LOTRO is excellent.

Lord of the Rings Online is excellent.

I'm playing on the FireFoot server - dunno why the word 'Fire' attracted me.  At any rate, my daughter and I are playing and I'm finding it to be a very finely crafted experience.  The evidence of developers who really care is everywhere I've looked.   The game has limited PvP (you can spar anyone, or play a monster class) but it mostly revolves around quests (some of which are instance based).  It would be an excellent choice for those of you who are too busy to throw yourself into a huge time committment.

I thought the story line would be cheesy but I find I'm enjoying it immensely.  While it is true that many of the quests are "go there and get 5 of X" the epic story line is actually very entertaining.  The epic story line unfolds all the way through the game while a variety of other quest types (race based, class based, profession based, and random) keep you busy - leveling is painless as you earn the majority of your experience points by completing quests.

The game has had another expansion (Mirkwood) with yet another expansion coming in the fall of 2010. 

You can play for free for 10 days by visiting www.lotro.com

I might give it a shot. I'm in a couple groups in the Boston area and know like 3 or 4 guys that work on LOTRO/Turbine.

I've been meaning to try it anyway.

 I'm on vacation all next week (December 14th - 18th).

Anytime after that I'd consider it a great deal of fun to jump into a game and run through a couple of quests with you.   The entry level quests are so easy, however, that grouping isn't required.

I'm on the Firefoot server in the event you and a couple of others like the game enough to throw a kin (guild) together.   I'm game for anything from a group of merry hobbit buglars to a bunch of grumpy dwarves - although, if memory serves, I've a hard time imagining you being anything but a grumpy dwarf.

We do have the option of creating monster characters (they start at level 60) so there is some room for PvP.

I'll be checking this thread when I get back.

I took Larith of Gondor through the newbie campaign on Firefoot today.

 I'd be interested in reading your impressions of the game once you hit level 20 or so.

This could be fun.  I've been looking for something to jump into as well.  Now that I'm kind of settled in after the wedding, I need some gaming time again.

I have to be careful when recommendin the game since it doesn't contain the PVP elements  of Shadowbane.   That said, from what I've read it does have challenging PvE elements.  A good sized group hitting some high end spawns could be fun.   Post here when you're ready to start - I may create an alt.

 I knew the Great Barrow would be dangerous but I really had no idea that it would result in about 10 deaths and over 100 silver in repairs. Up until we entered that horrible place our little twosome had been pretty much owning the Barrows.

We allowed a third fellow to join us just so we could whip through the place on easy mode - or so I thought.

The initial spider or three really wasn't that big of a deal, and in fact, although it was scary it didn't appear dangerous. I didn't figure out how the evening would go until about 8 crawly things spawned behind me during a nip'n'tuck battle with 3 large spiders. It was pretty much down hill from there.

FUN TIP FOR LORE-MASTERS: The only spell you'll get off while getting ganked by 8 monsters is the spell 'Locate Dirt'.

A good part of the evening was spent running around with an immense aggro train. Often I'd run past a party member who was sprinting in the opposite direction from an entirely different set of baddies. We had a good system though, we'd all meet up back at the spawn point after a few minutes of running around screaming.

I don't know what saddist at Turbine came up with the archers, but running from them when you've only got 500 hit points left isn't going to do you any good. Those things lay down 150+ per arrow and there are dozens of them in the air, coming in your direction, at any one time.

I tried my ranged attack debuff, but alas, 500 arrows doing 60+ pts. of damage has exactly the same effect at 500 arrows doing 150+ pts. of damage.

I'd have to say our fellowship was probably the most inept group of aggro cupcakes to ever set foot in the Great Barrow. I can hardly wait to do it again.

 Mirkwood Is A Winner: http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/78203/page/5

You know, I played this game a while back since I didn't know anyone... if a couple of people are interested I may give it a shot again.  As I remember, the world was pretty fun to explore and the quests didn't make me instantly want to rip my eyes out.  Oh, and if I recall correctly I managed to pub crawl my way over half of the world.  The only game I've ever played where being drunk is truly fun.

 If you want to play along with me I'm on Firefoot.  I'm on most evenings from about 6:30-8:00 EST.  Give 'Winthrop' a tell in game.

I'd be happy to set you up with some weapons/armor (light or medium) to get you started OR to help you through some of the quests.  That said, the early quests are so easy that you'll have no problem, but it would be fun anyways.   I wish we could get a decent group together because it would be fun to create a hardcore "Die -> Delete" guild.

I think Larith bailed out on me - I've not seen him in game for a month.  I assume he just got busy at a local gay bathhouse or something - probably won't be back until he runs out of heroin.

I would be down for an HC character :p

 Let's start a HC guild this weekend.  Play human and get through the starter quests.   I can play Saturday evening.  

Sounds like a plan, I'll play when I can - I will probably end up chugging through the starter quests on Saturday morning as I'm taking the GRE on Friday (though realistically I will probably kill some stress by gaming).

 Letme know what level you get to - I might be able to play some then as well.

Okay, about the rules....

1: Ya die, yer dead.   Delete the character and all possessions

2: No help from outsiders (no taking gifts of money, armor, etc.)

We probably should coordinate our craft skills so that we are able to make most of what we need.  0.o

Also, post the name of your toon in this thread.