Leveling: Progression or Completion?

One of the main issues I have with Lord of the Rings Online is that there is so much of it. There are far more experience points available in any zone from quests than one actually needs to level up to progress to higher regions. On the other hand, there is such a rich story line, that missing any quest seems to take away from the complete experience that the game has to offer. These are the horns of the leveling dilemma, so how is one to cope?

So I’m adopting a “Both is Good” attitude for my play through

I am of a mind to find the middle way. In most games I am a die hard completionist, but I fear on the current 8 characters that I have going that if I stuck to my normal routine of doing EVERYTHING that there would not be enough time left in my current lifespan to be able to get everyone through everything. So I’m adopting a “Both is Good” attitude for my play through.

On my seven crafting characters I am following the progression mode of play. This entails following the Epic Quests from region to region making judicious use of the experience inhibitor to prevent over leveling. Each one completes deeds and some side quests to complete the Epic Books and then they move on leaving much content behind.

For my completionist side I have an eighth character and on this individual, I complete absolutely EVERYTHING in all regions at all major leveling break points. Level 1-15 I don’t just complete my assigned starting area, but I complete all starting areas. and then progress to the next leveling tier and repeat. This takes a lot longer, but I get to experience everything, and my gameplay OCD is satisfied.

 

No Need to Rush (Some Backtracking Required)

When I started playing again, I was focused mainly on quest completion and leveling. While this let my characters progress nicely, a major component of advancement was being neglected. I wasn’t actually completing very many deeds, nor was I handing in very many tasks. This has proved to be a big factor in the slow advancement of the character’s race traits and virtue traits and general reputation with the various factions. A correction was necessary.

but there is some unfinished business

All my characters are level 26 now, and traversing through the Lone-Lands. I have started maxing out the daily tasks and completing the local deeds, but there is some unfinished business back in the starter areas and Bree-Land. So everyone is going back for a refresher. Armed with the “Stone of the Tortoise” which prevents the collection of experience so I don’t out level my current place in the Lone-Lands, everyone is paying a visit to the previous zones and is maxing out the local deeds in the pursuit of virtue, reputation, and sweet, sweet, LOTRO Points. There will be pie-running, there will be mail ruining, and there will be goblin slaying, but most of all there will be a better rounding out of everyone’s abilities.