I had no idea that Lord of the Rings Online was five years old but its anniversary is fast approaching and so is a big old party for you Middle Earth dwellers to enjoy. Oh, and free loot, which is the best kind of loot. The anniversary festival has started and will run up until April 30th.

For all you basic members, you’re going to get a special 5th anniversary cloak plus a whole load of fireworks. Now that would be enough for me (just the fireworks actually) but Premium and VIP members will get a whole lot more; depending on how long you’ve been playing, you can get your hands on potions, buffs, and even a Portrait frame commemorating your years in Middle Earth.

There’s plenty of events to keep you busy as well, from horse races to “Better Beer Battles” which sound awesome. Between the 24th and 30th of April you’ll also get a double XP bonus for all your exploits. It seems that LOTR Online has carried on well after going free to play and I think there’s going to be plenty of players who are going to enjoy this birthday party.

Via Destructoid