How does this compare to Vanilla WoW?

[A Rock Seller]

Thought I'd try this out since it's free. I wanted to get an idea of how similar (if at all) it is to classic WoW. Reason is simply that classic was my favorite version of WoW and pretty much my favorite MMO. I have some less positive opinions on the current version so most similarities to that are a minus.

I'm not really interested in another hand-holding simulator that lets you teleport everywhere and relies more on UI windows than player interactions. I want some interesting and hopefully challenging adventures. Y'know, like in Vanilla.

I know MMOs are a bit of a touchy subject with most people saying things like "This MMO is better. Fact." all the time but I really am just looking for qualities that this game shares with one of my personal favorites.

Any extra tips you might have for a beginner are also welcome. I'd surely find them useful if I end up liking the game. Any information from how well the population is doing to how much the cash shop affects the game would also be great.

Thanks.

[Lord Banterhead]

Never played "Vanilla" WoW. This game is decent. That's all I can say.

[|CoD| Shadow]

I haven't played WoW in forever so what I did play was probably a lot closer to "Vanilla" then to whatever it is now. LOTRO is similar to what i remeber of WoW but has its own flair and a really nice looking world to run around in. Theres not really any hand holding and the store can be mostly ignored less some essentials that can be earned through gameplay. If you feel like haveing someone to quest with I'm on the Gladden server.

[Lord Banterhead]

So, you asked for some tips. If you reach lvl 30 you should have enough LOTRO points acquired to buy the Evendim quest pack. It is the best of the three lvl 30 options and is rather fun.

If you are trying to lvl up your Shire reputation but you despair as you have finished most quests and still are not full, don't go to the Auction House and buy loads (as I did). In later areas (eg North-West Evendim and Rivendell), you will find that enemies drop reputation items for the Shire.

Get the basic ride skill as early as possible on whatever character you have chosen to main. Don't do it on all of your characters if you do not think you will use them much.

If you want to see as much as possible of Middle-Earth without back-tracking, have a Dwarf character. If you feel that you just want to have the story over and done with, play as a Man.

Some people say to get VIP and from the sound of it that's a good thing to do, but it costs real money. Logging on to a character while VIP is activated means that the VIP bonuses apply forever on all of them.

Don't be afraid to ask for help. The LOTRO community is very good from what I've seen.

That's all for now. I might think of some more tips later.

[Crom]

I've played up to about level 30 so far. I'd say the feel is fairly reminiscent of Vanilla WoW. The style and structure of the game reminds me quite a bit of early Vanilla and the game has a very nice old school feel that kinda brings me back to the everquest/daoc/early WoW days. It definitely belongs to the "western" side of RPGs and has the same feeling of getting into a massive adventure as the aforementioned games.

The fact that a large part of the mythology of Warcraft (and most fantasy games for that matter) has its roots in the works of Tolkien, further enhances that affinity.

On a side note, since you like Vanilla WoW have you tried playing that version of the game again through..ahem.. alternative ways that are currently available?

[Bakinda]

Originally posted by Absolutely Barbaric:

I've played up to about level 30 so far. I'd say the feel is fairly reminiscent of Vanilla WoW. The style and structure of the game reminds me quite a bit of early Vanilla and the game has a very nice old school feel that kinda brings me back to the everquest/daoc/early WoW days. It definitely belongs to the "western" side of RPGs and has the same feeling of getting into a massive adventure as the aforementioned games.

The fact that a large part of the mythology of Warcraft (and most fantasy games for that matter) has its roots in the works of Tolkien, further enhances that affinity.

On a side note, since you like Vanilla WoW have you tried playing that version of the game again through..ahem.. alternative ways that are currently available?

There is no point in playing any current vanilla WoW private servers, Nostalrious is long gone :(
Was a guild leader of guild that pushed content up to right after ZG release. No other private servers really come close now that Blizzard shut it down.

[Crom]

Originally posted by ThcFlowsInMe:

Originally posted by Absolutely Barbaric:

I've played up to about level 30 so far. I'd say the feel is fairly reminiscent of Vanilla WoW. The style and structure of the game reminds me quite a bit of early Vanilla and the game has a very nice old school feel that kinda brings me back to the everquest/daoc/early WoW days. It definitely belongs to the "western" side of RPGs and has the same feeling of getting into a massive adventure as the aforementioned games.

The fact that a large part of the mythology of Warcraft (and most fantasy games for that matter) has its roots in the works of Tolkien, further enhances that affinity.

On a side note, since you like Vanilla WoW have you tried playing that version of the game again through..ahem.. alternative ways that are currently available?

There is no point in playing any current vanilla WoW private servers, Nostalrious is long gone :(
Was a guild leader of guild that pushed content up to right after ZG release. No other private servers really come close now that Blizzard shut it down.

I don't really disagree with that tbh. That being said, for someone new to the private server scene, Elysium is a decent option (despite all the drama that has ensued) to quench one's thirst for Vanilla. Let's hope Gummy's TBC server will deliver *fingers crossed*

[A Rock Seller]

I've got my eyes on a certain private server project. It's still in the works but I'd honestly rather wait than play on what is currently available. I've decided to pass on Elysium and Kronos is out of the question. There's no saying (not with 100% certainty at least) what the quality of this one will be but hope dies last.

I spent some time with LOTRO and decided it's not for me. Looks like an interesting world to explore but in order to do that I'd have to swim through a lot of things I don't quite like about the game.

Don't worry, I still thought it was better than current WoW. kek

[Crom]

Originally posted by Velox Banks:

I've got my eyes on a certain private server project. It's still in the works but I'd honestly rather wait than play on what is currently available. I've decided to pass on Elysium and Kronos is out of the question. There's no saying (not with 100% certainty at least) what the quality of this one will be but hope dies last.

I spent some time with LOTRO and decided it's not for me. Looks like an interesting world to explore but in order to do that I'd have to swim through a lot of things I don't quite like about the game.

Don't worry, I still thought it was better than current WoW. kek

I see your point on waiting for something better and, honestly, I concur. That's pretty much why I decided to fire up Lotro in the first place, sometime ago when no alternative was in sight. I don't know which project you are waiting on (Northcraft?) but if you have more than a month (presumably) it's not a terrible idea to play the free content of Lotro, up to level 30 or so, just to say you gave it a fair shot.

[Running-Target]

Originally posted by Lord Buckethead:

Never played "Vanilla" WoW. This game is decent. That's all I can say.

Never played WOW at all. LOTRO and DDO is all i played in fantasy MMORPGs. Give LOTRO a try.