This article is guest posted by Jukka.

Jukka, who loves surfing and skateboards aside from online gaming, is a Cebuano who’s actively into the hobby. His review of LOTRO follows:

Some of you might know me in real life but you can call me Quentasklaras and I am a level 50 elven loremaster in the award winning game Lord of the Rings Online.  I have been quite an avid gamer over many years but it is quite rare that I get impressed enough to write a review of a game with nothing to gain except online friends and a better  in game experience. 

When we started we were originally a full group of Cebuanos playing until our minstrel and hunter had to drop from the party.  Knowing Pinoys are avid gamers too we were sure there would be more of them who either are playing already or would be totally thrilled to be part of this the epic battle in Online Middle Earth. This game is hands down one of the best MMORPG’s I have had the opportunity to be part of but to make the most out of your experience one needs a fellowship or a group of friends to adventure with.  We were a doughty group as it was not long long we were entering the great barrows, Reclaiming Weathertop, and going to Gobliin town in the Misty Mountains and here is where the game starts to shine.  You really feel part of being in Middle Earth and the graphics and gameplay are just awesome.  This game has undoubtledly some of the best Player versus Environment features with wonderful instances and a familiar world to adventure in.  There is an epic story line where you follow the original fellowship of Gandalf and Frodo and get to aid them allong the way through their travel through Moria and onwards to Mount Doom.  

On November 18, Moria will be released, a dungeon to end all dungeons and this is where I decided I want to see this game all the way to Lothlorien and beyond.  Thus the search for more pinoys to play this game intensified.  With more people playing the same game one can really reach epic feats and accomplish some epic adventures.  With the release of Moria and 10 more levels of content, I will be back playing as an elf again but the one part of the game that has me hooked is the PVP or in this case Monster versus Player, The Ettenmoors is a region where you can bring your level 50 Free person or take the evil alternative and be a Monster and become either an uruk, orc, warg, or even a spider!  The player versus player is exhilirating and there is no room for stupid players running to their deaths like lemmings. 

First of all, it is a more mature crowd and you are also with more capable players.  The battles are longer and more tactical instead of just jumping into the fray, you need to be a thinking monster.  You don’t expect to one shot Glorfindel do you? So as part of the bad guys you can group up together and kill the liitle hobbits and elves, dwarves and men that come into the ettenmoors to slay you too.  The PVP action reminds of me of DAOC where one has to play skillfully and usually a lot of you need to group in order to best the other players.  We’ve all decided to move servers to Elendilmir which is the unofficial aussie world so there are always people from all over the world to adventure with.   Moria is still two weeks from now so I’ve played a monstrer reaver who goes by the name of Tikbalang who can shred through enemies armor and I have also played a spider monster named Dakungkaka whose specialty is hobbit. 

We have found a few other Pinoys already and though we aim to see Moria and go through it one day with all pinoy gamers, a better gaming ambition is to get a more pinoys gaming as monsters to see their pvp skills come into action.  I am recommending LOTRO because I would love to see more pinoys play such an excellent game and is one of the all time best MMORPG’s in my list.  If you are intersted to know more about LOTRO, you can of course check out their website at www.lotro.com.  You can of course download the game and play for two weeks free and can send us tells in game.  The main pinoy contact in Elendilmir is a level 50 champion named Heinkel and we also have a many multi level 50 character pinoy working in seattle named skicewen.  Of course look for me too or send a tell to Tikbalang as a creep and just say your pinoy.  I am also more than happy to answer emails about the game to anyone who is interested in trying it out and you can communicate with me through my email at cigbin@yahoo.com and I can get you set up in game with some good friends and good guilds.  Looking forward to seeing more pinoys on middle earth in the days to come.

-Jukka