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Fellowships versus soloing in LotRO epic storylines
Many of you will have completed Lord of the Rings Online's latest epic storyline from Book 11 by now, and you may have found that you could accomplish this task all on your lonesome. This topic was raised on LotRO's official forums, and whilst the initial poster was against the idea of a solo-able epic quest, the overwhelming response of the thread was that of people who had finished soloing it and loved it, or those that didn't realize it could be done alone and were keen to log in and get started.To date, most of the Books have been composed of a mix of solo and fellowship portions, and this was reinforced for future books later in the thread by a member of Turbine's LotRO team, MadeOfLions (fantastic name by the way), who said, "we're letting the needs of the story dictate the group sizes, rather than the other way around", and also that Book 12 should be a return to a more fellowship-oriented quest line.It's nice to have a mix between the two formats, solo and grouped, because let's face it -- a fellowship isn't always available -- and with Book 11 giving my class of choice, the Minstrel, a little more solo-power, I enjoy having only one life bar to watch over for a change.
One Shots: Representing the Shire
I can already hear the complaints of the non-LotRO fans in the audience. Two Lord of the Rings Online shots in a row? In my defense, I can only say that I take submissions and this happens to be what I'm getting. This shot, sent in by reader Ronald, is taken in the town of Budgeford in the Shire. This precise sort of pastoral landscape is what embodies the Shire -- or that and nosy, busybody (albeit charming) Hobbits. The Shire's boisterous community is lacking from this shot, but I can only say it's all the more peaceful for it.But perhaps you have a screenshot of your own that you think expresses a unique or memorable moment in your favorite MMO? Send them to us with a description (including game name and location) and you may see it posted here for tomorrow's One Shots.%Gallery-9798%
Live events in DDO tomorrow night
Reader Schad dropped us a note about some live events going down in Dungeons and Dragons Online this weekend. If you haven't heard yet, be sure to bring a full party of level 7 or higher to Sorrowdusk Isle tomorrow night (times for each server are listed there), and expect to have some fun and "keep any items you find in your explorations." You know what that means-- phat lootz inc!I haven't played DDO all that much myself, but I do love a good live event, and I especially love not only the fact that this is set in the Eberron setting (I DM'd a pen and paper game in Eberron, and I know it well), but the way they've implemented these live events-- as chapters in a roleplaying story. Fun! If you do head out to this event (or any others, be sure to report back here with screenshots-- either email them to our One Shots feature or just drop us a line at the contact form. If you do head out to Sorrowdusk Isle tomorrow night, have fun and be careful!
Tom Bombadil skips his way into the Lorebook
Tom Bombadil is one of the most mysterious and bizarre characters in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth canon. Nobody, not even Tolkien himself, knows exactly what he is or what he represents, but he's depicted in such an impacting way that some readers theorized he might even be a manifestation of Middle-earth's God himself. Most Tolkien aficionados reject this theory, but nevertheless it speaks to the power of the character.Bombadil lives in the game world of The Lord of the Rings Online as an important quest NPC in the Old Forest, and he's the subject of the latest official Lorebook entry from Turbine. The entry matches the excellence of previous ones and is worth a read if you want to know a little bit about this pivotal figure in LotRO's lore.
One Shots: Weathertop
If you're familiar with the stories or the movies that Lord of the Rings Online is based on, you may know this location. This screenshot brings us to the peak of Weathertop, which you will know if you've any experience with The Lord of the Rings in any media. But for those in the audience who still aren't sure what I'm talking about, I'll explain with a quote from The Fellowship of the Ring:It is a hill, just to the north of the Road, about half way from here to Rivendell. It commands a wide view all round; and there we shall have a chance to look about us.Being that one of my favorite aspects of LotRO is the fact that I can adventure through well-known places from the story makes this shot meaningful to any versed in LotR-lore. But perhaps you have a screenshot of your own that you think expresses a unique or memorable moment in your favorite MMO? Send them to us with a description (including game name and location) and you may see it posted here for tomorrow's One Shots.%Gallery-9798%
Conclusion to The Rift loot guide
We've reached part four of TenTonHammer's guide to the equipment obtained in Lord of the Rings Online's new raid zone, The Rift of Nurz Ghashu. In this final update, it is Hunters, Captains, and Burglars whose eyes will light up, as their new class-specific armor sets are examined in detail. The three classes will receive the "Doom-Hunter" set, the "Armor of the North Star", and the "Thrill-Seeker" set, respectively. As with the other Rift gear we've had a look at, these sets are some of the best equipment in the game. Each gem that is handed in for gear will be needed by each class, and will always result in the same slot of armor. For example, a Sparkling Diamond is what is used for the glove-slot armor of every class. This does make it a bit easier to keep track of than in some other games, where the same quest item may equal different types of armor for different classes, and a whole raid can stall while people struggle to figure out if it's something they need or not.So if the thought of slaying a Balrog isn't enough of an incentive for you to try and assemble your guild at The Rift (it isn't?) then hopefully the lure of these epic lewts will draw you to this exciting new content. Part four of the guide -- for hunters, burglars and captains -- is found through the related story link, and if you didn't get to see our previous posts, here is our coverage of part one, part two and part three.
LotRO gets gold edition, Europe only
All that is gold does not glitter -- unless you happen to live in Europe. As of this week, Lord of the Rings Online: Gold Edition is now available across Europe, but it's been confirmed as exclusive to the region.The Gold Edition contains all the bells & whistles you'd expect: a Book 11 version of the game with a 45 day subscription, three unique in-game items for use in the Book 11 Housing, and a unique in-game mount -- the Bree Horse.But what's slightly unusual is that you can use the new mount a full ten levels earlier than you gain the Riding trait in LotRO, without paying a dime for it. Admittedly, the Bree Horse comes with different stats -- but it still must be a little vexing to those outside of Europe.Is the Gold Edition going to be enough to convince you to pick up LotRO? Or if you're elsewhere in the world, do you wish this had got a release where you live?Further details about the Gold Edition can be found in the recent LotRO devchat.
LotRO landmarks: Ost Guruth
The environments that Turbine have created for Lord of the Rings Online are obviously crafted with love, always including intricate little details for the fans, so we don't blame them for wanting to show them off. The official LotRO website is running a series called "Exploring Middle Earth" where different landmarks in the game are showcased and described for aspiring travelers. If you've been occupied with the flood of brand spanking new content, this is a nice way of revisiting the roots of the game. The most recent episode features the fortress-ruins of Ost Guruth.Ost Guruth is situated in the Lone-lands, and is a questing hub for levels 20-30, featuring portions of the game's Epic storyline -- but it's more than that too. Exploring Middle Earth hopes to give players an understanding of the lore and history of their favorite zones, and to that end, we learn that the ruins you see now at Ost Guruth belie a mighty past. They were in fact a castle that ended up being a casualty of war... but we won't spoil the details here. You can enjoy the full article via the related story link.Oh, and since we're just now catching up on Exploring Middle Earth (and the earlier entries were from prior to Massively's launch), check out others in the series such as Barad Gúlaran and The Eavespires.
Massively's massive giveaways: Win a lifetime of Lord of the Rings Online
For our latest series of giveaways, we're about Turbine! If you're not familiar with Turbine's games, we're already giving away copies of LotRO, copies of DDO, and copies of Asheron's Call -- so if you're interested in giving any of these games a spin, here's your chance to get started! But while we're out of games to give away, we're just now getting to the best prize of the bunch: a lifetime subscription to Lord of the Rings Online! To win this fabulous prize, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post between now and 9:00 PM EST tomorrow, November 8th. We'll pick one commenter to get a lifetime's worth of Lord of the Rings Online. (To be eligible to win you must be a US resident of age 18 or older -- please check our official rules for full details!)
Massively's massive giveaways: Don't fear the Ringwraiths
For our latest series of giveaways, we're looking at you, Turbine! If you're not familiar with Turbine's games, we're already giving away copies of LotRO, copies of DDO, and copies of Asheron's Call -- so if you're interested in giving any of these games a spin, here's your chance to get started! We're out of games to give away, but no fear -- we have other swag to offer! Right now we're giving away two Lord of the Rings Online t-shirts (sized XL) to two lucky commenters. To win, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling us where you'd wear your swanky new t-shirt between now and 7:00 PM EST tomorrow, November 8th. (To be eligible to win you must be a US resident of age 18 or older -- please check our official rules for full details!)
The Rift loot guide part three lists Minstrel, Lore-master goodies
Ten Ton Hammer has been giving us the lowdown on all the shiny new gear LotRO players can acquire in The Rift of Nûrz Ghâshu, the new raid instance Turbine added to the game in the Book 11 update. First they listed the coin rewards. Second, it was the gem rewards for Guardians and Champions. They've just launched part three and this time they're covering all the sweetness Minstrels and Lore-masters can acquire with the elusive gems that drop in the instance.Lore-masters can get a new armor set awesomely and appropriately called "The Elder Days," which gives mad stat boosts as well as some shadow damage mitigation. Minstrels can gather up the pieces of a suit of armor called the "Armour of the Wandering Bard," which provides similarly sweet stat bonuses and tactical critical modifiers. There are new weapons for both classes as well.It's excellent gear, and all this on top of all the other lovin' Minstrels and Lore-masters got in Book 11. We'll let you know when part four of the guide hits the streets.
Massively's massive giveaways: More from Middle Earth
For our latest series of giveaways, we're looking at you, Turbine! If you're not familiar with Turbine's games, we're already giving away copies of LotRO, copies of DDO, and copies of Asheron's Call -- so now's a good time to catch up on their gaming resume. We're out of games to give away, but no fear -- we have other swag to send your way! Right now we're giving away a copy of the official Lord of the Rings Online strategy guide from Prima Games. To win, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post between now and 5:00 PM EST tomorrow, November 8th. We'll pick one commenter to get a copy of the official game guide. (To be eligible to win you must be a US resident of age 18 or older -- please check our official rules for full details!)
Massively's massive giveaways: Asheron's Call
For our current series of giveaways, we're talking about everything Turbine -- and for those of you who haven't had the chance to enjoy playing their games, we're giving some away! So if you haven't had a chance to try out Asheron's Call, you're in luck, because we're giving away two copies of Asheron's Call: Throne of Destiny. To win, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post between now and 3:00 PM EST tomorrow, November 8th. We'll pick two commenters to take home a copy of AC! (To be eligible to win you must be a US resident of age 18 or older -- please check our official rules for full details!) Not interested in Asheron's Call? Well, we're also giving away copies of LotRO and copies of DDO -- with more Turbine giveaways showing up throughout the day!
Massively's massive giveaways: Dungeons & Dragons Online
For our current series of giveaways, we're talking Turbine -- and for those of you who haven't had the chance to enjoy playing their games, we're giving some away! So if you haven't had a chance to try out Dungeons and Dragons Online, you're in luck, because we're giving away two copies. To win, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post between now and 1:00 PM EST tomorrow, November 8th. We'll pick two commenters to take home a copy of DDO! (To be eligible to win you must be a US resident of age 18 or older -- please check our official rules for full details!) Not interested in DDO? Well, we're also giving away copies of LotRO -- with more Turbine giveaways throughout the day!
Massively's massive giveaways: Into the Shire we go!
For our next series of giveaways, it's all about Turbine, makers of Asheron's Call, Dungeons and Dragons Online, and Lord of the Rings Online. If you haven't had a chance to enjoy any of these games, you're in luck: because we have copies of all of them to give away. We'll start out with the most recent, Lord of the Rings Online. To win, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post between now and 11:00 AM EST tomorrow, November 8th. We'll pick two commenters to send a copy of LotRO to! (To be eligible to win you must be a US resident of age 18 or older -- please check our official rules for full details!)We have more giveaways planned throughout the day -- so keep checking back for more prizes from Turbine!
LotRO's official forums just got more efficient
You asked, they delivered; it's nice when that happens once in a while. Turbine has opened up server-specific Kinship and Trade forums for The Lord of the Rings Online on their official community site. Up to this point the general topic forums for the different servers have been filled to the brim with posts by people recruiting into or looking for kinships. Many servers attempted to clean up the clutter by sticky-ing threads dedicated to kinship recruiting, but it didn't solve the problem completely.Now you can advertise your outrageously priced Tolkien-ganja on the forums while also looking for a hobbit-only RP guild dedicated completely to farming and smoking said pipe weed. No, really, that sort of stuff actually exists in LotRO.
DDO team announces more updates for Module 6
Developers at Turbine added a few small notes to the Dungeons & Dragons Online Module 6 updates list today. There's not a lot that's changed from the previous list, but there are a few good bugfixes and improvements to the UI worth nothing. Greater two weapon fighting will now enable a new left hand attack hook, self targeting spells will no longer ever be "blocked," and there's also a new Conjuration (Healing) spell in the game called "Seek Eternal Rest." Available to Clerics at 2 and Paladins at 1, it grants a +4 Sacred bonus to turning undead. Back off, zombies!Are you all excited about this update? I have no idea what kind of audience DDO still has-- I tried it once and liked how closely it stuck to D&D proper, but didn't find it interesting enough to stick around for long. I liked the fact that they tried active combat, but it just didn't vibe too well with me for the short time I tried it. Do we have a dedicated DDO audience in the house, or has everyone moved on?
LotRO reps talk demographics, casual play, console plans
Yesterday Gamasutra published a five page interview about The Lord of the Rings Online with Turbine's Jeffrey Steefel and Adam Mersky.According to the interview, one third of LotRO players are over 35 because the license drew people new to MMOs -- people who came for "The Lord of the Rings first, the MMO second." Fans of LotRO often claim the game's community is more mature than that of competing games. "Sometimes game communities can be rough, just because of the nature of the competitiveness and the nature of the age range of people playing, and this is a pretty mature, fun place to be a part of," said Steefel.Steefel and Mersky also talked about the challenges of dealing with gold farmers, what the real definition of "casual games" might be, the pluses and minuses of adapting a famous work of literature, the competition, and Turbine's option to produce massively multiplayer games for consoles. As is the case with most Gamasutra interviews, the discussion is an excellent read if you want an inside look.
Part 2 of LotRO 'The Rift' loot guide
The second part of TenTonHammer's Lord of the Rings Online loot guide has been posted. Part one had a look at rift-coins and the rewards associated with them, but now we're getting to the really good stuff -- gems. Gems can be handed in for class-specific items, both armor and weapons. However, as each gem will be required by every class, expect to be raiding a while before you've finished your set.This chapter of the guide details the loot that Guardians and Champions can look forward to. The guide shows the stats on each piece, and lists the set bonuses gained by wearing more of the pieces at once. There is also a table that shows which bosses drop which gems, and noted here is the fact that one of the bosses (as of the writing of the guide) is not giving up his gem.The bugged encounter should yield a Dazzling Emerald, and the fact that he isn't translates into the shoulder pieces from each set currently being unavailable. No doubt, as reports are being sent in about the issue, it will be fixed soon enough. Click the related story to get a list of the item sets for Guardians and Champions, and we will keep an eye out for the next installment, which will cover another handful of classes.
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!
