LOTRO Pacifist 1.

Taking inspiration from the themes in LOTR, and also thinking about the moral lessons I have been teaching my daughter as I slay my way through deeds. My thoughts strayed to the concept of playing a character in LOTRO that will not kill. I had many questions, these questions took me to logistical thoughts. Which in turn led me to creating a character who will not weild a weapon. (Just don’t get too close to her while she is fishing).

I opted for a busy server for my investigations rather than an RP server. I feel that a busier AH would be of greater benefit… but I could be wrong. Also on a busy server the mobs may be thinned :).

As usual I rolled a Hobbit Lass. I was pondering the merits of the minstral’s heal and the Burgular’s stealth.. I picked the Minstral… More instruments, better running away/survival ability, plus I am more familiar with the Mini’s skills over the Burgs.

So the main rule I have imposed on myself is that I am not allowed to weild a weapon, to hit or kill anything. I can complete as many quests, craft, get around the mobs in what ever inventive ways I can think of. I cannot fellow and heal another character who is killing things.

I can be “saved” by others, but I cannot get any creature, mob or Orc “Guard-whacked”

Crafting is a must but I didn’t want to farm my way to level 100. So I have opted to follow the Tinkers path, using the AH and picking up food stuffs to Cook with. Festivals are a must, I would also fish and possibly play music for a few tips.

The Party Tree

I ground the TP to buy Vetran status so I could skip the intro killing.

I ran some post bags, errands, fetched and carried for numerous Hobbits. Found a dead cow, some stones and a bag of seed. Crafted, Fished and Hunted for Treasure! I found a Pony in a big box! So far I havn’t yet been attacked so didn’t have to invoke the Rincewind method of conflict negotiation.

The Party Tree was very pretty!

So what do you all think? Is it possible have as much LOTRO fun playing a pacifist?

 

7 comments

  1. Sounds like an interesting project – best of luck! Certainly normal quest progression will be limited in certain areas, but like you said the festivals should provide a nice boon to your leveling. Flop, flop, flop!

    Doing stuff like this can be a fun way to try and take on a game in a new & unintended way to re-imbue a player who has been experiencing the same thing over and over.

    Awhile ago, I had rolled a hunter who, while not a pacifist, was stricken from using ranged weaponry (I think her backstory had something to do with amnesia due to having been attacked by a bear). Haven’t gotten back to that…

  2. Merryrose /

    Sounds like a new challenge to keep the game fresh & exciting. I would like to hear how it goes for your new hobbit.

  3. I guess you would need to pick up as many non combat quests as possible, eg. Oatbarton etc. but there will need to be plenty of crafting I think as there’s plenty of gaps with next to no none combat quests….

  4. Raebidus /

    LOVE IT! I have a char without weapons too, But, he remains level 8 and doesn’t go out of Bree. I made him because I got so tired of all the people that think LotRO is just a fighting game where everything is about gear. It is NOT! And you prove it… again, LOVE IT!

  5. timhedden /

    It is difficult, especially when you have a game that tells you to “kill ten rats” to progress anywhere in a game’s story. You’d have to abandon the story and come up with your own.
    In my series, Theomin tries hard to remain a pacifist. It just does not work out well for him, if you know the story. That’s why your article caught my eye. Pascivity is a difficult state to maintain in Middle Earth. Even the hobbits had to take some lives, when necessary. “But do not be too eager to deal out death and judgement. Even the very wise can’t see all ends.” I wish you luck.

  6. Since you said you would allow yourself to be saved: would you consider invoking a landscape soldier to help you in tough solo situations?

    Had you chosen the path of a Lore-master or Captain, you could have allowed your pet to do all the killing (purely in defence). Or allowed your pet to sacrifice itself so that you could escape? In these cases, would you feel you would be cheating because you allowed an ally to do the dirty work or be killed (though the pet doesn’t really mind!)?

  7. Lilikate Buggins /

    I will respond to all these comments in next weeks article, out Friday next week.

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