If your going to play any class for the fun factor, I’ll have to point out the most over looked aspect of the late game. Sound and silliness.

Clothing makes all the difference in this game. you can have 100 guardians at lvl 60 all the same race, and no two will be exactly the same, and more than a few will be waaaaayout there.
If you like sound play a captain or warden. If you LOVE sound play a dwarf minstrel. Captains and wardens have a yelling fetish, and swear they yell when they go to the bathroom. But, a dwarf anythign puts them all to shame. and a drarf minstrel is hands down the noisiest class in the game. Strun-scream-srum-yell-bangadrun-hollar more.
It is insane.
You want Funny late game pwer in an unlikely package? Play a hobbit guardfian. You get more morale than a drawf, with a pot belly, hooked nose and bare feet but wait, theres more! When the going gets tough and the tide turns against the party, a dwarf buckles down and become all bu invincible for a few seconds, Elves become parrying masters for 10 seconds and Men get a truly impressive Heal! All to save the party a few precious seconds to get the rezzer out of danger. Not Hobbits, no sir! They see it coming and yell run! Then they clutch their chests and in a creditable imitation of old Fred Sanford calling for his dear ‘Wheezy’ They fall down stone dead.
Whent e danger is passed, the crack open an eye, get up, dust off and produce some trail rations and contemplate how to gater up the survivors for round 2. I’ve seen WHOLE parties pull the grim reaper trick, and evade a grisly fate.
Finally, language. Hobbits and Man are, well boring. Dwarves are, well dwarves. When they crack the beer keg they yell BARUK KHAZAD! Pretty darn cool that stuff. Besides you can wear a dress and call it a female. Like anyone would ever know! Sheesh!
Elves are so suave with their quips. Mae Govaennnen or something, and my fave “Sweet light mellons”. Ahh yes, elves know how to say hi to a lass. What ever they are really saying is not important. the first time you hear it, it sticks.
For my money, Make a bouncyfemale hobbit guardian, Dwarven Monstrel (I spell it that way on purpose!), dwarven champ and a Human warden.
A dwarven hunter is fun too. Though someday I hope they update the killing animation on goblins to include the hunterstomping on the neck of his foe and pinning his head to the dirt with a BIG crossbow. Add the eye patch and a cigar and you can add 25000 more player in a week.
Enjoy
–hey for functionality, don’t sweat it. Every race gets a weak stat, which is fixed by lvl 10, and a port to there home town at 30. Exept elves who get rivendell. Stats are minimally imporant and by end game are long moot subjects because of traits and gear. Fret over those 20 points of strentgh early on and you’ll have no joy in mudville.

loremaster is buggy, the pet is uber whimpy compared to all other mmo games I’ve played, maybe it gets better..but I’m not impressed.

one thing I do like is the music, adn the world is well designed (feels some what real).

but I have to give it a thumbs down personally.

I recently bought LOTRO and am looking forward to playing it for the first time. Thanks to your recommendations I’m leaning towards rolling an elvish hunter as a main, although my heart really lies in healing I fear that a minstrel would be a bad idea as a first character. From my previous experience with healing classes, they can be a challenge to solo with, even more so if you’re new to the game.

I would really not put too much emphasis on what “others” would do…. Rather, concentrate on having fun.

Anyway I’m going for a minstrel,so few. Whats the best race, It seems as Hobbits, but could you look in depth like ask some kins, (sorry to ask but i don’t have it) I don’t like starting off with them because i hardley know their quests unlike dwarfs n men. Thanks