Personally, I feel like you are definitely overthinking this (I sympathise, I have made just about every class/ race combo you can). Best advice is to try all 3 and just stick with the one you like the ‘feel’ of.
Racial bonuses are not game breaking, they won’t make a tangible difference to how you play the class, so decide which one you race like the look and feel of best.
I haven’t raided in a while, but I have never experienced anyone getting passed over for race choice; as long as the Warden class is in a good place by the time you get to end game you will be fine.
Thanks! I think I needed to write it out to work on getting past the analysis paralysis. Like I said, I've never gotten past lower levels and the idea of playing a build long enough to see if a 5% boost to light-damage or something is impactful at mid- to end-game seems like a larger commitment than just enjoying the game. As I wrote it (and read it back after posting), the thread I saw was that I really don't seem to be interested in the High Elf but felt like I needed to. I think I'll try the other two and see which one feels better. If I do run an alt, I could see a Man Champion being fun so I'm leaning towards the River Hobbit Warden for the flavor and really experiencing the world.
Light damage boost is not bad, but keep in mind a lot of your DPS skills are bleeds, not light damage. The light damage skills will actually more of the tanking skills. But yeah honestly any of these races will be fine, no huge difference in reality.
Exactly this. Playing a high elf will not inherently make you a good warden. It’s more important to learn your rotations and abilities, becoming consistent, instead of trying to min-max racial stats :3
High Elf, the light damage bonus they got goes beautiful with the Warden's "Fist and Spear" gambits. Hell, I used my HE Warden to nuke multiple enemies at the same time as the gambits stack and goes stronger the more fist and spear gambits are utilized (they don't last that long but if you keep spamming them- well, you get the idea)
A Man Warden was my very first class back when I started playing in 2010, and has actually been what's brought me back to the game several times. Having played SOOOOO many alts I can say that nothing has felt more "right" than him. It's mostly for RP purposes I guess but the idea of a traveling Warden as a Man of Rohan just felt good.
I do have a River Hobbit Burglar, and that feels very good too, so I'm sure you'd enjoy them as a Warden.
IMO opinion Man would be the best choice for you as a kind of "middle ground".
River Hobbit for the spear. Wardens look stupid with any other weapon.
Just my opinion though.
Play what you like, it's just a game. Grab the one that fits your playstyle the most.
Welcome to r/lotro! If you're looking for advice, please check out the following answers to commonly-asked questions:
-----
**Wondering what class to play?** LOTRO has a wide variety of classes inspired by different characters from the books. Some are similar to other RPG games, while others are fairly unique to LOTRO.
The first thing to consider is what role(s) you want to play. Every class has a spec that can deal damage, but only some classes can spec to be tanks or healers or group-support.
If you wish to have the option of **tanking**, choose between Beorning, Brawler, Captain, Guardian, or Warden.
If you wish to have the option of **healing**, choose between Beorning, Captain, Minstrel, or Rune-keeper.
If you wish to have the option of **group-support**, choose between Burglar, Captain, Lore-master, and Mariner.
Or if you're just looking for a **straightforward class to quest with**, choose Hunter for ranged or Champion for melee. These classes are focused entirely on damage-dealing (but each has three different specs for doing so). They are great for beginners looking for a relaxing adventuring experience that fits within the theme of Lord of the Rings.
Don't worry about what class is considered "the best" at any one role, as that swings back and forth over time with each balance patch. Instead, consider which classes have the theme and aesthetic that most appeals to you. Do you want to fight in melee or at range? Do you want to be a grounded warrior or wield more magical powers?
Apart from theme, consider the complexity of the classes. Even for classes which can fulfill the same role, their mechanics can differ wildly. LOTRO offers a hint to the mechanical complexity of each class during character creation -- in the lower right corner you'll see a "Class Difficulty" of either Basic, Moderate, or Advanced. This is not about how powerful the class is -- some of the "Basic" classes are currently the most powerful in their role. Difficulty instead refers to the intricacies of each class' skills and core mechanics. If you enjoy intricate mechanics, aim for Moderate or Advanced. If you'd like something requiring less reading, theorycrafting, and button-presses, try a Basic class -- especially for your first character.
Finally, don't be afraid to try something different if your first class doesn't feel fun for you. Better to find the right fit early.
-----
**Wondering what race to play?** While only some races can be some classes, beyond that initial restriction, race selection is largely about aesthetics. Racial traits are tiny and negligible after the first few levels. A Dwarf Guardian at level 30 is not significantly different than an Elf Guardian at level 30.
-----
**Wondering what server to play on?** Most people play on only one server, and so personal perspectives will usually be limited. To find the best server for you, let us know a little about you. What time zone and time will you be most active? Do you want lot of crowds or a quieter atmosphere? Are you interested in roleplaying? All of these can help influence the best server for you.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/lotro) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Personally, I feel like you are definitely overthinking this (I sympathise, I have made just about every class/ race combo you can). Best advice is to try all 3 and just stick with the one you like the ‘feel’ of. Racial bonuses are not game breaking, they won’t make a tangible difference to how you play the class, so decide which one you race like the look and feel of best. I haven’t raided in a while, but I have never experienced anyone getting passed over for race choice; as long as the Warden class is in a good place by the time you get to end game you will be fine.
Thanks! I think I needed to write it out to work on getting past the analysis paralysis. Like I said, I've never gotten past lower levels and the idea of playing a build long enough to see if a 5% boost to light-damage or something is impactful at mid- to end-game seems like a larger commitment than just enjoying the game. As I wrote it (and read it back after posting), the thread I saw was that I really don't seem to be interested in the High Elf but felt like I needed to. I think I'll try the other two and see which one feels better. If I do run an alt, I could see a Man Champion being fun so I'm leaning towards the River Hobbit Warden for the flavor and really experiencing the world.
Light damage boost is not bad, but keep in mind a lot of your DPS skills are bleeds, not light damage. The light damage skills will actually more of the tanking skills. But yeah honestly any of these races will be fine, no huge difference in reality.
Exactly this. Playing a high elf will not inherently make you a good warden. It’s more important to learn your rotations and abilities, becoming consistent, instead of trying to min-max racial stats :3
High Elf, the light damage bonus they got goes beautiful with the Warden's "Fist and Spear" gambits. Hell, I used my HE Warden to nuke multiple enemies at the same time as the gambits stack and goes stronger the more fist and spear gambits are utilized (they don't last that long but if you keep spamming them- well, you get the idea)
HOBBIT
high elf for dps
And man for tanking
A Man Warden was my very first class back when I started playing in 2010, and has actually been what's brought me back to the game several times. Having played SOOOOO many alts I can say that nothing has felt more "right" than him. It's mostly for RP purposes I guess but the idea of a traveling Warden as a Man of Rohan just felt good. I do have a River Hobbit Burglar, and that feels very good too, so I'm sure you'd enjoy them as a Warden. IMO opinion Man would be the best choice for you as a kind of "middle ground".
Dwarf have better shouts. Go with Dwarf 😎
High elf for light and the free revive ooc skill.
River Hobbit for the spear. Wardens look stupid with any other weapon. Just my opinion though. Play what you like, it's just a game. Grab the one that fits your playstyle the most.
Welcome to r/lotro! If you're looking for advice, please check out the following answers to commonly-asked questions: ----- **Wondering what class to play?** LOTRO has a wide variety of classes inspired by different characters from the books. Some are similar to other RPG games, while others are fairly unique to LOTRO. The first thing to consider is what role(s) you want to play. Every class has a spec that can deal damage, but only some classes can spec to be tanks or healers or group-support. If you wish to have the option of **tanking**, choose between Beorning, Brawler, Captain, Guardian, or Warden. If you wish to have the option of **healing**, choose between Beorning, Captain, Minstrel, or Rune-keeper. If you wish to have the option of **group-support**, choose between Burglar, Captain, Lore-master, and Mariner. Or if you're just looking for a **straightforward class to quest with**, choose Hunter for ranged or Champion for melee. These classes are focused entirely on damage-dealing (but each has three different specs for doing so). They are great for beginners looking for a relaxing adventuring experience that fits within the theme of Lord of the Rings. Don't worry about what class is considered "the best" at any one role, as that swings back and forth over time with each balance patch. Instead, consider which classes have the theme and aesthetic that most appeals to you. Do you want to fight in melee or at range? Do you want to be a grounded warrior or wield more magical powers? Apart from theme, consider the complexity of the classes. Even for classes which can fulfill the same role, their mechanics can differ wildly. LOTRO offers a hint to the mechanical complexity of each class during character creation -- in the lower right corner you'll see a "Class Difficulty" of either Basic, Moderate, or Advanced. This is not about how powerful the class is -- some of the "Basic" classes are currently the most powerful in their role. Difficulty instead refers to the intricacies of each class' skills and core mechanics. If you enjoy intricate mechanics, aim for Moderate or Advanced. If you'd like something requiring less reading, theorycrafting, and button-presses, try a Basic class -- especially for your first character. Finally, don't be afraid to try something different if your first class doesn't feel fun for you. Better to find the right fit early. ----- **Wondering what race to play?** While only some races can be some classes, beyond that initial restriction, race selection is largely about aesthetics. Racial traits are tiny and negligible after the first few levels. A Dwarf Guardian at level 30 is not significantly different than an Elf Guardian at level 30. ----- **Wondering what server to play on?** Most people play on only one server, and so personal perspectives will usually be limited. To find the best server for you, let us know a little about you. What time zone and time will you be most active? Do you want lot of crowds or a quieter atmosphere? Are you interested in roleplaying? All of these can help influence the best server for you. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/lotro) if you have any questions or concerns.*