<s>
The	B-Protocol
Lord	I-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
the	I-Protocol
Rings	I-Protocol
Online	I-Protocol
is	O
a	O
massively	B-Protocol
multiplayer	I-Protocol
online	I-Protocol
role-playing	I-Protocol
game	I-Protocol
(	O
MMORPG	B-Protocol
)	O
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
and	O
OS	B-Operating_System
X	I-Operating_System
set	O
in	O
J	O
.	O
R	O
.	O
R	O
.	O
Tolkien	O
's	O
Middle-earth	O
,	O
taking	O
place	O
during	O
the	O
time	O
period	O
of	O
The	O
Lord	O
of	O
the	O
Rings	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Originally	O
developed	O
by	O
Turbine	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
launched	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
,	O
Australia	O
,	O
Japan	O
,	O
and	O
Europe	O
in	O
April	O
2007	O
as	O
The	B-Protocol
Lord	I-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
the	I-Protocol
Rings	I-Protocol
Online	I-Protocol
:	I-Protocol
Shadows	I-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Angmar	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
November	O
2008	O
,	O
Mines	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Moria	I-Protocol
expansion	O
was	O
released	O
,	O
adding	O
the	O
region	O
of	O
Moria	O
and	O
two	O
new	O
playable	O
classes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
followed	O
by	O
the	O
Siege	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Mirkwood	I-Protocol
in	O
December	O
2009	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
saw	O
continued	O
development	O
,	O
alternating	O
between	O
paid	O
expansions	O
and	O
free	O
updates	O
,	O
which	O
added	O
new	O
content	O
in	O
the	O
regions	O
of	O
Isengard	B-Protocol
,	O
Rohan	B-Protocol
and	O
Gondor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
development	O
continued	O
and	O
in	O
2017	O
the	O
Mordor	B-Protocol
expansion	O
was	O
released	O
,	O
bringing	O
the	O
main	O
storyline	O
to	O
a	O
close	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
then	O
shifted	O
to	O
portraying	O
the	O
aftermath	O
the	O
downfall	O
of	O
Sauron	O
as	O
well	O
telling	O
the	O
"	O
Tales	O
of	O
Yore	O
"	O
which	O
chronologically	O
precede	O
the	O
main	O
story	O
,	O
with	O
Minas	B-Protocol
Morgul	I-Protocol
expansion	O
released	O
in	O
2019	O
and	O
the	O
Fate	O
of	O
Gundabad	O
expansion	O
released	O
in	O
2021	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Similar	O
to	O
other	O
MMORPGs	B-Protocol
,	O
players	O
control	O
a	O
character	O
avatar	B-Application
within	O
the	O
game	O
world	O
,	O
interacts	O
with	O
objects	O
,	O
NPCs	O
and	O
other	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Per	O
the	O
characterization	O
of	O
Hobbits	B-Device
in	O
Tolkien	O
's	O
writings	O
,	O
significant	O
emphasis	O
is	O
placed	O
on	O
cooking	O
and	O
agricultural	B-Application
farming	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
in-game	O
store	O
uses	O
LOTRO	B-Protocol
points	O
,	O
which	O
can	O
be	O
both	O
purchased	O
with	O
real	O
money	O
and	O
earned	O
in-game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Four	O
themed	O
neighbourhoods	O
that	O
are	O
free	O
for	O
all	O
are	O
located	O
in	O
the	O
original	O
starter	O
zones	O
for	O
Men	O
,	O
Dwarves	O
,	O
Elves	O
and	O
Hobbits	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
More	O
neighbourhoods	O
with	O
larger	O
houses	O
and	O
more	O
decorating	O
options	O
are	O
located	O
in	O
Gondor	O
Rohan	B-Protocol
and	O
Erebor	O
and	O
purchased	O
with	O
microtransaction	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mines	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Moria	I-Protocol
added	O
Legendary	O
items	O
,	O
intended	O
to	O
stay	O
with	O
the	O
player	O
throughout	O
the	O
game	O
as	O
opposed	O
to	O
being	O
constantly	O
replaced	O
with	O
better	O
options	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Riders	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Rohan	I-Protocol
introduced	O
mounted	O
combat	O
,	O
with	O
new	O
rohirric	O
war-steeds	O
that	O
allow	O
players	O
to	O
execute	O
attacks	O
and	O
others	O
skills	O
while	O
on	O
horseback	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lord	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
the	I-Protocol
Rings	I-Protocol
Online	I-Protocol
launched	O
with	O
four	O
playable	O
races	O
:	O
Dwarves	O
,	O
Elves	O
,	O
Hobbits	B-Device
and	O
Men	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2017	O
the	O
Mordor	B-Protocol
expansion	O
added	O
the	O
new	O
High	O
Elf	O
race	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2019	O
a	O
race	O
of	O
"	O
Stout-Axe	O
Dwarves	O
"	O
was	O
added	O
with	O
the	O
Minas	B-Protocol
Morgul	I-Protocol
expansion	O
,	O
representing	O
a	O
dwarven	O
clan	O
from	O
the	O
far	O
east	O
of	O
Middle-Earth	O
with	O
an	O
appearance	O
distinct	O
from	O
that	O
of	O
Longbeard	O
dwarves	O
and	O
allowing	O
players	O
to	O
choose	O
gender	O
of	O
dwarven	O
characters	O
,	O
unlike	O
the	O
original	O
Dwarven	O
race	O
only	O
allowed	O
male	O
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mines	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Moria	I-Protocol
added	O
two	O
more	O
classes	O
:	O
Rune-Keeper	O
and	O
Warden	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
"	O
Skirmishes	O
"	O
introduced	O
with	O
the	O
Siege	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Mirkwood	I-Protocol
expansion	O
feature	O
both	O
enemy	O
groups	O
of	O
random	O
composition	O
and	O
randomized	O
"	O
Skirmish	O
Lieutenant	O
"	O
encounters	O
across	O
the	O
instance	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
"	O
Epic	O
Battles	O
"	O
introduced	O
with	O
the	O
Helm	B-Protocol
's	I-Protocol
Deep	I-Protocol
expansion	O
represent	O
large-scale	O
battles	O
,	O
in	O
which	O
friendly	O
NPCs	O
engage	O
the	O
enemy	O
alongside	O
the	O
player	O
characters	O
,	O
whose	O
focus	O
lies	O
on	O
supporting	O
their	O
allies	O
and	O
completing	O
specific	O
objectives	O
as	O
opposed	O
to	O
simply	O
defeating	O
all	O
enemies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
is	O
set	O
J	O
.	O
R	O
.	O
R	O
.	O
Tolkien	O
's	O
Middle-earth	O
based	O
on	O
The	O
Lord	O
of	O
the	O
Rings	O
and	O
The	B-Application
Hobbit	I-Application
,	O
as	O
its	O
license	O
does	O
not	O
cover	O
rights	O
to	O
any	O
other	O
works	O
in	O
Tolkien	O
's	O
legendarium	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
The	O
Silmarillion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
world	O
is	O
divided	O
into	O
four	O
larger	O
sections	O
of	O
Eriador	O
,	O
Rhovanion	O
,	O
Gondor	O
and	O
Mordor	B-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Each	O
Region	O
is	O
"	O
fixed	O
"	O
at	O
a	O
specific	O
time	O
period	O
during	O
the	O
War	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Ring	I-Application
despite	O
the	O
passage	O
of	O
time	O
in	O
the	O
main	O
story	O
,	O
because	O
of	O
this	O
characters	O
such	O
as	O
Gandalf	O
or	O
Aragorn	O
can	O
appear	O
at	O
multiple	O
places	O
"	O
at	O
once	O
"	O
if	O
those	O
places	O
are	O
set	O
during	O
different	O
portions	O
of	O
the	O
story	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
of	O
locations	O
are	O
permanently	O
accessible	O
in	O
more	O
than	O
one	O
state	O
:	O
players	O
can	O
freely	O
move	O
from	O
Isengard	B-Protocol
flooded	O
by	O
the	O
Ents	O
to	O
Isengard	B-Protocol
at	O
the	O
height	O
of	O
Saruman	O
's	O
power	O
and	O
from	O
Minas	O
Tirith	O
rebuilding	O
after	O
the	O
battle	O
of	O
the	O
Pelennor	O
Fields	O
to	O
Minas	O
Tirith	O
before	O
the	O
battle	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
enemy	O
still	O
beyond	O
the	O
wall	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Classic	O
PvP	O
combat	O
found	O
in	O
many	O
other	O
games	O
does	O
not	O
exist	O
in	O
The	B-Protocol
Lord	I-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
the	I-Protocol
Rings	I-Protocol
Online	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Monster	O
player	O
classes	O
are	O
Orc	B-Language
Reaver	O
,	O
Orc	B-Language
Defiler	O
,	O
Spider	O
Weaver	O
,	O
Uruk	O
Blackarrow	O
,	O
Uruk	O
Warleader	O
and	O
Warg	O
Stalker	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
initially	O
following	O
in	O
the	O
footsteps	O
of	O
Aragorn	O
and	O
the	B-Application
Hobbits	I-Application
to	O
Weathertop	O
and	O
the	O
Trollshaws	O
,	O
the	O
players	O
soon	O
get	O
involved	O
into	O
a	O
campaign	O
against	O
the	O
resurgent	O
Kingdom	O
Angmar	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mordirith	O
,	O
Steward	O
of	O
The	O
Witch-king	O
of	O
Angmar	O
is	O
driven	O
away	O
from	O
Carn	O
Dûm	O
,	O
prompting	O
Sauron	O
's	O
other	O
servants	O
-	O
Amarthiel	B-Protocol
and	O
Mordrambor	O
-	O
to	O
vie	O
for	O
his	O
position	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Amarthiel	B-Protocol
,	O
a	O
former	O
elf-smith	O
of	O
Eregion	O
,	O
used	O
to	O
wield	O
a	O
minor	O
Ring	O
of	O
Power	O
of	O
her	O
own	O
,	O
which	O
she	O
finds	O
and	O
reclaims	O
it	O
despite	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
efforts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mordrambor	O
betrays	O
Amarthiel	B-Protocol
to	O
Mordirith	O
and	O
kills	O
her	O
father	O
Laerdan	O
to	O
mock	O
her	O
,	O
however	O
the	O
grief	O
allows	O
Narmeleth	O
,	O
Amarthiel	B-Protocol
's	O
original	O
personality	O
to	O
resurface	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
story	O
concludes	O
in	O
the	O
Siege	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Mirkwood	I-Protocol
expansion	O
where	O
the	O
Galadhrim	O
launch	O
a	O
major	O
assault	O
against	O
Dol	O
Guldur	O
in	O
an	O
effort	O
to	O
draw	O
the	O
Eye	O
of	O
the	O
enemy	O
away	O
from	O
the	O
Fellowship	O
as	O
it	O
departs	O
from	O
Lorien	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
joins	O
the	O
Grey	O
Company	O
led	O
by	O
Halbarad	O
and	O
the	O
Sons	O
of	O
Elrond	O
that	O
rides	O
south	O
to	O
the	O
aid	O
Aragorn	O
in	O
Rohan	B-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Accompanied	O
by	O
a	O
girl	O
from	O
Dunland	O
,	O
an	O
elf	O
from	O
Lorien	O
and	O
a	O
man	O
from	O
Rohan	B-Protocol
,	O
the	O
player	O
tracks	O
the	O
Fellowship	O
to	O
the	O
Falls	O
of	O
Rauros	O
,	O
after	O
which	O
they	O
follow	O
the	O
Three	O
Hunters	O
into	O
the	O
land	O
of	O
Rohan	B-Protocol
where	O
they	O
become	O
involved	O
in	O
the	O
affairs	O
of	O
the	O
local	O
rulers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
fights	O
in	O
the	O
battle	O
of	O
Helm	B-Protocol
's	I-Protocol
Deep	I-Protocol
,	O
after	O
which	O
they	O
accompany	O
King	O
Théoden	O
to	O
confront	O
Saruman	O
at	O
Orthanc	O
where	O
the	O
Rangers	O
of	O
the	O
North	O
finally	O
meet	O
with	O
Aragorn	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
reunites	O
with	O
Riders	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Rohan	I-Protocol
in	O
the	O
Drúedain	O
forest	O
and	O
fights	O
in	O
the	O
battle	O
of	O
the	O
Pelennor	O
Fields	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Free	O
Peoples	O
of	O
Middle-Earth	O
begin	O
to	O
explore	O
the	O
lands	O
of	O
Mordor	B-Protocol
which	O
were	O
closed	O
to	O
them	O
for	O
over	O
a	O
thousand	O
years	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
One	O
of	O
the	O
Gúrzyul	O
known	O
as	O
Karazgar	O
the	O
Weeping	O
Warrior	O
has	O
been	O
suspiciously	O
absent	O
from	O
the	O
power	O
struggle	O
in	O
Mordor	B-Protocol
,	O
having	O
escaped	O
into	O
the	O
northern	O
lands	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
an	O
errand	O
for	O
Thorin	O
III	O
in	O
the	O
Iron	O
Hills	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
finds	O
an	O
artifact	O
from	O
Mordor	B-Protocol
–	O
a	O
Black	O
Book	O
which	O
they	O
deliver	O
to	O
Gandalf	O
for	O
safekeeping	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
encounter	O
in	O
the	O
Gladden	O
Fields	O
sends	O
Gandalf	O
and	O
the	O
player	O
back	O
to	O
Mordor	B-Protocol
,	O
just	O
as	O
the	O
forces	O
of	O
Gondor	O
advance	O
on	O
Minas	B-Protocol
Morgul	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bolstered	O
by	O
reinforcements	O
from	O
Erebor	O
and	O
the	O
Iron	O
Garrison	O
recently	O
driven	O
from	O
Moria	O
,	O
the	O
dwarves	O
clash	O
with	O
the	O
Orcs	B-Language
of	O
Gundabad	O
in	O
front	O
of	O
ancestral	O
peaks	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
achieve	O
a	O
minor	O
victory	O
only	O
to	O
learn	O
that	O
Orcs	B-Language
are	O
not	O
their	O
biggest	O
problem	O
:	O
Gundabad	O
has	O
been	O
claimed	O
by	O
a	O
Frost-Dragon	O
,	O
her	O
brood	O
of	O
drakes	O
and	O
their	O
Hobgoblin	O
servants	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Angmarim	O
ally	O
with	O
Hobgoblins	O
against	O
the	O
Orcs	B-Language
only	O
to	O
be	O
betrayed	O
by	O
their	O
master	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
death	O
of	O
the	O
Son	O
of	O
Bolg	O
throws	O
the	O
orcs	B-Language
and	O
goblins	O
into	O
disarray	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sierra	O
On-Line	O
announced	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
a	O
licensed	O
Middle-earth	O
MMORPG	B-Protocol
in	O
1998	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sierra	O
continued	O
to	O
confirm	O
development	O
of	O
the	O
MMORPG	B-Protocol
but	O
did	O
not	O
release	O
any	O
development	O
details	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Vivendi	O
announced	O
an	O
agreement	O
with	O
Turbine	O
in	O
2003	O
to	O
produce	O
Middle-earth	B-Protocol
Online	I-Protocol
(	O
at	O
that	O
time	O
expected	O
to	O
be	O
released	O
in	O
2004	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
March	O
2005	O
,	O
Turbine	O
announced	O
that	O
it	O
had	O
bought	O
the	O
rights	O
to	O
make	O
a	O
MMORPG	B-Protocol
based	O
on	O
Tolkien	O
's	O
literature	O
and	O
that	O
Turbine	O
would	O
publish	O
The	B-Protocol
Lord	I-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
the	I-Protocol
Rings	I-Protocol
Online	I-Protocol
instead	O
of	O
Vivendi	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Video	O
game	O
critic	O
Ian	O
Bogost	O
compared	O
it	O
to	O
the	O
case	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Sims	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
which	O
did	O
allow	O
same-sex	O
marriage	O
three	O
years	O
prior	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
January	O
2014	O
it	O
was	O
announced	O
that	O
the	O
license	O
for	O
The	B-Protocol
Lord	I-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
the	I-Protocol
Rings	I-Protocol
Online	I-Protocol
had	O
been	O
renewed	O
between	O
Turbine	O
and	O
Middle-earth	O
Enterprises	O
to	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Executive	O
producer	O
Aaron	O
Campbell	O
transferred	O
to	O
other	O
duties	O
in	O
2015	O
,	O
and	O
Dungeons	B-Protocol
and	I-Protocol
Dragons	I-Protocol
Online	I-Protocol
franchise	O
director	O
Athena	O
Peters	O
replaced	O
him	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Peters	O
announced	O
a	O
new	O
roadmap	O
for	O
the	O
future	O
of	O
Lord	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
the	I-Protocol
Rings	I-Protocol
Online	I-Protocol
,	O
including	O
improvements	O
to	O
the	O
legendary	O
item	O
system	O
,	O
new	O
fellowship	O
quests	O
,	O
and	O
various	O
"	O
quality	O
of	O
life	O
"	O
fixes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
December	O
19	O
,	O
2016	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
announced	O
that	O
Turbine	O
would	O
no	O
longer	O
develop	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
rather	O
a	O
new	O
independent	O
game	O
studio	O
was	O
formed	O
under	O
the	O
name	O
Standing	O
Stone	O
Games	O
;	O
the	O
staff	O
would	O
be	O
the	O
people	O
that	O
had	O
been	O
working	O
on	O
The	B-Protocol
Lord	I-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
the	I-Protocol
Rings	I-Protocol
Online	I-Protocol
and	O
Dungeons	B-Protocol
&	I-Protocol
Dragons	I-Protocol
Online	I-Protocol
under	O
Turbine	O
before	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
one	O
year	O
anniversary	O
edition	O
included	O
a	O
$9.99	O
/month	O
subscription	O
or	O
a	O
$199.99	O
Lifetime	O
subscription	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
again	O
offered	O
during	O
the	O
lead-up	O
to	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Mines	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Moria	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
a	O
transition	O
period	O
of	O
a	O
few	O
days	O
,	O
they	O
reopened	O
under	O
a	O
unified	O
Lord	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
the	I-Protocol
Rings	I-Protocol
Online	I-Protocol
global	O
service	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Finally	O
,	O
on	O
June	O
6	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
The	B-Protocol
Lord	I-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
the	I-Protocol
Rings	I-Protocol
Online	I-Protocol
was	O
made	O
available	O
for	O
download	O
on	O
Steam	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
November	O
1	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
a	O
beta	O
of	O
the	O
OS	B-Operating_System
X	I-Operating_System
version	O
was	O
released	O
and	O
a	O
64-bit	O
client	O
was	O
added	O
in	O
June	O
2019	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
same	O
time	O
as	O
that	O
announcement	O
,	O
to	O
celebrate	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
15th	O
anniversary	O
,	O
all	O
expansions	O
and	O
quest	O
packs	O
up	O
to	O
and	O
including	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
Helm	B-Protocol
's	I-Protocol
Deep	I-Protocol
expansion	O
were	O
made	O
permanently	O
free	O
to	O
all	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
,	O
all	O
paying	O
subscribers	O
were	O
given	O
access	O
to	O
Standard	O
Editions	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
Mordor	B-Protocol
,	O
Minas	B-Protocol
Morgul	I-Protocol
,	O
and	O
War	O
of	O
Three	O
Peaks	O
expansions	O
for	O
the	O
duration	O
of	O
their	O
subscription	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
first	O
two	O
years	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
Thomas	O
and	O
DiGregorio	O
each	O
contributed	O
roughly	O
half	O
of	O
all	O
music	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
released	O
as	O
soundtrack	O
CD	O
available	O
with	O
the	O
Special	O
Edition	O
of	O
2007	O
"	O
Shadows	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Angmar	I-Protocol
"	O
or	O
pre-order	O
of	O
2008	O
Mines	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Moria	I-Protocol
expansion	O
,	O
in	O
addition	O
to	O
61	O
songs	O
that	O
were	O
made	O
available	O
for	O
free	O
in	O
mp3	B-Application
format	O
using	O
a	O
download	O
manager	O
released	O
by	O
Turbine	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Their	O
collaboration	O
continued	O
on	O
the	O
Mines	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Moria	I-Protocol
soundtrack	O
,	O
released	O
as	O
a	O
CD	O
with	O
the	O
Collector	O
's	O
Edition	O
of	O
the	O
expansion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Neither	O
Siege	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Mirkwood	I-Protocol
nor	O
Rise	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Isengard	I-Protocol
expansions	O
received	O
a	O
dedicated	O
soundtrack	O
release	O
,	O
with	O
no	O
music	O
added	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
between	O
2009	O
and	O
2012	O
made	O
officially	O
available	O
until	O
the	O
Riders	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Rohan	I-Protocol
expansion	O
,	O
for	O
which	O
Chance	O
Thomas	O
returned	O
to	O
work	O
on	O
LOTRO	B-Protocol
after	O
years	O
of	O
absence	O
,	O
releasing	O
a	O
soundtrack	O
available	O
both	O
on	O
CD	O
and	O
as	O
digital	O
download	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Music	O
for	O
the	O
next	O
year	O
's	O
Helm	B-Protocol
's	I-Protocol
Deep	I-Protocol
expansion	O
was	O
entirely	O
composed	O
by	O
Stephen	O
DiGregorio	O
and	O
was	O
released	O
as	O
an	O
album	O
on	O
SoundCloud	O
while	O
music	O
added	O
between	O
2013	O
and	O
2017	O
was	O
likewise	O
not	O
covered	O
by	O
any	O
official	O
releases	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2017	O
Chance	O
Thomas	O
returned	O
once	O
more	O
to	O
contribute	O
music	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
releasing	O
a	O
soundtrack	O
album	O
for	O
Mordor	B-Protocol
expansion	O
in	O
addition	O
to	O
a	O
commemorative	O
10th	O
Anniversary	O
Soundtrack	O
which	O
covered	O
a	O
collection	O
of	O
his	O
work	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
from	O
all	O
previous	O
soundtracks	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
Mordor	B-Protocol
all	O
music	O
so	O
far	O
has	O
been	O
composed	O
by	O
Bill	O
Champagne	O
,	O
with	O
full	O
soundtracks	O
for	O
free	O
updates	O
and	O
expansions	O
alike	O
released	O
on	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
YouTube	B-General_Concept
channel	I-General_Concept
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
soundtrack	O
for	O
Lord	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
the	I-Protocol
Rings	I-Protocol
Online	I-Protocol
has	O
received	O
much	O
praise	O
for	O
its	O
quality	O
and	O
variety	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
keeping	O
with	O
Tolkien	O
's	O
heavy	O
use	O
of	O
song	O
and	O
music	O
in	O
his	O
books	O
,	O
Lord	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
the	I-Protocol
Rings	I-Protocol
Online	I-Protocol
has	O
a	O
player	O
music	O
sub-system	O
akin	O
to	O
MIDI	O
that	O
has	O
been	O
the	O
subject	O
of	O
a	O
Harvard	O
anthropological	O
study	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Characters	O
on	O
reaching	O
level	O
5	O
can	O
learn	O
to	O
play	O
musical	O
instruments	O
,	O
including	O
Bagpipes	O
,	O
Clarinet	O
,	O
Cowbell	O
,	O
Drum	O
,	O
Harp	B-Algorithm
,	O
Horn	O
,	O
Lute	O
,	O
Pibgorn	O
,	O
and	O
Theorbo	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Protocol
Lord	I-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
the	I-Protocol
Rings	I-Protocol
Online	I-Protocol
received	O
wide	O
acclaim	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Yahoo	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
GameSpy	O
declared	O
The	B-Protocol
Lord	I-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
the	I-Protocol
Rings	I-Protocol
Online	I-Protocol
'	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Month	O
 '	O
for	O
May	O
2007	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
August	O
2007	O
,	O
Codemasters	O
announced	O
that	O
The	B-Protocol
Lord	I-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
the	I-Protocol
Rings	I-Protocol
Online	I-Protocol
had	O
received	O
five	O
Golden	O
Joystick	O
Awards	O
nominations	O
for	O
the	O
five	O
applicable	O
categories	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
October	O
2007	O
that	O
it	O
had	O
won	O
the	O
"	O
PC	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
at	O
these	O
awards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2007	O
,	O
GameSpy	O
awarded	O
The	B-Protocol
Lord	I-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
the	I-Protocol
Rings	I-Protocol
Online	I-Protocol
6th	O
place	O
in	O
the	O
top	O
ten	O
PC	O
games	O
of	O
the	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2010	O
,	O
RPGFan	O
's	O
Adam	O
Tingle	O
named	O
The	B-Protocol
Lord	I-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
the	I-Protocol
Rings	I-Protocol
Online	I-Protocol
the	O
best	O
MMORPG	B-Protocol
of	O
all	O
time	O
in	O
a	O
top-10	O
countdown	O
while	O
RPGLand	O
gave	O
its	O
"	O
Best	O
Free-to-Play	O
MMORPG	B-Protocol
"	O
annual	O
award	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
January	O
2011	O
,	O
PC	O
Gamer	O
chose	O
The	B-Protocol
Lord	I-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
the	I-Protocol
Rings	I-Protocol
Online	I-Protocol
as	O
the	O
MMO	O
of	O
the	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Also	O
noted	O
was	O
the	O
success	O
of	O
the	O
move	O
to	O
free-to-play	O
,	O
stating	O
Lord	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
the	I-Protocol
Rings	I-Protocol
Online	I-Protocol
is	O
"	O
quickly	O
redefining	O
the	O
way	O
a	O
successful	O
subscriptionless	O
MMO	O
is	O
run.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
both	O
2018	O
and	O
2019	O
,	O
gaming	O
blog	O
Massively	O
(	O
formerly	O
known	O
as	O
Joystiq	O
)	O
rated	O
The	B-Protocol
Lord	I-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
the	I-Protocol
Rings	I-Protocol
Online	I-Protocol
as	O
Most	O
Underrated	O
MMORPG	B-Protocol
of	O
the	O
year	O
for	O
its	O
expansions	O
and	O
updates	O
,	O
vast	O
,	O
diverse	O
world	O
,	O
some	O
excellent	O
storytelling	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
friendly	O
and	O
dedicated	O
community	O
.	O
</s>
