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LotRO gives us a glimpse into Isengard's Dunland
Dunland, one of Lord of the Rings Online: Rise of Isengard's three new zones, promises to be a treat for bold Hobbits and nebbish Elves alike. Today we've gotten a better picture of what Dunland will look like as Turbine's released six screenshots giving us a feel for the wide range of vistas we'll be encountering. Dunland is located at the southern reaches of the Misty Mountains, with hilly, swampy and woodsy areas awaiting our discovery. The zone is dominated by the many clans of the Dunland peoples who are being tempted by Saruman into joining the forces of the Enemy. We've got a little over two months to go until LotRO's latest expansion hits the streets, so take your time to peruse all six of these new screenshots in the gallery below: %Gallery-9579%
The Road to Mordor: Rating Eriador
Lately I've been playing world traveler with my level 43 Lore-master as he's bouncing all over Middle-earth in what used to be the high-level zones of the game: Trollshaws, Angmar, Forochel, Misty Mountains, and Eregion. Once again, I'm struck by just how cohesive this place feels -- it's not a collection of Sonic the Hedgehog-themed areas (Green Zone 1, Lava Zone 4, etc.) but a world that connects together in a tangible, real way. Even though it's fiction. Until November 2008, Eriador was the only place in Middle-earth that we could explore, and although some criticized Lord of the Rings Online for not shipping with, well, every locale in J.R.R. Tolkien's imaginarium open for business, it was a smart decision. The devs could take this section of the world and focus on building depth and detail instead of spreading it thin, like butter scraped over too much bread. As a result, Eriador remains a wonderful starting point -- not to mention the bulk of any current player's journey -- and many of us have grown attached to these familiar sights and sounds as a result. Today I'd like to take a brief overview of all of Eriador's zones (we'll leave Rhovanion for another day) and rate them from best to worst in terms of zone design, questing, and that slippery cool-factor that's hard to define. Where would I suggest a summer vacation home and where would be an ideal spot for a penal colony? Hit the jump and let's run it down.
The Road to Mordor: Will our journey take us back to The Hobbit?
The next few years promise to be exciting ones for fans of Middle-earth. Ever since The Return of the King debuted in theaters in 2003, audiences have clamored for more of Tolkien on the big screen -- specifically, The Hobbit. After nearly a decade of back-and-forth negotiating and legal entanglements, it appears that this The Hobbit movies are finally going to happen, with Sir Peter Jackson once again in the director's chair and Martin Freeman taking on the lead role as Bilbo. That's smashing news for movie buffs, but what does this have to do with Lord of the Rings Online -- y'know, that MMO we sometimes talk about in this column? It could be "very little," with Turbine proceeding on its merry way and perhaps enjoying the free boost to playership as movie buffs hunt around for a game to extend the experience. However, if the company were smart, it would be laying out the groundwork right now to synergize the heck out of the movie with a similar in-game experience. For a while now, I've been chewing on the notion that Turbine could incorporate the events, locations and characters of The Hobbit into LotRO -- in fact, several of the key pieces are already in place. Could our journey in LotRO eventually take us back to the era of Bilbo's grand adventure? How would such a thing even work? Hit the jump and I will smack your brain so hard with ideas that you'll forget all of your piano lessons. It's OK -- you didn't really need them.
The Road to Mordor: Frolicking in Forochel
Call me weird, but I am an absolute sucker for winter zones in MMORPGs. For me, the season of winter always evokes a lot of powerful feelings as the landscape is transformed, homes are a sanctuaries for warmth, and hardiness becomes a desirable trait. A zone filled with ice and snow screams to me desolation and death -- more so than a fire or volcano one -- but in a beautiful way. It's no wonder, then, that I've become entranced with Forochel in Lord of the Rings Online. Added to the game in April of 2008, Forochel became a bit of an anomaly in the LotRO experience. It was a (then) max-level area that was off the beaten path, created to cater to solo players seeking adventure. In fact, if the epic story hadn't taken us to Forochel in Volume 1 Book 13, I doubt many players would have sought it out on their own. It's a shame if that's the case, because Forochel offers both breathtaking vistas and a unique questing experience that should be encountered at least once in your LotRO career.
The Daily Grind: What are your plans for Moria?
On Tuesday, players will be able to experience Turbine's eagerly-anticipated new expansion for The Lord of the Rings Online, Mines of Moria. With two new classes, the Warden and Rune-Keeper, tons of new content and lore to explore, and new monsters to slay, players are excited about all the goodness about to come. With new classes, a trip into the dark and foreboding Misty Mountains, and new legendary items, what's not to love?Of course, with any new expansion comes a few questions. Will you be shelving your beloved adventurer(s) to roll one of the two new character classes? Will you stick with the character you've worked hard at and continue onwards? Perhaps take a couple of days off to really sink your teeth into all the delicious newness that Moria has to offer and do both! What are your plans for Moria's launch?
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.
Visit LotRO's dangerous High Pass
The Lord of the Rings Online site is featuring the High Pass in its "Exploring Middle-earth" series. Located in the Misty Mountains, near the Vale of Imladris, it used to be the most commonly traveled route through the area. Lately however, it has become overrun by goblins and giants. In fact, the LotRO site reminds us that it was in this area that Thorin and company had to get away from some boulder-hurling giants -- and anyone that has been around giants in-game will know that they still maintain this annoying habit.There is a small encampment (pictured) at High Pass that offers some quests, and is a good area to visit in the mid to upper 40's. It's also not a bad place to do your selling before or after a trip to Goblin-town, which isn't too far away. Visit the official site to find out more about the history of the area.
Lorebook entry spotlights fire-master Glin, father of Gimli
A new Lord of the Rings Online Lorebook entry is up and focuses on a character this time around. Glóin is a Dwarven fire-maker who traveled with Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit, however he is also featured in the later the Lord of the Rings trilogy as well -- lets not forget he's also the father of Gimli. In LotRO, he can be found holding down his fort against the Dourhands in the Misty Mountains. The reason for his presence there is to clear out the Dourhands so that the passage through the mountains would be safe. Although such work really has no end, which is why many quests await players who travel to the fortress.This new Lorebook entry not only gives us a google map location of Glóin, but it also breaks down the quests that he's involved with -- which is incredibly cool.
One Shots: Racing across the snowy wastes
With the surprising amount of news coming out this weekend, we've decided to ride far and wide to find a different perspective on One Shots for today. This screenshot is actually from the oft-shown Lord of the Rings Online, but involving a road less-traveled. Here's what Maerlin of Brandywine had to say about today's image:This is a screenshot of the northern expanse of the Misty Mountains. This particular area is pretty much a barren wasteland except for the occasional rare spawn mob that drops the oh-so-coveted Beryl Shard.We think it's interesting to see this image and contrast it against some of the other LotRO screens we've shown. While we knew certain areas of Middle-earth were gorgeous, we were wondering where the wastelands of the story were at! If you have a road less-traveled that you'd like to share with the rest of us, feel free to send those screens in to us at oneshots@massively.com. We love to see the unusual too!%Gallery-9798%
One Shots: An awkward moment
Today's Lord of the Rings Online One Shots comes to us from Maerlin of Brandywine. We really aren't quite sure what to make of it, save that this NPC giant apparently didn't read our column yesterday on the best ways to (discreetly) handle virtual romance! There again, we wouldn't have such a strange screenshot to share with you today if he had. As Maerlin told us:I was traversing the Misty Mountains when I came upon a Giant and his pet. I quietly excused myself and ran as fast as I possibly could in the other direction. I hold this picture as blackmail whenever I have to pass through this particular Giant's territory.We don't know if we'd have had the courage (or is it the stomach, perhaps?) to snap this particular screenshot, but it certainly gave some of us a good chuckle. If you're feeling brave, and would like to show off some of your blackmail photos, or just fun and funny things you've seen in your game of choice, then send those screenshots in to us here at oneshots@massively.com! Without your screens, we have to pilfer the screenshot folders of the staff here -- and they get really edgy when we go near their screenshot folders for some reason... %Gallery-9798%
LotRO Vault maps Goblin Town, where Gollum be sneakin'
Turbine's Book 11 update for The Lord of the Rings Online included an impressive amount of content. It had player housing, a new instance called The Rift of Nûrz Ghâshu, and class updates for the Minstrel and Lore-master classes. It also introduced Goblin Town , the place where Bilbo was captured in The Hobbit, into the game-world.LOTRO Vault has posted a map of Goblin Town. From the Slave Pens to Gollum's Cave, they've got it all covered. If this is all new to you, you might want to also check out LOTRO Vault's directory of Book 11 screenshots of High Pass and Goblin Town too. Gorgeous.The Book updates keep chipping away farther and farther into the eastern parts of Eriador. Could Moria be next? We hope so. We wants it!
