In a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game, or MMO, like The Lord of the Rings Online™, players are given the opportunity to create their fictional selves in a living virtual space. You can become anyone, have fantastic adventures, and maybe even save the world in the process; but even the mightiest heroes have to start somewhere.

There are many decisions to be made when creating a character for the first time. What does the new you look like? Which race will you be? Will you be on the front lines battling foes, or supporting your companions from the rear? The choices you make at character creation will have a direct impact on how you play the game. You’ll also need to learn a whole new language of MMO terms and acronyms.

In a typical MMO you’ll start off with the most basic equipment and minimal skill. Your character can become more powerful and better equipped by "leveling up" through the completion of quests and killing monsters. The higher your level, the stronger your character and the more difficult the quests and monsters you’ll face.

Despite how mighty you are, there are some monsters that will be too tough for you to take on by yourself. This is where the second M in MMO comes in. LOTRO is a multiplayer game, which means that at any given time there are thousands of others playing in the same world as you are. Some players may temporarily band together for a single task, while others choose to form lasting social groups.

Social groups range from players talking about every day life to those that choose to roleplay. Roleplaying is the act of performing, or playing, the role of the character you have created, hence the name. Some players develop a persona with a rich fictional history, while others choose to take on a simple facade that may merely involve a hatred of orcs. For more information on roleplaying, check out some of these player-created roleplaying guides on the LOTRO Lorebook!

There are many ways to enjoy an MMORPG. How you choose to play your part in The Lord of the Rings Online is up to you!