Last week I joined Lord of the Rings Online and my starting of a new MMO game prompted an interesting discussion with a couple friends are experts in the field, so to speak.

I was first amazed with the number of character races and classes I had to choose from. It was a bit confusing and our conversation started from there.

My 1st Q: Why is there such a great variety of races and classes?

Their A: The more choice you have the better. Imagine what it would be like if you have 3 million mages and 5 million dwarves walking around and no other race, it would be boring.

My 2nd Q: Can I go screw everything up from the very beginning by choosing the wrong combination of race and class?

Their A: You cannot screw anything up. More often than not, MMO games can be played with every combination of race and class. What matters is whether you like playing with you chosen character or not.

My 3th Q: Would I have to change several characters until I learn to play the game right?

Their A: Not necessarily. If you like to play with the character you’ve chosen, time and experience will help you progress in the game. The important thing is to play and learn.

Their 1st Q: Why in the world did you choose playing LotRo and not World of Warcraft?

My A: Because I love J.R.R. Tolkien’s book and wanted to be part of its world in some way. Moreover, blog posts and forums discussing LotRo made me think people who play it are alright :)

My 4th Q: Why do you think WoW is better than LotRo?

Their A: WoW has a lot more players and although it is paid, playing is cheaper than LotRo. Even though the latter game is free to play, you can only progress in it with goodies from the store, which are paid, of course.

We’ve also discussed the meaning of the term “instance” in WoW and LotRo, which seems to be used differently in the two games. I’ve noticed that every new task the elf was giving me in LotRo was marked as Instance, while in WoW instances are related to separate areas in the game.

I have planned to play Cataclysm a little later, but now am focused on exploring LotRo. Though I was left with the impression that my friends thought my first choice should have been WoW. I wonder if they are right? Maybe it would have been easier to rely on two good buddies for tips on a game they both play. I hope though I would find support from LotRo players online. It would be nice to make a few new game buddies :)