Coming this autumn, we are proud to announce a major update that will make The Lord of the Rings Online™ (LOTRO) Free-to-Play for everyone. LOTRO will be introducing a new pricing model which allows new players to download the game and play for free. Everyone will be able to purchase expansions, quest packs, items, and account services a la carte from the new LOTRO Store, or join our VIP program to get unlimited access to all of the game’s content for one low price.
In addition to the new pricing model, the award winning story will be extended, a new region unveiled and much more!
LOTRO will offer players unlimited choice!
Free means free!
New players will be able to join with millions of other adventurers as they explore the most complete and authentic recreation of Middle-earth ever created and participate in LOTRO’s award-winning epic story up to level 50 completely free.
New LOTRO Store introduced :
The LOTRO Store will be loaded with thousands of convenience items as well as expansion packs, premium content, additional character slots, potions, character customisation and more! The LOTRO Store will be seamlessly integrated into the game allowing you new and exciting ways to enhance and customise your experience using Points which can be purchased in the store or earned through gameplay.
Be a LOTRO VIP!
Players who elect to become a LOTRO VIP will have unlimited access to all premium content, receive priority server access, 5 character slots, a shared bank slot, and a monthly allotment of Points to spend in the new LOTRO Store.
NB: All current lifetime subscription holders will automatically become VIPs under the new pricing model.
http://www.lotro-europe.com/freetoplay/info/
Release Notes – Volume III, Book 2, Patch 1 (BULLROARER ONLY)
The following release notes apply only to the Bullroarer Test Server. All changes and updates listed are subject to change before being released to the live servers.
Release Notes
General
* Several references to the Lorebook within the game have been updated to read “MyLOTRO” instead of “Lorebook”. Clicking on the “MyLotro” button on the start menu or radar ring will now take you to your MyLOTRO page and provide access to all Community Sites from directly within the game.
* Players who last logged out while in the Fornost or Great Barrow instances before Volume III, Book 2 went live can now log in again.
* You should no longer see an interior map from an area you have left while out in the world.
* Players in the Archet and Ered Luin starting areas can now transfer to the same layer as your fellowship leader.
* Teleporting between Housing areas and Dynamic Layers now works properly.
Captain
* The Captain’s Armaments for the Man-at-arms, the Squire and the Pilgrim will now allow the summoning of Heralds of Hope and Victory instead of always summoning Heralds of War.
Champion
* The Champion legacy that increases Critical Damage magnitude will now affect the second and third attacks for all skills.
Skirmishes
* All daily quests have had their minimum bestowal levels correctly set.
The Ettenmoors (PvMP)
* Tomes of Deed Acceleration no longer advance monster play kill deeds.
Raids & Instances
* Leave Instance now works correctly for session players.
* In certain cases the instance, ”Rise of the Fallen Son” could not be completed. This has been corrected.
* The Blind One, Zholuga, and Nornan somehow opened up the cabinet with the bag of extra-steroid-infused Monster Chow. We’ve installed child-proof locks on the cabinet, so the Blind One, Zholuga, and Nornan are back to their old selves. Or, to put it another way:
o Reduced the Damage-over-Time effects in the Turtle Raid to their previous values.
o Reduced the effects “Virulent Contagion” & “Paralyzing Contagion” in Dar Narbugud to their previous values.
* Haudh Iarcith
o The door to the epic area now requires a minimum level of 45 to open.
Westernesse protection has been removed from several monsters.
Addressed an incorrect loot assignment.
Spawn timers on the bosses have been dramatically reduced.
* Great Barrow: Thadur
o Removed some adds from the boss fight.
o The Challenge quest should now work properly.
* Great Barrow: Sambrog
o Adds will now correctly clear when the boss resets.
* Great Barrow: Maze
o The challenge quest now correctly fails when the fight is reset.
* Helegrod: Drake Wing
o Deeds will now correctly update while you are in a raid.
* Helegrod: Spider Wing
o Deeds will now correctly update while you are in a raid.
o The deed, “Zaudru’s Brood” now requires 100 kills.
Items
* The set bonus on the level 65 Armour of the Aurochs Hunter set has been fixed to properly reduce the cooldown of “Penetrating Shot” when all 6 pieces are equipped.
* The level 65 Annúminas armor will no longer accept dyes as the armor does not support them.
* “Map to Thorin’s Hall” will no longer play a cinematic when used.
* The deed “Helegrod — Drake Wing” no longer advertises the deed acceleration item. This deed cannot be accelerated.
* Novice’s Mark will no longer conflict with the run speed perks purchased from the Destiny Panel or the LOTRO Store.
* Fixed some auto-consumed skill-granting items that were not setup to auto-consume if the player was mounted when purchasing them from the LOTRO store.
* The “Veteran Esquire’s Heavy Mail” had its name accidentally changed to “Veteran Recruit’s Heavy Mail” and its level reduced to 27. This item now has the correct name and its level increased to 37.
* “Comagol”, “Rangers of Esteldin” kindred rep sword, now has “Rangers of Esteldin” faction requirement instead of “Wardens of Annúminas”
Town Services
* Vendors that sell steeds no longer repair items.
Wardrobe
* Items with unique color palettes can now be cosmetically equipped from the wardrobe correctly.
Quests
* In Volume I, Book 1 Chapter 11, you are no longer able to interrupt the scene with Sambrog while he’s talking.
* In Volume I, Book 3 Chapter 5, you will no longer see the message, “Drukordh has been defeated!”, until you’ve actually defeated him.
What is Free-to-Play?
Free-to-Play opens up more choices and options so you can play your way. When LOTRO Free-to-Play is available, you can download the game for free and start playing without a subscription or even a credit card. Earn free Points as you advance your Hero and adventure throughout the massive world of Middle-earth. You can spend these Points in the LOTRO Store to access hundreds of convenience items as well as expansion packs, premium content, potions, character-customization options, and more. If you choose to, you may also purchase Points in the LOTRO Store.
What are Points?
Points are the currency of the LOTRO Store and can be redeemed to purchase all sorts of items. You can buy Points in multiple ways: PayPal, credit card, PayByCash®, online check, and gift cards available at participating retailers. Points are also earned through gameplay.
Will I need a credit card to play the game?
All you will need is a taste for adventure to play LOTRO. You do not need a credit card to play the game.
What is the LOTRO Store?
The LOTRO Store is a new feature introduced with LOTRO Free-to-Play. It is seamlessly integrated into the game and can be accessed at any time directly from the game interface. The Store offers a wide selection of consumables like health potions and other convenience items such as additional storage slots, concierge services such as extra character slots or premium classes, cosmetic items such as clothing and emotes, and premium content such as expansions to the game. The LOTRO Store has more than 2,500 items! These items can be obtained in exchange for Points, which can be purchased in the Store or earned through gameplay.
Will I have to purchase Points to create an account and begin playing the game?
No, purchasing Points to enhance your game experience is entirely optional.
Will I still be able to play and enjoy the game without buying items from the LOTRO Store, or is that my only option for gaining weapons, armor, potions, and other goodies such as premium loot?
The purchase of items in the LOTRO Store is entirely optional. While items in the Store are designed to immediately enhance your in-game experience, premium loot and rare gear are the rewards of adventure and are only obtainable through gameplay.
What are the differences between Free player, Premium player, and VIP?
All the details about the features and benefits of Free players, Premium players, and VIPs, are explained later in this FAQ.
What is a Free player? How will I become one?
Anyone can join the game for free when LOTRO Free-to-Play is available. To get started, simply download the game for free at http://www.lotro-europe.com. No payment or credit card is required.
What is a Premium player? How will I become one?
You are automatically upgraded from Free player to Premium player status with your first purchase of Points in the LOTRO Store. LOTRO grants all Premium players 2 extra character slots, extends the maximum amount of gold you can carry from 2 gold to 5 gold, and provides you with a higher login priority, more mail and chat options, full access to all of LOTRO’s Community features, and 30 days of full customer service from the time of your last purchase.
Are you a former subscriber to LOTRO? Did you purchase and play the game in the past but never subscribed? In either case, you are automatically upgraded to Premium status when you come back to play.
What is a VIP? How will I become one?
For a monthly fee, the VIP program offers the best value and the most options for players who like the convenience of having unlimited access to all game content and features. VIP players also receive 500 Points per month and exclusive benefits like priority access to servers, 5 character slots per server, a 20-slot wardrobe for cosmetic items, full customer service, and much more! You can upgrade to VIP at any time by visiting http://www.codemasters.com/cog once LOTRO Free-to-Play is available. If you are already a subscriber, just maintain your active subscription to be automatically upgraded to VIP!
I am a LOTRO Founder. What will Free-to-Play mean for me?
As a LOTRO Founder, you automatically become a VIP and will keep all of your membership privileges as long as you pay your monthly fee. You will automatically receive 500 Free Points every month like the other VIPs, and you can spend the Points at your leisure in the LOTRO Store to enhance your game experience and keep playing the way you want.
I am a regular subscriber on a monthly or multi-month subscription plan. What will Free-to-Play mean for me?
As a subscriber to LOTRO, you are automatically upgraded to VIP status. You will keep all your membership privileges as long as you keep paying your monthly fee. You will automatically receive 500 Free Points every month like the other VIPs, and you can spend the Points at your leisure in the LOTRO Store to enhance your game experience and keep playing the way you want.
I am a former subscriber to LOTRO.
What will Free-to-Play mean for me when I come back to play when LOTRO Free-to-Play is available?
As a former subscriber to LOTRO, you are always welcome back to join the fight. You will, by default, be awarded the status and privileges of a Premium player, and you can join the game and play for free. You can also visit the new LOTRO Store to browse through a wealth of new items and à la carte options to enhance your gameplay!
You may also consider becoming a VIP to receive 500 Free Points automatically every month and gain access to other unique privileges. You can upgrade to VIP at any time by visiting http://www.codemasters.com/cog once LOTRO Free-to-Play is available
I purchased and played LOTRO in the past, but never subscribed to the game. What will Free-to-Play mean for me when I come back to play when LOTRO Free-to-Play is available?
You will, by default, be awarded the status and privileges of a Premium player and you can join the game and play for free as a Premium player. You can also visit the new LOTRO Store to browse through a wealth of new items and à la carte options to enhance your gameplay!
As a Free player, how much free content can I access?
As a Free player, you have access to Middle-earth, the greatest fantasy world ever created, and you can play LOTRO’s award-winning Epic Story up to level 50! In addition, you have access to the 4 races and 7 standard classes, major game systems, and a lot more options detailed here. And glory is its own reward: as you explore Middle-earth and advance your Hero through quests and achievements in the game, you will earn free Points that you can redeem in the LOTRO Store to access more options that will enrich or extend your free play.
At any time, you may also want to purchase Points in the Store and redeem them to access new items and options to immediately enhance your experience. What matters most with Free-to-Play is your play style and the type of gamer you are. With Free-to-Play, you really play your way.
Why should I become a VIP? What do I get that a Free player does not?
As a VIP, you get full access to all of the game’s original content and features along with numerous special benefits, such as a higher number of character slots (5 per server), 20 slots of wardrobe storage for cosmetic clothing, full customer service access, priority login, 500 Free Points every month that you can redeem in the LOTRO Store, and much more, all detailed here. For a monthly fee, the VIP program offers the best value and the most options for players who like the convenience of having access to it all.
I am currently a subscriber to LOTRO. What will happen if I decide to unsubscribe before or after the launch of LOTRO Free-to-Play? What will happen to my characters?
If you feel the VIP program is not meeting your play style and needs as a gamer and decide you don’t want the benefits and features of being a VIP, you will be automatically downgraded to Premium player status when your subscription lapses. You can continue to play the game for free with all the benefits offered to Premium players, which are detailed here.
As a Premium player, you initially have access to 3 characters per server but can unlock more character slots at any time by purchasing them in the LOTRO Store (up to 8 additional slots per server). You may decide to unlock more slots if you want to play more than 3 characters. Other previously created characters will be visible but not accessible unless you unlock more character slots.
I cancelled my subscription some time ago. Can I use my account as a Free player? Will I have access to everything I used to?
As a former subscriber or customer of LOTRO, you can come back any time to join the fight for Middle-earth. You will be awarded Premium player status and you will be able to log into the game. As a Premium player you will have access to the benefits detailed here.
I had a free trial account but never purchased the game. Can I use my account as a Free player? Will I have access to everything I used to?
As a former trial player of LOTRO, you can come back any time to join the fight for Middle-earth. You will have access to all benefits and features available to Free players (detailed here), and you will be able to log into your account at http://www.codemasters.com/cog to make changes to your information.
I purchased the Mines of Moria™ Expansion and/or the Siege of Mirkwood™ Expansion. Can I still access this content? Will I still be able to play my Rune-keeper or Warden characters? What if I unsubscribe?
When LOTRO Free-to-Play becomes available you will still be able to access the content and features of any expansions you have previously purchased. Whether you are a VIP or a Premium player, the content and features of these expansions will be available to you in their entirety.
If you decide not to join the VIP program or decide to downgrade to Premium player status, the content and features of these expansions will still be available to you. You will still be able to play your Rune-keeper and Warden characters as long as they are in character slots you have selected or have unlocked by visiting the LOTRO Store.
I purchased the Adventurer’s Pack or got the Adventurer’s Pack for free when I pre-ordered the Siege of Mirkwood™ expansion. What will happen to my 2 extra character slots and shared storage bank with Free-to-Play? Will I lose anything if I unsubscribe?
The benefits and features of the Adventurer’s Pack will remain available to you. Whether you are a VIP, Premium player, or Free player, you will get to keep your 2 extra character slots and shared storage bank.
If you have not purchased the Adventurer’s Pack and you want to extend the number of character slots you have (max. of 11 per server) or you want to get more shared storage slots, just visit the LOTRO Store to purchase the items you need as you need them.
If I decide to downgrade from VIP to Premium player, what will happen to the gold I have earned through gameplay? Will I lose the gold beyond the 5 gold cap that Premium players have by default?
If you downgrade from VIP to Premium player, you will not lose any of the gold that you have earned through the game. Because you were a VIP, you will not be subject to the gold limit of Premium players.
If I decide to downgrade from VIP to Premium player status, what will happen to my inventory bags?
If you downgrade from VIP to Premium player, you will not lose any of the inventory bags that you had as a VIP. Because you were a VIP, you will not be subject to the inventory bag limit of Premium players.
If I decide to downgrade from VIP to Premium player status, what will happen to my wardrobe slots?
If you downgrade from VIP to Premium player, all items placed in the wardrobe will be held on a remove only basis. You will be able to access them and remove them from the wardrobe to use them but you will not be able to use the emptied slot to Store another item.
At any time, you may visit the LOTRO Store to purchase more inventory bags or more wardrobe slots.
If I decide to downgrade from VIP to Premium player, what will happen to my characters?
If you downgrade from VIP to Premium player, you will have access to 3 characters slots per server by default. You will also have access to any other character slots that you have purchased. You may decide to unlock more slots if you want to play more characters or pick the characters you want to play. Your other previously created characters will be visible but not accessible unless you unlock more character slots. At any point, you can unlock more character slots in the LOTRO Store, up to 11 per server.
How many shared storage bank slots can I get through the LOTRO Store? Do I get more shared storage bank slots if I own the Adventurer’s Pack?
You may get as many as 50 shared storage bank slots, which can be purchased at the LOTRO Store (an initial purchase of 20 slots and then 10-slot increments). If you already own the Adventurer’s Pack, you already have 20 shared storage bank slots. You can purchase up to 30 additional slots in increments of 10.
If I am a Free player, what will happen to my gold if I earn more than the 2 gold limit in game? If I am a Premium player, what will happen to my gold if I earn more than the 5 gold limit in game?
Free and Premium players have a limit of 2 gold and 5 gold, respectively, that they can earn in game. Once the limit is reached you can still earn gold but it will be placed in escrow and you will not be able to access it unless you purchase a higher gold limit at any time in the LOTRO Store.
If I am a Free player, how many character slots will I start with? How many can I buy?
Free players have 1 character slot to start. At any point, you can purchase more character slots in the LOTRO Store, up to 11 character slots per server. Premium players get 3 character slots, and VIPs start with 5. Both Premium players and VIPs can purchase more character slots in the LOTRO Store within the same limit of 11 characters per account per server.
Will Free players be able to use the monster play feature?
The monster play feature is reserved as an exclusive feature for VIPs. If you want to play as a monster and join Sauron’s dark forces, you can do it at anytime by upgrading to VIP!
What type of in-game mail, chat, and auction restrictions will Free players have?
Free players can send in-game mail less frequently than Premium players and VIPs. Free players can use in-game chat but cannot send more that one tell every 5 seconds. Free players can bid and buyout auctions in the Auction House but cannot post items. These restrictions can be removed at any time in the LOTRO Store buy purchasing the corresponding items.
If I was going to sign up for the trial, should I wait until the launch of Free-to-Play? If I start the trial now, what will happen to my characters?
Joining LOTRO today will make you eligible for a lot of great offers before the launch of Free-to-Play, and all characters created will be transferred into LOTRO Free-to-Play at launch. Start your adventure today.
What happens to my characters as a VIP if I have more than 5 characters?
To have more than 5 characters you must own the Mines of Moria expansion or the Adventurer’s Pack add-on, which provide two additional slots each. If you own one of them you will have seven slots, if you own both of them you will have nine slots in total.
I’m an existing subscriber to The Lord of the Rings Online. Will I receive any Points for being a subscriber?
Existing subscribers to LOTRO will start accruing monthly Points from the 3rd June, 2010 at 500 Points per month.
I’m an existing Lifetime subscriber to The Lord of the Rings Online. Will I receive any Points for being an existing Lifetime subscription customer?
Existing Lifetime subscribers to LOTRO will start accruing monthly Points from the 3rd June, 2010 at 500 Points per month.
I already subscribe to LOTRO. Is there any benefit to staying a subscriber?
Of course! Once the game goes live you’ll keep all your current privileges, and also accrue 500 free Points per month to spend as you wish. We also have a set of Loyalty Reward Special Offers just for our veteran players – as long as you maintain your subscription in good standing you may be eligible for up to 3,000 Points. If you stay active over the summer you may also earn an additional bonus of 500 Points per month until launch!
I have a lifetime subscription to LOTRO. What will Free-to-Play mean for me?
As a lifetime subscriber to LOTRO, you will keep all of your membership privileges and are automatically upgraded to VIP status. You will receive 500 Free Points every month like the other VIPs, but you do not have to pay a monthly fee since you are a lifetime member. All you have to do is keep playing the game and visit the LOTRO Store to spend your free Points. In addition to qualifying for the same rewards as standard subscribers, Lifetime members may also qualify for a special one-time Loyalty Reward of 1,000 Points.
Is Free-to-Play the only thing to look forward to for Volume 3, Book 2?
No! Volume 3, Book 2 will continue the Volume 3 Epic Story as the Rangers head south. An all new area, Enedwaith, will be available as well as some exciting new features and many updates to the game including DX11 support! We’ll have more information about Volume 3, Book 2 as we approach launch. Keep an eye out for Developer Diaries and other information throughout the summer!
The European free-to-play relaunch of The Lord of the Rings Online has been delayed so that Codemasters can better prepare for the anticipated “massive increase” in players.
Book 2: Ride of the Grey Company and the Free to Play Store will now be available “later than expected”.
“We are really pleased with the performance of the game and excited about the response to Free to Play from our players,” said Rowland. “Given the complexities and challenges faced in the preparation and implementation of the new store to work within our infrastructure, we feel more time is needed to deliver the high level of service our players have quite rightly come to expect.
“As a result, we have decided to delay launch to ensure that we can support the massive increase in players that we are anticipating and deliver them a Free to Play experience like none other.”
Lord of the Rings Online will offer three free-to-play tiers: VIP, Premium and Free. The differences between them are highlighted on the official website. The LOTRO Free to Play Store will be available in-game and stock around 2500 items from clothing and emotes to game expansions and extra character slots.
Book 2: Ride of the Grey Company is a significant update to LOTRO. It opens Skirmishes at level 20, revamps character creation, adds a separate cosmetic items storage and much, much more. The full patch notes can be found on the official website.
As I’m sure many of you read this morning, Turbine has announced that The Lord of the Rings Online will be going Free to Play. The F2P re-launch of LOTRO is set for this Fall in both North America and Europe (Codemasters will run the European version), and a beta test phase is set to begin in a little over a week on June 16th. Naturally, many of you have tons of questions about the dramatic shift, and we got a chance to catch up with Turbine’s Executive Director of Communications Adam Mersky as well as LOTRO Executive Producer (formerly Senior Producer on DDO) Kate Paiz to get you some answers.
I asked Kate about what went into making this decision for LOTRO, and she responded that one major factor was the runaway success of the re-launch of Dungeons & Dragons Online, which resulted in “a significant uplift In player participation, in interested in the title, and in activity community participation.” Turbine looked at that and basically decided that it was really a no brainer for LOTRO given all the aforementioned benefits, and of course, this change results in making the game much more accessible to many more players.
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While there were a lot of obvious benefits in making the switch, the logistics of it didn’t involve a simple cut-and-paste job. The Lord of the Rings Online is an entirely different beast than Dungeons & Dragons Online, consisting of a more traditional MMO experience, and breaking that up into smaller pieces fitting a Free to Play model resulted in a few differences in execution. For example, LOTRO doesn’t make use of the same content model as DDO, instead it has a completely open world with your typical bread and butter quests, dungeons, and instances, and so in LOTRO players will have full unfettered access to the entire open world, but the limited access comes into play with certain quest givers. The entirety of Bree-land, Ered Luin, and the Shire will be fully accessible by F2P players, as will any of the main story content even beyond these regions, however, quest givers featuring quests peripheral to the main storyline will require a purchasable unlock as players progress through the game’s later areas, starting around level 20-25, beginning with the Lone-lands. The locked quest givers will be denoted with a lock icon above their heads, and players can unlock them by simply talking to them and being given the option to purchase the content right then and there. It’s important to note that players won’t have to unlock an individual quest giver, though, as making a purchase unlocks all locked quest givers for that particular region. Free players won’t be hurting for things to do, however, as Kate estimates the entirely free content amounts to around 300 hours of gameplay.
http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/game/45/feature/4292/page/1