I Remember When...

[Forjo]

...it was hard to find Old Sally, and had to backtrack others doing the quest until I found her start location.

...I didn't actually know where Rivendell was -- and died twice trying to avoid aggro at level 10.

...being afraid to go off the road to see Weathertop because all the mobs around me were double my level.

What do you remember?

-Forjo

[syrvile]

...in one of the stress test betas, my lvl 12 self and my lvl 14 friend were res-circle bouncing all over north downs and ram duath. Eventually we got to an area that we couldn't physically make it out of. We knew roughly where the previous res-circle was, but we'd get a couple screens away from it and be one-hit by something purple.

[LOTRFan101]

... I was going to the Brigand HQ in Chetwood on my first character, and I didn't really understand the game and I didn't know how to get in a group, and I died over and over and over and over and over again trying to get to Jagger Jack...

I kid you not--I earned pretty much two complete Champion deeds just from all the time I spent fighting brigands in there.

[atteSmythe]

I definitely remember my first Rivendell run. Not as early in level as yours, but still dangerous, and grand, and rewarding.

I remember looking on Angmar's broken sky for the first time.

I remember the thrill of soloing my first Elite Master (a random wight in Agamaur - I was well over-levelled, but still a squishy hunter, and it was close).

I remember feeling like I was in a familiar place the first time I logged on my new hobbit in the Shire...and I remember finding goblins in the woods!

[elderlygamer]

I remember running around in the Shire for the first time and thinking "omg it's gorgeous!" (I still think that a year later)

I remember thinking I was rich when I passed the 100 silver mark.

I remember being afraid when I was in the Old Forest, heard something rustling, turned around, and saw a tree chasing me.

I remember saving padded shirts and pants around level 5 thinking I'd use the ones that dropped from mobs instead of repairing the ones I was wearing.

[phaelan2]

I remember when Archet was pretty much the whole world.

[Womdon]

I remember hitting lvl 14 and being really excited about getting the bear pet.

I remember venturing into the Old Forest the first time... and shortly thereafter running right back out of it with my tail between my legs.

I remember mining my first silver node and feeling like I just hit the jackpot.

I remember finding Sam's old Gaffer offering a quest and deciding on the spot that this was the MMO for me.

[Griffy]

So many things I recall, but one of my faves would have to be.
I remember the closed beta Stealth Stress test, where we had a mass of lowish level burgs. And the loud stealth detect noise going off every couple seconds. Following the orders from Patience to do certain stuff at specific times, so they could get their numbers.

But I especially remember, they were gonna erect a memorial drake statue for all the burgs who died trying to bring those drakes down. I keep checking around Overhill/Bindpole woods in hopes... not that I expect it there, but sometimes I just re-remember it. (Other pic, larger with UI)

[Chrysoprase]

I remember during open beta when everyone was level 15... I all got in a group of 6 level 15s to go into the Lone Lands because one of the guildies had to do a crafting quest. We were so scared! None of us had been there before, and all the mobs were red or purple. It was completely empty and barren there. Really intimidating. I didn't even see weathertop, or know weathertop was there, I was too busy hoping we didn't get pulverized by the red half-orcs.

I remember doing the archet beginning instance on my hobbit expecting to come out in the human starting area and finding out to my shock that not only did they put the Shire in the game, but I was there. It was night time and the moon reflected off of the river and little waterfalls flowing out of Little Delving. It was so beautiful I almost cried. I ran around taking pictures of everything I saw because there was no way I could afford to pay for this game, so when open beta ended it would be the last I saw of it. It broke my heart because I was seeing the Shire for the first time, and I had so longed to see it.

Yeah, long story short, I made it happen and bought an account, but it took a lot of work.

[TsarithArcher]

I remember when the Old, Old, Old Forest (before the last two Nerfs) was a place to behold and you had a sense of accomplishment finding your way out alive even if you did have your tail tucked between your legs and a few scratches to show for it. (And I truly miss that paranoid feeling of jumping in your chair and looking around every time you heard the sound of rustling leaves or creaking branches coming from behind you)

I remember when making it to the top of Weathertop was no easy task and you'd have just enough time to catch your breath and take one look around at the amazing view before the mobs would respawn and you had to get back to being on your toes.

I remember when making it all the way to Rivendell on foot when you were lvl 18 was something to brag about.

I remember impaling myself over and over on Elite Signature Boss after another until I figured out the best way to take them down and felt good about it afterwards. Now that they are just Signatures they aren't generally any more difficult than the boar/wolf/bear you just got done grinding into oblivion. Where's the next Mob Boss I have to blindly grind?

I remember spending more time exploring the regions of Middle Earth than worrying about Quests and Traits and Deeds and Reputation.

I remember my first time doing Chicken-Play, the Pie Quest, the Post Quest and the Tavern League Crawl and not thinking it was tedious at all.

I remember my first time trying to catch Gollum and actually thinking I might have had a chance to do so!

I remember my first time I wandered solo into Helegrod in my lvl 30 somethings wanting to explore and within but a few seconds of running for my life screaming I died a hideous and most painful death. That for me was the best death I ever had!

I remember the very first time I saved Lalia and kept asking myself "What is this girl's malfunction?" but I still helped her despite that. Now, I just ignore her, wanting to let Darwinism to take it's course and Naturally Select her own way out of the gene-pool.

[SilverBauble]

Hearing all these memorable stories about the Old Forest makes me wish I would have experienced it back in the day when it was still frighteningly scary...

[Chrysoprase]

Hearing all these memorable stories about the Old Forest makes me wish I would have experienced it back in the day when it was still frighteningly scary...

Well, honestly, I think a lot of the people who don't think it's frightening say so because they've already been there a million times. My brother and my mom have started playing, and their characters are in the old forest for the first time. They're terrified of it. I've had to walk over to their computers just to help them navigate out of it. My brother still won't go in there if his map is on cooldown or he won't be able to find his way out.

It's easy for those of us who have been playing for a year, but it's still hard for the newbies.

[Gaelivor]

They all make me sad really.

So much to love about this game. So much that is going in the wrong direction when it comes to things like the petting zoo where once the Old Forest stood. Few things compare to that first trip in there, through the secret door of the Brandybucks and how it changes from pastural music and dappled sunlight to that ominus music and the drums and darkness!

It is all so tragic that they killed it and replaced it with the Stepford Forest.

As for the good stuff...

I remember leaving the Elven pre-game area and being transported to Falathorn. That is STILL one of the most breathtaking places, that greeting pavilion!

I remember being paranoid of getting over my level so half the Shire was below my level when I arrived there lol! But I still did tons of quests there just cause it was THE FREAKIN SHIRE!!!

I remember how cool it was to see that first walking tree (Bimbol Wood (sp), behind the spider nests!)

I remember my first trip inside the Great Barrow and having to leave the fellowship eventually because I ran out of money to repair and could not even repair my broken weapon.

I remember by first hard-core fellowship fight - to get the goblin chief, at night, south of the Forsaken Inn.

I remember my first trip way up the Green Way, out of Tolkien's detailed world into Terra Incognita, and being shocked to find civilization up there in the form of Trestlebridge and again at Esteldin!

I remember my first hunting trip to Nen Harn (turtle soup) and how amazing it was to be in the wilderness alone for two days, prospecting and get my @$$ kicked by snapper turtles!!

I remember meeting Radagast the Brown and getting some tourist snapshots.

I remember tippy toeing around the first 100 yards of the Trollshawls to get my first Dwarf Iron and Lebathron, and running for my life back to the bridge over and over persuade by Purple mobs.

Of course I remember my first trip to Rivendell at L27 and the thrill of being lost on the high moor and finding the hidden valley.

Oh and remember seeing a wooly mammoth alive in a snowy pass. Spectacular, even if I sometimes wish they would have left oliphants in Far Harad where they belong,

[Synarria]

Well, honestly, I think a lot of the people who don't think it's frightening say so because they've already been there a million times. My brother and my mom have started playing, and their characters are in the old forest for the first time. They're terrified of it. I've had to walk over to their computers just to help them navigate out of it. My brother still won't go in there if his map is on cooldown or he won't be able to find his way out.

It's easy for those of us who have been playing for a year, but it's still hard for the newbies.

As a newbie, I wanna agree that the Old Woods are delightfully creepy! Not super hard, though I can see how it could be very hard, but the ambiance is wonderful. I look around whenever the music alters a little, expecting to see a wolf or spider coming my way!

[Gaelivor]

Oh the atmosphere is still creepy and yes the unknown is scarier than something explored. So partly we miss that unknown. But no doubt the agro has dropped a great deal. The fear is in the music now, not in any real fear of getting defeated, even with L15 characters.

[jshanman]

I remember

- When I could DF with no cooldown and no 'traveling rations' so that I could insta travel across zone by just knowing where the rez circles spawn.

- When I died for the first time to Pampraush in Limael's Vineyard

- The big floor hole in Gondamon... I still have a habit of running around that spot

- When I ran into Kheledul in Ered Luin thinking it was another dwarf city to get more quests... 2nd time I died

- The 3rd time I died in the 'Original Closed Beta Old Forest'(tm)... Biggest Spider/Tree/Wolf train EVER (this was before DF)

- When the level 30 elite wolf was incorrectly placed just east of Gondomon and I was curious enough to fight it at level 12 (and promptly die)

And Finally...

- When I first saw Hayoo's ( http://www.visionsofthering.com ) first overhead maps of bree-town that he teadiously cut-pasted and got so excited to put these in the FIRST google maps of middle earth ( http://www.arda-online.com/map ) before all the copy-cats came around (I'm looking at you Turbine Lorebook /reported)

[Doronlas]

I remember during open beta when everyone was level 15... I all got in a group of 6 level 15s to go into the Lone Lands because one of the guildies had to do a crafting quest. We were so scared! None of us had been there before, and all the mobs were red or purple. It was completely empty and barren there. Really intimidating. I didn't even see weathertop, or know weathertop was there, I was too busy hoping we didn't get pulverized by the red half-orcs.

I remember running in the LL at lvl 12 or 13 during early open beta (I like to explore ) and thinking how creepy it was seeing those purple half-orcs just standing around. Then, if one got after you that "arrrggggh" yell they do freaked me out.

One day I just took off and said I was going to make it to Rivendell and I did. That memorable trip still makes me smile. I went at night with the trolls on the road and everything. It was awesome. After I got there, I didn't want to leave.

Edit: forgot something - those wargs in LL - first time I ever fought one and it howled at me, I jumped. I still think the howl the wargs do can send a chill up your spine if the setting is right. A+ on the warg howl, Turbine

[FCRoosterQ]

When I tried to get my friends to escort my alt cook to the Trollshaws at lv 15 to complete the final cooks quest and having the first boar in eyesight come running over and insta kill my cook all the way back to the Shire.

[Fraktyl]

- Fighting wights in Ered Luin. First character. Baby hunter shredding through them. Tab, kill, tab, kill, tab... hmm.. the portraits different. SPLAT. Learned real quick about Elites and Signatures.

- Getting to Rivendell the first time. Just standing at the top of the entrance in total awe.

- The Old Forest (pre-nerf). Trying to do the "Fresh Water" quest.... talk about train. I think I had 4 trees, 8 spiders and a couple wolves on my tail. Didn't complete that quest that time. Did find out you can go out to the west and around the mountain to avoid most of the aggro.

- Thief Takers Bane. When it was a challenge. The feeling of accomplishment when we finally beat it after 9 attempts.

- Trying to get to Carn Dum before people had learned the routes. Ended up in the back of the caves. 6 man fellowship. Killing spiders.... until Mommy showed up... we almost beat her too, until the rest of the family decided to join us.

- Loremaster and Captain pets could path correctly... err wait that still hasn't happened.

- Getting to the top of Weathertop the first time.

- Getting to the Bruinen Fords the first time.

- Finding Lobiella in front of Bag End. And wishing I could attack NPC's.

There's a ton. Looking forward to all the new stuff coming out soon.

[TsarithArcher]

One day I just took off and said I was going to make it to Rivendell and I did. That memorable trip still makes me smile. I went at night with the trolls on the road and everything. It was awesome. After I got there, I didn't want to leave.

From the moment I first started playing LOTRO 13 months ago that was the first major accomplishment I wanted to achieve...go to Rivendell. It saddened me that I had to wait so long until lvl 18, but even then it was more than a challenge and accomplishment to get there. Basically you set aim for the Eastern horizon and kept running and running until you got there, stopping for nothing. I thought I was a goner when a Troll in the Trollshaws got in a lucky hit as I sped by and knocked me off a cliff causing fall damage (and reduced run rate), but somehow I still got away, refusing to give up. You know what, feasting my eyes upon Rivendell the very first time was worth every bit of the effort!

I'm sure everyone felt the same way which is probably why Turbine probably cleared the roads to Rivendell so that anyone can walk the entire way now without encountering a single mob along the entire journey. You still see them hovering a few feet off the road, but as long as you don't leave the path it's a cake-walk now.

I wonder if I hadn't ever been to Rivendell if it would give the same sense of awe and satisfaction seeing it now knowing that everyone+dog can get there easier than making it to Gum Drop Mountain.

I guess I've never been too fond of the "I'm paying for the game therefore I'm entitled to go anywhere I please, even at lvl 1" mentality as opposed to earning your way and paying your dues to get there. Good things usually are worth waiting and working for. But I guess as a business Turbine has to think about catering to all customers.

[ahdidiahz15]

- When there was only Bree-land and the shire
- When Garth Agarwen was as popular as The Rift
- When you got your crafting tools from Fornost
- That 6-man Helegrod attempt before the raid mechanic was in game
- When it took 12,000 ore to GM metalsmith.... every wipe
- When Rain of Arrows had no cooldown, 100% crit chance and 100% crit modifier
- When Swift Bow had a shorter induction than quick shot
- When Guardians could AoE force taunt 3 targets with unlimited range
- When Captains could actually heal themselves
- When FM's had no immunity timers
- When almost everything was BoA with no N/G/P system in place
- When you ran to Rivendel just to buy the elven armor and actually used it in combat
- When you could name your characters whatever you want (Legolas, Leader of the Lore Police kinship :P)
- When people still took you seriously and respected you more when you carried a kinship tag named "Pink Alpha Fairies"
- When you at least knew everyone was over the age of 18 (err mostly)
- When a champ could solo anything by using his horn
- When you could "farm" 10g a day while watching TV
- When you couldnt even buy a stack of rich iron for 5g- noone was selling
- When most mobs/zones were named "Delete_Me" or "Fix_Me"
- When you checked the Rammas Deluon after every update to see if EA was open yet
- When Guardians had 2g+ repair bills
- When a critted one-shot could sell for 70g

[Daynab]

I remember in early closed beta, nobody had reached level 40, and few people had gone to rivendell. it was awesome. I think on the last day of closed beta I lead about 15 people over there. And also when every purple was heavily prized. And when a LOT of weapons glowed blue (that was cool)

EDIT: reading the post above, yeah. Swift bow being insta cast or almost.. when money was SOOOO easy to come by, and then impossible to come by, before they balanced it. And all the stuff Solitude mentioned

[Chrysoprase]

Ooh, I also remember when about 6 of us were level 15 in open beta and wanted to quest in the Barrow Downs... we went there and walked on top of a barrow where about 6 wights spawned. We killed them and they dropped so many things that you could roll on that we just stood there, farming them. It was HARD. I was trying to tank them, and it was scary because they kept popping out of the ground and casting fear on us. To this day I steer clear of those mounds.

[Laire]

Oh man... so many memories!

I remember my first time in the game. My first MMO ever, too, so I was very confused. I could barely figure out how the fellowship function work. It wasn't until my second Open Beta character that I discovered the bard and traits. Man.

I remember the opening scene, with Amdir and the Ringwraith. I was so excited, and terrified. It was amazing.

I remember seeing Bree for the first time, completely empty. I wandered all throughout the town looking for the Prancing Pony. I finally had to get out my map and research everywhere because I couldn't find it.

I remember seeing the first stable pony, and someone riding it. I was absolutely amazed.

I remember seeing the first person on a horse that wasn't a stable pony. Amazed, and jealous.

I remember when I first saw Aragorn (my favorite character), in the Pony inn room with 20 other people around him. I stayed there for a while XD

I remember my first time in the Old Forest- you know, before it became stupidly easy. Honestly, they need that type of map for GA, Fornost, and CD... not the friggin Old Forest. But anyways. When the trees started to attack me, I completely flipped. I got so lost in there. I actually fell off a cliff running away from everything... into Goldberry's pool. Such relief XD

I remember when I first saw Bag End, and Crickhollow. Happiness.

I remember my first time on the summit of Weathertop. I fell off. XD It was a breath-taking view.

I remember the first time I ran to Rivendell, in my mid-20s. All the purple mobs were absolutely terrifying, but I was determined to reach it. And my first view... I was absolutely taken away by the sight. It is truly one of the most beautiful places in the game.

There are so many other memories from way back when... I cannot wait to see where this game goes.

[TsarithArcher]

I remember my first time on the summit of Weathertop. I fell off. XD It was a breath-taking view.

Laire, thanks for reminding me of one I forgot too...

I remember the first time my very first character made it to Duillond. After the initial awe wore off and I was able to move, I wandered over to the tower on the cliff overlooking the river and setup to take my first screenshot to show all of my friends. I did F12 to get rid of my interface, zoomed in and kept nudging the game camera further and further out until...*PLOP* I fell over the edge and died from Misadventure in my very first hour of playing. I still keep that very first screenshot as my desktop wallpaper.