Index -> Introduction -> How does this work online?

How does this work online?

The Lord of the Rings Online TCG is just like the physical game. You buy digital cards in starters and boosters, assemble them into your own customized decks using the Deck Builder in the game software (or use one of the pre-built decks provided), and play casual games or tournaments against one or more opponents.

With the online game, however, those opponents can come from anywhere in the world, and there's always an opponent waiting for you, any time of the day or night!

Sounds cool, I'd like to give it a go!
First you'll want to download the software for the game. Click here to go to our download page. There you can grab the latest software client for Windows or Mac and even a tutorial program.

Once you've installed the game, you can run it from the desktop icon, or from your Start menu if you're using Windows. It will automatically update itself, and start the game proper. If you have any problems, at this stage or subsequently, check the Technical Support page for ways you can get help. You can then log in, from the "Log In" button at the top of the screen. This will take you to the Main Menu, a map of Middle Earth with several icons on it for different areas of the game.

If you're new to the game, you can try it out for free, for a limited time, by playing a game with one of the pre-made starter decks, against others in the Free Play lobby. You won't be able to trade cards, or alter the deck you play with at all, though. To do this, start up the program and select "Guest Log In" from the options at the top.

To get into the full game, go to our Account Creation page and register your account. There are several registration packages to choose and all of them come with at least one Starter Deck. We highly recommend that when you register you get a Starter Deck from the War of the Ring or Hunters blocks (decks like the Shadows Aragorn Starter, the Shadows Gandalf Starter, etc.) as they feature cards required for Standard play. You can consult our guide about what to buy first for more information.

The best place to start is the Tutorials and Beginner Games Lobby. There is a Basic Tutorial there which will teach the basics of the game, along with an Advanced Tutorial that will allow you to become familiar with those basics by using a pre-constructed deck against the computer. Once you've been through the tutorials, you'll also find that the lobby is full of other new players all looking for a game.

Once you've played a few games, and are familiar enough with the cards to build your own deck, you'll probably want to move on to the Casual Games Lobby for more competition, and maybe even participate in a tournament or two.

Don't forget, if you're not sure of anything, whether it be how the program works, or what a particular game term means, you can always check the online help. The forums are also a great place to get advice, or just chat with the rest of the community.