The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar

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One of the most trumpted new features of LOTR Online is Monster Play. Anyone familiar with World of Warcraft knows about the rivalry between the Horde and Alliance. The struggle between the forces of Sauron and the Fellowship of the Ring is even more compelling (if box office gross is any indication.) But there's no story for the evil side of the coin, and LOTR Online is promising much more in the way of narrative satisfaction than other MMOs. What to do? The answer is Monster Play.

Once you hit level 10, you'll gain access to a "fell scrying pool." Stare into the waters and you'll find yourself transported to a new realm - transformed into a monster. Though your strength as an evil creature will reflect your main character's level, your monster has its own name, statistics and abilities. You'll be able to play as an orc, Uruk-hai, giant spider or wolf-like Warg. Once you're in, you gain access to a new zone where you can pick up quests only possible while evil.

As you complete tasks as a monster, you'll earn Destiny Points you can spend on Perks - either new abilities or useful equipment - for either your monster or normal character. The regular quests are your run-of-the-mill MMO stuff. What was more interesting was a tower siege we were able to participate in. You'll meet up with friends, take a party of adventurers up a tower, and claim it for your side by defeating its lord. If it's owned by evil, dark clouds encroach and the tower fills with computer-controlled evil characters, some which offer unique quests. The reverse happens if good controls it - as good characters can also enter the evil-only territory to wage battle. This is where the game's player vs player combat comes in. Evil characters, however, can't leave the area.

LOTR Online will be released in April. The pre-order campaign starts even sooner. It's almost time to put down that copy of Burning Crusade.

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