Lotro Thoughts on the “Undying” Title

I am a completist.

Though I am also motivated to explore and be the best, I am most motivated by my desire to complete everything.

In this game, this means completing every quest and every deed. As one of these deeds is “the Undying”, it becomes part of my goal; as far as I am concerned, any character of mine that does not have the title is incomplete. Since I have no way to earn the title after I am defeated, I must start a new character each time.

To demonstrate that this is how I play most games, and that Lord of the Rings Online is not an exception, I list some examples from other games. In Asheron’s Call, I maintained several collections, the most notable of which were my complete collections of pack dolls, Halloween masks, and bronze statue weapons. In Final Fantasy X, I completed the Sphere Grid so that each of the characters was at their maximum possible power. In Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, I achieved 100% completion. And in World of Warcraft, I revealed the entire map in every zone and became exalted with as many factions as I could.

I have no intention of ever using “the Undying” title on my character, as I think it is a stupid title for many reasons. Firstly, I much prefer “Honourary Sheriff” for my love of The Shire. Secondly, we do not die in this game so all of us are “the Undying”. Thirdly, it is not lore appropriate as all the playable races die. And finally, I do not care about showing off.

Even if I did care about showing off, it is not an accomplishment worth showing off because of how poorly it is implemented. The title encourages tediously cautious play, such as attacking only single spawns, over-leveling content, and avoiding grouping. This does not require much skill and does not make for fun play. Moreover, the title has so much luck involved that not having the title does not show that you lack the little skill that it does require.


When I reached level 5 with my first character in Lord of the Rings Online during closed beta and received “the Wary” title, I was immediately concerned. I realized that I would have to remain undefeated to whatever level would be required for the last undefeated title. I immediately checked the forums to determine what level that was, and I found that it was level 20.

It seemed a little high, but at the time, I thought it was at least reasonably doable; I am more skilled than the average player and I thought that I had the patience to do what would be required to earn it. I used my characters in closed beta to learn the game; while I tried to avoid dying with them, the times that I did die were used as an opportunity to learn for my release characters. When open beta came, I was ready; I leveled my main character and two alternates to level 15 without deaths and with little difficulty. Moreover, I started the process of completing quests and deeds in all the starter areas.

However, I underestimated both how long it would take to get to level 20 playing conservatively and how much luck it takes to avoid being defeated due to reasons beyond your control. Two of my three previously undefeated level 15 characters are defeated now.


If it is not already obvious, I suffer from and have been diagnosed with Obsessive-compulsive Disorder. Recognizing the symptoms does little to help me avert them. While sometimes my perfectionistic nature can help me to excel, other times it prevents me from doing things. I tend to avoid playing games that I cannot complete, and I have stopped playing games when I have discovered that I cannot complete them. This title is preventing me from enjoying this game.

The reasons I like Lord of the Rings Online have nothing to do with this title. In fact, in almost every respect except for this title, it is the perfect game for me. Moreover, I love so much about this game that if I had to describe what I love, I would not even know where to start. Even with all of that said, I do not think I can play with a character that does not have this title and has no possibility of earning it.


Given the amount of posts generated by this one issue, you would think that Turbine would have given some consideration to it. That Turbine has not so far is an indictment of them.

Quite apart from my obsessive nature, these titles make no sense. They encourage antisocial behavior and game play that is not fun. Even from an economic perspective, it makes little sense for Turbine. How many people have and will quit the game due to frustrations with this title compared to how many people would only play this game with this title? How much time has had to be spent by staff dealing with issues caused by the title, both in chasing bugs, and in responding to and moderating forum posts? Turbine has not demonstrated that they have considered these things.


It is extremely clear to me that Turbine should remove the titles as they are implemented now. What percentage of the population will earn the level 20 title or even the level 17 title as they are now anyway? I suggest that instead these titles be changed to be granted upon the completion of specific quests or other deeds.


lord of the rings
the lord of the rings
lord of the rings online

the lord of the rings online
the lord of the rings online gold
lord of the rings online gold
lord of the rings online us gold
lord of the rings online eu gold
lord of the rings online power leveling
lord of the rings online powerleveling
buy lord of the rings gold
buy the lord of the rings gold

buy lord of the rings online gold
buy the lord of the rings online gold
buy lord of the rings online us gold
buy lord of the rings online eu gold
lotro
lotro gold
cheap lotro gold
lotro alpha
lotro abc

lotro abc
lotro beat
lotro beta
lotro account
lotro beta account
lotro beta account creation
lotro beta client
lotro beta client download
lotro beta contest

lotro beta download
lotro beta forum
lotro beta forums
lotro beta key
lotro champion
lotro character creation
lotro class
lotro classes
lotro client

lotro client download
lotro crafting
lotro download
lotro europe
lotro exploits
lotro fan
lotro forum
lotro forums
lotro game
**********************************************************************
lotro game client
lotro gameplay
lotro guide
lotro guild
lotro installer
lotro items
lotro key
lotro kinship
lotro lord of the rings

lotro lore
lotro map
lotro maps
lotro mmo
lotro monster
lotro monster play
lotro mounts
lotro money
lotro music

lotro official
lotro online
lotro preview
lotro powerleveling
lotro power leveling
lotro pvp
lotro quest
lotro quests
lotro release

lotro release date
lotro review
lotro screenshot
lotro screenshots
buy lotro
buy lotro gold
buy cheap lotro gold
buy lotro account
buy lotro key

buy lotro power leveling
buy lotro powerleveling
buy lotr gold
buy lotro us gold
buy lotro eu gold
buy lotro items