LOTRO Announces One Million Open Beta Accounts: A Play In One Act By Kunochan

Bilbo Baggins: Master Elrond! Master Elrond!

Elrond Halfelven: Not now, my little friend. I am composing an history of the First Age, that fails to mention Túrin Turimbar. So as to be less depressing. Also, the bit with the dragon is a bit much.

Bilbo: But Master Elrond! Rivendell is overrun by strangers! And they have odd, non-Endorian names, like "HarryPotter1217" and "Arwensaslut!"

Elrond: Yes, I am well aware, my Periannath friend. Naught occurs in Imladris without my knowledge.

Bilbo: But there are thousands of them! Many many thousands! Eleventy-hundred thousand!

Elrond: Ah, your Hobbitish innumeracy amuses me. But there are in fact one million visitors, Mr. Baggins. They have taken advantage of Turbine's "Lord of the Rings Online" Open Beta offer.

Bilbo: Huh?

Elrond: From April 6th to April 24th, anyone can get one of one million open beta keys, and play. Of course, one must purchase a copy of "PC Gamer" or sign up on the GameSpot website in order to obtain such a key.

Bilbo: I do not understand you, Master. Have you lapsed into Quenya?

Elrond: No, no, my diminutive gastronome. But my wife left me, and traveled into the West, 510 years ago. And the loneliness and sexual frustration may have driven me mad.

Arwen Evenstar: You're sexually frustrated? I'm 2,777 years old, and I'm still a virgin! And you won't even let me screw my boyfriend!

Elrond: My darling daughter, perhaps we can discuss this later...

Arwen: And I pre-ordered! When do I get into the beta?

Elrond: Why, today, I believe, my daughter.

Arwen: Oh! Nice! I bother to pre-order, and I get a one week lead on the rest of the planet! And my box hasn't even arrived yet!

Bilbo: Please do not fight! It aggravates my incontinence!

Arwen: And speaking of my box, I'm going to my room. I think the "evenstar" needs some "polishing." [Exits.]

Bilbo: Curses. I have soiled my trousers.

Elrond: Sigh. I should have volunteered to be King of Númenor. I would be dead, but I would be happy. [Exeunt.]

Link.

"Lord of the Rings Online" -- Kuno's First Impressions

Well, after paying the money to pre-order LOTRO, guess what? I got invited to the closed beta. I'm as happy as a little girl.

I may have mentioned this in another post, but I'm the original, unreconstructed Tolkien geek. I first read "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" in the third grade, and I couldn't even guess how many times I've read them since. My favorite book of all time is "The Silmarillion." Yes, I've read all those "History of Middle Earth" books, in which Tolkien's son publishes his father's old doodles and tax receipts. I've read his biography and his published letters. I can name all 13 dwarves and all seven sons of Fëanor. I even (occasionally) write Sauron's Blog.

I loved the movies, although I can recite every single deviation from the novels, and explain every reference. I can explain to you the real reason Denethor went mad, where Gandalf went when he died and why he came back, and why it's significant that Galadriel turned down the ring. I can also tell you that Saruman didn't die at Orthanc, the Galadhrim did not fight at Helm's Deep (and never would have), and that Sauron is NOT an evil lighthouse.

So with my Tolkien bona fides firmly established, there should be no surprise that I've been anxiously awaiting "The Lord of the Rings Online" since it was announced in 2003 as "Middle Earth Online."

It's still in beta, and I imagine and hope that many of the small annoyances derive from that fact. For that reason, I'm only going to give general impressions at this time, and save any complaints for launch.

1.) I love that elf characters start their storyline 600 years before the events of the game, and arrive in the present after the initial tutorial level. Immortality FTW!
2.) All the players with non-Tolkien names annoy the hell out of me. n00bs. My female elf hunter is named Arthradha. Sindarin for "Beautiful Traveler," it's a name I researched for a Tolkien tabletop game a while back.
3.) The graphics look nice. But this is not the first new MMO I've seen with a metallic earth tone color palette. I guess giving everything copper highlights is supposed to add to realism, but it just looks strange to me. "Myst Online" is the worst offender in this regard, but games like "Ran Online" do it too.
4.) Some of the details are beautiful, and reveal the designers' dedication to the legendarium. Check out this screenshot:

At some time in the distant past, sunlight broke into this cave and turned this troll back into stone. Nice.
5.) When you get a quest, read every single word. Unlike in "World of Warcraft," you won't be able to just muddle your way through while ignoring the details. Pay attention to what the quest giver says. Seriously.
6.) Like the "Battle for Middle Earth" guys, the designers of LOTRO are eager to introduce new creatures not mentioned in the legendarium (but that don't conflict with it either). So far, all I've met are the Aurochs and the Cave-Claw Burrowers. An Auroch is a species of extinct cattle, and introducing extinct mammals fits well with Tolkien's conception of Middle Earth as our Earth's primordial past (as well as with the fascination Tolkien, an ardent creationist, had with modern science and evolutionary theory, which he felt it was foolish to deny). That's why I didn't mind the mammoths-as-mûmakil in the movie. As for the Burrowers, I found them really annoying. I don't find them believable, either as animals or as monsters.
7.) Thank Eru that LOTRO's wargs are exactly what they're supposed to be -- giant, talking wolves. What the hell was Peter Jackson thinking?

I'll keep playing, and letting you all know what I think. And when the game goes live, I'll complain about any issues that still exist.

Nai Valaraukar tye-mátar!

LotR Online

I got into the early beta for Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar a while ago. I participated in the first stress test, and then played for a while. Then they did a server wipe, and I haven't had the heart (especially post-"Burning Crusade") to start all over again.

If you haven't read up on it - players can be any of the Free Peoples; Elves, Dwarves, Hobbits, and Men. There are various flavors of each of the peoples - for instance, Men consist of both Gondorians and Rohirrim, as well as others like Breelanders. There are variation in each race, and each comes with inherent advantages or disadvantages. Other than racial traits, there are no stats to speak of - and abilities are acquired by leveling in one's profession; minstrel, burglar, captain, guardian, champion, hunter or loremaster. Different races have access to different professions.

Starting quests are a great example of what can be done with something as developed a genre as Middle Earth. As an elf, for instance, you'll help defend a last hold out in Lindon alongside Elrond - and then after the passing of many centuries - return to the vicinity to complete your quest and move on to a new area. They've borrowed a cue from WoW with using quests to usher players from area to area, always remaining level-appropriate. But there are a number of novel concepts, as well.

For instance, there are traits that are earned by accomplishing things in game- my character was known as Angthelion the Wary, for instance, because I made it to Level 4 without dying. Later on, those traits actually confer in-game bonuses, and can be made "official" by telling your story to a bard (and picking the reputation that you want to be known by). Additionally, adventuring parties are known as Fellowships - and classes like minstrels and captains confer advantages to other members of their Fellowship. Guilds are called Companies, and much is done to make not just the environment, but the system as well reflect a very Tolkien feel.

I can't say enough how great an idea it was to have new players interact with elements from the plot of the books in their introductory quests - immediately one is immersed in the Middle Earth-ness of it all, which makes it a stand out property, and distinct from the glut of other MMORPG's. That said, it is done by Turbine, who also did Dungeons and Dragons Online - and the visual engine will look familiar (disappointingly so) to any who, like me - tried DDO and were quickly disenchanted.

I'll write more as my impressions deepen - for now I'd say they succeeded at making something appropriately Middle Earth in quality, but disappointing in terms of game play.

LOTRO - The First "Web 2.0" MMO

Blogger Nabeel Hyatt posted a brief round-up of the new and special "web 2.o" features offered by "The Lord of the Rings Online." He's specifically impressed by the Google-style mapping, mini-games, wiki-style encylopedia, and the pre-order features.

Linky.

"Lord of the Rings Online" Pre-Order: Beta Key, Discount Membership, Exclusive Items

I just purchased the "Lord of the Rings Online" pre-order. Normally, I wouldn't pay $50 for an MMO, and now I've done it twice in the last week.

But here's what you get with the pre-order:

1. The LOTRO box and CD set
2. Membership in the Open Beta
   
3. The ability to bring your beta character over after full launch
4. Special pricing after full launch: $9.99/month, or $199 lifetime
5. In-game items: Enchanted Cloak of Regeneration & The Ring of Agility
6. Free 30-day access to Allakhazam.com’s Premium Service

Pretty l33t. You can pre-order online today -- the pre-order will hit retail stores on February 1st. The commercial launch is slated for April 24th.

Bado na Ennorath!