Disclaimer: This review was written on May 1, 2007. As updates and expansions are released, we will be doing re-reviews.
Quick Links
Introduction
Core Gameplay Systems
Combat
Crafting
Social
PvP
Wrapping up Core Gameplay Systems
Depth Gameplay Systems
Accomplishments
Dread
Quest Advancement
Lore
Wrapping up Depth Gameplay Systems
Supportive Gameplay Systems
Instancing
Raiding
Fellowship Manuevers
Solo and Group Feasibility
Wrapping up Supportive Gameplay Systems
Presentation
Graphics
Music
Is It Fun? / Conclusion
History has not been kind to massively online […]

Intro and commentary by Cameron “Aelryn” Sorden
Information from Glenn’s music page, used with permission
So, maybe you’ve heard about this wacky music system that lets you play real music in-game. You’ve probably seen the people standing around in Bree banging out swingin’ tunes. Maybe you’ve even dabbled with the /music command a bit. If so, you […]

Minstrels are the best Morale boosting (Healer) class in all of Eriador. It is capable of melee combat, ranged damage via songs, and fellowship buffs. You can solo easily, and you’re always in demand for fellowships.
The Stats:
Every song, ballad, anthem, ect. requires power to sing and how much power you have is based upon […]

Your character’s class defines whom he or she is and the role they play within the game and, more importantly in an MMOG, his or her role in a fellowship. Choosing your character’s class can be a daunting experience when playing LOTRO for the first time, given you have seven very distinct choices.
When deciding what […]

Located in the quiet community of Hobbiton, Bag End is a modest dwelling consisting of halls and chambers built into a hill and fronted by a circular wooden door. Nonetheless, it is certainly known to any inhabitant other than the very youngest of infants. During the time when it was home to Bilbo Baggins, Thorin […]

The Lord of the Rings Online is off to a roaring start, garnering very positive reviews and a rapidly expanding player base. No wonder really, as Middle-earth is the archetypal fantasy world, and to be able to explore its plains, valleys and mountains, and to interact with its inhabitants, whether they’re a named character or […]

Next up on the fantasy MMORPG launch pad is Turbine’s The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar, set to officially release tomorrow. This game has been in beta, both closed and open, for quite some time, and now everyone who didn’t get a crack at it before will get a chance to hop […]

Though we’re ecstatic about the release of The Return of the King, we’re also kind of at a loss. For the past three years we’ve analyzed, obsessed, and generally lost sleep over wondering how the film trilogy would play itself out. No more avoiding spoilers, no more chatroom speculating, no more scouring the book appendixes…what […]

Middle Earth Online was announced just a couple weeks ago, much to the excitement of every Tolkien fan whose mouth has watered at just the mere mention of a massive online game. After going through several metamorphoses, what we discovered was that Vivendi Universal had finally chosen Turbine Entertainment, makers of such epic persistant state […]

Tolkien’s large high fantasy universe has basically been begging to be turned into an MMO. It’s gotten the movie treatment at this point and has several video games made out of the stories within the fictional universe, but every real fan of the literary masterpiece has been looking for a way to really become part […]