New players: a server nearest to your heart

[Erennor]

I think it a sad loss that many who come to the game due to their love for the books (and/or Middle-earth role play) do not get to learn from the very beginning about the nature of the Laurelin server and of all that it has to offer which can be very dear to them and of deep significance for their stay in LotRO. Over the passing of years I have seen here on the forums more than a few times new folk learning scraps of information about the server from what little they are told by others, which sometimes is not correct; for instance, that rp is enforced there. And so this thread was created here (as new players cannot post outside this forum it seems) to openly welcome such newcomers and pass on to their knowledge things that most likely they would like to know before experiencing the wonder of Middle-earth for the first time and putting much of their time and effort on a server; for it is often seen, players moving worlds and starting all over again (as the cost of character-transfers is high).

Also, I would like to use this thread to share (in pictures, and in 'living moments' too) immersive times from the server, and thus a chance for newcomers to see here in this way some of the great artistry of the game and its world, and more importantly, how it is further enhanced through player-characters.

~*~

• Essay: The Most Middle-earth Immersive Server of the Lord of the Rings Online
  This is an essay written about this server and published here on the official forums. In that forum-thread one can learn in detail and depth about the people of Laurelin, and its lore-rich immersive nature, and many other designs inspired by the books (such as kinships and events). In a few words, how this server differs from the rest.
  
  
• Middle-earth Original Art by Laurelin-players
  There one can see the great skill and love for the setting that the people of Laurelin have poured into their creations that complement in-game experience through various ways.
  
  
• Additional Official Rules for a More Immersive Setting
  Laurelin is the only (English-speaking) server of LotRO with an additional set of rules and policies for a greater Middle-earth immersive environment. These policies are not the same as the Code of Conduct which apply to all worlds. They are in addition to those, and among all servers of the game they are in place solely on Laurelin (and Belegaer, the German RP server).
  
  
• The Complete Guide to Role Play, Immersion, and the Lore
  For newcomers to role play and the world of Middle-earth, or merely for those that may want to learn how to make their time in-game more immersive, spare some of your time to read this guide and you will then have a very good knowledge and understanding of these and other related things.

~*~

There is much more written in the essay linked above, and there are more sources shared there. Whether learned or not, if you come to LotRO after your love for the fascinating world and stories J.R.R. Tolkien created and want to experience the game in a more immersive, richer, and mature way, see many things inspired by the books, and be with a great many other like-minded players that share the same appreciation and interests, then read it for your own wisdom and benefit, as you will learn many things that perhaps you would not otherwise, or at least would rather knew from the start.


It is great to see more and more people who value the Middle-earth immersion among us.

Are you new to Laurelin? feel free to introduce yourself here in this welcoming thread!

Welcome to LotRO, and fair Laurelin!

[WilgrimHargrivar]

I am new to this game, and have read all of Tolkien's sagas from the Hobbit to The Children of Hurin. I am very excited to start playing, but have been researching which server to get started on. Laurelin looks very promising! I am going to create my first toon there today! Thanks for the 411!

[FinsArsam]

I think RP is more encouraged than enforced on Laurelin. That's why I chose it. I could also go for Landroval 'cause they specialize in music.

[Pfianor]

this might be a stupid question but as a newbie here it goes: what's RP? i've seen it next to some servers but thought it was a language i couldn't figure out... now i'm assuming it's something else?

[Brandon_Blackbird]

RP = roleplay

[Pfianor]

RP = roleplay

oh so this server wants you to stay in the role when chatting and all that? or what does this mean exactly?

[Erennor]

oh so this server wants you to stay in the role when chatting and all that? or what does this mean exactly?

This is a late post, but I wish to reply to this question as it is reasonable that many other newcomers may not know what role play means.

To speak in brief and plainly, one of the many different ways role play can be described as, is when players adopt and act out the role of their characters. In this case (LotRO, and especially on the three RP supported servers) original characters fitting for the Middle-earth setting. The peoples of the World. For example: one of the Rohirrim, a weaver Elven-maid of Rivendell, a dwarf trader of the Lonely Mountain, a hobbit-lad of Bywater, a scholar in Minas Tirith, and a great many other such examples.

Though RP on Laurelin is well-supported and encouraged, it is not required. As for what the server expects you to respect and follow it is listed in the Official Roleplaying Rules and Policy thread here on the forums.

[Erkenbrandy]

Its quite endearing to see servers like this. Truth be told, lotro feels like a game where you have to make your immersion. Otherwise the game does not support it much.

[Erennor]

Its quite endearing to see servers like this. Truth be told, lotro feels like a game where you have to make your immersion. Otherwise the game does not support it much.

Perhaps not in all things role players wish for, but there is support on the Laurelin server, being the only Official RP (English-speaking) world of the game. This can be read in the link that is shared in the first post that leads to the thread where Turbine speaks of the additional rules and policies that apply on Laurelin (and the French and German RP servers).

[Banaticus]

Personally, I like Landroval better, especially since Laurelin will be moving to the EU and if you don't live in the EU you'll end up with higher latency times.

These days, there's the same amount of roleplaying on Landroval and Laurelin, but Landroval has more cool activities going on (check out the Landroval and Laurelin subforums here).

[Erennor]

Personally, I like Landroval better, especially since Laurelin will be moving to the EU and if you don't live in the EU you'll end up with higher latency times.

These days, there's the same amount of roleplaying on Landroval and Laurelin, but Landroval has more cool activities going on (check out the Landroval and Laurelin subforums here).

As the executive producer of LotRO has said more than once, ''nothing has changed in the way the worlds function or are supported. Players can still play on the worlds they wish to play on regardless of the region they are in.'' Transfers only work between the former EU servers and between the former US servers, yes. But this has always been so. The old EU servers going back to EU is only a physical move. The servers will still be run by Turbine and be here available for all to play.

As for Landroval having more 'cool' activities going on, it depends on what one sees as 'cool'. A Tolkien-lover who would love to experience the game in a more lore-rich immersive enviroment and see many things inspired by the books (kinships, events, storylines) may very well (and understandably so) not see all these known activities that Landroval has to offer as 'cool'.

And I too urge new players to have a look at the subforums of the servers to see the difference between them.

[Almatir]

I really like the athmoshpere on Landroval but i seem to get alot of high latency and rubber lag (even though i got 100/100mbit fiber). I guess i will be forced to move to a EU based server instead. Not being said those are not good ones.

[Erennor]

I really like the athmoshpere on Landroval but i seem to get alot of high latency and rubber lag (even though i got 100/100mbit fiber). I guess i will be forced to move to a EU based server instead. Not being said those are not good ones.

As for latency and lag, Turbine took over these servers back in 2011, and as a UK player I have had no problems playing the game, and during the two very active years that I have been on Laurelin I have rarely seen much talk and complaints about lag, and yet the server has been all these years in US ground. Do not mistake me, likely enough there will be a difference in performance but not so great that it would become a problem for those who play over the seas.

[Erennor]

A kind welcome to all new LotRO-players that have come to fair Laurelin, and to others yet that may be joining today! Feel free to introduce yourself here, speak of your love and enthusiasm about the magical, mythical world of Middle-earth, about the game, and/or about role play.

I/we are ever glad and eager to have more Tolkien-appreciators, and people who just favor immersion and the things that greatly add to it such as story, song and music.

[Erennor]

Hobbit-merrymaking in the Green Dragon!

[Econn71]

I suggest joining Brandywine the most populated server.

[Charnota]

Hi all. In connection with the closing of the Russian game servers I decided to move in with you. To settle on the server Landroval. Dwarf Charnation. Doing mainly musical activity. I think you'll hear about the little orchestra "The Hope")) Sorry for my English))

[Erennor]

Hi all. In connection with the closing of the Russian game servers I decided to move in with you. To settle on the server Landroval. Dwarf Charnation. Doing mainly musical activity. I think you'll hear about the little orchestra "The Hope")) Sorry for my English))

This thread speaks of the Laurelin server. You may be confusing the names, perhaps, or so it sounds to me.

[Charnota]

Oh, sorry, I did not understand. I will look for the theme of the server Landroval))

[SammySharpe]

I've never RP'd before on this game. Always been a bit hesitant to as I don't know as much about Middle-Earth as I should. Still, how populated is the server?

[HaleElven]

I've never RP'd before on this game. Always been a bit hesitant to as I don't know as much about Middle-Earth as I should.

That's ironic, I don't RP because I feel like I know far too much about Middle Earth. And, I've found it incredibly difficult to feign ignorance so that my character would only be acting with the knowledge they're supposed to have.

Still, how populated is the server?

Which one? I see both Landroval and Laurelin being talked about here. Though, the peaks hours differ are Landroval is mainly a US-hours server, and Laurelin is mainly an EU-hours server. Both have decent populations if you're playing during their peak hours.

[SammySharpe]

Which one? I see both Landroval and Laurelin being talked about here. Though, the peaks hours differ are Landroval is mainly a US-hours server, and Laurelin is mainly an EU-hours server. Both have decent populations if you're playing during their peak hours.

Laurelin. Should have made it clearer I'm EU.

[Erennor]

Laurelin. Should have made it clearer I'm EU.

Laurelin is among the highest populated servers of the game. Apart from information gathered outside the game showing this, and the number of players online that can be seen in social panel, the server is also one of those that will remain; for those that do not know, Turbine will be closing some (or all maybe) of the low populated worlds in the coming months.

It is true that the server is less active during the hours people from America and Canada play, but not to a point where it is not enjoyable or you cannot find others. There are many US players here, and even entire (rp at least) kins. Feel at ease.

[Erennor]

Joyful gathering of Elves in the Hall of Fire.

[Erennor]

Gatherings of the dwarf-folk under the mountains.