The shortest-lived of the races of Middle-earth, yet also the race destined to rule in the years beyond the Third Age, the race of Men is defined by their relatively short life span. Their mortality was considered a unique gift, but in time it became known as "The Doom of Men" and a source of lamentation. |
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| "Then he told them that these blades were forged many long years ago by Men of the Westernesse: they were foes of the Dark Lord, but they were overcome by the evil king of Carn Dûm in the land of Angmar."
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, "Fog on the Barrow Downs"
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Men are a varied race, from the great Dunédain of the North to the skilled Horse-lords of Rohan, and from the proud soldiers of Gondor to the mysterious Haradrim far to the east. They are capable of great courage and honour; yet they can also easily fall prey to ambition, deceit, and betrayal. Known simply as the "Big Folk" to the Hobbits of the Shire, Men are characterized by a large, strong frame and a driving will borne out of a relatively short life span.
In designing the race of Men for The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar, the difficulty is in creating a race of characters that is not seen as simply "ordinary" amongst the other fascinating races of the land. Men occupy a unique place within J.R.R. Tolkien's lore, since (though they may not realize it themselves) they are the race of destiny. Men are also easily swayed and exceedingly ambitious. Many have been corrupted by promises of power and these make up a sizable portion of the armies of the Dark Lord, along with the other, more outwardly monstrous races of Middle-earth. The Men that populate the game as NPCs are particularly interesting, since the motivations of Men are often unknown and appearances can easily deceive. Conversations with Men met in Bree, for instance, can be challenging to the unwary; for within that city's walls there reside both Free People fighting for good and also a dark element of corrupted Men fighting against the light. Click here to learn more about the Race of Men!
Classes available to the Race of Men: Champion, Guardian, Captain, Burglar, Hunter, Minstrel, Lore-master
