LOTRO offers a unique form of player vs. player combat known as Monster Play. Players are transported to the Ettenmoors, a consensual PvMP (Player vs. Monster Player) region about the size of the Shire. Here, the Free Peoples and the Forces of Angmar are in constant active conflict, and players can choose to join the fight as either their normal player character (at level 40 and above), or as one of the servants of the Enemy!

Playing as a Monster

To access Monster Play, you must create at least one Free Peoples player and attain level 10 or beyond. After that, a red “Monster Play” button will be active on the character select screen after login. (Prior to Book 10, Fell Scrying Pools were used in-game; these have been removed.) In Monster Play, you have one slot for each class available to play: Orc Reaver, Orc Defiler, Spider Weaver, Uruk Blackarrow, Uruk Warleader, or Warg Stalker (all of which start as level 50 monsters). Once created, each monster character will persist and be available for further play, unless you choose to Reset it.

Monsters are named when you create them, and can receive surnames from an NPC in Gramsfoot. You can also form monster Kinships, called “Tribes”, similar to the Free Peoples.

Monsters can trade with other monsters, but they do not have Mailboxes. They cannot use tools, armour, jewellery or other wearable items, but they can use potions, food and some charms. They can loot defeated mobs, accumulate money and also sell spare loot to Quartermaster NPCs. Monsters can accept Quests and are usually rewarded with Destiny Points (DP) for completing them. They also receive a smaller number of DP for each player, mob and NPC defeated.

For full details on playing as a Monster Player, please see Army of Angmar.