Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Rise of Isengard report card]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/the-road-to-mordor-rise-of-isengard-report-card/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/the-road-to-mordor-rise-of-isengard-report-card/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/the-road-to-mordor-rise-of-isengard-report-card/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LotRO
It's been a half-year since Lord of the Rings Online's third expansion, Rise of Isengard, opened the doors to Dunland and beyond. It was an interesting expansion compared to what came before in several ways: It finally took us into the pages of The Two Towers, it introduced Rohan and the Rohirrim, and it introduced what I consider to be the most compelling villain this game has seen to date.

While the game's hinted and alluded to Saruman and his White Hand back-up dancers leading up to RoI, the expansion finally unveiled the mastermind behind many of the machinations of Middle-earth's mischief. His was not an overt city-crushing type of evil; instead, he's a crafty politician-type who attempts to woo and seduce minds to his cause. More than the Witch-king of Angmar or Sara Oakheart, Saruman gives us a perfect target for our justified outrage. This is a guy we don't want to see succeed, ever.

So with six months under our belt, I thought it would be a great time to evaluate as much of Rise of Isengard as I've experienced with the ol' report card treatment. Where does it get good marks -- and where does it need tutoring?

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Rise of Isengard report card

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Rise of Isengard report card originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>evaluationexpansionf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriaopinionpvereport-cardreviewriders-of-rohanrise-of-isengardroad-to-mordorrohanrohirrimsiege-of-mirkwoodskirmishthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentSat, 07 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Baggins of Bag End]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/24/the-road-to-mordor-baggins-of-bag-end/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/24/the-road-to-mordor-baggins-of-bag-end/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/24/the-road-to-mordor-baggins-of-bag-end/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Bilbo Baggins
It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years to the month since The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring came out in movie theaters. It's even harder to process that Peter Jackson will be bringing us back to Middle-earth with the two Hobbit films starting a year from now. The Jackson trilogy, while beloved by many (including, I assume, gamers), hasn't gotten a lot of space in this column to date. The general consensus from the community is that the films and the MMO are separate interpretations of the same source material, and never the twain shall meet -- nevermind all the other LotR games, like War in the North.

While that may be true, they do meet in the hearts of those who simply love this franchise. I adore the movies, am a huge fan of the game, and like (yes, just "like") the books. But I think that it's worthwhile to go to the films for LotRO players because they do give a different perspective and perhaps clarify a few plot points that shoot over our heads in-game. If nothing else, if the movies can revitalize our excitement about exploring the lands of Lord of the Rings Online, then they've done well by us.

I mention all this because this past week saw the release of the first Hobbit trailer, which I must have watched a good dozen times, and it got me pumped up once more for this game world. In today's column, I want to use this trailer to springboard a discussion of how LotRO and the films share a common bond and how the Hobbit movies use many elements that Turbine's been working on for years now. Plus, a bonus Hobbit Tribute Tour!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Baggins of Bag End

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Baggins of Bag End originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bag-endbilbobilbo-bagginsbilbos-buttonscomedydol-guldurdwarfdwarvesf2pfeaturedfilmfilmsfree-to-playgandalfgoblin-towngollumhumorjokeslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriamoriamoviemovie-trailermoviesnecromancerone-ringpeter-jacksonsiege-of-mirkwoodthe-hobbitthe-shirethorinthorin-oakenshieldthorins-hallturbineturbine-entertainmentwar-in-the-northSat, 24 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Ten up, ten down]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/08/the-road-to-mordor-ten-up-ten-down/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/08/the-road-to-mordor-ten-up-ten-down/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/08/the-road-to-mordor-ten-up-ten-down/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Road to Mordor
Levels in MMOs are best when accepted as a traditional aspect of the game that blends into the background. It's weird when you hold them up to scrutiny because it's very hard to mesh these arbitrary numbers with the pretend "reality" of the game world. I've always thought it was weird that I could get high enough in levels to return to old fortresses of evil and be basically invincible. Plus, how can there be bats and goats that are both level 5 and level 75? Is there an animal commando school somewhere I haven't seen?

In any case, while I enjoy the ding as much as anyone else, levels have lost their luster to me. The fact that Rise of Isengard added 10 new ones versus, say, five or none, doesn't really mean much in the long run. There isn't a lot tied to these new levels other than a small handful of mostly recycled skills and the typical increase in stats, so for me there's really no rush to climb through them. However, as with any first week or two out of release, leveling seems to be a huge area of focus for many players as they seek to hit that end cap once again and re-establish the status quo.

Still, it's important to some, and our kinship has spent a good amount of time chewing over these new levels, how to get them, and whether or not they're worth a hill of beans in this crazy, messed-up world. Today in our laser-focused Lord of the Rings Online column, I'm going to sort those beans. I may even eat one or two; beans are great for protein and fiber.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Ten up, ten down

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Ten up, ten down originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 08 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>75alternate-advancementalternative-advancementdunlandeverquest-iif2pfeaturedfree-to-playhill-of-beanslevellevel-75levelinglevelslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroplanar-attunementriftrise-of-isengardsiege-of-mirkwoodskirmishesturbineturbine-entertainmentSat, 08 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: The unfinished expansion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/the-road-to-mordor-the-unfinished-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/the-road-to-mordor-the-unfinished-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/the-road-to-mordor-the-unfinished-expansion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LOTRO Saruman
This week I want to switch from the general optimism of last week's Lord of the Rings Online forecast and future suggestions to something that's been troubling me the more we read about Rise of Isengard.

To put it frankly, it's coming across as an unfinished expansion. An expansion with promise, but one that needs a little more... oomph, for lack of a better grunt. More of an "it" factor, if you will.

Am I excited about Isengard? Oh, most definitely; that's not in question. I'm looking forward to exploring new lands, to meeting new people, and to killing pretty much everything in sight. I wouldn't kill them, but they're refusing to give me that loot, see? I'm pumped for skill consolidation, giving Saruman a taste of rebellion, and a new book in the epic storyline. I'm not going to be complaining come September 27th, I can tell you that.

And yet, I have to be up front and voice a few concerns that need to be said, even if it's just me being a worry-wart. I've been concerned that Isengard is not going to be up to the standards set by previous expansions, and perhaps there are forces of time, pressure, and external competition that have caused this to not measure up to true potential.

Hit the jump and follow my convoluted line of thought, and see if you come to the same conclusion.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: The unfinished expansion

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: The unfinished expansion originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>comparisonexpansionexpansion-packfeaturedisengardlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromiddle-earthmines-of-moriamirkwoodmoriaorthancrise-of-isengardsarumansiege-of-mirkwoodturbineturbine-entertainmentFri, 26 Aug 2011 14:00:00 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[The Road to Mordor: A look back at Volume 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/06/the-road-to-mordor-a-look-back-at-volume-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/06/the-road-to-mordor-a-look-back-at-volume-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/06/the-road-to-mordor-a-look-back-at-volume-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Last year, I spent a column giving my reflections, thoughts, and observations on the entirety of Volume 1 of Lord of the Rings Online's epic storyline, and today I'd like to do the same for Volume 2. Since these stories are at the center of LotRO's player experience, it's important to see how they function and hold up in today's increasingly story-centric MMO environment.

I've gone through Volume 2 twice, once before the "solofication" of the recent update and once after. The second journey was, by far, much more enjoyable since I didn't have to sit there for weeks hoping to find enough players on the same part of the Fellowship portions to continue the tale. Being able to go through it at my own pace was vastly more enjoyable, especially when I could dedicate huge chunks of time to knock out several chapters in one go.

And this is a good thing, as this volume of the epic story not only gives you one of your legendary traits but greatly helps you build reputation toward a faction that will give you another one (the Iron Garrison Guards). As such, Volume 2 will continue to be an important part of any character's journey.

So let's dig into this puppy (not... a literal puppy, you understand) and see what Volume 2 has to offer. If you haven't yet gone through this part of the epic story, beware: Here be spoilers!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: A look back at Volume 2

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: A look back at Volume 2 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 May 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balrogdwarfdwarveselfelvesepic-storyfeaturedfellowshipfellowship-of-the-ringflashbackflashbacksfrodogandalfiron-garrison-guardslegendary-itemslegendary-traitslord-of-the-rings-onlinelothlorienlotromazgogmines-of-moriamirkwoodsauronsiege-of-mirkwoodskirmishskirmishessoloficationspoilersturbineturbine-entertainmentvolume-1volume-2volume-ivolume-iiwatcherwatcher-in-the-waterFri, 06 May 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Re-evaluating Moria]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/08/the-road-to-mordor-re-evaluating-moria/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/08/the-road-to-mordor-re-evaluating-moria/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/08/the-road-to-mordor-re-evaluating-moria/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

When I first left Lord of the Rings Online, it was early in 2008 and we were constrained to Eriador and Eriador alone. Angmar was the most dangerous spot on the map, level 50 was the cap, and getting your legendary traits was an almost inhuman feat. When I returned in 2010, I discovered I had missed out on the release of not one but two expansions and a huge amount of new content in the world. As a previous player, I felt as though everything I had known was completely different, and there was nothing as unknown or intriguing as the Mines of Moria.

Expansions have a funny way of making or breaking MMOs, you see. They can exemplify some of the best qualities of the genre: they represent the persistent growing world; they give our characters new challenges to overcome; and they can introduce new features that significantly change how the game is played. Of course, they can damage the game's reputation by creating a worse endgame than before, by screwing up the good aspects of the game, or simply by being unpopular.

So how does Mines of Moria fare two-plus years after its release? Today, I want to take a look back at what will probably be the single largest expansion that LotRO will ever see and examine how its purpose has changed from 2008 to 2011. Also, we'll probably make fun of Dwarves.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Re-evaluating Moria

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Re-evaluating Moria originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>angmarbattle-instancesDwarrowdelfdwarvesechoes-of-the-deadenedwaitheregioneriadorfeaturedfellowshipfellowship-of-the-ringfrodoKhazad-dûmlord-of-the-rings-onlinelothlorienlotromines-of-moriarivendellshadows-of-angmarsiege-of-mirkwoodskirmishessoloficationthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmenttwenty-first-hallvolume-iiFri, 08 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: A year in Middle-earth]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/31/the-road-to-mordor-a-year-in-middle-earth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/31/the-road-to-mordor-a-year-in-middle-earth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/31/the-road-to-mordor-a-year-in-middle-earth/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

What a difference a year makes, eh? One year ago, and you didn't have to put up with me yammering at you every Friday like a hyperactive badger with a personality disorder. One year ago, and we weren't free-to-play-anything, Turbine was its own company, the festivals were nowhere near as cool as they are today, and shrews freely roamed the land without fear of reprisal.

So in my last Road to Mordor (of the year, stop rejoicing over there!), I thought it'd be great to look back at the wild rollercoaster that was 2010 in Lord of the Rings Online. I also thought I'd get an easy column out of all this, but that was before I had to read through 1,337 posts and my eyeballs began to lose pressure.

January

Stuff happened. Let's move on.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: A year in Middle-earth

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: A year in Middle-earth originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybilboclosed-betacodemasterscontestcraftingddodungeons-and-dragons-onlinee3end-of-the-year-2010enedwaithexpansioneyeball-pressuref2pfall-festivalfree-to-playfrostbluff-theatrehaunted-burrowisengardisengard-private-preview-programjeff-jungejeffrey-steefelkate-paizlord-of-the-rings-onlinelore-masterlotrolotterieslotterylua-scriptingmoddingmodsoath-of-the-rangerspaxpax-2010pax-primeqareputation-mountsrise-of-isengardrune-keepersapienceshrew-stompingshrewssiege-of-mirkwoodspring-festivalsteed-of-nightsummer-festivalsyp-is-so-dreamytalk-like-a-pirate-daythe-road-to-mordorthird-anniversaryturbineturbine-entertainmentvaultvolume-iii-book-1wardrobewarner-broswbwinter-homeyule-festivalFri, 31 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO's Siege of Mirkwood discounted to become the one price to sell them all]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/27/lotros-siege-of-mirkwood-discounted-to-become-the-one-price-to/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/27/lotros-siege-of-mirkwood-discounted-to-become-the-one-price-to/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/27/lotros-siege-of-mirkwood-discounted-to-become-the-one-price-to/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

While many of us have spent a great amount of time and money shopping for other people this holiday season, it's sometimes easy to overlook yourself in all of the hustle and bustle. Treat yourself to something nice this week -- you deserve it! May we suggest a gaming Snuggie for those long nights of raiding, or perhaps 50% off of Lord of the Rings Online: Siege of Mirkwood?

As part of the Turbine Tuesdays sales, the LotRO store will be selling the game's second expansion for half off the regular price this Tuesday, December 28th. Siege of Mirkwood is priced at 995 Turbine Points in the NA store (which is around $10), but on the 28th the cost will be halved to 498 ($5).

The Siege of Mirkwood expansion unlocks over 150 quests, zone deeds, five instances and plenty of content for high-level players. Currently, free players may access the zone and experience the epic storyline, but the rest of the content is walled off unless this quest pack is purchased.

MassivelyLotRO's Siege of Mirkwood discounted to become the one price to sell them all originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cash-shopchristmasdeeddungeonf2pfree-to-playholidayholiday-saleinstanceitem-storelord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-storepromotionsalesiege-of-mirkwoodsnuggietpturbineturbine-pointsturbine-tuesdaysMon, 27 Dec 2010 09:00:00 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[LotRO Veteran's Day sale slashes expansion costs in half]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/10/lotro-veterans-day-sale-slashes-expansion-costs-in-half/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/10/lotro-veterans-day-sale-slashes-expansion-costs-in-half/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/10/lotro-veterans-day-sale-slashes-expansion-costs-in-half/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Tomorrow is Veteran's Day, and you know what that means: Incredible savings on MMO expansions! Well, that and honoring the brave soldiers that fought in wars. But also the expansion thing.

For 11/11, Turbine is offering a few great deals for Lord of the Rings Online players. First up is a new exchange rate of $11.11 for a 1111 Turbine Point bundle (locking in a decent 1:1 TP-to-penny ratio) for the LotRO store. For any players lacking one of the expansions, both Mines of Moria and Siege of Mirkwood are half-off at 1248 TP and 998 TP, respectively. Shrewd shoppers can also pick up a Moria-capable goat mount, the Valour virtue, two fun emotes and XP boosts for 50% off the normal price.

Mines of Moria unlocks all of the quests and deeds for this level 50-60 zone, as well as the Rune-keeper and Warden classes, while Siege of Mirkwood opens up the titular area and increases the level cap to 65. This sale ends at midnight EST on November 11th, so move quickly if you want to take advantage of this offer!

MassivelyLotRO Veteran's Day sale slashes expansion costs in half originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exchange-rateexpansionlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-storemines-of-moriamirkwoodmoriarune-keepersalesiege-of-mirkwoodstore-saleturbineTurbine-Entertainmentturbine-pointsveterans-dayveterans-day-salewardenWed, 10 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO producer's letter hints at new "Task" system and more for the future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/21/lotro-producers-letter-hints-at-new-task-system-and-more-for/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/21/lotro-producers-letter-hints-at-new-task-system-and-more-for/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/21/lotro-producers-letter-hints-at-new-task-system-and-more-for/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Since the launch of Lord of the Ring Online's F2P version, there's been an air of both optimism and uncertainty as to the game's future. How will Turbine handle updates from here on out? Will the epic storyline continue or go stagnant? And when oh when will we see giant flying eagle mounts?

While she doesn't handle the eagle mount issue, LotRO's Kate Paiz tackles many of these questions and more besides in her first producer's letter following the recent update. Paiz says that the team has shifted the way they're approaching updates: In an effort to get more frequent content to players, not every future update will contain an additional book of the epic storyline -- but the storyline will continue.

Paiz then laid out several upcoming features for the November update, including a new "Task" system for low-level players, another revision to the player vault and a fine-tuning of the Lore-master and Rune-keeper classes. Turbine will also be unlocking the two expansions (Mines of Moria and Siege of Mirkwood) for all players to travel through and experience the epic storyline, although the free-to-play crowd will still need to purchase the expansions to unlock quests and deeds in those zones.

The future is looking up for LotRO, so head on over to the official site to read the full producer's letter!

MassivelyLotRO producer's letter hints at new "Task" system and more for the future originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expansionf2pflying-eagle-mountsfree-to-playi-wanna-fly-like-the-eagle-to-the-seakate-paizlord-of-the-rings-onlinelore-masterlotromines-of-moriaproducers-letterrune-keepersiege-of-mirkwoodtask-systemturbineupdateThu, 21 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2010: Counting down to LotRO's relaunch with Turbine]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/04/pax-2010-counting-down-to-lotros-relaunch-with-turbine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/04/pax-2010-counting-down-to-lotros-relaunch-with-turbine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/04/pax-2010-counting-down-to-lotros-relaunch-with-turbine/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

With the launch of Lord of the Rings Online's biggest patch to date a scant few days away, we touched base with Turbine's Aaron Campbell, Brian Aloisio, and Bob Hess at PAX Prime to see how their nerves are holding up at this point. It is, as Aloisio laughed, akin to launching the game all over again, and LotRO is definitely under close scrutiny because of it.

Many players were surprised to hear that LotRO's free-to-play update was going live much sooner than anticipated, and we asked Campbell whether this was due to a preset schedule or better-than-anticipated beta feedback. He said that they weren't going to release it until it was ready, but by the team's reckoning, the beta process went so smoothly that there was no reason to delay any further.

Compared to the betas for Shadows of Angmar, Mines of Moria and Siege of Mirkwood, the F2P beta -- according to Campbell -- was the most upbeat Turbine's ever had, with far more positive feedback than negative. Hit the jump to hear more and see the latest screenshots and video from PAX.

Continue reading PAX 2010: Counting down to LotRO's relaunch with Turbine

MassivelyPAX 2010: Counting down to LotRO's relaunch with Turbine originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaron-campbellbetabob-hessbrian-aloisioclassddodirectx-11dungeons-and-dragons-onlinedx11enedwaithf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpgallerygreat-barrowslegendary-itemslord-of-the-rings-onlinelore-masterlotromines-of-moriamonth-of-the-classpaxpax-2010pax-primepax-prime-2010petsrobert-hessrune-keeperscaled-instancesscreenshotsshadows-of-angmarsiege-of-mirkwoodtrailerturbinevanity-petsvideozombie-columbusSat, 04 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Frugal free-to-play]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/27/the-road-to-mordor-frugal-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/27/the-road-to-mordor-frugal-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/27/the-road-to-mordor-frugal-free-to-play/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Two weeks! Two weeks, people! Why are you just sitting there, all calm-before-the-storm-like, instead of following my lead and running around like a chicken with its head... well, you know. Two weeks until Volume III Book 2 launches (and a little earlier for current subscribers), and I am psyched. There certainly is something for everyone here: a F2P version, store options, a new zone, instance scaling, more dungeons, DX11, the wardrobe, a revamped beginner experience, three new servers, the next chapter in the epic story, class tweaks, a haunted cellar, and, of course, demonic goats. Did I miss something? I probably did, but it's kind of crazy around here.

One of the highlights I'm anticipating is all of the new (and returning) players giving LotRO their time due to the multiple payment options, including F2P bliss. I'm always a huge fan of options in my games, and I truly feel that the implementation of this free-to-play model will benefit a wider range of players than the current subscription core. Mmm, that Kool-Aid tastes great!

If you're thinking about heading into LotRO in two weeks but are unsure how much "free" will come with your F2P, when you'll be hit with the big catch, or whether you'll be forced to subscribe at some point, I have some great news for you. There are a variety of routes you can take to experience a good chunk of Lord of the Rings Online without denting your bank account. Read on for five valuable strategies to save a buck while saving Middle-earth!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Frugal free-to-play

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Frugal free-to-play originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-la-cartea-la-carte-pricingbree-landcash-shopered-luinevendimexpansionf2pfeaturedforochelfree-to-playftpitem-shoplevelinglord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-storemines-of-morianorth-downspatchpremiumshadows-of-angmarshiresiege-of-mirkwoodthe-road-to-mordortpturbine-pointsvolume-3-book-2volume-iii-book-2Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMOs campaign for a Golden Joystick]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/14/mmos-campaign-for-a-golden-joystick/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/14/mmos-campaign-for-a-golden-joystick/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/14/mmos-campaign-for-a-golden-joystick/#commentsFiled under: , ,


After a busy month of shortlist voting, the 2010 People's Gaming Awards -- otherwise known as the Golden Joystick Awards -- has finalized the ballot and opened the polls to the gaming public. These awards are trumpeted as "by the players, for the players," with hundreds of titles whittled down into a shortlist of finalists.

While many single-player console and PC titles are represented across the 16 categories, several MMOs have waded into the fray looking for your vote (ironically, few of them can be played with a joystick). Star Wars: The Old Republic is nominated for the "One to Watch" award, Jagex and Codemasters have a shot at "UK Developer of the Year," and 2029 Online, Aion, Allods, Champions Online, Dragonica, Fallen Earth, Global Agenda, Star Trek Online and Lord of the Rings Online: Siege of Mirkwood are some of the MMOs vying for "Online Game of the Year." As for the "Ultimate Game of the Year" award, only one MMO made the cut: Aion.

You can cast your votes in the 28th Golden Joystick Awards from now through October 25, and watch the results on October 29. With over 1.2 million votes cast last year and current voting in the six digits, this year's Golden Joystick Awards look to be one of the most popular award ceremonies for 2010.

MassivelyMMOs campaign for a Golden Joystick originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010-golden-joystick-awards2010-peoples-gaming-awards2029-onlineaionallods-onlineawardschampions-onlinecodemastersdragonicafallen-earthgaglobal-agendagolden-joystickgolden-joystick-awardsjagexlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotropeoples-gaming-awardssiege-of-mirkwoodstar-trek-onlinestar-wars-the-old-republicstovotevotingMon, 14 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Ambitious]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/07/one-shots-ambitious/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/07/one-shots-ambitious/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/07/one-shots-ambitious/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In the warring lands of Warhammer Online, players are treated to the threat of siege as an everyday occurrence. However, it's not just a question of seeing enemies stomping down the street towards you. What happens when players decide that they make better rulers over the defeated side than the now-deposed rulers do? Well, that's when we get fun Warhammer Online One Shots like today's, sent in to us by Talkan. He writes in with his thoughts:

"After fighting Destruction tooth and nail, we finally assaulted their capital city. Sweeping through the filth-ridden streets, the forces of Order quickly overcame Warlord Tchar'zanek with the aide of King Karl Franz. After his death, I began to scour the area, doing my service as a Witch Hunter to purge every bit of Chaos from the world, when suddenly my playful side got a hold of me. I decided to try the evil tyrant's throne on for size; after all, when we finally destroy the city for good someone will have to lead this area. Might as well be me, right?"

Have you staged a funny screenshot in your favorite MMO? If you have, we'd love to see it. Just email it in to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. We'll post it out here for everyone to enjoy and give you the credit for sending it in.

Gallery: One Shots: Gallery II

MassivelyOne Shots: Ambitious originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eamythicmythic-entertainmentone-shotspvpscreenshotssiege-of-mirkwoodsillywarcraftWarhammer-OnlineMon, 07 Jun 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pick up Mirkwood on the cheap today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/26/pick-up-mirkwood-on-the-cheap-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/26/pick-up-mirkwood-on-the-cheap-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/26/pick-up-mirkwood-on-the-cheap-today/#commentsFiled under: , ,

With the 3rd anniversary of Lord of the Rings Online rolling along and a new connection between Turbine and Warner Bros ensuring no shortage of operating funds, it seems like it might be a little strange to find Lord of the Rings Online's newest expansion Siege of Mirkwood being offered on deals.woot today. That said, it's there nonetheless, and for those who may have been holding off on picking it up until the price dropped, there's no time like the present!

The deal offers everyone a chance to pick up the Siege of Mirkwood Complete Edition, which includes the core game, Mines of Moria, and Mirkwood as well as 30 days of free game time for the incredibly low price of $9.99. Now, with that said, this is for the US version run by Turbine, and is strictly digital download only. However, for $10 you really can't beat it -- especially if you've never played before or haven't touched the game since launch, but have been thinking about picking it up recently.

And hey, if you're new to the lands of Middle-earth, be sure to check out our handy information on how to get started in skirmishes, skirmish rewards, or Justin's excellent on-going column chock-full of LotRO tips, tricks and more -- The Road to Mordor!

MassivelyPick up Mirkwood on the cheap today originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dealdigital-downloadlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrosiege-of-mirkwoodturbineTurbine-Entertainmentwarner-brosMon, 26 Apr 2010 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: How skirmishes have changed LotRO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/12/the-road-to-mordor-how-skirmishes-have-changed-lotro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/12/the-road-to-mordor-how-skirmishes-have-changed-lotro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/12/the-road-to-mordor-how-skirmishes-have-changed-lotro/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Every Friday, The Road to Mordor brings you the latest in Lord of the Rings Online news, guides and analysis.

In the last couple years, MMO developers have been addressing the problem of stagnant mid- and end-game play by giving gamers various forms of repeatable content. Warhammer Online proposed PvP scenarios, World of Warcraft launched their Dungeon Finder, City of Heroes added in Mission Architect, and with the advent of the Siege of Mirkwood expansion, LotRO invented skirmishes.

While not identical in form or function, each of these systems is similar in a few ways: they are instantly accessible, they promote easy grouping, they encourage ad nauseum replay, and they offer an alternative way to gain XP and levels. Not to mention that while each of these features has seen criticism, they are greatly embraced by the playerbase and enjoyed by millions daily.

One could argue -- and I guess I am that one -- that skirmishes were LotRO's hole card for Mirkwood, the big "hook" that grabbed players' attention and imaginations. While not a complete game-changer, skirmishes have undeniably altered the face of the game and impacted many players' experiences, for better or worse. So let's face this change head-on and see how skirmishes have fared since last December's debut.

Pick up a lute and play me a merry song, for we'll need all the courage to hit the jump and come out on top!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: How skirmishes have changed LotRO

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: How skirmishes have changed LotRO originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroesdungeon-finderfeaturedlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-skirmishlotro-skirmishesmirkwoodmission-architectpvp-scenariossiege-of-mirkwoodskirmishestolkienWarhammer-Onlineworld-of-warcraftFri, 12 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO releases new skirmish dev diary for Volume III: Book 1]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/11/lotro-skirmishes-dev-diary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/11/lotro-skirmishes-dev-diary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/11/lotro-skirmishes-dev-diary/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

You'd be hard-pressed to find news on Lord of the Rings Online these days that doesn't talk about skirmishes. Probably the single biggest feature added in Siege of Mirkwood, these scaling dungeon fights are both an excellent way of expanding the game's content availability and a now-integral component of the ongoing epicc story in the game. The first skirmish of the upcoming Oath of the Rangers (Volume III, Book 1) is detailed in a new developer diary on the official site, where Joe Barry of the content design staff walks players through what they can expect.

The Rift of Nûrz Ghâshu is the setting of the new Skirmish, with players guiding the ranger Corunir to the Coliseum at the heart of the molten expanse. Fellowship Manoeuvers are slated to play a major part in the escort, as well as being instrumental in navigating the most deadly encounters with bosses. But that's hardly all coming in the near future -- new raid versions are being added to four Skirmishes, a duo mode is being added, and rewards for taking on the Skirmish as a larger group are being scaled up. Lord of the Rings Online players will want to check out the full diary on the official site, and get ready for even more time in the game's dial-a-dungeon feature.

MassivelyLotRO releases new skirmish dev diary for Volume III: Book 1 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expansionsjoe-barrylord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrooath-of-the-rangerssiege-of-mirkwoodskirmishskirmishesturbineturbine-entertainmentThu, 11 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lord of the Rings Online fansite contest winners announced]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/20/lord-of-the-rings-online-fansite-contest-winners-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/20/lord-of-the-rings-online-fansite-contest-winners-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/20/lord-of-the-rings-online-fansite-contest-winners-announced/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's always nice to see members of the MMO community reaching out to help one another, and the nice folks over at the LotRO Reporter took it upon themselves to encourage people do to more of it and win a few nice prizes in the bargain. (With plenty of help from Turbine, who provided the prizes.)

About a month ago, they introduced a contest: give a little of your time doing a random act of kindness for someone in-game. Help them through a quest, craft something for them, that sort of thing. Send in a description, and be entered in a drawing to win a Siege of Mirkwood combo pack.

The two contest winners were announced today, and their stories can be found here. (One of the winners profited even more than expected, in the form of a new friend in addition to her prize.) It's always nice to see players bringing something positive to the community, so our thanks go out to Turbine, LotRO Reporter, and everyone who entered for making Middle-earth a nicer place to be.

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online fansite contest winners announced originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Adventurers-Packlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-reporterrandom-act-of-kindnesssiege-of-mirkwoodturbineWed, 20 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO: Siege of Mirkwood patch 1 now live]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/19/lotro-siege-of-mirkwood-patch-1-now-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/19/lotro-siege-of-mirkwood-patch-1-now-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/19/lotro-siege-of-mirkwood-patch-1-now-live/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Last week we brought you the preliminary patch notes for the first planned patch for Lord of the Rings Online: Siege of Mirkwood and noted that they were only preliminary, subject to changes and additions.

Well, the patch notes are all settled and the patch went live today, bringing some surprises for players who may have preferred to remain unspoiled. For starters, players will find that all Legacy points on their Legendary items have been refunded with this patch, so they'll get an extra shot at redistribution without waiting for a reforge.

As we mentioned before, Skirmishes got quite a bit of attention too, including the revival of the Barrow-downs Skirmish. In addition, non Siege of Mirkwood players will find that they are no longer limited to three Skirmishes.

Of course, these are only a few of the high points. The full patch notes are available on the official site, or you can log into Lord of the Rings Online and explore them for yourself!

MassivelyLotRO: Siege of Mirkwood patch 1 now live originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>legacy-pointslegendary-itemslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotropatchsiege-of-mirkwoodskirmishessom-patch-1turbineTue, 19 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Preliminary notes for first Siege of Mirkwood patch released]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/14/preliminary-notes-for-first-siege-of-mirkwood-patch-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/14/preliminary-notes-for-first-siege-of-mirkwood-patch-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/14/preliminary-notes-for-first-siege-of-mirkwood-patch-released/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Just a month and a half after the launch of Lord of the Rings Online: Siege of Mirkwood, the first patch is almost ready. Preliminary patch notes were posted on the official forums by online community specialist Sapience, with a word of warning: "These should be considered a work in progress and incomplete. Final release notes will be posted when the patch is approved for release to the live servers."

As expected, the patch so far focuses primarily on skirmishes and legendary items, with a few tweaks being made as needed to raids, instances, and quests. It looks like some significant and very welcome changes are coming, such as a correction to the tier 6 costs of certain legacies. General fixes here and there were also made, such as: "Hunter's Travel to Mirk-eaves skill now tells fellowship members you are travelling to Mirk-eaves. No more freaking out the other members of your fellowship." (Well, that was fun while it lasted, anyway.)

The full patch notes as they stand right now can be viewed on the official forums.

MassivelyPreliminary notes for first Siege of Mirkwood patch released originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>legendary-itemslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-2-1-6siege-of-mirkwoodskirmishesturbineThu, 14 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Breakdown of skirmish rewards for Lord of the Rings Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/29/breakdown-of-skirmish-rewards-for-lord-of-the-rings-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/29/breakdown-of-skirmish-rewards-for-lord-of-the-rings-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/29/breakdown-of-skirmish-rewards-for-lord-of-the-rings-online/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

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

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

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

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

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordorcosmetic-clothingcosmetic-itemslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrosiege-of-mirkwoodskirmish-rewardsskirmishesturbineTue, 29 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Win a lifetime of LotRO from Massively]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/23/win-a-lifetime-of-lotro-from-massively/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/23/win-a-lifetime-of-lotro-from-massively/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/23/win-a-lifetime-of-lotro-from-massively/#commentsFiled under: , ,

'Tis the season to be jolly, as they say, and Turbine is proving this holiday season that they're more than generous with their best-selling MMO, Lord of the Rings Online. We've been given a handful of product keys to hand out to the Massively readers, and we're eager to play the role of Santa this year.

So what do we have in our goody bag? Lifetime subscriptions, a copy of the full game, copies of the newest expansion -- a total of twenty-three prize packages you could walk away with! Sound good to you? Then keep on reading after the cut to learn more details on the prizes and how you can have a chance to get one for yourself.

[Edit: Comments are now closed. Winners will be notified shortly]

Continue reading Win a lifetime of LotRO from Massively

MassivelyWin a lifetime of LotRO from Massively originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>giveawaylifetime-subscriptionlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrosiege-of-mirkwoodturbineWed, 23 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine releases new Siege of Mirkwood screenshots]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/turbine-releases-new-siege-of-mirkwood-screenshots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/turbine-releases-new-siege-of-mirkwood-screenshots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/turbine-releases-new-siege-of-mirkwood-screenshots/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The new Lord of the Rings Online expansion, Siege of Mirkwood, has players enjoying a wealth of new content and improved mechanics, and with some ramped-up hardware on the way things are bound to get even better.

Tower raids are a part of Mirkwood that players have been enjoying, and how could they not? Attacking the tower, taking on Sauron's minions, and fighting a dragon -- what's not to love? Today Turbine released six new screenshots from a tower raid, and as usual they are gorgeous, giving a very nice overall look at the scenery both inside and out.

Lord of the Rings Online has got a lot going on over the next two weeks, but if you can tear yourself away from the beer fights for a bit, these screenshots should provide some incentive to check out a new area in Mirkwood (if you haven't already). Follow along after the jump for a look.

Continue reading Turbine releases new Siege of Mirkwood screenshots

MassivelyTurbine releases new Siege of Mirkwood screenshots originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroscreenshotssiege-of-mirkwoodtower-raidsturbineThu, 17 Dec 2009 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New skirmish screenshots from Lord of the Rings Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/10/new-skirmish-screenshots-from-lord-of-the-rings-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/10/new-skirmish-screenshots-from-lord-of-the-rings-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/10/new-skirmish-screenshots-from-lord-of-the-rings-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Lord of the Rings Online: Siege of Mirkwood went live December first, just one week ago. One of the most highly-anticipated features in Siege of Mirkwood was the new skirmish system. Skirmishes are scalable, randomized instances that you and your party can enter after setting a few parameters such as the desired level. They're designed to be relatively brief and fit easily into gameplay time, as well as keeping things interesting with the random elements. As with any ambitious new project, the skirmish system has the normal allotment of bugs here and there, but Turbine seems to be on top of them, and overall player response has been very positive.

Today, Turbine released a new series of screenshots from the skirmish system in Siege of Mirkwood. The screenshots offer a sneak peek at several different foes you may encounter, as well as some familiar backgrounds. Enjoy them in the gallery after the jump, and if you haven't already, you can learn more about the skirmish system here.

Continue reading New skirmish screenshots from Lord of the Rings Online

MassivelyNew skirmish screenshots from Lord of the Rings Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroscreenshotssiege-of-mirkwoodskirmishesturbineThu, 10 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lord of the Rings Online to get hardware upgrade]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/09/lord-of-the-rings-online-to-get-hardware-upgrade/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/09/lord-of-the-rings-online-to-get-hardware-upgrade/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/09/lord-of-the-rings-online-to-get-hardware-upgrade/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The folks at Turbine are planning a significant hardware upgrade for Lord of the Rings Online, and are asking players to help test it out.

The Bullroarer server currently has the new hardware, and is open to anyone who currently has an active subscription. You can copy up to five of your characters over using the character copy tool in order to join the test, and you'll find some nice bonuses in exchange for your time: all of the content from Mines of Moria and Siege of Mirkwood is on the Bullroarer server. If you don't own the expansions, this is an excellent way to check them out.

Turbine has one more thank you gift for players: everyone who plays on the Bullroarer server for at least an hour between now and Friday will be entered in a drawing for a Best Buy gift card. One person will receive a $250 card, one will receive a $150 card, and five people will receive $100 cards. The Bullroarer server can be downloaded here.

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online to get hardware upgrade originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bullroarerhardware-upgradelord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriasiege-of-mirkwoodturbineWed, 09 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Getting started with the LotRO Skirmish system]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/getting-started-with-the-lotro-skirmish-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/getting-started-with-the-lotro-skirmish-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/getting-started-with-the-lotro-skirmish-system/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

With Lord of the Ring Online's Siege of Mirkwood expansion launch on Tuesday came the new Skirmish system. And with it also came a lot of questions. Though Turbine posted a number of Dev Diaries going over the various aspects of the new private instance system and its reward system, the same questions kept popping up in the game. We'll try to answer as many as we can here.

How do I get started with the Skirmish system? What level do I need to be?

If you are level 30 or above, you will receive mail with an attachment. Putting the attachment in your bags will start a quest that will send you to the nearest Skirmish Camps. The camps are in many places around Middle-earth. A complete list has been compiled on the new Skirmish forums by a generous player. You don't need to buy the expansion to use the Skirmish system, but your access will be limited until you do.

Continue reading Getting started with the LotRO Skirmish system

MassivelyGetting started with the LotRO Skirmish system originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredlotrolotro-skirmish-faqsiege-of-mirkwoodskimishes-faqskirmish-faqskirmish-marksskirmish-soliderskirmishesturbineFri, 04 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Newest LotRO developer diary looks at crafting in Siege of Mirkwood]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/01/newest-lotro-developer-diary-looks-at-crafting-in-siege-of-mirkw/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/01/newest-lotro-developer-diary-looks-at-crafting-in-siege-of-mirkw/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/01/newest-lotro-developer-diary-looks-at-crafting-in-siege-of-mirkw/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The launch of Siege of Mirkwood today brings about quite a few changes, and the Lord of the Rings Online developer diary have been covering some of them pretty extensively.

The most recent diary covered crafting and how it will be improved and expanded in SoM. The entry begins on a promising note: "Being an ally has its advantages! New recipes for weapons, armor, jewellery, and other items can be found amongst the elves of Emyn Lum in Mirkwood," and goes on to detail the many changes.

The overall crafting experience was given an overhaul, and the diary included a handy tour of the new crafting panel to help you find your way around. Legendary and class item recipes have been added, as well as recipes for a new "crafted relic", an item designed to fit in a fourth relic slot for equipment, and all crafting professions will see changes in recipes and experience. Crafting guilds will find that they can now give unused guild reputation items to traders in exchange for larger reputation items.

It looks like crafting is going to be much more interesting to both new and old players -- you can read all the details here.

MassivelyNewest LotRO developer diary looks at crafting in Siege of Mirkwood originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craftingdev-diarydeveloper-diaryexpansionlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrosiege-of-mirkwoodtubineTue, 01 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine releases Siege of Mirkwood launch video]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/01/turbine-releases-siege-of-mirkwood-launch-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/01/turbine-releases-siege-of-mirkwood-launch-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/01/turbine-releases-siege-of-mirkwood-launch-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


In case you haven't heard, Turbine launched Lord of the Rings Online: Siege of Mirkwood today. "Today we unveil LOTRO's second major expansion and let players enter the legendary forest of Mirkwood and experience the climax and conclusion to Volume II of our epic story. The response from our players and the press has been nothing short of outstanding and serve as a real validation of LOTRO's position as one of the world's premium online games," said Executive Producer Jeffrey Steefel.

Besides closing out Mines of Moria, Siege of Mirkwood also brings about an increased level cap, the much-talked-about Skirmish system, and some major gameplay changes and improvements.

Many Lord of the Rings Online players have been anticipating this and will be heading for Mirkwood at the first opportunity, but if you're not one of them, the launch video may tip the scales for you. Follow along after the jump for a look.

Continue reading Turbine releases Siege of Mirkwood launch video

MassivelyTurbine releases Siege of Mirkwood launch video originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expansionlaunch-videolord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriasiege-of-mirkwoodturbineTue, 01 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's LotRO: Siege of Mirkwood launch day roundup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/01/massivelys-lotro-siege-of-mirkwood-launch-day-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/01/massivelys-lotro-siege-of-mirkwood-launch-day-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/01/massivelys-lotro-siege-of-mirkwood-launch-day-roundup/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Lord of the Rings Online's newest expansion, Siege of Mirkwood, will release today for North America -- while later this week it will release for the European servers -- and we have a comprehensive wrapup available for you to find the biggest news for the new content. We have a dev tour, a video of the new maps, an interview with Jeffrey Steefel and more!
A visual tour of LotRO: Siege of Mirkwood
If you haven't had a chance to see Turbine's latest creation, check out our video tour of the expansion just after the jump below. Also, be sure to watch Massively for more coverage on Siege of Mirkwood from now to December 1st and beyond!
LotRO: Siege of Mirkwood developer tour
If you've been faithfully following along with the Lord of the Rings Online: Siege of Mirkwood beta, you may be excited by what you've heard -- or even seen yourself -- so far. The new expansion, which is set to launch on December 1st of this year (December 3rd for EU), centers around the forest of Mirkwood, just to the east of Lothlorien. It introduces us to a large new map of Mirkwood, the skirmish system, five new instances and much more.
Massively Speaking Episode 78: An interview with Jeffrey Steefel
Massively Speaking Episode 78 is back with Rubi, Shawn and special guest Jeffrey Steefel, executive producer for Lord of the Rings Online. They talk about Siege of Mirkwood, LotRO's future, Jeffrey's past and much more!
Lord of the Rings Online to make drastic combat changes with Siege of Mirkwood
It's very rare that you hear about a game changing how combat works at a fundamental level, but that's exactly what Turbine is doing in Siege of Mirkwood. We hope you guys weren't in love with weapon speeds and slow animations, because those are two of the things that are getting major overhauls.

Continue reading Massively's LotRO: Siege of Mirkwood launch day roundup

MassivelyMassively's LotRO: Siege of Mirkwood launch day roundup originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-tourfeaturedinterviewlaunch-daylord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroroundupsiege-of-mirkwoodturbineTue, 01 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO Siege of Mirkwood patch notes released]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/lotro-siege-of-mirkwood-patch-notes-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/lotro-siege-of-mirkwood-patch-notes-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/lotro-siege-of-mirkwood-patch-notes-released/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Lord of the Rings Online fans have one thing on their mind today: Siege of Mirkwood. The expansion launches tomorrow, and players are spending today waiting, speculating, and wishing tomorrow would arrive a bit sooner. Turbine has made the wait easier by releasing patch notes for you to read over while you wait.

All things Mirkwood are covered in the patch notes, from the highly anticipated skirmish system down to the fact that festival gift boxes will no longer contain coal or taters. The full patch notes are very extensive, and while they cover several things we've already heard about, there is a wealth of new information to be had.

The notes include a long list of bug fixes, highlights, and items "of special note", before moving down to the full release notes. There you will find all the information to guide you through the changes that Mirkwood brings: classes, instances, auctions, and quests. The little things like hobbies and emotes that help to make the game what it is are also covered.

The full patch notes can be found here, and we'll see you in Siege of Mirkwood tomorrow to check them out firsthand!

MassivelyLotRO Siege of Mirkwood patch notes released originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expansionlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromy.lotropatch-notessiege-of-mirkwoodturbineMon, 30 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[How to spend your first day in Siege of Mirkwood]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/how-to-spend-your-first-day-in-siege-of-mirkwood/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/how-to-spend-your-first-day-in-siege-of-mirkwood/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/how-to-spend-your-first-day-in-siege-of-mirkwood/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Lord of the Rings Online expansion Siege of Mirkwood is set to go live tomorrow, and for LotRO fans who have been waiting for it, that final day can feel pretty long. How can anxious fans pass the time while those last hours tick away?

Almazar at LotRO Reporter has been making his wait easier by posting ideas on how to...well, make the wait easier. Speculating about what you'll do when the expansion arrives is half the fun of the wait, and he has a nice list of possibilities. Excited about Siege of Mirkwood and dying to dive right into the new areas and explore? He's got something for you. Interested in visiting the newly revamped Lone-lands? Couldn't care less about any of it? LotRO Reporter has you covered as well.

You can read the full entry here, and feel free to post your thoughts on what you can't wait to see in Mirkwood tomorrow!

MassivelyHow to spend your first day in Siege of Mirkwood originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>almazarexpansionlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-reportersiege-of-mirkwoodturbineMon, 30 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's Black Friday MMO sales guide]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/26/massivelys-black-friday-mmo-sales-guide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/26/massivelys-black-friday-mmo-sales-guide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/26/massivelys-black-friday-mmo-sales-guide/#commentsFiled under: ,

The holidays are officially here (if you're a retail chain, then they've been here for about a month) and so it's time to start looking for deals to give to either your MMO-playing loved ones or, well, yourself! Shopping can be a pretty big hassle, especially if you're not accustomed to hunting for the best deals. So, we've gone and outlined the season's new releases, as well as some places you can hope to find sales in the coming weeks.

Continue reading Massively's Black Friday MMO sales guide

MassivelyMassively's Black Friday MMO sales guide originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonarenanetccpd2ddirect2drivedominioneve-onlinefeaturedguild-warslotroncsoftnexonnexon-americasalessiege-of-mirkwoodsteamthanksgivingturbinevalveThu, 26 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lord of the Rings Online developer diary revisits the Lone-lands]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/25/lord-of-the-rings-online-developer-diary-revisits-the-lone-lands/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/25/lord-of-the-rings-online-developer-diary-revisits-the-lone-lands/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/25/lord-of-the-rings-online-developer-diary-revisits-the-lone-lands/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The latest developer diary entry is from Lord of the Rings Online Senior Designer Allan "Orion" Maki, and takes us back to a very familiar area: The Lone-lands. While the region seems like a low-level walk in the park to the majority of players these days, Maki had always felt that there was a bit of a "disconnect" and that players were being sent to an area far above their level. The Lone-lands have been given what he describes as a "massive overhaul", bringing them more in line with low and mid level players abilities.

Players will find changes such as a solo version of Weather Top, a new horse travel mount to make the initial trip to the Forsaken Inn less dangerous, and some new faction and quest systems. Those, however, are just the beginning. With Siege of Mirkwood only days away, players eager to explore the expansion will find their path in the earlier areas considerably smoother.

The full entry is worth looking at, as it contains four pages of great information on the overhaul -- it's a valuable resource for anyone still hanging out around Ost Guruth.

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online developer diary revisits the Lone-lands originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allan-makiallan-orion-makideveloper-diarylone-landslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrosiege-of-mirkwoodturbineWed, 25 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New developer chat transcript for Lord of the Rings Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/24/new-developer-chat-transcript-for-lord-of-the-rings-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/24/new-developer-chat-transcript-for-lord-of-the-rings-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/24/new-developer-chat-transcript-for-lord-of-the-rings-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


There's only a little time left until Lord of the Rings Online launches its next expansion, Siege of Mirkwood, but the players still have questions and the developers are thankfully quite happy to answer them. Not so long ago, WarCry had their first developer chat transcript up for fans of the game to digest. A fair bit of new information has come out since then, and so a new chat transcript is available with more information for the playerbase to mull over for the next week. Unfortunately, it's rather negative, since there are an awful lot of questions whose answers just so happen to be "no."

In no particular order: there are no current plans for expanding the housing system, there are no plans to convert Lorien tokens to Mirkwood, no player-created content systems in the works, no way to send mail with more than one attachment. On the other hand, there's more discussion of the Skirmish mechanics and their comparison with Dungeons and Dragons Online's difficulty-tunable instances, talk about how levels and items will be affected, and the expansive amount of content promised within Mirkwood itself. The full transcript is going to be a bit of a read, but it should tide over anticipation for the fast-approaching launch date.

MassivelyNew developer chat transcript for Lord of the Rings Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ddodeveloper-chatdungeons-and-dragons-onlineexpansionsgame-mechanicsinterviewslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrosiege-of-mirkwoodskirmishskirmishestranscriptturbineturbine-entertainmentTue, 24 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Story moments in new Siege of Mirkwood screens]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/19/story-moments-in-new-siege-of-mirkwood-screens/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/19/story-moments-in-new-siege-of-mirkwood-screens/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/19/story-moments-in-new-siege-of-mirkwood-screens/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Lord of the Rings Online is well known for its story, which it has Tolkien's works to thank for -- although Turbine does a great job of making it all come alive. These new Siege of Mirkwood screens depict a few of the new epic story moments players can expect come December 1st when the expansion is made available for purchase.

From giant spiders to cozy campfires, much about these new screens inspire. Whether thick with peril or cool and mellow, Siege of Mirkwood looks set to offer its community wonders unparalleled. Yes, we're kind of rhyming on purpose. We blame the poetic imagery seen in the gallery below; its vistas both terrible and cold.

Gallery: LotRO: Siege of Mirkwood - Epic story moments

MassivelyStory moments in new Siege of Mirkwood screens originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expansionexpansionsgalleryimagelord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromediascreensscreenshotscrenshotssiege-of-mirkwoodsomstorytolkienturbineThu, 19 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Siege of Mirkwood developer diary: character panel updates]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/19/siege-of-mirkwood-developer-diary-character-panel-updates/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/19/siege-of-mirkwood-developer-diary-character-panel-updates/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/19/siege-of-mirkwood-developer-diary-character-panel-updates/#comments The Lord of the Rings Online expansion Siege of Mirkwood is expected to bring about some big changes to go with all of the screenshots and video that we've been seeing, and the latest developer diary entries have been giving us lots of details to read over while we wait for launch. One of the more recent ones discussed some significant combat changes, and the latest entry covers a bit more in that vein, as well as some updates to your character panel.

It's not just a cosmetic makeover, either -- gameplay has gotten a lot of work from the Mirkwood team. Three new Critical Defence statistics are added, Vulnerability has been revamped, and the differences between incoming and outgoing healing got some work too. Healing Rank and Tactical rank statistics are new as well, allowing players to increase their effectiveness by spending points.

The new character panels will reflect all of these changes and you can take a look at the diary entry for a full description as well as some screenshots detailing how it works.

MassivelySiege of Mirkwood developer diary: character panel updates originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>developer-diaryexpansionlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrosiege-of-mirkwoodTurbine-EntertainmentThu, 19 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lord of the Rings Online offers Welcome Back Week for EU players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/17/lord-of-the-rings-online-offers-welcome-back-week-for-eu-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/17/lord-of-the-rings-online-offers-welcome-back-week-for-eu-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/17/lord-of-the-rings-online-offers-welcome-back-week-for-eu-players/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Siege of Mirkwood is nearly here, and Codemasters is offering former European Lord of the Rings players a chance to jump back in and do some catching up before it arrives.

Welcome Back Week begins November 23rd and continues through the 30th -- any former LotRO player can return and enjoy a week of free play, courtesy of Codemasters. They're also offering a bonus: those taking advantage of Welcome Back Week will get a 25% XP boost that week.

Players interested in returning for the event need only download the game, or patch to the latest version. Codemasters has re-activated the accounts, so you'll find your characters ready and waiting to head back into Middle-Earth and prepare for the arrival of Siege of Mirkwood.

Codemasters is also using this week to remind players to get in on the Siege of Mirkwood pre-order deals. The expansion is set to launch in Europe on December 3rd.

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online offers Welcome Back Week for EU players originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>codemasters-onlinefree-weeklord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrosiege-of-mirkwoodwelcome-back-weekTue, 17 Nov 2009 23:00:00 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