In this series, I talk about various aspects of The Lord of the Rings Online. This series is meant for newcomers, but may also help veteran players find more to love about the game.
This topic has been a long time coming! It was originally slated for sometime in December, but there were some real life delays. In this entry, we're going to talk about The Lord of the Rings Online's version of PvP (Player vs. Player): PvMP (Player vs. Monster Player). Often also called Freep vs. Creep, this unique setup allows players to take on the role of various Monster races in designated areas of conflict, called Monster Play.
Please note: Many of the images used in this entry are taken from the LOTRO wiki owing to the fact that I don't habitually participate in PvMP myself, only just enough to present the basics to you.
What is it?
Once you have played to level 10 on a character on a given server, you can then participate in PvMP on that server. Free players can make only access the Orc Reaver class, with all the others being available for purchase. An account can only have one of each monster class on a server. These Monster Players represent servants of the enemy who are fighting to gain control of strategic locations from the Free People.
Monster Races
There are six Monsters to choose from: Orc Reaver, Orc Defiler, Spider Weaver, Uruk Blackarrow, Uruk Warleader, and Warg Stalker. The Monster Players' safe base in the Ettenmoors is Gramsfoot.
Free People
In PvMP, all of the Monster Players are level 130 (or the current level cap if you're reading this much later) -- but this doesn't mean you have to have a Free People character of level 130! Starting at level 20, you can participate in PvMP -- that is, if you're a VIP player. Your character will be scaled up to level 130, but won't compensate for a lack of slotted gear or Legendary Items. If you aren't VIP, don't fret -- you can purchase PvMP time with Mithril Coins (6 hours for 20 Mithril). The Free People's safe base in the Ettenmoors is Glan Vraig.
Ettenmoors
This is an area north of Rivendell which reaches into the foothills of the Misty Mountains. Here there is a large force from Angmar which persistently fights against the rallied heroes of the Free People led by Captain-General Lainedhel of Rivendell.
(The Sundering of) Osgiliath
The point of contention between Minas Tirith and Minas Morgul, this PvMP area was added in 2015 to give players something new to fight over. While it doesn't have the same strategic appeal as the Ettenmoors, there are good daily quests to be done on both sides to help build up Infamy and Renown.
Travel in PvMP
You can run across the map if you're a Monster or mount up on your travel mounts if you're a Free People, but you can also make use of maps. There are deeds you can complete in the Ettenmoors which will reward you with gradually better maps, with each improved step giving a closer or more specific waypoint to the location. The poorer maps will also have a longer cooldown, which is incentive to work hard at your deeds to get the best maps possible!
Infamy/Renown & Rank
Think of these as specific types of XP (experience) for PvMP areas. Building up Infamy (Monsters) or Renown (Free People) allows you to improve your PvMP game and move up the Ranks.
Rank indicates your battle prowess in The War (that is, PvMP). Rank will give you titles, unlock additional boons, and even grant you special rewards.
Questing
No matter which side of The War you are on, there will be repeatable quests for you to complete. Completing the quests will earn you Infamy/Renown, Commendations, and money. You will inevitably stockpile excess items that need turning in for many of the quests, so be sure to keep them or mail them to your alts (Monster-to-Monster or Freep-to-Freep only). Sometimes I just log in to my Monsters and turn in quests I have extra items for without actually going out to face the Freeps!
Tribes
Since Free People have Kinships, it's only fair that Monsters have their own equivalent: Tribes. They function in much the same way as Kinships except that there is no Kinship House or Auctions or any of those other fluffy bonuses. The Tribes are basically just for grouping up when heading out into the fray, but it's important to find a good one! One of the popular complaints about PvMP in the game is about Tribes that are toxic. While it happens in just about any MMO you could play, it's true that a lot of the toxic players tend to be drawn to PvMP. But don't despair! There are a lot of groups who run PvMP these days, and it's possible to find a good one on just about any server.
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