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Lord of the Rings Online is a massively multi-player online game (MMOG) that is based on the popular novel Lord of the Rings from JRR Tolkien. The game draws heavily from the world that Tolkien created in his masterpiece work and fans of the book and the movie have found that it exceeded their expectations. LOTRO is set in Middle Earth, and the current version is titled The Shadows of Angmar. A new release, The Mines of Moria is due for release in the Fall of 2008.

Lord of the Rings Online Leveling

Much like in the books, players of Lord of the Rings Online perform quests towards the ultimate goal of defeating the dark lord Sauron. Many of the locations in the game will be familiar to fans, such as Hobbiton, Bree and Rivendell. You can hoist a pint at the Prancing Pony or revel in the magic of Lorien, thanks to the incredibly life-like graphics and features that LOTRO has to offer.

Picking your LOTRO Character

There are four main races that players can choose when they begin playing Lord of the Rings Online. You'll get your pick from a:

• Human
• Elf
• Dwarf
• Hobbit

Each race has specific characteristics that make them unique and challenging to play. One of the more interesting facets of LOTRO is that the races of characters will differ in appearance, based on the region where they come from in the game. For example, the Woodland Elves are darker than the Lorien Elves, and hobbits from Bree will look differently from those that are in Hobbiton. This is another great example of how the game stays true to Tolkien 's original vision.

Choose a Lord of the Rings Race thats right for you

Once you have selected the race of your character, you will need to pick the Lord of the Rings Online class in which you will play. The available classes are

• Champion
• Guardian
• Hunter
• Minstrel
• Burglar
• Captain

Certain races can only play in specific classes, such as a hobbit will have the choice of guardian, minstrel, hunter or burglar. The human characters in the game have the most choices when it comes to selecting an LOTRO class.

What is the Deed System?

Lord of the Rings Online differs from many other games in this genre by including what is called a Deed system. This system allows players to collect specific titles and new traits that are accomplished by completing deeds. These are separate from questing and can greatly enhance your LOTRO character.

Play solo or goin a LOTRO Fellowship

Within Lord of the Rings Online you have the option of playing as a solo player or as a member of a Fellowship. This is similar to a guild system and works well for new players that need assistance from more skilled players. However, unlike many MMO games, you do have the option to play on your own if you prefer. Regardless of how you prefer to play, you will need to complete specific quests and deeds in your efforts to combat Sauron and win the game.

Advancing your Vocations & Professions

Lord of the Rings Online also has a profession and vocation system where you can build up your skills and start earning more currency within the game. The available vocations in LOTRO are Armorer, Armsman, Explorer, Historian, Tinker, Woodsman and Yeoman. Within these vocations are several professions that you can master. They include Cook, Farmer, Forester, Jeweler, Metalsmith, Prospector, Scholar, Tailor, Weaponsmith and a Woodworker. Once you select your vocation and the accompanying profession, you will need to start advancing through the ranks from Apprentice all the way to Master. As you do, you will earn valuable skill points as well as gold.

Lord of the Rings Online is a challenging and fun game that features some of the best gaming graphics, environment and options available today. Even if you are familiar with MMORPG games, this is one that is guaranteed to impress. LOTRO currently has more than 1,000 titles that can be earned, 50 levels to traverse, 10,000 unique items to find and more than 2,500 monsters to test your skills set in 50 million square meters of Middle Earth. Whether you are a fan of the books or the movie or you just want to experience this phenomenon, Lord of the Rings Online is one of the hottest games on the market.