Koro

I'm not 100% sure about this as I haven't seen/heard the interview yet, but according to Druidsfire who interviewed one of the lead devs, the new Stout Axe Dwarves CAN BE FEMALE!

https://twitter.com/druidsfire/status/1157719472188399616?s=21

8 hours ago, Skywolven said:

Wow!  I had so much fun running around with you all back then.  I miss LotRO so much.  There is no other story, movie(s) or game that can draw me in like 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings' can.  Tolkien was a master of his craft and there will never be anything that can come close to his perfection.

Are you able/interested in joining our fellowship month-to-month plan? We'd love to have you! Would you like or need any help getting your character to 30 this week? The more the merrier!

1 hour ago, Azzareth said:

That sounds interesting. I am glad they are still working on it. Unfortunately,  I have deleted my game from hard drive to allow more space for other games, since i hardly play lotro.

Just curious, did u hear about this new lotro mmo they r releasing later this year? To me it doesn't even look that good. Why are they working on this when there already is an existing lotro? 

Wish they would work on a harry potter mmo universe game.

 

I did hear about that other game, but I have not seen or heard it was being released this year. I thought it was years away and only just now beginning? I'll have to do some homework on it. That said, it is being done in conjunction with the TV series, and I'm a little nervous it'll just be a cash grab. I'm excited to try it out but I'm not getting my hopes or expectations up just yet. Especially since SSG still has a vision and future for LOTRO, which I didn't realize until the past month or so. 

Hello, and Happy August Everybody!

“It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.” - J.R.R. Tolkien

Time goes by so fast, yet here we are again with a new month. June and July kinda got wrapped up together as one with the summer business hitting everyone. But if I am not mistaken, based on the previous threads, we should be all just about level 30 or so.  While we are wrapping up our group content for that level, it is also time to take a look at the next stage of our journey: Evendim and the Trollshaws and our push towards level 40!

There is some really rich history in Evendim, and as I understand it the zone was revamped from my earlier playing days and has a nice leveling tempo. It was the heart of the Kingdom of Arnor established by Elendil, and the Dunedain have attempted to honor their heritage here since then. It is rich with history and ancient ruins, and has beautiful scenery. Beware though, it can get tedious swimming across the lake (which you have to do a few times while questing).

As for the Trollshaws, it is a hilly, forested area full of various animals and enemies, with a few elves scattered about. It was here that Thorin's company (including Bilbo Baggins) encountered the Trolls and were nearly eaten (squashed into jelly haha). But Gandalf and Bilbo managed to stall the trolls until dawn when the emerging sunlight turned the trolls to stone. You can actually visit those stone trolls, as @Elisel, @Skywolven and I did many, many months ago!

(Credit @Skywolven for this photo!)

These two zones can get us to level 40, though the pace we decide to take is up for debate. With people's schedules and division interests, we may decide to push to 35 this month and 40 by the end of September. Or, if you get in a roll, we can do all 10 levels in one month. It is up to the group as a whole.

As for group content, I know that Annuminas (the heart of Evendim) is a largely fellowship-oriented challenge. I believe there is a story/quest here regarding Aragorn that I've never done before, though I'd like to try it out. I am sure @Daizey and @Elisel have more information about it should we decide to pursue it.

It is also possible (I can't remember) that one or both of these zones are not available to f2p accounts. However, as you leveled you were earning Lotro points (deeds for killing x amount of a certain type of enemy, etc). These points can be used to unlock zones (called quest packs I think in the store), making it 'possible' to play the whole game without spending money. Be aware of that possibility as we move forward, as we are leaving the 'free' zones behind.

Taggin the notification list: @Tyrtaeus @RhemaTom @Jae Onasi @Telana @Chelly @Lagerfueled @Vorn @Elisel @Daizey @Ellenore @Martini @CheekyMonkey66 @Kateywumpus @Malerok @Amrithir @Dalivandrian

So there we have it! Another month of our fellowship's journey! If anyone needs help, please reach out on these forums. Lotro is more fun with friends!

"The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say."

Oooooh I am so excited!

I woke up this morning and found some awesome news from SSG! I guess they appeared at Indy's GenCon (which I am not too familiar with), but announced 2 things in the works!

1. A NEW RACE! The Stout Axe Dwarves! (yippee for us dwarf lovers!) Complete with new starting area!

2. RACE CHANGES! If I am reading things correctly, you will be able to pay to switch your character's race!

Articles here:

Massively Overpowered

Reddit

Lotro Players (A good video with more detail...)

I am thrilled to see these, on top of the upcoming expansion (Minas Morgul!!!) I made a different post about that they are working on. I'm curious as to how they will spin the lore of things, since it doesn't quite match up to Tolkein's works on the surface, but I'm still anxious and excited!

I can't help but wonder if A) they will finally have female dwarves and B) if it will be a leveled character upon creation (like the death knight of WoW). Oh the possibilities!

What do you guys think?

Tagging all in the club:

@Jae Onasi @Midget Cowboy @tgLEradicate @Hygelak @Malerok @Amrithir @Revanite @CheekyMonkey66 @Kateywumpus @Jance @Xyain @Miniver the Depressed @Galvanic @Martini @midgitary @Skedarking @Vinko @HosPie @Dalivandrian @Kamillus @Pinkatron2000

 @Patman300 @Carg @SvaalaD @Greyman @Jinn Galia @Telana @Azzareth @Ellenore @RhemaTom @Sweetbunny @Daizey @Vorn @Lyrazel @Tyrtaeus @Skywolven @Lagerfueled @Elisel @Chelly @Hrom

We'd love to have you @Daizey! And I think summer has had most of us busy as bees lol. But hopefully we can all find a time to meet.

May I suggest next weekend to start off ideas? (About a week from now or so). Friday the 9th or Saturday the 10th?

@Tyrtaeus @RhemaTom @Jae Onasi @Telana @Chelly @Lagerfueled @Vorn @Elisel @Daizey @Ellenore @Martini @CheekyMonkey66 @Kateywumpus @Malerok @Amrithir @Dalivandrian

@CheekyMonkey66 and @Vorn, I know you both voiced a desire to be a part of this. Do you guys want some help getting caught up to level 30? Or are you already there?

@Ellenore and I have also fallen behind, but plan to play a lot during the next few days to catch up. It looks like @Amrithir is already at 30, is that right Amrithir? And I know @Kateywumpus has been waiting for us at level 30 as well.

The lone-lands can go pretty quickly (especially the first few levels), and the North Downs is pretty well done as well. I have just gone through them on my warden and leveled up fairly quickly. And it was a lot of fun too.

@RhemaTom, how are you doing?

My apologies for being away the past couple weeks guys. Summertime always gets the better of me, and I've been either traveling, working outside, playing a wide array of games, enjoying some RL fun events, or some mix of them all. Been a great summer, but work begins in a week and its back to a normal 'routine' for me. The joys of being a teacher.

Are we still interested in pursing this? (I know I am!) We can shoot for our level 30ish event sometime in the next week or two. Where is everyone at? And does anyone need help with anything?

@Koro @Tyrtaeus @RhemaTom @Jae Onasi @Telana @Chelly @Lagerfueled @Vorn @Elisel @Daizey @Ellenore @Martini @CheekyMonkey66 @Kateywumpus @Malerok @Amrithir @Dalivandrian

6 hours ago, tgLEradicate said:

I’ve last played this game back in 2010-2011. Been thinking about getting back into it. I’ll have to check this interview out soon. 

You should join us, even just casually!  They have made a lot of progress and improvements.

Heya guys, thought some of you might be interested to hear this interview with 2 of SSGs team members. It is about 35 minutes long, but full of some interesting stuff, and the ending (last question/answers) made me SO happy as I now know there is still some future for this great game!

https://longwinded.one/episode-38-interview-with-lotro/

7 eastern is fine by me as well. No problem there. And perhaps the 8th or the 10th would work? Even Thursday the 11th works. My schedule is open that week, starting Monday the 8th.

On 6/30/2019 at 3:31 PM, Amrithir said:

Tuesday might work for me. Next week would probably be better. I will also be around this weekend (5th-7th). 

For the skirmishes, I don't think we all need to be the same level, just somewhat close to each other, although I confess it has been a very long tie since I grouped for a skirmish. You just need to make sure you've done the skirmish tutorial. As for any other content we group up for, I was a couple levels behind everyone else last month, and it all worked out fine.

 

On 7/1/2019 at 3:51 AM, RhemaTom said:

Sorry, but have been extremely busy in June and didn't get much more accomplished in LOTRO. I do have a higher level character but none around level 30. It will be a bit before I can get up there, but don't wait for me. I will join in when I can.Things are beginning to settle again, and I will be working to level some more.

So should we shoot for Tuesday the 9th? Say 6ish EST?

22 hours ago, Vorn said:

My lowbie is only lvl 21.  So not sure I'll make the deadline due to limited play time.  No worries though!

No worries! The deadline is rather unofficial, and I haven't heard back from anyone about their plans. 

Speaking of which, now is as good a time as any to nail down that official date/time. I'm out of town Wednesday through Sunday, but we can meet this Tuesday night, if people are available? Or we can meet next week, the 8th, 9th, or 10th? What works best for people? (You can also meet while I am not here, if that works best for most people of course.)

 @Tyrtaeus @RhemaTom @Jae Onasi @Telana @Chelly @Lagerfueled @Vorn @Elisel @Daizey @Ellenore @Martini @CheekyMonkey66 @Kateywumpus @Malerok @Amrithir @Dalivandrian

Yes, processing makes life SO much better for sure! It does whittle down your mats, but not nearly as much as trying to make 100 of the same armors or something.  

I'm up for level 25 stuff as well! That is a great idea that hadn't occured to me! Can we all be level 25ish by July 2nd, maybe?

16 hours ago, Amrithir said:

Much appreciated! Thank you!

Was that enough?

In light of the fact it is the busy summer months for a lot of folks and June is ending, do you guys want to push the level 30 deadline back a few weeks?  My trip to Europe admittedly put me behind more than I thought it would, and I don't want anyone else to have to stress about 'having' to level up. We can set a goal for 35 by the end of July instead, if that eases the burden? Or level 30 by July 15th?

What do you all think?

Tagging notification list: @Tyrtaeus @RhemaTom @Jae Onasi @Telana @Chelly @Lagerfueled @Vorn @Elisel @Daizey @Ellenore @Martini @CheekyMonkey66 @Kateywumpus @Malerok @Amrithir @Dalivandrian

8 hours ago, Kateywumpus said:

My toon is at level 30, and now that my life is beginning to settle down I'm ready to go adventuring with you folks! 

This is very exciting! Looking forward to having you join our fellowship!

12 hours ago, Amrithir said:

Speaking of crafting, I am trying to level up my tailoring, but I tend to find myself short on hides/leather. If anyone has any extras, I'll buy/barter for them from you. Looking for Light, medium, and sturdy at this time, and I can use hides or leather. I have a variety of low-level mats I can trade.

I probably have some lying around. Especially medium leathers (had a stack of 500 or so that I just started using lol). I'll see what I can find. Is it your minstrel toon you played with the group?

EDIT: Found a bunch of leathers from when I recently leveled my new tailor up. Sent a bunch to you.

Hello again everyone, it is 20 days into the month, how is everyone doing on the road to level 30?  I've been gone for a bit but plan to catch up during the next week or so.

 @Tyrtaeus @RhemaTom @Jae Onasi @Telana @Chelly @Lagerfueled @Vorn @Elisel @Daizey @Ellenore @Martini @CheekyMonkey66 @Kateywumpus @Malerok @Amrithir @Dalivandrian

Hey guys! Need some Armour?

I was playing on my warden the other day and I felt like I was really struggling to kill stuff despite everything I have heard about the warden being a great solo class. I hadn't payed much attention as I was just running around doing quests, killing mobs, etc, so I pulled open my inventory and I realized I still had some of the starter armor despite being level 16! I was way under-armored.

So I hopped on and crafted some good level 12 armor (highest I can use right now), and it VASTLY improved my warden, raising my health agility (main stat for warden) by a significant amount.

So moral of the story, if anyone would like some good armor to make leveling a bit easier/faster, do post on this crafting forum! There are several of us with higher level mains that can craft for you, and the resources are not hard to get. We can also get you some better weapons if need be. We'd be happy to help you out and get it done to make the journey a little more enjoyable.

I hope everyone is enjoying a little Middle Earth time! It is still early in the month, but the days go by fast!

FYI, I am taking a Leave of Absence until the 20th. I'll be in Italy and Greece and I doubt I'll have much access to the forums unless I pop on with my phone/wifi during the evenings. If anyone needs an invite to the kinship, contact @Daizey, @Jae Onasi, or @Elisel and they will be able to invite.

Until then, happy trails and good hunting!

I haven't noticed a lot of problems, though I haven't been on as much the past day or so. But I did see that the 64 bit was in 'BETA', which surprised me, but at least it is progressing. Does it make it any worse for you @RhemaTom? Or same as 32 bit?

Update 24 has released, and the patch notes can be found here.

The TL:DR of it all:

• Vales of Anduin is now open.
• Black Book of Mordor (end game content) has 2 new chapters.
• Melee range is increased to 3.5m from 2.5m.
• The Virtue system has been totally reworked it seems.
• There is now the option of running lotro on a 64-bit client, which may improve performance for you.

The virtue system intrigues me, so going to be playing around with that. Also interested to see if the new 64-bit client will make a difference for players. I'm gonna try it out myself and see if I notice anything.