2. Gameplay

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* 2.0.1 Can I play as a member of the Fellowship?
* 2.0.2 Does LOTRO follow the story of the Fellowship?
* 2.0.3 Which races can we play?
* 2.0.4 What about High Elves and Dúnedain?
* 2.0.5 Can we play evil races?
* 2.0.6 Is there PvP in LOTRO?
* 2.0.7 What classes are there?
* 2.0.8 Can I play a mage or wizard in LOTRO?
* 2.0.9 What can you tell me about grouping?
* 2.0.10 Can I still solo the game?
* 2.0.11 What’s a Conjunction?
* 2.0.12 Does LOTRO have player housing?
* 2.0.13 I’ve heard that LOTRO uses instancing technology. What is it, and how is it used?
* 2.0.14 How much of the game is instanced?
* 2.0.15 Is there a level cap in LOTRO?
* 2.0.16 Is there a crafting system in LOTRO?
* 2.0.17 When does the game take place?
* 2.0.18 Which classes can I play as a Man?
* 2.0.19 Which classes can I play as an Elf?
* 2.0.20 Which classes can I play as a Hobbit?
* 2.0.21 Which classes can I play as a Dwarf?
2.0.1 Can I play as a member of the Fellowship?

You will not be able to play as a member of the Fellowship. You will, however, meet the Fellowship and many other important characters from the books, and participate at times in important events that take place in parallel to the main events of The Lord of the Rings. The goal for LOTRO is to allow each player to create and grow their own Tolkien hero within an authentic Middle-earth mythology and environment, and to task them with their own heroic quest.



2.0.2 Does LOTRO follow the story of the Fellowship?

While you will not travel with the Fellowship in their quest to destroy the One Ring, your character will follow his/her own heroic path within the same time and place and in some places, will actually participate in events that aid the Fellowship on their journey.



2.0.3 Which races can we play?

Players may choose from Humans, Elves, Dwarves, and Hobbits.



2.0.4 What about High Elves and Dúnedain?

Because these races are particularly powerful, they will not initially be available for play. The playable Elven race is the Wood, or Silvan, Elves.



2.0.5 Can we play evil races?

Monster play is available to players, and allows them to play as a monster.



2.0.6 Is there PvP in LOTRO?

While there is some (but very little) precedent for PvP in the lore, it doesn't fit into Tolkien's world in the usual way that PvP fits into MMORPG's. In light of this, the design team is looking at PvP alternatives that will satisfy those who enjoy competitive play, while preventing scenarios such as Elves "ganking" Hobbits in the Shire. Monster play and sparring options are currently in game.



2.0.7 What classes are there?

Currently, we plan to have seven cardinal classes: Champion, Captain, Guardian, Hunter, Minstrel, Burglar, and Lore-master.



2.0.8 Can I play a mage or wizard in LOTRO?

From what is known, there were very few wizards in the whole of Middle-earth through the ages. You will not be able to play a Wizard, but a mage-like class will be available to you. As Magic plays such a special role in the Tolkien lore, we are taking great care to provide players with the abilities they expect, within an appropriate context for the Tolkien mythology.



2.0.9 What can you tell me about grouping?

A traditional party in LOTRO is called a fellowship and will be supported by the features you would expect like multi-channel chat, locate, and group rewards. In addition, LOTRO will provide fellowships with unique and powerful group attacks that increase in strategic complexity with player skill.



2.0.10 Can I still solo the game?

Our goal is to make the game playable for both solo players and those who choose to form Fellowships. Fellowships will of course provide certain advantages in some situations, but a fastidious Solo player can always buff up enough over time to make it through.



2.0.11 What’s a Conjunction?

A Conjunction is a group combat maneuver which is executed by multiple members of a Fellowship. Conjunctions reward teamwork and organization within Fellowships. They start simply, but can increase in complexity for players who wish to fully exploit group tactics.



2.0.12 Does LOTRO have player housing?

At this time, individual player housing is not in the plan for launch. We absolutely see this as an important part of the evolving world after launch and have plans on how to execute this type of system.



2.0.13 I’ve heard that LOTRO uses instancing technology. What is it, and how is it used?

We're using instancing in two basic ways in the game. As has become more common in other MMO's, instances place fellowships (parties) in an environment that is private to them, so we can craft a compelling adventure that will not be interrupted or interfered with by other players. We have also developed a more complex use of layered instancing, to "change the world" as part of special moments in the story. In layered instances, the player will encounter an area that during the course of a series of adventures will be forever altered in the "public" persistent world. For example, an attack on a town might result in the town being consumed in flames during a battle – returning to the town later, the player will discover the buildings are burnt to ashes. This will remain the open, public world from that point on for any player that had experienced those events in the game. We'll explain this exciting mode of gameplay in further detail in the future.



2.0.14 How much of the game is instanced?

The majority of the game will occur in open, persistent scape. We anticipate 10-20% of the world will be instanced in one fashion or another.



2.0.15 Is there a level cap in LOTRO?

The current plan is to cap the levels at 50 in the launch version of the game.



2.0.16 Is there a crafting system in LOTRO?

Yes! There are nine professions in our crafting system; they are Prospecter, Forester, Scholar, Cook, Weaponsmith, Woodworker, Metalsmith, Leatherworker, and Jeweler. More information on crafting is coming soon!



2.0.17 When does the game take place?

LOTRO is set in the Third Age, during the War of the Ring. The game begins approximately after Frodo leaves the Shire with the One Ring. The launch product will essentially cover the time and many locations of the first book, The Fellowship of the Ring.



2.0.18 Which classes can I play as a Man?

The seven classes available to the Race of Man are: Champion Guardian Captain Minstrel Hunter Burglar Lore-master



2.0.19 Which classes can I play as an Elf?

The five classes available to Elves are: Champion Guardian Minstrel Hunter Lore-Master



2.0.20 Which classes can I play as a Hobbit?

The four classes available to Hobbits are: Guardian Minstrel Hunter Burglar



2.0.21 Which classes can I play as a Dwarf?

The four classes available to Dwarves are: Champion Guardian Minstrel Hunter
Source. http://lotrovault.ign.com/