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[The Road to Mordor: What if?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/11/the-road-to-mordor-what-if/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/11/the-road-to-mordor-what-if/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/11/the-road-to-mordor-what-if/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

By the time you read this, I'll be scurrying around PAX East in Boston, feeling much like a Hobbit: unable to see over the crowd, far out of my element, and deeply wishing I purchased shoes. I'll of course be talking with the folks at Turbine to see what information I can wheedle out of them about the future of this terrific game, so if you don't hear from me again, I'm most likely languishing in a PR dungeon somewhere for being too nosy.

It's a good week, therefore, to be thinking about the future. My mind never stops thinking about future possibilities for any franchise, and even if they never come to be, these speculations are a great pastime of any fan. I'm always wondering "What if?" as I play Lord of the Rings Online -- what if I could mug Frodo and become the Ring-bearer? What if those lazy bums finally finished the repairs to the tavern in Frogmorton? What if Elves could kill innocent woodland creatures and go to the dark side?

Playing "What if?" with LotRO is tougher than with other games because of the limitations imposed by the IP. Despite what some say, Turbine's struggled hard to stay within the boundaries of lore and setting, and while that's helped the company to be creative in ways that it might not have otherwise, it does present some unique obstacles that aren't present in competing MMOs.

So to celebrate PAX, LotRO, and the future, here's a column of "What ifs?" for your consumption!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: What if?

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: What if? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beornboat-mountsdwarfeaglesearth-kinelfelvesentseriadorfar-downsfeaturedfrodofrogmortongondorgray-havenshalf-elfhalf-elvenhobbitlindonlord-of-the-rings-onlinelossothlotromammothsmanMinhiriathmounted-combatOliphantspaxpax-eastrangersring-bearerrohanshapeshiftersledssouthfarthingspeculationstar-wars-galaxiesteam-saurontower-hillsturbineturbine-entertainmentvalawargswhat-ifwizardsFri, 11 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Rating Eriador]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/the-road-to-mordor-rating-eriador/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/the-road-to-mordor-rating-eriador/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/the-road-to-mordor-rating-eriador/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

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.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Rating Eriador

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Rating Eriador originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>angmarbreebree-landcrazy-cat-ladydwarfelfenedwaithered-luineregioneriadorettenmoorsevendimeverswimfeaturedforochelhobbitjrr-tolkienlone-landslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromanmiddle-earthmisty-mountainsmountsnorth-downsplayer-vs-monster-playerpvmpRhovanionshiresonicsonic-the-hedgehogthe-shiretoofertrollshawsturbinetwofervolume-1weathertopFri, 25 Feb 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Off to the races]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/05/the-road-to-mordor-off-to-the-races/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/05/the-road-to-mordor-off-to-the-races/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/05/the-road-to-mordor-off-to-the-races/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

A long time ago in this column, back in an age of sweet innocence that I like to call "April 2010," I spent a bit of time commenting on the nine classes in Lord of the Rings Online and how they appeal to different playstyles. Today, as I sit here swaddled in a blanket, drinking tea and desperately trying to wish this cold away, I want to write the companion piece to that article, dealing with races.

LotRO is somewhat unique in the MMO landscape in that it is pretty confined to four and only four playable races outside of PvMP. As much as we love the Pale Folk, I highly doubt we'll ever be given another racial choice for the lifespan of the game -- at least, not without some fiddly logic on Turbine's part. Besides, the four races we're given -- Dwarf, Man, Hobbit and Elf -- are the iconic grouping of the books, and trying to add a gnome or giant or well-intentioned half-orc to the Quest would just come off as silly.

Anyway, if you're starting out in LotRO or mulling over an alt, there's a lot more to consider when picking a race than just "what looks good" (although I'm not going to tell you looks aren't important, no I am not). Races influence your starter zone, traits, special skills and class picks. Join us as we jump down the rabbit hole and emerge in a magical land full of words and screenshots!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Off to the races

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Off to the races originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class-pairingsdwarfelffeaturedfemale-dwarfguidehobbitlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromannationalitiespale-folkrace-guideracesracialracial-guideracial-traitssauronshireturbineFri, 05 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Latest LotRO free-to-play screens show new starting areas]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/29/latest-lotro-free-to-play-screens-show-new-starting-areas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/29/latest-lotro-free-to-play-screens-show-new-starting-areas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/29/latest-lotro-free-to-play-screens-show-new-starting-areas/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Part of the transition to free-to-play for The Lord of the Rings Online includes some cosmetic changes here and there. We got a glimpse of that a few weeks ago, and now Turbine is giving us a look at another area that's undergone some changes.

The man and hobbit starting areas will have a new look when free-to-play arrives this fall. You'll see some familiar faces, and you'll still have the standard assortment of shadowy figures, backstory, and angry creatures to fight, but things will look a bit different.

Check out the newest addition to the gallery below for a look at the new man and hobbit starting areas.

Gallery: Lord of the Rings Online free-to-play screenshots

MassivelyLatest LotRO free-to-play screens show new starting areas originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfree-to-playftphobbitlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-starting-areasmanstarting-areasturbineThu, 29 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Know Your LotRO Lore: The Race of Man]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/know-your-lotro-lore-the-race-of-man/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/know-your-lotro-lore-the-race-of-man/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/know-your-lotro-lore-the-race-of-man/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Welcome to Know Your LotRO Lore, a new weekly column here at Massively showcasing the lore of J.R.R. Tolkien's world as it intersects with Turbine's Lord of the Rings Online.

If you've been following along with Know Your LotRO Lore for the last few weeks, you're probably caught up with a basic understanding of how Middle-earth was created, and the origins of most of the Free Peoples. Now it's time to get educated on the race of Man in Middle-earth. Of course this term is not gender-specific, as it can refer to both male and female humankind.

While not immortal like the Elves, the race of Man became vigorous throughout its time in Middle-earth, eventually leading to the great rise of Man in the Fourth Age. Follow along on our journey through the complete tale of the rise of Man, and why we are the ones who survived until present day.

Gallery: Know Your LotRO Lore

LothlorienThe EntsGimliThe ValarOrcs and Goblins

MassivelyKnow Your LotRO Lore: The Race of Man originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>codemastersfeaturedjoystiqfeaturesknow-your-lotro-lorelord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromanMenrace-of-manturbineTue, 20 Jan 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Choosing your race in Middle-earth: Man and Elf]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/18/choosing-your-race-in-middle-earth-man-and-elf/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/18/choosing-your-race-in-middle-earth-man-and-elf/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/18/choosing-your-race-in-middle-earth-man-and-elf/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In many ways, picking a race for yourself in an MMO is very much a personal choice. However it can help to have some tips and an overall viewpoint on the subject. This guide is here for old players or new players that are unsure of the the finer details of each race in Lord of the Rings Online. The goal isn't to answer the question of which race is best, but rather to give a few tips and some advice on the strong points of the races in Middle-earth. In this first part of our guide to help you choose your race in LotRO, we'll explore the races of both Man and Elf.

Obviously if a player has their heart set on being any single race, this guide isn't going to change their mind. Even if you've already made up your mind on a race (or already chosen it), this guide could contain a couple helpful chunks of information.

Continue reading Choosing your race in Middle-earth: Man and Elf

MassivelyChoosing your race in Middle-earth: Man and Elf originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetbarbershopelfelvesguidelord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromanmenmiddle-earthracesracial-choiceturbinewalk-throughMon, 18 Feb 2008 15:00:00 EST