LotRO Crafting Guide

(Submitted by Jorel D’Lyn, Updated March 23, 2007)

Note: This guide is a work in progress and we would like help in correcting and/or completing this guide.

1.         Introduction.
2.         Vocations and Professions.
3.         The beginning of your life as a Middle-earth Crafter.
            i.          The Basics
            ii.         Master of Apprentices
            iii.        The Tools of the Trade
            iv.        Support NPCs (Novice Profession NPCs, Provisioners, Suppliers)
4.         The Crafting Facilities.
5.         Leveling as a Crafter.
6.         A look at the crafting window.

NOTE:            Crafting Quest and the recipes will be discussed in the individual Profession Guides posted separately.

1.         Introduction.

Lord of the Rings Online allows players to experience Middle-earth as adventurers or as crafters. These two methods of play are independent of each other and a player may choose to do either or both, although those who choose to be crafters will likely also be adventures since the resources for crafting are scattered through out Middle-earth…and much of Middle-earth that has fallen under the Shadows of Angmar is a very dangerous place. This guide will focus on the basics for the crafting vocations and professions of LotRO.

2.         Vocations and Professions.

Crafting in LotRO is unique. In other MMOGs, a player would simply choose a crafting profession and then proceed with making “stuff”. The profession would come with a basic set of recipes with the number of available recipes (and their complexity) increasing as the player’s crafting level increased. In LotRO, we have the concept of a Vocation which is made up of three Professions. By definition, these two words are almost interchangeable, but we will define them as:

Vocation, the pursuit of a career that is in a given area of expertise, which would include knowledge in various areas (or Professions).

Profession, a specific knowledge base which, with other appropriate Professions go to build a Vocation.

An example: someone who chooses the Vocation of Armourer would have knowledge of metalsmithing, a Profession, and Prospecting, a supporting Profession. For completeness, the Armourer also has knowledge of the unsupported Profession of Tailor that crafts light and medium armour.

Since the crafting concept for LotRO is new it can, therefore, be a bit confusing. In order to simplify our discussion, we’ll start with the Professions before explaining the Vocations.

There are 10 Professions in LotRO. Of the ten Professions in LotRO, there are seven Production Professions that deal with crafting, that is making things that can be used in the game whether it be making components (to make more complex items), weapons, armour, foods, pipeweed, and so forth. The three remaining Professions are Gathering Professions that allow the player to gather the resources needed for the Production Professions. These Gathering Professions are also involved in the production of components that are used by the Production Professions.

The ten Professions of LotRO are (with a very brief description of each):
            Production Professions
Cook, preparing foods that increase stats
Jeweler, crafting jewelry that increase stats
Metalsmith, crafts heavy armour
Scholar, prepares potions and other items that buff or improve stats
Tailor, crafts light and medium armour
Weaponsmith, crafts weapons
Wood Worker, crafts bows

            Gathering Professions
Farmer, collects edible resources and grows pipeweed
Forester, collects wood, refines wood and leather
Prospector, collects metals and minerals and refines metals

The following is a more detailed (colorful) description of the Production Professions copied from the original Developer’s Diary on Crafting:

Cook. A long march can be made all the easier with the promise of a good meal at the end.  While it may seem a mundane talent, a good cook is every adventurer's best friend.

Jeweler. Simple adornments and objects of beauty are the heart of the jeweler's trade.  However, exceptional adornments can go far to increasing the stature and confidence of an adventurer, and a skilled jeweler can produce true works of art.

Metalsmith. Metal Armours and sturdy shields are the metalsmith's domain.  Though their initial products may be of simple make, eventually their skills will allow them to work finer materials and greater designs.

Scholar. Perhaps the most mysterious of the professions, the Scholar collects fragments of lost lore, and attempts to interpret their secrets.  In doing so, he can produce scrolls that other craftsmen can read to improve their chances of producing a superior product.  Other practical applications include lore by which specific enemies (orcs, trolls, and the dead) might be best combated, or cures for various maladies.

Tailor. A skilled tailor can make simple clothing from common cloth, but with time and practice can create garments of great beauty that provide significant protection to their wearer.  The Tailor can also work with tanned hides to produce leather Armour – light, tough and suitable for travel.

Weaponsmith. As expected, the Weaponsmith is the primary source of melee weapons.  Swords, daggers, and axes of all varieties are the Weaponsmith's purview, ranging from bronze training gear to weapons of ancient design and great renown.

Woodworker. As any archer will tell you, it takes more than a stick and a string to make a worthy weapon.  The woodworker is an expert bowyer, but expands his trade to include staves, spears, and other hafted weapons.  A master Woodworker can produce weapons that even an Elven hero would be proud to wield on the battlefield.

*****

A player doesn’t choose a Profession, but rather a Vocation. A Vocation is made up of three professions with all Vocations (except for Historian) consisting of one primary Production Profession that is supported by the appropriate Gathering Professions and a third unsupported Production Profession (unsupported meaning the player must totally rely on other players for the resources to craft in the unsupported profession).

The Vocations are:

Armsman (maker of weapons)
            Primary Crafting Profession: Weaponsmith
            Gathering Profession (supporting Weaponsmith): Prospector
            Unsupported Crafting Profession: Woodworker

Armourer (maker of Armour and all types of tools)
            Primary Crafting Profession: Metalsmith
            Gathering Profession (supporting Metalsmith): Prospector
            Unsupported Crafting Profession: Tailor

Explorer: (maker of light and medium Armour)
            Primary Crafting Profession: Tailor
            Gathering Profession (supporting Tailor): Forester
            Unsupported Crafting Profession: Prospector

Historian: (maker of potions and scrolls for increasing stats)
            Primary Crafting Profession*: Scholar
            Gathering Profession: Farmer
            Unsupported Crafting Profession: Weaponsmith

*This is the only Vocation that has a primary Crafting Profession that is unsupported. Most materials for crafting are gathered from loot (taken from the corpses of defeated enemies or from looted chests), though at the time of game launch Scholar Nodes were introduced that only Scholars could collect.

Tinker: (maker of jewelry)
            Primary Crafting Profession: Jeweler
            Gathering Profession (supporting Jeweler): Prospector
            Unsupported Crafting Profession: Cook

Woodsman (maker of bows and components for other crafting professions)
            Primary Crafting Profession: Wood Worker
            Gathering Profession (supporting Wood Worker): Forester
            Unsupported Crafting Profession: Farmer

Yeoman (maker of foods for temporarily increasing stats)
            Primary Crafting Profession: Cook
            Gathering Profession (supporting Cook): Farmer
            Unsupported Crafting Profession: Tailor

Miscellaneous Crafting/Gathering topics:

A player can become a master in each of the professions within their chosen vocation. Granted, there will be greater difficulty in mastering unsupported Production Professions since the player must rely on other players for resources; however, this should help promote a healthy economy for LotRO.

Some of the Vocations (Explorer, Historian and Woodsman) contain non-supporting Gathering Professions. The resources collected may not have a use under that particular Vocation, but will be sought after by other players that have the appropriate Production Professions. Specifically these are:
            Explorer – Prospector
            Historian – Farmer
            Woodsman - Farmer

Final Words:

We will explore the specifics of each Profession where we will discuss the abilities of each Professions, the crafting quests as well as the recipes.

3.         The beginning of your life as a Middle-earth Crafter.

The Basics:
There are four fundamental concepts to understand in order to craft in LotRO:
i.          The player must be trained in a Vocation.
ii.          The player must have the appropriate tools.
iii.         The player must have the appropriate resources.
AND
iv.         The player must be standing near a crafting facility (with the exception of Scholar who uses their tool, the Scholar’s Glass Tool).

Crafting is not available to a player until after they have completed the “noobie” area where you are learning basic gaming mechanics (such as: moving, fighting, accepting quests, chatting, etc.). Once the player has left the “noobie” area they can visit any of the towns or locations that contain a Master of Apprentices to be trained in a Vocation of their choice.

As a side note: players generally exit the noobie area at a level of 5, 6 or 7 which has no bearing on your ability to be trained as a crafter. Your level does have a bearing on where you can go to collect resources. For example, the beasties in the North Downs (where you find lots of Gold and Rich Iron Ore) are at least level 15 or higher. A puny level 6 wandering in this area probably won’t even be able to finish mining their gold before being eaten alive by a warg or other beast.

Master of Apprentices:
The Master of Apprentice is an NPC character from whom you will be trained in the Vocation of your choice. Be aware that changing Vocations results is loss of all experience, knowledge and abilities (recipes) gained from the previous Vocation. So, be sure to choose your Vocation wisely.

A specific example: You have chosen to be an Armourer and are, subsequently trained by a Master of Apprentices. Throughout your journeys in Middle-earth you manage to master the Artisan level of Prospector (one of the three Professions that make up the Vocation of Armourer). Then, you decide to change your Vocation from Armourer to Armsman because you want to make weapons instead of Armour. The Armsman Vocation also contains the Profession of Prospector, but, in changing Professions you loose all experience, knowledge and abilities (recipes) for Prospector and must start over at the “apprentice” level.

Locations of Masters of Apprentice:
Bree, Roger Sorell is located in the Craft Hall in Bree (30.5S, 51.2 W)
Celondim in Ered Luin, Glophedinir (28.2S, 92.8W)
Michael Delving in The Shire, Blossom, Proudfoot (34.6S, 75.4W)
Jill Brushwood in Combe (28.8 S, 48.6 W)
            Thorin’s Hall in Ered Luin, Nasi (13.8S, 103.2W)

Tools of the Trade:
Once you have chosen your Vocation, you will be given the necessary tools in order to gather resources and craft. Of course you can purchase these tools for a mere 8 silver + 12 copper. These tools are the basic tools and better tools can be crafted by the Metalsmith. The tools required can be learned by simply activating the crafting window by pressing the “t” key on your keyboard.

The tools for each Profession:

Support NPCs:
Novice Profession NPCs (such as Novice Tailor) are stationary NPCs from whom you can not only buy various items needed for crafting but also receive crafting quests that are necessary to gain mastery in most professions. These NPCs are often found at or near crafting facilities.

Provisioners are stationary NPCs that are found through out major towns and are often near crafting facilities. Provisioners sell basic items for the adventurer and crafting.

Suppliers are NPCs that are often found wandering around crafting facilities from whom various items for crafting can be bought.

           
4.         The Crafting Facilities.

The last component to being able to craft requires the player to be standing next to the appropriate crafting facility. Crafting facilities are located in almost all of the major population centers and include:

Bree
Celondim in Ered Luin
            Thorin’s Hall in Ered Luin (has Superior Forges)
            Rivendale
            Michael Delving in The Shire (has a Superior Oven)
            Trestle Bridge in the North Downs

Other places with some but not a full compliment of crafting facilities:
            Bywater in The Shire
Esteldin in the North Downs
            Staddle in Breelands

Note that this list is incomplete since several crafting facilities have moved and changed as last as the week before Open Beta started. We will update all sections of the Crafting Guide as we find mistakes and learn more about the crafting system.

Locations of crafting facilities can be seen on your map by pressing “m” on your keyboard and then selecting the appropriate filter. Recall the “fog of war” keeps your map blank until you’ve visited the area at least once, so the crafting facility filters on the map might not reveal their location if you’ve not yet explored the area. Also, only Forges are a selectable crafting station in the map filter at this time.

The crafting facilities are:

You’ll notice there is no crafting facility for Scholar. Scholars use their Scholar’s Glass Tool in place of a crafting facility and can craft anywhere.

Forge in Combe

Superior Forge, Thorin’s Hall, Ered Luin

Oven in the Craft Hall, Bree

Superior Oven in Michael Delving, The Shire

Workbench in  Michael Delving, The Shire

Crafting Facility Locations:

Bree:
Master of Apprentice
Forge:              29.8 S, 52.6 W AND 29.7 S, 52.3 W
Craft Hall at in Market Square 30.5 S, 51.2 W contains:
Forge
Oven               
Workbench

Celondim in southern Ered Luin
Master of Apprentice
            Forge:              28.3 S, 92.8 W
            Oven:               28.2 S, 92.8 W
            Work Bench:    28.2 S, 92.7 W

Duillond north of Celondim in Ered Luin
            Forge:              24.0 S, 93.0 W
            Oven:               24.1 S, 93.2 W
            Work Bench:    23.9 S, 93.0 W

Combe
Master of Apprentice
Forge:              28.8 S, 48.6 W
Oven:               28.8 S, 48.7 W
Workbench:     28.7 S, 48.7 W

Combe Lumber Camp
Work Bench:    29.0 S, 47.1 W

The Shire
Bywater:
            Forge:              31.8 S, 69.4 W
Oven:               31.9 S, 69.7 W
Workbench:     31.9 S, 69.4 W
Michael Delving:
Master of Apprentice
            Farm:               34.5 S, 75.0W (pipweed field)
            Farm:               34.4 S, 74.4 W (vegetable field)
            Forge:              34.7 S, 75.4 W)
            SUPERIOR Oven:       34.6 S, 75.5 W
            Workbench:     34.6 S, 74.4 W                       

Staddle
Farms:              31.5 S, 48.8 W
Forge:              30.9 S, 49.3 W
Oven:               31.0 S, 49.3 W
Workbench:     31.0 S. 49.3 W

Thorin’s Hall:
Forge:              14.6 S, 101.8 W (at Silver Deep Mine)
Inside Thorin’s Hall in north Ered Luin        13.8 S, 103.2 W
Master of Apprentice
Maker’s Hall: Oven     
Workbench
            The Forging Hall:
                                    Superior Forges

Thornley’s Work Site
North of Bree
Forge:              26.6 S, 53.9 W (inactive)

Trestle Bridge
Forge:              17.9 S, 53.8 W
Oven:               17.9 S, 53.8 W
Work Bench:    17.9 S, 53.7 W

5.         Leveling as a Crafter.

A player may become a master of each profession within their Vocation. Granted, unsupported Production Professions will take longer to master since those Professions rely on other players for resources. Nevertheless, each profession levels the same way.

When starting out as a crafter, a player will begin at the Apprentice level and have a set of basic recipes. Also consider that the resources gathered for these recipes AND the item crafted fall into Tiers that correspond to a given level of expertise. In addition, the resources within a given Tier correlate with the level of the beasts in the area (that is, the higher the Tier, the nastier the beasts). Furthermore, the higher the level of expertise, the more base recipes granted (in the new level) and the higher the stat values become for the item crafted. (Note: Each crafting level has its own set of basic recipes. Once you obtain a basic set of recipes, they never change. In other words, you don’t get any more basic recipes for the Apprentice when you master a higher level, though you do get more basic recipes in the higher levels).

One more time: The higher the level of expertise in a give profession, the higher the Tier resources, the higher the beast levels in the areas for collecting those resources and the higher the stats for a crafted item.

An example: A player trains as an Armourer which contains the gathering profession of Prospector. The Prospector begins with Apprentice level (or Tier 1) recipes and can collect the corresponding resources for those recipes in what players refer to as “noobie” areas, not to be confused with the beginning instances where gaming mechanics are learned. These “noobie” areas have beast levels of 6 to10 and a Prospector can collect the Tier 1 resources Copper and Tin. Once proficient in Prospecting, the Prospector is now granted Tier 2 recipes (Journeyman) and can collect the Tier 2 resources Barrows-Iron Ore and Silver that can also found in the same area. Barrows-Iron Ore and Silver may also be found in the next higher Tier area along with Tier 3 resources Gold and Rich Iron Ore. To gain access to Tier 3 resources (Gold and Rich Iron Ore), the Prospector must reach the Expert level. Of course, the beasts in the Tier “2” areas are 12-20, that is, much tougher. So, you can see why a crafter must also be an adventurer in order to increase their fighting ability (level) which allows the adventure/crafter to safely gather resources in the higher Tier areas (or at least with a lower risk of dieing quickly and repeatedly).

As a side note on recipes, there are three types: basic recipes that come with training and increase as the player levels, loot recipes collected from corpses of defeated enemies or looted chests and purchased recipes from NPC vendors. Recipes will be discussed and listed later as we discuss the individual Professions.

The levels of a crafter:

Each item crafted gives an amount of experience points that go towards leveling. Each level (or Tier) contains two proficiencies: “proficient” and “master”.

Once a player becomes proficient at one level (or Tier) the next Tier becomes available. The player cannot Master a higher level without first mastering the previous level. For example: becoming proficient at Apprentice gives the Tier 2 level Journeyman with the corresponding basic recipes and ability to collect Tier 2 resources. The player may become proficient at Journeyman, but cannot Master Journeyman without first Mastering Apprentice, and so on.

Some professions require completion of crafting quests to be able to gain mastery of a given level. All proficiencies and masteries give new titles that can be displayed by the player.

6.         A look at the crafting window.

Pressing “t” on your keyboard brings up the crafting window. The crafting window can also be called up by standing in front of and left double-clicking on a crafting facility. Most items in the window can be either left-clicked or moused over to reveal more information.

Some highlights for the Recipe Tab on the Crafting Window:

1.         At the top of the window you can see this person is an Armourer. The three tabs denote the three Professions that make up the Vocation of Armourer.
2.         When checked, “Hide When Crafting” simply hides the crafting window when the player is in the act of crafting.
3.         In the top half of this window you can see two anvils, one copper and one gold, filled in denoting this person has not only gained proficiency at the Apprentice level but also mastery. If a player is not proficient or has not mastered the level, the anvil will appear open with a bar to the right showing how many more points are needed to obtain proficiency or mastery (as the case may be).
4.         In the Apprentice level recipes you can see that recipes are green when the proper components are available as well as the number than can be crafted. Those recipes for which insufficient components appear white.
5.         In the bottom half of the window, you can see that the recipe for Bronze Armour is selected and the crafting this item gives 6 Tier 1 points. Below this section lists the Tool and Facility required to craft this item. Green reveals the appropriate tool or facility where as Red reveals the player is holding no tool or the inappropriate tool and that the appropriate crafting facility is not near by.
6.         Finally, the list of ingredients is listed with the number to the left of the slash shows how many of the item the player has and the number to the right of the slash reveals how many items are necessary to complete the recipe.
7.         The bottom of the crafting window has two tabs, one for the recipe and one for the Mastery Option that can be used when the player is master of the level in which the recipe exists.
8.         To the bottom right of the crafting window you can see a number with arrows that allows you to select how many of the item you wish to make. The “make” button starts the crafting profess.

If the appropriate chat channel is selected, you will be notified everytime an item is crafted and if you have achieved critical chance success for crafting more of an item or a better item (as the case may be.

Some highlights for the Mastery Options Tab on the Crafting Window:

The Mastery Option becomes available when a player masters a given crafting level which gives the player a chance to make, in some cases, more items while in other cases (and provided a Mastery Option ingredient is used) a better item.

Once a player has mastered a given level, the items in that level have a Critical Chance to make more items or to make a better item at 5%...meaning that 5% of the time you’ll make either more items or you’ll make a better item (as the case may be). For some items (mostly those that are physically used such as weapons, armour, tools, etc.) there is a Mastery Option Ingredient that can be used to increase the percentage or likelihood that a better item is made. The increased chance to make a better item jumps from 5% to 44%.

1.         As in the example above, selecting the Mastery Option tab at the bottom of the crafting window reveals that one (1) Clean Barghest Tail is needed in order to increase the chance of making a better item to 44%.

Mousing over either of the icons in the Mastery Option Window reveals the stats for the basic and better item. Here’s an example:

The stats for the item should be obvious. The Worth listed at the bottom of this window tells you how much an NPC vendor will pay if you choose to see the item. Granted, you could probably get more for your items if using the Auction House.

This concludes the BASIC Crafting Guide. If you see any typos or mistakes, please let us know so we can make the appropriate changes. Also, if there is a subject not covered that interests you, please let us know.

Sincerely,
Jorel D’Lyn