Hint-A-Week: A Touch of Etiquette

There are two major points of etiquette that everyone should follow in-game:
1. Never blindly invite folks into a fellowship.
2. Never interfere in a fight.

Blind Invites
While the folks in LOTRO are an extremely helpful, amicable bunch, it is considered very rude to blindly invite folks into a fellowship, and you'll often end up on an ignore list.

Blindly inviting people is a bit presumptuous: it suggests that your needs are more important than those of the people who you are inviting, that they should drop everything to help you. And just because a level 65 is running around The Shire doesn't mean they are available.

For courtesy's sake, send a /tell first: ask for help, rather than demand it.

One exception is if you're in an area with another person, and it's obvious that you both are doing the same quest. If you have time, though, ask first; it doesn't hurt to request a fellowship. If they decline, don't push the issue.

Tagging
Tagging is interfering with a fight. Interference includes not just bringing your weapon to bear, but also throwing heals (either morale or power) to another player. Any interference will immediately reduce the XP of the person you help by half - and, of course, you'll get no XP for your kindness.

If someone needs help, wait until they are out of the fight - or just ask.