In the past I’ve discussed the history of the game and some of the grander milestones, but today I’d like to engage LOTRO’s anniversary on a smaller, more personal level. As with many of you, I have a screenshot folder that is practically bulging with pictures taken of my adventures over the years. While some of those are just pretty vistas, others have significant stories attached.
So I’m going to share eight of those pictures with you, starting with the header up there. Back in the first few years, there was nothing as breathtaking — or screenshotted — as the descent into Rivendell. It’s definitely long in the tooth today, but I’m still impressed with the tranquility, beauty, and design that the devs conveyed in this remote outpost.
I’ve been playing a Captain ever since I picked up the game. It was such as awesome hybrid class that got a pet to boot. Standards? Get those things out of my face; I always had and will always have a follower out to assist me.
As such, I’ve gotten attached to my heralds over the years. This guy, who I always called Friar John, was one of my first — a brave, dumpy, balding man who nevertheless stood up to some of the greatest evils that Middle-earth has ever known. He got replaced with an Oath-breaker (because how cool is it to have a ghost follow you?), which in turn got replaced with a Shield-maiden when I couldn’t take the ghost’s heavy breathing any longer.
When I see this picture, I can’t help but think of the zillions of times that I ran through the Archet tutorial zone back before it got streamlined. On a good day, I could blitz through the quests in about 45 minutes, having memorized every step of the way. Oh, the newer version is objectively better, but I have nostalgic pangs for the longer version of yesteryear.
The epic story has had its highs and lows, but one part that will always stick out to me was this wake in Evendim. Listening to the NPCs tell stories of the fallen and helping to construct the cairns left an impression upon me. This was more than a game right then; it was a living, breathing, groaning world.
One little detail about LOTRO that always impressed me is that the enemy groups aren’t always portrayed as purely evil doombots waiting to ambush you. Some of them, particularly the human camps, have little moments like in the above picture where you can see them as people living lives, just perhaps on the wrong side of the line. After all, how many other MMOs will show you the bad guys crooning a ballad over a campfire?
LOTRO’s haunted burrow will forever be one of my all-time favorite Halloween instances. It might have been small, but the sheer detail and creativity on display in this space made me spend days upon days fooling around in it. Yeah, it was probably bending lore to even exist, but it was pure Hobbity fun, so nuts to that.
I’ve had many odd experiences in LOTRO, perhaps none stranger than being transformed into a chicken and challenged to go on an epic journey that would rival Frodo. When you’re a critter with no attack, a handful of hit points, and only a couple of useful skills, the entire world becomes a much more scary place.
I had good intentions of beating the entire chicken questline but got pretty frustrated toward the end during some of those marathon runs. Oh well, at least I got a taste of the poultry life.
Lord of the Rings Online has been one of the most social games that I’ve experienced with not only a vibrant roleplaying community, but a talented musical one too. Getting together with hundreds of other players to listen to Weatherstock on a yearly basis has become one of my annual highlights in the game. I’m always amazed at the inventiveness that’s on display with what few tools players have with which to work.
Eight years, eight pictures, but by no means everything that I have to share. What are some of your favorite memories?
Every two weeks, the LOTRO Legendarium goes on an adventure (horrid things, those) through the wondrous, terrifying, inspiring, and, well, legendary online world of Middle-earth. Justin has been playing LOTRO since its launch in 2007! If you have a topic for the column, send it to him at justin@massivelyop.com.
