Playing LOTRO long run smarter
After playing about a month, my quest on Middle Earth is disrupted by no training ground. I have to break away from my mates to farm tp earlier for Evendim pack.
When I come back, they are a few levels ahead of me and I have to "work" overtime to catch up. Now I am in the same shit again. I finished Evendim in a week. Angmar is like 795tp and I have around 250tp. A new solution is needed to address this problem.
This is what I plan to do:
- - Subscribe as VIP for 3 months and downgrade to Premium later (US$29.97)
- - Get Rohan base expansion together with The Lord of the Rings Online™: Expansion Triple Pack (US$39.99 plus US$29.99)
Why?
VIP to Premium Strategy
Subscribe to VIP allow me to access all zones except Rohan, Moria, Mirkwood and Isengard for 3 months with all the benefits, which is more than sufficient as I just need Angmar for 2 weeks the most before moving to Moria.
According to LOTRO Wiki, downgrade from VIP and buy tp to be premium are different.
After 3 months, I will be downgrade from VIP to Premium but I get to keep:
- - Swift Travel that I have unlock
- - 5 Inventory bags (instead of 3)
- - All Trait slots available on existing characters
- - Learnt mount skill (too late for Nekomi but good for my alt)
- - No maximum Gold limit (too bad that I brought using tp)
- - 3 x 500 tp
What I will lose
- - Monster classes that become unavailable cannot be played until that class is purchased. (I’m fine with that as I don’t play monster side)
- - If downgrading causes a player to go over his character slot limit, he must select one or two characters to give up. These characters are not deleted, but become unavailable until he purchases the extra character slot(s) or unsubscribes. (which is also fine with me as I will get 1 plus 2 slots later from Premium and Moria set)
- - Deeds and quests in progress can be finished. (I will make sure main character and main alt trigger the deeds before expire)
- - Rested XP can be consumed, but is no longer generated. (That’s fine too)
- - Items placed in the wardrobe can be used and dyed but not replaced. (That’s OK. I am happy that I get to keep the 20 free space)
- - Crafting guild access is maintained but can no longer be increased. (I’m fine with it)
- - Auctions in progress are maintained but no new auctions can be posted above the cap. (I still get 5 auction listing being a Premium, so it’s OK)
Compare to I continue to play free, I need to get:
- - 2 more Inventory bags (save 2 x 495 tp)
- - Auction House listing (save 95 tp)
- - Trait slots (save 95 tp per slot per character)
- - Mount skills (save 95 tp per character)
Expansion Pack
Whether free or VIP, I still need to get expansion packs to continue. Earning tp for them can be insane.
Buying any Rohan expansion allow me to buy The Lord of the Rings Online™: Expansion Triple Pack at US$29.99. After judging all the pros and cons, Rohan Base set is more economical.
What I will get from these purchases:
- - All the 4 expansions
- - The Steed of the Eastemnet - An exclusive Rohirrim Mount
- - Friend of the Mark - An exclusive in-game Rohirrim title
- - 1000 tp
- - 2 additional character slots
- - Rune Keeper and Warden classes
That will cover me from level 50 to 85 with ease.
What do I save
Unless there is an easier way to earn tp or I am really that free, farming 10,000 tp to enjoy the above benefits is not a joke. The amount of time I save is priceless.
Long term plan
From what I see, having 5 character slots per server with Evendim quest pack will allow me to farm tp easily in long run, so as to buy more quest packs (6155 tp in total without Evendim) starting from the lowest (North Downs) and up. Alternatively, I can get Eriador Bundle Pack1 (3995 tp), Lothlórien (695tp) and Great River (795tp) on store. This way it is easier for alt to farm tp just by doing deeds and quests.
Of course getting Angmar is more priority, if I get quest pack individually, than other quest pack after the VIP expired as there will be a gap between Evendim and Moria for me.
Other things on my shopping list that will enhance my experience in LOTRO are:
- - Shared Vault (995 tp)
- - Exclusive Bag for tokens (995 tp)
How many characters I expected to have? I see myself having 10 characters (mostly stop at L20) across 2 servers by end of VIP =)
Conclusion
Compared with an annual subscription of US$99, my way (US$99.95) allow me to experience LOTRO more cost efficiently =)
I am kinda regret that I didn't plan my gameplay on LOTRO early. Hope my guide can help newcomers from making waste trip like me =)
1 Included Angmar, Enedwaith, Eregion, Evendim, Forochel, Misty Mountains, North Downs and Trollshaws
Update I
I had sign up for VIP last week. I also used my first installment of 500tp plus some farming and gotten Shared Vault (995 tp). Which ease my time maintaining my 3 characters. Now I am jumping maps happily =)
My advice is always buy things on Store that are for Account and not Character or Server ^_^
Update II
I just got my The Lord of the Rings Online™: Expansion Triple Pack (US$19.99 inc tax) and The Lord of the Rings Online™: Riders of Rohan™ Legendary Edition (US$$37.44 inc tax) on Black Friday. Saved about 50%. Which bring my investment in LOTRO to US$87.40.
Why I get Legendary Edition instead?
Because I originally planned to buy the Base Edition for US$39.90 (US$19.99 plus tax) around Christmas.
Now that Legendary Edition is US$34.99 (w/o tax), it is worth while to get it over Base Edition. I will get these additional over Base Edition:
- Armour of the Eastemnet - An exclusive full set of Rohirrim cosmetic armour
- 6th Inventory Bag
- Crystal of Remembrance - Adds one additional legacy to your legendary weapon
- Exclusive Rohan Content
- Additional 1,000 Turbine Points
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