Choosing a server (A Guide)

[Darej]

Has anyone done a trace route and determined the server datacenter locations/ IP etc?

they are all in the boston area

[Frieja]

Bumping for the new players this weekend

[Warnamon]

I wish I could switch servers or read this earlier. Firefoot might be a nice server for me, though, and population isn't everything.

When I saw all the server choices and not having much information on this game but wanting to play it right away, along with me thinking it's just another one of those MMORPGs where it doesn't really matter, I just picked the server that sounded best.

[Frieja]

Original post has been updated with some new server information.

[Auralin]

This is a great guide! Thanks for posting it and putting the work into it. Also, thank you for the mention. I did want to note that I have moved away from Landroval to other servers. I call Crickhollow and Brandywine "home" now.

[mhauer]

Excellent guide Frieja, thanks for creating and mantaining it, as well to the people who contributed on the thread.

You can add that Landroval has also a Brazilian Portuguese-speaking kinship, House of Telperion (Lorebook, MyLotro).

[Frieja]

This is a great guide! Thanks for posting it and putting the work into it. Also, thank you for the mention. I did want to note that I have moved away from Landroval to other servers. I call Crickhollow and Brandywine "home" now.

Excellent guide Frieja, thanks for creating and mantaining it, as well to the people who contributed on the thread.

You can add that Landroval has also a Brazilian Portuguese-speaking kinship, House of Telperion (Lorebook, MyLotro).

Thanks for the kind words, everyone. I have updated the OP with the information you both provided.

[Stonek]

Thank you for this guide, I am a new player (starting tonight) and this will help me choose my server.

I am very impressed by the community LOTRO seems to host. From what I gathered from the forums people is mature and helpful.

I am a old school gamer and I love MMORPGs. I was taking a break from my last game but now my hunger for RPGs is back and I was looking for a new game and LOTRO seems to be just what I am looking for. I have been trying DDO and loved the classes and character development but I didn´t like much the world is to much instanced ala Guild Wars (Loved that game btw). In the other hand looks like LOTRO have the interesting classes and character development and have the big persistent world I like.
The classes I am most interested for are Mistrel, Lore Master and Burglar. I am still doubtful about server, don´t know if I should choose a mid-high population or brand new.

[Thorvaldheimdal]

Very nice Server Guide.

/cheers

[Jilla]

Thank you for this guide, I am a new player (starting tonight) and this will help me choose my server.

I am very impressed by the community LOTRO seems to host. From what I gathered from the forums people is mature and helpful.

I am a old school gamer and I love MMORPGs. I was taking a break from my last game but now my hunger for RPGs is back and I was looking for a new game and LOTRO seems to be just what I am looking for. I have been trying DDO and loved the classes and character development but I didn´t like much the world is to much instanced ala Guild Wars (Loved that game btw). In the other hand looks like LOTRO have the interesting classes and character development and have the big persistent world I like.
The classes I am most interested for are Mistrel, Lore Master and Burglar. I am still doubtful about server, don´t know if I should choose a mid-high population or brand new.

There are pluses and minuses to every server, so you really can't go wrong. Welcome to the game

[Arahaelon]

Is it just me or are the population points completely different to what I'm seeing here?
http://status.warriorsofnargathrond.com/?numbers=yes

LOTRO Server Checker
server status
Arkenstone last queue: 46240
Brandywine last queue: 51885
Crickhollow last queue: 69970
Dwarrowdelf last queue: 76049
Elendilmir last queue: 46601
Firefoot last queue: 51703
Gladden last queue: 47828
Imladris last queue: 73385
Landroval last queue: 36577
Meneldor last queue: 61144
Nimrodel last queue: 49358
Riddermark last queue: 58814
Silverlode last queue: 41284
Vilya last queue: 47122
Windfola last queue: 49916
Bullroarer last queue: 2

[Darej]

Is it just me or are the population points completely different to what I'm seeing here?
http://status.warriorsofnargathrond.com/?numbers=yes

LOTRO Server Checker
server status
Arkenstone last queue: 46240
Brandywine last queue: 51885
Crickhollow last queue: 69970
Dwarrowdelf last queue: 76049
Elendilmir last queue: 46601
Firefoot last queue: 51703
Gladden last queue: 47828
Imladris last queue: 73385
Landroval last queue: 36577
Meneldor last queue: 61144
Nimrodel last queue: 49358
Riddermark last queue: 58814
Silverlode last queue: 41284
Vilya last queue: 47122
Windfola last queue: 49916
Bullroarer last queue: 2

queue number are not equal to population numbers.

they are just the total number of logins since the LAST server restart...those numbers go up not down.

i login and out multiple times across 3 accounts during the course of a day....and i am sure there are many like me.

[Luiz2]

Heya'll. So, i'm new here, coming on the f2p wave with some RL friends, and got a few questions regarding the server choice:
1) I was never much of an RPer, but i do love the LOTR lore, and on other MMOs, i always likes both PvE and PVP. So, which server has some active ppl on pve and pvp ? Preferably on one of those 4 new servers.
2) I already know u gota pay to play monsters, but suposing i didnt want to pay and joined a PvMP focused server like Riddermark, then i can just play PvMP normally as freep right? Would there be any setbacks?

Thx for all the help in advance, i'm hoping to have a blast here

[Darej]

Heya'll. So, i'm new here, coming on the f2p wave with some RL friends, and got a few questions regarding the server choice:
1) I was never much of an RPer, but i do love the LOTR lore, and on other MMOs, i always likes both PvE and PVP. So, which server has some active ppl on pve and pvp ? Preferably on one of those 4 new servers.
2) I already know u gota pay to play monsters, but suposing i didnt want to pay and joined a PvMP focused server like Riddermark, then i can just play PvMP normally as freep right? Would there be any setbacks?

Thx for all the help in advance, i'm hoping to have a blast here

the ONLY way to access pvmp as either a creep or a freep at the present time is to become a VIP..i.e. sub up.

now the Exec Producer has stated that sometime in the future they plan to do somethign regarding pvmp for prem/free accounts...
but dont hold your breath expecting in the next update or 2...it is likelly to come much farther out.

[Arahaelon]

queue number are not equal to population numbers.

they are just the total number of logins since the LAST server restart...those numbers go up not down.

i login and out multiple times across 3 accounts during the course of a day....and i am sure there are many like me.

Okay okay. Well I think that queue numbers highly correlate with population numbers, and it was easier to copy paste that info. Here are the actual figures for server population: http://lux-hdro.de/hdro-live.php

http://lux-hdro.de/images/live/lotro...arkenstone.png
http://lux-hdro.de/images/live/lotro...brandywine.png
http://lux-hdro.de/images/live/lotro...elendilmir.png
http://lux-hdro.de/images/live/lotro...n-firefoot.png
http://lux-hdro.de/images/live/lotro...on-gladden.png
http://lux-hdro.de/images/live/lotro...-landroval.png
http://lux-hdro.de/images/live/lotro...n-meneldor.png
http://lux-hdro.de/images/live/lotro...n-nimrodel.png
http://lux-hdro.de/images/live/lotro...silverlode.png
http://lux-hdro.de/images/live/lotro...tion-vilya.png
http://lux-hdro.de/images/live/lotro...bullroarer.png
http://lux-hdro.de/images/live/lotro...rickhollow.png
http://lux-hdro.de/images/live/lotro...warrowdelf.png
http://lux-hdro.de/images/live/lotro...n-imladris.png
http://lux-hdro.de/images/live/lotro...riddermark.png
http://lux-hdro.de/images/live/lotro...n-windfola.png

[Darej]

Okay okay. Well I think that queue numbers highly correlate with population numbers, and it was easier to copy paste that info. Here are the actual figures for server population: http://lux-hdro.de/hdro-live.php

those are not actual figures for server population.

no one but turbine has that info.

all you can do is see how many logins there have been since the last server restart.

just one person like myself with multiple accounts and many alts skews any numbers you might get from there.

please stop presenting this conjecture as fact.

[Luiz2]

so, which server would you recommend for some active PvE, friendly comunity and a fresh start?

[Arahaelon]

those are not actual figures for server population.

no one but turbine has that info.

all you can do is see how many logins there have been since the last server restart.

just one person like myself with multiple accounts and many alts skews any numbers you might get from there.

please stop presenting this conjecture as fact.

In a large enough sample size (like what we have here), the effect of alts on statistics diminishes. Also, I did say before that it is likely that queue numbers highly correlate with population numbers. And if only turbine has the info to server populations, where did lux aeterna get their info from?

[Arahaelon]

so, which server would you recommend for some active PvE, friendly comunity and a fresh start?

To be honest, I think that server demographics are changing so rapidly with the free to play that it would be too difficult to give an answer now. Of course you can go with historical information and look at the original post, which suggests Brandywine and Elendilmir for PvE raiding. Anyway, sorry if it looks like I'm ignoring you, it's just that I don't think that I would be the most qualified person to give an answer.

[Frieja]

so, which server would you recommend for some active PvE, friendly comunity and a fresh start?

All servers have a friendly community. That's one thing that makes LOTRO special When you say "active PvE" does that mean raiding, or questing in general? For PvE raiding, Elendilmir has the most raiding activity of all the servers. However, your ability to raid is going to matter more on the kinship you join rather than the server you join. If you like to PUG, then you probably want a high population server. But if you want to raid with the same people consistently, then my advice would be to look for a kinship that suits your playstyle, and then roll on their server. All servers have active raiding kinships.

If you're just looking for casual grouping for leveling or what not, then I would advise researching kinships for that as well. If you're starting out from scratch, you may be interested in rolling on one of the new servers where EVERYONE is leveling at the same time.

[Darej]

In a large enough sample size (like what we have here), the effect of alts on statistics diminishes. Also, I did say before that it is likely that queue numbers highly correlate with population numbers. And if only turbine has the info to server populations, where did lux aeterna get their info from?

conjecture?

they made it up

turbine has NEVER released any info about game populations for any of its games.

if it were that easy to get server pop number the question of how many active subs pre-f2p would have been answered.

also...the fact that only 1 french site has these numbers is suspect...where are the german or english fansites ?

im sorry but quoting info on an american made game in english forums from a french source?

there is no way for non-french speaking folks to put that info into context

[Arahaelon]

conjecture?

they made it up

turbine has NEVER released any info about game populations for any of its games.

if it were that easy to get server pop number the question of how many active subs pre-f2p would have been answered.

also...the fact that only 1 french site has these numbers is suspect...where are the german or english fansites ?

im sorry but quoting info on an american made game in english forums from a french source?

there is no way for non-french speaking folks to put that info into context

They are German! I don't see how you can't put that info into context. It says in each graph <serverpopulation> and <name>. Turbine doesn't have to release info anyway. They could have an insider who feeds them information.

[Frieja]

It looks like Lux Aeterna records logins every hour. They have server status charts based on the past 24 hours, and they also have one based on the entire previous week.

All data available from turbine's loginservers.

If you have fun in reading statistics, come and visit our webpage:
http://lux-hdro.de/hdro-live.php

The other server checker most people reference is The Warriors of Nargathrond server checker. However, it records ALL logins since a server has been restarted. So if, say, Brandywine was brought down for maintenance one day, it will show as having far fewer logins than a server that was NOT brought down.

I think the Lux Aeterna site is the best source we have of actual population size. It coincides with the general knowledge that Brandywine, Elendilmir, and Landroval are "The Big 3" and it also coincides with the information we can obtain from the Skirmish Leaderboards.

[Darej]

They are German! I don't see how you can't put that info into context. It says in each graph <serverpopulation> and <name>. Turbine doesn't have to release info anyway. They could have an insider who feeds them information.

well...its all greek to me...i cannot read any of the text there...so i cannot put it onto context....having graphs without readable explanations means nothing.

and do you really think a Turbine employee in Boston would leak info to german fansite?

puhlease.

im sorry...but there is no way recording the number of logins a server has since its last restart can provide anything factual.

at best it is an estimate...

the ringlore quests back in the day were a more accurate indication of server population density then this ever will be.

[MargyThunderstorm]

They are German! I don't see how you can't put that info into context. It says in each graph <serverpopulation> and <name>. Turbine doesn't have to release info anyway. They could have an insider who feeds them information.

We lookup queues every 5 minutes (Cronjob) and save them into Database. So we can make nice login-graphs with the numbers.

On the Server-Detail-Page you can see 2 graphs.
The first graph shows you the logins last 24h (German Summer Time GMT+2)

Example:
11:00 pm queue-counter: 1000
11:05 pm queue-counter: 1023
So we know that there are 23 logins between 11:00 pm an 11:05 pm, its amazing.

But we can not read serverpopulation directly, we can only read logins per server. We are doing the population-graph (second graph on the server details page) as interpretation from the logins. (mathematical modell).

and do you really think a Turbine employee in Boston would leak info to german fansite?

They dont leak any information, you can get all information using your browser. Its the same source which is used here: The Warriors of Nargathrond and here (Server Online/Offline): http://itunes.apple.com/app/lotroher...330820990?mt=8

im sorry...but there is no way recording the number of logins a server has since its last restart can provide anything factual.

This is totally incorrect.