I took a bit of a risk getting LOTR because I'd only played a couple broken ones on location, and I was turned off by the balrog toy which seemed so static and pointless. I also hated the path of the dead "upper pf" which also seemed pointless and a waste of space.

Good thing I looked past these issues, because this is one of the best, if not the best pin I've ever played.

Still not even close to reaching Valinor, I've barely scratched the surface of this game. I've yet to beat Fellowship, and have only completed a couple modes. My high score is 77 million, which is probably pathetic. I came really close to destroying the ring, one more shot and I would have made it, but I went SDTM on a failed ramp shot.

What I like about LOTR is that all the shots are doable, and the game is not a drain hog. The challenge is in the modes - where you have to make specific shots in a short period of time. This makes the game great for home use in my opinion, and a fun challenge even for the best players. The epic feel and the elaborate dots makes this truly a pin for the modern video gamer. Too bad I've heard talk that Stern wants to move away from this and do simpler rules from now on.

Only weak part is the TTT and ROTK multiballs. For some reason, these MBs depart from the "philosophy" of the game and don't seem to have clear cut goals, they're just an endless cacophony of jackpots. Am I missing something here?

In terms of shot layout -- immediately reminded me of MB because of the feel of the ramps and the center spinner shot. Shot-wise its like Gomez took MB as a starting point and just built on it to add shots, towers that catch the ball, and other things that made it much more interesting.

Anyway - great great game and IMHO a notch above the holy trinity of fan layout games from WMS (MM, AFM, MB) in terms of rules, sound calls, dots and fun factor. WMS still on top in terms of art, toys, sound quality, and quality (screening process, backbox lighting, etc).

Anyway, if you're on the fence about getting one, hope this post from a first-time stern owner helps.

I 100% agree except with your thoughts on the TTT and ROTK multiballs.  

These to me require more strategy and skill then FOTR for the simple reason that you can build on them.  

In the TTT multiball, 7 shots, if you are able to get Jacpot 7 is the short amount of time it takes to reset all of the Jackpots, there is a new value assigned to your first single Jackpot, so Jacpot 1.  So as an example if Jacpot 7 is 1million, your next Jackpot 1 will be I don't know the exact math but for arguments sake it will be 1.1 million.  So you now have a new base value for the inital jackpot because you were able to compelte all 7 shots in such short sucesession.  Also the amount of pinballs on the playfield also detirmine the value.  2 balls = no added value, 3 balls, 2x value of the Jackpot, 4 balls = 3x value of the jackpots plus with every extra ball on the playfield you move much faster toward the final goal of the super jackpot.  So allot more to it then just randomly shooting jackpots.

The same applies for ROTK, there are 4 shots, Jackpots 1 - 4.  Shooting them at random advances you threw the I think it's 9 levels of Minas Tereth(sp?) but aside from that if you can shoot them in order, so 1, 2, 3, 4 the value of each jackpot goes up, so after you shoot 1 - 4 in that order the jacpots are now 2 - 5.  If you shoot 2 - 5 in that order your jackpots and now 3 - 6 and so on and so forth.  

The modes also play a huge part, that being that simply starting them isn't enough to get a good score you need to do well at them.  the reason being that after starting all the modes you get to do "There and Back again"  the point of this mode is that it lights all the shots on the playfield and you have to alternate shots between the ring and a lit shot on the playfied.  When you shoot a lit shot you are awarded the final value of the mode you completed.  So if you only get 500K on a mode because you let it time out you are only going to get that value when you collect it at TABA.  So it's best to build up that value so you can get even more points nearing the end of the game.  

Then you ahve the Gifts of the Evles, when to start Golem Mutiball, making sure you allways have a mode running during multiball, when to use what modes, so on and so forth.  The game is incredibly deep and has great theme intergration.  Every time I hear "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!!!" it still sends goose bumps up my arms  

You made the right choice with LOTR really I personally don't think there is a better game out there.  

Anyone has one for sale or trade ?

I'm addicted, buying that AFM got me in even more needs  

Quoted from Azatotht

Anyone has one for sale or trade ?

I'm addicted, buying that AFM got me in even more needs  

I warn you now...get the LOTR and AFM will be out the door. I had both. The fan layout felt very similar. I realize they are different games, but the feel of the game was similar. Constant flow and intense game play. I found I just wasn't playing AFM after I got the LOTR. In the end, I couldn't jusitify having AFM given the $$$ involved. LOTR is still here. Awesome, awesome game!

Duane

Thats an awsome news actually Duane, i will make sure to get bored of AFM before pursuing my LOTR quest then.

Quoted from TwilightZone

I warn you now...get the LOTR and AFM will be out the door. I had both. The fan layout felt very similar. I realize they are different games, but the feel of the game was similar. Constant flow and intense game play. I found I just wasn't playing AFM after I got the LOTR. In the end, I couldn't jusitify having AFM given the $$$ involved. LOTR is still here. Awesome, awesome game!

Duane

Quoted from Mani

(MM, AFM, MB)

damn ... you've just killed it for me.

Quoted from Mrhide

damn ... you've just killed it for me.

Give it some time and you will appreciate unlike the Williams titles, this one has "legs" with deep, deep rules.

Duane

i said it's a notch above those three. probably 2 or 3 notches above MB. let's just say a notch is a lot.

I find that even though they are both fan layouts (AFM and LOTR), they feel and play very different.  Don't get me wrong, they are both excellent games, but AFM is faster, flows better and is non-stop mayhem, however LOTR has a little more stop and go (ie. Path of the dead, ring shot held by magnet, shots to the top right tower, etc...).  I personally think you can probably have LOTR and AFM in the same collection.  
I would think having AFM and MM might be more overkill.  Having played both extensively, to me, they feel similar in gameplay and "feel".
Sylvain: Go for it!!

I find that every time Mani gets a new game, it's always "the best game ever made"..  lol..  Ahhh I remember when I had that much enthusiasm..  Sometimes I wish I still had it

Mike

you're 100% right mike. i remember proclaiming not long ago that MB is the best game ever.

MB is like the super hot babe you find out after a few weeks of dating actually is dumb as a doorknob, and the only thing good about her is showing her off to your friends.

ok, no more women-to-pinball analogies for me.

Quoted from MrMikeman

I find that every time Mani gets a new game, it's always "the best game ever made"..  lol..  Ahhh I remember when I had that much enthusiasm..  Sometimes I wish I still had it

Mike

Why waste big money on pins with this attitude when any old POS will make him happy for a week or two as long as it's new?