What is Monster Play?

Monster player replaces the traditional player-versus-player systems of other games with an experience unique to The Lord of the Rings Online!

In Monster Play, players partake in a never-ending battle in the war-torn patch of land between Angmar and the Trollshaws called the Ettenmoors. Here, the remnants of towers, outposts, and villages are the backdrop for a power struggle between the forces of good and evil.

How can I enter Monster Play?

Monster Play is free to all players. You must, however, complete one of the initial tutorial experiences as a player character of any of the available Free People races. Once completed, the option to log into the Monster Play experience is highlighted on the login screen. Choosing the monster play option from the login screen takes you to the monster character menu where you can create one of six (soon to be seven) different monster characters.

You can choose to play as an: Orc Reaver or Defiler, a fearsome Uruk Warleader or Blackarrow, a Warg Stalker, or a Spider Weaver. Each race and class combination provides a short description in the character selection interface allowing you to choose what type of character you can play.

After selecting your class and naming your new monster player you can enter monster play and begin the brief monster player tutorial by speaking with NPCs with rings over their heads. The tutorial introduces you to the core concepts of monster play: traits, infamy and commendations, and combat and skill usage.

Traits are used to enhance your character and strengthen them. Infamy and commendations are earned by defeating enemy players and completing quests are the main advancement methods in monster play. Combat and skill usage drive everything you do in monster player whether it is against the myriad environmental enemies in the Ettenmoors or against the Free People who come to the defence of the land and the sparse inhabitants making their home in the Ettenmoors.

How do I enter the Ettenmoors and battle against Monster Players?

As a player, we strongly advise that you reach the pinnacle of your character’s advancement before entering the Ettenmoors. If you must get into the action in the Ettenmoors sooner, then you can visit a quest giver in South Bree, Esteldín, Thorin’s Gate, or Elrond’s Stables at Rivendell starting at level 20. They will provide you with the quest A Plea from Lainedhal and, from there, you can purchase a ride to the battlefield.

Upon your first arrival in the Ettenmoors, you should speak with the NPCs in the area and begin the tutorial quest Tutorial: Battle in the Ettenmoors obtained by speaking to Sergeant-at-Arms Ascwyn. This quest line provides you with a brief overview of the conflict in the Ettenmoors, identifies the trappings you will need to survive in battle, and a way to return to the safety of the stronghold of Glân Vraig in the Ettenmoors.

After completing the quest line, if you are maximum level, you should visit the traders who sell Audacity gear and purchase what you can. This will assist you in survival against Angmar’s army. Don’t forget to visit the special items trader to purchase your jewelry and cloak!

After acquiring your gear, you are ready to join the fray. There are a large number of quests available in the Ettenmoors which reward players (Free People) with coin, legendary item experience, and more.

Are you ready for battle?

Once you have your monster character or standard character outfitted, you are ready to join the fray!

The Ettenmoors is a living battlefield with five contested and controllable locations empowering the controlling faction and unlocking a number of quests that assist in development and advancement in monster play and the traditional game mode. Standard characters earn gold, legendary item experience, commendations and more from completing quests in the Ettenmoors. Monster players earn coin, and commendations for completing their quests.

Quests require the collection of resources, the defeat of enemies, taking contested locations, and longer term objectives with large weekly rewards. Though the main bases at Gramsfoot and Glân Vraig provide a number of quests, the contested locations of Lugazag, Tírith Rhaw, the Grimwood Lumberyard, the Isendeep Mine, and the ruins of Tol Ascarnen provide the majority of quests for each faction. Quests accepted at a location can only be turned in at that location which drives the conflict and pressure of claiming and maintaining these contested locations.

There are two static aligned villages in the Ettenmoors. In the northeast, the village of Grothum populated by goblins, friendly to the monster players, offer some quests to obtain materials and offer defence of their village from the fauna in the Ettenmoors. In the southwest, the village of Hoarhallow populated by Hobbits, loyal to the Free People, grows pipe weed and seeks assistance from the Free People to defend them from the fauna and Angmar’s Army. Several quests and quests targets are available at these locations making them a suitable location for smaller groups of monster players and standard players.

Scattered across the Ettenmoors are ancient outposts controlled by powerful neutral forces. Outposts are contested and controllable, and provide a small bonus to the controlling faction. Unlike the other controllable locations, the outposts cannot be held indefinitely and will eventually fall back to control of the neutral forces of the Ettenmoors.

Lastly, at the east and west, two fortresses house powerful artifacts for the Free People and Angmar’s Army. In the fortress of Ost Ringdyr, the Free People’s forces watch over the Gift of the Carrock, a powerful gift from Beorn. In the west, at the sinister fortress of Dâr-gazag, Angmar’s Army defends a splinter of Mordírith’s Crown, a powerful gift from the Steward of Angmar. These two artifacts grant potent enhancements to their factions. The Artifacts serve as a way to deprive your enemy of their benefits and grants your faction greater gifts if you can collect the artifact from the opposition’s stronghold and return it to yours.

The Spoils of War!

Rewards in the Ettenmoors include special cosmetics for both standard characters and monster characters. The commendations you earn for completing quests and defeating enemies in the field of battle are used to advance your monster characters, purchase new appearances, cosmetic items, and visual enhancements and consumable items that can keep you in the fight longer. The same commendations are used by players to purchase consumables, and cosmetic rewards unique to the monster play experience. In addition to these commendation rewards, large weekly rewards can be obtained from chests offered by the leaders of each faction and found in the main base on each side of the battle.

Stand fast, heroes and villains and make your way to the Ettenmoors! Glory, or Infamy, awaits!