Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Looking at the brighter Moria in Lord of the Rings Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/looking-at-the-brighter-moria-in-lord-of-the-rings-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/looking-at-the-brighter-moria-in-lord-of-the-rings-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/looking-at-the-brighter-moria-in-lord-of-the-rings-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

LotRO
Does Lord of the Rings Online's Moria benefit from a brighter night-light? The folks over at A Casual Stroll to Mordor went on the test server to investigate just how different the underground zones look now that Turbine's gone back to give the area additional lighting effects.

The fansite examines four different locales on both the live and test server and took screenshots to document the changes. The Great Delving, Silvertine Lodes, The Waterworks, and Durin's Way are the stops on the tour, and out of all of them, Silvertine is the most noticeably brighter.

"While playing, I can say that I do feel like it's easier to see," Goldenstar writes. "I don't know if I would fall into 'it's too bright' category. It still feels like Moria to me."

A revamp to half of Moria is planned with Update 7. Head on over and check out the differences for yourself!

MassivelyLooking at the brighter Moria in Lord of the Rings Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 May 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordorcompare-and-contrastf2pfantasyfree-to-playlightinglord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriamoriamoria-brighteningmoria-revampmoria-updatepatch-7shades-of-the-pastturbineturbine-entertainmentupdateupdate-7Mon, 07 May 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO video rock stars could win fame, glory, and Turbine Points]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/lotro-video-rock-stars-could-win-fame-glory-and-turbine-points/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/lotro-video-rock-stars-could-win-fame-glory-and-turbine-points/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/lotro-video-rock-stars-could-win-fame-glory-and-turbine-points/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LotRO
Do you consider yourself a rock star within your MMO? Do men and women swoon upon your approach? Does a soundtrack ring out exalting your triumphs with every step you take? Do you carry a Sharpie around at all times to autograph body parts? Then you probably have an ego problem or something.

For everyone else, A Casual Stroll to Mordor is calling on creative talents to come up with fun "I am a rockstar" videos for Lord of the Rings Online -- and the site is willing to pay handsomely for the best efforts. Players are tasked with making a rock star-themed commercial, which can be any shade of serious or funny, and submitting it for a chance to win in-game store cash. Two Turbine Point cards, valued at 2500 and 1500 TP, are up for the first and second place winners.

Entries for the contest are due by February 17th. There are several rules for prospective video-makers, so head on over to CSTM for the full details.

MassivelyLotRO video rock stars could win fame, glory, and Turbine Points originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordorcontestcstmf2pfree-to-playi-am-a-rock-stari-am-a-rockstarlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromake-a-videosharpieturbineturbine-entertainmentvideo-contestFri, 03 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Convenience, not advantage]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/21/the-road-to-mordor-convenience-not-advantage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/21/the-road-to-mordor-convenience-not-advantage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/21/the-road-to-mordor-convenience-not-advantage/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

LotRO
Prior to Lord of the Rings Online's free-to-play implementation, players were raising concerns of potential abuse of the F2P model and the LotRO store in particular. The CM at the time, Patience, posted a now-infamous response stated that Turbine was about selling "convenience, not advantage" in the store. I thought it was a terrific stance to take (and still is, for any F2P MMO dabbling in microtransactions). It wasn't long, however, before the thread was purged from the forums entirely, although the playerbase has held on to those three words to this day.

That phrase has echoed in my head over the past week, ever since we heard that statted armor was coming to the in-game store. I've been among those who have championed Turbine's F2P model as the way to do things right -- to offer fluff, a la carte content and convenience without straying into so-called "pay to win" territory that has plagued cheaper games. But now I wonder if the new motto is "convenience and advantage," especially in light of several other questionable store selections that have been pushed through despite player resistance.

But let's concentrate on one topic today, that being the stat armor that's now available in the store. Is this strictly a "convenience" item that is meant to aid struggling lowbies, or does it represent the sale of a clear advantage for those who are OK with letting their money game for them? Are we making a mountain out of a molehill by discussing this, or is it far past time that something like this needs to be brought into the public discourse?

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Convenience, not advantage

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Convenience, not advantage originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordoradam-merskycraftingddodungeons-and-dragons-onlinef2pfeaturedfree-to-playin-game-storelord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-storepay-to-winsapiencestat-armorstatted-armorstoreturbineturbine-entertainmentSat, 21 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lord of the Rings Online's Update 5 invading Dunland next week]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/08/lord-of-the-rings-onlines-update-5-invading-dunland-next-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/08/lord-of-the-rings-onlines-update-5-invading-dunland-next-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/08/lord-of-the-rings-onlines-update-5-invading-dunland-next-week/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

LOTRO
Turbine's asking you out on a very special date next week -- December 12th, in fact. That's when the studio will show up to your door dressed in a sharp-looking tux, bearing flowers, and eager for you to head out on a magical tour around Middle-earth on a carriage ride.

It's on December 12th that Lord of the Rings Online will be releasing its first major post-Rise of Isengard patch, Update 5. The update comes loaded with endgame activities, including a huge instance cluster, an instance finder, and a new book in the epic storyline: Volume III, Book 5.

You can read more about Update 5 with our Turbine interview, head over to A Casual Stroll to Mordor to listen to what questions fans have about the patch, or check out the gallery below for five new screenshots of one of the instances, The Foundry.

[Source: Turbine press release]

Gallery: Lord of the Rings Online Core Gallery

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online's Update 5 invading Dunland next week originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordorf2pfree-to-playinstanceinstance-clusterinstance-finderinstancesinterviewlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroprince-of-rohanrise-of-isengardthe-prince-of-rohanturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-5Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lord of the Rings Online adding mount emotes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/lord-of-the-rings-online-adding-mount-emotes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/lord-of-the-rings-online-adding-mount-emotes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/lord-of-the-rings-online-adding-mount-emotes/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Lord of the Rings Online
Emotes: They're not just for Elves, Hobbits, Dwarves, and Men any longer. Naaay, Turbine is preparing to give emote love in Lord of the Rings Online to player mounts as well. Players' horses and goats will soon be able to rear up, kick, and bow with the best of them.

While the emotes are not yet available in the game, CM Sapience announced on the forums that players have a chance to win one for free through the LotRO lottos:
All weekend long we'll be running lotteries for the brand new, unreleased, Mounted Rear Up emote. That's right, Mount Emotes are coming to the LotRO Store! Enter the lotteries this weekend and you could win it for free, before your friends can buy it. You'll have a few weeks to show it off and brag before it hits the LotRO Store.

Check back often as new lotteries will be starting randomly throughout the weekend and on Halloween!
The LotRO lottery system is available on the my.lotro website.

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online adding mount emotes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordorf2pfree-to-playgiveawaylord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-lotterylotro-lottolotro-storemountmount-emotemount-emotesmountsmy.lotropromotionsapienceturbineturbine-entertainmentThu, 27 Oct 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine forums down, security breach rumors rampant]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/turbine-forums-down-security-breach-rumors-rampant/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/turbine-forums-down-security-breach-rumors-rampant/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/turbine-forums-down-security-breach-rumors-rampant/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- Lord of the Rings Online
A Casual Stroll to Mordor reports that Turbine has brought down the Lord of the Rings Online official forums due to a "potential issue in the forum system." But of course, in the MMO world, you can't just bring forums down without starting a few conspiracy theories.

Rumors abound that the forum outage may be linked to some sort of security breach. Of course, we repeat, and please do listen when we say, this is only a rumor and in no way has it been verified. If and when it is verified or dismissed, we promise to let you know. Until then, please remain calm and carry on. That is all.

MassivelyTurbine forums down, security breach rumors rampant originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordoracstmforum-outageforumslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrorumorrumorssecuritysecurity-breachturbineturbine-entertainmentWed, 12 Oct 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: 'Twas the night before Isengard...]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/the-road-to-mordor-twas-the-night-before-isengard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/the-road-to-mordor-twas-the-night-before-isengard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/the-road-to-mordor-twas-the-night-before-isengard/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Road to Mordor
I feel it. It's those excited butterflies that appear somewhere in my navel region when I realize that I'm on the verge of something new, fun, and possibly involving an alien xenomorph bursting out of my insides. It's the thrill of anticipation almost realized. For this time next week, we'll be well on our way to Isengard.

I've never been around for a Lord of the Rings Online expansion release, which makes this a first for me. Sure, I have my concerns about Rise of Isengard, but on the whole I'm ready to jump into an untamed region and explore the living deeds out of it. I'm not in a rush to get through it all and start raiding or anything, so my Lore-master will be taking his sweet time milking each quest for the calcium-rich story within. Oddly enough, I'm most excited about the prospect of cool new cosmetics because I have a sick obsession with them that's going to require a full-scale intervention.

I'm not quite sure how LotRO's third expansion will be taken by the larger community, and I probably won't know until the launch fever dies down and we evaluate how useful, entertaining, and engaging it is over the long term. I'm just glad we're moving forward.

In this week's Road to Mordor, I want to look back at the build-up to Isengard's release, what we know so far, and what changes are in store for our characters. Might as well tidy up the place since it's going to get hecka messy soon enough.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: 'Twas the night before Isengard...

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: 'Twas the night before Isengard... originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordorbetaclass-balanceclassescontestdraigochexpansionf2pfeaturedfree-to-playinstancesisengardlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromonster-playndapvmprise-of-isengardround-uproundupsarumanstoreturbineTurbine-Entertainmentturbine-storewrapupFri, 23 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Take a ride through LotRO's Gap of Rohan with a new walkthrough video]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/take-a-ride-through-lotros-gap-of-rohan-with-a-new-walkthrough/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/take-a-ride-through-lotros-gap-of-rohan-with-a-new-walkthrough/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/take-a-ride-through-lotros-gap-of-rohan-with-a-new-walkthrough/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Lord of the Rings Online: Rise of Isengard
Lord of the Rings Online is gearing up for the release of its next expansion, Rise of Isengard, and the fine folks at A Casual Stroll to Mordor have your needs covered. After the recent Dunland walkthrough video, the Gap of Rohan is up for display. Of course, fans of the series will recognize Rohan as the home of the horse-loving Rohirrim.

But even players encountering the lands of the Horse Lords for the first time will find plenty to love (and plenty to kill). The video shows off some gorgeous scenic landscapes, a variety of cities and settlements, and of course plenty of baddies just waiting to be whacked. Just saddle up and ride on past the cut for the full video.

Continue reading Take a ride through LotRO's Gap of Rohan with a new walkthrough video

MassivelyTake a ride through LotRO's Gap of Rohan with a new walkthrough video originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordoracstmf2pfree-to-playgap-of-rohanlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrorise-of-isengardrohanturbineturbine-entertainmentvideovideosMon, 19 Sep 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A visual tour through LotRO's Dunland]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/17/a-visual-tour-through-lotros-dunland/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/17/a-visual-tour-through-lotros-dunland/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/17/a-visual-tour-through-lotros-dunland/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Lord of the Rings Online
Excited for Lord of the Rings Online: Rise of Isengard's release, which is just a little over a week away? Us too, and you know how it is when you're jazzed about the future -- you want to devour every piece of info about it you can find.

That's why the good folks at A Casual Stroll to Mordor (now with 45% more Lembas bread) have decided to treat us to a stunning seven-and-a-half minute visual tour through the expansion's Dunland region. Set to classical music, the tour gives you a good idea of some of the varied and detailed locales we'll be encountering when Isengard goes live on September 27th.

So kick up your feet and hit the jump for a relaxing preview of the next evolution of the LotRO journey!

Continue reading A visual tour through LotRO's Dunland

MassivelyA visual tour through LotRO's Dunland originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordorexpansionlembaslembas-breadlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrorise-of-isengardtourturbineturbine-entertainmentvideovideo-tourSat, 17 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: NDA drop]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/02/the-road-to-mordor-nda-drop/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/02/the-road-to-mordor-nda-drop/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/02/the-road-to-mordor-nda-drop/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LotRO Draigoch
With last week's NDA drop, the last vestiges of secrecy surrounding this expansion were wiped away and the beta testers (including yours truly) were free to spill the Dwarven beans about Lord of the Rings Online's third expansion.

I know I was pretty critical of Rise of Isengard's scope in last week's Road to Mordor, but I want to make it clear that I'm pretty happy with the amount of pure PvE questing content that's on display here. LotRO's quests and epic storylines have always been the meat of this MMO, and even if Rise of Isengard is being served up with few garnishes, it's still looking to be a filling meal.

Today I want to check out what the community has to share about this expansion following the NDA drop, although apparently it's important to note that beta testers aren't allowed to share patch notes, videos, and excessive content. On Twitter, Sapience made it clear: "We have always held that an NDA drop is not 'open season.' It's fair game to share your experiences, opinions, and thoughts. Not endless screens, videos, copy and pasted posts/notes."

So let's focus on those "experiences, opinions, and thoughts" -- what do beta testers have to say about our upcoming journey into Dunland and beyond? Hit the jump and let's find out!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: NDA drop

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: NDA drop originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordorbetabeta-testersdoc-holidaydocholidaydunlandexpansionfeaturedgap-of-rohanisengardisengard-depthslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromirkwoodmoriandanda-dropnon-disclosure-agreementrise-of-isengardthekhazadguards-blogturbineturbine-entertainmentwulfs-cleftFri, 02 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lore-masters tune up their hogs to cruise the mean streets of Isengard]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/lore-masters-tune-up-their-hogs-to-cruise-the-mean-streets-of-is/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/lore-masters-tune-up-their-hogs-to-cruise-the-mean-streets-of-is/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/lore-masters-tune-up-their-hogs-to-cruise-the-mean-streets-of-is/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LotRO Lore-master
Lord of the Rings Online: Rise of Isengard is bringing plenty of class changes, tweaks, and updates to the table, and the hybrid Lore-master class is waiting for the dev love with arms wide open. While Turbine's talked about the class' increased ability to be a reliable off-healer, word is coming out of the beta that there are many more changes than just the ability to slap a bandage on a wounded ally.

A Casual Stroll to Mordor reports on how the improved skills function in play. These include the ability to stack up to three Burning Embers DoTs on a target, the combination of two Signs of Battle powers into one Wizard's Fire, a nice 10% buff to pet damage through Sign of the wild: Rage, and a much more versatile Improved Staff Sweep.

There's also word on the new Lore-master pet: a Limrafn. While Lore-masters were originally slated to receive an Auroch pet, apparently the common complaint about the pet's size ended up swaying Turbine's mind. The Limrafn is a floating ball of light that doesn't attack, but instead assists the Lore-master in the off-healing department.

Lore-masters will also see one of their lesser-utilized trait lines -- Keeper of Animals -- given much love in the form of tempting abilities and buffs.

MassivelyLore-masters tune up their hogs to cruise the mean streets of Isengard originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordorbetaclassclass-revampf2pfloating-lightbulb-of-sillinessfree-to-playhealerhealinghow-do-you-say-LimrafnLimrafnlmlord-of-the-rings-onlinelore-masterlotrooff-healerpetpet-classrise-of-isengardskill-revampskillsturbineTurbine-EntertainmentWed, 31 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: A talk with the crew of The Fellows Hip: Rise of the Gamers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/01/the-road-to-mordor-a-talk-with-the-crew-of-the-fellows-hip-ris/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/01/the-road-to-mordor-a-talk-with-the-crew-of-the-fellows-hip-ris/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/01/the-road-to-mordor-a-talk-with-the-crew-of-the-fellows-hip-ris/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Buzz has been increasing about an intriguing independent film that looks to blend Tolkien love, geek pride, and Lord of the Rings Online fandom into one epic adventure. Called The Fellows Hip: Rise of the Gamers, this movie is about a group of friends who undertake a journey to a convention in order to participate in a LotRO gaming competition (and stick it to some bullies while they're at it).

Many blogs, such as LOTRO Reporter and A Casual Stroll to Mordor, have promoted this up-and-coming film, and after seeing the trailer, we too became fascinated with what could be a fun movie that puts MMO gaming front and center.

One may not simply walk into Mordor, but with the right connections, one could phone the folks up there. We got on the line with three crew members for The Fellows Hip -- Ron Newcomb (producer, director and writer), Scott Mathais (producer and writer), and Shane McClung (producer) -- to see just what type of lovable insanity would cause a group of people to throw together such a movie.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: A talk with the crew of The Fellows Hip: Rise of the Gamers

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: A talk with the crew of The Fellows Hip: Rise of the Gamers originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordorconventiondragonconfan-filmfeaturedfred-savagegeekgeeksgooniesharry-potterindie-filminterviewjrr-tolkienlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-reportermiddle-earth-enterprisesmines-of-moriamonster-playmorianapoleon-dynamitenew-zealandpeter-jacksonpeter-parkerpvmppvprevenge-of-the-nerdsRon-NewcombScott-MathaisShane-McClungthe-fellows-hipthe-fellows-hip-rise-of-the-gamersthe-gooniesthe-wizardtolkientronturbineturbine-entertainmentzero-charismaFri, 01 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO musicians prepare for Weatherstock 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/05/lotro-musicians-prepare-for-weatherstock-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/05/lotro-musicians-prepare-for-weatherstock-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/05/lotro-musicians-prepare-for-weatherstock-2011/#commentsFiled under: ,

With summer almost upon us, the fair free folk of Middle-earth are gearing up for the largest player-organized in-game event of the year: Weatherstock 2011! Lord of the Rings Online adventurers from around the world will flock to the summit of Weathertop in the Lone-lands on the Landroval server to hear nine excellent outfits perform in an epic Battle of the Bands.

A Casual Stroll to Mordor has all of the essential details for this event, which runs from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday, June 18th. Among those contributing to the concert are The Green Hill Music Society, The Breakfast Club, and The Blackheart Pirates. Each band will perform a trio of songs (plus a possible encore) in an effort to take home one of three awards.

Weatherstock is made possible by LotRO's unique music system, which allows players to compose and perform songs with a variety of instruments. This is always a fun event, and the LotRO Lorebook has additional information for those attending (hint: turn off names!). Mark this on your calendar so that you don't miss the excellent tunes!

MassivelyLotRO musicians prepare for Weatherstock 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 05 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordorbandsbattle-of-the-bandbattle-of-the-bandsconcertcstmgreen-hill-music-societyin-game-eventlandrovallone-landslord-of-the-rings-onlinelorebooklotromusicmusic-systemplayer-eventplayer-eventsplayer-run-eventthe-blackheart-piratesthe-breakfast-clubturbineturbine-entertainmentweatherstockweatherstock-2011weathertopwoodstockSun, 05 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[In the beginning: Tester reminisces about LotRO's beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/in-the-beginning-tester-reminisces-about-lotros-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/in-the-beginning-tester-reminisces-about-lotros-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/in-the-beginning-tester-reminisces-about-lotros-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's always fun to sit back and recount the days of yore in video game land, especially when the MMOs of yore are yorely different than how those games are today. Haakon Stormbrow over at A Casual Stroll to Mordor has an interesting retrospective piece up about his time in Lord of the Rings Online's beta.

He takes us back to September 2006, when the game world was still being shaped by Turbine and many of the features and locales that we've come to know and love had yet to be implemented. Apart from old animations and cloak designs, the biggest difference in LotRO from today's version was how rough and unfinished the landscape looked.

Stormbrow recounts his exploration through Bree, Lone-lands, North Downs and even Angmar, noting how empty it was without mobs and how the devs had artificial walls to keep the testers from exploring where they shouldn't. By exploiting a few bugs, he and his friend were able to view the zones from heights that players today are simply unable to see:
Exploring a little further north, we found an area [that] had all sorts of buildings and statues and ruins and a waterplane about 100 feet in the air. When you walked under the water plane, you flew very quickly up to the plane and began swimming. Then when you swam off the edge, you floated back down to the ground.
If you're fascinated by the shaping of currently established MMO worlds, then do yourself a favor and give this article a read!

MassivelyIn the beginning: Tester reminisces about LotRO's beta originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 May 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordorangmarbetabeta-testerbreef2pfree-to-playHaakon-Stormbrowlone-landslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotronorth-downsturbineMon, 16 May 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO players take on project to catalogue the in-game store]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/10/lotro-players-take-on-project-to-catalogue-the-in-game-store/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/10/lotro-players-take-on-project-to-catalogue-the-in-game-store/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/10/lotro-players-take-on-project-to-catalogue-the-in-game-store/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ever since Lord of the Rings Online introduced its free-to-play model last fall, players have grappled with the new store interface and its many, many offerings. One of the biggest requests fans have had was for Turbine to post a list of the LotRO Store merchandise outside of the game, a request that has so far been ignored.

However, a group of enterprising players on Lotro-Wiki decided to pick up the ball and run with it. According to A Casual Stroll to Mordor, this community-driven project is well underway on the wiki with a list of hundreds of items already. Of course, the store's prices aren't always fixed in stone -- especially with deals and sales being posted all the time -- so the list should be read with that fact in mind.

Even though the LotRO Store catalogue is already lengthy, the creators of the project say that they have a ways to go and could use your help. If you have any interest in assisting, head on over to Lotro-Wiki and sign up!

MassivelyLotRO players take on project to catalogue the in-game store originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 May 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordorcommunity-drivendealsf2pfree-to-playin-game-storelord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-storelotro-wikistorestore-pricesturbineturbine-entertainmentTue, 10 May 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What in-game food do you wish you could eat?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/20/the-daily-grind-what-in-game-food-do-you-wish-you-could-eat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/20/the-daily-grind-what-in-game-food-do-you-wish-you-could-eat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/20/the-daily-grind-what-in-game-food-do-you-wish-you-could-eat/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I'll admit it, I'm oddly fascinated with food in MMOs. It's not just because boars are -- for whatever reason -- carrying fully cooked casseroles around. It's not even because our characters don't seem to eat for sustenance but rather gorge themselves for temporary stats. And it surely goes beyond the fact that we can eat whatever we want and never, ever get fat.

No, I'm fascinated with MMO food because it always seems so dang tasty. Those cute little icons with their rump roasts and their bacon 'n' eggs... those tantalizing descriptions of how the stew emits an aroma of heady pleasure... the animations that your character goes through as he chows down on hearty fare. I've always wondered what these foods taste like, which is perhaps why I'm captivated by the cooking posts over at A Casual Stroll to Mordor.

So if you are odd like I am and have occasionally wished that you could reach into your game and pull out a food, what would it be and why?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What in-game food do you wish you could eat? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordorbacon-and-eggsboarsfoodin-game-foodopiniontdgthe-daily-grindSun, 20 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO blog discusses using Kinect to control a PC MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/15/lotro-blog-discusses-using-kinect-to-control-a-pc-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/15/lotro-blog-discusses-using-kinect-to-control-a-pc-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/15/lotro-blog-discusses-using-kinect-to-control-a-pc-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Be honest with yourselves -- the first thing you thought when you saw Kinect was along the lines of "OMG imagine an MMO on that!" Sadly, no MMOs have yet been released for Kinect. For the moment, it seems that we'll have to draw our bows, swing our swords and run head-first into danger through the good old-fashioned mouse and keyboard -- or will we? Some time ago, an open-source project started up with the goal of bringing Kinect to the PC. Drivers were created to pipe the inputs from Kinect's infra red field sensors to a PC program, which could then produce a silhouette of the player and even a basic skeleton.

Using this software, players can convert body movements into a series of keystrokes. Orchida over at A Casual Stroll to Mordor has seen the potential in this early PC adaptation to control MMOs and has given it a test-drive in Lord of the Rings Online. For those with Kinect who want to give it a try in their favourite MMOs, Orchida gives a rundown of the software you'll need and how to configure it to convert body movements into keystrokes for movement and attacks. The article lists some valid pros and cons to using Kinect as a control method for LotRO and has a video of the entire process in action.

MassivelyLotRO blog discusses using Kinect to control a PC MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordorkinectlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromotion-controlmotion-controlsmovementturbineTurbine-EntertainmentTue, 15 Feb 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO blog interviews content developer Lauren "Budgeford" Salk]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/25/lotro-blog-interviews-content-developer-lauren-budgeford-salk/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/25/lotro-blog-interviews-content-developer-lauren-budgeford-salk/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/25/lotro-blog-interviews-content-developer-lauren-budgeford-salk/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

When it comes to MMO development studios, Turbine has always been on the ball. Using a hybrid subscription model, Turbine has managed to triple revenues from its popular fantasy MMO Lord of the Rings Online. With the possibility of playing LotRO free of charge, more players than ever have been gracing this Tolkien wonderland with their presence and enjoying the game's new seasonal festivals. Content developer Lauren "Budgeford" Salk is responsible for these popular festival events, which have proven to be a big hit with players.

LotRO blog "A Casual Stroll to Mordor" published an insightful interview with Lauren today on what exactly goes into the content development process. The interview asks what it's like to be the only female content developer at Turbine and goes into detail on the challenges she faces in her everyday work. Often when we're enjoying the content in our favourite MMOs, we don't see all of the technical expertise that goes into creating it and the problems that can crop up in development. Head over to A Casual Stroll to Mordor to give the interview a read.

MassivelyLotRO blog interviews content developer Lauren "Budgeford" Salk originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordorbudgefordcontentcontent-developerinterviewlauren-salklord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroturbineTue, 25 Jan 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Hacked!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/the-road-to-mordor-hacked/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/the-road-to-mordor-hacked/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/the-road-to-mordor-hacked/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

"My kinship had just finished an instance run about a week-and-a-half ago and was in the process of reloading back into the world when I got the message that I was being disconnected because I had just logged into the Brandywine server. Huh? Suspecting the worst, I immediately hit up the Turbine Account page and changed my password then re-logged back into the game, which would boot the hacker offline just like I had been booted minutes earlier.

"I was lucky and did that before the hacker had time to switch servers to where my active characters are. Other kinmates have not been so lucky."

So goes the frightening tale of Pumping Irony's Scott, who shares this in the hopes that others may avoid a similar scare. Unfortunately, it seems as though stories such as these are becoming more and more common in Lord of the Rings Online, where the worst threat to your quest may not be the eye of Sauron but the malicious intent of hackers gutting your account while you're offline.

Today we're going to step off the path for a temporary side trail into the gloomy undergrowth of account security and an MMO under siege.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Hacked!

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Hacked! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordoraccountaccount-securityauthenticatorblizzardblizzard-authenticatorCodemastersCompromised-Accountcracked.comffxivfinal-fantasy-xivfirewallhackedhackersiphonelord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromalwaremiddle-earthparanoiapasswordpasswordspumping-ironysapiencesauronsecurityspywarethe-road-to-mordortokensturbineturbine-accountTurbine-Entertainmentvirus-scannerworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 21 Jan 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Expanding the Dwarvish tongue in Lord of the Rings Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/expanding-the-dwarvish-tongue-in-lord-of-the-rings-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/expanding-the-dwarvish-tongue-in-lord-of-the-rings-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/expanding-the-dwarvish-tongue-in-lord-of-the-rings-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Some things are just going to appeal to a certain group of players, and that's fine. If you're enjoying Lord of the Rings Online for game design, class balance, or the like, then you might not be terribly concerned with the nuances of the functional languages that Tolkien developed for the original books. But if you really care about giving your Dwarf weapons with more resonant names than "Foe-hewer," you probably would be interested in A Casual Stroll to Mordor's latest post about expanding the rather anemic Dwarven tongue.

Using the Hebrew linguistic structure as a base, the article goes into depth about making logical alterations to existing words, and from there, creating new words that fit into the established structure. It's a fascinating post for Lord of the Rings Online players as well as anyone who likes developed in-game lore, as it shows just how much can be done within the given setting. And if you're a player in LotRO who'd like to use some more Dwarven names, there are interesting charts available along with some example names.

MassivelyExpanding the Dwarvish tongue in Lord of the Rings Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordorbackstoryf2pfree-to-playin-game-languagelanguagelinguisticslord-of-the-rings-onlinelorelotroplayer-creationstoryturbineturbine-entertainmentverisimilitudeFri, 21 Jan 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: My wish list for 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/the-road-to-mordor-my-wish-list-for-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/the-road-to-mordor-my-wish-list-for-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/the-road-to-mordor-my-wish-list-for-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

January is always a month of denial for me because it usually takes a full 30 days for the reality of a new year to settle into my skull. It can't be a new year! I just, just got used to the old one! I'm going to forget the real year when I sign my checks and then I'll be denounced as a fraud! What horrible teenage fad will be inflicted on us this year?

Seriously, Ke$ha was the final straw for me. She's like all four horsemen of the apocalypse melted down and recast as a talentless banshee with an ironic dollar sign smack in the middle of her name. But that's my problem.

A new year also means a virgin slate for all of our MMOs. What happened last year was so last year -- now we turn our eyes to the future. We know a little of what's upcoming for Lord of the Rings Online, but that doesn't mean we can't have wishes. You know what they say: If wishes were horses, I'd have the Steed of Night.

So in honor of '11, I've come up with an 11-point wish list of what I'd love to see in LotRO this year. I fully expect Turbine to drop everything -- everything -- to get on it!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: My wish list for 2011

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: My wish list for 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011a-casual-stroll-to-mordorcosmetic-outfitcosmetic-weaponsfeaturedhobbithousingiconsinstance-joinitem-storekeshalegendary-itemslegendary-weaponslfflfglilooking-for-fellowshiplord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-storemiddle-earthnew-yearpiesplayer-housingsteed-of-nightthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentturbine-pointsuiuser-interfacevovoice-overvolume-2wardrobewish-listWorld-of-WarcraftFri, 14 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Figgy pudding]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/17/the-road-to-mordor-figgy-pudding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/17/the-road-to-mordor-figgy-pudding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/17/the-road-to-mordor-figgy-pudding/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

For those of us who celebrate the holidays, right now is an insanely busy time of the year. There are presents to be wrapped, eggnog to be nogged, and looks of annoyance to be thrown at the radio when the music station decides to play that Do They Know It's Christmas? song for the sixth time that hour.

It also means that winter holidays are hitting most major MMOs, including our beloved Lord of the Rings Online. This year, the Yule Festival is marked by the addition of a whole new area -- Winter-home -- and players are already neck-deep in the quests, snowball fights and theatrical hilarity. Turbine's done a spectacular job this year infusing a lot more life and fun into the festivals, from the shrew stomping this past spring to the Haunted Burrow this fall. Winter-home is, in many ways, a perfect capstone to a terrific year for the game, and it's a pretty enjoyable event from what I've seen so far.

So grab that cute Hobbit or Dwarf and join me as we travel to the merriment of Winter-home this week!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Figgy pudding

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Figgy pudding originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordora-christmas-carolBah-humbugcharles-dickenschristmascosmeticcosmetic-outfitdickensdo-they-know-its-christmasdwarfeating-contestfeast-beastfeaturedfrostbluff-theaterfrostbluff-theatreglittering-yule-steedglobehaunted-burrowhobbitholiday-eventin-game-eventlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromuppetpretty-in-pinkrich-vs-poorrise-of-isengardshakespeareshrew-stompingsnowball-fightsparkle-ponysparkleponystatler-and-waldorftolkienturbinewinter-homeyule-festivalFri, 17 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: A conspiracy of hats]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/10/the-road-to-mordor-a-conspiracy-of-hats/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/10/the-road-to-mordor-a-conspiracy-of-hats/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/10/the-road-to-mordor-a-conspiracy-of-hats/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The hat, as they say, makes the man. Or the woman. Or the Dwarf.

Unfortunately, in Lord of the Rings Online, the hat often makes the man completely silly. I'm not quite sure how it happened, but the hats in LotRO have garnered the reputation as being goofy as all get out. Sure, this is hardly a fresh observation, but I've wanted to address it in this column for a while now, so it might as well be today!

Rumor has it that Turbine's artists drew upon actual medieval outfits to lend an authentic, renaissance faire vibe to the game. This is perhaps why there is such a distinct fashion style in LotRO that you don't see in other MMOs. Our modern sensibilities, with such fashion achievements as tank tops and crocs, make hauberks and codpieces seem quaint and ridiculous. Truly, we are seeing the height of human civilization in 2010.

So while it's laudable that Turbine tried to give us the real deal, that doesn't quite excuse the fact that many of the hats -- especially the light armor versions -- are unbearably weird. It's as if, as The Pix'led Life speculated, there's a conspiracy of hats afoot: "Let's see what we can make them swallow!" one artist cackles. "Ooh, I know -- how about 16 varieties of dunce hats?" laughs another.

I kid, I kid. There are 17.

Hit the jump and let's take a terrifying journey through headgear that seeks to conquer Sauron by making the Enemy laugh himself to death.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: A conspiracy of hats

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: A conspiracy of hats originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordoramidalabig-birdbumpkinbunnyburger-kingcaptain-panakachickencodpiececosmeticcrocsdevildunce-hatdwarffall-festivalfashionfeathersfeaturedgoatgu-comicshatshauberkhave-it-your-wayheadwearhobbitlampshadelord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromedievalsauronsaw-xiistar-warsthe-man-in-the-iron-maskthe-pixled-lifetriple-dog-dareturbineTurbine-EntertainmentFri, 10 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Hallowed be thy burrow]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/22/the-road-to-mordor-hallowed-be-thy-burrow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/22/the-road-to-mordor-hallowed-be-thy-burrow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/22/the-road-to-mordor-hallowed-be-thy-burrow/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

One of my all-time favorite amusement park rides is Disney World's Haunted Mansion. More than anything else, the Haunted Mansion encapsulates the Halloween experience for my life -- a combination of goofy gloom, maudlin macabre and spooky spirits. I've never been into the gory side of Halloween, nor the freaky scares, but there's nothing I love more than traveling through a haunted house that's completely into crafting a perfect Halloween atmosphere.

This is why I feel like a kid again as I spent the last couple days exploring the new Haunted Burrow in Lord of the Rings Online. While some see the notion of a haunted hobbit hole silly, lore-breaking or a frivolous waste of time, I think it's one of the best virtual haunted houses I've ever seen. As one person Tweeted, "It's like Scooby Doo, but with Hobbits and no Velma Dinkley!" The only complaint I have is that I truly wish there was more of it, and more to do in it.

Instead of handing you a guide to the Haunted Burrow -- A Casual Stroll to Mordor covers all the bases, and TheREALify has a great map on the forums -- today I thought I'd just share my thoughts on each of the wings of the house and the little details that truly make this place shine. Take my hand and don't be scared...

...oh mercy me, what WAS that noise!?!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Hallowed be thy burrow

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Hallowed be thy burrow originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordorbilbobilbo-bagginsbilbos-haunted-burrowbilbos-haunted-cellarblack-ridercloaked-figuref2pfall-festivalfeaturedfree-to-playharvestmathhaunted-burrowhaunted-cellarhobbitsim-your-ghost-hostlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroscooby-dooskeleton-horsethe-haunted-burrowturbinevelma-dinkleyFri, 22 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Helpful hobbits see fundraising as Child's Play]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/22/helpful-hobbits-see-fundraising-as-childs-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/22/helpful-hobbits-see-fundraising-as-childs-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/22/helpful-hobbits-see-fundraising-as-childs-play/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Hobbits -- is there anything they can't do? First they're taking the One Ring into the heart of Mordor to save Middle-earth from Sauron's grip, and now they're out on another journey, this time to bring relief to hospitalized children in our world.

You may be quite familiar with Child's Play, a charity started by Penny Arcade's creators and designed to raise money to buy video games and systems for children's hospitals. This year, MMO gamers are getting in on the action, as A Casual Stroll to Mordor, a LotRO blog and podcast, is attempting to raise $5,000 for Child's Play by presenting the fundraising as steps along Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin's famous journey from the Shire to Rivendell.

Dubbing it "The Fellowship Walk," each milestone toward the $5,000 goal is represented by a different stage of the Fellowship's journey on their site. The Lonely Mountain Band, The Guild and other individuals are donating special items to be given away over the next month in an effort to attract more donors. Merric, one of the founders of the blog, found himself hospitalized as a child, and found out first-hand how helpful video games are in distracting kids from the pain.

You can learn more about their effort -- and perhaps chip in a few bucks yourself -- by heading over to A Casual Stroll to Mordor! Oh, and happy birthday to Frodo and Bilbo!

MassivelyHelpful hobbits see fundraising as Child's Play originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordorcharitychilds-playfundraiserlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromerricmordorpenny-arcadesauronthe-fellowship-walkthe-guildthe-lonely-mountain-bandturbineWed, 22 Sep 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO's radiance to be run over by a train and other future tidbits revealed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/07/lotros-radiance-to-be-run-over-by-a-train-and-other-future-tidb/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/07/lotros-radiance-to-be-run-over-by-a-train-and-other-future-tidb/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/07/lotros-radiance-to-be-run-over-by-a-train-and-other-future-tidb/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

"We took Radiance outside, tied it up to some railroad tracks, and...well...I think you saw the end of this in Red Dead Redemption. Look for this in the future -‐ we will be removing Radiance from LotRO." Thus sayeth Turbine's Jen "Jalessa" Gordy, who confirmed that the controversial gear gating system is headed for a messy death.

In the same WarCry developer chat, the team fielded a number of questions about where LotRO is headed after this week's mega-update. Some of the features in the works for Tolkien's digital offspring include a new raid, class changes for monster play, a barter item wallet, PvMP skirmishes, Isengard, additional minigames and -- yes -- vanity pets for all. The devs also admitted to slipping in a few pop culture mentions into the game, such as Firefly and Futurama references.

And will there ever be any other hobbies than fishing in LotRO? Kate Paiz mused: "All of us devs really want to make golf next, but it's a tricky undertaking, so we don't have a timeline yet, but feel free to start practicing your backswings!"

You can read the full transcript at A Casual Stroll to Mordor.

MassivelyLotRO's radiance to be run over by a train and other future tidbits revealed originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordorcant-stop-the-signaldev-chatdeveloper-chatfireflyfishingfuturamagolfhobbieshypnotoadisengardjen-gordyjrr-tolkienlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrominigamespvmpradianceraidred-dead-redemptiontolkienturbinevanity-petswarcryTue, 07 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO and Lua: Turbine gives the mod community a thumbs-up]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/14/lotro-and-lua-turbine-gives-the-mod-community-a-thumbs-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/14/lotro-and-lua-turbine-gives-the-mod-community-a-thumbs-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/14/lotro-and-lua-turbine-gives-the-mod-community-a-thumbs-up/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The winds of change are blowing swiftly across the lands of Middle-earth, as we've just gotten word that Turbine is going to allow the use of Lua scripting for Lord of the Rings Online. A Casual Stroll to Mordor reports that Meghan Rodberg announced the change on a recent episode of The StunCast!.

On the podcast, Rodberg confirmed the upcoming implementation of Lua scripts: "We historically have not allowed any modding of the UI other than skinning it. Hope I'm not blowing anything here, but there is a Lua scripting project going on. I don't know if we've talked about it that much, but people will be able to do some mods. I'm not sure to what extent they'll be able to do it. It seemed like enough of our players were looking for this that we decided to do it."

Lua is a programming language that allows for the creation of add-ons and mods for MMOs, which has seen extensive use in titles like World of Warcraft. It allows for players to design useful (or not-so-useful) UI features, such as auction house enhancements, timing bars and even mini-games. While player response to this announcement is mixed, it hopefully will make many budding modders happy to hear.

[Update: Meghan clarifies: "It's not guaranteed for a launch with F2P - it may be in the testing stage for a while!"]

MassivelyLotRO and Lua: Turbine gives the mod community a thumbs-up originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordoradd-onsauction-houseblizzardbreakingdont-spit-into-the-winds-of-changelord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolualua-programming-languagelua-scriptmeghan-rodbergmini-gamesmodmoddingmodding-communitymodspodcastskinningthe-stuncasttiming-barturbineuiuser-interfaceworld-of-warcraftWed, 14 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Live it up at LotRO's Summer Festival!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/live-it-up-at-lotros-summer-festival/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/live-it-up-at-lotros-summer-festival/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/live-it-up-at-lotros-summer-festival/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The halcyon days of summer are upon us, and between trips to the beach and leveling up our cooking skill at the grill, it's a perfect time to celebrate the outdoors. Of course, Lord of the Rings Online is all about the outdoors -- the hobbits have yet to perfect internet access -- and to encourage players to sample the lazier side of the season they've brought back the Summer Festival. Earlier this week LotRO Europe announced the festival's return, so it's great to get confirmation that Eastern-earth (aka Northa America) was going to see it as well.

This annual event encourages the Free Peoples of Middle-earth to take a break from the grind and engage in a few of the languorous activities that the game has to offer. Horse races, fireworks displays, fishing for tokens and scavenger hunts are all par for the course! There's also regular festival events that pop up at the four big yearly celebrations which include learning new dances and boosting your rep with either the Ale Association or the Inn League.

Hit the jump for a few links to help you plan your Summer Festival fun!

Continue reading Live it up at LotRO's Summer Festival!

MassivelyLive it up at LotRO's Summer Festival! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordorale-associationguideinn-leaguelord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-weeklylotro-wikisummer-festivalturbinewallpaperTue, 29 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Rune-keepers under siege]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/28/the-road-to-mordor-rune-keepers-under-siege/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/28/the-road-to-mordor-rune-keepers-under-siege/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/28/the-road-to-mordor-rune-keepers-under-siege/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Let's start today's column with a couple presuppositions, shall we? Number one: There is no set standard for being a "true" Tolkien fan. There's always someone out there who knows more than you, thinks that he is more faithful to the source material, and considers himself better than you in this regard. Like any fans, Tolkien-ites (Tolkkies?) are diverse. They may share the same passion, but they come to it from different backgrounds and with different standards.

Number two: Turbine is not out to molest the corpse of good ol' J.R.R. by turning Lord of the Rings into a farce. Yes, it's all well and good to say as such when you want to be melodramatic on the forums, but the truth of the matter is that Turbine's done an excellent job sticking to both the lore and the spirit of Middle-earth as much as possible while still fashioning a game within those boundaries. It's not in their best interests to make a mockery of this franchise.

These presuppositions converge on one of the most fiercely debated additions to LotRO, the Rune-keeper. Following the launch of the Mines of Moria expansion, fans responded with everything ranging from "Hey, it's a pretty cool class to play" to "IT'S THE END OF THE MIDDLE-EARTH!" hysteria. Seeing how passionate people are on this subject, I thought it would be worth looking into today, to answer the following questions: does the Rune-keeper have a place in LotRO, and does it break the lore and rules that Tolkien established?

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Rune-keepers under siege

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Rune-keepers under siege originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 May 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordorbrian-aloisiocaptaincorey-olsendev-diarydpsfeaturedgaladrielhealerjrr-tolkienlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelore-lawyerlotromines-of-moriaminstrelrkrune-keeperthe-road-to-mordortolkientolkien-professortolkkiesturbineFri, 28 May 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Breakdown of skirmish rewards for Lord of the Rings Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/29/breakdown-of-skirmish-rewards-for-lord-of-the-rings-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/29/breakdown-of-skirmish-rewards-for-lord-of-the-rings-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/29/breakdown-of-skirmish-rewards-for-lord-of-the-rings-online/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Lord of the Rings Online expansion Siege of Mirkwood has been out for almost a month now, and players are beginning to get a good feel for how things work in the new areas. However, some of the most enjoyable areas can also be the most complicated, and there's a lot to figure out.

Merric from A Casual Stroll to Mordor is helping with this, and has started a great guide to the skirmish rewards system. The first two parts are all about cosmetic clothing and items, and we have to say it's a very thorough job. The first guide includes a quick explanation of skirmish marks and how they drop, and follow up with a chart including each type of mark, a screenshot of the tooltip, and where it can be found. Scroll down a bit more and you'll find a similar chart featuring each type of cosmetic clothing available and the requirements to acquire it. Part two, released this morning, carries the same format and covers items such as cloaks and backpacks.

The guides are a must-read for any Siege of Mirkwood fan, and our thanks to Merric for the time and effort put into them. We look forward to more!

MassivelyBreakdown of skirmish rewards for Lord of the Rings Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordorcosmetic-clothingcosmetic-itemslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrosiege-of-mirkwoodskirmish-rewardsskirmishesturbineTue, 29 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Too late to start playing Lord of the Rings Online?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/16/too-late-to-start-playing-lord-of-the-rings-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/16/too-late-to-start-playing-lord-of-the-rings-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/16/too-late-to-start-playing-lord-of-the-rings-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The trouble with any long-running game is that it gets top-heavy. This is especially a problem in games such as Final Fantasy XI, where you simply have to group to accomplish most things in the game, but it's really a problem even in the most solo-friendly game with an expansion or two. After all, more often than not there's an ever-raising level cap, gear curve, and expected knowledge about the game, not to mention stretches of previously endgame content that's no longer relevant. When A Casual Stroll to Mordor asks if it's too late to start playing Lord of the Rings Online, the question could be extended to many other games.

Of course, it's probably not exceptionally surprising that the conclusion is "no," duly pointing out that the only time it's technically too late is when the game is shutting down soon. There are also tips about making the areas at lower levels less of a ghost town, which largely boil down to being proactive. People will almost always have alts or restarted characters, and actively trying to get your foot in the door can make up for a lot of inexperience. It's as true in Lord of the Rings Online as it is everywhere: putting forth the effort makes a lot of difference, even if it won't close the expanded level gap by itself.

MassivelyToo late to start playing Lord of the Rings Online? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordoralternate-charactersaltsearly-gamegrindinglevel-caplevelinglord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolow-levelssocial-gametoo-late-to-playWed, 16 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST