Lotro leveling/ Grinding Guide! LEVEL 1-15 (Part 1) : LOTRO - Submissions

Grinding/Leveling guide by Zaschwyn
LEVEL 1-6
First Task
The first thing you will want to do is pick up all of the quests in the area. Do this by right clicking anyone with a gold ring over their head and accepting the quest. You can see gold rings on the mini-map as well. Once you've accepted all available quests simply follow the quest instructions. The quest tracker can also point you in the right direction.

Learning to use the quest tracker and quest description to quickly find the quest locations is the fastest way to level in The Lord of the Rings Online. Get used to how Turbine puts quests together and you'll be a step ahead. Most times when you get to a location, a few rings will be available. Once you complete those quests, more will open up. Always finish all of the quests in the area before moving on.

When you finish the introduction you should be level 5 or 6. I recommend completing all of the quests in the intro before moving on to the next section of the LOTRO leveling guide... especially if this is your first time playing. It is the very easiest and best way to get to level 6.


Depending on which race you chose (man, dwarf, elf, or hobbit) you will start out in a specific location. Read on for your specific race.


Dwarves:


The dwarven race starts out in a place called Frerin's Court. Use your map (press the "m" key) to get your bearings and a feel for north/south/east/west.

You should have a couple of quest rings in the court to pick up. You will then be killing lynx and wolves in the area just to the east. Turn the quests in once completed and pick up the next bunch that becomes available. Continue this process until all quests are completed.

The final quest will be given by Dwalin. Make sure you complete all other quests before this one. Once you finish the final quest from Dwalin you will finally be able to fully explore Middle Earth, but cannot return to the introduction instance.


Elves:
Elves start in a place called the Refuge of Edhelion. Use your map (press the "m" key) to get your bearings and a feel for north/south/east/west.

You will immediately see some elves with rings over their heads. Get all available quests and begin completing them. All of the quests in this area are very easy and close by. You will first start out by killing some bugs and slugs. You will also search some leaf piles and a pond nearby. Continue accepting new quests and completing them.

As you continue completing and accepting new quests you will be led to Frerin's court. The court lies to the west and down the mountain. The court will be your final set of quests before leaving the instance.

The final quest will be from Dwalin. Make sure you do all of the other quests before this one. Once you finish the final quest you will finally be able to fully explore Middle Earth, but cannot return to the introduction instance.


Men and Hobbits:
If you choose to be a man/woman or a hobbit you will start out in a little village called Archet. Use your map (press the "m" key) to get your bearings and a feel for north/south/east/west.


Your first order of business is to accept all available quests in town. Use your quest tracker and quest log to help find the locations for completing the quests. You will start out killing some wolves just outside of town. Just keep accepting quests, completing them, and getting new quests. This will lead you through the instance.

The final quest will be given by Jon Brackenbrook in the Hunting Lodge. Make sure you do all of the other quests before this one. Once you finish the final quest you will finally be able to fully explore Middle Earth, but cannot return to the introduction instance.


Grinding for LEVEL 6-15

For this level range you will be questing in the following locations. The information in parentheses is (region, level range of quest).

• Thorin's Gate (Ered Luin, 6 - 8)
• Celondim (Ered Luin, 6 - 8)
• Noglond (Ered Luin, 6 - 10)
• Duillond (Ered Luin, 9 - 10)
• Combe (Bree-land, 8 - 10)
• Gondamon (Ered Luin, 10 - 15)
• Staddle (Bree-land, 12 - 14)


LEVEL 6 to 8

Thorin's Gate (recommended)
I recommend starting to quest in Ered Luin at Thorin's Gate. This is an easy area that flows nicely in your leveling progression... especially if you follow the LOTRO leveling guide closely. Grab all of the quests in Frerin's Court... kind of like in the introduction instance. There is also a quest or two on the stairs going up to Thorin's Hall. Do as you did in the introduction. Pick up a group of quests, complete them, and turn em' in. Do this until there are no more quests in this area. You should be around level 8 when you are done.

Traveling to Thorin's Gate
Here is how to get to Thorin's Gate for from the starter zone for each race:

Dwarves
The dwarven race starts out in Frerin's Court again - no need to travel for ye' good dwarf! You can pick up the quests in the court and also visit Thorin's Hall to the north. Thorin's Hall is one of the major cities for crafting, auction hall, etc. You'll likely be back here a lot.

Elves
Elves start out in Celondim. For elves you can complete all the quests in Celondim and then go to Thorin's Gate. If you go to Thorin's now you'll likely just be coming back later. To get to Thorin's Gate from Celeondim go to the stable master by the docks. Choose the Thorin's Gate - Swift Travel option.

Men
If you chose to be a Man or Woman, you will start out in Archet like before. I never really liked this area for some reason, so I suggest hot-tailing it out of there ;) Take the path south out of town. Follow it all the way to the next town called Combe. You will see a stable master pretty quickly as you enter town. Talk to the stable master and choose the Thorin's Gate - Swift Travel option.

Hobbits
Nice Hobbitses begin in Little Delving a little way north of Michel Delving. I dislike questing in the Shire and recommend getting out of there quickly! Follow the path out of Little Delving south to Michel Delving. Continue along the path south. You will pass through the town center to the stable master and choose the Thorin's Gate - Swift Travel option.


Celondim (recommended)
If you are following the LOTRO leveling guide, you have completed the quests in Thorin's Gate. I would now travel to Celondim and complete all quests there. This will put you around level 8 - 10 and leave you well prepared for the next areas. In Celondim there are a couple quests to grab near the docks. You then proceed up the hill to a place called Nen Hilith. After completing all the quests in these areas you should be around level 8 - 10.

Traveling to Celondim
To travel quickly to Celondim, go to the stable master just west of Frerin's Court at Thorin's Gate. Use the Celeondim - Swift Travel option. Don't bother trying to save gold by running there ;) It's not worth the time... trust me!


Archet and Michel Delving (optional)
You can complete quests in Archet and Michel Delving/Waymeet/Hobbiton for this level range if you wish. I personally avoid the Shire for leveling, so it is optional in the LOTRO leveling guide. The quests there are very spread out and time consuming because of all the running around. However, if you like exploring, enjoy the story, or want to work on deeds as you go then you may want to hit these locations up now.


LEVEL 8 to 10

You should now be ready to move on to a couple of new areas. I recommend going to Noglond and Duillond. The LOTRO leveling guide will make these areas easy if you follow it in the order shown.

Noglond (recommended)
In Noglond you will get a great bunch of quests to complete in the surrounding area. Complete all of these and you'll be around level 9 - 11.

Traveling to Noglond
To reach Noglond you have two choices: a stable master or traveling by foot. I'm lazy so I like to take the horse! Either way you need to be back in Frerin's Court at Thorin's Gate. If you don't remember how to get there, find any stable master and choose Thorin's Gate - Swift Travel. Once at the Thorin's Gate stable master, talk to the stable man again and choose Noglond.


Duillond (recommended)
Duillond will give you a few more quests in the 9 - 10 range. Complete these and you should be around level 10 - 12. Remember if you are going to follow the LOTRO leveling guide closely it will help to stay very close to the suggested level. If you are not at or above the shown level, you may want to go grind some deeds for xp!

Traveling to Duillond
To get to Duillond it is easiest to go back to Thorin's Gate - by horse or on foot whatever you prefer. At the Thorin's Gate stable take the Celondim - Swift Travel option. Once you reach Celondim you can either take another horse to Duillond or follow the path north until you reach it.


Combe (optional)
You will likely not need to complete the quests in Combe, but it has some good quests if you need to catch up in levels. If you complete the quests in Noglond and Duillond you should be able to skip this area.

Traveling to Combe
Combe is back near Bree town, just south of Archet.


LEVEL 10 - 15

Gondamon, Thrasi's Lodge, and Haud Lin (recommended)
Now is the time to venture deeper into Ered Luin. Your destination is a fortress of old called Gondamon. Gondamon has a large number of quests to pick up. Make sure you get them all. There are a few right when you enter and more located up on the higher levels of the fortress.

Also near Gondamon are Thrasi's Lodge and Haud Lin. Once you've picked up all the quests in Gondamon I would head two those two places and grab the quests there. Most of the quests are in the same areas so it is more efficient to get all the quests first.

Once you complete all the quests in Gondamon, Thrasi's Lodge, and Haud Lin you should be around level 14 to 15.

Traveling to Gondamon
To reach Gondamon you need to be in Noglond or Duillond. At one of these locations go to the trusty stable master and choose the Gondamon option. If you're penny pinchin' or the option is not available (or you want to walk to Gondamon) I recommend starting from Noglond. At Noglond follow the path south and east. Just stay on the path and you'll walk right to it.


Staddle (optional)
If you haven't quite reached level 15 I recommend heading to Bree-land and completing the quests in Staddle. Staddle is a small village just north of the main town of Bree. You may not need to do this set of quests, but I usually do them myself. Staddle has a good set of quests that will take you further north to the Midgewater Marshes. There is also a ranger camp in the marshes that you'll visit during your questing.

After completing all the Staddle quests you will be level 15 - 17. I highly advise you to quest in Staddle if you're not level 15 - 17. It will make the LOTRO leveling guide much more effective if you stay in the suggested range.

Traveling to Staddle
To reach Staddle go to Thorin's Gate or Celondim. Once there, take the good ol' stable master to Bree. When you arrive at the Bree west gate, follow the path on the map to Staddle. When in doubt keep heading north!

Ill post the rest if you liked it!

This guide is very extensive but for an in a nutshell strategy for fast leveling:

do quests that are yellow or at the least DARK blue
(some beginning zones are easier than others (shire, thorin's), expect to move around as you level which is a good thing travel to each horse head you see to establish swift travel...

turn in task items
when you can ($)afford to, ... it is understandable that at low levels and not having friends or kinmates (don't beg for $ but most will LOVE to show off their crafting abilities and make gear/food/potions, etc)

do the Epic book line

when you get of level do skirmishes

for a first character being an explorer (crafting profession) will let you gather materials which can help you with earning $

see if kinmates or Auction Hall has xp modifiers (I have some unbound and the newer bound xp tokens have mailed some to friends...)

Having played every class I do have a favorite for fast leveling:

The Lore master with pet, cc, direct or ranged damage, the ability to slow opponents, self pet group heals/condition removers (with traits) one of 3-4? classes able to rez .... until lvl 60 this class felt overpowered.....

Thanks for the feed back