Windows set in a fantasy universe based upon J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth writings. It takes place during the time period of The Lord of the Rings. The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar was developed by Turbine and is subscription-based and requires Internet access. It launched in Canada, the United States, Australia, Japan and Europe on April 24, 2007. In China, beta testing started in July 2007, and the game was released by the end of 2007.^[2]

Gameplay

The game is based on, but is not limited to, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. However, Turbine does not have rights to any other works in Tolkien's legendarium, such as The Silmarillion or The Children of Húrin.^[3] Turbine does not plan to release any expansion in which evil races are fully playable.^[4] The player controls a character avatar, which moves around the game world and interacts with other players. Camera angles can be switched between first-person and third-person options. Characters are improved by increasing in level, which simultaneously increases character's skills and other abilities. Levels increase after a character earns a set amount of experience points through the player versus environment (PvE) combat and storyline adventures. Destiny Points, which are awarded while leveling and completing quests, can be used to temporarily increase some of your abilities or skills. The storyline is set up as a series of Books, which feature quests called chapters. The story line is referred to as an epic quest line. There were eight books when the game was released. Each major update has added a new book. Player versus player (PvP) combat is included in the form called "Monster Play" or "Player vs Monster Player (PvMP)".^[5] Monster Play is unlocked at level 10, when players can automatically become level 50 monsters that are restricted to one area of the game. Players temporarily control playable monster characters, which can complete quests and attack other non-monster player characters. Tolkien's Middle-earth features more subtle if not less widespread use of magic, which also reflects on the game. There are only five "wizards" in the fictional world, and the player cannot play them. Instead, there are active skills, which require power, the equivalent of magic points. Some of the skills behave like magic, for example, healing or throwing a burning ember at an enemy.^[6] In addition, objects and artifacts are used to create magical effects. Other features include a fast travel system and a detailed quest log with tracker and history.

Deeds

Characters obtain traits and titles by completing deeds in the game, such as killing a set amount of monsters, using a certain ability a set number of times, completing a number of quests in a given time period or finding certain locations or unique items.

Titles

Titles have no direct impact on gameplay. Instead, they provide another means of customization by adding additional information to your name. Some titles are common while others can be difficult to obtain. Each character starts with one title that indicates their origin. Titles are earned by completing deeds and quests and by mastering tiers in professions. Only one title can be active at a time. Examples of titles:

<your name> of Gondor (One of the many origin titles that players start with)
<your name> the Undying (received by attaining level 20 without being defeated)
<your name>, Spider-Foe (received by defeating 30 spiders in the Bree-lands)
<your name>, Pie-eating Champion (received after winning a pie-eating contest)
<your name>, Master Apprentice Woodworker (received after finishing both the basic and master-level tiers of Apprentice Woodworking)

Traits

Each character has the ability to equip traits earned during the game. Traits give characters a myriad of different bonuses or abilities. Any trait combination can be equipped as long as they have enough trait slots. The number of free trait slots depends on their level. The first virtue trait slot is available at level 7, for example. Virtue, class and racial traits offer a maximum of five slots, and legendary traits offer two slots. Traits can be easily changed by visiting a bard found in most towns, and equipping traits costs a certain amount of money.

Virtue Traits are common amongst all races and classes and can be earned by completing general goals, such as killing a set number of monsters, or completing enough quests in an area. These traits generally improve stats, resistances and total morale and power, including regeneration. There are a large variety of goals, and each has multiple levels that can be earned during the course of the game.
Class Traits are traits specific to a certain class. These are generally earned by using a class skill or power often enough, or meeting certain conditions with these skills often enough, such as achieving enough critical strikes with a certain skill. These skills improve the power of certain abilities and often give an additional passive bonus to character statistics.
Racial Traits are traits that are specific to each of the races. These traits confer special abilities or improvements, and only a relatively limited number can be used at one time.
Legendary Traits confer rare bonuses. They are obtained by collecting class-specific books and their pages which drop from specific enemies, or from a series of level 45 class-specific quests.

Music System

Characters that reach level 5 can learn to play the lute and another instrument, depending on their class. Minstrels can learn to play all of the instruments. Using a command, the instrument can be played in real time on three octaves and abc notation, with the music broadcast to nearby players.

Setting

As of November 2007, The Lord of the Rings Online is set during The Fellowship of the Ring. The player starts simultaneously with Frodo and company leaving The Shire. Later on the timeline freezes with the Fellowship waiting for their departure in Rivendell. Players are able to meet the characters from Tolkien's story, including all of the Fellowship at varying points in-game. In the initial release, only the area of Eriador was available. Eriador was further divided in Ered Luin, The Shire, Breeland (this included the area around Bree, the Old Forest and the Barrow Downs), North Downs (Fornost), Lone Lands (the area around Amon Sûl), Trollshaws (the area surrounding Rivendell) and Angmar. The Shores of Evendim update added the region surrounding Lake Evendim and Annúminas, about 100 miles north of the Shire. Expansion packs will follow the journey of the Fellowship: Rhovanion, Rohan, Gondor, and Mordor.

Development

Sierra On-Line first announced the development of a licensed Middle-earth MMORPG in 1998. Sierra had financial troubles in 1999 and replaced the staff working on the game. Sierra continued to confirm development of the MMORPG but did not release any development details. Vivendi Universal Games, the parent company of Sierra, secured eight-year rights to produce computer and video games based on The Lord of the Rings books in 2001. Vivendi announced an agreement with Turbine in 2003 to produce Middle-earth Online (at that time expected to be released in 2004). In March 2005, Turbine announced that it bought the rights to make a MMORPG based on Tolkien's literature and that Turbine would publish The Lord of the Rings Online instead of Vivendi. A closed beta was announced on September 8, 2006. An open beta began on March 30, 2007, and was open to all who pre-ordered the game's Founders Club edition. On April 6, 2007, the beta opened to the public. The game launched on April 24, 2007.

Free Updates

Book 9: Shores of Evendim

The first free content update was released on June 14, 2007.^[7] Updates included:

Discovery of Evendim
Over 100 new quests
Raid in the Battle for Helegrod
Nine new monsters
Collectible armor sets

Book 10: The City of the Kings

The second free-content update was released on August 21, 2007 in North America and on August 24, 2007 in Europe.^[8] Updates included:

Continuation of the Story Line.
Legendary Play – Players can now use Destiny Points to play as a Ranger of the North or as a Troll.
Critter Play – Players can now explore Middle-earth from a different viewpoint as a chicken.
New Reputation and Bartering Systems – The Reputation system enables players to earn positive and negative standing with different races and groups in Middle-earth based on both monster kills and quest completions. The Bartering system allows players to trade trophies earned in battle for rewards, such as armor sets or mounts.
Over 100 new quests
Customizable user interface

Book 11: Defenders of Eriador

The third free-content update was released on October 24, 2007 in North America^[9] and October 25 in Europe.^[10] Additions include (complete release notes):

13 new epic quests
Player housing – players will be able to customize their houses with items such as furniture and doormats.
Second raid called "The Rift" – 12-player raid in which players encounter a Balrog for the first time. Turbine has stressed that the Balrog in Book 11 will not be the Balrog from Khazad-dûm.^[11]
Two new areas – Tâl Bruinen in Trollshaws, where Gollum will be introduced for the first time, and Goblin-town known from The Hobbit in Misty Mountains.
More than 100 new quests

Book 12

This article or section contains information about an unreleased video game.
The content may change substantially as more information becomes available. Please do not add speculation to this article, and remember to cite a published source for details.

The fourth free content update's release date has not been announced.

Character customization - Increased character customization "ranging from haircuts, to some (possible) additions to the trait-system." In addition, a "paper-doll" system will be introduced where a second set of clothing can be slotted and displayed while retaining the statistical bonuses of the currently equipped items. ^[12]
Ettendeep - A new Monster Play area will be introduced: An expanse of caves and catacombs located beneath the Ettenmoors.

Races

There are four playable races in Lord of the Rings Online.^[13] Players can choose a male or female gender for each race except for dwarves.

Dwarf
Hobbit

Classes

Class	Races	Armor	Shields	Weapons	Role
Burglar	Man, Hobbit	Light, Medium		Daggers, 1H Swords, 1H Maces, Dual Wielding	Debuffer
Captain	Man	Light, Medium, Heavy	Light	Daggers, 1H Axes, 1H Clubs, 1H Hammers, 1H Maces, 1H Swords, 2H Axes, 2H Clubs, 2H Hammers, 2H Swords, Spears, Halberds	Buffer / Pets / Off-Tank
Champion	Man, Elf, Dwarf	Light, Medium, Heavy	Light, (Heavy with Class Trait)	Daggers, 1H Axes, 1H Clubs, 1H Hammers, 1H Maces, 1H Swords, 2H Axes, 2H Hammers, 2H Swords, Spears, Bows, Dual Wielding	AOE / Melee DPS / Off-Tank
Guardian	Man, Elf, Dwarf, Hobbit	Light, Medium, Heavy	Light, Heavy	Daggers, 1H Axes, 1H Clubs, 1H Hammers, 1H Maces, 1H Swords, 2H Axes, 2H Clubs, 2H Hammers, 2H Swords, Spears, Bows, Crossbows	Tank
Hunter	Man, Elf, Dwarf, Hobbit	Light, Medium		Daggers, 1H Axes, 1H Clubs, 1H Hammers, 1H Maces, 1H Swords, Spears, Bows, Crossbows, Dual Wielding	Ranged DPS / Utility
Lore-Master	Man, Elf	Light		Staves, (1H Swords, Dual Wielding with Legendary Trait)	CC / Pets
Minstrel	Man, Elf, Dwarf, Hobbit	Light, (Medium with Class Trait)	Light	Daggers, 1H Swords, 1H Maces, 1H Clubs, (1H Axes with Dwarf Base Passive Skill)	Healer

Crafting

In LOTRO, characters cannot choose a single profession, but they choose a vocation which is comprised of three professions.

Vocations

Professions are bundled into groups of three called vocations. Most vocations include a gathering profession and two crafting professions that complement each other. Vocations create interdependence in the economy, requiring players to trade for resources. A given character can only specialize in one vocation at a time.

	Forester	Prospector	Farmer	Scholar	Metalsmith	Weaponsmith	Woodworker	Jeweller	Tailor	Cook
Armorer		x			x				x
Armsman		x				x	x
Explorer	x	x							x
Historian			x	x		x
Tinker		x						x		x
Woodsman	x		x				x
Yeoman			x						x	x

Professions

Professions are either a gathering or a crafting one. Gathering professions are used to harvest raw materials, which in turn are used to create items using a crafting profession. The higher the tier in this skill, the better raw materials can be used and more advanced items can be made. Each profession requires a specific tool.

Cook

Cooks create food items consumed to recover morale and power when not in combat and give temporary bonuses to stats. They also make lute strings that reduce minstrels' threat. Materials for this skill are harvested by farmers.

Farmer

Farmers grow crops used by cooks. This skill differs from the other harvesting professions in that it requires seeds to grow items. Farmers also provide scholars with rare harvests used to make dyes and straw to make traps for hunters.

Forester

Foresters gather and work randomly scattered wood. They are also able to treat leather found as loot from animals for use by a tailor.

Jeweller

Jewellers create various pieces of jewelry, which confers benefits to the wearer, such as additional stats. They also craft hope tokens and runes for champions. Jewellers get gems and metal from prospectors.

Metalsmith

Metalsmiths create heavy armor and shields made of metal. They get materials from prospectors.

Prospector

Prospectors mine randomly scattered ores, gems and salts. They smelt ore into metal ingots, which are used by jewellers, weaponsmiths, and metalsmiths.

Scholar

Scholar combines both harvesting and crafting. Scholars decipher lore usually found near ruins. Scholar uses lore items and other ingredients to make potions, bow chants and scrolls that give other crafters a higher critical chance to make a better - 'critted' - item. They also make dyes from plants, animal organs and mineral salts.

Tailor

Tailors make light and medium armor. Light armor requires cloth from vendors, and medium armor requires leather from foresters.

Weaponsmith

Weaponsmiths craft weapons such as swords, axes, and maces. They also produce tricks for burglars and traps for hunters.

Woodworker

Woodworkers make wooden weapons (bows, spears, hammers) and other crafting components needed by other professions. Woodworkers require treated wood from foresters.

Reception

Publication	Score
1UP.com	8.7/10
G4's X-Play	4/5
GamePro	4.4/5
GameSpot	8.3/10
IGN	9.0/10
Game Rankings	87%

The Lord of the Rings Online has been received very positively thus far, as reviews continue to appear since the game's initial release.^[14] GameDaily awarded the game 9/10, praising its rich, fantasy-themed universe, well-integrated trait and title system, and a story that remains true to the works of Tolkien. Yahoo! Video Games wrote a review with few negative mentions, awarding the game a score of 4/5,^[15] while Computer and Video Games called the game an essential purchase for Lord of the Rings fans, scoring the game a 9.2/10.^[16] Eurogamer scored the game a 9.0/10, calling it tough to resist.^[17] Gamespy gave it 4.5/5 stars, claiming the game "opened up Middle-Earth to the masses" but commented negatively on its weak PvP content,^[18] while GameTrailers awarded it 8.5/10,^[19] citing its interesting tweaks to the MMO genre. IGN.com ranked it a similar 8.6/10, praising it for its solid experience, though criticizing it for its lack of major improvements to the genre.^[20] GamerNode.com awarded the game an 8.8/10, calling it the best MMO launch experience since Ultima Online.^[21] The New York Times called the game "a major achievement of interactive storytelling, the first game truly worthy of the ‘Lord of the Rings' franchise and a must-play for just about anyone with an interest in Tolkien or the future of online entertainment."^[22] In a GameSpot review, the product was awarded an 8.3/10, praising its appealing polish and intriguing Monster Play feature. ^[23] Gamepro.com's review gave it an overall 4.25/5, pointing out how engaging the epic quests are, as well as how faithful to the novels the game managed to stay.^[24] GameSpy declared The Lord of the Rings Online 'Game of the Month' for May 2007.^[25] Midway announced that the game sold over 172,000 copies in North America during its second quarter.^[26] In August 2007, Codemasters announced that The Lord of the Rings Online had received five Golden Joystick Awards nominations for the five applicable categories for the game^[27], and in October 2007 that it had won the "PC Game of the Year" at these award.^[28] In December 2007, GameSpy awarded The Lord of the Rings Online 6th place in the top 10 PC games of 2007. ^[29] On December 18, Turbine announced it had also won the GameSpy MMO of the Year award. ^[30]

Releases and subscription model

In North America, players who pre-ordered the game were offered a special founder's offer, a lifetime subscription for $199 or reduced cost of $9.99 per month. Standard month fee is $14.99 with three, six and twelve month discounts available. European players had a similar program from Codemasters. A Holiday subscription was available in December of 07 and January of 08 for $9.99/month for a 3 month commitment.

The special edition, which costs $10 more than the regular edition, includes a full-color manual, an item called "Glass of Aglarel", a cloak of regeneration, which is visually different from the one in the regular edition, a "Making of" DVD, soundtrack, and a free 10-day buddy key.