Self-expression is an essential part of any MMO, and "emotes," character actions accompanied by a description, and often an animation, are a fun way to emphasize your character's mood and convey information. Emotes can be activated by typing the appropriate "slash command" in the chat window, or by accessing the full emote list via the small gold button on the bottom left of your chat window.

For example, a player who needs to step away from playing LOTRO for some trivial real-world function - phone call, laundry, etc. - can choose the afk emote from the chat menu (/bio is available for calls of nature). His nearby friends will see, "Dhalin goes AFK.", and will know that their Minstrel is not simply ignoring their frantic calls for help, but has stepped "away from keyboard". Dhalin's fellowship will appreciate this gesture of courtesy, and will surely thank him upon his return.

Some emotes are "persistent", meaning they will remain in effect indefinitely until the player performs another movement action, while some must be entered every time one wishes to use them. An example of a persistent emote is /dance, which will cause Lilly the hobbit to begin dancing a merry jig. She will continue to dance, into the wee hours of the morning, without having to type /dance again unless she cancels the emote by another movement. Emotes like /cough or /shakefist will result in a quick cough or fist-shake, and must be typed again to repeat the action, i.e., /cough /cough /cough /cough (if /cough persists, you should go /afk and see a doctor, or at least /drink some /cough syrup).





You can also make custom emote text by using /e, as in, "/e gobbles down a mushroom pie hungrily." Nearby players will see, "Lilly gobbles down a mushroom pie hungrily.", though luckily, no animation will accompany this greedy spectacle of midnight snacking. Hobbits...

LOTRO offers a multitude of emotes with which to punctuate your in-game conversations and adventures. Below is a list of the initial emotes available to players:

Command
afk	drink	mood_fearful	scratch
angry	dustoff	mood_happy	shakefist
beckon	eat	mood_mischievous	shrug
beg	faint	mood_sad	sigh
bio	flex	mood_sleepy	sit
bored	flirt	mood_solemn	smackhead
bow	impatient	mood_surprised	smoke
cheer	kiss	mourn	smoke1
confused	kneel	no	surrender
cough	laugh	pick	talk
cower	lie down	point	tantrum
crazy	look	pose	thank
cry	mock	roar	wave
dance	mood_angry	rude	yes
dance1	mood_apprehensive	sad
dance2	mood_calm	salute
dance3	mood_confused	scold

Social Accomplishments that Yield Emotes:

• Fire-Breather: If you recieve 100 cheers you get the /firebreath emote.
  Max gain: 5 times per day.
• Hero: If you recieve 100 bows you get the /heropose emote.
  Max gain: 5 times per day.
• Juggler: Get laughed at 200 times you get the /juggle emote.
  Max gain: 6 times per day.
• Swordsalute: Get saluted 100 times you get the /swordsalute emote.
  Max gain: 5 times per day.

Social Accomplishments that Yield Titles:

• Adorable: Get hugged 100 times, and get the title of "the Adorable".
  Max gain: 5 times per day.
• Alluring: Get flirted with 100 times, and get the title of "the Alluring".
  Max gain: 5 times per day.
• Befuddling: Be the target of /confused 100 times, and get the title of "the Befuddling".
  Max gain: 5 times per day.
• Beloved: Get kissed 100 times, and get the title of "the Beloved".
  Max gain: 5 times per day.
• Dull: Be the target of /bored 100 times, and get the title of "the Dull".
  Max gain: 5 times per day.
• Harrassed: Be the target of /beg 100 times, and get the title of "the Harrassed".
  Max gain: 5 times per day.
• Helpful: Get thanked 100 times, and get the title of "the Helpful".
  Max gain: 5 times per day.
• Infuriating: Be the target of /angry 100 times, and get the title of "the Infuriating".
  Max gain: 5 times per day.
• Insulted: Be the target of /rude 200 times, and get the title of "the Insulted".
  Max gain: 6? times per day.
• Intimidating: Be the target of /cower 40 times, and get the title of "the Intimidating".
  Max gain: 2 times per day.
• Naughty: Get /scold 100 times, and get the title of "the Naughty".
  Max gain: 5 times per day.
• Ridiculed: Get /mock 100 times, and get the title of "the Ridiculed".
  Max gain: 5 times per day.
• Victorious: Be the target of /surrender 40 times, and get the title of "the Victorious".
Max gain: 2 times per day.