Know Your LotRO Lore: Orcs in the game

In Lord of the Rings Online, you're eased into the concept of Orcs. In most starting areas, we're introduced to the goblins first, as we learn more of the impending threat of Orcs from the East. It certainly doesn't take long for Orcs to dominate your enemy list, though. There are many types of Orcs in the game, and once again, we see how well Turbine stayed true to Tolkien's works while elaborating a bit on the variations of these creatures so that we're not just fighting the same Orcs over and over again.

The Orcs really start showing up in any respectable number throughout northern Bree-land. The Lone-lands and North Downs play host to many more, and by the time you hit Moria, you're swimming in them.

The Orcs and goblins have many factions and tribes in LotRO, ranging from the Tarkrip to the Blogmal to the Blue-crag to the Globsnaga. Several leaders, known as Chieftains, emerge for every tribe. There are those that ride on the backs of Wargs, those that wield spears, those that fight up close and those who throw fire or corruptions on you.

You can also play as an Orc character through the Monster Play mechanic. This is LotRO's answer to PvP, allowing players to assume the role of an Orc or Uruk (or warg, or spider) and complete quests true to how an Orc would live. It also allows you to fight other "Free People" players while defending keeps or control points. Some of the quests you will complete as an Orc in the Ettenmoors (the Monster Play land) could help a player better understand the peril of the Orc.