LOTRO free to play going ahead.

[colzboppo]

Spent a while away from WoW. Have had moments where i've missed being able to hop back into an immersive mmo experience and enjoy some casual fun with buddies.

Client is already loaded; Going to start an account tonight. OcUK kinship is on Laurelin so will create a toon there in case I get hooked!

 

[apatia77]

Ah, it's started! Downloading the client now

Has it actually gone ftp yet in Europe? Or is it just a trial?

 

[FlukeRogi]

Has it actually gone ftp yet in Europe? Or is it just a trial?

There's some sort of test happening today, and they've said that it will be launched while the current festival event is still running.

Given that, I'd be surprised if it wasn't launched after the normal weekly thursday patch, or next week at the very latest.

 

[Sleepery]

Currently downloading at 14.4kbps. Yep, it's 1990 again

 

[Joe P]

Currently downloading at 14.4kbps. Yep, it's 1990 again

my thoughts exactly.

 

[Jacob (:]

Still dont see the download, only he one for the trial? Do i download that and then log into the test server or do i need to wait for the download link on my account?

 

[Wossi]

Would I just have to log onto the test server with a character I already have to get 500 points? Or do I have to start again?

 

[Mahnsikir]

Just got an email with a dl for the f2p trial client, going to take a good 10+ hours though, the speed keeps on going down , I take it there's no way to use the existing lotro install files.

@ Wossi

Don't know exactly how it works but for the test server its brand new characters (I guess so everyone stress tests the newbie areas) then they will open the 'testing inn' at some point which allows you to level and gear up by talking to an NPC. So you'll either get the points by simply having been signed up or just logging in.

EDIT: Done a quick scour of the lotro eu forums but found nothing that helps with speeding up the preview client download. Only thing is, you can check to see if the ports are open and limit your upload speed by going control panel>pando media booster>advanced connection settings. (heck knows what its doing in the control panel but its getting booted off my HD as soon as the download is finished)

 

[Pete.Dakota]

The website is telling me this:

If you are patching from the retail client of the game (i.e. you’ve just bought the game), before installing the Siege of Mirkwood stand alone patch we suggest you download the most recent up to date client.

So even though I have the boxed version of the game, I still have to download the whole client? Why can't the 3.00 patch simply.. patch the retail client?

 

[G-Man]

It's a beta version, it's not supposed to replace the live client.

 

[Pete.Dakota]

So I won't be able to play until it goes live in the EU?

 

[Mahnsikir]

Well if you've got a subscription/trial account you can still play normal lotro just install the game and let the client patch itself up.

If you want to play the f2p preview, use the links here to sign up and download the special client.

 

[neo2210]

Guys don't download this crap, i tried the download and it was like 56k speed, not to mention it CRIPPLED my internet connect with god damn pando/panda download 'HELPER' or some crap.
I had to restart my computer, boot into safe mode and uninstall it.

CRIPPLED my 50 meg connection.

 

[Tombstone]

Guys don't download this crap, i tried the download and it was like 56k speed, not to mention it CRIPPLED my internet connect with god damn pando/panda download 'HELPER' or some crap.
I had to restart my computer, boot into safe mode and uninstall it.

CRIPPLED my 50 meg connection.

Probably have more luck downloading the trial instead and doing that instead of the f2p beta

 

[Pete.Dakota]

So I have to download the F2P beta client to play F2P after it goes live? My retail dvd is useless?

 

[Tombstone]

So I have to download the F2P beta client to play F2P after it goes live? My retail dvd is useless?

You'll be able to patch up to the f2p client from your retail, sizeable patch though. Especially if its the original retail dvd you have

 

[Pete.Dakota]

You'll be able to patch up to the f2p client from your retail, sizeable patch though. Especially if its the original retail dvd you have

Well my retail client is updating to 3.00 right now. When it's up to date, the patch-up to F2P can't be too large, right?

Curiously:

417%...

 

[Tombstone]

Well my retail client is updating to 3.00 right now. When it's up to date, the patch-up to F2P can't be too large, right?

Curiously:

417%...

Probably several hundred meg, new zone and all, nothing too major if you're already on the latest client.

 

[Mahnsikir]

Guys don't download this crap, i tried the download and it was like 56k speed, not to mention it CRIPPLED my internet connect with god damn pando/panda download 'HELPER' or some crap.
I had to restart my computer, boot into safe mode and uninstall it.

CRIPPLED my 50 meg connection.

I agree with you the the software is pretty crap and slow, but its not crippling my connection, you probably had the upload limit set to unlimited.

Oh and chances are that once the f2p is released new people downloading the client (not retail people or people with the client already installed and just needing updating) will have to use that pando dl thing as it seems codemasters have switched over to it to match with Turbines methods.

 

[apeZ]

Tempted to try this again sometime. I played for a bit before, but got annoyed with the stupid radiance capping system. I don't believe I should have to grind a dungeon again and again to get armor in order to progress; just goes against my principles :/

What's the game like now? Any further than Lorien?