Monster Play

What is Monster Play?
LOTRO offers a unique form of player vs. player combat known as monster play. Players are transported to the Ettenmoors, a consensual PvMP (Player vs. Monster Player) region about the size of the Shire. Here, the Free Peoples and the forces of Angmar are in constant active conflict, and players can choose to join the fight as either their normal Free Peoples character, or as one of the servants of the Enemy!

Playing as a Monster
To access monster play, you must begin your journey as a regular Free Peoples player. Once youâve attained level 10, travel to one of the monster play portals. To reach one such portal, travel to Bree and locate Beggarâs Alley on the western side of town. In this unsavory neighborhood, youâll find a "Fell Scrying Pool." Use this pool to choose to play the part of an Orc-reaver, Spider-weaver, Uruk-blackarrow, Uruk-warleader, or Warg-stalker (all of which start as level 50 monsters). You can also resume life as one of your previously created monster characters here.

There are additional Fell Scrying Pools located in East Bree, Michel Delving, and Thorinâs Gate.

Monster Play Classes

	The Uruk Warleader On the battlefield, the Uruk-warleader shines as a warrior on the front line and an inspiration to his allies. Through mocking, humiliation and force of will, the Uruk-warleader can inspire the meekest of troops to greatness. His fearsome howls augment his strong arm and shield to make his blows all the more deadly. The main tank of the Monster side, this hefty orc is directly intended to be the leader in groups. With powerful in combat and out of combat buffs, as well as the ability to heal and do moderate damage per second, the Warleader is sort of a jack of all trades. Example Skills & Traits Aura of Command Starting Skill - When the fight has begun, your commanding aura allows your allies to fight more viciously. On Your Feet! Destiny Point-purchased Skill - You bellow a harsh command, enabling up to five nearby and defeated allies to rise, albeit at very low health. Harsh Language Destiny Point-purchased Trait - The amount of healing your skills bestow is increased.
	The Orc Reaver Savage, brutal and deadly, the Orc-reaver is at home on the field of battle - and few places else. His swift attacks and ability to dual-wield weaponry make him a formidable foe. When pressed, the Orc-reaver is capable of tapping the strength of his blood to become a frenzied warrior who rains blows on his enemy with frightening speed. The Champion class for Monsters, the Orc Reaver is your most essential damage doer. Also with the ability to de-buff, interrupt skills, and do some tanking, heâs a crafty foe not to be taken for granted. Example Skills & Traits Devastating Strike Starting Skill - When your target has less than half of their morale, you can make an extremely damaging attack with an increased chance to critical. This skill will consume all your remaining power. Glory In Victory Destiny Point-purchased Skill - The sight of your opponents falling before you catapults you into an empowering rage, giving you burst of healing and increasing damage dealt and taken. Burning Blades Destiny Point-purchased Trait - Your weapon attacks now deal Fire damage.
	The Uruk Blackarrow Accurate, vindictive and violent, the Uruk-blackarrow employs the bow against his foes, striking from behind the front-line warriors of Angmar's army. Employing fire and the deadly gifts of shadow from Angmar, the Uruk-blackarrow is a potent foe who drives his arrows deep into his targets' midst. And expert Uruk orc Archer, this class is a ranged damage dealer with some crowd control abilities, and a sprinkling of area of effect damage dealing. Example Skills & Traits Flaming Arrow Starting Skill - A fire tipped arrow which will continue to burn the target after landing. Set Trap Destiny Point-purchased Skill - You carefully place a snare on the ground to trap your foes. Uncanny Reactions Destiny Point-purchased Trait - Your ability to evade ranged attacks is significantly increased.
	The Warg Stalker At home in a pack or stalking the woods silent and stealthy, the Warg-stalker strikes suddenly and does not offer escape to his foe. Strong jaws, hardened claws and fierce determination drive the Warg-stalker, making him one of the most feared opponents in battle. A stealthy canine abomination of the Dark Lordâs army. These pups are proficient in doing high burst damage, they can serve as a tank in some pinches, and are capable of interrupting opposing players spells and skills. Example Skills & Traits Savage Fangs Starting Skill - You rip at your target's flesh, tearing muscle and slowing his attacks. If the target was suffering from your crippling bite he begins taking damage over time. Throat Rip Destiny Point-purchased Skill - You sink your teeth and rip, your target is silenced. The Element of Surprise Destiny Point-purchased Skill - Your chance to critical when attacking from stealth is significantly increased.
	The Spider Weaver Cunning, patient and fearsome, the Spider-weaver's home is not within the heart of the battle, but rather at its edges, where she can best employ her strengths and shield her weaknesses. With poison, clinging webs and the ability to burrow beneath the ground, the Spider-weaver is a mistress of woe who skulks on the fringes of battle. Similar to the spiders often found giving travelers trouble across Eriador, these little 8-legged freaks are efficient at crowd control, damage over time, some light damage dealing, and even some ambush attacks. Example Skills & Traits Snaring Web Starting Skill - A ranged attack that targets the victim's legs with sticky webs, rooting them in place. Lie In Wait Destiny Point-purchased Skill - When not in combat, you can hide beneath the ground, unseen by foes, until you burst from the ground. Steelweave Webs Destiny Point-purchased Trait - The duration of your Snaring Web root is doubled.

Playing for the Free Peoples

If you wish to take the side of the Free Peoples, your player character must first attain level 40. Once you are at least level 40, visit one of the stable-masters that can take you to the Ettenmoors. One such route can be found at Elrondâs stables in the western section of Rivendell, just west of the Trainer area. Speak to stable-master Remros about the Ettenmoors, and heâll send you on your way.

Exploring the Ettenmoors
Youâll arrive in the Ettenmoors at your starting base (Glân Vraig for the Free Peoples; Gramsfoot for monster players). This area is safe from attack, but once you venture outside your starting base, all bets are off! Youâll find several types of NPCs - quest starters, provisioners, and skill trainers (Bards for the Free Peoples, and Corruptors for monster players) - within this starting base.

Thereâs plenty to do in the Ettenmoors, and your actions will often earn you Destiny Points and Infamy or Renown (see below). Take on solo quests or head out with a group of friends, looking for (and finding!) trouble. Besides the smaller-scale battles youâll find yourself fighting in while exploring the Ettenmoors, you can also engage in pitched battles for the control of various points of conflict within the Ettenmoors. A dynamic mapnote displays a flag - red for monster players and blue for Free Peoples - at these locations to show which faction currently controls them. Fearsome enemies or allies may await you within contested strongholds (depending on which side currently holds them), and you would be well advised to attack one of these locations only with a large force â but be on your guard! PvMP players might be defending their location, or attacking yours while youâre gone!

Monster Play Advancement

As if ravaging hobbit villages as an Orc and sending their furry little feet fleeing in terror werenât reward enough, there are other incentives for participating in monster play. In this section, weâll talk about the basic aspects of advancement. Weâve defined the core components below, and you can read more about them in our monster play Developer Diaries.

Destiny Points
Only monster characters can directly earn Destiny Points in the Ettenmoors, but both your monster character and your Free Peoples characters will share and benefit from this point pool. Destiny Points can be used to purchase new skills, improvements to armour, extra damage, and so forth for your monster character. In addition, Free Peoples characters can spend them on Perks. Destiny Points appear on the main character page of your Character Journal for both monster characters and Free Peoples characters. Additionally, you will see a handy UI window appear after level 10 showing you how many Destiny Points you currently have, and a button allowing you to buy Perks wherever and whenever you like (with your player character).

Rank
Rank is a reflection of your standing and service to the Free Peoples as a normal character, and the favour earned in service to Angmarâs army as a monster character. Each type of character, monster or Free Peoples, can earn up to 15 of the available ranks.

Renown & Infamy
Renown (for Free Peoples characters) and Infamy (for monsters) are similar to experience. Each time you defeat an enemy, whether solo, in a fellowship or in a raid, you earn an amount of Renown or Infamy largely based on the rating of the defeated foe. Earned Renown and Infamy are never lost, and continue to drive you closer to ever higher Ranks. Current Renown and Infamy appear on The War page of your Character Journal.

Rating
Rating is a fluctuating number that rises and falls based on your victories and defeats in player vs. monster player combat (PvMP). The amount of rating points earned or lost depends on your rating and the rating of your opponent or opponents. A higher rating grants bonus Renown/Infamy from PvMP victories.

Prestige
Prestige is a visual representation of your PvMP rating. Prestige appears as a collection of stars surrounding your player portrait.

Perks
Perks are short-term buffs which benefit your normal player characters, and can be used to boost your strength, increase your speed, and even give you more experience points. Perks are purchased with Destiny Points earned through monster play. Perks may be purchased via the window in your UI after level 10.
We hope this overview has whetted your appetite for a taste of LOTROâs monster play, and provided the information you need to join the fight. Happy hunting!