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[Volume III, Book 5 diary available for Lord of the Rings Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/volume-iii-book-5-diary-available-for-lord-of-the-rings-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/volume-iii-book-5-diary-available-for-lord-of-the-rings-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/volume-iii-book-5-diary-available-for-lord-of-the-rings-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Continuing the epic saga of doing the work necessary so the heroes don't all die.
One of the challenges facing the storyline in Lord of the Rings Online is that it has a very definite deadline to contend with. While the story runs in parallel to the events in the books, it also has to line up in terms of what's taking place, which is why players will be parting company with the Grey Company starting in the next installment. Instead, as outlined in a new developer diary, Book 5 of Volume III will see players working with Prince Théodred, heir to Rohan, as he works to organize the defense of his country's borders.

The diary also gives a firm date to mark story progress by; according to the book's timeline, Frodo should reach Mount Doom in about a month. Players will find this book to be a bit shorter than the previous installment, but it should still be a vital component as the game approaches the climax of the trilogy. They'll also receive a cosmetic set of equipment at the beginning of Book 5 to help them look like a Ranger, which is appropriate considering the story progress up to this point.

MassivelyVolume III, Book 5 diary available for Lord of the Rings Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorybook-5developer-diaryepic-storyf2pfree-to-playlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelorelotrlotrostoryturbineturbine-entertainmentupcoming-patchesupcoming-updatesupdatesvolume-iiivolume-iii-book-5Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: For want of a horseshoe, my sanity was lost]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/15/the-road-to-mordor-for-want-of-a-horseshoe-my-sanity-was-lost/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/15/the-road-to-mordor-for-want-of-a-horseshoe-my-sanity-was-lost/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/15/the-road-to-mordor-for-want-of-a-horseshoe-my-sanity-was-lost/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

So a while back I was at an art fair with some friends when I commented on how much I liked a strange piece and one of the guys with me said, "Justin, you know what? You're kind of esoteric, ain't ya?"

I agreed wholeheartedly and then rushed home to look up "esoteric" in the dictionary. And yeah, it sort of fit. Sometimes I get obsessed with small details that get shrugged off by others, a habit which extends into my MMO playing career. So you'll forgive me if today's post is a little more esoteric than usual, because this topic is honestly driving me up the wall.

I think many of you already know what I'm talking about from the column title up there. Today, we're going to talk about a horseshoe. A very interesting, very confounding, very obtuse horseshoe. It may even be the biggest smallest mystery that Lord of the Rings Online has to offer. I haven't stopped obsessing over it since I first found out about it. So it's better for me to exorcise my demons here than keeping them bottled up inside.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: For want of a horseshoe, my sanity was lost

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: For want of a horseshoe, my sanity was lost originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boarboarsepic-questepic-storylineerebrandirs-horseshoeevendimf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhorseshoehorseshoesistienlegendary-itemslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroluckluckylucky-horseshoemadolionsmind-gamesaurontheoriesturbineturbine-entertainmentvolume-3volume-iiiFri, 15 Jul 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Echo... echo... echo...]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/the-road-to-mordor-echo-echo-echo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/the-road-to-mordor-echo-echo-echo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/the-road-to-mordor-echo-echo-echo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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

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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-instancesbook-3burglarcharacter-panelcraftingdwarfechoes-of-the-deadenedwaithevendimf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgallerygaunt-lordshunterinstancesisengardjourney-to-winter-homelegacieslegendary-itemlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriaminstrelmonster-playmorianorth-downspatchpvmppvpradiancerelicssara-leesharper-imageskirmishessoloficationstarbucksturbineturbine-entertainmentupdatevolume-iivolume-iiivolume-iii-book-3wifiwinter-homeFri, 18 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lord of the Rings Online: "Solofication" is the word of the day]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/lord-of-the-rings-online-solofication-is-the-word-of-the-day/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/lord-of-the-rings-online-solofication-is-the-word-of-the-day/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/lord-of-the-rings-online-solofication-is-the-word-of-the-day/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Ever since Turbine modified the first volume of its epic storyline for Lord of the Rings Online, players have eagerly anticipated the same revamp of Mines of Moria's Volume II. With the upcoming Echoes of the Dead patch, this will in fact take place, and Turbine's ready with another illuminating dev diary to shed some light on the process on the "solofication" of Volume II.

It turns out that reworking Volume II wasn't as simple as scaling down mob health or just slapping Inspired Greatness (a huge buff) on characters. Every stage of the journey -- which contained many large group instances -- had to be reconsidered, and Turbine's Bob Hess details how the content team broke down the journey, adjusted it and then reassembled it to be a more solo-friendly experience. "Overall, I feel as though the changes made will allow a great number of players who previously could not proceed through the epic to see the rest of the story unfold," Hess said.

Volume II's solofication includes taking battle instances and transforming them into skirmishes, adjusting the levels of the different books and making quest objectives simpler. You can read the entire article over at LotRO's website, and don't miss out on five new screenshots from Echoes of the Dead below!

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

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online: "Solofication" is the word of the day originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-instancesbob-hessechoes-of-the-deadgalleryinspired-greatnesslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriaskirmishessoloficationturbineturbine-entertainmentvolume-1volume-2volume-3volume-ivolume-iivolume-iiiTue, 08 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO announces Volume III, Book 1: Oath of the Rangers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/28/lotro-announces-volume-iii-book-1-oath-of-the-rangers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/28/lotro-announces-volume-iii-book-1-oath-of-the-rangers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/28/lotro-announces-volume-iii-book-1-oath-of-the-rangers/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Lord of the Rings Online fans have been speculating for a while, wondering what the name of Volume III, Book 1 was going to be. Turbine's Sapience has been giving increasingly specific hints in a hangman-style game in the forums. Now the game's over, he's had his fun, and we have a title.

Volume 3:Allies of the King, Book 1: Oath of the Rangers is on the way, bringing with it plenty of new additions to the game.

Players will be returning to Dol Guldur for four skirmishes in the brand new twelve person mode, and a fifth skirmish in the Depths of Nûrz Ghâshu. Crafting will receive a some attention as well: players will be able to craft items up to level 65, and there will be crafting updates for Jewellers, Cooks, Woodworkers, Farmers, and Weaponsmiths.

Of course, these are just a few of the highlights for the newly-titled Volume. All the current details are on the official site, so take a look, and we'll keep an eye out for more information!

MassivelyLotRO announces Volume III, Book 1: Oath of the Rangers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allies-of-the-kingBreakingCodemasterslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-craftinglotro-expansionoath-of-the-rangersskirmishesturbinevolume-3volume-iiiThu, 28 Jan 2010 18:45:00 EST