lordoftheringsonline.net is better known as the Madhouse Tavern and is probably the best known European fan site for LOTRO. The site is hosted by Nikki (Landlady) and Krispy (Landlord) both who regularly attend Codemasters’ events and post up their thoughts very quickly afterwards (they had posted a story on the recent preview event in London, a few hours before I even got home!). They also hold regular competitions, which in the past have included copies of the game as prizes and a specially hosted tour with Weta’s Swordsmith at the Royal Armouries in Leeds.
The site has recently had a major graphical redesign and now looks better than ever. It offers a good range of community forums, which are not tied to any Kinship. Whilst there are relatively few posts on the site, one of the regulars will normally respond to most posts within a few hours, making it a great resource for those just starting the game and not wanting to experience the frantic nature of the official forums.
There is an extensive gallery featuring images from throughout the game world as well as the forthcoming Mines of Moria areas. Lastly there is also a signature generator, so you can quickly make up a great image which contains details of your character to add to all your forum posts.
Highly recommended for all players, and a great starting point for new players who like a quiet life and supportive environment!
- Renkosi