Lord of the Rings Online MMO News, Guides, and Features at Ten Ton Hammer

So you want to be a spider. Spitting poison, weaving webs, and making life difficult in general for your adversaries sounds like a pretty good way to do things, doesn't it? I agree, which is why I chose the spider as my first monster to play in Lord of the Rings Online and I'm glad you have too. Despite what some of the more obnoxious players may (and most likely will) say when you're out there in Middle-Earth, the spider plays a critical role in the destruction of all that is good in the world. We've got a lot to cover as we talk about what to expect when you take your first steps out into the Ettenmoors, so let's get started.

Yes! You finally get to kill hobbits!

Getting to Know Your Eight-Legged Friend

In the time I've spent hunting down the do-gooders in Ettenmoors, I've come to discover that I'm normally the only spider in the area (at least on my server). It didn't take long to figure out why. In general (so that means "not everyone"), players that gravitate toward PvP tend to have a need for instant gratification, or at the very least, a need for being able to have a 50/50 shot at killing an opponent when they start that character. For that reason, the spider does not seem to be a popular choice because you will die. Not only will you die swiftly in the beginning, but you will also die *often*. I can't stress how much, so be prepared.

Despite this (or perhaps because of it), I think the spider is actually a very fun monster to play. I've mentioned before that I'm fascinated with the ability to experience a creature out of the norm in the gaming world and in this case, the spider doesn't disappoint. From the moment you begin crawling around, you realize you have just inherited an entirely different set of objectives and needs for fulfilling your character. Unfortunately, it also doesn't take long to realize that you're insanely weak.

When you first enter the game as a monster, you'll find yourself near the northern most point of the Ettenmoor map in a small outpost. From there, you'll find a number of quest givers designated by the eye of Sauron burning above their heads. Personally, I thought that was a nice touch and couldn't help but give a small chuckle when I saw it. Collect all the quests you can find and get ready to rumble.

Digging In

Unfortunately, the only rumbling I'd advise doing in the beginning revolves around the limited PvE portion of the Ettenmoors setting. You should head out of the gate and go east until you reach a set of trolls that have been stuck in the sun. Search them and you'll grab a number of troll stone slabs. These reappear at a fairly brisk pace, so come back often. These stones can be turned in later on at one of the other outposts, so be sure to grab the stone from these every chance you get, even if you do not currently have the quest in question.

Once you've found the trolls, head south until you come across a set of pools with Bloodsucking Leeches surrounding them. You've just discovered your first target! This will also probably be the first ass-whooping you receive so be prepared. The spider's strength lies in its ability to do large amounts of damage not only from a distance, but over time as well. Sadly, you don't have a lot of options this early in your character's career, so just do the best you can and continue attacking. As soon as an ability's cooldown timer has reset, use it again. Rinse, repeat, rinse, and repeat some more. Eventually, you should defeat your first few opponents.