Back To The Basics: Character Creation Part 1: Interface and Races

Character Creation

After you have chosen a world for your character, it is time to create said character. One thing that sets Lotro apart from other MMOs is its vast, lore-accurate, character customization system. When you first log into your server to create your own character, the screen will look something like this.

Display

To the left of the screen is your initial customization bar. This is where you select your character’s race, class and gender (if applicable). Before we get into the customization itself, let’s just go over the basic layout of the screen. Other than the customization bars to the left, there are also interactive features on the bottom and right side of your screen.

On the bottom, there is a control center where you can control the camera’s view of your character, zooming in and out as you wish. The arrows also rotate your character. The two buttons to either side of the camera controls are for exiting or advancing in the character creation. Clicking Exit Character Creation will send you back to the library of all of your created characters. Clicking Continue will send you into the appearance section of Character Creation.

To the right of your screen, there are two boxes with extra information about the race and class that you are choosing. With each race, there are either four or five characteristics that your character naturally obtains. By hovering over the icons, the statistics for each of those characteristics will be displayed in a pop-up box. In the lower right-hand box, the specifications for the class you have chosen will be detailed. You may wish to browse through the lore of your class if you so desire.

In each of the right hand boxes, there are buttons that say “play movie”. Clicking those will launch a narrated short that describes either the race or class chosen. Hitting Exit Movie or Esc will send you back to the character customization screen.

Races

In Lotro, there are four playable races, excluding monster races. They are Man, Dwarf, Hobbit, Elf. Anyone familiar with the works of Tolkein will be familiar with these races, as they are the main races in the Lord of the Rings books and movies (as well as The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, and other Tolkein literature).

The Race of Man – The youngest of all of the races in Middle-Earth. The Race of Man is the most generic of all of the races, and has the most classes available to it.

Available Classes

Burglar, Captain, Champion, Guardian, Hunter, Loremaster, Minstrel, Warden.

 Characteristics

Gift of Men: +15 fate

Diminishing of Mankind: -7 will

Easily Inspired: +5% incoming healing

Strong Men: +15 might

Men from Tolkein lore: Boromir, Aragorn, Eowyn, Theoden

Dwarves – One of the oldest Races in Middle-Earth, these Miners have constructed some of the greatest monuments in all of the realm. The Dwarves only have a male option available, and there is only one female dwarf ever mentioned in all of Tolkein’s literature.

Available Classes

Champion, Guardian, Hunter, Minstrel, Runekeeper

Characteristics

Sturdiness: +15 might, +10 Vitality, +1% common mitigation

Stocky: -7 Agility

Lost Dwarf Kingdoms: -7 Fate

Unweary In Battle: +30 in combat power and morale regen, -60 non-combat morale regen, -30 non-combat power regen

One-handed Axes: Allows the use of one-handed axes

Dwarves from Tolkein lore – Gimli, Thorin Oakensheild, Thrain, Bombur

Hobbits – The Shire-dwelling folk of Middle-Earth, the hobbits live in relative peace and comfort, although war is threatening their borders. Hobbits, along with dwarves are the only race that rides ponies instead of full-grown horses.

Available Classes

Burglar, Guardian, Hunter, Minstrel, Warden

Characteristics

Small Size: -7 might

Hobbit-toughness: +15 vitality

Rapid Recovery: +60 non-combat morale regen

Hobbit-courage: +1% fear resistance

Resist Corruption: +1% shadow mitigation

Hobbits from Tolkein lore – Frodo Baggins, Bullroarer Took, Meriadoc Brandybuck, Bilbo Baggins, Smeagol

Elves – The oldest race in Middle-Earth, elves are very graceful and wise. Elves are the least known race, and are considered alien to some, especially Hobbits.

Available Classes 

Champion, Guardian, Hunter, Loremaster, Minstrel, Runekeeper, Warden

Characteristics

Sorrow Of The Firstborn: -20 Maximum Morale, -60 non-combat morale regen

Agility Of The Woods: +15 Agility

Fading Of The Firstborn: -7 Fate

Suffer No Illness: +1% Disease Resistance, +1% Poison Resistance

Elves from Tolkein Lore – Galadriel, Elrond Halfelven, Glithoniel, Tinuvel

That’s it for this post. Basic Class guides should be coming soon as well as appearance guides.

Ben, MiddleEarthInitiative