What class will your first main charcter be?

[Marna]

If we are to have a decent chance at raids, or at least on the epic quest chains, we will need a varied character base - at lest a guardian and an minstrel...then some DPS..

What character are you going to start with?

My first is going to be an elven hunter (Marna), then a hobbit Burglar (Jaryd) on Silverlode...

I think Darts is going with a guardian at first.

Ter, will you be playing a Minstrel to start again? And what about Jim?

[jim]

We will probably have time to run up a few characters to 15 before open beta ends. I may do a Lore Master again since I can probably get it to 15 fastest.

[Terina/Sinaroc]

Definitely going with Minstrel again, will make a champ and burglar to.

[Carbos]

I'll be a hunter/elf and probably go with lore master/human as second character.

[jim]

Just a post that looked interesting.

forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?p=348511#post348511

One of the first and most important choices for a person to make is what race their character will be. Lord of the Rings, like so many other MMO's, offers racial traits and bonuses. Keeping these traits in mind I have compiled a list of them, and also offered suggestions for which race would be best suited for which class.


Now before you go on to make a post declaring that at level 45 racial stats won't make a difference anyway, I completely agree with you. I do. But this is intended for starting a character. Am I saying that you can't play certain classes with certain races? Of course not. I'm merely making a recommendation or two for you to consider, and possibly keep in mind. Thats all

Current Races Allowed in Lord of the Rings Online:

1. Hobbits
2. Dwarves
3. Elves
4. Men


Hobbits
"There are few recorded deeds of Hobbits until late in the Third Age of Middle-earth, which is just the way Hobbits would prefer it. They are simple, quiet folks, preferring to dwell in hillside holes in and around the area known as The Shire in western Eriador. Called "Halflings" by some due to their size relative to Men, these small folk enjoy the peaceful endeavours of farming, eating, and gift giving, rather than concerning themselves with the dangerous affairs of the rest of Middle-earth (save the legends of Hobbit bowmen in the wars of Fornost). In these dark days, however, it is the unassuming Hobbits, with their often surprising adeptness of both word and action, that will have the greatest impact in the war between the Free Peoples and the lengthening Shadow from the North.

From the most modest of beginnings, Hobbits are capable of the grandest of deeds. Their nimbleness and quick-thinking are well documented of course, but Hobbits are not to be underestimated. Hobbits, although small in size relative to the other races, are sturdy of body, determined in their actions, and good with bow or knife (when they have to be). Their small frame belies a toughness and spirit of a capable adventurer in the lands of Middle-earth. "

Racial Bonuses
+1.0% Fear Resist
+15 Vitality
+1.0% Shadow Mitigation
+1.0 Out of Combat Regen
-8 Might

Comments: A very nice set of bonuses, second to only men in my opinion. The Fear Resist and Shadow Mitigation will certainly play a nice role in higher end bosses and monsters, as they ususally have some AOE despair, along with throwing shadow damage and fears at you. The Vitality bonus is huge. It might not seem like a heck of a lot, but consider this. Having that much more life in the beginning of the game will help you squeak out those close battles. The might somewhat hurts, and also provides a bit of a setback for those that wanted to play melee classes.

Allowed Classes

1. Guardian**
2. Hunter **
3. Minstrel****
4. Burglar**

(Rating Guide)
****= Racial bonuses certainly aid this class and will provide useful, would recommend highly
***= Consider it for lore, or racial bonuses somewhat aid this class
**= No pros/cons here, or the racials balance it out.. make it upon personal preference
*=Racial bonuses work AGAINST this class ..only for humor's sake, or if you're feeling risky

Comments: The reason that I picked the minstrel for the hobbits is pretty plain. Having a healer that won't be feared and has more HP is obviously a huge bonus. The starting might nerf will naturally hurt a melee class (burglar and guardian) in terms of damage. Whereas a burglar doesn't rely upon pure DPS like the champion, it certainly does help. Hobbits do make somewhat good hunters, and I was surprised in that fact. It does look awfully funny carring a bow bigger than you, though. I don't recommend a guardian simply for the fact that they don't have as much might as other classes to start. However, guardians don't really rely on damage whatsoever, they rely upon survivability. The +15 vit will help in this case. And yes, I took one star away from guardian since the racial works against it.

Dwarves

The stout Dwarves of Middle-earth are known for their steadfast determination, hearty strength, and commitment to all things found in the world's deep places. Living a secretive life in their homes beneath the great mountains, Dwarves are expert miners and workers of stone and metal, capable of crafting with great strength and renown, along with unparalleled beauty and intricacy. Unwavering and proud, the Dwarves fight for the Free Peoples of Middle-earth (although an ages-old mistrust exists between Dwarves and Elves), emerging from their deep dwellings to bring their strength and fierce combat skills to bear in the battle against the Darkness in the East. Dwarves stand on average approximately 4½ to 5 feet high and typically live long lives of 250 years or more.

The Dwarves are excellent warriors and master craftsmen, displaying unique toughness in battle and the ability to create great things. Ever secretive, Dwarves oft begin their adventure in the soaring halls carved from beneath Ered Luin (The Blue Mountains), a land steeped in history and natural beauty near the western shores of Middle-earth.

Racial Bonuses

+15 Might
+10 Vitality
+1.0% damage mitigation
+.5/.5 Morale/Power regen IN combat
-8 Agility
-8 Fate

Comments: Quite frankly, dwarves are straight up nasty at melee, and hindered elsewhere. The Might and Vitality bonuses are huge for up and close combat, and the morale and power regen is a nice bonus, and the damage mitigation is big, when you consider how much damage it'll add up to in the long run. I don't understand the -8 Fate penalty. If you mouse over this, it basically says that the dwarves are ending their time upon Middle Earth. I could understand this penalty towards Elves, but not dwarves. ::shrugs:: Oh well. -8 Agility slightly hurts crit/dodge/parry chance, but not much else, as might determines more combat stats (damage, block chance, etc)

Allowed Classes

1. Champion****
2. Guardian****
3. Minstrel**
4. Hunter*

Comments: This is pretty straight forward. Melee ftw, ranged.. not so much. Dwarves were good for hunters in WoW, but.. different ballgame here folks. They don't make bad minstrels, but.. no real bonuses from their racials, unless you want a minstrel thats constantly in combat. The -agility hurts them from being hunters. And they don't get guns in this game, dammit!

Elves

Throughout the ages, the deeds and struggles of the noble race of Elves have been entwined with the very history of Middle-earth. They remember all too well the devastation caused by the tides of evil that once darkened the land - a shadow which threatens to do so once again. In ages past, the Elves divided into many different groups, and settled throughout Middle-earth, primarily in the ancient forested realms where they yet live. Tall and strong, fair and graceful, Elves have keen senses and a deep affinity for the beauty of the natural world around them. Elves do not "die" in the way understood by Men; Elves often live in the lands of Middle-earth for thousands of years, suffering neither the effects of time nor disease, though the body of an Elf may be struck down in battle. At the end of their days in Middle-earth, the Elves travel to unknown realms across the western sea.

Long ago, the Elves welcomed the "younger" races of Middle-earth and allied with them when the need was great, but centuries of war, betrayal, and hardship have made them fiercely protective of their seclusion. Now, as the Third Age draws to a close and the War of the Ring is at hand, the Elves are once again stirring from their forested realms and hidden valleys, allying with the Free Peoples of Middle-earth against the darkness which grows from both the North and East.

Racial Bonuses

+15 Agility
+1.0% Disease Resist
+1.0% Poison Resist
-20 Morale (HP)
-8 Fate
-1 Morale Out of Combat Regen

Comments: The Elves really got the short end of the stick on this one. The -20 Morale hurts any melee classes right away, and whereas I can certainly understand the -8 Fate penalty, it pretty much puts the Elves down to 0 from the get go. Not that this will make a huge difference in the long run, but you'll have to add a lot of stats to catch up to the other races. The agility bonus is, of course, nice if you want to make another Lolegolaslol character. In closed beta, I can't even tell you how many Elven Hunters I've seen. Yes, the Hunter is a nuke character fun to play. But when you see entire legions of nothing but elves... well.. it feels like NE Rogues on WoW launch, if you catch mu drift. Elves are better RANGED than any other race, period.

Allowed Classes

1. Champion**
2. Guardian*
3. Minstrel****
4. Hunter ****
5. Lore-Master***

Comments: Pretty much what I said before. Anything ranged will thrive as an elf. The Agility helps hunters. Lore Master is another ranged class (the magic one of the bunch). The resists really help keep an Elven Minstrel alive, or at least from what I can tell. Obviously a healer would thrive from staying out of melee combat, which is what Elves were designed for. Guardians... well. I don't know why the heck you'd want to make one. Yeah, you'd get +crit.. but that isn't the point, and having less HP than others just sucks. Champions are decent, but once again, they get hurt with the -20 hp from the start.

Men

"Then he told them that these blades were forged many long years ago by Men of Westernesse: they were foes of the Dark Lord, but they were overcome by the evil king of Carn Dûm in the Land of Angmar."
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, "Fog on the Barrow Downs"

The shortest-lived of the races of Middle-earth, yet also the race destined to rule in the years beyond the Third Age, the race of Men is defined by their relatively short life span. Their mortality was considered a unique gift, but in time it became known as "The Doom of Men" and a source of lamentation.

Men are a varied race, from the great Dunédain of the North to the skilled Horse-lords of Rohan, and from the proud soldiers of Gondor to the mysterious Haradrim far to the east. They are capable of great courage and honour; yet they can also easily fall prey to ambition, deceit, and betrayal. Known simply as the "Big Folk" to the Hobbits of the Shire, Men are characterized by a large, strong frame and a driving will borne out of a relatively short life span.

In designing the race of Men for The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar, the difficulty is in creating a race of characters that is not seen as simply "ordinary" amongst the other fascinating races of the land. Men occupy a unique place within J.R.R. Tolkien's lore, since (though they may not realize it themselves) they are the race of destiny. Men are also easily swayed and exceedingly ambitious. Many have been corrupted by promises of power and these make up a sizable portion of the armies of the Dark Lord, along with the other, more outwardly monstrous races of Middle-earth. The Men that populate the game as NPCs are particularly interesting, since the motivations of Men are often unknown and appearances can easily deceive. Conversations with Men met in Bree, for instance, can be challenging to the unwary; for within that city's walls there reside both Free People fighting for good and also a dark element of corrupted Men fighting against the light.

Racial Bonuses

+15 Might
+15 Fate
+Healing (Humans get healed for more per heal than other races)
-8 Will

Comments: Humans, at least in my opinion, get the best racials. Just like in other MMO's.. they are the "jack of all trades" race. Good at pretty much everything, not superb at any one particular thing. Here's my take. I like dwarves more for the melee classes (Guardian and Champion), elves more for the ranged classes (Hunter and Lore-Master) and hobbits more for healing (Minstrels). What does that leave the humans with? Burglars. Yes, I know that I'm biased as thats my main character, but humans make straight out, nasty burglars. But I'll get more to that in a bit. The +15 might is nice for all of the melee classes, the +15 fate is nice.. kind of offset by the -8 will though. Best racial bonus in the game though has to be the +Healing. I don't know the actual stats, but even if its only a little, any experienced gamer can tell you that this is a great bonus.

Allowed Classes

1. Champion ***
2. Guardian ***
3. Lore-Master **
4. Hunter **
5. Minstrel **
6. Burglar ****
7. Captain ****

Comments: Captain is a Man-only class. Its pretty sweet, so you'll have to check it out. Think of it as a paladin-ish type of character. Rez, Heals others (but not themselves, at least directly), Provides auras in the form of battle standards (+HP, agility, will, for examples). They have a minion, the herald, that follows them around. Its pretty sweet. As before stated, I feel as though humans make nasty burglars. Much better than hobbits, in that regard, as they get +15 Might from the start, which adds greatly to damage in the beginning. They make adequate hunters, champions and guardians. Once again, you're not going to have the agility of an elf or the HP of a dwarf, but if thats your cup of tea.. than so be it. Lore Masters and Minstrels is a total crapshoot. They are alright at them. The bonuses don't aid those classes a lot, so... pick your poison, I suppose.

[trug]

I'm going to make a Captain. I'm just waiting for my preorder key from amazon atm.

What about trades, I'll try scholar, as i worked at it a bit in cb.

Cya later today if preorder key comes thru, I dont know why it taking so long to get it.

[Terina/Sinaroc]

Trug for the amazon key check your 'library' at amazon.com Something with your sign in there, supposedly don't get it mailed to you.

[Jaxs]

I started a guardian of course it was an elf I dident know they were so nerfed.

[Terina/Sinaroc]

Well a dwarf or human guardian would be stronger... Read Jim's big quoted text in the thread for some interesting info.

Elves
Racial Bonuses

+15 Agility
+1.0% Disease Resist
+1.0% Poison Resist
-20 Morale (HP)
-8 Fate
-1 Morale Out of Combat Regen

Comments: The Elves really got the short end of the stick on this one. The -20 Morale hurts any melee classes right away, and whereas I can certainly understand the -8 Fate penalty, it pretty much puts the Elves down to 0 from the get go. Not that this will make a huge difference in the long run, but you'll have to add a lot of stats to catch up to the other races. The agility bonus is, of course, nice if you want to make another Lolegolaslol character. In closed beta, I can't even tell you how many Elven Hunters I've seen. Yes, the Hunter is a nuke character fun to play. But when you see entire legions of nothing but elves... well.. it feels like NE Rogues on WoW launch, if you catch mu drift. Elves are better RANGED than any other race, period.

----------

The Dwarves are excellent warriors and master craftsmen, displaying unique toughness in battle and the ability to create great things. Ever secretive, Dwarves oft begin their adventure in the soaring halls carved from beneath Ered Luin (The Blue Mountains), a land steeped in history and natural beauty near the western shores of Middle-earth.

Racial Bonuses

+15 Might
+10 Vitality
+1.0% damage mitigation
+.5/.5 Morale/Power regen IN combat
-8 Agility
-8 Fate

Comments: Quite frankly, dwarves are straight up nasty at melee, and hindered elsewhere. The Might and Vitality bonuses are huge for up and close combat, and the morale and power regen is a nice bonus, and the damage mitigation is big, when you consider how much damage it'll add up to in the long run. I don't understand the -8 Fate penalty. If you mouse over this, it basically says that the dwarves are ending their time upon Middle Earth. I could understand this penalty towards Elves, but not dwarves. ::shrugs:: Oh well. -8 Agility slightly hurts crit/dodge/parry chance, but not much else, as might determines more combat stats (damage, block chance, etc)

You ofcourse then get the crazy people making hobbit guardians heh