When J.R.R. Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, there was no such thing as an MMORPG; no such thing as classes or hit points or combat systems. Still, from his works sprang what we now call the fantasy genre, and traditional races such as Elves, Dwarves, and Hobbits (Halflings) are pervasive in fantasy settings.

Maintaining the themes that are so crucial to The Lord of the Rings is a priority for the LOTRO design team when creating the systems in the game. Classes are especially challenging because magic can be very subtle in Middle-earth, and most MMORPG players expect (or even demand) to be able to play spell-casters as well as the more clearly-defined classes like warriors, rogues, and healers. It was Morale that helped the classes coalesce and fall into place.

This week, we'll introduce you to the classes by giving an overview of what they are, and a brief description of how they work. Stay tuned; we'll continue to flesh out the information on the classes through site updates on a regular basis, with information like which races can play each class, special abilities, and more.

Thanks for your patience while waiting for us to unveil the class system in LOTRO. We'd love to hear what you think about the classes, so don't hesitate to post your comments on our forums.

And now, without further ado: Playable Classes in The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar™.