Reputation

Reputation is so important if you are playing f2p. Earning full rep earns you LOTS of  Turbine Points.

Reputation screen for one of my LoTRO characters

 

Each area you quest in within Middle Earth has it's own reputation faction. For instance, in Breeland, it is the Men of Bree, in the Shire and it is the Mathom House Society. There are 4 levels of reputation you can earn: Acquaintance, Friend, Ally and Kindred. As you go up in the levels of reputation for an area, you can buy different perks, like special horses, housing items only available with a certain amount of rep, cosmetic items, and repairs discounts.

What is important to us as F2P'ers about reputation is the Turbine Points you are awarded  with each level of reputation you achieve - because it completes a deed for you! Acquaintance is 5 points, Friend is 10, Ally is 15 and Kindred is 20 reputation points. In achieving Kindred status with just one rep faction, you have earned 50 turbine points you can spend in the LoTRO store. Kindred status with two factions gives you enough turbine points to buy the riding skill!

Completing certain quests in an area of the Middle Earth map earns you reputation for that area. In all of the Shadow's of Angmar (with the exception of the Lone Lands) and Moria questing areas random bad guys will drop reputation items when you kill them. People sell these reputation items in the Auction House when they have all the rep they want for an area.
 

Reputation items for sale in the Auction House

 

There are many reputation factions - you can earn a LOT of turbine points getting Kindred status with them all.