As of Book 13, The Lord of the Rings Online is set during The Fellowship of the Ring. The player starts simultaneously with Frodo and company leaving The Shire. Later on the timeline freezes with the Fellowship waiting for their departure in Rivendell. Players are able to meet the characters from Tolkien's story, including all of the Fellowship at varying points in-game.
In the initial release, only the area of Eriador was available. Eriador was further divided in Ered Luin, The Shire, Breeland (this included the area around Bree, the Old Forest and the Barrow-downs), North Downs (Fornost), Lone Lands (the area around Amon S?l), Trollshaws (the area surrounding Rivendell), Misty Mountains (including Goblin Town), Angmar and the Ettenmoors. The Shores of Evendim update added the region surrounding Lake Evendim and Ann¨²minas, about 100 miles north of the Shire. Book 13, Doom of the Last King added Forochel, a snowy tundra, as a new zone. Expansion packs will follow the journey of the Fellowship: Rhovanion, Rohan, Gondor, and Mordor.