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[LotRO's Wargs to be stealthy or beefy fighters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/lotros-wargs-to-be-stealthy-or-beefy-fighters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/lotros-wargs-to-be-stealthy-or-beefy-fighters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/lotros-wargs-to-be-stealthy-or-beefy-fighters/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

LotRO
It's a dog-eat-dog world in Middle-earth, and only the most vicious of canines will succeed in the cutthroat world of PvMP. Lord of the Rings Online is preparing for a whole host of monster play renovations with Update 6, and Wargs are on tap for some serious love. A new dev diary on the official LotRO site lists all of the many, many changes coming for Wargs due to this shift in focus.

As a stealth class, Wargs were seen by developers as being too vulnerable to imminent death after entering into combat. As such, the devs are beefing up the class' survivability by giving players a choice. With Update 6, Wargs can move between Shadow (stealth) and Flayer (brawler) stances, depending on the player's preference and situation. The Flayer stance will replace the old Shadow Howler one.

Turbine previously outlined other changes for PvMP in Update 6, including Weavers, Audacity, and Commendations.

MassivelyLotRO's Wargs to be stealthy or beefy fighters originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brawlerdev-diarylord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromonster-playpvmppvpstealthturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-6wargwargsTue, 28 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO's update 5.2 showers players with lock boxes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/13/lotros-update-5-2-showers-players-with-lock-boxes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/13/lotros-update-5-2-showers-players-with-lock-boxes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/13/lotros-update-5-2-showers-players-with-lock-boxes/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

LotRO
Lord of the Rings Online is grasping the concept of mystery lock boxes with both hands and isn't letting go. In fact, the game's new 5.2 patch will see these lock boxes dropping with increased frequency across all of Middle-earth. The boxes, which require a special key to unlock for its tantalizing prize, have had their loot tables improved and can even drop additional keys for future boxes.

Update 5.2 isn't just about these lock boxes, of course. Improvements to monster play and two endgames raids are on the docket, as well as a much-needed in-game map to the Pit of Irons. For those who have gotten turned around in the aforementioned pit (such as a Massively staffer or two), this comes as a welcome piece of news. Crafters will rejoice to see that the cooldown on guild crafting recipes has been lowered by six hours and that several recipes, such as the Tome of Wisdom, are now granted automatically.

Word is that the Buried Treasure in-game event has gone live with the update as well.

MassivelyLotRO's update 5.2 showers players with lock boxes originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5.2-updateburied-treasurecraftingf2pfree-to-playlock-boxeslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromonster-playmystery-boxespatchpatch-5.2patch-notespit-of-ironsraidraidsturbineturbine-entertainmentupdateupdate-5.2Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:00:00 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[New LotRO dev diaries outline Minstrel changes, PvMP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/new-lotro-dev-diaries-outline-minstrel-changes-pvmp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/new-lotro-dev-diaries-outline-minstrel-changes-pvmp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/new-lotro-dev-diaries-outline-minstrel-changes-pvmp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Lord of the Rings Online
Denizens of Middle-earth, sit yourselves down, light up some pipeweed, and brace yourselves for information overload. The fine folks at Turbine have released a pair of new dev diaries outlining the changes coming to Minstrels and PvMP with Lord of the Rings Online: Rise of Isengard.

One of the first things that Minstrels will notice when they log in to Rise of Isengard for the first time is that they are no longer clad in the medium armor to which they are accustomed. Instead, the Minstrel's medium armor trait is being replaced with something "equally valuable."

The next sweeping change comes in regard to the Minstrel's ballads. Gone are the days when Minstrels had to play ballads in tiers; instead, all ballads have been divided into minor, major, and perfect categories. These categories roughly tie into the three stances that the Minstrel employs, providing either healing, damage, or power reduction. The Major Ballad is of particular note, as its effects will change depending on the stance the Minstrel is in. With no stance selected, the ability will heal allies. In Harmony or War-speech stance, the ability becomes a damage-dealing skill.

Minstrels will also be receiving an upgrade to their available stance choices, allowing players greater flexibility in their playstyle. This is by no means an exhaustive list of the changes coming to Minstrels with Rise of Isengard; they will also be receiving changes to their Anthems and will be given a new type of ability called a Coda. Trait lines are being given a few tweaks as well, so any would-be bards should certainly give the full list of changes a look.

Meanwhile, in the Ettenmoors, changes are sweeping the Freeps. All Freep quests have been made into dailies, and all quests now reward players with a combination of Destiny, Glory, and cold hard coin. Rangers have received a variety of tweaks as well. Freep PvMP rewards have been upgraded to be uniform with the new stat system, and players who previously purchased the old versions of the armor rewards will be able to swap the old version for the new. New jewelry and offhands are also being made available to help the Free Peoples of Middle-earth take the battle to the Ettenmoors.

Once again, the full details, as well as previews of some of the updated items being made available to the heroes of the Ettenmoors.

MassivelyNew LotRO dev diaries outline Minstrel changes, PvMP originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ettenmoorsf2pfree-peoplefree-peoplesfree-to-playfreepslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrominstrelmonster-playpvmppvprise-of-isengardturbineturbine-entertainmentWed, 07 Sep 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: What to do with Destiny Points?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/05/the-road-to-mordor-what-to-do-with-destiny-points/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/05/the-road-to-mordor-what-to-do-with-destiny-points/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/05/the-road-to-mordor-what-to-do-with-destiny-points/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

To say that Lord of the Rings Online has many types of currencies is like saying that Firefly has a couple fans out there. My characters' homes are like those houses you see on Hoarders, except that instead of collecting used newspapers and bobbleheads, I've stuffed every nook and cranny with tokens, barter chips, gold, and the odd Orc head.

Yet there's one type of currency that always seems to fly under the radar in my gaming experience: Destiny Points. I'm forever forgetting they're there and I almost never use them. To be honest, I'm not quite sure why they're in the game in the first place.

Destiny Points are a shared currency between your characters that seem to be vitally important to PvMPers (monster play) and vastly less pertinent to your average PvE adventurer. Still, as they exist and offer you an opportunity to get an edge -- however slight -- in the game, I figured it was about time to dive into the subject and see if they're worthwhile or just more junk for the closet.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: What to do with Destiny Points?

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: What to do with Destiny Points? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destiny-perksdestiny-pointsettenmoorsfeaturedfreefree-playerslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromonster-playmoorsperkspremiumpvmppvprise-of-isengardroad-to-mordorsession-playthe-road-to-mordortroll-playturbineturbine-entertainmentvipFri, 05 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Get creepy with new Lord of the Rings: Rise of Isengard Monster Play screens]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/get-creepy-with-new-lord-of-the-rings-rise-of-isengard-monster/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/get-creepy-with-new-lord-of-the-rings-rise-of-isengard-monster/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/get-creepy-with-new-lord-of-the-rings-rise-of-isengard-monster/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Today we've got a few new screenshots for you Lord of the Rings Online fans out there. The focus of said screenshots is on the creeps of Middle Earth as Turbine shows off the upcoming updates and changes being made to Monster Play in the Rise of Isengard expansion.

On top of the new Monster Play enhancements, Rise of Isengard brings much more along with it. Three new regions will be at the players' beck and call as they traverse the forests and foothills of Dunland, the Gap of Rohan, and of course the eponymous Isengard. In the process of doing this, players will be able to advance all the way to level 75, after which point they can attempt to ford the dangers of Draigoch in a brand-new 24-player raid. Players will be able to take the Hobbits to Isengard on September 27th.

Gallery: Lord of the Rings Online Core Gallery

MassivelyGet creepy with new Lord of the Rings: Rise of Isengard Monster Play screens originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>creepsf2pfree-to-playisengardlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromonster-plaympoh-god-its-stuck-in-my-headpvprise-of-isengardturbineturbine-entertainmentWed, 03 Aug 2011 21:30:00 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[The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Middle-earth Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-middle-earth-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-middle-earth-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-middle-earth-online/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I had so much fun walking down the halls of "What if?" last week that I thought I'd keep the streak going for the rest of the month (if you'll allow for some summertime indulgence). It's not that I necessarily wanted MMO history to turn out differently than it did, but it's always tantalizing to wonder what the field would look like with different games out there. Would they have proven more popular than our current crops? Would they have pushed the envelope of innovation?

Of course, it's easy to project greatness onto never-released titles, bemoaning that "if only MMO X had launched, we would've had the perfect game!" What ifs are interesting but should never be taken as absolute fact.

This week I wanted to look at a project that's related to an MMO near and dear to my heart. As most of you know, I'm somewhat of a Lord of the Rings Online nut here at Massively. Sure, the rest of the staff is upset that I smoke pipeweed inside and never wear shoes, but that's just how far I go to understand the game.

But even my LotRO isn't immune to a massive what if. Known to some but not to all, Turbine wasn't the first MMO studio to take a crack at Tolkien's license -- no, for that we have to travel back to 1998 and revisit Sierra On-Line. It was this company that had a brief but memorable run designing Middle-earth Online, aka "What if LotRO had permadeath?" It's a fascinating glimpse into an entirely different approach to the IP, and even though it died a fairly early death, it's important to be remembered. Frodo lives!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Middle-earth Online

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Middle-earth Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2-d3-dbalrogcraig-alexanderdaniel-jameselveseqeverquestfeaturedfourth-agefrodofrodo-livesi-hate-elvesisometricjoe-ludwigjrr-tolkienkings-questlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromeomiddle-earth-onlinemonster-playpermadeathpkpkingplayer-killingpsychologypuzzle-piratessierrasierra-onlinespace-queststephen-nicholsthe-game-archaeologistthe-professorthe-realmthe-realm-onlinetolkienultima-onlineuovivendivivendi-universalTue, 21 Jun 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Digesting E3]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/the-road-to-mordor-digesting-e3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/the-road-to-mordor-digesting-e3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/the-road-to-mordor-digesting-e3/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Instead of being hit by one huge Lord of the Rings Online bombshell at E3, as some predicted, we were treated to a series of smaller yet gripping reveals that are sure to have a major impact on our gameplay in the future. We assumed that E3 would be all about Rise of Isengard for LotRO, and sure enough, it was.

Weeks like this are what we live for as fans. It's crazy to get a glut of information that we're expected to digest all at once, and it's so much fun too. I think Turbine probably has a few more reveals tucked up its sleeve about the expansion -- we still have four months to go, after all -- but this is a good start to the ramping-up period before Isengard releases.

So enough dilly-dallying; let's dig into it! What can we make out of all of these revelations? What does the pre-order mean for you? What were the highlights and what were the disappointments? Hit the jump and we'll take you on a legendary ride all the way to the gates of Orthanc itself!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Digesting E3

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Digesting E3 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bonusescosmeticsdeale3e3-2011featuredlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriamonster-playoutfitsphasingpre-orderpromotionpvmppvprelease-daterise-of-isengardsiege-of-mirkwoodstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-road-to-mordortrailerturbineturbine-entertainmentvirtuesFri, 10 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2011: A ride through LotRO's Rise of Isengard]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/e3-2011-a-ride-through-lotros-rise-of-isengard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/e3-2011-a-ride-through-lotros-rise-of-isengard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/e3-2011-a-ride-through-lotros-rise-of-isengard/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

With the news that Lord of the Rings Online's third expansion, Rise of Isengard, was finally given a release date, it became our quest to hunt Turbine down at E3 and make the team give up the One Ring of Info. We spoke with a couple of the devs about the lands and wonders that we'll get to experience come this fall.

We began our journey at a village in one of the starting destinations in Dunland. It's there, Turbine told us, that an army had recently pulled out to fight the Rohirrim, leaving so-called "Oathbreakers" behind for you to handle. Players are tasked with figuring out what's going on and how these left-behind invaders will fit in with the local populace.

The devs told us that one of the recurring themes of LotRO's latest expansion is the influence of others on the Dunlendings. With the war stirring across the world, suddenly this isolated area has become a major thoroughfare for enemies and good guys alike, and both sides are seeking to woo the Dunlending tribes. If you're thinking "tug o' war," you're not far off.

Continue reading E3 2011: A ride through LotRO's Rise of Isengard

MassivelyE3 2011: A ride through LotRO's Rise of Isengard originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaron-campbellcreepsdunlanddunlendingse3e3-2011ettenmoorsexpansionf2pfeaturedfree-to-playinterviewisengardlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-storemobile-questgiversmonster-playoathbreakersphasingpvmppvprise-of-isengardRohirrimsarumanturbineturbine-entertainmentvirtuesThu, 09 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Echoes of the Dead update launches on Lord of the Rings Online's Euro shards]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/24/echoes-of-the-dead-update-launches-on-lord-of-the-rings-onlines/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/24/echoes-of-the-dead-update-launches-on-lord-of-the-rings-onlines/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/24/echoes-of-the-dead-update-launches-on-lord-of-the-rings-onlines/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Better late than never, eh? Lord of the Rings Online's Update 2: Echoes of the Dead has been out for a couple of days in the States, and Turbine's European servers are finally joining the long-expected party today. Much like its American counterpart, the Euro version of Update 2 will be dropping the reviled radiance system and also spicing up Monster Play PvP with an initial round of tweaks.

Minstrels, Burglars, and Hunters have also been given a bit of a facelift, and Legendary Items are on the receiving end of some developer love. Finally, Volume III: Book 3 continues LotRO's epic story quest line, and the Volume II epic arc has been revamped to make it more solo-friendly. These are just a few of the changes in store for denizens of Turbine's Middle-earth, and you can read the full release notes on the official Codemasters forums.

MassivelyEchoes of the Dead update launches on Lord of the Rings Online's Euro shards originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-long-expected-patchechoes-of-the-deadeuroeuropean-serversf2pfantasyfree-to-playlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrlotromonster-playpatchpvpradianceradiance-removaltolkienupdateupdate-2Thu, 24 Mar 2011 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Echo... echo... echo...]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/the-road-to-mordor-echo-echo-echo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/the-road-to-mordor-echo-echo-echo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/the-road-to-mordor-echo-echo-echo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Last night before I drifted off to sleep, I was idly wondering what it would be like to actually live in Middle-earth. Apart from the extremely high mortality rate due to wandering wolves, bold bandits, and orchestrating orcs, it might be a pretty excellent place to dwell, as long as one didn't mind a lack of Wi-Fi and Starbucks. I think Hobbit pies and Dwarf ale would be an acceptable substitute.

Next week our virtual world will grow a bit in girth and depth with the Echoes of the Dead update. When all is patched and done, it'll be a truly big update containing meaty piles of content to devour. I think many of us are still scrutinizing Turbine as we go through this first year after the free-to-play switch, watching to see whether all of this additional revenue will be pumped back into the game or not. Echoes of the Dead marks the second post-F2P update for Lord of the Rings Online, following last November's Journey to Winter-home, and I have to say that I'm pretty impressed with just how much is being served up this time around.

So in anticipation of the patch, let's walk through the major features of LotRO's latest update and see whether it was worth the wait!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Echo... echo... echo...

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Echo... echo... echo... originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-instancesbook-3burglarcharacter-panelcraftingdwarfechoes-of-the-deadenedwaithevendimf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgallerygaunt-lordshunterinstancesisengardjourney-to-winter-homelegacieslegendary-itemlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriaminstrelmonster-playmorianorth-downspatchpvmppvpradiancerelicssara-leesharper-imageskirmishessoloficationstarbucksturbineturbine-entertainmentupdatevolume-iivolume-iiivolume-iii-book-3wifiwinter-homeFri, 18 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine releases new LotRO Monster Play screens, dev diary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/turbine-releases-new-lotro-monster-play-screens-dev-diary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/turbine-releases-new-lotro-monster-play-screens-dev-diary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/turbine-releases-new-lotro-monster-play-screens-dev-diary/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

PvP has long been the red-headed stepchild of Turbine's Lord of the Rings Online. Given the company's desire to recreate Middle-earth as accurately as MMORPG conventions will allow, the thought of Uruk-hai gankers camping hapless Hobbits outside the Prancing Pony seemed pretty far down the list of desirable scenarios.

Thus, PvP was confined to the Ettenmoors and Monster Play was born, and though it's taken its lumps from competitive players over the years, Turbine continues to allocate dev resources toward LotRO's PvP minigame. As part of its PR rollout for the upcoming Book 3: Echoes of the Dead update, Turbine has released a batch of screenshots focusing on changes to the game's Monster Play system.

What are these changes, pray tell? For starters, there are new incentives for participating in PvP (including armor sets and a new type of runic called Insignias). Check out the Monster Play dev diary for full details, and don't forget to gaze at the new shots in our gallery below.

Gallery: Lord of the Rings Online Monster Play

MassivelyTurbine releases new LotRO Monster Play screens, dev diary originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>book-3dev-diaryechoes-of-the-deadf2pfree-to-playgalleriesgallerylord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromiddle-earthmonster-playpvpscreenshotsturbineTurbine-EntertainmentTue, 01 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Just around the bend]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/11/the-road-to-mordor-just-around-the-bend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/11/the-road-to-mordor-just-around-the-bend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/11/the-road-to-mordor-just-around-the-bend/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's been a few months since the November Update in Lord of the Rings Online, and the natives are restless -- as usual. Some folks are despairing the long wait until Rise of Isengard while others are itching for more challenges to their currently level-capped characters. Then there are the players who are hopelessly lost in Moria and would give their eye teeth for a flashlight.

Happily, a new update is just around the bend, code-named Echoes of the Dead. The actual name is Echoes of the Dead too, so I guess that's not such a great code. Over the past couple of weeks, we've started to get a feel for just how large this update is, and after reading through the Bullroarer test notes on Wednesday, I think we're in for a tsunami of a patch.

Of course, these patch notes come in the middle of Turbine's carefully spaced dev diaries dealing with each major change or addition, which means that we're a little in the dark as to the specifics of half of this update. That's not going to stop me -- or any of you -- from analyzing, speculating and gesturing excitedly to no one in particular.

So let's dig in to this hearty meal of mushrooms and patch notes to see just how deep LotRO's rabbit hole goes!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Just around the bend

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Just around the bend originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bear-hugburglarcharacter-panelcosmetic-outfitcraftingdamage-over-timedotdungeonsechoes-of-the-deadfeaturefeaturedhunterinstanceslegacieslegendary-itemslord-of-the-ringslore-masterlotromap-homeminstrelmonster-playmoriamysterious-relicsnovember-updateoutfitoutfit-systempatchpatch-notespvepvmpradianceraidraid-instancesrise-of-isengardrune-keepersamsungskirmishesstancestest-servertest-server-notesthe-road-to-mordortim-langturbineuiupdateupdate-notesuser-interfacevolume-1volume-2volume-3volume-3-book-3Fri, 11 Feb 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: The final ding]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/28/the-road-to-mordor-the-final-ding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/28/the-road-to-mordor-the-final-ding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/28/the-road-to-mordor-the-final-ding/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It happened far sooner than I'd hoped. I tried to put it off, to ignore the creeping bar, to spend my days in frivolous activities instead of fighting evil -- but to no avail. It was a simple quest turn-in somewhere deep in Mirkwood, and with only two elves to witness the event, a stream of white light erupted from my head.

I was level 65.

For me, it's always been extremely disconcerting to hit endgame in any MMO, which is probably why Lord of the Rings Online marks only the fourth game of my MMO career in which this has happened. I like the feeling of leveling up, gaining experience, going on a mostly solo journey through the lands. But once I ding that final level, the XP gains go away and the questions arise.

What do I do now? Should I become concerned with raiding? I wasn't before! Is there a purpose to keep on questing at this point without XP? Am I going to avoid fighting mobs unless I absolutely have to do so? What is there to do? Will I get bored? Who replaced my wallet with a ketchup packet before I sat down?

Join me after the jump as I take you through these questions and more on my journey to discover a life after the final ding.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: The final ding

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: The final ding originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bree-landcaptaincatch-22deedsdungeonenedwaithettenmoorsexperienceForochelgladdeninstanceitem-experienceixplandrovallegendary-itemslevel-65level-caplilord-of-the-rings-onlinelothlorienlotromirkwoodmonster-playplayer-vs-monster-playerpvmpraidrise-of-isengardrivendellsandboxsarumantheme-parkturbineturbine-entertainmentvirtuesxpFri, 28 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Best non-traditional MMO fantasy races]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/13/the-perfect-ten-best-non-traditional-mmo-fantasy-races/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/13/the-perfect-ten-best-non-traditional-mmo-fantasy-races/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/13/the-perfect-ten-best-non-traditional-mmo-fantasy-races/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Elves. Dwarves. Humans. Halflings. Gnomes. Hobbits. Dark elves. High elves. Half-elves. Wood elves. Keebler elves. Elvish impersonators.

Are you as tired as I am of the endless regurgitation of stock fantasy races in our MMOs? It seems inconceivable (I do not think that means what you think it means) for a new fantasy title to come out without most of the above races infesting the character creation screen with moldy unoriginality, putrescent stank, and dusty boredom.

That's why today I'm standing up to praise 10 MMOs that dare to go above and beyond the stale by offering mostly unique and different races than the rest of the market. Hopefully future games will learn from their example and throw off the yokes of generic oppression to give us something bold and refreshing!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Best non-traditional MMO fantasy races

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Best non-traditional MMO fantasy races originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acallods-onlineasherons-callbed-wettingburning-crusadecharrdaocdark-age-of-camelotdark-elvesddodraeneidragondragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlinedwarveseberronelveselvish-impersonatoreq2eqiiettenmoorseverquest-2everquest-iifalcor-the-luck-dragongargoylegibberlingsgnomesgpotatoguild-wars-2halflingshigh-elveshobbitshorizonsistariaistaria-formerly-horizonskeebler-elveskoboldlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromonster-playnarniaperfect-10perfect-tenpuff-the-magic-dragonpvmpratongareepicheeprubiskavensoeSony-Online-Entertainmentspider-weaverturbineultima-onlineundeadwarforgedWarhammer-OnlineWorld-of-WarcraftThu, 13 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kate Paiz answers the "Whys" of LotRO's changes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/03/kate-paiz-answers-the-whys-of-lotros-changes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/03/kate-paiz-answers-the-whys-of-lotros-changes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/03/kate-paiz-answers-the-whys-of-lotros-changes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

When a parent tells a kid to do something, the immediate follow-up question is invariably, "Why?" Likewise, Lord of the Rings Online's Kate Paiz knows that players are constantly asking "Why?" when Turbine makes any additions or changes to the game, which is why she spends a bulk of her December Producer's Letter explaining the company's actions and decisions.

Paiz says that the team saw that not enough F2P players were heading into the Lone-lands, which is why they made the zone's quest pack free for everyone. Other deep LotRO secrets she reveals are the reasons behind removal of radiance, dual upgrades to the legendary item system, the addition of cosmetic pets for all (which may provide buffs when used!), and the expansion of Monster Play so that all tiers of players can participate.

She also shares an encouraging word about the financial state of the game: "Revenues for the game have continued to increase. While we are getting some great feedback on what the LotRO Store can do better and what other items you'd like to find there, Store usage continues to be much higher than industry averages!"

You can read the full Producer's Letter over at LotRO's website.

MassivelyKate Paiz answers the "Whys" of LotRO's changes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cosmetic-petsdev-diaryf2pfree-to-playkate-paizlegendary-itemslone-landslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromonster-playproducers-letterpvmpradianceturbineTurbine-EntertainmentwhyFri, 03 Dec 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Rise of Isengard is coming!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/19/the-road-to-mordor-rise-of-isengard-is-coming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/19/the-road-to-mordor-rise-of-isengard-is-coming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/19/the-road-to-mordor-rise-of-isengard-is-coming/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

[Update: Made a clarification that there is no indication of "open-world" PvMP in the expansion.]

Times are tough in Middle-earth, even after the inexplicable appearance of several hundred thousand new adventurers this fall. The Fellowship of the Ring is broken, Sauron is rising in power, and the White Hand of Saruman is marching across the lands. Even the bravest and hardiest soldier of the Free Peoples cannot be blamed for feeling disheartened, especially in the face of the monumental struggle to come.

Welcome to the beginning of The Two Towers in Lord of the Rings Online. Welcome to Isengard.

The rumors are true: Next year we will be venturing into LotRO's third expansion, titled Rise of Isengard, to confront evil in its own backyard. While this may not be the Rohan or Gondor expansion that we've anticipated, Turbine is fairly confident that it will be well-received by players and will represent an ambitious step forward on (wait for it) the road to Mordor.

Turbine's Adam Mersky and Aaron Campbell were on hand to outline for us the company's near- and far-future plans with Massively, starting with the imminent November update and cruising all the way through 2011. Hit the jump as we look at interactive theater, busy bees, Monster Play improvements and, of course, Isengard.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Rise of Isengard is coming!

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Rise of Isengard is coming! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaron-campbelladam-merskybreakingbusy-beecosmeticcosmetic-systemdourhanddungeonsdunlandeager-beaverenedwaithettenmoorsf2pfeaturedfedexfellowship-of-the-ringfirst-agefree-to-playgap-of-rohangondorikeaisengardjourney-to-winter-homelegendary-itemslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelore-masterlotromad-bagginsmiddle-earthmines-of-moriamonster-playnon-combat-petorthancoutfitpvmppvpraidsrandiancerise-of-isengardrohanrune-keepersarumanshadows-of-angmarsiege-of-mirkwoodstarter-zonestudly-mcawesometask-systemtasksthe-road-to-mordorthe-two-towersturbineTurbine-Entertainmentwardrobewhite-handwinter-homeyuleyule-festivalFri, 19 Nov 2010 05:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Five features STO should "borrow" from other MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/16/captains-log-five-features-sto-should-borrow-from-other-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/16/captains-log-five-features-sto-should-borrow-from-other-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/16/captains-log-five-features-sto-should-borrow-from-other-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Hi, everybody! (Hi, Dr. Nick!) Thanks for tuning in to another edition of Captain's Log, where we laud and lament the finer points of Star Trek Online each and every Thursday. Last week sure was fun, wasn't it? Nothing gets the comments pumping like defending the work of Cryptic Studios, amirite?

This week, I feel like having a little more fun. These are exciting times for MMO-lovers, and I admit my eye -- and my playing time -- have gone a-wanderin' of late. So I got to thinking this week about which features from other MMOs I would most like to see implemented in STO. Keep reading, because I'm going to tell them to you! And then I'm going to demand that you suggest your own features in the comments!

Continue reading Captain's Log: Five features STO should "borrow" from other MMOs

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Five features STO should "borrow" from other MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticcity-of-heroesCOHcrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdaniel-stahldc-universe-onlinedcuoeve-onlineeverquestfeaturedffxivfinal-fantasy-xivfun-with-imaginationlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromind-grapesmission-architectmonster-playPokemonromrunes-of-magicsehlatst-onlineStar-Trekstar-trek-gaghStar-Trek-MMOstar-trek-onlinestar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicstosto-craftingsto-diplomacysto-featuressto-future-featuressto-non-combatsto-qsto-tribblesstupid-stupid-dinosaur-planetswgswtortargtrek-onlineunbridled-speculationWorld-of-WarcraftwowThu, 16 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waging WAR: RvR packs, the "wait and see" edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/28/waging-war-rvr-packs-the-wait-and-see-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/28/waging-war-rvr-packs-the-wait-and-see-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/28/waging-war-rvr-packs-the-wait-and-see-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

This week Waging WAR rides the double rainbow of gameplay customization via downloadable content and takes a cursory glance at the RvR packs being teased by the folks behind the development of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. Let's follow along and see what Greg can unleash this time.

It is difficult to talk about the future of WAR right now. Not because it doesn't have a future, but because the availability of information regarding it is not exactly easy to find. Actually, information on the future of WAR is all but non-existent, surrounded by controversy on all sides, and steeped in rumor, speculation, assumption and misinformation. The best I can put together is that we, as players, can look forward to some sort of set of three different "RvR Packs" allowing us to "customize" our gameplay experience moving forward. The packs have been called "Power," "Progression," and "Personality." What exactly each contains is a mystery, although the few talking points I was able to find regarding these RvR packs are speculatively disappointing at best. Although Carrie, Andy, and anyone else involved with the Mythic development team have said time and time again that they are not discussing moving toward the free-to-play business model, what they're proposing with these customization packs looks suspiciously like the item shop established by Turbine, implemented in Dungeons & Dragons Online and soon in Lord of the Rings Online as well. V.I.P. membership, anyone?

Although concrete information is scarce and difficult to find, let's take a look at the most commonly referenced points of interest after the break.

Continue reading Waging WAR: RvR packs, the "wait and see" edition

MassivelyWaging WAR: RvR packs, the "wait and see" edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-the-tower-of-eternityaion-tower-of-eternityandy-belfordbalaurBioWarebioware-eaBioware-MMObioware-mythicbioware-pointscarrie-gouskosddoddo-storeddo-unlimitedDLCdownloadable contentdownloadable-contentDownloadableContentDragon-AgeDragon-Age-OriginsDungeons-and-Dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineEAea-mythicf2pfeaturefeaturedfeaturesfree-to-playgames-daygames-day-2010games-workshopgamesday-ukLord of the Ringslord-of-the-rings-onlineLordOfTheRingsmass-effectmass-effect-2MassEffectmicro-transactionmicro-transactionsmonster-gamesmonster-playmythicmythic-eaMythic-Entertainmentrenownrenown-armorrenown-bonusrenown-caprenown-pointsrenown-rankrenown-rankingrvrrvr-packscenarioscenario-weaponsscenariosskaventurbineTurbine-Entertainmentvipwaging-warwarWarhammer-OnlineSat, 28 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: LotRO's feature future, part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/17/the-digital-continuum-lotros-feature-future-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/17/the-digital-continuum-lotros-feature-future-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/17/the-digital-continuum-lotros-feature-future-part-2/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: LotRO's feature future, part 2

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: LotRO's feature future, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expansionshelms-deeplord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromonster-playopen-pvpopinionpvmppvprohansiege-of-mirkwoodsomTue, 17 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO Monster Play class enhancements]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/31/lotro-monster-play-class-enhancements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/31/lotro-monster-play-class-enhancements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/31/lotro-monster-play-class-enhancements/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

As promised, Turbine has delivered yet another informative dev diary regarding the changes coming to Monster Play with the Mines of Moria expansion to Lord of the Rings Online. Yet, this one isn't a simple report on tweaks and adjustments here and there; this dev diary explains the dozens of new skills and traits that will be introduced for your favorite Monster classes come November 18th.

Plus, in the second part of the Ettenmoors dev diary we showed you last week, Turbine discusses the mechanics of capturing flags and artifacts, as promised. Why so much information regarding Monster Play lately? As we can see from these dev diaries, the changes to Monster Play will be substantial for several reasons. This includes providing more direct PvMP gameplay, providing greater incentive for players and monster players alike and providing a greater level of advancement for monster players. Be sure to read the entire series if you're a diehard PvMP fan, or even if you're considering getting into LotRO's Monster Play system for the first time.

MassivelyLotRO Monster Play class enhancements originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-diaryettenmoorslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriamonster-playpvmppvprevampskillstraitsFri, 31 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PvMP changes coming with LotRO: Mines of Moria]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/08/pvmp-changes-coming-with-lotro-mines-of-moria/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/08/pvmp-changes-coming-with-lotro-mines-of-moria/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/08/pvmp-changes-coming-with-lotro-mines-of-moria/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Often times, players want to know why there's no open or "proper" PvP in Lord of the Rings Online. The system they have in place now is very unlike what most other games consider a player vs player environment. To many, this is a good thing, but to others, it detracts from the game. To fully understand the reasoning behind no open PvP system in LotRO, one must first fully comprehend the lore. J.R.R. Tolkien's world is extremely important to Turbine (despite what some may think with the introduction of the Rune-keeper), so the way they incorporate popular game mechanics into their heavily lore-based PvE game is a constant battle.

Over at Pumping Irony, Scott gives us his impressions of how this could all work. He talks about all of the reported changes coming to PvMP with Mines of Moria, and mentions his understanding of the lore and how the current world of Eriador is mostly unaware of their impending doom from the forces of Sauron. This is an excellent point as many players have no idea that this is the case. Scott also brings up some great points about the future of LotRO PvMP and how Jeffrey Steefel himself has hinted at an expanded system coming after Moria. Check out Scott's post and let us (and him) know what you think.

MassivelyPvMP changes coming with LotRO: Mines of Moria originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ettenmoorsjeffrey-steefellord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriamonster-playpvmpturbineMon, 08 Sep 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blogging into Mordor: Finding the perfect name for your Monster Character]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/20/blogging-into-mordor-finding-the-perfect-name-for-your-monster/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/20/blogging-into-mordor-finding-the-perfect-name-for-your-monster/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/20/blogging-into-mordor-finding-the-perfect-name-for-your-monster/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



While playing one of the Free Peoples (elves, dwarves, hobbits, and men) is usually what comes to mind when one wants to role-play in The Lord of the Rings Online, there is another part of the game that is sometimes overlooked - Monster Play. Once you reach level 10 on a server you are able to play instead as a servant of Sauron and participate in the game's PVP system (known as PVMP). Those of us looking to role-play a character on the evil side of the story can become an orc, a spider, an uruk, or a warg.

Most people participating in PVMP choose a name for their monsters that reflects its "pwning ability" in the Ettenmoors rather than actually abiding to the lore. You frequently see names such as "Pewpewpew" and "Hobbitmuncher". However, for those of you who wish to choose a name that is lore-appropriate, this guide will help you in doing that! So if you want a creative name for your monster rather than "Saruon" or "Wormtongxx" keep reading!

Continue reading Blogging into Mordor: Finding the perfect name for your Monster Character

MassivelyBlogging into Mordor: Finding the perfect name for your Monster Character originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>creepsettenmoorsfeaturedjoystiqfeatureslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromonster-playnamingnaming-policyturbineSun, 20 Jul 2008 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO PvP guide: The basics of Monster Play]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/27/lotro-pvp-guide-the-basics-of-monster-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/27/lotro-pvp-guide-the-basics-of-monster-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/27/lotro-pvp-guide-the-basics-of-monster-play/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


In the realm of Tolkien's Middle-earth, the ideals of general PvP get a bit complicated. For instance, you would never see bands of Hobbits battling with Elves, or vice versa. It's just not something Tolkien ever envisioned. This is a sticky situation for the developers of an MMO based on Tolkien lore, as PvP is a staple in the massively multiplayer genre. The solution, of course, is to allow players to play as the evil creatures that inhabit these lands. Of course, it is still possible to do a one-on-one duel with another player at any time during the game. This is seen as more of a private skirmish deal, which would happen in any land between any two people for any reason. Perhaps a drunken binge at The Prancing Pony enabled the loosening of your tongue a bit too much? Perhaps that ruffian bloke in the alley over there was eye-balling you a bit too long? Whatever the reason, dueling is a perfectly viable option in Lord of the Rings Online. For the sake of this guide though, we will focus on PvP on a much larger scale.

PvP in LotRO is referred more accurately as PvMP (player versus monster player) and it takes place in one specific area known as the Ettenmoors. It is really unlike most other types of PvP found in more traditional MMOs, as it could almost be considered PvP for PvEers. There are quests to pursue, areas to explore and skills to unlock, yet they're done in a way that is essentially separate from the rest of the game.

Continue through to our PvMP gallery for a complete visual tour of the basics of Monster Play.

Gallery: Lord of the Rings Online Monster Play

MassivelyLotRO PvP guide: The basics of Monster Play originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>codemasterscreepsettenmoorsfeaturedfreepsgalleryguidejoystiqfeatureslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromonster-playturbineFri, 27 Jun 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO Player Survey #1 looks at MonsterPlay]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/02/lotro-player-survey-1-looks-at-monsterplay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/02/lotro-player-survey-1-looks-at-monsterplay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/02/lotro-player-survey-1-looks-at-monsterplay/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Upon opening the Lord of the Rings Online launcher, you should be offered the chance to fill out a survey for Turbine. It is the first in what we're told will be a series over the coming weeks and months, and focuses on Monster Play, or PvMP. They're hoping to find out what players think of monster play as it is right now, and get a feel for where they should take it in the future.

Taking about 5 minutes to fill out, the survey goes over many aspects of the PvMP experience, asking very specific things like in the picture above, as well as more general questions to gauge player enjoyment and the amount of time spent in the 'Moors. Turbine has always seemed very interested in what players have to say, so hopefully the results of this survey will help steer PvMP in the right direction.

MassivelyLotRO Player Survey #1 looks at MonsterPlay originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Apr 2008 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>creepsettenmoorsfreepslotromonster-playplayer-surveypvmpsurveyturbineWed, 02 Apr 2008 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO dev chat reveals Book 13 map]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/lotro-dev-chat-reveals-book-13-map/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/lotro-dev-chat-reveals-book-13-map/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/lotro-dev-chat-reveals-book-13-map/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

So maybe you weren't able to make it to the dev chat last Monday, or maybe you just didn't know about it. Well, whatever the reason might have been, fear not -- for there is a chat log bursting at the seams with information. A lot gets touched on, but the thing that has us the most excited would have to be the upcoming social upgrades focused on quests -- hopefully making the completion of them a bit more streamlined. We're really happy to hear it, because that would be one of our main complaints with the game currently -- which is saying a lot since we don't have too many complaints about Lord of the Rings Online.

We've complied the most interesting bits of information and formatted them in the ever-easy to digest list format. So read on if you'd like to hear about what's in store for Book 13 and even Book 14. Also, remember to check back with us this coming Friday as there's going to be a big Lord of the Rings Online announcement from Connect08. Our guess? We're hoping for a new expansion, but the only way to know for sure is to wait for the big day.

Continue reading LotRO dev chat reveals Book 13 map

MassivelyLotRO dev chat reveals Book 13 map originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>book-13connect08defilerfeaturedforochellord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromonster-playpvmpturbineWed, 12 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Angmarim fortress exposed by new Lorebook entry]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/angmarim-fortress-exposed-by-new-lorebook-entry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/angmarim-fortress-exposed-by-new-lorebook-entry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/angmarim-fortress-exposed-by-new-lorebook-entry/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A new lorebook entry has graced the official Lord of the Rings Online website, this one focusing on Rhunendin. Long ago when the hosts of Angmar were driven from the North-kingdom, the they were scattered to the wind. Even though the Angmarim numbers were few, time was on their side. The many years that would pass gave these scattered remnants time to re-multiply into a strong force.

Continue reading Angmarim fortress exposed by new Lorebook entry

MassivelyAngmarim fortress exposed by new Lorebook entry originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>angmarcreepsfreepslord-of-the-rings-onlinelorebooklotromonster-playrhunendinturbineWed, 20 Feb 2008 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Troll and Ranger PvMP reinstated again]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/troll-and-ranger-pvmp-reinstated-again/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/troll-and-ranger-pvmp-reinstated-again/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/troll-and-ranger-pvmp-reinstated-again/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Wee! The PvMP session play see-saw has flipped once more, and Lord of the Rings Online players can assume the form of the mighty Trolls and Rangers out in the 'Moors again. Community specialist Saffron made the announcement in the forums, but also included a warning that may just cause our fun little see-saw to rust over:

Please remember that running more than two Ranger or Troll sessions within 12 hours is considered an exploit and may be subject to disciplinary measures. Enjoy!

That's a fairly clear message for anyone who wants to mess around with session play in the future, but does that mean that people won't still try? Of course not.

MassivelyTroll and Ranger PvMP reinstated again originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ettenmoorslotromonster-playpvmprangersession-playtrollturbineWed, 20 Feb 2008 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO's Troll and Ranger session play down yet again]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/17/lotros-troll-and-ranger-session-play-down-yet-again/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/17/lotros-troll-and-ranger-session-play-down-yet-again/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/17/lotros-troll-and-ranger-session-play-down-yet-again/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

A note in Lord of the Rings Online's patcher hints that Troll and Ranger session play has been disabled, yet again. Sure enough, a post in the forums confirms the situation, so these giants of PvMP are unavailable once more. There isn't any explanation readily given, but looking at the Monster Play forums, a thread can be found with a response from a Turbine official in the first page: "An exploit was discovered that enabled sessions to be nearly limitless. It was decided that the sessions should be shut down."

Troll and Ranger session play has been taken out before, and another time after that. The second time they were disabled was actually due the exact same reason that they are now, which leaves you to wonder whether people had managed to continue the old exploit somehow, or whether there's an all new way to rip off the system. The best thing about the see-sawing status of PvMP session play is that I get to keep using my troll doll picture.

MassivelyLotRO's Troll and Ranger session play down yet again originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Feb 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lotromonster-playpvmprangersession-playtrollturbineSun, 17 Feb 2008 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Player compiles LotRO PvMP Creep ranks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/30/player-complies-lotro-pvmp-creep-rankings/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/30/player-complies-lotro-pvmp-creep-rankings/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/30/player-complies-lotro-pvmp-creep-rankings/#commentsFiled under: , ,


There's a post on the official Lord of the Rings Online forums compiling lots of high-resolution PvMP creep images from Rank 0 all the way to Rank 15. It's nice that there's a lot of different ranks, but some of them seem to repeat once or twice as you look through the actual tiers. We can't help but wonder if it's a little bit of a lazy solution for trying to keep a lot of variety in LotRO players' world. Don't get us wrong, there's nothing wrong with some of the skins - in fact some of them are great looking. However, others leave a lot to be desired as well. All we're trying to say is some consistency would be nice.

MassivelyPlayer compiles LotRO PvMP Creep ranks originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>creepslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromidwaymonster-playmonstersPvMPturbineWed, 30 Jan 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Community-driven PvMP guide helps you kill good guys]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/21/community-driven-pvmp-guide-helps-you-kill-good-guys/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/21/community-driven-pvmp-guide-helps-you-kill-good-guys/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/21/community-driven-pvmp-guide-helps-you-kill-good-guys/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Lord of the Rings Online's PvP system is unique. In the main PvE game, you can't play as an evil soldier who serves Sauron, the Witch-king, or Saruman; you can only play as a member of the Free Peoples of Middle-earth. Obviously, when every one's on the same side, coming up with a good PvP scenario becomes problematic.

Turbine solved the problem by letting players log into pre-made but customizable evil characters whose functions are limited to PvP. Other players take their normal good-guy characters into the battlefield to fight the "Monster Players." It works pretty well. The PvP in LotRO is surprisingly deep for something that at present occurs in only one zone.

Deep means complex, though; there's a lot to learn. That's why fans at the official LotRO forums decided to put together a comprehensive strategy guide to playing a Monster Character. It's a great resource, and the community is still updating it with new strategies.

MassivelyCommunity-driven PvMP guide helps you kill good guys originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Nov 2007 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communitycreepsforumsfreepslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromonster-playpvmppvpstrategyturbineWed, 21 Nov 2007 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO: Troll and Ranger Session Play out for now]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/lotro-troll-and-ranger-session-play-out-for-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/lotro-troll-and-ranger-session-play-out-for-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/lotro-troll-and-ranger-session-play-out-for-now/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Session Play in Lord of the Rings Online is a feature that allows you to take the form of a different character, and experience Middle Earth from a new perspective. From the official website, "You could play as a Ranger, a Troll, or... a chicken." Well, it looks as though your only option for now may be of the feathered farmyard variety, according to this post on Turbine's official LotRO forums.

The announcement from Turbine Community Specialist Saffron tells us little other than that there have been unspecified issues with Trolls and Rangers in Session Play, and that they will not be available until further notice. These two character types were formerly playable in the Ettenmoors Monster Play (PvP) zone, with Rangers for the Free Peoples and Trolls for the Monsters. A quick visit to the Monster Play forums shows that Trolls and Rangers have already been a topic of hot debate, with many feeling they were overpowered. Perhaps they will be tweaked along with other PvMP updates due with Book 12 -- we will have to wait and see what changes have been made when they are made available for play once more.

MassivelyLotRO: Troll and Ranger Session Play out for now originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Nov 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>creepsettenmoorsfree-peoplesfreepslord-of-the-ringslotromonster-playmonstersPvMPrangerssession-playshadows-of-angmartrollsturbineThu, 15 Nov 2007 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO dev chat is silent on new info]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/13/lotro-dev-chat-is-silent-on-new-info/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/13/lotro-dev-chat-is-silent-on-new-info/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/13/lotro-dev-chat-is-silent-on-new-info/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Stratics hosted another developer chat, this time with the Lord of the Rings Online staffers. The topic was Book 12, but unfortunately not much was revealed that we didn't already learn in the LotRO German dev chat earlier this month.

Without the class developer on hand, all Guardian and Burglar revamp questions were deflected. As were most other inquiries. It seems that the developers couldn't answer many questions at all. But here is the little that I was able to glean from them.

Housing improvements in Book 12 include being able to use Bound items for decoration and house items will be able to be rotated on their hooks. There is also a "high likelihood" that alts will be able to use the recall to home feature of other characters on the same account.

Continue reading LotRO dev chat is silent on new info

MassivelyLotRO dev chat is silent on new info originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Nov 2007 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barber-shopbook-12burglar-revampdev-chatfellowship-maneuversguardian-revamphookslorebooklotromonster-playmonth-of-the-burglarmonth-of-the-guardianoutfitterTue, 13 Nov 2007 11:04:00 EST