The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar
Much of the gameplay is typical of the MMO format: The player controls a character avatar which can be moved around the game world and interacts with other players, non-player (computer-controlled) characters (or "NPCs") and other entities in the virtual world. Camera angles can be switched between first-person and third-person options. Characters are improved by gaining levels. A character's level increases after it earns a set amount of experience points through the player versus environment (or "PvE") combat and storyline adventures. Characters' abilities are improved by increasing in level, but character skills must be purchased from specified NPCs after gaining a new level.
The main storyline (also known as the "Epic Quest Line") is presented as a series of "Books", which consist of series of quests called "Chapters". There were initially eight Books when the game was released, with new books added with each free content update.
Tolkien's Middle-earth as represented in The Lord of the Rings Online implements magic in a different manner than other MMORPGs such as World of Warcraft. There are only five "wizards" in the fictional world, none of which are player-controlled. Instead, there are active skills which require "power" (the equivalent of magic points). Some skills behave like magic (like healing or throwing a burning ember at an enemy), but are based on "lore". In addition, objects and artifacts are used to create effects similar to magic.
Other features include a fast travel system and a detailed quest log with tracker and history.
Source: IGDB
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Feature | The story of a raiding guild with a PR but no game
Dedicated, professional and putting in upwards of 25 hours a week, Enigma's a tribe without a home.
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Lord of the Rings Online players gather in-game to mourn the loss of Bilbo Baggins actor Ian Holm
Farewell to Middle-earth at last. I see the Star above your mast!
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Lord of the Rings Online hops on vanilla bandwagon and takes you back to launch
Pippin WOW to the post.
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Feature | The story of a raiding guild with a PR but no game
Dedicated, professional and putting in upwards of 25 hours a week, Enigma's a tribe without a home.
-
Oblivion and Amalur lead designer Ken Rolston heads to Turbine
Ex-Mortal Kombat and Zynga devs join him.
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Subscription MMOs aren't dying, says LOTRO maker Turbine
It's those games with one way to pay that "probably" are.
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Interview | The Lord of the Rings Online: Siege of Mirkwood
Exploring the mini-expansion with producer Jeffrey Steefel.
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Lord of the Rings Online players gather in-game to mourn the loss of Bilbo Baggins actor Ian Holm
Farewell to Middle-earth at last. I see the Star above your mast!
-
Lord of the Rings Online hops on vanilla bandwagon and takes you back to launch
Pippin WOW to the post.
-
Oblivion and Amalur lead designer Ken Rolston heads to Turbine
Ex-Mortal Kombat and Zynga devs join him.
-
Subscription MMOs aren't dying, says LOTRO maker Turbine
It's those games with one way to pay that "probably" are.
-
Feature | The story of a raiding guild with a PR but no game
Dedicated, professional and putting in upwards of 25 hours a week, Enigma's a tribe without a home.
-
Interview | The Lord of the Rings Online: Siege of Mirkwood
Exploring the mini-expansion with producer Jeffrey Steefel.
-
Interview | The Lord of the Rings Online
Part two: looking into the future - Books, expansions and beyond.
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Feature | Lord of the Rings Online: Class Guide
From Captain to Minstrel, every LOTRO class explained.
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Interview | Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar
More from Steefel: Ents, graphics, Xboxes and Asia.
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Interview | Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar
Fishing for details of Book 13 with Jeffrey Steefel.