On Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO), it may be a nice game, but two reasons right off the bat it does not compare with the likes of WarCraft:

1 - 12 to 18 hour installation time. You read that right. When you initially install the game, it does not let you play until it installs more than 27,000 updates, taking a total of 12 to 18 hours of instant internet connection in a fast line such as DSL or high speed cable.

2 - In order to play at all, you must agree to a monthly fee ON TOP OF your purchase price.

All comparable fantasy action games are free to play offline and many are free to play online as well, and you can install most in a few minutes. So if buying this as a "Christmas pick" for someone, you need to ask if it is worth them spending a day or more just waiting on the install and then paying monthly fees to access? This is a gift that could make the receiver angry if it is not EXACTLY what they want. It will cost them money and it an inconvenient amount of time, having nothing to do with the game play.