LOTRO Goings On

It is for me. I think I have one of each type just to suit the mood I'm in. (Of course, these days I've been in the mood for other games, but you get the idea.)

The Warden is a very engaging class. It can tank like a Guardian but is more flexible and involved. I've found it gets kind of difficult keeping track of all the combinations once you start getting 4- and 5-move gambits, and get the feeling that most Wardens play the class exclusively due to the investment required. I do like the look and feel of their weapons, and wish more classes could use javelins. That bow looks out of place on my Champion's back.

Haven't played one since the last revamp; my memory is poor, and while yes there are a number of well done add-ons to aid with determining builders, relearning a mid-50 warden was not something I liked the idea of.

Nicholaas wrote:

Anyone else get that far into a character and desire a change of pace? I can't say I'm losing steam with my dwarf (and he's not going anywhere either way) so much as I just really want to continue with this other experience. Is this a typical MMO occurrence?

My main since release has been a solo minstrel. I'm pretty casual, now level 73 with him, and I'm torn between pushing ahead to the level cap or working through Evendim with my lower Runekeeper and Warden. Minstrel is home base for me, but I think I need a change of scenery.

Osiran wrote:
Nicholaas wrote:

Anyone else get that far into a character and desire a change of pace? I can't say I'm losing steam with my dwarf (and he's not going anywhere either way) so much as I just really want to continue with this other experience. Is this a typical MMO occurrence?

My main since release has been a solo minstrel. I'm pretty casual, now level 73 with him, and I'm torn between pushing ahead to the level cap or working through Evendim with my lower Runekeeper and Warden. Minstrel is home base for me, but I think I need a change of scenery.

Evendim is well worth the detour, if you haven't been there yet. I recently finished (most of) it with my 42 Dwarf guardian, and can't wait to get my 23 Hobbit warden there.

On a related note, my brother just started a minstrel as his solo. He's absolutely loving it so far, but was curious how he fares solo later on (like, say, post Lone Lands).

Soloing as a minstrel is very feasible and very fun. My main has always been a minstrel, and after you can go into battle stance with your songs it makes it even easier. Just remember to drop that so you can heal more efficiently.

Aendiev wrote:

Soloing as a minstrel is very feasible and very fun. My main has always been a minstrel, and after you can go into battle stance with your songs it makes it even easier. Just remember to drop that so you can heal more efficiently.

Not to mention Minstrels have a really easy time finding groups for instances and the like.

I've been making a concerted effort lately to save up some Turbine Points for the Angmar quest pack. My Hobbit Warden is level 45, and other than the Epic Quest-line, there isn't much to do without investing in some extra content. The choice was between Misty Mountains and Angmar; where the former would be more aesthetically pleasing and entertaining, Angmar seems to be the better bet content-wise. Other than that, still having tons of fun. I "retired" a level 29 Warden to a crafting alt, and re-rolled a Dwarf Guardian to play coop with my brother and cousin.

Anyone planning on partaking in the Anniversary Festival this week? I really dug the Yule Festival, and I'm hoping this will be a fun distraction, as well.

I'll be around!

Ditto

My LM has just dinged 50 and finished the Angmar quests, including Book 7. Now for Eregion and on to Moria, with a stepoff for beers at the Festival

davet010 wrote:

My LM has just dinged 50 and finished the Angmar quests, including Book 7. Now for Eregion and on to Moria, with a stepoff for beers at the Festival :)

Nice! I can't wait to get that Angmar quest pack; I'm dying to see Eregion and especially Moria.

How are Lore Masters at that level? I rolled a solo to earn some TP, but I'm finding I enjoy the class more than I thought I would. I may keep him as a second main to my Warden.

Loremasters just get better as you get past 45 and the epic class lines; only class in game that can dual wield a staff and a sword

What Shyn said - I've just completed the class lvl 50 'collect the bits' quest which end up with me gaining a 4th legendary power (Eagle). It does help that I usually team with a guardian for tanking purposes though.

ShynDarkly wrote:

Loremasters just get better as you get past 45 and the epic class lines; only class in game that can dual wield a staff and a sword :)

I really like how they separated that ability from the legendary trait (though that trait does make you way better at melee combat).

I hate those level 50 "collect the bits" quest. They're so tedious. Fortunately I've gained a huge pool of medallions and tokens and whatnot from years of lotteries, so I can usually just buy my way through those quests at the skirmish vendors.

ShynDarkly wrote:

Loremasters just get better as you get past 45 and the epic class lines; only class in game that can dual wield a staff and a sword :)

Oh my...

And speaking of skirmishes, do you guys do them often? I've done a few (the free ones), and found that for the time investment (around half an hour) I don't seem to get much out of it. Is there a trick to it? Should I be grouping with other people or something?

Some folks love them, and level all the way up doing precious little else; I tend to do them when I have a need to, such as collecting medallions for buying items that I'd otherwise have to raid for (love some of the Lotro raid instances, but honestly don't have the time to block out to do them these days). For the fellow OCD sufferers out there, each skirmish has at least one deed and title associated with them, typically for taking down all of the optional mini-bosses that can spawn during them.

They can scale to any level, and offer differing tiers for those that like a challenge. I'd recommend not duo-ing them though, the next step up from the solo versions are designed for three people, and especially with the 'defend' style skirmishes, without that number you're more than likely to fail. At the higher tiers they offer some pretty challenging gameplay.

As you drift along through the epic storyline quests, you'll encounter a couple of points where you have to complete certain skirmishes, but in general they're not too brutal.

ShynDarkly wrote:

...I'd recommend not duo-ing them though, the next step up from the solo versions are designed for three people, and especially with the 'defend' style skirmishes, without that number you're more than likely to fail. At the higher tiers they offer some pretty challenging gameplay.

Huh, guess that means my duo partner and I have been doing them wrong.

There's no doing them wrong For those that love a challenge, they're a welcome change to daily delivery or rep quests.

I may give them another try sometime, with some kinship folks. I think between the regular questing and such I have enough to keep me busy.

So the Anniversary Festival has been good fun. I got a few cosmetics (love the hooded fireworks robe), and the special fireworks-laded steed. I think, though, that I'm pretty much done with it; I'll cash in my tokens before it ends, but beyond that, it's back to questing as usual. I got the Angmar quest pack the other night (finally!), and have been soaking in as much of that area as I can. I'll head back to Forochel when I'm done there, wrap that area up, and then on to Eregion and Moria. I'll get my level 50 class quest stuff done along the way, and hopefully move on to attaining my very first Legendary Item. Now that I have Angmar, a clear path to Moria and beyond is right in front of me.

I've been running the Bree festival invitation quest with all of my characters every day (easy XP), but mostly I've just been taking advantage of the double XP. That, plus enhanced XP, a +25% XP pocket item and a +100% XP scroll makes for some easy leveling. Got my main to level 58, which was high enough to go check out Dunland without getting murdered every step of the way. Still need a few more levels before I can start doing quests but that's what Lothlorien's for.

Was hoping to see some changes on the festival quests, as they seem to be 100% same as last round. That said, did get lucky and get the reveller warsteed appearance from an envelope.... now all I need to do is stop levelling 14 characters and get one past 75 :p

I jumped back into this lately. spent the most time yet and am going to make it a point to put in a regular shift. I started an elf lore master. very early level but enjoying it. I think I'm on the server that starts with an L. will update later.

double post fat fingers.

RooneyFan wrote:

I jumped back into this lately. spent the most time yet and am going to make it a point to put in a regular shift. I started an elf lore master. very early level but enjoying it. I think I'm on the server that starts with an L. will update later.

Landroval? Look me up if you're out and about: Nihklas, the Hobbit Warden.

Nicholaas wrote:
RooneyFan wrote:

I jumped back into this lately. spent the most time yet and am going to make it a point to put in a regular shift. I started an elf lore master. very early level but enjoying it. I think I'm on the server that starts with an L. will update later.

Landroval? Look me up if you're out and about: Nihklas, the Hobbit Warden. :)

yes that is it. I'll look you up.

Nicholaas wrote:
RooneyFan wrote:

I jumped back into this lately. spent the most time yet and am going to make it a point to put in a regular shift. I started an elf lore master. very early level but enjoying it. I think I'm on the server that starts with an L. will update later.

Landroval? Look me up if you're out and about: Nihklas, the Hobbit Warden. :)

yes that is it. I'll look you up.

I started playing this again. Landroval server, Elven Lore Master named Kraj. Because that's totally an Elven name.

Can I just say, once and for all, that I HATE the Moria instance "We Cannot Get Out".

/rant