As if ravaging Hobbit villages as an Orc and sending their furry little feet fleeing in terror weren't reward enough, there are other incentives for participating in Monster Play. In this section, we'll talk about the basic aspects of advancement. The rank, rating, renown/infamy and other information about your participation and advancement appears on The War page of your Character Journal.

Destiny Points

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

Rank

Rank is a reflection of your standing and service to the Free Peoples as a player character, and the favor earned in service to Angmar's army as a monster. Each type of character, monster or Free Peoples, can earn up to 15 ranks.

Renown & Infamy

Renown (for Free Peoples) 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 based on the rating and rank of the defeated foe versus your rating and rank and the amount of damage you and/or your fellowship/raid members dealt to your target. Earned points are never lost, and continue to drive you closer to ever higher ranks.

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. For every 0.100 Rating above 1.000, you will gain half a star, adding up to a maximum of 5 stars at 2.000.

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 rested experience points. They are earned with Destiny Points gained through Monster Play and leveling up, and can be purchased via your Destiny Point Wallet after level 10.

We hope this overview has whetted your appetite for a taste of LOTRO's Monster Play, and provided the information you need to join the fight. Happy hunting!