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: Five ways LotRO should be streamlined]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-road-to-mordor-five-ways-lotro-should-be-streamlined/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-road-to-mordor-five-ways-lotro-should-be-streamlined/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-road-to-mordor-five-ways-lotro-should-be-streamlined/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

LotRO
You would think that growth and expansion is nothing but a good thing for MMOs -- after all, those are the hallmarks of the genre. But as these games get bigger, issues emerge as the developers add new zones, features, and systems. In short, maturing MMOs gravitate toward complexity, and this can have an adverse effect on the game as a whole.

The problem is that there is eventually too much a brand-new player has to absorb and master, not to mention the hassle of rolling alts and having to navigate all of that content once more. If developers don't stay on top of the situation, then the game starts to lose overall cohesion and becomes a befuddling mess.

With three expansions and numerous updates under its belt, Lord of the Rings Online is venturing deep into this territory. I have friends who are leveling up for the first time and finding themselves overwhelmed with everything that needs doing as well as all the systems that are not clearly explained. So today I want to play backseat developer and talk about five ways that LotRO should be streamlined for the good of all players, old and new.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Five ways LotRO should be streamlined

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Five ways LotRO should be streamlined originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LotRO
Without fail, the second I'm done writing this column for Massively, Turbine releases the big news of a major patch, and I have to wait a whole week to talk about it. In the case of Lord of the Rings Online's Update 7, I'm not that upset. I definitely was underwhelmed by it all initially, but now that I have had a whole week to digest it, read through the test server notes, and scope out the Moria dev diary that was posted, I feel like I'm in a much better position to talk about it.

So what does this game update mean for you? That's a good question, and it really depends on where you are in your leveling journey. New players won't be fazed by it whatsoever, but both mid-game and endgame adventurers are going to have some new (and reworked) content to devour. I am heartened that Turbine doesn't have tunnel-vision for the endgame and is still willing to go back and examine what does and doesn't work about its earlier content.

So let's walk through the major highlights of Update 7: Shades of the Past and give it the ol' Road to Mordor analysis, shall we?

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: What Update 7 means for you

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: What Update 7 means for you originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LotRO
More than any other MMO I've played, Lord of the Rings Online seems to draw out player events like crazy. Maybe it's the setting, Tolkien's world-building, the renaissance fair outfits, or the disproportionately large RP crowd, but LotRO seems to be graced with far more of these kinds of player-driven initiatives than elsewhere.

As such, today I wanted to scout around the forums and official calendar to highlight a few of the many, many events that festoon this great game of ours. These are great to check out, particularly when you're a little bored with the same-old, same-old of questing, raiding, skirmishing, or PvMPing. The ingenuity and spirit of these events is often quite infectious, and I never regret going to one once I make the effort.

So check out seven great player events in LotRO, coming to a server near you!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Seven player events you must attend

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Seven player events you must attend originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LotRO
There's a good chance you're not reading this column right now but instead are fully immersed in the weekend beta for Guild Wars 2: Guild Harder. That's OK. I won't hold it against you -- I may even be playing it as well. Oh, those ArenaNet folks. They make such lofty promises, don't they? They're going to rewrite MMOs as we know them and show us once and for all that we've been playing with Tinker Toys when we could have fully functional jetpacks and whatnot.

I don't harbor any ill will against Guild Wars 2; in fact, I'm quite looking forward to it. But as everyone's focused on the game's excising of traditional questing as popularized by World of Warcraft, I thought it would be worth examining just how dated Lord of the Rings Online's questing system has become, if at all.

In an era of dynamic events, public quests, full voice-over, and other techniques designed to get us away from the text box questing model, will LotRO hold its ground against these fads or is it truly becoming a relic of the past? Let's dig in!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Is LotRO's questing system over the hill?

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Is LotRO's questing system over the hill? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Image
Great Ghost Bear, has it really been five years? Why... it must have been, although it truly seems like yesterday that a magazine article caught my eye about an upcoming game based on Lord of the Rings. Just yesterday it was, when I called my brother-in-law to tell him that he could drop his World of Warcraft subscription because something better was on the horizon. It wasn't but a day ago that we Founders jumped into the head-start and power-leveled all the way to 15.

Let me tell you, those Tuckborough Library raids were brutal back then!

So it has indeed been five years since Lord of the Rings Online released, a half-decade of Middle-earth stomping, Brandywine swimming, and Weathertop free-climbing. I can't even believe that this is the third such anniversary that I've covered for Massively; boy, how the time flies.

Perhaps to make up for last year's lackluster and flawed anniversary celebration, Turbine's pulled out all the stops to make LotRO's birthday an event to remember. We've got a lot to cover and plenty of fireworks left to shoot off, so let's get to it!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Happy fifth anniversary, LotRO!

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Happy fifth anniversary, LotRO! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LotRO
Part of the allure of Lord of the Rings Online is its surprising depth and complexity, particularly for those who like to get the best performance out of their characters. Part of the frustration of LotRO is its obtuse or absent explanations behind the many systems in the game.

One of these systems remained on the outer edges of my attention span until one day I gave it my full focus. This was the field of weapon damage types, a subject I was vaguely aware of yet assumed I didn't have to know much about it to get along in the game. After some examination, I realized that while you don't need to understand weapon damage types to have an enjoyable play experience, it does affect the game in a small but important way.

So if you've ever wondered what "Beleriand" or "Westernesse" in your weapon tooltip was all about, today's column is here to help you navigate the somewhat confusing area of damage types.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: The truth behind weapon damage types

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: The truth behind weapon damage types originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

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LotRO
When World of Warcraft released its dungeon finder in late 2009, the online gaming community fractured into two distinct camps. There were those who loved and embraced the dungeon finder for its ease of grouping, its bonus rewards, and its accessibility. Then there was the other camp, whose members grew to loathe this system, claiming that it fractured the community (especially when it went cross-server) and trivialized the teamwork and bonding that dungeon groups cultivated in the past.

Love it or hate it, the dungeon finder was a massive hit and quickly became a staple in many other MMOs, such as RIFT and yes, Lord of the Rings Online. I've always been a huge proponent of the system because LFG tools and channels are typically insufficient and inefficient. Plus, dungeon finders cater to those of us who aren't as naturally outgoing and chatty when it comes to finding or starting groups, and I think this is why it became so embraced. Many of us felt denied this content simply because we weren't in a gung-ho guild or weren't proactive enough to build a group, but this became a game-changer.

Instead of releasing LotRO's instance finder in its full glory all at once, Turbine's rolled out the replacement to its lackluster LFF interface in stages. With Update 6, we now have an improved system to examine, although there's certainly work that needs to be done.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Will the instance finder take off?

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Will the instance finder take off? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LotRO
Mounted combat's been on my mind a lot lately, particularly when I was galloping around Dunland and various clansmen knocked me off my horse. It was then that I wished I had a skill called "Trample to a Bloody Pulp -- For Rohan!" and that Turbine would finally earn that AO rating it's always craved. Barring that skill, I would just love a massive war horse that would send enemies fleeing from me instead of making a beeline for my knees (which are a prime target for arrows).

I'm both excited and nervous about the mounted combat system coming in Riders of Rohan. I'm excited that it will open up a new style of gameplay in this five-year-old game and nervous that it'll drag Lord of the Rings Online down if it's not done right. Whatever type of horseback combat we might envision will surely be different than the final product, and that uncertainty leaves me feeling in limbo.

More than anything else, Riders of Rohan is about mounted combat. Turbine's centering the expansion around it, dedicating an entire zone to it, and developing loads of assets and skills for it, and the company will undoubtedly be hyping it strongly over the course of the summer. It's a bold step to take but a necessary one as well, as the IP and nation of Rohan are steeped in mounted combat, and it's been a little weird that we've had to dismount to swing a sword ever since leaving the shire.

So will mounted combat prevail, fail, or muddle in the middle?

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Ride to ruin and the world's ending!

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Ride to ruin and the world's ending! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LotRO
So how are you liking Update 6 so far? No, I can't hear you right now -- you're probably going to have to leave a comment or something. Maybe I should do the talking for a while.

With its new zone, massive PvP upgrades, class rebalancings, Landscape Soldier ability, updated barter wallet, and the Instance Finder 2.0, there's so much to chew on with Lord of the Rings Online's latest patch that it's going to take most of us some time to figure out what's what. I've heard a lot of praise for the new epic storyline, in particular the dream sequence, and it's definitely good that players who had tapped out Rise of Isengard's content now have more world goodness to explore.

I am not in The Great River, not yet; I dug my level 65 Captain out of retirement and am plugging my way back up through RoI quite happily. However, I was incredibly curious about two of the most debated features of the patch -- the barter wallet and the ability to bring skirmish soldiers out into the world -- and I spent some time evaluating each. While I question the way Turbine's handling the cost of these features, I definitely came away impressed with what the wallet and soldiers do for the game.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: A soldier to call my very own

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: A soldier to call my very own originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LotRO
This past week, Turbine called my parents and asked if I could come over to play Lord of the Rings Online. "Sure he can," my mother replied. "As long as he wears his galoshes. What? It's wet outside!"

And thus I ended up hanging out with the Turbine crew -- Aaron Campbell, Jared Pruett, and Jeff Libby -- as they walked me through Update 6 with the optional developer commentary mode set to "on." I highly recommend you rent a developer for the same experience, as it helps to have someone giving you a Cliff's Notes version of the game's complicated lore.

Pruett first caught me up on the major PvMP changes of this coming Monday's update. The team wanted to increase rewards and turn progression into a seasonal mechanic to keep players coming to the Ettenmoors. As such, PvMP now has a universal currency -- that's account-wide, by the way -- that will allow players to purchase top-end gear. The team also tweaked down what the devs saw as a DPS race in order to give players time to deliberate and make strategic choices during fights.

Beyond PvMP, the devs marched me right into the next epic storyline book that whisked us away to a strange new land: The Great River. What did I find waiting for me there?

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: An Update 6 play date with Turbine

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: An Update 6 play date with Turbine originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LotRO
At 1388 miles, the Anduin is the longest river known in Middle-earth, hence the name The Great River. If I put that into real-world perspective, it would vie for the 52nd longest river on Earth, somewhere between the Colorado River and China's Pearl River. Impressive, if not a record-breaker.

The Great River flows from the Misty Mountains down out to the Great Sea (lots of "greats" in Middle-earth, which is great), and it's on this waterway that the Fellowship of the Ring traveled from the solace of Lothlorien to the tragedy at Parth Galen. The river represents transition in many ways: from safety to peril, from unity to dissolution, from north to south, from The Fellowship of the Ring to The Two Towers.

For Lord of the Rings Online players, the Anduin will mark another transition: the bridge between Rise of Isengard and Riders of Rohan. Seeing as how we got a major taste of this brand-new zone this week, I thought we should take a gander at what The Great River will add to our journey toward Mordor.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Fording the Great River

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Fording the Great River originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LotRO
It's been a long, long time since I've been able to work on this series, going through each Lord of the Rings Online zone quest by quest and pulling the top 10 locations, points of interest, or missions for the aspiring adventurer to check out. There are many reasons I've been tardy in continuing it, but no excuses today! Today we dine in the Prancing Pony, for tomorrow we die!

I decided to divide Bree-land into two separate articles, with this one covering the eastern portion and Bree proper, and the upcoming one tackling the western and northern areas. This is not just because Bree-land is a pretty dang big zone but because it's pulling double-duty: East Bree-land and Bree serves as the 1-15 leveling area for Men, while the west invites all four races to continue the journey to level 20.

While it may seem like a generic fantasy zone on the surface, Bree-land is actually teeming with interesting details, stories, and activities. I've never regretted leveling in the area (it's a darn sight better than Ered Luin), and it was pretty tough to limit myself to just 10 activities for this list. So what should you do in East Bree-land before you die? Let's take a look!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Ten things to do in East Bree-land before you die

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Ten things to do in East Bree-land before you die originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breebree-landcat-ladys-housecatseast-bree-landeastern-bree-landf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playghostbustersghostbustingguidelord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromapmess-hallmidgewater-marshesneekerbreekeropinionprancing-ponyroad-to-mordorsnikenthe-road-to-mordorturbineTurbine-EntertainmentSat, 18 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Six wonders of the newbie world]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/the-road-to-mordor-six-wonders-of-the-newbie-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/the-road-to-mordor-six-wonders-of-the-newbie-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/the-road-to-mordor-six-wonders-of-the-newbie-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

LotRO
As I reported last week, I've recently rerolled as a Hobbit Minstrel in an effort to refresh my attitude toward the game, to get a different perspective, and to continue my series in which I go through all of the single-player quests in the game.

It's been, in a word, smashing.

Having been away from the tamer lands of Eriador for so long, I had forgotten the charm and serenity that these lowbie areas exude. Plus, it's always fun leveling up a brand-new character, since there are plenty of goals and ways to develop your character that your level-capped toons have long since surpassed.

As I've been plugging away at Bree-land quests, I began to make a mental list of exactly what's so special about the low-level game in Lord of the Rings Online. The mental list became an actual one, and after a period of milling and refining, I've baked it into a nice loaf of observations to share with you.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Six wonders of the newbie world

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Six wonders of the newbie world originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beginnerbeginner-zonesbreebree-landcharacter-advancementered-luinf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhobbithobbitslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolowbielowbie-zonesnewbienewbie-zonesthe-road-to-mordorthe-shireturbineturbine-entertainmentSat, 11 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: A fresh start]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/04/the-road-to-mordor-a-fresh-start/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/04/the-road-to-mordor-a-fresh-start/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/04/the-road-to-mordor-a-fresh-start/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LotRO
I don't know about you, but sometimes I fall into the trap of forcing myself to do something in a game because I feel internally obliged to do it. Somewhere along the line, "setting a goal" became a Bataan Death March that absolutely had to be accomplished before I'd allow myself to do what I truly wanted. In my case, it was the stubborn determination to get through the remainder of Rise of Isengard's content even though I had slowed to slogging through it, feeling burned out on my Lore-master after well over a year of constant play on the character.

So I sat back and re-evaluated. My reasoning for finishing Isengard was to make sure I was at the top of the game and could evaluate any new high-level content that came along for you guys, which was a noble reason. But the truth was that in so doing, I was playing something that was leeched of enjoyment for the time being and really needed to be put aside. Once I realized that, the solution was obvious.

A fresh start. That's what I wanted: a completely fresh start to the game. Hey, it's still (sort of) a new year, so why not? And once I gave myself permission to do that, my adventures in Lord of the Rings Online brightened up considerably.

I might be weird in this, but I absolutely love starting over from scratch in long-term games from time to time, even though it means scrapping (or putting aside) a whole heap of achievements and the effort spent acquiring them. This week I'm going to look at my fresh start with LotRO and why it has me buzzed to log in for the first time this year.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: A fresh start

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: A fresh start originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>do-overf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfresh-startgladdenlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrominstrelrestartriders-of-rohanrise-of-isengardstart-overstarting-overthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentvirtuevirtuesSat, 04 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Resolutions, Baggins and Took-style]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/07/the-road-to-mordor-resolutions-baggins-and-took-style/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/07/the-road-to-mordor-resolutions-baggins-and-took-style/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/07/the-road-to-mordor-resolutions-baggins-and-took-style/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Road to Mordor
Mmm... smell that? It's the smell of a fresh new year, that is! Rolled right off the factory floor with no dings, the warranty still intact, and a tank full of gas and dreams. Makes one want to abandon the routine and head out onto the open road, does it not?

I'm one of those old fuddy-duddys who actually does New Year's resolutions, whether or not I'm actually capable of keeping them. I think it's important to try to better oneself and keep reaching for higher goals and standards, and if a new year is a convenient excuse to get my butt in gear, then I'm not complaining.

So right now I'm staring at a field of endless potential for Lord of the Rings Online in 2012. I've actually been giving it a lot of thought -- what do I want out of this year? As LotRO heads toward its fifth anniversary, is there really anything new left that I haven't experienced? And what the heck am I going to write about for 52 more weeks?

Never fear because the more I pondered, the more I realized that there's plenty of content yet to plunder (plus, of course, whatever Turbine has up its sleeves for the year). So for today's column, I sat down and drew up a list of resolutions in two parts: "Bagginsish" resolutions that are all about fluff and creature comforts and "Tookish" resolutions that are more concerned with high adventure.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Resolutions, Baggins and Took-style

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Resolutions, Baggins and Took-style originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bagginsfarmingfeaturedhousinginstance-finderlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotronew-year-resolutionnew-year-resolutionsnew-years-resolutionsplayer-housingresolutionsrise-of-isengardthe-hobbitthe-road-to-mordortookturbineturbine-entertainmentwardenSat, 07 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: My love-hate relationship with Legendary Items]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/10/the-road-to-mordor-my-love-hate-relationship-with-legendary-ite/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/10/the-road-to-mordor-my-love-hate-relationship-with-legendary-ite/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/10/the-road-to-mordor-my-love-hate-relationship-with-legendary-ite/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LotRO
Second to perhaps radiance, Legendary Items have become one of the most controversial, most debated, and most divisive game features in Lord of the Rings Online since their implementation in Mines of Moria. Since their inclusion, players have discussed -- loudly -- how the system could be fixed and improved, and Turbine's made a couple of attempts at refining the feature into something we can all enjoy.

And yet Legendary Items remain in that category that I like to call "love-hate," where there's almost as much to love about them as there is to loathe. I've waited a long time to write this article because the timing never felt right; either I was too new to the system to speak with any authority on it or changes were "right around the corner" or I was lazy. Take your pick.

Perhaps talking about this today is beating somewhat of a dead horse in the LotRO community, but I wanted to get my thoughts out why LIs haven't quite gotten to where they need to, how they've failed, where they've succeeded, and why I pray every evening for cosmetic weapons so I can get rid of that ugly glow effect.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: My love-hate relationship with Legendary Items

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: My love-hate relationship with Legendary Items originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaalternative-advancementbilboeqiieverquest-iifeaturedfrodogandalfitem-xplegendary-itemlegendary-itemslegendary-weaponlilislord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotterylottomines-of-moriano-time-for-love-doctor-jonesriftroad-to-mordorstar-wars-the-old-republicstingswtorthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentSat, 10 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Party planning committee, assemble!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/29/the-road-to-mordor-party-planning-committee-assemble/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/29/the-road-to-mordor-party-planning-committee-assemble/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/29/the-road-to-mordor-party-planning-committee-assemble/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Road to Mordor
Considering that Fellowship of the Ring begins with a huge party -- thrown in honor of Bilbo Baggins' eleventy-first birthday -- I think it's appropriate that Lord of the Rings Online is conducive to parties. I'm not just talking about dev-designed festivals, although those are great; I'm referring to parties that the community whips up from time to time.

Part of the appeal of LotRO to me is that it isn't just all about killing and leveling; it's also about exploring and living in this virtual Middle-earth. Life for the Free Peoples means celebrating even in the midst of oppressive evil, and it's in keeping with the spirit of the enterprise to throw a shindig now and then.

Turbine's given us quite a few tools and resources to use when assembling a party, and I thought that today we'd take an unusual detour from the Road to Mordor and go through the steps of throwing a memorable and enjoyable soirée. Ready to cut loose? Footloose? Good! Let's tear up the dance floor!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Party planning committee, assemble!

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Party planning committee, assemble! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alebeerdancingdrinkingdrunkexplosionsfeaturedfireworksfreeze-taglord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromusicpartiespartyparty-planningplayer-housingplayer-musicroad-to-mordorshindigsoireetagthe-road-to-mordorturbine-entertainmentweatherstockSat, 29 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Believing in Isengard]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/22/the-road-to-mordor-believing-in-isengard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/22/the-road-to-mordor-believing-in-isengard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/22/the-road-to-mordor-believing-in-isengard/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Road to Mordor
I find it's always awkward, to say the least, when someone tells you outright he dislikes something and then asks you to convince him otherwise. "I hate marmalade, it's so sticky! Why should I think it's awesome?" "Uh... you sound like you've made up your mind already."

However, if the person in question isn't being an outright marmalade troll, I'll do my best to answer him because usually contained in that bizarre request is a frustrated non-understanding of what he wants to like, what others seem to like, but what he cannot quite grasp. Sometimes a better perspective helps us appreciate something we may have formerly disliked, so there's no reason not to engage such queries.

This past week, a Massively forum poster expressed disatisfaction over Rise of Isengard, citing an abundance of kill 10 rats quests and a lackluster storyline. He finished by throwing down a challenge: "If anyone has some good things to say about Lord of the Rings Online that could convince me I am wrong, I would love to hear them."

Now, I'm not here to say that he's wrong; that's a matter of opinion and taste. But I'll gladly step up to the plate and share why I don't think this is the worst expansion yet -- far from it, actually. Without presenting a full post-mortem on Rise of Isengard, I can tell you what I do think is worth a player's investment of money or TP in this expansion. Hit the jump and the Road to Mordor will take you there!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Believing in Isengard

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Believing in Isengard originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 22 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cakewalkdunlandf2pfeaturedfree-to-playisengardlord-of-the-rings-onlinelorelotromazogrise-of-isengardsarumanstorythe-road-to-mordorturbineTurbine-Entertainmentwitch-kingSat, 22 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: A week in Dunland]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/the-road-to-mordor-a-week-in-dunland/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/the-road-to-mordor-a-week-in-dunland/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/the-road-to-mordor-a-week-in-dunland/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Road to Mordor
Dunland: savage land of strife, tradition, and body paint. As I stood at its borders, my heel slightly sinking into the soft mud of the river shore, I could hardly believe I was there. The grass blew gently in the breeze, and for a moment it was easy to fool myself into thinking that all was right with Middle-earth, that my journey could be over. The moment passed, and I hefted my staff and walked resolutely toward the first village I saw.

It's been almost a year since we first heard that, yes, we were going to take the Hobbits to Isengard (and Dwarves, Men and Elves, for that matter). It's been a long time coming, and now that it's here, it's a lot to absorb. I purposefully didn't spend a lot of time in the beta so as to not be spoiled; I wanted to savor Lord of the Rings Online: Rise of Isengard from start to finish. I wasn't going to be concerned with racing to the new level cap or attempting to devour all of the content in a couple of days.

With that mindset in place, I've been vastly enjoying Rise of Isengard these past few days -- more than I thought I would, to be honest -- and I wanted to document this first week in Dunland in today's Road to Mordor.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: A week in Dunland

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: A week in Dunland originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bugsdunlandexpansionfeaturedglffglitchesisengardlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-storeoutfitoutfitsrise-of-isengardstag-clanthe-road-to-mordortravel-diaryturbineturbine-enterainmentvolume-3-book-4wardrobewere-taking-the-hobbits-to-isengardFri, 30 Sep 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Seven things to do in Ered Luin before you die]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/the-road-to-mordor-seven-things-to-do-in-ered-luin-before-you-d/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/the-road-to-mordor-seven-things-to-do-in-ered-luin-before-you-d/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/the-road-to-mordor-seven-things-to-do-in-ered-luin-before-you-d/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

LOTRO Ered Luin
As I moved on to my second starter zone in Lord of the Rings Online on my mission to complete every quest in every area of the game, I was in for a rude, if expected, awakening. In comparison to the Shire, LotRO's Ered Luin is lacking across the board. It's hard to imagine that the game's most eastern zone, which houses not one but two racial starting areas, could turn out to be a snoozefest, but I'll let the title of this article do the talking for me. I wanted to have 10 highlights of each zone for this series and could barely get to seven.

The problem here is multifold. In trying to cram both the Elves and Dwarves into a relatively small (if tall) zone, Turbine didn't allow for the space to develop either race's culture before throwing them together in the middle for an awkward social dance. The races aren't allowed to really establish their personalities, either, leaving the Elves to start shining in Rivendell and the Dwarves in Moria. Finally, many of the quests are so dull and forgettable as to prompt players to race through the area to escape to more interesting locales.

It's not all a loss, of course. Some of the areas are quite scenic, and I do actually approve of the concept of setting up the conflict between Dwarves and Elves. If anything, the taste of ideas here almost begs for the area to be significantly expanded so that these concepts could be played out and the respective Elf and Dwarf habitations could be given more life.

In the end, I recommend that visiting travelers, adventurers, and treasure-hunters pack a light lunch and plan to get the following seven activities done in a half-day's span.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Seven things to do in Ered Luin before you die

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Seven things to do in Ered Luin before you die originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bathobbitbatmandwarfdwarveselfelvesered-luinfeaturedGondamonguideindiana-joneslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromapthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentwinezoneFri, 16 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Not all who wander are lost]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/the-road-to-mordor-not-all-who-wander-are-lost/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/the-road-to-mordor-not-all-who-wander-are-lost/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/the-road-to-mordor-not-all-who-wander-are-lost/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Road to Mordor
These are exciting times for Lord of the Rings Online, for sure. The Fellowship -- and hundreds of thousands of groupies following in its wake -- has moved south, and we are growing ever closer to Mordor and Mt. Doom. In a month, Middle-earth will grow significantly with the addition of Rise of Isengard, and level-capped players will suddenly have a whole new buffet of content to devour.

It's also a good era for exposure for the game, as plenty of people will get to see the expansion at Gamescom and PAX, not to mention those already in the beta proper. While we haven't heard anything about the game's finances or player numbers lately, there's no reason to believe that it's not still going strong.

That said, I want to take a step back today, as I sometimes do, and look at the larger picture. How is LotRO positioned against the current competition and the heavy-hitters yet to come? What does Turbine need to be working on over the next year or two? Are we just wandering aimlessly, or is the path laid out for journey for a long time to come?

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Not all who wander are lost

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Not all who wander are lost originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanall-who-wander-are-not-lostcharacter-developmentcontent-pathered-luinexpansionf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfuture-plansgamescomgamescom-2011guild-wars-2gw2hobbithousinghousing-revampkate-paizmordornon-combat-petspaxpax-2011pax-primepax-prime-2011player-housingproducers-lettersophies-choicestar-wars-the-old-republicswtorterathe-hobbitthe-road-to-mordorthe-secret-worldtolkientreasure-hunttswturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-3vanity-petsFri, 19 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: What to do with Destiny Points?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/05/the-road-to-mordor-what-to-do-with-destiny-points/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/05/the-road-to-mordor-what-to-do-with-destiny-points/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/05/the-road-to-mordor-what-to-do-with-destiny-points/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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

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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destiny-perksdestiny-pointsettenmoorsfeaturedfreefree-playerslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromonster-playmoorsperkspremiumpvmppvprise-of-isengardroad-to-mordorsession-playthe-road-to-mordortroll-playturbineturbine-entertainmentvipFri, 05 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: 10 things to do in the Shire before you die]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/the-road-to-mordor-10-things-to-do-in-the-shire-before-you-die/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/the-road-to-mordor-10-things-to-do-in-the-shire-before-you-die/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/the-road-to-mordor-10-things-to-do-in-the-shire-before-you-die/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

A couple of weeks ago I decided to embark on a long-planned project to play through the entirety of Lord of the Rings Online -- or at least a whole heck of a lot more than I ever have previously. My thought was that in the rush to level and progress, I had been skipping much of the content that makes LotRO so unique, and I wanted to force myself to slow down, take it all in, and get over the desire to hit endgame as quickly as possible.

Thus, I created Slyppi, a brand-new level 1 Hobbit Burglar with the intention of experiencing the game in full. My rules with Slyppi are thus: She will clear out every solo quest in a zone (including the epic storyline but excluding tasks) before moving elsewhere. She will go through all three newbie zones and ignore the fact that the quests aren't giving her much XP. She will take detailed notes, package them up, and send them back to me for the purposes of turning them into a guide to the interesting out-of-the-way quests and places in Middle-earth.

If you're anything like me, you probably die a lot, usually in very embarrassing ways (hey, that cliff wasn't there a minute ago...). Since we all have a death warrant on our heads, we might as well get the most out of our journeys, which is why I've come up with 10 things that you should do in the Shire before the inevitable occurs. Why 10? Because it's two in computer-speak!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: 10 things to do in the Shire before you die

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: 10 things to do in the Shire before you die originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10-things-to-do-before-you-dieAdelard-Tookbag-endbeginner-areabeginner-zonebilboblack-riderblack-ridersburglarbywaterchickenchicken-playendgamefeaturedfrodogolfguidehaunted-burrowhobbylord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromathommathom-houseMethel-stagemiddle-earthminigamenazgulnewbienewbie-zoneold-tookpie-runningquick-postshirethe-road-to-mordorthe-shiretooktree-huggertuckboroughFri, 29 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Soundtrack bonanza!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/the-road-to-mordor-soundtrack-bonanza/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/the-road-to-mordor-soundtrack-bonanza/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/the-road-to-mordor-soundtrack-bonanza/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

One of the probably-not-very-interesting things about me is that I'm somewhat of a video game soundtrack aficionado. Ever since MP3s became all the rage, I've been collecting my favorite tunes from console and computer games, often replacing the in-game score with my own personal soundtrack.

MMO soundtracks, as a whole, are hit or miss with me. While there are many incredible pieces out there, a bulk of what you find is low-key atmospheric stuff that isn't meant to be on anyone's Top 40 playlist. Lord of the Rings Online has its up and downs as a soundtrack, but overall it really does evoke the spirit of Middle-earth. It's hard to imagine playing the game, especially the early levels, without hearing these tracks.

I've collected both the soundtracks to Shadows of Angmar and Mines of Moria and have been saving them for a special occasion. Today is that special occasion. These were composed by Chance Thomas (who's scored many Lord of the Rings-related games) and Stephen DiGregorio. Ranging from bombastic to sinister to folksy, this score covers the gamut of themes and emotions related to the journey of the Ring. It's cool to listen to it independently of the game, as you can appreciate the score for what it is -- and see how the pieces evoke memories of your times in LotRO.

Instead of individually reviewing all 40 or so tracks, I'm simply going to pick my 10 most favorite to share with you!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Soundtrack bonanza!

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Soundtrack bonanza! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chance-thomasdrums-in-the-deepelvesfeaturedhobitslord-of-the-rings-onlinelothlorienlotromines-of-moriamoriamusicostrivendellscoreshadows-of-angmarshiresoundtracksoundtracksstephen-digregoriothe-hobbitthe-road-to-mordorthorinthorin-oakenshieldtom-bombadiltop-10tracksFri, 08 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Class graduation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/the-road-to-mordor-class-graduation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/the-road-to-mordor-class-graduation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/the-road-to-mordor-class-graduation/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Amid all of the hubbabaloo of E3, Rise of Isengard reveals, and pre-order madness, something equally as significant has been taking place on the Lord of the Rings Online scene: proposed class changes.

Turbine's been fairly good giving each of the classes a pass over this last year, but it looks as though something even more significant is in the offering when the expansion hits this fall. As we all know, the level cap is going up to 75, virtues will increase to a new cap of 12, and stats will be expanded in several ways. But there's even more on top of that: Orion and Zombie Columbus have been posting a steady stream of proposed class changes on the forums.

These aren't all tiny tuning measures, either. In many cases, weak elements of classes and class builds will be radically revamped, and how you play these classes will change forever. As with any prospect of change, these proposed notes are both exciting and scary to behold. I felt it was high past time we at least chew on the reveals thus far and see how our classes will be graduating to the next level when Isengard arrives.

Of course, these are all proposed and highly subject to change between now and whenever they're implemented. As Orion said, "Blogs are coming out before the major changes so that we can get your feedback early, often and when we are still agile enough to respond to the valid reasoning behind concerns or true issues that are found." Read with a grain of salt (if you like, perch the salt on your shoulder so it can view the screen better).

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Class graduation

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Class graduation originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>burglarcaptainchampionclassclassese3e3-2011f2pfeaturedfree-to-playguardianhunterlord-of-the-rings-onlinelore-masterlotrominstrelorionrise-of-isengardroad-to-mordorrunekeeperthe-road-to-mordorturbinewardenzombie-columbusFri, 24 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Packing for Isengard]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/17/the-road-to-mordor-packing-for-isengard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/17/the-road-to-mordor-packing-for-isengard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/17/the-road-to-mordor-packing-for-isengard/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Isengard. Isengard. ISENGARD. It's all I can think about since last week's E3 reveal, and I know I'm not the only one. For some reason, having a firm launch date for Lord of the Rings Online's third expansion feels like a starting pistol's gone off, and we're beginning the race to the expansion in earnest.

Of course, we're not in that much of a hurry at this point. We still have well over three months to go, the beta has yet to begin, and something tells me that Turbine's got a few more tricks to pull out of its top hat before all is said and done. Still, I'm officially in "Go!" mode, and I bet I'm not the only one.

While I can't make September 27th come any sooner, I can think of six ways that we can prepare for our upcoming journey into Dunland and beyond. Seven, if you include putting together the absolute perfect outfit to slay Saruman in, but that's a given.

Hit the jump and I'll walk you through everything you should be doing this summer to get ready for Rise of Isengard!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Packing for Isengard

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Packing for Isengard originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Jun 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altsdunlande3e3-2011enedwaithexpansionfeaturedisengardlegendary-itemslotropackingpeter-jacksonpreorderpreppreparationprepurchaserise-of-isengardsarumanskirmishesthe-road-to-mordorthe-two-towerstoothpicktpturbineturbine-entertainmentturbine-pointsvirtuesvolume-iii-book-3Fri, 17 Jun 2011 17:00:00 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: Making your alts work for you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/the-road-to-mordor-making-your-alts-work-for-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/the-road-to-mordor-making-your-alts-work-for-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/the-road-to-mordor-making-your-alts-work-for-you/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I have a confession to make. My name is Justin, and I'm a Lord of the Rings Online altoholic.

I know. I have a problem! I'm weak! DON'T STARE WITH THOSE ACCUSING EYES!

I always start out in games with the best of intentions: I'm going to stick with just one character, at least until I hit the level cap. I'll only make new characters to reserve names I like. I won't get class envy and wonder what's on the other side of the fence. I'll stay strong! I'll be an oak!

And then I turn out to be a willow tree, blowing about in the winds of whimsy, and suddenly I end up with alts staggered all over the leveling track. It's all right; I've come to embrace my altoholic tendencies because it really is who I am as a gamer. I like to sample everything, to try out different approaches to the game, and if I don't end up with a maxed-out uber-raider, then I can live with it.

If you follow this pattern and are prone to rolling up a lot of alts in LotRO, there are several advantages you can gain over the monogamous players out there. Today I want to take a look at how you can make your alts work for you, if only to give you an excuse to keep rolling them!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Making your alts work for you

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Making your alts work for you originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altaltaholicaltitisaltoaltoholismaltsauction-housebank-altburglarcodepenencycraftingcurrencyeconomyf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhtclord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromichel-delvingmoneymulethe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentFri, 03 Jun 2011 15:00:00 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: Fashion show! Fashion show! Fashion show at lunch!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/25/the-road-to-mordor-fashion-show-fashion-show-fashion-show-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/25/the-road-to-mordor-fashion-show-fashion-show-fashion-show-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/25/the-road-to-mordor-fashion-show-fashion-show-fashion-show-a/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Major patch weeks are always a great deal of fun in Lord of the Rings Online as everyone digs into the new content, looks for hidden gems, and goes on grand new adventures. As much as I appreciate most everything in this week's Echoes of the Dead update, I have to say that, hands-down, the additional outfit slots made me the happiest.

Yes, I'm weird, but I can't be the only one who had an inner squeal of joy when Turbine announced that it was going to expand (via the store) the number of outfit spots from two to five. I've always, always loved the outfit system in this game as a way to give my characters a unique and aesthetically pleasing look versus having to stare at the mismatched armor they seem to pick up along the way.

In celebration of the additional outfit slots, I wanted to finally dig into the outfit system and look at the basics of Middle-earth fashion: where you get these pieces, how colors come into play, and where you might go for inspiration. So let's put on our finest frippery and strut the catwalk, ladies and gentlemen!

(I promise, next week I'll be much more manly. Probably.)

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Fashion show! Fashion show! Fashion show at lunch!

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Fashion show! Fashion show! Fashion show at lunch! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-housecolor-wheelechoes-of-the-deadered-luin-bluefall-festivalfeaturedfestivalgandalfhauberkindiana-joneslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-storemiddle-earthmr-potato-headoutfitoutfit-systemoutfitsoutfitterpatch-weekpiratepiratessafari-hatspring-festivalthe-fellowship-of-the-ringthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentwardrobeFri, 25 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Just around the bend]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/11/the-road-to-mordor-just-around-the-bend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/11/the-road-to-mordor-just-around-the-bend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/11/the-road-to-mordor-just-around-the-bend/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

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

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

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

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

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Just around the bend

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bear-hugburglarcharacter-panelcosmetic-outfitcraftingdamage-over-timedotdungeonsechoes-of-the-deadfeaturefeaturedhunterinstanceslegacieslegendary-itemslord-of-the-ringslore-masterlotromap-homeminstrelmonster-playmoriamysterious-relicsnovember-updateoutfitoutfit-systempatchpatch-notespvepvmpradianceraidraid-instancesrise-of-isengardrune-keepersamsungskirmishesstancestest-servertest-server-notesthe-road-to-mordortim-langturbineuiupdateupdate-notesuser-interfacevolume-1volume-2volume-3volume-3-book-3Fri, 11 Feb 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Hacked!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/the-road-to-mordor-hacked/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/the-road-to-mordor-hacked/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/the-road-to-mordor-hacked/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

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

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

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

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

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Hacked!

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordoraccountaccount-securityauthenticatorblizzardblizzard-authenticatorCodemastersCompromised-Accountcracked.comffxivfinal-fantasy-xivfirewallhackedhackersiphonelord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromalwaremiddle-earthparanoiapasswordpasswordspumping-ironysapiencesauronsecurityspywarethe-road-to-mordortokensturbineturbine-accountTurbine-Entertainmentvirus-scannerworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 21 Jan 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: My wish list for 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/the-road-to-mordor-my-wish-list-for-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/the-road-to-mordor-my-wish-list-for-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/the-road-to-mordor-my-wish-list-for-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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

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

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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011a-casual-stroll-to-mordorcosmetic-outfitcosmetic-weaponsfeaturedhobbithousingiconsinstance-joinitem-storekeshalegendary-itemslegendary-weaponslfflfglilooking-for-fellowshiplord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-storemiddle-earthnew-yearpiesplayer-housingsteed-of-nightthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentturbine-pointsuiuser-interfacevovoice-overvolume-2wardrobewish-listWorld-of-WarcraftFri, 14 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: 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[The Road to Mordor: Luck be a lady tonight]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/24/the-road-to-mordor-luck-be-a-lady-tonight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/24/the-road-to-mordor-luck-be-a-lady-tonight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/24/the-road-to-mordor-luck-be-a-lady-tonight/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

During this past week in the wild world of Lord of the Rings Online, we were treated to a snippet of exceptionally good news: The LotRO lotteries are back.

Some of you might be indifferent to this news, some might be overjoyed, and some -- I'm guessing -- are totally puzzled about what this all means. Considering how many new players have immigrated to LotRO this year and how long the lottos have been out of commission (several months now), it wouldn't surprise me if a player hadn't even heard of these at all.

Simply put, the lotteries are a "for fun" bonus that Turbine implemented to give all players a chance to win some nifty in-game items. These winnings can include anything from beer to gold to housing items to mounts. It really depends on your luck and how generous the devs are feeling any given week. Some of the lottos have huge payouts, while others deliver prizes as silly and paltry as a single lump of coal.

So if you're new to the LotRO lotteries -- or just need a refresher course -- hit the jump and let's suss this thing out!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Luck be a lady tonight

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Luck be a lady tonight originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beerf2pfree-to-playgreen-beerlord-of-the-rings-onlinelorebooklotrolotro-lotterylotterylottery-widgetlottolottosmylotromylotro.comsapiencethe-road-to-mordorturbineTurbine-Entertainmentvipwelcome-wagonFri, 24 Dec 2010 13:00:00 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[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[The Road to Mordor: Near-Death Adventures (NDA) lifted!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/06/the-road-to-mordor-near-death-adventures-nda-lifted/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/06/the-road-to-mordor-near-death-adventures-nda-lifted/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/06/the-road-to-mordor-near-death-adventures-nda-lifted/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

In case you were wondering, I'm part of the crowd that doesn't really believe in non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). Oh, if I agree to one I'll stick to it and keep my word, don't get me wrong. What I mean is that I don't believe in the usefulness of NDAs, particularly in a day and age when all the information is available anyway -- this is, after all, the omniscient internet. Not to mention that by trying to keep a lid on testers and prevent them from sharing their experiences, companies tend to suppress the positive accolades (those are the people who want to keep playing, after all) while letting the badmouthers escape to tell their tale (they don't care if they break the NDA, because they're not going to play anyway).

But my personal feelings aside, the brief NDA lockdown on the upcoming LotRO F2P edition (hey Turbine, can we get a name for this yet? LotRO Unlimited? Free-Range LotRO?) has lifted and testers have swarmed out from under its veil to share their stories and thoughts. I'd be remiss if we didn't spend some time this week looking at what people have to say about all of the changes, additions and updates to the game -- not to mention the looming specter of the LotRO store.

Let us see what is to be seen as we scout the forums and blogosphere: LotRO exposed, uncovered, dissected and digested for the good of all. I've pulled salient quotes to help give you an idea how the beta is progressing thus far -- and remember, it is still in beta. Everything here is quite subject to change by the time LotRO II: Hobbit Boogaloo launches.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Near-Death Adventures (NDA) lifted!

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Near-Death Adventures (NDA) lifted! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aggro-reductionarmor-setbankbetablogospherecash-shopdirectx-11enedwaithf2pfall-festivalfeaturedforumsfree-range-lotrofree-to-playftpgreat-barrowshaunted-cellarhobbit-boogalooi-am-for-sale-for-500-tpinstance-scalingitem-shoplord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-iilotro-storelotro-unlimitedlualua-scriptmountsndapvptemporary-mountsthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-pointsturbine-storewardrobeFri, 06 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Gated communities]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/30/the-road-to-mordor-gated-communities/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/30/the-road-to-mordor-gated-communities/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/30/the-road-to-mordor-gated-communities/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

This past week, many of us were shaken out of our self-absorption with LotRO's F2P switch as we were suddenly joined by -- of all things -- the good folks at EverQuest II. I don't think anyone could've predicted two such high-profile MMORPGs moving to a subscription/free-to-play hybrid model this year, which makes LotRO and EQII comrades-in-arms for the time being. Both titles are currently in testing, with their F2P release coming this fall.

Other than the mutual surprise of two game communities that were taken off guard (except for that one guy who, y'know, totally called it and won't stop crowing about it), there are a number of similarities as both SOE and Turbine look to replicate DDO's F2P success and bolster both the number of players and number of dollars coming in to both games. However, there's certainly a major difference in how the freebie players will be handled: LotRO is integrating them with subscribers on normal servers, whereas EverQuest II Expanded will segregate the free players on their own unique servers.

So I thought that this would be an excellent time to talk about one of the crucial factors of F2P switches, which is the potential growth and/or fracturing of the game's community. Which MMO has the better idea, LotRO or EQII? Hit the jump for my thoughts.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Gated communities

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Gated communities originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communityddodungeons-and-dragons-onlineelitismeq2eq2-expandedeqiieverquest-2everquest-iieverquest-ii-expandedexpandedf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreebiesfreemiumftpgated-communityhospitalitylord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromicrotransactionsmoocherserverssoeSony-Online-Entertainmentsubbiesthe-road-to-mordorturbineuncouth-savagesFri, 30 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST