Getting Started

To begin with, you get two free characters to play. The character creation panel allows you to choose  from four races (elf, dwarf, hobbit and human) and any of the seven original classes  ( Burglar, Captain, Champion, Guard, Hunter, Loremaster or Minstrel) when making your character. I personally started with a hunter ... a dwarf hunter even :)

 

LoTRO character creation screen

 

Why a hunter? Because one of the things F2P players do not have access to is fast (taxi) horses and as a hunter levels, he gets travelling skills that allow you to instantly port to main towns all over Middle Earth. Also, another of the things you do not have access (without spending turbine points) to is the ability to ride a horse to help you get around the map. So having a hunter with travelling skills really helps.

 

Why a dwarf? Why not? I thought it would be fun.

Regardless of what your race or class is, once you have created your 'toon (your character) you will enter Middle Earth in the New User Tutorial. It is kind of fun. Each of the different tutorial that starts in their own area of Middle Earth that sets the stage for LoTRO's Epic Story.  You will learn basic movements and attacks, how to interact with NPC's (Non-playing characters... the people you run into in the landscape who send you on quests), and how to pick up stuff. You only have to do this tutorial once, but if you end up creating 'toons of different races, it is kind of fun to go through it on each.. just to see the beginning of the story.

When you finish the tutorial, you will  enter the beginning area. Again, it will be different for different races. Men and Hobbits will start in the Breeland, dwarves and elves in Ered Luin.

In the beginning area, you get a series of quests to help you level and train skills. You also will obtain a beginning set of armor and some jewelry that will help your 'toon to stay alive. The quest-lines will continue to add to the Epic Storyline and they are kinda fun to do.They give you background information about the lay of the land and to some degree, racial interactions.  You will be able to form fellowships for questing if you choose, but it is not necessary. All of the quests are very easy to solo.

Once you are finished the beginning area, you should be somewhere around level 6 and comfortable with interacting with NPC's and moving around the landscape. Now the real adventure begins!