New Player in LOTRO seeks adviceFollow

Hi! I am currently installing patches in preperation for my first trip into Middle Earth (yay!) and just wanted to say thanks to Alla first off, as I had no idea this game was live yet. Life being too busy to keep up, alas.

I am really thinking I want to go and try to join the Alla guild because... well I'd at least know _someone_ in the game.

My question is:

What races/classes are overdone, or not done enough? Here is what I have been considering:

Elf Lore-Master
Human Captain
Dwarf/Elf Champion
Dwarf/Elf Guardian

I plan to solo some and join Fellowships some, so any advice would be appreciated. Basically I just don't want to be 'yet another X' like, to use WoW as an example: Another $%(# hunter.

Lore masters seem to be in the minority on both servers I play on and my understanding is they can solo very well.

The rest of your choices are all fun to play as well. Other than burglar I haven't found one that doesn't appeal to me yet.

As with any game, DPS classes (champion/hunters) are a dime a dozen. No offense intended to them, but most people like to start with the heavy-hitting classes so they become very common.

Minstrels and Guardians are next up in population but are commonly in demand anyway.

Utility-style classes (Captain/Burg/LM) are least populous although groups don't tend to revolve around them either.

Race doesn't seem to matter much. Human is probably most popular from a "power gamer" standpoint as they eventually gain a self-only 3k heal once an hour which blows away the other races' racial abilities.

Thanks for the advice.

I like support/DoT type classes so I think initially I will go for a Elf Warlock. The racials never really effect my choice as I'm honostly a roleplayer before a rollplayer.

But its nice to see they are underrepresented. I guess if I don't like it, I can make four more alts on that server until finding one I _do_ like.

So! I think for me its going to be a Elf Lore-Master with a profession of Historian because it sounds like it makes sense.

Question: Can you have addons? Namely I want a clock because without one I might play far, far too long.

I absolutely intend to do PvP (er, PvM) when I get high enough! My next question, which might be answered by logging in but I'm at work right now - Books. Are these patches and if so are they content patches? Or are they part of the Epic Quest Line?

Oh okay, thank you for clearing that up for me. Even as we speak my lappy at home is downloading and installing patches so I can play this evening!

Next question: I know a Fellowship can use voice chat. Can a Kinship use the built in voice, or does that require access to a Vent server?

If so does Alla have a vent server for LOTRO? If not, does the guild want one? I can prolly get one up and running assuming I can batter my ISP into opening the inbound port required. The server I have already.

Having played a Lore-Master to 50 and grandmaster jewler, I love him, can't say more. The Bow skill as a racial ability because of elf is wasted but there are plenty of other traits to use no big deal. The Lore-master can take on 3 mobs with ease at the same time (mezz one, pet takes one, and I blast and wack away on the third).

Minstral is only level 25, very powerful soloer (in the early stages of the game, don't know about highend as I'm only level 25), and constant invites to join groups. Can't have a very effective group in highend game if you don't have a healer. Not to say it can't be done but it is alot easier.

Hunter is only level 20 and very fun to play. I really need to level him further to be able to transport himself and other to various locations throughout the game. Powerful arrow damage output. Seems to be the most toon played on my server. Fun to group with other hunters and take down the mobs before they have a chance to land a blow. Kinda reminds me of the old wizzard groups in originl everquest powerful blast (using arrows instead of spells) but same results dead mob real fast.

Burgler is only level 20 also can sneak and hide very well and does alot of damage in a short time. Requires "patience" to play but rewarding and needed in high level play to start conjunctions. On my server there are not alot of burglers around.

Guardian very much needed on my server, never seems to be enough around, especially when you start doing some of the higher instances and harder quests. I keep getting tons of equipment drops for the plate wearing character. I need to roll out a guardian and give him a try however way too much to do with what I have going on now (especially with the new reputation quests with book 10).

Champian and captain not a clue what either is like never played one.

Pick one class get to know him well sometimes it is hard to jump between several toons and play the charactor to his best potential as you forget what each ability does, what all the spells do, and what works best in different situations. Once you get a player maxed you'll be suprised how easy it is to gather resources for crafting, make a set of low level equipment or jewlrey for your second toon.