How many still play LOTRO and do I need to purchase to really enjoy it?

Since LOTRO went FTP i've been interested. My biggest concern is how many people still play it? and do I really need to purchase the entire game to enjoy it and really expierence it?

Thanks!

I'd say try out DaoC. It has a 14 day trial to anyone wanting to play and it is still one of the best mmo's out there. If you ever do decide you want to play it for real you don't have to buy any software. Just pay the usual mmo fee. All expansions are free.

Yes get it, its a great game, Really captures the look and feel of Tolkiens world with a community that is generally helpful and out to have fun. I started again recently as a free player from being a full subscriber when it first came out and ended up spending real money in game to get quest packs and expansions.

I bought the legendary edition of The Rise Of Isengard expansion which includes loads of quest packs and the ones it didnt include i have bought during their regular sales and i recommend subscribing for just one month because that unlocks loads of content (extra bags, trait slots etc) that stays unlocked when you fall back to F2P/Premium status.

Am very happy that i have got it that i dont pay a regular monthly subscription and have access to most of the story/quest content and only have to get the big expansions when they come out with real world cash :D

There is a few guides online explaining how to get the most out of your F2P account, Do a bit of googling and you should be able to find some neat guides and tips.

You will hit a wall at some point, at which you should buy thishttp://mithril.lotro.com/. It unlocks a ton of content up to and including the first expansion forever, so I think it's a great deal.

Active community and you get a lot of content for free. Worth playing, if you enjoy it then the paid content is available when your finished the free stuff.

I dislike MMOs but LOTRO (and WWII Online) are the only two I ever got into, played, and payed money for.

I enjoyed the deep Tolkieneqsue feel to LOTRO and had a lot of fun exploring the world. That ended when I got to level 40 or so as it became very, very difficult to progress further at that stage unless you worked with a party. I was on one of the more populated servers yet it was a challenge to find others willing to join up on quests. Everyone just wanted to go on the same instances, over and over and over again. That's when I quit playing. Still, I think I spent about $30 on the game and got a good 3-4 months of enjoyment out of it, so no complaints.

It's my main MMO, it gives quite a good bit of content for free. The community is incredible for an MMO, especially on RP servers. Very mature and helpful. The game's achievements system rewards you with store points for completing deeds, so you can earn quest packs, expansions, mounts, clothes, and more without spending a dime.

If you like grouping and good guilds (called Kins in LotrO), check Landroval or any RP server, they have the best communitites built around doing game content or just goofing off with the social parts of the game

Thanks a lot guys. Working nights right now so once im done those this weekend ill try out the free version of it. If I get really into it i'll def pay some money for unlocks, expansion, even possibly the subscription.

Thanks again

No worrys mate, See you in Middle-Earth:P

Not too hyjack this but can anyone recommend a good east coast server?

No but I found it to be something of a grind, like most MMORPGs.

Not too hyjack this but can anyone recommend a good east coast server?

TwistedShade

Yes its a great game..I'm still playing, just not as often and no longer daily. Mostly due to the fact that many stopped once they got their 4 pieces of raid gear and worn symbols. It's pretty much a ghost town, especially since skyrim released.