Since September 2014

Since September 2014 I have slowly rerolled all my toons - I am now playing on 2 servers instead of the 4 that I had for a long time. Why did I reroll even my level 89 Hunter named Faron? I even rerolled Taure who was right at level 70. Well in all honesty 4 severs with 11 toons on each was simply too much! 44 characters across 4 servers had me a bit overwhelmed.

What I did was to pick out my favorite characters out of the 44 and recreate them on 2 servers: Crickhollow and Riddermark. I now how 20 characters on two servers (10 toons per server). I have to admit that I like having just the 2 severs to play on - I can now concentrate on my favorite characters and it's less time consuming and confusing this way.



What else has happened since I last blogged in September?:

 I  became a VIP for a month and now I'm a Premium member. I prefer to be VIP any day of the week - and maybe one day I can up my status back up to a VIP. It's worth it!!  I've been bumping and grinding as a F2P member for far too long - and I did open up A LOT as a F2P member. I even opened up the Rohan Great River pack as a F2P - no kidding! That was back in June of 2012!  LOTS and LOTS of bumping and grinding with 44 characters as F2P member to do this.

Is LotRO F2P - YES! It will take you a long time to grind to open up all you need, plus other things like more vault space, horse-riding skill etc.. but you can do it as a F2P member.

Is LotRO more fun as a VIP? Yes in a way. As a VIP you get special privileges and things much easier because of it (not to mention the 500 TP each month!) So it is WORTH becoming a VIP! But as a F2P member I had "bragging rights" because I did things the hard way to make it. I guess I still have my bragging rights - but I feel better as a Premium member - and still prefer to be a VIP.

Taure Level 40 Champion in Evendim

Well Before The Rerolling of The Characters

Taure Level 27 Champion in The Lone-Lands

After the Rerolling of Characters

Yes Taure is still the same Champion even after the reroll - in fact he might be even better after rerolling  him since LotRO has updated the classes.

I LOVE My LotRO! <3

Quick Update

I'm still "grinding" to get all my new characters their horse riding skill (trait) opened up - not too many left to go!! I will post the pictures and information on the changes I've made soon very soon (next couple of days I hope).

Yule Fest 2012

Well I've been busy with personal stuff for the last few months so was not posting on my blog. Mainly busy with the holidays and my health.

On the upside: I did deed grind for Rohan!  On November 11, 2012 I acquired Expansion: Riders of Rohan for 4,295 Turbine Points.  I have been enjoying it off and on for the last 2 months.

On the downside: I did not get a chance to bring all my characters to the Yule Fest this year... but I was able to send a handful of them over Winterhome for some festival fun :D

Here are a few pics I took of the 2012 Yule Fest. (Click pics to make larger)

Glondif

Minstrel

Server: Arkenstone

Oodo

Rune-Keeper

Server: Arkenstone

Marinus

Captain

Server: Imladris

Phayel

Champion

Server: Riddermark

Taure

Champion

Server: Riddermark

Abelia

Burglar

Server: Crickhollow

Faron

Hunter

Server: Crickhollow

Will post again soon! :D

F2P Purchases

 LotRO IS Free-to-Play:

Below is an up-to-date overview of the F2P TP earned in-game and how it was spent.


Auction House:                            2@ 95 TP = 190 TP (Full Price)
                                                      1@ 195 TP = 195 TP (Full Price)

Character Slots:                          4@ 595 TP  = 2380 TP (Full Price)

                                                      2@ 476 TP =   952  TP (Sale Price)

 Clothes:                  

    Traveller's Hood                       1@ 195 TP =  195 TP (Full Price)

     Wood-wanderer's Cloak        1@ 195 TP = 195 TP (Full Price)

     Traveller's Hood                       1@ 146 TP = 146 TP (Sale Price)

     Carpenter's Robe                    1@ 222 TP = 222 TP (Sale Price)

     Visage of the Goat                  1@ 195 TP = 195 TP (Full Price)

     Ceremonial Ajokoira Armour 2@ 295 TP = 590 TP (Full Price)

     Ceremonial Ajokoira Shoes   1@ 295 TP = 295 TP (Full Price)

     Robe of Leisure                       1@ 236 TP = 236 TP (Sale Price)
     Ferrier’s Robe                          2@ 295 TP = 590 TP (Full Price)
     Decorative Hauberk                 1@ 150 TP = 150 TP (Full Price)
     Cloak of the Algraig                  1@195 TP = 195 TP (Full Price)
     Helm of Rohan                           1@195 TP = 195 TP (Full Price)
     Adventurer's Hat                        1@ 150 TP = 150 TP (Full Price)
     Bearskin Winter Cloak             1@195 TP = 195 TP (Full Price)

Guild Access:
     Metalsmith Crafting                   1@ 295 TP = 295 TP (Full Price)
     Weaponsmith Crafting              1@ 295 TP = 295 TP (Full Price)
     Jeweller Crafting                        1@ 295 TP = 295 TP (Full Price)
     Cook Crafting                             1@ 295 TP = 295 TP (Full Price)
     Scholar Crafting                          1@ 295 TP = 295 TP (Full Price)
     Tailor Crafting                              1@ 236 TP = 236 TP (Sale Price)
      Woodworker Crafting                1@ 295 TP = 295 TP (Full Price)

Misc:
    Task: Reset Daily Count               1@ 100 TP = 100 TP (Full Price)
    Task: Reset Daily Count               1@  50 TP =  50 TP (Sale Price)
     Sturdy Steel Key                           1@ 100 TP = 100 TP (Full Price)
     Dye: Black                                     1@ 100 TP = 100 TP (Full Price
     Quest: A Little Extra Never Hurts 1@  10 TP =  10 TP (Full Price)
     Currency Cap                                  1@ 495 + 495 TP (Full Price)
    

Monster Play:
     Blackarrow                                  1@ 795 TP = 795 TP (Full Price)
     Trait Slot: Legendary/Appearance 1@ 195 = 195 TP (Full Price)


Quest Pack:
     Lone-lands                                     1@ 350 TP = 350 TP (Full Price)
       *Before the LL became a F2P area

     Evendim                                          1@ 595 TP = 595 TP (Full Price)
     North Downs                                   1@ 149 TP = 149 TP (Sale Price)
     Angmar                                            1@ 795 TP = 795 TP (Full Price)
     Forochel                                           1@ 595 TP = 595 TP (Full Price)
     Eregion                                            1@ 556 TP = 556 TP (Sale Price)
     Enedwaith                                       1@ 174 TP = 174 TP (Sale Price)
    Lothlorien                                          1@ 695 TP = 695 TP (Full Price)
    Misty Mountains                                1@ 348 TP = 348 TP (Sale Price)
    Trollshaws                                         1@ 595 TP = 595 TP (Full Price)
    Great River                                        1@ 795 TP = 795 TP (Full Price)

Expansion:
  Mines of Moria                    1@ 1996 TP = 1996 TP (Sale Price)
  Mirkwood                             1@  796 TP = 796 TP (Sale Price)
  Isengard                               1@ 3250 TP =3250 TP (Full Price)


Recipes:
  Black Pudding Recipe                      1@120 TP = 120 TP (Full Price)


 Riding Skill:                                          43@ 95 P = 4085 TP (Full Price)
                                                                1@  49 TP =  49 TP (Sale Price)
                                                                2@ 48 TP =   96 TP (Sale Price)

Storage:
  Inventory: Bonus Bag                           1@ 495 TP = 495 TP (Full Price)
  Inventory: Bonus Bag                           1@ 396 TP = 396 TP (Sale Price)
  Premium Wallet Upgrade                    1@ 995 TP = 995 TP (Full Price)
  Shared Storage (20 Slots)                  1@ 796 TP = 796 TP (Sale Price)
  Shared Storage II (10 Slots)                1@ 595 TP = 595 TP (Full Price)
  Shared Wardrobe Space (10 Slots)   1@ 396 TP = 396 TP (Sale Price)
  Shared Wardrobe Space II (10 Slots) 1@ 495 TP = 495 TP (Full Price)


   Traits:
     Class        18@ 95 TP = 1710 TP (Full Price)
                       7@ 76 TP =    532 TP (Sale Price)
                       2@ 67 TP =    134 TP (Sale Price)

    Virtues     15@ 95 TP =    1425 TP (Full Price)
                      8@ 76 TP =       608 TP (Sale Price)
                      2@ 67 TP =    134 TP (Sale Price)

    Race       10@95 TP =       950 TP (Full Price)
                     3@76 TP =        228 TP (Sale Price)

   Legendary   3@195 TP =     585  TP (Full Price)


  

*I am currently saving up my TP for Riders of Rohan coming out in Autumn (September 5th 2012). I am hoping they have an online version of the Legendary Edition of the expansion for purchasing.

*Next I will open up Trait slots for all my characters.

The Great River

I'm very happy to say I finally have all quest/expansion packs currently available. This morning I was able to grind out 795 TP for The Great River! I'm very excited and looking forward to this quest pack.

And coming September 5, 2012 is the new LotRO expansion Riders of Rohan. That gives me more to look forward to this year in LotRO gaming world.

On a side note: Faron is now level 75! Time to perfect him and get ready for Riders of Rohan this autumn.

Isengard

Well I did it! I stamped out 3250 TP for the basic Isengard package!! I don't have the full package with the instances, raids and skirmish traits leveled but I can purchase them separately.

I am now currently working on stamping out 795 TP for the Great River... that will be the last quest pack I have to purchase.

I hope with in the next couple of days to start questing in Dunland with Faron.

And I'm enjoying the 5th anniversary festival -- which I hope to gain 300 TP at the festival towards the Great River quest pack.

C U in the Game!

Rise of Isengard™ E3 2011 Trailer

*I am currently saving up for the Isengard Expansion Pack. The cost is 3250 TP in the LotRO Store.*

Turn eastward toward the vale of Isengard and attempt to thwart Saruman's ambition! Experience over 375 quests and over 40 deeds as you journey through Dunland, the Gap of Rohan, and Isengard itself. Quests and deeds are designed to support player levels 66-75.



The time has come for you to turn eastward, toward the vale of Isengard. Where ancient forests once flourished, a corrupted waste of metal and wheels suffers under the thrall of the traitorous wizard Saruman. Here, in the shadows of the tower of Orthanc, gathers an army of Orcs and Uruk-hai, toiling to make ready for war. Forge ahead into these devastated lands and uncover new quests, skills, and traits as you strive to thwart Saruman's ambition.Players across North America and Europe can pre-purchase Rise of Isengard to receive special benefits starting today at http://www.lotro.com/isengard.

Creep

Well I now have a new Creep to add to the PVMP side of LotRO. You will start with one free creep (Orc: Reaver)  and you may purchase more types of monsters for 795 TP and is account wide.

Meet my creeps: 

 Kish: Uruk: Blackarrow

Fargash: Orc: Reaver

Erat: Orc: Reaver

Monster Play, Guilds and Isengard

The next items I would like to obtain are listed below:

Isengard Expansion Pack: 3250 TP 

I have 3 Guilds left to access:

Jeweler's Guild Access: 295 TP 

Weaponsmith Guild Access: 295 TP

Metalsmith Guild Access: 295 TP

5 monsters to choose from:  Monster Player: 795 TP

Also would like to get a couple more clothing items from the LotRO Store.


Other Items: Trait Slots, Skirmishes, Stat Leveling, & More Shared Vault Storage.

Conclusion: I have more deeds to pound out! I may have to create a handful of "dummy" or temporary toons to pound out low level deeds. These "dummy" toons will be deleted once the starter area deeds are completed.

Character Slots

As a F2P LotRO player I have pounded out enough Turbine Points to open the final two Character Slots for every server. There is a total of 10 Character Slots per server that is avaliable - which means I am maxed out of slots to open. Each Character Slot one purchases will open a slot on every single server.

Each extra Character Slot is 595 TP at full price. I purchased the 9th slot @ 595 and the 10th slot I was able to catch on sale for 476 TP.

And I managed to stamp out enough TP for all my final toons the Riding Skill (95 TP each).

The final family members on each of my four servers are created.

Crickhollow
Minwyn: Female Human Minstrel
Laleiah: Female Elf Rune-Keeper

Riddermark
Farhaan: Male Elf Warden
Kalmed: Male Elf Minstrel

Imladris
Linlorien: Male Elf Rune-Keeper
Ottavia:  Female Human Warden

Arkenstone
Dontao: Male Hobbit Minstrel
Jalgrim: Male Dwarf Hunter

I will post final overview of each server full of characters later today.

New Family Members

Since I was able to gain every quest pack in the game (minus Isengard)  I decided to spend my TP on adding new character slot from the LotRO Store.

My last post, Arkenstone, shows my new server of toons with Hobbits and Dwarves rounding off all races in Middle Earth.

The latest family members are:

Server : Crickhollow

Name: Nerron Boweman
Age: 18
Gender: Male
Class: Warden

Server: Crickhollow

Race: Caucasian
Nationality: Anórien
Place of Birth: Gondor
Residence(s): Bree-land

Family:

    * Father: Faron (Living)
    * Mother: Abelia (Living)

Siblings:

    * Brother: Ahron (Living)
    * Brother: Serron (Living)
    * Brother: Berron (Living)
    * Brother: Torron (Living)

    * Wife: Never Married

Vocation: Yeoman
             * Cook
             * Farmer

Server: Imladris

Name: Euclid Scipio
Age: 45
Gender: Male
Class: Burglar


Race: Caucasian
Nationality: Dale-lands
Place of Birth: Dale
Residence(s): Thorin's Homestead

Family:
   Wife: Divorced

Parents:
       Mother: Cosma (Living)
       Father: Iovis (Living)

Children: None


Profession: Yeoman:
               *Cook
               *Farmer

Server: Riddermark

Name: Ibraheem Alvar
Age: 161
Gender: Male
Class: Warden



Race: Elf
Nationality: Edhellond
Place of Birth: River Morthond
Residence(s): Falathlorn 

Family:

Parents:
       Mother: Lostariel (Living)
       Father: Venlai (Living)

Siblings:
      Brother: Enraad

Wife: Rodwen (Living)

Children: None





Profession: Yeoman:
               *Cook
               *Farmer

 

The Trollshaws

I did it! I opened up the last quest pack today: The Trollshaws @ 595 TP (full price).  I did not deliberately deed grind to open it - instead I simply quested. Yes it is very easy to obtain TP (Turbine Points) as a F2P player.

My next goals are:

A) Get one more character slot: that way I can enter the cooking guild and try playing a Warden.

B) Open the rest of the guild access that I do not have opened.

C) To get  skirmishes opened besides the two that are F2P (The Siege of Gondamon and Trouble in Tuckborough)

D) Open traits on my characters as I am able.

E) Access to the Auction House for each character.


 The hard part is deciding what to open next.  =)


As a side note: I also opened Faron's last Legendary Trait Slot @ 195 TP (Full Price)

LotRO F2P Purchases

 Below is an up-to-date  list of  my current LotRO F2P purchases:

Traits:                           23@ 95 TP = 2185 TP (Full Price)
Traits:                            6@ 76 TP =    456 TP (Sale Price)
Traits:                            4@ 67 TP =    268 TP (Sale Price)

Legendary Trait:             1@ 195 TP =  195 TP (Full Price)

Currency Cap:                1@ 495 TP =  495 TP (Full Price)

Bag Space:                     1@ 495 TP =   495 TP (Full Price)
                                         1@ 396 TP =   396 TP (Sale Price)

Task Reset:                     1@  50 TP =     50 TP (Full Price)

Guild Access:
   Woodworker:              1@ 295 TP =   295 TP (Full Price)
    Metalsmith:                 1@ 295 TP =   295 TP (Full Price)
    Weaponsmith:            1@ 295 TP =   295 TP (Full Price)
    Jeweller:                      1@ 295 TP =   295 TP (Full Price)
    Cook:                           1@ 295 TP =   295 TP (Full Price)
    Scholar:                       1@ 295 TP =   295 TP (Full Price)
    Tailor:                           1@ 236 TP =   236 TP (Sale Price)

Character Slots:              2@ 595 TP = 1190 TP (Full Price)

Auction House 5 slots:    1@   95 TP =     95 TP (Full Price)

Clothing:
Bearskin Cloak:             1@  195 TP =  195 TP (Full Price)
Adventure's Hat:            1@  150 TP =  150 TP (Full Price)
Helm of Rohan:              1@  195 TP =  195 TP (Full Price)
Cloak of Algraig:            1@  195 TP =  195 TP (Full Price)
Traveller's Hood:             2@  195 TP =  195 TP (Full Price)
Wood-wonder's Cloak   1@  195 TP =  390 TP (Full Price)
Carpenter's Robe           1@ 295 TP = 295 TP (Full Price)
Visage of the Goat         1@  195 TP =  390 TP (Full Price)
Ajokoira Armor               2@ 295 TP = 295 TP (Full Price)
Ajokoira Shoes               1@ 295 TP = 295 TP (Full Price)
Robe of Leisure               1@ 236 TP = 236 TP (Sale Price)
Ferrier's Robe                  2@ 295 TP = 295 TP (Full Price)
Decorative Hauberk        1@ 150 TP = 150 TP (Full Price)




Lone-Lands       350 TP (Full Price - Before the LL became a F2P area)
Evendim             595 TP (Full Price)
North Downs     195 TP (Sale Price)
Angmar              795 TP (Full Price)
Forochel             595 TP (Full Price)
Eregion               556 TP (Sale Price)
MoM              1,996 TP (Sale Price - Included Warden & RK class, 2 character slots and skirmish traits)
Mirkwood          796 TP (Sale Price)
Enedwaith          174 TP (Sale Price)
Lothlorien           695 TP (Full Price)
Misty Mountain  348 TP (Sale Price)

Last Quest Pack

I have one last Quest Pack to open: Trollshaws!

I remember a few months back when the announcement came that Lord of the Rings Online was going Free-to-Play I was thrilled but wondered how I was going to ever save up enough TP (Turbine Points) to open up QP (Quest Packs). I asked on the LotRO Forums how F2P players would earn enough TP. Sapience told me at that time Deed Grinding. I remember thinking "Yes but most deeds will only give you 5 or 10 points. It will take forever for a F2P player to ever save enough TP to open Quest Pack" ---> I was WRONG and I now see exactly what Sapience meant and how right he is!  During that time I forgot just how fast the points add up and I'm down to one last QP to obtain.


I keep all my LotRO Ordered Delivery Notifications as a receipt of purchase. I can also see how much TP was spent for each QP and if I got the item on sale or not.

My QPs and how much TP I ground out for each:

Lone-Lands       350 TP (Full Price - Before the LL became a F2P area)
Evendim             595 TP (Full Price)
North Downs     195 TP (Sale Price)
Angmar              795 TP (Full Price)
Forochel             595 TP (Full Price)
Eregion               556 TP (Sale Price)
MoM              1,996 TP (Sale Price - Included Warden & RK class, 2 character slots and skirmish traits)
Mirkwood          796 TP (Sale Price)
Enedwaith          174 TP (Sale Price)
Lothlorien           695 TP (Full Price)
Misty Mountain  348 TP (Sale Price)


I'm a F2P player and I'm proof that you can play LotRO for Free! TP does add up fast!  And I'm looking forward to getting my the last QP opened: The Trollshaws!



 

Snow, Character Slot and MoM

First off, the internet keeps going in and out around here. Netgear internet service keeps going down and back up again - so for the last 5 days we've hardly had internet in this area of Missouri. So says the snow causing it but how do people in Russia, Canada and even Greenland keep up their internet then with all the snow in their area? LOL. Okay lets blame the weather then; we might have 3 inches of that white stuff on the ground without ice. At any rate, the Netgear service can't handle it here - thus leaves us with barely any service so venturing in Middle Earth ain't happening to much and most likely won't until spring time. I can barely post or look up  anything online as it is.

Anyway, during what time I was able to get online for the last 5 days: I broke down and ground out 595 TP (took 2 1/2 - 3 days to get it with internet going in and out) in order to open up a third character slot on the servers. Easy way to grind this out is in the Shire I found out! A total of 35 TP for completing 75 (easy) quests in the Shire plus the Pie, Post-Master and Brew-master quests give 15 or 20 TP for the 3 of them. Not including the slayer-deeds, Sights of the Shire and the Farms of the Shire deeds.  I believe it was 120? TP in the Shire per toon and can be ground out within about 4-ish hours (with a higher level toon). At any rate - not too long to pound out the 595 TP in-spite of the horrible wintertime Netgear service.

With that 3rd toon slot:  Faron and Abelia's son Ahron has decided to join them on the Crickhollow server. He's a level 13 Hunter and aspiring Yeoman. I still have to grind out 95 TP now for his horse trait skill.

Next will be to grind out TP for MoM. 1495 TP for just the area (without all the the extra goodies).  The other choice is to 2495 for MoM area plus opens up the Rune-Keeper, Warden, Skirmish Traits maxed out (Rank 15) and 2 extra character slots on each server.  So I'm trying to decide which to do - take just the MoM quest pack for 1000 TP less OR do I keep on grinding out deeds for that full deal. I would love to have the extra 2 toon slots per server plus that Rune-Keeper which is 795 alone! Would be cheaper in the long run to keep pounding out deeds but oh boy that is a lot of TP to stamp out and longer to wait to get to Moria!  I have a feeling I'm going to grind out the full 2495 but we'll see.

Faron is actually my only toon ready to go to Moria -- so I could simply grind, grind and bump and grind some more to ready my other toons for MoM as well. They all need the Traits anyway.

And speaking of Faron - I just started him in the Woodworker's Guild. For some reason I kept thinking I had to make a choice between the Guild and my Kinship - but someone recently said "NO - they are different"..... so to make a long story short Faron is way behind in the Guild - so I can continue to have him make emblems for the guild until he makes kindred standing with them for to gain his legendary recipes for his legendary weapons as well as fish and finish his unfinished deeds. In a way, Faron is NOT ready for MoM anyway. So I might as well grind out the full 2995 TP for the full package deal  for MoM.

Anyway if Netgear will ever get it in gear and keep the net on around here we might have internet service so me and my BF can do something again online. LOL. In the meantime I guess I'll stare at the ceiling some more - nothing else to do. I've read all my books at least 3 times each, seen all my movies several times each and never anything on TV.  Yep 7:42 in the morning and ZERO to do but to post a little on the net in between it going out and stare at the walls.

To the other players online now - have fun and kill at least one Warg for me will ya. :) And stay way from Netgear if ya want internet service in the winter. LMAO!

The Latest

Well I finally opened up Forochel for my toons. Faron has been enjoying it quite much. I only find one disappointment with Forochel: No cool winter clothing to buy or to gain from quests. I have not finished my questing there and I have only gained jewelry from the quests thus far. I was hoping that this would be the place to gain winter clothing - if only for cosmetic purposes. I am loving my quests in the area in-spite of the clothing disappointment.

The only other thing was to buy more trait slots and horse riding skills for all my new toons. Trying to decide what major purchase comes next: extra character slot or save up for MoM. I do need to start saving up my TP for MoM but I think an extra slot would help me to create toons to help grind TP for that purchase.

The Toon List Updated:

Crickhollow
Faron - Hunter
Woodsman
(Forester-Woodworker-Farmer)

*Main Toon

Abelia - Burglar
Armsman
(Prospector-Woodworker-Weaponsmith)

*Alt Toon

Imladris
Augustinn - Captain
Armsman (Prospector-Woodworker-Weaponsmith)

*Main Toon

Marinus - Captain
Explorer (Tailor-Forester-Prospector)

*Main Toon

Riddermark
Taure - Champion
Armsman (Prospector-Woodworker-Weaponsmith)

*Main Toon

Phayel - Champion
Explorer (Tailor-Forester-Prospector)

*Alt Toon

Darrowdelf
Saeron - Champion
Armsman (Prospector-Woodworker-Weaponsmith)

*Alt Toon

Dalvron - Hunter
Woodsman (Forester-Woodworker-Farmer)
*Alt Toon

2 More Riding Skills

 Well I broke down last night and got my other 2 main toons the riding skill. So all 3 of my main toons now have the skill. I got the last 2 at full price and I'm still kicking myself for not grabbing the skill when it was on sale for 48 TP. But it is ok, I'll make it to gain access to Forochel soon enough.

As far as my alts or secondary toons go... well, I'm not concerned yet if they acquire the riding skill anytime soon.

Right now I have a grand total of 20 TP in my LotRO account ---> time for some serious deed grinding over the next few days.

Total earned TP to date is: 2795 TP

Total spent TP to date: 2775 TP (with catching some things on sale). I have saved 530 TP by catching sales on some items.

Lone-Lands Quest Pack: 350
Evendim Quest Pack: 595
4th Inventory Bag: 495
North Downs Quest Pack: 149 (On Sale, regular price is 595)

Angmar  Quest Pack: 795 

Riding Skill: 49 (On Sale, regular price is 95)

Trait Slot Virtue: 76 (On Sale, regular price is 95)

Trait Slot Class: 76 (On Sale, regular price is 95)

Riding Skill: 95

Riding Skill: 95 

*The total earned TP does NOT include the 500 TP that Turbine sent me for participating in the Beta program. With that I spent 495 TP to lift off the currency cap.

Traits

Trait slots are on sale now for 20% off so I finally did break down and opened 2 trait slots for my main toon Faron. Equipping just 2 extra trait slots has done him much good. Being a main toon I really need to open all of his traits. Makes a big difference in gameplay. 

As an F2P you have 2 Virtue, 2 Race, 2 Class and 1 Legendary Trait slots open for free. The rest you have to unlock from the LotRO in-game store. Regular price for a trait slot is 95 TP per slot per toon. Sale price (going on now) is 76 TP each. You have a total of 13 trait slots to unlock via the LotRO store per character as a f2p.

Virtues: 2 free slots open and 3 to unlock. 

Race: 2 free slots open and 3 to unlock

Class: 2 free slots open and 5 to unlock

Legendary: 1 free slot open and 2 to unlock

Cost of unlocking all of the Trait slots: 

   95 TP (regular price)

x 13 slots (to unlock) 

 -------------------------

1235 TP per character

 Acquiring the horse riding skill plus unlocking 2 trait slots has set me back a total of 200 TP towards opening up Forochel quest pack but is worth it.  I can't complain, at regular price it would have cost me 385 TP so I did save 185 TP and have 3 much needed skills for my main toon Faron. 

To clarify for those unaware: opening Forochel (and other quest packs) will benefit all characters on every server forever on your account.  Quest packs are a one time purchase only. The riding skill and unlocking trait slots are per character and does not benefit your other toons.  

To explain further: If I decided to create another toon or to reroll (remake/start over) a toon in the same character slot on the same server I will loose anything that is bought per toon. Thus, I decided to reroll Faron then I will loose the riding skill and the 2 trait slots purchased.

Tip: Make sure you have a toon you really really like  and want to continue playing before you decide to deed grind or pull out your wallet to spend TP for the horse riding skill or trait slot for a toon.

I've started back with my deed grinding after the purchases. As of the time of this post I have 135 TP in my account after deed grinding for little while last night.

Total earned TP to date is: 2720 TP

Total spent TP to date: 2585 TP (with catching some things on sale). I have saved 530 TP by catching sales on some items.

Lone-Lands Quest Pack: 350
Evendim Quest Pack: 595
4th Inventory Bag: 495
North Downs Quest Pack: 149 (On Sale, regular price is 595)

Angmar  Quest Pack: 795 

Riding Skill: 49 (On Sale, regular price is 95)

Trait Slot Virtue: 76 (On Sale, regular price is 95)

Trait Slot Class: 76 (On Sale, regular price is 95)

*The total earned TP does NOT include the 500 TP that Turbine sent me for participating in the Beta program. With that I spent 495 TP to lift off the currency cap.

Side note: I made a mistake on my TP and Harvestmath post... The total earned TP (for that date) should have read 2325 and NOT 5325. Wishful thinking? But the most likely answer just tired and a honest mistake that has now been corrected.

Riding Skill

I thought the 75% off the riding skill in the LotRO store was going to be off sale a couple of days ago. I was wrong. I checked out the store today and the skill is still on sale for 48 TP. Well I just broke down and got the Riding Skill for my main toon Faron. He's much like a guinea pig for me; a good character to try out the 'new to me' areas and quests. It will help me much for him to have this skill - hard not to grab it for 48 TP. lol. Thanks to Turbine for putting the Riding Skill on sale.

What I have left in my LotRO account is 82 TP.  So more deed grinding for me as a F2P. I decided I want Forochel as my next quest pack. It will run me 595 TP (regular price).

And I started Faron in Angmar tonight. I am enjoying the quest pack so far. Angmar seems to be a bit of an eerie place - so I like it already. I've only completed about 5 or 6 quests in Angmar and looks like I can expect so good challenges in this questing area.

Angmar

Well I just made the 795 TP needed to buy the Angmar quest pack. What that gives me in quest packs as a F2P as of to date:

(Levels here are approximate)

1) Lone-lands.
    Levels 20-34.
    350 TP

2) North Downs
     Levels 18-40
     595 TP
*Note: I got the ND on sale for 149 TP

3) Evendim
    Levels 27-40, 50
    595 TP

4) Angmar
    Levels 40-50
    795 TP

I now have my eyes set on the Misty Mountains or Forochel as my next quest pack. Some recommend one or the other to help fill gaps mainly soloing my way to level 50. The other choice for a quest pack of the 40-50(ish) levels that I am needing is the Trollshaws. I tried the Trollshaws in Beta. It was not bad but I would like to try out one of the other options.

1) Misty Mountains
    Levels 39-50
    695 TP

2) Forochel
    Levels 39-52
    595 TP

3) Trollshaws
    Levels 30-50
    595 TP


Right now my Hunter, Faron, on Crickhollow server is soon to be level 38. He is ready for Angmar now. A few more quests to complete in the North Downs and Evendim and Faron will head to Angmar; new territory for me to explore. He will complete deeds as I feel I am up to completing them to help gain TP for my next quest pack - which ever I decided on in the near future.