The only partying I'd do with you would be in a bar. Not in a goddamn F2P game

Head start I assume? Guessing so as I can't find a way to create an account atm.
Time zones might be an issue though. Thankfully set my own work hours though, so might not be that big that an issue.
Edit: MSN's rob_kentworth@hotmail.com, to make it easier getting in touch (if you use it).

lol, F2P, shop and new chapter have been delayed until further notice for the European servers "to meet the highest standards of quality"...
So, European players will have to wait, as usual...

I read that. My guess is a lot of people in the EU will just play on the US, like me. I don't know whether I'll go to the EU servers when they open. If I spend money in the store though on the US servers to upgrade my account, I probably won't.

I didn't read all the posts so sorry if someone else already suggested this, but if you play the f2p and like it enough then I suggest finding somewhere with the retail box and getting it. It was going pretty cheap on amazon before (like around 10 bucks, sometimes less). If you get the version that has the original game and Mines of Moria then you will be considered a premium player, have access to all of the original game and Moria, have access to the warden and rune-keeper classes, and will have either a level 55 or 60 level cap (sorry, I don't remember which). It would be a lot cheaper than buying all that content from the in-game store. The main think you will be missing will be the Mirkwood stuff but that is designed for high level characters anyways. The game is worth that little bit of an investment at least.
For anyone that is currently playing or wants to play in the future I am on the Elendilmir server and my main character is named Mindo.
**edit** Since I suggested the retail box I thought I should point out that there is one from Turbine and one from Code Masters depending on where in the world you live. They weren't interchangeable before so if you are playing on the U.S. version then you need the one from Turbine. Its possible with the f2p this won't matter anymore but it probably still does.

It's a good idea that and I'll consider hopping onto the server you're playing on, madcartoonist.
Personally, I think I'll end up buying one of the points packages and then leaving it for the premium account and earning the TP by playing the game. However, I did end up buying quite a few points in DDO, so that may change.
Still awaiting the account creation to be opened up too. :(

Free players get full access to the starting areas for each race. After that they can walk to North Downs, Lone Lands, Misty Mountains, Trollsshaws, and Evendim (and problably something I am forgetting) but they can only kill things and do the Epic story quests. If you buy the quests packs then you can do the quests on each map which will GREATLY increase your leveling speed because just grinding and killing doesn't give as much as quests. Moria and Mirkwood are full expansions so you aren't even allowed into their sections without buying them. I don't believe they have their own quest packs so when you buy the Moria expansion you are getting access to the area and to all the quests there which is why it will be more expensive.
Hopefully I got that right. I am a lifetimer so I can't view everything quite right in the store but that was how it was in the beta testing and the chart they used to have on their website.

Account creation is up. Creating my first character on the server you referenced, mad. Short wait time. I'll se if I can work out to message you in game.
By the way, I believe you've got it right. Been doing some reading about it. (I won't be able to buy any points for a while though, so I'll have the free to play limitations).

Yeah it's headstart now, or maybe that ended yesterday. If you really want a headstart key I have an extra one from PAX.
BTW, DDO is more fun:)

Account creation is open to everyone now, so head start ended yesterday (in the UK time zone that is). Decided to play on the Riddermark server due to the server being new.
Character names are Dareal and Darrias. Feel free to message me. Found a guild as well. People seem nice enough in it. (Surprised there isn't a tonne of idiots flooding the game at the moment, but I suppose that'll come eventually.)

I can't say for sure but DDO is full of very mature (for a MMO) people that are nice and friendly. The average player age is much older than WOW. Given the storyline behind LotRO I wouldn't be surprised to find the same thing.