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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: A Wildermore dev chat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/the-road-to-mordor-a-wildermore-dev-chat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/the-road-to-mordor-a-wildermore-dev-chat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/the-road-to-mordor-a-wildermore-dev-chat/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Road to Mordor A Wildermore dev chat
Snow-covered zones aren't exactly new to Lord of the Rings Online, but the upcoming region of Wildermore is a little bit different than the normal Misty Mountain ski resorts. How so? Well, for one thing, it's not supposed to be snowy at all. So what's up with the premature winter in this area of Rohan -- and what are you, the player, going to do about it?

That's the basic setup for Update 11: Treachery of the White Hand. The update, which should be going live next week, is what I call the intermission zone: It's the region that Turbine adds between expansions to keep veteran players from bouncing off the walls due to boredom. Lothlorien, Enedwaith, and the Great River are past intermission zones, but Wildermore might be the most fascinating one yet.

Thanks to technical issues, I wasn't able to get a first-hand tour of the new region. Instead, I nabbed a heart-to-heart chat with the devs about the intricacies of Wildermore, the next step of the epic story, and plenty of assorted goodies coming with the update!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: A Wildermore dev chat

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: A Wildermore dev chat originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-chatexpansionf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playhelms-deepinterviewinterviewslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionriders-of-rohanroad-to-mordorrorthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-11wildermoreSat, 11 May 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Watch the backstory of LotRO's Wildermore zone]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/watch-the-backstory-of-lotros-wildermore-zone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/watch-the-backstory-of-lotros-wildermore-zone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/watch-the-backstory-of-lotros-wildermore-zone/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Watch the backstory of LotRO's Wildermore zone
When Lord of the Rings Online's Update 11 drops next week, it will open the paths to a brand-new zone: Wildermore. While it's part of the Wold, Wildermore is definitely unlike anything seen in Riders of Rohan; for starters, the area is inexplicably covered in snow and jagged ice crystals.

So what's up with this area? Turbine's developers have put together a video to introduce the zone and explain the main storyhook behind it. It appears that Saruman has fused an ancient relic with a giant, creating a nasty foe that will be the main antagonist as players travel through Wildermore. Don't fret, as there are good guys as well attempting to fight the snow powers that be.

Check out the dev tour after the jump, and if you use the LotRO forums regularly, you may want to read up on the forum consolidation that's about to take place.

Continue reading Watch the backstory of LotRO's Wildermore zone

MassivelyWatch the backstory of LotRO's Wildermore zone originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 May 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Road to Mordor Helm's Deep
While I'm quite excited to hear the news of this year's Lord of the Rings Online expansion, Helm's Deep, there are two small nits that I must pick, two little peeves that I must pet before moving onward. The first is that Turbine could not have worse timing; I've been prepping for a vacation and pre-written a couple of weeks of this column, and now this announcement's forced me to scramble last-minute to write a new one.

The other issue is that Turbine's abandoned the "[something] of [place]" title structure it's had ever since Shadows of Angmar. A vain, egocentric part of me thinks that this might've happened because a developer read my expansion prediction column and decided to spite me.

With that out of the way, let's digest the official announcement and see what we'll be doing this fall when LotRO's fifth expansion hits!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Helm's Deep calls!

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Helm's Deep calls! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Road to Mordor Happy 6th birthday, LotRO!
Uh, seriously guys, it was just yesterday that I was celebrating the third anniversary of Lord of the Rings Online with you in this column. At least it felt like yesterday. Really, has it been six years already? I guess it must be. It just seems like time moves so rapidly in MMOs, especially ones you've been in for years.

Even if you don't count my first six months in the game prior to and after the game's launch, my current stint in LotRO is the longest period of time that I've ever played an MMO. It's been a little over three years now that I've been playing and covering this game for Massively, and my interest in it has yet to wane. That amazes me; just when I think I might burn out on it, I find something about LotRO to rekindle my interest and passion.

There's something special about this game world that I haven't found elsewhere, I've concluded. Perhaps it's the IP restrictions and continuity that makes Middle-earth more "real" to me than other virtual worlds. Maybe it's the sheer breadth of content or the goofy hats. I can't decide. But I'm happy to raise a glass to LotRO as it turns six and look back at some of my favorite moments over the years.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Happy sixth birthday, LotRO!

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Happy sixth birthday, LotRO! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6th-anniversaryanniversaryexpansionf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionriders-of-rohanroad-to-mordorrorsixth-anniversarythe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentSat, 20 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Stepping into Fangorn Forest]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/06/the-road-to-mordor-stepping-into-fangorn-forest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/06/the-road-to-mordor-stepping-into-fangorn-forest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/06/the-road-to-mordor-stepping-into-fangorn-forest/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Road to Mordor Stepping into Fangorn Forest
Without a doubt, Riders of Rohan is one of the best expansions Lord of the Rings Online has delivered to date. True, it's not without its rough spots, but overall I'm impressed. The storytelling is excellent, the landscape is engaging, the mounted combat is pretty fun, the music is incredible, and the amount of stuff to do is mind-boggling.

But it wasn't until a week ago when my slow-but-steady Captain finally encountered my favorite aspect of this expansion: the Eves of Fangorn. I wasn't expecting to be so enchanted and engaged, but LotRO threw me for a loop and there I was -- grinning at the zone design and happy that the game can still produce a sense of wonder and adventure in my soul.

Why is it so good? What won me over? If you're thinking, "He's got a tree fetish, he does," then you might not be too far off base.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Stepping into Fangorn Forest

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Stepping into Fangorn Forest originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eves-of-fangornexpansionf2pfangornfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelorelotroopinionriders-of-rohanroad-to-mordorrorthe-road-to-mordortree-fetishturbineturbine-entertainmentzone-designSat, 06 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: The coming LotRO class apocalypse and how you can survive it]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/the-road-to-mordor-the-coming-lotro-class-apocalypse-and-how-yo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/the-road-to-mordor-the-coming-lotro-class-apocalypse-and-how-yo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/the-road-to-mordor-the-coming-lotro-class-apocalypse-and-how-yo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Road to Mordor The coming class apocalypse and how you can survive it
Out of the four primary goals that the Lord of the Rings Online team has stated for 2013, the promise of class revamps has proven to be the most nerve-wracking -- and intriguing -- among the populace. After all, when you say that "significant changes" are coming to classes and don't follow up with any sort of significant details, speculation and worry is going to run amok.

Last September I argued that classes did need a shakeup. While the whole structure isn't without its redeeming (ahem) virtues, I believed that it wasn't intuitive for new players, that there wasn't really any growth in the abilities or builds of characters post-Moria, and that much of the deed system was simply too grindy.

That's why I'm cautiously optimistic about the "coming class apocalypse" in 2013 -- I'm tired of the status quo. LotRO has an opportunity to cut the dead weight and make leveling interesting all over again. Let's take a look at a few statements by the dev team to deduce what we'll be looking at when it happens.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: The coming LotRO class apocalypse and how you can survive it

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: The coming LotRO class apocalypse and how you can survive it originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 30 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classclass-revampclass-treesexpansionf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playkate-paizlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroMatt-Zimmittiopinionriders-of-rohanroad-to-mordorrorskill-treestalent-treesthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentSat, 30 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New LotRO screenshots sneak another peek at Update 10]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/new-lotro-screenshots-sneak-another-peek-at-update-10/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/new-lotro-screenshots-sneak-another-peek-at-update-10/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/new-lotro-screenshots-sneak-another-peek-at-update-10/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

New LotRO screenshots sneak another peek at Update 10
Wondering what to do while whiling away the time waiting for the second half of Lord of the Rings Online's promised Riders of Rohan instance cluster? How about lose yourself in some of the imagery that will be awaiting you when Update 10 finally hits servers! Turbine has released 10 new screenshots showing off scenes from all three raid instances -- Flight to Lonely Mountain, The Fires of Smaug, and The Battle for Erebor -- as well as the single group instance, Bells of Dale.

Feast your eyes on the images in the gallery below. And if that isn't enough to tide you over, you can get more up-close and personal with Massively's hands-on preview.

[Source: Turbine press release]

Gallery: LotRO: Riders of Rohan

MassivelyNew LotRO screenshots sneak another peek at Update 10 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Feb 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bells-of-Daledungeonsexpansionf2pfantasyFlight-to-Lonely-Mountainfree-to-playgalleryinstanceslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroraidsriders-of-rohanrorscreenshotsThe-Battle-For-EreborThe-Fires-of-Smaugturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-10Thu, 21 Feb 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO goes to the Lonely Mountain: Update 10 raid preview]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/04/lotro-goes-to-the-lonely-mountain-update-10-raid-preview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/04/lotro-goes-to-the-lonely-mountain-update-10-raid-preview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/04/lotro-goes-to-the-lonely-mountain-update-10-raid-preview/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

LotRO goes to the Lonely Mountain Update 10 raid preview
If you haven't heard the garment-rending woes of Lord of the Rings Online players who have had to wait and wait for the promised second half of Riders of Rohan's instance cluster (now with raids!), then you haven't been anywhere near LotRO in the past half-year. Fortunately, the imminent Update 10 will soon swoop in and provide the populace with a trio of raids as well as a six-person instance to tackle.

We got on the phone with Turbine for a tour of the new raids. Senior Designer Joe Barry opened the session by explaining that eastern Rohan just plain did not work for a location of instances due to lore restrictions, a lack of a big bad guy, and no iconic locations. So the team decided to tackle the IP-supported tale of the Easterlings' siege of Dale and the Lonely Mountain through the second half of this instance cluster.

Join us as we take a look at just what is up with the Lonely Mountain now that Smaug has vacated the premises!

Continue reading LotRO goes to the Lonely Mountain: Update 10 raid preview

MassivelyLotRO goes to the Lonely Mountain: Update 10 raid preview originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Feb 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dungeonsexpansionf2pfantasyfree-to-playinstance-clusterinstancesjoe-barrylonely-mountainlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroraidraidsriders-of-rohanrorthe-hobbitturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-10Mon, 04 Feb 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Digesting the LotRO dev chats]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/02/the-road-to-mordor-digesting-the-dev-chats/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/02/the-road-to-mordor-digesting-the-dev-chats/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/02/the-road-to-mordor-digesting-the-dev-chats/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Road to Mordor Digesting the dev chats
Apart from the nightmare of Twitter spam that the recent two Lord of the Rings Online dev chats have produced, I'm pretty happy that Turbine's being more interactive with the community and taking on some of these topics head-on. Of course, everyone has his own areas of interest that were probably not covered to satisfaction, but looking through these two chats (December 20th and January 24th), we can deduce a lot of useful information about where LotRO is headed in the future.

Personally, I am pretty excited about 2013 for the game. It feels as if the team isn't slacking at all, and while there are always my wish list items that go unfulfilled, often the devs add cool changes (like the Bree update) that are equally welcome.

So let's sift the wheat from the chaff and see what we come up with from these dev chats as well as the recent producer's letter!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Digesting the LotRO dev chats

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Digesting the LotRO dev chats originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 02 Feb 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>community-q-and-adev-chatdeveloper-chatexpansionf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playhousinglord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromounted-combatopinionplayer-housingq-and-ariders-of-rohanroad-to-mordorrorthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-10update-11war-steedsSat, 02 Feb 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: The mounted combat verdict]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/19/the-road-to-mordor-the-mounted-combat-verdict/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/19/the-road-to-mordor-the-mounted-combat-verdict/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/19/the-road-to-mordor-the-mounted-combat-verdict/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Road to Mordor The mounted combat verdict
It's been months since Riders of Rohan greatly expanded Lord of the Rings Online in several ways, and I have yet to touch on its most central feature. I've been putting off having "the talk" about mounted combat due to wanting to spend enough time with it. Every week I thought about putting down my opinion, and then I'd be like, "No, I should give it some more time. More time."

Mounted combat is a tricky system to judge, I'm finding. It's so incredibly central to the newest expansion, and it's clear that Turbine has big plans to expand upon this system for the future. It certainly was a gutsy risk to introduce a new mode of fighting into the game at this juncture (because we all know how much people like change), and I've seen people all over the spectrum on it. Some love it, some loathe it, some resent it, and some gamely accept it.

I think I've clocked enough time on horseback at this point to deliver my own verdict on mounted combat. Well, a partial verdict at least. It's never a good thing to settle on a final opinion on something that's constantly growing and changing, right?

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: The mounted combat verdict

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: The mounted combat verdict originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expansionf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromounted-combatmountsopinionriders-of-rohanroad-to-mordorrorthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentwar-steedwar-steedsSat, 19 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Looking back and looking forward]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/05/the-road-to-mordor-looking-back-and-looking-forward/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/05/the-road-to-mordor-looking-back-and-looking-forward/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/05/the-road-to-mordor-looking-back-and-looking-forward/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Road to Mordor Looking back and looking forward
As long-time readers of this column know, this is about the time when I reflect on my personal wish list that I made for the previous year while making a new list for the upcoming one. After all, you can't go on an adventure without a long list or two organizing everything!

On the whole, 2012 was a pretty great year for Lord of the Rings Online. The expansion into Rohan, mounted combat, and the addition of a great new soundtrack added so much to the game, giving us a spectacular high-level zone that's full of lore and amazing setpieces. The devs have been smoothing out the middle of the game with a Moria revamp, open tapping, and remote looting, which should make leveling that much better. Players had four sizable updates to consume. Even Mac users had something to cheer as Turbine created a client for the platform.

Of course, it wasn't all peaches and cream. The expansion faced a delay, the pricing and features of Riders of Rohan stoked controversy, and we're still waiting for the second half of the promised instance cluster to arrive. The store kept stepping on people's toes, from the barter wallet to the infamous hobby horse. And the new festival, the Farmer's Faire, was kind of a dud.

So let's see whether LotRO fulfilled any of my wishes from last year, and then I'll share my desires for 2013!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Looking back and looking forward

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Looking back and looking forward originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20122013expansionf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionriders-of-rohanroad-to-mordorrorthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentwish-listSat, 05 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO's team fields live dev chat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/20/lotros-team-fields-live-dev-chat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/20/lotros-team-fields-live-dev-chat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/20/lotros-team-fields-live-dev-chat/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

LotRO's team fields live dev chat
A gaggle of Turbine developers sat down this afternoon to field scores of Lord of the Rings Online questions from the community in a live dev chat. Among the topics discussed were mounted combat, earlier zone revamps, class updates, and PvMP options.

One of the burning topics concerned possible player housing improvements. Turbine said that it needed to address the vacant neighborhoods first, but was moving in that direction: "All I can say is that we have a lot of devs interested in doing some serious home improvement."

We have the full chat transcript for you after the jump, starring Senior Producer Aaron Campbell, Lead Systems Designer Matt Zimmitti, World Designer Matt Fahey, Senior Content Designer Lauren Salk, Senior Content Designer Joe Barry, and Community Manager Rick Heaton.

Continue reading LotRO's team fields live dev chat

MassivelyLotRO's team fields live dev chat originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Dec 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Aaron-Campbellcommunity-q-and-adev-chatexpansionf2pfantasyfree-to-playinstance-clusterJoe-BarryLauren-Salklord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroMatt-FaheyMatt-Zimmittiq-and-aRick-Heatonriders-of-rohanrohanrorturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-10update-11Thu, 20 Dec 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO details remaining Moria revamp]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/lotro-details-remaining-moria-revamp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/lotro-details-remaining-moria-revamp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/lotro-details-remaining-moria-revamp/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

LotRO details remaining Moria revamp
Way back in May, Turbine expended a fair bit of resources to revamp half of Moria, the large underground complex that was the centerpiece of Lord of the Rings Online's second expansion. With Update 9, the team is completing the task, paving the way for better transportation and a smoother questing experience.

In a new dev diary, the team shares a few of the pertinent details of the remaining revamp. The bottom line? "Each zone now has many more quests, a simple questing path, fewer monsters, and hopefully no more frustration with excessive back-and-forth questing."

Update 9's revamp covers the areas of Zelem-melek, The Redhorn Lodes, The Flaming Deeps, Nud-melek, The Dimrill Dale, and The Foundations of Stone. The team added 70 new quests, removed some deadwood, and added the remote quest bestowal system that is being used in Riders of Rohan.

MassivelyLotRO details remaining Moria revamp originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Dec 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-diarydeveloper-diaryexpansionf2pfantasyfree-to-playlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriamoriaremote-quest-bestowalrevampriders-of-rohanrorturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-9zone-revampFri, 14 Dec 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO talks Update 9 instance cluster]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/13/lotro-talks-update-9-instance-cluster/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/13/lotro-talks-update-9-instance-cluster/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/13/lotro-talks-update-9-instance-cluster/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LotRO talks Update 9 instance cluster
The first half of Riders of Rohan's instance cluster is arriving with Lord of the Rings Online's Update 9, and the devs are excited to talk about the variety of experiences and challenges that went into making the trio of three-man dungeons. A new dev diary on the site gives the story overview for Webs of the Scuttledells, Seat of the Great Goblin, and Iorbar's Peak as well as a few behind-the-scenes notes.

Developer Pinion discussed how the team wanted to make the return to Goblin-town special: "I wanted to ensure that this new interpretation stayed true to the source material while still providing a very different experience from our existing instance in the Misty Mountains. With all the different varieties of goblins that make their home here, I felt it greatly important to distinguish them both in appearance and in drastically varied abilities."

A major change coming to these instances deals with loot. Not only is there remote looting for these dungeons, but each treasure chest will automatically reward class-appropriate gear for each player.

MassivelyLotRO talks Update 9 instance cluster originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-diarydeveloper-diarydungeondungeonsexpansionf2pfantasyfree-to-playinstanceinstance-clusterinstanceslootloot-rollslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotropinionremote-lootingriders-of-rohanrorturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-9Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Hobbits, hobby horses, and holidays]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/08/the-road-to-mordor-hobbits-hobby-horses-and-holidays/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/08/the-road-to-mordor-hobbits-hobby-horses-and-holidays/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/08/the-road-to-mordor-hobbits-hobby-horses-and-holidays/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Road to Mordor Hobbits, hobby horses, and holidays
Whether you've finished Lord of the Rings Online: Riders of Rohan, are still trotting your way through it, or haven't yet touched the new high-level content, Turbine's got more goods coming your way. Update 9 should be here relatively soon(tm), as it is currently finishing up frenzied testing on Bullroarer.

I'm definitely excited about the changes coming with the update. Unlike the expansion, this update has something for everyone, whether it be worldwide open tapping, a much-improved stable interface, a new player theater in Bree, lootable players in PvMP, the second half of Moria's revamp, the updated Yule festival, or three new scalable dungeons. On the whole, this update looks as if it will go a good way to shoring up some of the weaker spots of the game.

However, three things have really caught my attention this week, and not all of them are as positive. I want to talk about the tie-in to the Hobbit, the new festival grind, and a certain $50 cash shop item that's been the buzz of the community. Let's get started!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Hobbits, hobby horses, and holidays

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Hobbits, hobby horses, and holidays originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 08 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>50-hobby-horseexpansionf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playhobby-horselord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionriders-of-rohanroad-to-mordorrorthe-hobbitthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-9winter-homeyule-festivalSat, 08 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Five frills I love in Riders of Rohan]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/10/the-road-to-mordor-five-frills-i-love-in-riders-of-rohan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/10/the-road-to-mordor-five-frills-i-love-in-riders-of-rohan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/10/the-road-to-mordor-five-frills-i-love-in-riders-of-rohan/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Road to Mordor Five frills I love in Riders of Rohan
One of the reasons that I continue to support the expansion model is that it truly does seem to motivate developers to improve the game noticeably. Nobody likes "more of the same," especially in MMOs, and expansions are a great way to freshen up the title and make it feel new again.

Riders of Rohan does that for me. For years now, we've seen Turbine make its biggest leaps forward with expansions. Sometimes this is in sheer size or new technologies or graphical improvements or storytelling or a combination of any of these. Lord of the Rings Online has come a long, long way from old Archet and the meandering paths of Volume 1, and this expansion actually makes it painful to return to the days and lands of yore.

I've found five frills that have charmed me in Riders of Rohan so far. Would you like to hear them? Good. While not all of the following features are brand-new to the game, they are certainly more noticeable than ever before and are used to greater effect.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Five frills I love in Riders of Rohan

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Five frills I love in Riders of Rohan originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Nov 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expansionf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionriders-of-rohanroad-to-mordorrorthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentSat, 10 Nov 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Scratching the surface of Rohan]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/27/the-road-to-mordor-scratching-the-surface-of-rohan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/27/the-road-to-mordor-scratching-the-surface-of-rohan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/27/the-road-to-mordor-scratching-the-surface-of-rohan/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Road to Mordor Scratching the surface of Rohan
I don't know about you, but Riders of Rohan has genuinely made me excited to log into Lord of the Rings Online once more. Don't get me wrong; I always like the game, but some days are more of the "same old, same old" than others. This expansion, however, is like a fresh spring wind sweeping away the stale memories of yesterday. This is good stuff.

I'm sure many of you are already level 85 and masters of the horse, whereas I am but a lowly level 77 and am cursing at my war-steed because it handles like a drunken garbage scow. I don't fly through expansions uber-quickly, but in this case I don't feel the need to. I want to savor all of this.

I want to save a more intricate discussion of mounted combat until next time, so for today I would like to look at the initial stages of the Rohan story and how Turbine is handling the franchise as it moves deeper into The Two Towers territory.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Scratching the surface of Rohan

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Scratching the surface of Rohan originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expansionf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionriders-of-rohanroad-to-mordorrorthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentSat, 27 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jukebox Heroes: Riders of Rohan's soundtrack]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/jukebox-heroes-riders-of-rohans-soundtrack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/jukebox-heroes-riders-of-rohans-soundtrack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/jukebox-heroes-riders-of-rohans-soundtrack/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Jukebox Heroes Riders of Rohan's soundtrack
It was a good day last week, a very good day indeed, when news that Turbine had finally released the Lord of the Rings Online: Riders of Rohan soundtrack for the enjoyment of all. I wasn't sure before that moment whether this score would see a proper release, but I had hopes because Turbine had done so with the original score and Mines of Moria.

Riders of Rohan is the first major addition to LotRO's soundscape since Moria, and I'm sure I wasn't alone in clasping my hands together in excitement when I heard that Chance Thomas was returning to score it. We had heard several tracks from it leading up to the expansion's release, but the big question was whether the quality of these pieces was an anomaly or was indicative of the entire soundtrack's excellence.

I wish you could see me grinning right now for the answer to that. Riders of Rohan instantly jumped to my top 10 favorite MMO soundtracks of all time, and I couldn't stop gushing about it to friends as I gave it my initial listen-through. Hit the jump to hear my highlights from it.

Continue reading Jukebox Heroes: Riders of Rohan's soundtrack

MassivelyJukebox Heroes: Riders of Rohan's soundtrack originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chance-thomascomposercomposersexpansionf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgame-musicjukeboxjukebox-heroesjustin-olivettilord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrommo-jukeboxmmo-musicmusicopinionriders-of-rohanrorsoundtracksoundtracksturbineturbine-entertainmentvanguardTue, 16 Oct 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 220: BraveStarr Citizen]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/massively-speaking-episode-220-bravestarr-citizen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/massively-speaking-episode-220-bravestarr-citizen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/massively-speaking-episode-220-bravestarr-citizen/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Massively Speaking Episode 220
Is it probable, even inevitable, that we have too many great MMOs to play right now? Are the releases coming in too quickly for the average fan to process? Will Bree and Justin go mad from trying to absorb it all on top of babies and the neverending news cycle?

The answer to all of these is "yes."

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes.
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Listen here on the page:



Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 220: BraveStarr Citizen

MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 220: BraveStarr Citizen originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebrantbrianna-roycedotae-sporteaelectronic-artsesportexpansionf2pfamilyfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playhumorjustin-olivettikid-friendlykids-mmokingsislekingsisle-entertainmentleagueleague-of-legendslollord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolucasartsmassively-speakingmobaopinionpiratepirate101piratespodcastpodcastingpodcastsriders-of-rohanriotriot-gamesrorsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictorturbineturbine-entertainmentTue, 16 Oct 2012 17:30:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 220Massively.com Staff01:02:08podcast<![CDATA[Prepare for Riders of Rohan's launch with patch notes, FAQ, and a trailer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/15/prepare-for-todays-riders-of-rohan-launch-with-patch-notes-faq/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/15/prepare-for-todays-riders-of-rohan-launch-with-patch-notes-faq/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/15/prepare-for-todays-riders-of-rohan-launch-with-patch-notes-faq/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Prepare for today's Riders of Rohan launch with patch notes and FAQ
Many a Lord of the Rings Online fan is eager to delve into the Riders of Rohan expansion today as soon as the servers come back online. But once prospective warsteed owners set foot in the lands of Rohan, what do they do? Turbine offers a handy launch day FAQ to answer important questions like "How do I get there?" and "Where's my loot sparkle?" The guide offers gems such as: "A server is never late, LOTRO players. Nor is it early. It comes up precisely when Turbine means it to."

Players can also bide their time reading through the hefty expansion patch notes, which feature juicy tidbits on all the new goodies and changes. For a quick guide to more information and impressions on the expansion, check out Massively's pre-launch guide. And check out the launch trailer after the break.

Continue reading Prepare for Riders of Rohan's launch with patch notes, FAQ, and a trailer

MassivelyPrepare for Riders of Rohan's launch with patch notes, FAQ, and a trailer originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Oct 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expansionf2pfantasyFAQfree-to-playlaunchlaunch-day-FAQlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotropatch-notesriders-of-rohanrortoday-is-the-dayturbineturbine-entertainmentMon, 15 Oct 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Riders of Rohan pre-launch guide]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/13/the-road-to-mordor-riders-of-rohan-pre-launch-guide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/13/the-road-to-mordor-riders-of-rohan-pre-launch-guide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/13/the-road-to-mordor-riders-of-rohan-pre-launch-guide/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Road to Mordor Riders of Rohan prelaunch guide
The other night in kin chat, I said how I'm just not mentally ready for Lord of the Rings Online: Riders of Rohan. My Captain may be prepared to saddle up and venture forth, but the notion that we're on the verge of one of the most significant expansions this game has ever seen is taking me a little while to absorb. Fortunately, many of my friends assured me that I wasn't alone in this.

With just two days to go until players can head into Rohan, we're running out of time to prepare, and I'm not just talking about pre-purchasing the game (although that too). Riders of Rohan contains a host of content and changes, not the least of which is the new mounted combat system. I don't know about you, but I hate heading into expansions completely blind, so I decided to spend this week putting together a big roundup of everything you need to know about LotRO's fourth expansion.

Read well, my friends, but get your rest as well. You may not get it this coming week.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Riders of Rohan pre-launch guide

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Riders of Rohan pre-launch guide originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 13 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expansionf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playguideguideslaunchlaunch-daylaunch-guidelaunch-rounduplauncheslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionriders-of-rohanroad-to-mordorrorround-uproundupthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentSat, 13 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Newest LotRO screenshots tempt us with Rohan's offerings]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/12/newest-lotro-screenshots-tempt-what-awaits-in-rohan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/12/newest-lotro-screenshots-tempt-what-awaits-in-rohan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/12/newest-lotro-screenshots-tempt-what-awaits-in-rohan/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Newest LotRO screenshots tempt what awaits in Rohan
As if waiting until Monday to run through the fields of Rohan isn't hard enough for Lord of the Rings Online fans, Turbine has released new screenshots of the landscapes found in Riders of Rohan. Filled with vibrant vistas, quaint villages, and even a fight or two, these images show a variety of scenes from the life and lands players can expect once the expansion releases.

Get your fix of Rohan this weekend with the screenshots in the gallery below. To learn more about what's coming, check out Massively's hands-on experience and watch tomorrow for our guide to Rohan as you prepare for your own adventures!

[Source: Turbine press release]

Gallery: LotRO: Riders of Rohan

MassivelyNewest LotRO screenshots tempt us with Rohan's offerings originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Oct 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expansionf2pfantasyfree-to-playgallerylord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroriders-of-rohanRohanrorscreenshotsturbineturbine-entertainmentFri, 12 Oct 2012 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO dev diary spotlights roving warbands]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/04/lotro-dev-diary-spotlights-roving-warbands/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/04/lotro-dev-diary-spotlights-roving-warbands/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/04/lotro-dev-diary-spotlights-roving-warbands/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

LotRO dev diary spotlights roving warbands
Travel through the lands of Rohan will be no ride in the park according to the latest Lord of the Rings Online dev diary. Developers outlined the addition of warbands to Riders of Rohan, describing the roving mobs of mobs as replacements for world bosses. With no restrictions on size or type of mob, players can happen upon any variety of warbands patrolling Rohan, from a single troll to packs of Warg-riders.

The idea behind the warbands was to give players the feel of world bosses -- and the fight or flight feelings had when stumbling upon them -- without forcing spawn camping. When players travels bring them into the vicinity of a warband, a quest will pop up offering a quest to defeat the rampaging horde. Utilizing the open tapping method, any player will be able to participate regardless of group affiliation. Rewards will then be delivered via the quest, not loot drop, allowing players to freely assist one another when confronting these new packs of foes.

For more about Riders of Rohan, check out Massively's exclusive hands-on experience.

MassivelyLotRO dev diary spotlights roving warbands originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expansionf2pfantasyfight-or-flightfree-to-playlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopen-tappingriders-of-rohanrorturbineturbine-entertainmentwarbandsworld-bossesThu, 04 Oct 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Juicy new LOTRO images released]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/juicy-new-lotro-images-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/juicy-new-lotro-images-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/juicy-new-lotro-images-released/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Juicy new LOTRO images released
The days until the release of the Riders of Rohan expansion for Lord of the Rings Online are speeding by. With less than two weeks left before the expansion goes live, Turbine has released a whole bushel of eye candy in the form of screenshots.

Riders of Rohan will allow plays to experience some iconic moments in the journey of the Ring: Frodo's angsty deliberation on how best to get to Mordor, the corruption and redemption of Boromir, and the breaking of the Fellowship.

Get a preview of what's to come by taking a spin through our Riders of Rohan gallery, where we've collected screenshots old and new for your viewing pleasure.

Gallery: LotRO: Riders of Rohan

[Source: Turbine press release]

MassivelyJuicy new LOTRO images released originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfantasyfree-to-playgalleriesgallerylord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroriders-of-rohanrorscreenshotsturbineturbine-entertainmentWed, 03 Oct 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[From warhorses to hobby horses: A ride through LotRO's Rohan]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/30/from-warhorses-to-hobby-horses-a-ride-through-lotros-rohan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/30/from-warhorses-to-hobby-horses-a-ride-through-lotros-rohan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/30/from-warhorses-to-hobby-horses-a-ride-through-lotros-rohan/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Massively LotRO Exclusive From warhorses to hobby horses, a ride through Rohan
I have to admit, every bit of news for Lord of the Rings Online: Riders of Rohan that has come out has been a little stab in my heart. Is the news that bad? On the contrary, it is too good! But because of my notorious uber-casual gaming style, I had little hope of seeing the content anytime before the 2016 presidential elections; stalled in my low 60s, I am ineligible to participate in LotRO's upcoming content. Suddenly, all of my time spent wandering the beauty of Middle-earth, playing music, visiting player-run events, and participating in festivals seemed a less-than-ideal way to spend my time.

But then fate intervened: I received an invitation to get a first-hand look at Riders of Rohan with a tour guided by Senior Designer Joe Barry and Senior Producer Aaron Campbell. Knowing that participating would be a double-edged sword (getting a taste only to know I couldn't have more), I still jumped at the chance. I'll just deal with the disappointment later, I thought. For a brief time, I got to immerse myself in Rohan and get a look at what awaits players when the expansion launches on October 15th. And between rebuilding an entire town, hobby horse races, and riding warsteeds, I am psyched-up to actually level and take part in all that RoR will offer.

Gallery: LotRO: Riders of Rohan

Continue reading From warhorses to hobby horses: A ride through LotRO's Rohan

MassivelyFrom warhorses to hobby horses: A ride through LotRO's Rohan originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Aaron-Campbellexclusive-interviewexpansionf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgalleriesgalleryhands-onhobby-horse-raceshobby-horsesHytboldinstanced-public-questsinterviewJoe-Barrylord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopen-tappingpreviewpreviewspublic-questsremote-lootingriders-of-rohanrorscreenshotscreenshotsturbineturbine-entertainmentwarsteedsSun, 30 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Why LotRO's classes need a shakeup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/29/the-road-to-mordor-why-classes-need-a-shakeup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/29/the-road-to-mordor-why-classes-need-a-shakeup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/29/the-road-to-mordor-why-classes-need-a-shakeup/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Road to Mordor Why classes need a shakeup
In a recent post about the Riders of Rohan beta, blogger Doc Holiday wrote a criticism of LotRO's lackluster class development: "Think about it, what have our characters actually gotten since Moria? Outside of revamps (which are always needed as games age and don't really count) there's been almost no progression of our characters outside of gaining morale."

For this I have two words in response: hear, hear!

I've been thinking about this a lot since last week's imaginary restart scenario and even before. There's a reason that rerolling a character in Lord of the Rings Online has such appeal, even with a mountain of content behind it. It's a character that actually develops noticeably before your eyes, not slugs through content.

Today I want to examine why I agree with Holiday about the stagnation of high-level classes and how the devs can shake up the status quo to make character development exciting once more.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Why LotRO's classes need a shakeup

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Why LotRO's classes need a shakeup originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classclassesexpansionf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playlegendary-itemslegendary-traitslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriamounted-combatopinionriders-of-rohanroad-to-mordorrorshakeupstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-burning-crusadethe-road-to-mordortraittrait-slotstraitsturbineturbine-entertainmentvirtuevirtue-slotsvirtuesworld-of-warcraftSat, 29 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO explains history of mounted combat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/27/lotro-explains-history-of-mounted-combat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/27/lotro-explains-history-of-mounted-combat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/27/lotro-explains-history-of-mounted-combat/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LotRO explains history of mounted combat
As the core feature for Lord of the Rings Online's upcoming Riders of Rohan expansion, mounted combat is understandably the focus of many player concerns and questions. To hopefully answer a few, Turbine's unleashed a horse-sized developer diary about how mounted combat came to be and how it functions in the game right now.

The diary begins by recalling the history of mounts in the game, back to the very earliest days when they were barely implemented in time for launch. The notion of mounted combat went from insurmountable to a strict on-rails system to a much more free-form system. It also dropped several ideas along the way, such as momentum, horse attacks, and purely generic combat skills.

War-steeds will take some getting used to, according to the devs: "Probably the very first thing you notice when you ride your War-steed for the first time is that it moves completely differently than your standard horse or goat. The War-steed is a large creature and its part of a much larger system, one that requires some skill, time, and practice to master."

MassivelyLotRO explains history of mounted combat originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Sep 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-diarydeveloper-diaryexpansionf2pfantasyfree-to-playhistorylord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromounted-combatmountsriders-of-rohanrorturbineturbine-entertainmentwar-steedwar-steedsThu, 27 Sep 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine releases new LotRO video dev diary and Harvestmath Festival screens]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/26/turbine-releases-new-lotro-video-dev-diary-and-harvestmath-festi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/26/turbine-releases-new-lotro-video-dev-diary-and-harvestmath-festi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/26/turbine-releases-new-lotro-video-dev-diary-and-harvestmath-festi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Turbine releases new LotRO video dev diary and Harvestmath Festival screens
A major component of the Riders of Rohan expansion for Lord of the Rings Online is the epic journey of the fellowship. In the latest video dev diary, developers discuss the game's return to the core of the Lord of the Rings story. It is during this part of the adventure that the war in Middle-earth gains momentum and the fellowship falls to pieces. You can watch the dev diary after the break.

Turbine has also released a number of screenshots highlighting this year's Harvestmath Festival, which is going on now through October 14th. During the festival, players can explore the Haunted Burrow beneath the Party Tree, participate in games of skill, join the horse races, and even play tricks on various citizens of Middle-earth. New Harvestmath-themed housing items as well as a new Harvest-brew steed are available. Check out the Harvestmath images below.

[Source: Turbine press release]

Gallery: Lord of the Rings Online Harvest Festival Gallery

Continue reading Turbine releases new LotRO video dev diary and Harvestmath Festival screens

MassivelyTurbine releases new LotRO video dev diary and Harvestmath Festival screens originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Sep 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Chris-Piersondev-diarydeveloper-diaryeventexpansionf2pfantasyfestivalfree-to-playgalleryharvestmathHarvestmath-Festivalin-game-eventJoseph-Barrylord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroLucas-Slominkiriders-of-rohanrorscreenshotsTodd-DeMelleturbineturbine-entertainmentvideo-dev-diaryWed, 26 Sep 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO's Habitat for Hobbanity is its new endgame [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/20/lotros-habitat-for-hobbanity-is-its-new-endgame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/20/lotros-habitat-for-hobbanity-is-its-new-endgame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/20/lotros-habitat-for-hobbanity-is-its-new-endgame/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

LotRO's Habitat for Hobbanity is its new endgame
Lord of the Rings Online has a brand-new endgame activity coming with next month's Riders of Rohan, and it's called "Hytbold." Senior Designer Joe Barry penned a dev diary to explain just how and why Hytbold won't be like anything players have seen before.

Hytbold is the name of a burned-out village that adventurers will rebuild and restock. Through the use of instances, open tapping, remote looting, and phasing, LotRO will allow each player fix the town up and get it back into shape over time. Players have over 150 repairs to make to over 24 buildings in the town, which is accomplished through daily quests, participating in mounted combat, and even fishing.

The rewards for coming to the aid of Hytbold are significant. Turbine's prepared to hand out class and trait-specific armor sets that are comparable to raid gear, a big ending to the region's story, and the honor of being named a Thane of Rohan. The best part of this is that players can rebuild the entire town solo if need be, although there are grouping options as well.

[Update: The team also released a big batch of Riders of Rohan enemy screenshots today; we've included them within our LotRO gallery after the break.]

Continue reading LotRO's Habitat for Hobbanity is its new endgame [Updated]

MassivelyLotRO's Habitat for Hobbanity is its new endgame [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Sep 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betadev-diaryendgameexpansionf2pfantasyfree-to-playhytboldjoe-barrylord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroriders-of-rohanrorturbineturbine-entertainmentThu, 20 Sep 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO hands over war-steed reins in dev diary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/13/lotro-hands-over-war-steed-reins-in-dev-diary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/13/lotro-hands-over-war-steed-reins-in-dev-diary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/13/lotro-hands-over-war-steed-reins-in-dev-diary/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

LotRO hands over warsteed reins in dev diary
The Lord of the Rings Online team is hard at work putting the final touches on next month's Riders of Rohan, and a new dev diary shines a spotlight on the expansion's star attraction: trainable war-steeds.

The article gives a brief overview of the types of mounts -- light, medium, and heavy -- as well as the trait trees that accompany them. According to the devs, each war-steed will have 32 potential traits to unlock. The good news, they say, is that retraiting a mount is easily accomplished on the fly for the cost of a few coins.

The devs round out the post by sharing a few of their favorite traits and skills that war-steeds boast. These include feigning injury to dump threat, trampling enemies, giving additional damage to attacking from behind, and boosting crit chance by a whopping 25%.

MassivelyLotRO hands over war-steed reins in dev diary originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Sep 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lord of the Rings Online spills the beans on Rohan's epic story
It's not just enough for Turbine to release a new war-pony expansion for Lord of the Rings Online and call it a day. No, the team has to maintain its high standards of storytelling, which is why Content Designer Jeff Libby wrote the latest set of quest notes for the upcoming addition to the epic tale of the game.

According to Libby, Riders of Rohan will contain three new books of the epic story, titled A Fellowship Endangers, Into the Riddermark, and the Third Marshal. He paints a few broad strokes about the writing process, and then goes into spoiler-heavy territory for those who like behind-the-scenes explanations.

The writer is excited to the point of needing sedation about finally entering this area of the books. "Rohan is a land that we knew we had to get right," Libby said. "For that reason alone, we've spent a great deal of time ensuring that we could do it justice. After all, the stretch of The Lord of the Rings that we have gotten up to is often cited as the favorite of readers and film-lovers alike. We need our version of the Riddermark to be equally as beloved."

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online spills the beans on Rohan's epic story originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Road to Mordor Reactions to Rohan
Judging from the comments in last week's column, I gather that many players are not too rankled with Lord of the Rings Online: Riders of Rohan's delay. Many even support the move. It's not like Turbine moved Rohan a half-year down the road; October's in, like, a month. I think we have a good chance of surviving until then.

But what I wanted to go into today were the impressions from beta testers now that the NDA has dropped. I think it's a really good sign that Turbine felt confident enough to kill the NDA on the day of the delay announcement because it nullifies suspicion that the studio is trying to hide a major clusterfudge from us. Mmm... major fudge.

So let's go to the street, where emboldened testers are going door to door and letting everyone know everything about the expansion, warts and all. Is there more good than bad? Is mounted combat really all that and a bag of horse apples? Does this expansion represent Turbine's finest hour or just a speedbump on the way to Mordor?

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Reactions to Rohan

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Reactions to Rohan originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Sep 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I built the plants myself and let the house grow right there. In hindsight I should have done it the other way around.
One of the major issues facing crafters in Lord of the Rings Online is that gathering professions don't line up with crafting professions. Leveling up a non-gathering skill takes more resources than you gather while leveling up the appropriate gathering skill. The newest developer diary explains how Riders of Rohan addresses this problem with new "processing" recipes that allow you to turn a resource into shavings, which can subsequently be turned back into the original item.

That's not the only change coming to crafting with the new expansion. Players can expect two full sets of armor for the crafting, one at level 80 and one at level 85. There are also new crafting instances, new crafted relics, and a new rank added on to craft guild reputations. If you like to get your hands dirty with crafting in Lord of the Rings Online, swing on over to the developer diary for the full details.

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online explains crafting changes coming with Riders of Rohan originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Road to Mordor Delay, delay, delay
Earlier this week, I was working on this column with the title "Preparing for Riders of Rohan." What a change a day or two makes because the body of that article quickly got changed to "Sit on your thumbs."

Yes, the LotRO community got thrown for a loop this week, as Turbine announced that Riders of Rohan has been shoved back a month and a half for additional work. So we've gone from a mere two-week countdown to nearly two months, and that takes a bit of mental adjustment. On top of all that, the studio demolished the NDA wall, which sort of seems like a risky move when you've just disappointed players with news of a delay.

I think we should talk about it, don't you? I'll say this up front: It's actually a very good thing.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Delay, delay, delay

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Delay, delay, delay originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LotRO's Wardens to get muchneeded streamlining
Just in case any of you Wardens in Lord of the Rings Online have actually got a handle on the class after the previous 1,437 iterations, Turbine's throwing a few more monkeys in the gambits for you. The studio posted the changes that Wardens will be seeing with this October's Riders of Rohan and admits that the class needed more streamlining.

With the expansion, Wardens will get a pair of new gambits and an improved root at high levels as well as a couple of travel skills. There are plenty of other changes and quality of life improvements that are probably gobbledygook to anyone other than practiced Wardens. Long story short, the team's hoping to clarify several skills, condense others, and create more synergy between the buffs.

MassivelyLotRO's Wardens to get much-needed streamlining originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LotRO lifts Rohan NDA, unveils Mac client
On the flip side of the news earlier that Turbine is delaying Riders of Rohan until October 15th is the word that the studio has dropped the NDA for LotRO's fourth expansion.

Community Manager Rick Heaton announced the lift on the forums: "Today we have officially released Riders of Rohan beta testers from their NDA. Beta testing will continue as we move towards our new release date of October 15th. In the meantime, those beta testers who wish to share their thoughts and experiences thus far with the general community are encouraged to do so here."

With the NDA lift comes news that Turbine has been secretly working on a native OSX client for Mac players. It remains to be seen whether or not this client will be available with Riders of Rohan's launch.

MassivelyTurbine lifts LotRO's Rohan NDA, unveils Mac client originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lord of the Rings Riders of Rohan delayed until October 15th
For those on their mounts, eagerly awaiting the charge into the lands of Rohan, Turbine has one word for you: Whoa. The studio announced that it is delaying the launch of Lord of the Rings: Riders of Rohan from September 5th until October 15th.

Executive Producer Kate Paiz sent out the following letter to fans explaining the delay:
We've had a very successful Beta program with some of the largest and most active beta player populations we've seen since Moria. The amount and quality of feedback on our largest expansion ever has been fantastic.

Thanks to some great efforts from beta players, we've identified issues that we think need to be addressed before we can launch. In order to address those issues and meet our expectations for quality we're going to need more time. As a result, we've elected to delay our launch to October 15th.
Paiz thanked players for their patience and promised a gift for all those who have pre-purchased the expansion. This gift will arrive around September 5th in the form of 500 Turbine Points and a bag of consumables.

MassivelyLord of the Rings: Riders of Rohan delayed until October 15th originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Screenshot -- Lord of the Rings Online
Lord of the Rings Online's upcoming expansion, Riders of Rohan, is less than a month away, and players can certainly expect a plethora of changes and updates when it hits. In today's LotRO developer diary, Turbine shines the spotlight on the game's Rune-keeper class and highlights some of the skill and trait improvements and changes that Rune-keeper players can expect in the expansion.

For starters, Rune-keepers will be receiving five improved skills: Improved Scribe's Mark, Improved Rune of Restoration, and Improved Armour of Flame/Winter/Storm. Meanwhile, the abilities Flurry of Words and Mystifying Flame are receiving some minor adjustments, and the traits Linnod of Peace and Rune of Endurance are getting nicely upgraded. Some players may be befuddled by the extremely minor changes, but the dev diary notes that the devs "don't feel that Rune-keepers are in need of major changes at this time," so it seems as if Turbine feels that the class is in a pretty good place right now. For the full details on the changes and upgrades, go check out the full dev diary on the LotRO official site.

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online dev diary details Rune-keeper changes in Riders of Rohan originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gamescom 2012 Hands on with LotRO's Riders of Rohan
In a small room at the center of WB Games' business headquarters at Gamescom, Lord of the Rings Online Live Producer Aaron Campbell is sitting with a broad smile behind his 27-inch screen. "I love those orange skies," he says, excited. "It's something new we've put in this expansion. It looks beautiful!" He takes visible pride in his work. It's a contagious cheerfulness that would dominate our entire Gamescom sit-down with Turbine this year as we took a look at LotRO's upcoming fourth expansion, Riders of Rohan.

Continue reading Gamescom 2012: Hands on with LotRO's Riders of Rohan

MassivelyGamescom 2012: Hands on with LotRO's Riders of Rohan originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Road to Mordor The horsewhisperer
A ragged messenger galloped up to me while I stood hip-deep in the dead, Uruk-hai blood dripping down my greatsword. "For you, ma'am," he said, saluting and riding away.

I unrolled the scroll and quickly scanned its contents. The world around me grew very still for a moment and then resumed its course in the next heartbeat. I sucked my teeth and read it completely, looking for nuance and meaning between each word in the missive. Finally, I tucked it away and whistled for my steed.

"Sorry, Pippin, Merry," I apologized. The Hobbits looked up at me with frantic, bulging eyes, their hands and mouths still bound by their now-deceased captors. "I know your quest is important, but this takes precedence. Fare thee well."

With that I kicked my mount's side and began the thousand-mile trek back to my roots. Back to Combe. Back to a little stable where a lost horsie needed my help.

Oh, yeah. I'm a hero, all right.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: The horse-whisperer

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: The horse-whisperer originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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