Your Favorite Moment?

[Dankanthegood]

People can complain about stuff in LOTRO, like PvMP, for example, which is understandable but when it comes to the scenery and the world of Middle-earth that developers have create for LOTRO, then you have to admit that Turbine ''got it right''


Instead of saying my favorites moments in LOTRO, i will just say this:

The scenery and the ''feel'' and ''look'' that every area has, its epic, its very immersive

[Feybobiam]

Closed Beta for Shadows of Angmar back in early 2007. Huge Tolkien fan, had been following LotRO since Middle-earth Online, had no real income at the time, and I just had to get into and experience LotR in an interactive, full, living, breathing world. Feyna the Elf Hunter from Mirkwood was born in Ered Luin and began her journey. Knowing I'd never really play, and that the closed beta invite would only last so long, I did only a small bit of levelling before taking off to see Bag End. How could I leave Bag End out?

Standing just outside once-Bilbo's magnificent hobbit hole, I stared out across the Shire just as the sun was setting. After a moment or three of dazed bliss, a couple Men ran across my vision. Rich into the moment, and also eager to experience Middle-earth rather than just another online multiplayer RPG with numbers, the level 8 and level 9 quickly began addressing Feyna the Elf, rather than the one behind the keys. We chatted for a few moments in Middle-earthen fantasy fashion, and before long were off to see the rest of what Eriador had in store. We hit Bree, crossed the Marshes, unintentionally found the most backwards route to Weathertop possible and waved to Bilbo's trolls, stopping at each location to take it all in before dashing off again. It was when we hit the Ford of Bruinen that it really began, and before long this little old level 7 Elf Hunter made it - without one incapacitation (despite those of her comrades who didn't feel like sticking to the road) and the exploration deed pushing her to level 8! - to the first sighting of Imladris. Taking in the music, colours, hills, design and seeing all the Fellowship was all pretty incredible.

We were so excited we pooled whatever penny-change worth of silver we had and bought some weapons from the vendors to sell back in Bree.

The next time I logged in I found myself in Gondamon, ready to log out and not expect to ever set foot in Middle-earth again, or at least not for a long time. I took some screenshots to have as keepsakes. It was then that the Open Beta started, much to my surprise, and after addicting a good friend of mine, and still with no funds to speak of, she went ahead and bought the game for both of us and paid both our subs until I finally had the cash to go lifetime. Never thought I'd be here today still trucking.

[Nymphonic]

Going to Lothlorien for the first time and was totally unprepared for all the colors compounded with that awesome daytime music. It was Nerd overload.

In April 2007 I had a one gig ram system with a 128 mb video card. there was no grass and the water was a white sheet. That October I got a first class gaming rig with a big DVI monitor and I just could not believe the view from on top of Weathertop with graphics maxed out. The mobs there were already grey so I just stayed there and admired the view.

And there was the time I made it to the Last Bridge. It felt like I was on the edge of civilization. I think that was the moment I achieved my dream of someday going to Middle Earth.

Who needs drugs when you're a nerd? The sportsjocks can keep their footballs.

[kimano]

my top ten favorite moments so far(yep so far):

1. Creating my first character(now a level 65 elvish Hunter...see sig). I had gotten the name from an tolkien elvish name generator(I have long since lost).

2. looking at Bag End for the very first time. This is the moment that I knew I wanted to keep playing this game. I had bought one year and am kicking myself as I had the option of going lifetime. I wish I would have gotten that lifetime subscription now.

3. Looking at Rivendell for the very first. I had a nerd-gasm as I looked onto Rivendell for the very first time. As a lover of the elves in tolkiens world, I was blown away to see Rivendell. I expressed my awe to my kin at the time and was told to wait to see Lothlorien.

4 Seeing Lothlorien and hitting killed by my fellow lorien elves. All I wanted to do was make to lothlorien. I finally did after 1 year of not playing the game(thanks to the F2P model). I was in awe as I seen the golden wood and my favorite elf, Haldir.

5. Creating my second character, a hobbit burglar. As I level through Archet, I had a great time going stealthy and doing everything I needed to. I recently picked her back up and having a grand old time.

6. Visiting the Prancing Pony. This is where I seen Gandalf and Strider at first. Seeing Butterbur made it so much sweeter.

7. Going with the my old kin and taking on the area of Giant Valley. This wasn't the first time I was in a fellowship but it was the first time I had fun a kin activity in an mmo. Rolling with 6 people because someone needed a quest there, we died a lot(being low level) and had a blast taking everything on.

8. My first run in SG. This is the first time I would fellow with people in my new kin. I had a great time and would run it a lot later.

9. The Balrog. The session-play with Durin's Bane was great. Seeing how long it took to get killed while trying to attack the balrog was epic.

10. The Chamber of Mazarbul. The only place that I like in Moria. and a great place to end with. this is where the fellowship of the ring ended up in Moria and it was great to see the destruction left by the fight.

[Reillan]

I do still remember my first time seeing Weathertop and Rivendell, and those were pretty epic; as far as seeing something in-game for the first time, my favorite moment had nothing to do with a known location, and everything to do with how well they pulled off the look and feel of the environment - the first time I crossed the mountain pass from Evendim into Forochel. It was nighttime, the air was still, I could hear the crunching of my horse's hooves on the snow, the breath misting before my face. The moon hung high in the sky, and the stillness of it all reminded me exactly of nights I've had in the mountains of Colorado.

However, I had a favorite experience that was less game-related and more real-life-situational. When Mirkwood released, it happened to come out on a day when I was taking a train ride I had already bought the $550 ticket for, so I was stuck. I bought a Virgin Mobile USB stick and got their paid access-for-a-week deal, and played the game from the train before Mirkwood came out. The day it came out, I arrived in Fort Smith, Texas, got off the train, walked into downtown to a Barnes & Noble, turned on my laptop, and managed to download the entire update during my layover (barely). Then I walked back to the train, logged on, and played in Mirkwood on the ride up to OKC. The connection was spotty and I died a lot, but by golly, I got to play on release day.

[Aarow]

I would say that my favorite moment was when a friend of mine and I decided to explore Forochel for the first time. We were so enthralled with the scenery and the northern lights, that one of us fell off a cliff and landed on a little island surrounded by icy water. Soon after the other followed(I think I was the one following my friend off cliffs at that time) We spent a whole hour just enjoying our little island that we were stuck on and chatting. Best lotro time ever!

[Ariandi]

2007
Seeing Celondim, Barrow Downs and Rivendell for the first time during open beta
Seeing Evendim Lake on the Roheryn server for the first time
Raiding Helegrod

2008
First Thaurlach kill in the Rift
Participating in the Amarthiel attacks
Seeing Khazad-dum and Lothlorien for the first time during Moria closed beta

2009
Participating in the Ettenmoors chicken run during April Fools Day

[Saramago]

In order of favourite-ness :P

1) Jumping down the cliff consciously on the way to Rivendell as a chicken. Yes, I died horribly and wasted up to 2 hours, but I remember it fondly as instant stress relief.

2) Turning in 500 tasks.

3) Seeing everything everywhere for the first time.Exploring it too!

4) Jumping on the last chicken stone outside Helegrod.

5) Finally being able to continue levelling without worry! (Due to 2)

[Nimdraug]

I've only been playing the game for around a year now, and a broken year at that.

I have many favorite moments, but I for one am a fan of the occasional glitch.

Some of those priceless moments were in the Gondamon Skirmish. I once played with a group who came across a captain which for some reason had absolutely no weaknesses. It took all six of us hitting it with everything we had for almost a half hour to bring it down! ^_^ Good times.

[Nymphonic]

2009
Participating in the Ettenmoors chicken run during April Fools Day

I have my "FOOL" title!

[Shirella]

Meeting Gandalf in person. I remember thinking, "I'm in the same room with Gandalf, and he's talking to ME." I even took screenshots to remember it by.

[SailorVee]

1. The first time I finished Vol. I -- I was on my Champ and the last few chapters once you hit 50 are so sad and so interesting. I really felt like I bonded with the characters I was fighting with. She still has the ring you get as a reward even though she's never equipped it because I can't bear to let it go.
2. Seeing Lothlorien for the first time -- Again, this was my champ. But I had fought my way hard through Moria and couldn't take another minute of it so finally a guy in my kin offered to escort me out and into Lothlorien. Just seeing the sky again was amazing, but then when I was finally allowed in the Golden Wood it was amazing. The devs really captured the feeling described in the book of feeling at home but on a vacation at the same time. She spent weeks there just running dailies and wandering around. I finally had to make myself leave but I didn't want to.
3. Getting hit on by Boromir -- The Race of Men does special quests for Boromir and Aragorn in Rivendell and my Champion is a Woman. Some of Boromir's dialogue becomes a little...proposition-y when you replace "Man" with "Woman" (ie. "It does my heart good to see a Woman like you," and then later when he says he wishes you could go with them on the journey). It was just awesome and hilarious and I still make jokes about it in my kin. I hope it never changes. I like to think that she totally went for it with him.
4. The Hobbit village in Enedwaith -- Specifically, when I took my Hobbit there the first time. I always feel like there's nothing more interesting to a Hobbit than another Hobbit, so while my champ had already been in the village and been bored by it, I found it absolutely fascinating as my burglar to see all these other Hobbits running around.
5. Beating Igash HM using Enrage -- Another burglar trick. Our tank was having trouble holding aggro on the archers AND Igash at the same time, we had to minis, two hunters, a guard, and me. So the guard held the hunters and I kept Igash enraged. None of us had ever fought him like that before and it was so much fun we did it every time after that until the guard could hold aggro on everyone. I have never felt more useful in a group than I did doing those GS runs.
6. Seeing the aurora borealis in Forochel the first time coming up from Evendim. I wanted to live there.

[Qhouri]

My favorite moments so far were - mostly - deaths.

Little lvl 15 Qhouri enters the Great Forest for the first time. I was awestruck. Amazing atmosphere! Creepy! I felt so lost in there, everything was so hostile, I could see nothing but rotten trees and nasty critters, and then I met my first living tree... after the release to Bree I didn't dare to go in there again til I had to for the epic quest.

Little lvl 28 Qhouri meets some nice dwarves in Othrikar and goes hunting some wargs for them. No problem. Up through the hills and into the wide plains of Nan Amlug. Wargs are mean, they make me hobble. But that Dragon over there is pretty. Pretty, shiny and HUGE! OMG, is that really a dragon? OMG, that guy has more than 10k morale! OMG, what's that guy DOING here? OMG, he has seen me! *tries to run, is still wounded, doesn't have a pot, gets a hit from behind*.
My first meeting with Bleakwing.

Little lvl 40 Qhouri is sent to Hrimbarg by that spider guy in Archet with some booze for his cousin. I got lost in the Giant's Halls and survived. I got lost in that huge goblin camp and survived (thanks to the suicidal tendencies of my herald). I was chased by wargs, snowbeasts, trolls and aurochs, but I survived. And then I fell off the bridge on top of the High Pass. Gloin saw me release near his camp, and he still laughs at me when we meet today.

No Death Moments:

- First journey to Rivendell at Lvl 22 with my first Char. So beautiful! And I was so proud!
- Meeting Tom Bombadil
- The intro of book 2 (The cutscene where the fellowship leaves Rivendell). Now this part of Middle Earth relies on my care, without anyone guiding me.
- My first Shire rainbow, standing on top of that fly-infested hill where you find the warg collar.
- The way the Shire hobbits greet their Honorary Shirrif
- Some group experiences: That underleveled, undermanned group in Tomb of Elendil, with me as main Healer. The awesome 3day-deeding-group in ND, LL and Evendim. We met every day for a whole weekend to do deeds like trolls, giants and other elite stuff. Questing in Dol Dinen.
- all the occasions when some stranger sent or traded me some lowbie stuff, just because he could. A nice weapon, some food, a bit of jewellery - I've never met so many so generous people in a game community before. Be sure, all you donors out there, every single one of you lingers on my friend list, with a note who gave what to which alt. You are remembered, and your gifts are appreciated!

[Fusillade]

Back when level cap was 50, a group of us were coming out of BG (the old BG, in Angmar). I was on my LM. I had my trusty little bear with me, FuzzyWuzzy. As we step out of the instance, we see Amarthiel coming up the ramp towards the BG portal with some of her goons.

Of course, we decide to engage. I send in Fuzzy to lead the charge.

Then I see the emote "Amarthiel mocks FuzzyWuzzy."

Then "Amarthiel laughs out loud at FuzzyWuzzy".

Followed by "Amarthiel incapacitated FuzzyWuzzy."

Enraged, though strangely laughing hilariously, we took our vengeance upon Amarthiel's henchmen. One of them left behind an epic cosmetic cloak that my LM still wears. Alas, we were unable to destroy Amarthiel and she defeated each of us, though she reserved her mocking disdain for poor FuzzyWuzzy.

(P.S. Please bring back special events like this one!)

[revoked]

When I first started playing I was absolutely awestruck by the beauty of the elven starter area. I still love the area and am struck by its beauty every time I go there.

Among my favorite more specific moments was finding Tom, Bill and Bert in the Lonelands. It was long after that I found the quest that takes you to them, but coming across them unexpectedly as a relatively new player was wonderful.

In terms of grouping, downing the Lieutenant after months of working the raid was quite a rush and one of the highlights of my lotro experiences.

Finally, maybe this doesn't really count but, re-reading the books and finding all the references to Mirkwood and finding references to places and thinking, "I've been there!" The game gave new meaning to things I had never really noticed before in the books.

[Ciryandir]

2009
Participating in the Ettenmoors chicken run during April Fools Day

Ah yes, this was great fun! I finally managed to get the 'Fool' title on my champ after providing many chicken dinners to the creeps camping the spawn point. I decided to pay it forward by switching to my LM and pulling escort duty for others trying to get the title. My intent was to get the title on my LM later. Unfortunately, when later came, the quest to enter session play was gone. *sigh*

[Kemendin]

I think my favorite moment so far occurred just a few days ago... my friend's lore-master alt adopted my little guardian alt, so we were just kinda laughing about that. He was slightly distracted, and in the meantime I turned and saw someone behind me riding the anniversary horse. Since my personal opinion of that horse is rather low, something along the lines of animal abuse, I accordingly slapped the person. My new "dad" started laughing hysterically, then managed to get a grip on himself enough to ask if I actually knew the person on the poor horse. When I replied that no, in fact, it was just a random person whom I had probably never seen before... well, let's just say the next two and a half minutes or so of voice chat was "dad" just laughing like I've never heard him laugh before. It was great.

[Tsav]

To pinpoint a singular favourite moment would be near impossible. I have been playing this game for a while, so there are many favourite moments. There are too many to mention with many more of them being made constantly.

In fact,that is perhaps the greatest thing about this game. There is always something new to discover.

For instance, a couple days ago I was in Bree just outside the Prancing Pony and noticed Nob go and fetch a pail of water from the fountain in front of The Pony and take it to the stable. I laughed and cheered on Nob.

I imagine this happens on a recuring basis, but it was the first time I noticed it and it brought a smile to my face.

It's the little things that make all the difference. It's the little things that keep me coming back even as others leave. This is the first MMORPG I've played where I can see myself sticking around until they shut the servers down.

[Eugorr]

Running backwards from MD to Bree with my hobbit friend. Just... because.
Try it, you'll love it.

[Arness]

Two of them.

1) Last night of open beta my then kin did a pub crawl and then ran from the forsaken inn to Rivendell. At level 15, our toons were low enough level that even yellow mobs were aggroing us. A couple didn't make it. But getting to that hill and seeing Rivendell was the best sight I'd seen.

2) My old computer was passable, it got me through, and had a good graphics card, but couldn't play on the settings I wanted to. For an early Christmas present, my husband built me a new computer. Logging in for the first time, changing my settings, and seeing what I'd been missing the past four years, it was like I was seeing content for the first time.

Edit: Okay 2 became 4

3) Finally talking my friends into trying the game, hearing how they love the game, love their classes, and love how it stuck to the lore so well.

4) When you used to be able to /follow while sitting down, riding the trains of sitting people through Bree and out the gate.

[Michikoh]

I started playing LOTRO after it became F2P and created an Elf Minstrel in Imladris. This being my first MMO, I was expectedly a nub and looking back, I asked an awful lot of questions in /advice but everyone was nice enough to answer them the best they could.

My favorite moment would be realizing that it was September 22 and it was Bilbo and Frodo's birthday. I was so excited that I started spamming in /regional that it was their birthday and asking if there were any special activities to celebrate the day. All of us didn't have any idea so I thought that maybe if I find them, I can get a mathom.

I didn't have a horse back then, so I started the long walk from Ered Luin to The Shire. I was breath-taken when I first saw the hobbit houses in Needlepoint. I think I was almost about to faint when I finally saw Bag-End. I started exploring it and I was just so overwhelmed when I saw all the details that went into making it. It was just as exactly as I imagined it to be. I was even squeeing when I saw the cloak pegs that Thorin and the rest of the gang used way back in Bilbo's time.

But I couldn't find Frodo or Bilbo anywhere. (I haven't started the epic quest yet so I didn't know the timeline) I stumbled out into the sunshine and saw my first Shire rainbow. (So intense! But it wasn't a double rainbow.) I was so awestruck I didn't notice the small cliff in front of me and I fell right into the Party Tree area. I saw all the ribbons that were adorning the tree and it made me smile a big goofy smile. I asked again in /regional if they had any idea where Bilbo and Frodo is, and someone was kind enough to reply that they are in Rivendell. I then asked if it was possible for a level 16 minstrel to go there, and if there was a taxi horse available, but unfortunately, he said that there isn't one at my level.

I was disappointed but I didn't let that dampen my spirits and spent the rest of the day exploring The Shire. Until now, The Shire is still my favorite area and I still spend a lot of time just taking in the scenery. The positive experience that I had with both the community and the sheer beauty of the landscapes made me subscribe to the game, and I will continue to do so until they shut down the servers.

[catofnine]

Finishing the whole of v.1 before the solo revamp. It took me forever to find/make groups who'd be willing to go and most of it was done on the weekends. The end fight and seeing the conclusion of the last volume was worth it though. I don't ride the horse anymore, but I still keep the portrait of Narmeleth on my housing wall as a fond memento.

Other favorite moments: Discovering the Shire and Rivendell.

[Nibenwen]

I started my first elf hunter. At level 7 I got eager to see whole middle earth. I had no horse, no find the path. I started taking the road to Duillond, then got east to the bridge. When I saw down, my jaw dropped to the keyboard, thinking of the heigth, and knew I could get there and I got the feeling I could get anywhere in Middle Earth. So I keep going thorugh the road and got to the Shire. I got to hobbiton and then Bag End. Then I nearly died in binbole wood trying to unlock the map. I was walking aimlessly, untill I knew I wanted to get to Mirkwood, since I chosen that my toon will be from there. I took the road through Bywater and then to Stock, getting awed at the sights of everything. Then I got to the Brandywine bridge.
I crossed and got to Breeland. I got scared at those crebain, wolves and bears. They were level 14-17 and I was 7. I kept following the road, until a patch of it was covered in grass and I started getting lost and walking in circles. When I finally got to the other part of it, just 25 meters away I kept walking thorugh that road. It seemed ages, until I saw in the map, Bree 300m. I saw it from the distance. Bree 200m, OMG. I got to Bree. I was roaming through it and I got to the Prancing. When I left Bree, it was night and I kept going thorugh the road. When I saw "Now entering the Midgewater Marshes". I thought "Eeek, this place seems bad. I'll go quicker". And then I was in the Lone-Lands.
I got to the Forsaken Inn. Went down the road and saw the map. The "Minas Eriol" caught my eye and thought that it was a big city. I was walking upwards when I saw a level 24 goblin. My enemy. I tryed to not get in combat, but I did. The golbin started hurling spears to me. I ran to the main road. I kept on going, thinking of all the places I will visit and having the whole Middle-Earth to explore. It seemed ages walking down the road. I finally got to Ost Guruth. I talked to the stable-master. But I saw a guard in the entrance. I thought that the place was full of baddies. And then I saw "Free peoples" I scared, thinking he was free to do anything, even kill someone, and this was the Lonelands. I got the courage to enter and saw that it was a big settlement. I was angry at myself. I went to the skirish camp and then I saw Haragmar to the distance. I was curious to see what it was. Just to find myself nearly dead. I reclutanly left Ost Gururth and got to the Trollshaws.
I saw that it was in red. I proceded with extreme caution through that forest. Then behind of a tree a I-don't-know-what-it-was jumped to me and killed me in 2 hits.

Ah those moments..

[Zhengzhe]

Favorite moment was right when I hit 65

Nah just joking. My real favorite moment occurred after I had finally completed almost all the dungeons of Moria. I didn't have mirkwood or enedwaith at the time, so I was aiming at completing every single dungeon deed and quest in moria. The last instance I had left was Forgotten treasury, and I picked up the riddle quest and was going all over the place. Finally, it told me to go towards First Hall, and as I followed the quest arrow, I picked up the stable master at First hall and kept going East out of curiosity.

Suddenly, I was outside of Moria! It was a real joy to finally get out of those caves! I remember saying to myself "what a long, strange trip it's been!"

[Imirt]

I've only been playing for a week but have to give a "nooby" impression.

Never could imagine a day when I would escort a walking tree in a game...suddenly I have a feeling what it's like to be a tree-hugger on crack.

What really stands out for me is the small details..like watching a cat look around, lick its paw, then curl up to sleep, or watching a hobbit dance by a campfire.

That's more than one moment but could not resist...everyone behind the game deserves awe at the amazing game they created. I just wish I could have been there 3 years ago.