In gaming, I’m usually fascinated by “paths much less traveled.” Perhaps it’s a leveling growth everybody ignores, a race that’s by no means picked for a kickball crew, or a method of play that’s unorthodox. My curiosity particularly perks up with regards to the subject of underplayed and underrated courses.
As of 2024, Lord of the Rings On-line has a full dozen courses – loads of selections to go well with people’ playstyles. And as is all the time the case, a few of these courses are vastly overrepresented (Hunters, Champions, Minstrels) whereas others are fairly scarce on the panorama. As we speak I need to take a look at the 5 least-played courses on this sport and make a case for why you shouldn’t be so fast to cross by them!
Beorning
Briefly, if a category begins with “B” on this MMO, it’s in all probability underplayed. Beornings truly are well-loved by their neighborhood and extremely touted as one of many stronger, full-fledged package deal courses within the sport with therapeutic, excessive armor, AOE, the power to spit bees, and a pleasant run pace buff out of fight.
It’s simply that anybody who performs one should deal with two restrictions: You’re restricted to a single race (with some fairly cool tattoos, by the best way), and also you’re going to spend most of your sport time in a giant, cumbersome bear type. For those who don’t like taking a look at a chunky ursine butt as an alternative of your rigorously tailor-made cosmetics, then it’s going to be a fast dealbreaker.
Nonetheless, it’s a really strong class that’s truly extremely desired as a healer. And your hair and tattoo selections are literally mirrored in your bear type, which is neat.
Burglar
Poor Burgs. Truthfully, I really feel unhealthy for them. They’re one of the crucial iconic roles within the sport, due to Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit, but they’ve virtually by no means been a go-to class for many. I feel the important thing drawback right here is that nearly every part they do may be completed by one other class significantly better, and their signature mechanic — stealthing — isn’t engaging sufficient to offset that.
One other draw back is that Burglars are very sluggish starters in LOTRO. Followers of the category admit that they struggled till stage 30 or 40 earlier than issues turned higher.
So why play one, apart from its underrepresentation? Burglars are literally single-target powerhouses with significantly better DPS than is perhaps assumed. With the ability to stealth means which you could zip via enemy camps to targets as an alternative of slogging via them. And there’s some good utility and survivability with methods and gambles.
They do want some extra love by the devs to make them engaging to the bigger inhabitants, although.
Brawler
Considered one of LOTRO’s newer courses was a bit peculiar when it got here out and hasn’t been a firestarter in the neighborhood. Right here we’ve a melee class that… punches? Punches rather a lot with out cool-looking weapons (though they do get battle gauntlets). I feel lots of people merely don’t know what to make of the Brawler and provides this class a large berth due to that.
But just like the Beorning, the Brawler is kind of well-designed and a superb time for those who give it an opportunity. You get some flashy animations to make up for that lack of handheld weapons, there’s a great deal of survivability and AOE harm, and you may even fling mugs at enemies to get their consideration. There are some elective combos for energy spikes when wanted, and the theme of “punching the snot out of everybody” actually grows on you, too.
Warden
I’ve all the time thought that the Warden is the coolest-looking class within the sport with these Warden shields, spears, and javelins. Their flexibility to fulfill any given scenario is second to none on this sport’s class roster, they usually get some good journey utility with a run pace enhance and journey abilities. So why aren’t extra individuals taking part in this?
There are two causes that the Warden is underplayed, and they’re related. The primary is that this class requires you to memorize and use chains of more and more complicated “gambits” to tug of strikes that another courses can do with a single key press. However these gambits are meant for quick, reactionary (and proactive) fight, which is defeated by the second problem: LOTRO’s infamous lag. The sport’s unpredictable delays in enter imply {that a} gambit can get ruined fairly simply.
This isn’t to say that the Warden is unimaginable to play; it’s nonetheless very viable and may be top-tier in sure conditions. However you’ve actually acquired to be dedicated to the idea and dedicated to studying and memorizing the chains.
Mariner
This class’ lack of widespread enchantment could also be just because it’s not even a 12 months outdated at this level and hasn’t unfold too far fairly but. It has turned some individuals away as a result of the category requires studying talent chains and has a type of scattershot toolkit.
Consider the Mariner as “Warden Lite” with a splash of Minstrel, and also you’ll be within the ballpark. That is excellent for gamers who just like the Warden idea however need it a bit extra streamlined. It’s truly a unbelievable class in loads of methods, with heals, stuns, random results, sea shanties, and a few hard-hitting harm. It’s the closest this sport has to a fencer, though (sadly) with none rapiers.