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LotRO dev chat reveals a bit more on Book 14 and Mines of Moria
The latest House of Commons dev chat has finished for Lord of the Rings Online, and in this one we get a few more small glimpses into what we can expect with Book 14. The usual suspects -- Keth, Scenario, Patience and Avon -- were on-hand to answer player questions live at Stratics.Most of the questions delivered by players concerned seasonal events, as this seems to be extremely popular lately. The devs say there will be another event this summer, and a "scary" event in the fall, presumably for Halloween. They go on to explain some details of Book 14, citing the fact that it will mainly be compiled of small changes and bug fixes in anticipation of the first paid expansion for LotRO: Mines of Moria. This expansion's two new classes -- the Warden and the Runekeeper -- are also explained in relation to their class roles.
LotRO interview reveals more on Book 14
In the second part of MMORPG's interview with Lord of the Rings Online's Executive Producer Jeffrey Steefel, we learn more about the final stages of development with LotRO's Book 14. Steefel discusses exactly how this final book of the first volume will unfold before the Mines of Moria expansion arrives on the scene. He also mentions the fact that Moria will not be considered Book 15, but instead be referred to as the first book of Volume 2.Despite the wild success of the fishing system, there will not be another hobby introduced until Moria, he says. The live event system, which has been in under-the-radar development since launch, is the largest focus of Book 14 . With a little help from their cohorts at Asheron's Call, they will build a new event-triggering system based on a number of variables including a schedule, a time of day, a specific day or other in-game triggers. This feature seems to add more dimension to what has already proven to be one of the most incredible parts of this immersive game.
More Jeffrey Steefel goodness regarding the Korean LotRO launch
In line with the recent interview at MMORPG.com, Lord of the Rings Online's Jeffrey Steefel speaks in another interview with Ten Ton Hammer regarding the plans to bring LotRO to Korean audiences. This is something that has been discussed for quite a long time now, but with the Korean release imminent, we now get into the details of this launch and what LotRO hopes to offer to this specific audience.One of the most important points made in this article is the projected number of players who could potentially be involved with this game at launch. While Steefel is reluctant to give figures, he says that with half the population of Korea playing online games (which would be a potential market of almost 37 million people), "the numbers could be astounding," he says.
Changes to Monster Play in LotRO's Book 14
Considering the fact that Lord of the Rings Online's Book 14 should be just around the corner, it's always great to get those little tidbits of information fed to us from the devs to keep us excited. This time though, we get fed a whole lot more than just a tidbit, we get some detailed information on some important changes that will be made to Monster Play with Book 14.First there's the updates to crowd control and diminishing returns, namely the fact that root and daze effects will now share diminishing returns. Then there's the new revamp of the Weaver in PvMP, giving what promises to be a monster class that is more effective in battle. Finally, what we've all been waiting for: emotes for the monsters! This large list includes such favorites as cheer, dance1 and tantrum. It's certainly about time the monsters got a little RP love, too!
LotRO dev chat log gives more insight into Book 14 and Mines of Moria
The Stratics team is at it once again bringing us the most recent House of Commons dev chat log with the LotRO developers. In this one, we get some treats in regards to Book 14 information, and the highly-anticipated first true expansion to the game: Mines of Moria.So we're all busy people right? How about a quick summary of the topics in this log? An improved Monster Play login screen is in the works, with no definite timeframe yet. Since Book 13 focused so much on solo play, expect Book 14 to refocus on group play. Three new 6-man instances will be be introduced, as well as new deeds for the Urugarth, Carn Dum, Barad Gularan and Annuminas instances. Two new session instances will be introduced. These will not be at the level of the chicken play, but they do have plans for several more with MoM. One of the core focuses with MoM is character customization and improvements as far as traits and new features. The next Hobby is almost ready, with many more to come. Poison will not be introduced for the good guys, as it is restricted in Tolkien lore to evil use only. Check out the rest of this dev chat log for more information on each of these topics!
A sneak peek at LotRO's Book 14
Book 13 hasn't even released yet and we're already salivating over Book 14 and the first LotRO paid expansion: The Mines of Moria. In a recent interview with Executive Producer Jeffery Steefel, we learn a few more details on the upcoming expansion and a sneak peek into Book 14.The Mines of Moria will open up several new regions to explore, including Lothlorian and Eregion as well. The main focus will be on Moria of course, which will expand above and below the Misty Mountains in a series of tunnels and underground chambers to keep your characters cautious of what lies around each and every corner. Of course before Moria, we will be treated to Book 14 where players will explore the ring forge in Eregion where the three rings of the Elves were made. The Shadows of Angmar storyline will conclude with this book, yet tie into Moria and what it has to offer our stalwart fellowship on their way to Mordor.
