LOTRO vs DDO

mortals · 4 Nov 2011 at 13:49

I'm just looking at getting into a new F2P MMO

I noticed there seems to be a lot of people playing LOTRO but I'm not sure about the classes.
I've been playing DAO again recently but want to move onto MMO again.

RPG games I like: NWN, DAO, Guildwars (have most of the expansions for these also)
I played WOW and got hooked for 3months
I've also tried a few F2P MMOs before but didn't like them much: RF Online + Mythos are 2 I remember

As I like NWN + DAO I thought DDO would be better :confused:

, I've been reading that the combat system is different with some complaining and some praising it.

I'm only on 2MB ADSL so don't really have time to download both games

Kosmiche · 4 Nov 2011 at 13:50

lotro is in a different league.

bhavv · 4 Nov 2011 at 13:51

DDO is much closer to NWN + GW than Lotro is.

Lotro is closer to WoW.

As a fan of GW, and being able to get some enjoyment from NWN, I thouroughly enjoyed DDO, but found Lotro incredibly boring.

Sleepery · 4 Nov 2011 at 13:55

LOTRO is like every other mmo you've played as far as the mechanics go. Looks pretty, some unusual classes, decent storyline quests running through the whole thing. You can get to about level 30 before the free to play restrictions start to bite.

DDO is a bit like guild wars in that everything is instanced except the hub areas. It still looks well despite being quite old at this stage. The combat is excellent live action stuff, but still goverened by your stats in the background. What keeps me coming back to DDO is the class system - you can mix and match up to 3 classes, and it makes for a huge amount of variety in how you play the game.

For something completely different I'd go DDO over LOTRO, but you'll probably find the F2P restrictions start to bite sooner in DDO than LOTRO. If you're after something familiar but new, go LOTRO.

TheMightyTen · 4 Nov 2011 at 14:04

I found Lotro has by far the richer back story (obviously

) and graphically is still holding it's own (It's even had a few DX11 updates) after all these years. Yes some of the interface and combat is a bit generic but I just find it more immersive (particularly on a decent server like Laurelin)

Steves1982 · 4 Nov 2011 at 14:24

LOTRO would be my choice but then I have been playing it for years!

Pestilence · 4 Nov 2011 at 14:30

They're both pretty excellent, tbh.

mortals · 7 Nov 2011 at 17:21

I downloaded DDO high res client in weekend (took over 9hours)

Created a character and seem to vaguely remember playing the game before, had to switch off the music as it was annoying me.
Also not sure if I like the move and aim thing where u have to use a crosshair etc. The idea seems ok but it seems like everything is lagged out

The graphics quality seems random with some parts being high quality and others looking cartoony

(eg: water looks nice)

Going to give it a few nights but so far seems a bit of a letdown.

Maybe it's because I made a wizard?
Might try a warrior or rogue

bhavv · 7 Nov 2011 at 17:23

Keep the wizard, they can solo farm epic item scrolls and make loads of cash.

Video:

Pale Masters are the most powerful solo class in the game, followed by Favored Souls and Clerics.

Ceryndrion · 7 Nov 2011 at 17:27

Yeah, with DDO don't bother with a melee class, they are entirely pointless, everything in game can be done by casters, in half the time.

bhavv · 7 Nov 2011 at 17:36

I had my Wizard kitted out with Epic Diabolist Robe, Epic Envenomed Cload, Epic Helm of Frost, and Epic Boots of Corrosion from grinding the Chronoscope.

You have to be pro at crowd control though or people will blacklist you from epic stuff very fast. I remember I had over 40 intelligence, and 42 Necromancy DC plus 41 Enchantment DC (Greater Necro + Enchant focuses + Lich Form). And also I maximized my HP as much as I could - over 450 HP on a wizard at level 20 is no easy thing to accomplish, but it makes you a king at epics and solo farming (I spent most of my times in groups carrying everyone elses soulstones and soloing everything lol).

The biggest mistake new players make when making a Wizard is their constitution score - All your skill points go into Intelligence and Constitution for a fleshy Wizard, no where else. And Humans, Half Elves and Dwarves make better Wizards than Drow.

Wizards = high DCs with death spells and crowd control, Sorcerers = DPS with many evocation bonuses. Clerics + FVS pwn everything with Blade Barrier, Implosion + Searing Light (when soloing, in groups you must heal).