Time Based Advancement
One of the many ways to advance in Middle-Earth Online is the unique Time Based Advancement feature, which lets you make the most of the time you cant be in the game. Continue to advance your character's stats even when you're signed off!
Advancement Features:
Character stats advance in real time, whether you are playing or not.
When one stat is finished training, just log in and select the next stat you want to improve.
Not being able to log in and play a considerable amount of time every day won't mean that you're left hopelessly behind your more active friends.
Reduces repetitive game-play, or grinding, associated with increasing stats.
Players who log in after a long absence will benefit from a small advancement bonus.
Classes
Hobbits
Rogue
When they have a mind not to be seen, Hobbits are among the stealthiest creatures in Middle-earth. Rogues slip into secret places unnoticed and prefer not to fight unless they have no choice.
Burglar: Many a wicked creature has found his ill-gotten treasures missing after an encounter with a Hobbit Burglar. Crafty and sly, Burglars are adept at fading into the background and their sharp eyes often spot weaknesses that others may miss.
Backstabber: While Burglars liberate the stolen treasures of the wicked, Backstabbers prey on good and evil alike. Attacking from darkness, Backstabbers overcome their surprised quarry with trickery, traps, and poison.
Elves
Scout
Scouts are defenders of the land, patrolling Elf-realms to counter the menace of Orcs and other interlopers. Scouts are at home in the wild and know how to turn the terrain to their advantage.
Archer: Although their skill with a bow makes them deadly combatants, Elven Archers seek peace and a day when the Shadow draws back from the land. They listen to the wisdom of forest and river and abide by the council of the Lords of the Eldar.
Avenger: Elven Avengers do not seek merely to protect the land. They burn to avenge the blood and bitter tears shed by Elven-kind with their bows and their formidable close-range fighting skills. They reject the restrictions of the Elven-wise and seek out forbidden weapons to use against the Dark Lord-- even when there is a price to pay for the power they gain.
Men
Soldier
As warriors of the race of Men, Soldiers stand between the common folk of town and farm and the growing dangers of the current Age. Equipped with sturdy armor and powerful weapons, Soldiers are well suited to face the perils of combat.
Champion: The virtuous Champions are a welcome sight to the peaceful folk of Middle-earth, who appreciate the safety these protectors offer against roving bandits and the growing threat from Mordor.
Mercenary: The corrupted Mercenaries fight for anyone who can fill their purse. Those familiar with Mercenaries know to expect dirty tricks on the battlefield and unscrupulous behavior at all times.
Sage
Students of history, lore, and the hidden secrets of Middle-earth, Sages serve as advisors to kings and healers of farmers. Although not well-equipped for the front lines of battle, their secret skills make them invaluable allies in a fight.
Sorcerer: Sorcerers devote their lives to mastering healing arts and deadly spells. They seek to renew the forgotten lore of ancient Númenor-- an Age when Men wielded subtle and dangerous powers under the tutelage of the Elves. Many a stricken warrior has been revived by the secret elixirs of a travelling Sorcerer.
Necromancer: Necromancers are Sages who have grown enamored of the Darkness. In their hunger for endless life unchanging, they put aside the council of the Wise and seek out the devices of the Enemy. They use this dwimmer-craft to sap the strength of mortal men and impart a terrible vitality to the recently dead.
Dwarves
Warrior
Stout Warriors in heavy armor guard the high mountain halls and deep cavern furnaces of the Dwarves. They are stubborn, fearless, and well-versed in the battle-lore of many wars of vengeance. Like Gimli, Dwarf Warriors make steadfast friends and implacable foes.
Warlord: Dwarf Warlords charge towering enemies and hew them down with mighty axes. They take grim delight in tirelessly battling on, heedless of even the gravest wounds. But the valorous Warlords are also great protectors who gladly hurl themselves between enemies and those in their care.
Berserker: The joy of battle is a heady brew, but some grow too fond of it and fall into the madness of war. The ferocious Berserkers live for the din of the fray, where the blood pounds and the cares of the world disappear. Reckless in their rage, they forfeit much of their ability to defend themselves. But as long as they stand, wounds only serve to fuel their unquenchable wrath.
Classes of Middle-Earth Online
People who love The Lord of the Rings can now live out the roles Tolkien described in his books. Whether they battle Orcs as a Soldier of Gondor or protect Elf-lands as a Scout of the Woodland Realm, players will be called on to give their all in tumultuous Third Age of Middle-earth.
Click on any of the class names to see a detailed description of each or click here to learn more about the MEO Team philosophy on classes.
Economy
A party of weary travelers rests their feet while sipping ale at a roadside inn. A master craftsman bends over his newest creation, smiling at the perfection he has wrought. Stooping over the corpse of a newly slain monster, an adventurer wonders what to do with his spoils.
The economy systems in MEO will allow every player to fill their own niche in the world, immersing you in the day to day life of Middle-earth!
Economy Features:
Players will have the option to advance in many different trade skills, which will give them the ability to craft and improve a wide variety of items, as well as repair those that have begun to wear out. The most powerful items in the game can only be obtained with the help of these master craftsmen.
Adventurers in MEO who seek their equipment in the wilds will find that monsters only drop realistic treasure. For example, orcs could be carrying almost anything, but Wargs would never carry a sword or armor.
MEO's economy will follow the guidelines set by Tolkien. For example, elvish communities operate strictly on a Gifting system, while the rest of Middle-earth uses silver and gold as currency.
Players will be able to buy, sell and trade with NPC vendors located in towns throughout Middle-earth.
Housing
Housing in MEO will allow players to realize their dream of living in Middle-earth. Players can gather into communities of like minded defenders of good, convene meetings of the servants of evil, or simply spend time decorating their hobbit holes and chatting with their neighbors!
See our Housing Walkthrough here!
Read about Towns with Housing!
Housing Features:
Unique housing for each race located in some of the legendary towns and cities of Middle-earth.
Players will be able to inhabit individual abodes or acquire large houses suitable for whole kinships.
Houses can be customized with a wide variety of items.
Housing guest lists allow kinships to gather at the house of any member.
Players will be able to keep their possessions secure in private storage.
Music in MEO
A soundtrack can impart the player with certain feelings, whether it is a sense of foreboding while exploring a dungeon, or a flood of relief when hearing a familiar tune. MEO's soundtrack is designed to smoothly underscore all of these situations and more during game play. Furthermore, MEO's music is quite authentic, the successful result of several years researching and analyzing all of the abundant musical references in Tolkien's literature. MEO's score includes epic pieces produced with live orchestra, choir, and ancient instruments, earthy tunes performed on acoustic folk instruments, and even songs based on Tolkien's lyrics in the text. We've placed a few samples below for your listening pleasure!
Fredegar Peatfingers stumbled as he walked down the path. "Wargs! In the Shire," He thought as he made his way home. He and his fellow sheriffs had been hunting the vile beasts the entire day. Fredegar felt terrible. Cuts and bruises covered his body, and one nasty welt on his cheek was going to leave a bad scar. As he crested the top of a hill, he heard sounds of laughter mixed in with an old hobbit drinking song coming out of a tavern just down the road. His heart lifted as he began to hum its catchy tune. By the time he opened the tavern's front door, a smile had crested his face, and his weariness had flown from his body...
» The Shire (mp3)
An eerie bone chilling dirge began to waft up through the darkness. The party of adventurers paused as fear took control of their bodies. Hypnotized by the sound, they failed to notice the wraiths that had suddenly appeared behind them until it was too late...
» Dungeon Quest (mp3)
The blacksmith's arm dropped to his side. Exhaustion was threatening to take control of his body. Daydreams of a comfortable cot filled his head. "Butterbur won't mind if his new bar rail is a few days late," he muttered to himself. Just then his neighbor started playing a song. The tune washed away the weariness from the blacksmiths body, and soon the ringing sound of a hammer on metal could be heard throughout Bree...
» Bree (mp3)
Hobbits - Our conception of Tolkien's small creatures with great hearts. Hobbits always long for home but have great capacity for adventure if they are needed.
Elves - We tried to let the wisdom and age of Middle-earth's Elves come through in our concepts. An Elf may be among the oldest of creatures, but their joy in the world is ever fresh.
Men - The race of Men in Middle-earth is rising. The coming Age will belong to them, and we reflect this in our concept piece.
Dwarves - The Dwarves may not be as old as the hills they live in but, like the mountains, they are hard as rocks and filled with unexpected surprises.
FAQ Q & A
Many of you are excited about the opportunity to see the sights of Middle-earth and take up arms against the evil of Sauron. This FAQ answers some of the questions that fans have generated in their excitement.
General Information
Characters
Combat
Gameplay
Features
Economy and Crafting
Middle-earth
System
General Information
What is Middle-Earth Online?
The Lord of the Rings: Middle-Earth Online will be the first massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) set in the world of J.R.R. Tolkiens The Lord of the Rings. Thousands of players will join together to fight evil or serve it as the War of the Ring sweeps over Middle-earth. Others will simply adventure across the Hobbit homelands of the Shire, the Elven city of Rivendell, and many other familiar regions.
What is an MMORPG?
MMORPG stands for massively multiplayer online role-playing game. MMORPGs allow thousands of players to adventure and socialize together at the same time. In Middle-Earth Online, you will be one of the thousands of players interacting with each other every day. This creates a living environment populated by people across the world.
When will Middle-Earth Online be released?
The release date for MEO has not yet been announced. We are anticipating a late 2004 release.
When is the Beta?
MEO is still in the early stages of development, so Beta testing is still a long way off. We will announce the start of beta on this site and through the official newsletter.
Will a regular fee be required to play?
Yes, but the amount of the subscription fee has not yet been determined.
Why does MEO look different from the movies?
Both the recent The Lord of the Rings movies and Middle-Earth Online are based on the trilogy by JRR Tolkien. However, the two projects are not related directly to each other and do not share art, music, or settings.
Will there be expansion packs?
Yes! The world of Middle-earth will be rolled out over successive product expansions, allowing us to take the time needed to present each corner of the world with the care and quality it demands. This will roughly follow the path of the trilogy, from the Shire (and greater Eriador) to Mordor, with a detour to visit the lands of The Hobbit (Mirkwood and the Lonely Mountain), to see how the decades between that tale and The Lord of the Rings have changed those places. After the story is completed, we may even explore more distant lands, such as Umbar and Rhûn.
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Characters
What races will be available for people to play?
Players can create characters from four different races: Men, Hobbits, Elves and Dwarves. Each race will have unique specialties, abilities and class choices, making each one a different experience to play.
Will players be able to customize the appearance of their characters?
Yes. MEO will give players a wide variety of options to customize their characters, including hairstyle, hair color, skin color, height, and faces.
Will players be able to have multiple characters per server?
Yes.
How does character advancement work in MEO?
Middle-Earth Online will feature a unique character advancement system. Characters will advance by increasing their stats and skills through actively participating in quests, crafting, and combat. Players will also be able to increase their characters statistics using MEOs unique Time Based Advancement system.
What effects will moral decisions have on characters?
The choices that each character makes will affect the options available to them in the future. The morality system in MEO is tied into many aspects of gameplay, giving real weight to your moral decisions.
What classes will be available to players in Middle-Earth Online?
We are announcing the classes for MEO as they are created. Visit the Classes Section. for a complete list.
Will moral choices affect class?
Yes. Each class has two branches. The moral choices characters make in the game will determine which branch their character goes down. For example, an Elf Scout who fights to remove the Shadow from Middle-earth will become an Archer, while an Elf Scout who reject the wisdom of the Elven-wise and uses forbidden weapons and methods in battle will become an Avenger.
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Combat
Is there Player vs. Player content?
Yes, we are dedicated to allowing player versus player conflicts in a way that is consistent with the world of Tolkien.
What happens when your character "dies"?
Character death is something that we are taking very seriously. We are discussing a few ways to handle this, all of which stay true to Tolkien.
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Gameplay
Will MEO feature a storyline for players to experience?
Yes. The team has created an exciting new storyline for MEO that allows players to experience a unique adventure set in Middle-earth.
How does private encounter technology help reduce quest "camping"?
Private encounter technology creates a new version of a dungeon or area that can only be entered by one player and his fellows. This reduces the need for groups to "camp" a quest.
Will all quests take place in a private environment?
No. Only a minority of quests will have private environments. Some of the larger, more difficult quests call for multiple fellowships to join forces, and some of the smaller quests don't require a private setting.
How will characters travel from place to place?
Players will be able to walk across the landscape of Middle-earth, or use a variety of accelerated travel options once they have unlocked them. These options will allow players to gather quickly for group events, and will be presented as cut scenes featuring a boat, wagon, or other lore appropriate conveyance.
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Features
Will there be player owned housing in MEO?
Yes. MEO will offer players and kinships the ability to acquire houses located around the cities of Middle-earth. Each race will have multiple levels of housing, from humble abodes to grand dwellings.
Which regions will have player housing available?
Players will be able to purchase housing in many regions of Eriador including, but not limited to: The Shire, Bree-land, Ered Luin, and The Tower Hills.
Can characters of different races live in the same villages?
Yes. Characters of different races in Tolkien's books mingled and in some cases lived amongst each other, and players in MEO will be able to do the same thing.
Will individual players be able to purchase houses?
Yes. Housing in MEO will not be limited to large kinships. Individual players will be able to obtain dwellings for their own personal use. However, there will be some grand dwellings that only large kinships will be able to acquire. Each Kinship will be limited to one such house.
Will players be able to customize their homes?
Yes. Players will be able to customize the interior and exterior of their homes with a wide variety of items.
How many houses will each player be able to own?
Each player will be able to own one house per account per server.
Will houses have an upkeep fee?
Yes. Players will be responsible for paying upkeep to maintain their homes. This will insure that every house in MEO remains actively used. The type and amount of upkeep will depend on the location and the size of the house.
Will there be a limit to how many items a player can carry?
Yes. Once characters fill up their backpacks, they will not be able to hold any more items.
Will players be able to store their items in places besides a "backpack"?
Yes. The MEO housing system will have limited off-character storage.
Will There Be Player Written Books?
Yes. Players will be able to write books, letters, and parchments in MEO, if they can find the rare ingredients necessary to do so. Those who wish to share their labors will also be able to make copies of their writings.
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Economy and Crafting
Will players be able to create items using crafting skills?
Yes. MEO will feature a variety of skills giving players the ability create numerous unique items. Announcements regarding specific trade skills will be released during the course of development.
Will MEO have NPC vendors where players can buy and sell equipment?
Yes. Players will be able to buy, sell and trade with NPC vendors located in towns throughout Middle-earth.
Will monsters in MEO drop "treasure"?
Yes, monsters in MEO will only drop realistic treasure. For example, orcs could be carrying almost anything, but Wargs would never carry a sword or armor.
What currency will players use to purchase equipment and other items in MEO?
MEO's economy will follow the guidelines set by Tolkien. For example, elvish communities operate strictly on a Gifting system. The rest of Middle-earth will use silver and gold as currency.
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Middle-earth
How are you incorporating the world of Tolkien into Middle-Earth Online?
This is not a world where a player's only goal is to knock down a series of "monster piñatas" and earn experience. This is a world where the adventure of the Ring and each individual's choice between corruption and valor is at the heart of everything. Our game will focus on providing a rich backdrop for the activities traditional to an RPG (combat, questing, etc.). As in Tolkien's world, there will be real consequences to every action a player takes and dangerous temptations that beckon them to stray from the path they have chosen. Expect to see some innovative interactions in the realms/areas of questing and advancement to bring Tolkien's world alive online.
Will players meet the characters from the books?
Yes, players will meet many of the characters from the books, including such notables as Elrond and Radagast himself. The actions of players will even affect the Fellowship themselves on their journey to destroy the One Ring, although you won't be able to meet them in-game.
What regions of Middle-earth will be available when the game is released?
The initial release of MEO will cover most of Eriador plus a bit more -- from the coast of Lindon in the West to the Misty Mountains in the East, all the way up to the Ice Bay of Forochel in the North and down to the Brandywine in the South.
Where in the story does Middle-Earth Online take place?
MEO starts during The Lord of the Rings, just after Frodo and the Fellowship of the Ring exit the mines of Moria.
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System
What are the Middle-Earth Online's system requirements?
We have not yet determined the system requirements for MEO. We are working to ensure that the game will run on a wide variety of hardware configurations.
Do you have to have an internet connection to play MEO?
Yes.
Will MEO feature both 3rd-person and 1st-person camera perspectives?
Yes. MEO supports both 1st- and 3rd-person cameras. While in 3rd-person perspective, players will be able to utilize the mouse wheel to choose the camera angle they prefer.
Will MEO be released for the Mac / Xbox / Playstation / Gamecube?
MEO is currently only in development for Windows-based PC platforms.
Questing System
The Middle-Earth Online questing system features technologies that provide players with a unique, highly interactive gaming experience. A few of the exciting features are detailed below:
Private Encounters
A party of adventurers cautiously approaches the dungeon entrance. After days of tracking the vile beast across Eriador, they have finally reached the lair of the orc chieftain. The road was perilous, filled with scores of orcs, and many members of their party were slain. Now they steel themselves for battle, aware that the end is near.
MEO will feature "private encounters" technology, which allows players and their fellows the ability to experience quests in a private setting. Private encounter technology gives MEO the capability to have more intricate and stylish quests than any other MMP to date.
Dynamic Non Player Characters
The ranger enters Rivendell after a long absence. He has worked tirelessly clearing the surrounding forests of goblin invaders, and is in need of rest. As he enters the town, he is pleasantly surprised to see its inhabitants thanking him for his hard work, and some are even cheering his name! A smile breaks out on his face for the first time in months
NPCs in MEO will have a unique reaction to players, depending upon the choices they have made, the quests they have done, and many other variables. This feature brings extraordinary interactivity to MEO, giving its stories and quests a new level of realism and depth.
Player Tools
It is time to break the Angmarrim hold over the North-lands, but you aren't quite powerful enough yet, so you decide to sharpen your skills for a while fighting Trolls in the West then you go to Florida for two weeks on vacation then your hard drive gets fried and needs to be replaced. Finally, it is time once again to break the Angmarrim hold over the North-lands but you can't remember why anymore. A quick peek at the quest journal and it's like you never left.
MEO intends to tell a deep and sprawling story over the course of many quests (and many months!). Our robust quest journal will continually unveil new bits of the overall story as your character discovers them. In addition to telling the tale of MEO, the journal will keep you constantly abreast of what quests you have underway, what your next step should be towards completing those quests and more. The idea is that the quest journal will help you to never have to stand around wondering what to do next.
- The MEO Content Team
Middle-Earth Online: A First Look at Characters, Classes, and Skills
One of the thrills of any new roleplaying game is creating your character. You can transform into someone completely different, a person with the potential to become a great hero or a terrible villain. Exciting as this process is, when it takes place in Middle-earth where great battles are being fought in a world that we already know and love, it becomes even more exciting.
As game designers we know that options for your character couldn't be more important. What choices will you have during character creation, and during the hours that follow? What is the role of your character in the world? Just like you, we want characters we can easily create and enjoy, and that feel at home with the grandeur of Tolkien's creation.
As many of you have gleaned from our hints on the message boards, in magazine articles, and elsewhere, Middle-Earth Online will be using a class-based approach to answer the most basic questions of how a character finds his or her place in the world. We want to pull back the curtain and show you why we chose this system and how it will work.
Why Classes?
We use classes because they give players identifiable roles from day one. When players enter the world of Middle-earth for the first time, they probably have something in mind for what they'd like to become. Some Tolkien fans dream of taking up the heavy axe of a Dwarf from Erudluin, while others want to emulate the adventurous Hobbit who strikes out to see the world. Experienced online gamers may want to play a role similar to one they enjoyed in another game, or choose their path to support the activities of their clan or group of friends. Then again, some fans will be new to the whole idea of persistent worlds and online gaming, and could use a character choice with a helpful title attached to guide them along.
Classes let us satisfy each of these different types of players. We've set up the classes in MEO to allow players to pick the broad role they wish to pursue without restricting all their choices at the same time. Do you want to be a stalwart Soldier of Men? A nimble Elf Archer? Each class in MEO has clear gameplay implications, making it easier for players to group together in combinations that will find success in their adventures. And of course, we have drawn the classes from the books themselves, so those who wish to have an authentic Middle-earth experience will not be disappointed.
Using classes also results in characters that are balanced, instead of the best skill combinations leading to what are actually fewer roles to play. Classes also steer players away from bad combinations of skills and abilities that they would end up regretting.
Classes and Skills
In its simplest form, a class represents a selection of skills. The class defines many of the skills available when a character enters the world, and this list can grow and change over time. As a character progresses in Middle-Earth Online, they can choose from an increased selection of skills.
Some skills are shared by every class. Every character, no matter what his class, can learn to pick up a sword and wade into heroic combat. But some classes gain skills that allow them to make especially accurate attacks, deal critical blows, or debilitate an enemy with a single attack. Some of these skills are so specialized they are available only to a single class. Skills such as the tricks of the Rangers and the runes of the Dwarves are secrets kept only by a select group, and not often shared.
In the same way, some skills are known to all members of a race. For instance, no matter what class Hobbits choose they will be able to take advantage of skills that allow them hide from the bigger people of Middle-earth. This offers more options to players and also preserves the feel of racial specialization found in the books.
Each character has a variety of skills to choose from, but choices must be carefully considered. A character can know only so many skills, and while players can change and revise those decisions over time, meaningful choices are what make one character different from another. While two characters might be of the same class, options about which weapons to master and which armors to learn have a lot to say about the character's evolution. Axes, swords, and hammers, aren't just pretty things to hold in your hands; weapons behave differently, and monsters may react to them differently. There are offensive skills, defensive skills, and other tricks and abilities. And yes, for some, there's what men would call magic.
Of course these skills aren't all just waiting for you. At least, not all of them. Some skills you will learn by advancing your characters generally, but others must be learned from the people of the Middle-earth. The legendary characters of the world, along with many NPCs you don't know yet, have a lot to teach you. Then there are ancient books and new armors and weapons to learn and master. Who knows what ancient relics that may unlock new gifts for you to explore?
Middle-Earth Online is Coming.
If we could, we would invite you into Middle-Earth Online right now to create characters of your own. But we've still got a lot of work to do before the game is ready for launch. In the meantime, take a look at the classes we've already announced or talk about the game on our official community forums. We'll be here, spending many a late night building your Middle-earth and its people.
Namarie,
Kinships in MEO
Whether it was the Tooks feuding with the Bagginses, or the Fellowship of the Ring advancing resolutely against the forces of Sauron, the people of Middle-earth formed groups for fun, for family, and for fighting, and so will the players of MEO.
Here are some of the ways that players in MEO will be able to recreate this sense of community.
Kinships
When a group of players want to form a permanent alliance they can group themselves into Kinships. Some features of Kinships are:
Multiple levels of membership, allowing those who run a Kinship to selectively promote only those who have proven themselves strong and worthy or sneaky and crafty!
The Kinship founder will have the ability to designate an heir who will take over if the founder decides to abandon the Kinship.
Special housing will be available for Kinships that want to have their own meeting spaces, and even individual housing can be adopted for small Kinships at the click of a button.
Kinship will have an online home on the official MEO game portal to help them communicate and coordinate their activities.
(Edited by Bolldar Bloodaxe at 9:17 pm on Feb. 14, 2004)
You definitely still fall behind in terms of money and equipment.