This really is not intended to be a discussion thread (there are other threads for that), it is what I am going to loosely call a guide. I created this guide to hopefully take some of the confusion out of the transfer process as well as to consolidate what information we have been given. I am focusing on the information that I assume will affect the most people. I am only human, so if you see a mistake, something I have misinterpreted, or have something to contribute please let me know.
Which servers are closing?
The following worlds will be closing:
This will leave the following worlds remaining:
US EU Elendilmir Estel Riddermark Gilrain Firefoot Eldar Nimrodel Anduin Windfola Morthond Imladris Maiar Dwarrowdelf Vanyar Silverlode Withywindle Vilya Snowbourn Meneldor
US EU Arkenstone Belegaer [DE-RP] Crickhollow Gwaihir Landroval [EN-RE] Sirannon Gladden Laurelin [EN-RP] Brandywine* Evernight
*Brandywine is not available as a transfer destination until it can be assessed using the new hardware. It is recommended that if you wish to make Brandywine your new home, you wait to transfer until Brandywine becomes available as a destination.
Bear in mind that Laurelin [EN-RP] and Belegaer [DE-RP] are "Roleplay Supported" servers. RP servers have rules in addition to Turbine's CC. If you which to move to one of these servers, please respect the role playing communities and familiarize yourself with the rules and polices prior to doing so (http://de.support.turbine.com/link/portal/24001/24011/Article/1965/LOTRO-Official-Roleplaying-Rules-and-Policy). Turbine has stated that their roleplaying polices/rules will not change with the server consolidations. Landroval [EN-RP] is a "Roleplay Encouraged" server and is not subject to any additional policies or rules.
Please note that at the beginning of 2016, the closing worlds will not be available for play. However, you will still be able to transfer off of them indefinitely. Character creation should be disabled for the closing worlds currently undergoing a transfer.
Also note that transfers between US and EU or EU and US servers is NOT possible (only US to US, etc.).
When will I be able to transfer off my current server?
The simple answer… we don’t really know yet. Turbine has released the order in which they intend to perform the transfers (see “What servers are closing?” above). Thus far, they seem to be doing 1 pair (1 US server and 1 EU server) per week. You will not be able to initiate a transfer off a closing world until Turbine makes transfers for that world available. Here is what we do know of the schedule.
US
Date
EU
Date
Elendilmir
September 14 - ongoing
Estel
September 14 - ongoing
Riddermark
September 29 - ongoing
Gilrain
September 28 - ongoing
Firefoot
October 6
Eldar
October 5
Nimrodel October 13 Anduin October 12
What will transfer?
The following items should transfer with you:
- Destiny
- Shared storage
- Unlocked house storage
- Items in house storage
- Wardrobe
- Shared currency (mithril, skirmish marks, etc.)
- Items in inventory
- Items in vault
- Remainder of housing maintenance balance will be credited toward a new or existing house on your destination server.
What will NOT transfer?
The following will not transfer:
- Mail & mail attachments
- Friends list
- Items posted in the auction house
Can I split up my toons between destination worlds?
Yes. You can select which toons go to what destination world. However, your shared items can NOT be split, and you will have to decide which toon will get your shared items.
Paid Transfers
Transfers off the closing worlds will remain free indefinitely. The October date given for when paid transfers between the remaining worlds was suppose to resume is no longer valid. To my knowledge a new date has not been set. Vyvyanne did state that free transfers between the remaining worlds would be available once the new hardware is in place sometime late fall.
Names
If there is a naming conflict, incoming players will have a –x (where x is a number) suffix added to their name. So far the highest x reported was in the 60s. You will NOT receive a token. There will be a rename button in the alert panel.
Character Slots
The new maximum number of purchasable slots now available seems to be 48 (instead of 50). In other words, there should be plenty of room to transfer all your characters from a closing world to a new world with existing characters.
Kinships
Please note that when a leader transfers the kinship on the old world will disband, leaving few options for kinship wide communication. Leaders, plan ahead so that all your members know where to go and when it is safe to do so. The transfer function does not maintain chronological order; therefore, kinship leaders should take steps to ensure that they arrive before their kinsmen. If a kinship leader completes the transfer first, all subsequent members should be automatically added back to the kinship. All historical data (player notes, rank, join date) should be intact. Bound items will be returned to their owners. Unbound items will go to the kin leader’s first/main tab of storage or escrow. Leaders may want to clean out their storage/escrow before transferring to make more room. The housing maintenance balance and unlocked storage should be credited upon purchase of a new kinship house.
Tribes and Creeps
Except for the housing, the information about transferring kinships applies to transferring tribes as well. In the event that you have multiple creeps of the same race, you can transfer all of them to the same world. You will get a drop-down menu allowing you to choose which one to play.
Transfer Order
It has been stated that the transfer order has not been stressed enough so here it is in red caps.
Phase 1: 1) KINSHIP LEADERS, 2) HOME OWNERS, & 3) SHARED ITEMS
Phase 2: 4) ALL OTHER CHARACTERS
All components of Phase 1 (Leaders, home owners, and shared items) should be transferred SIMULTANEOUSLY. Using the option to transfer everything at once is no longer recommended. This option has caused data loses. To avoid losing items or being dropped from your kin, you should use the order listed above.
The Transfer Process and What to Expect
There are a few edge cases of losing items that can be avoided by logging into all your characters before transferring them.
1) Open the LOTRO launcher and log into your account.
2) At this point, you should see a “Transfer” button right under the “Play” button. Click on “Transfer.”
3) A second window will pop up with a list of the worlds you can transfer from. Select your server and click on “Next” down on the bottom right.
4) Remember the recommended transfer order. For this example, I don’t have any kinship leaders or house owners on this server. I am also a bit paranoid, so I would select the “Shared Items” option first instead of the “Select All” option. Click “Next”.
5) Expand the “Move” option. Under “Move” select the server you would like to make your new home. Notice that there may be an option to copy to Palantir. This option only copies your data; it will NOT transfer you and should be ignored. Click “Next” on the bottom right.