Suggested class for a first time solo player?

[Salem Graves]

I'm starting to play this game for the first time and expect to be solo for all of my time here. Which class would you guys suggest is a good starting point?
I will also be completely f2p if that makes any difference.

[Kiesnowski]

Well I would say a lot depends on how you like to play. I tend to play big tanky characters so Captain and Guardian got me all the way to 135. I did eventually try other builds for more of a dps style and enjoyed that as well. The loremaster (lvl128) is lots of fun for a more spellcaster type set up. Minstrel has crazy early dps solo also one of the best healing types for groups. Hunter is a little twitchy for me (lvl 60) but high dps and good travel skills. Beoring is also a fun one solo and the different builds give you variety in play style. Warden also viable for long term solo play but much more complex play style. The only character type that I have not played to at least 60 is the burglar. I can't really comment on that one. Truely try all of them for a while and see what you like. It does not take long to level them up into the mid 20's and you will see some variety.
I WOULD HIGHLY recommend at least a purchase to get rid of the gold cap and a few QOL additions. There are a lot of threads on this specific subject.

[Wenzilber]

I agree with Keisnowski. Any class can be played solo so might as well stick to the type of class you find the most enjoyable to play in the game. For me, it's playing as a Dwarven Defender just like in my DnD adventures - so a Dwarf Guardian with 1h Axe and Shield.

But if you're playing to grind for LOTRO Store currencies in game as a F2P, I would say Hunter since they get a lot of options to fast travel throughout the map and they can track foes to help with the grind.

If you like playing with combat pets, then choose either Loremaster (like Gandalf who has friends with various beasts similar to the WoW's Hunter) or Captain who has a Squire companion to aid in battles.

[Arcadio]

Lore Master is realy good and fun to play solo. It is boring in group content but if you are going to play solo, go LM.
Start with blue and swap to red on high level.

[Berserkr]

Originally posted by Kiesnowski:

Beoring is also a fun one solo and the different builds give you variety in play style.

Beorning now has recuperate on the 2nd tier of blue tree vs 4th or 5th tier so for solo play there's no reason to go with anything but red line now with the touch into blue for the heal over time

[Diligent Diamond]

As a starting character I would recommend hobbit burg explorer. You can craft you own armour, and sneak into areas you normally wouldn't be able too. Great starting are in the shire.

[Sigvard]

champion is pretty easy. you have an ability where you can heal yourself later on and you also get to have a bow to tag mobs easily from far away, making certain quests quicker to complete.

[Kiesnowski]

Well If you haven't figured out you can play anything and have a good time. lol I still recommend just playing a class for a while and feeling out the play style.

[buffy805]

Bard/minstrel is a super class for solo with a lot of self healing in the fight routine.
A fast moving character for pve
Just choose the music instrument that wont turn you crazy

Druid/Loremaster will give you a pet that will tank for you.
The pet is in close combat and you are far and casting spell (dps or crowd control).
Perhaps the best class to solo some dungeons.

[Bandy]

Good thread, thanks. Currently playing PnP LotR 5e with friends, but only every other week, so too much time in between (sorry Andrew, its true, we want more...!). So maybe this will fill that itch? Thoughts or insights?

The Josh Hayes review is really quite good, impartial as I see it with pros and cons, and still gives me hope. I like old cRPGs BUT never got into any MMO's at all, don't like that feel, or the grind.

It's why I'm posting here to get a better sense of community and whether this is an acceptable MMO experience for someone who doesn't like MMO's. Cheers!

[Zuko77Elendil]

Champion all the way! Started as one and fell in love with the class.

[Bandy]

Originally posted by Zuko77Elendil:

Champion all the way! Started as one and fell in love with the class.

LOL, yeah, I already gravitated to that class, thanks! Am partial to a dwarf as well, reminds me of my grandfather in more ways than one (he was a hard rock miner in N. Canada).

[Marksman Max]

Originally posted by Berserkr:

Originally posted by Kiesnowski:

Beoring is also a fun one solo and the different builds give you variety in play style.

Beorning now has recuperate on the 2nd tier of blue tree vs 4th or 5th tier so for solo play there's no reason to go with anything but red line now with the touch into blue for the heal over time

My current Beorns heal themselves from 1 Morale to full Morale with a single Hearten cast lmao. I still have the Wrath generation for Hearten from blue line since that's busted as ♥♥♥♥.

[Berserkr]

Originally posted by Marksman Max:

My current Beorns heal themselves from 1 Morale to full Morale with a single Hearten cast lmao. I still have the Wrath generation for Hearten from blue line since that's busted as ♥♥♥♥.

My point was recuperate is super easy to get now even in red line, I rarely every use Hearten unless I have to I just keep recuperate going and I'm full red line so far, having recuperate was almost impossible before the changes where it was in the tree

[Marksman Max]

Originally posted by Berserkr:

Originally posted by Marksman Max:

My current Beorns heal themselves from 1 Morale to full Morale with a single Hearten cast lmao. I still have the Wrath generation for Hearten from blue line since that's busted as ♥♥♥♥.

My point was recuperate is super easy to get now even in red line, I rarely every use Hearten unless I have to I just keep recuperate going and I'm full red line so far, having recuperate was almost impossible before the changes where it was in the tree

Isn't Recuperate more expensive to use than Hearten, though? I suppose Recuperate lets you stay in Bear Form more, but you still have good bleed skills in Man Form too iirc.

[Berserkr]

Originally posted by Marksman Max:

Isn't Recuperate more expensive to use than Hearten, though? I suppose Recuperate lets you stay in Bear Form more, but you still have good bleed skills in Man Form too iirc.

Not really in red line now bear form has 3 short cooldown wrath builders it's not that bad, I just rarely have the need to use hearten, can't wait till lv 91 reforge so I can slot +aoe targets, but even with 6-7 pulled they drop pretty fast