LotR Online 'pay to win' items to "create solutions" for newbs

New, performance-enhancing premium items added to the Lord of the Rings Online store are there to help out new players, Turbine has explained.

"We have a lot of different players in the game. Lower level players are telling us that they are having difficulty obtaining good gear," communications director Adam Mersky told Gamefront.

"This is us coming up with solutions to problems players are reporting to us. We’re trying to create solutions for players.”

Mersky said that if the new premium equipment - which essentially enable players to pay for stat-boosting - cause problems in game, Turbine will drop it like a hot potato.

“We’re not adverse to pulling things off the store if they don’t work," he said. “We’re committed to keeping things balanced."

And while the new items may give beginner players an edge over their rivals, when it comes to end-game, they are on their own.

“Furthermore, we have no intention at this time of selling any raid gear in the store," Mersky declared.

Lord of the Rings Online dropped subscription walls to go free-to-play in September 2010, and saw an increase in revenue as a result.

Thanks, Massively.