Fans of The Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO) and Dungeons & Dragons Online (DDO) are in for a treat this March. Standing Stone Games, the developer behind these beloved MMORPGs, is inviting the community to a special meetup during PAX East 2023. The event promises to be a fantastic gathering for fans, with no PAX East ticket required to join the fun.

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, March 21st
• Time: 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM Eastern
• Location: Harpoon Boston Brewery, 306 Northern Avenue, Boston, MA
• RSVP: Required (Link to be provided)

The meetup is set to take place at the Harpoon Brewery located in the vibrant Boston Seaport, offering attendees not just the chance to mingle with fellow fans but also to enjoy some of the best brews in town. The event marks a collaboration with Darkpaw Games, the studio behind the EverQuest series, hinting at a night full of MMORPG camaraderie.

To ensure a spot at this eagerly anticipated event, participants will need to RSVP. Standing Stone Games has announced that a link for RSVPs will be made available on their website soon, urging interested attendees to stay tuned for updates.

For those planning to attend, the evening offers a rare opportunity to meet and share experiences with other community members, as well as potentially meet some of the minds behind their favorite online worlds. The developers have promised a lively party atmosphere, making it an event not to be missed.

For more information on the meetup and to keep an eye out for the RSVP link, visit the official Harpoon Brewery website at https://www.harpoonbrewery.com/boston-brewery/.

In a recent live stream, Lead Systems Developer of “The Lord of the Rings Online” (LOTRO), +Orion, stepped in for Cordovan to engage with the community and discuss the game’s direction for 2024. Orion’s appearance, initially prompted by Cordovan’s absence due to personal reasons, turned into a comprehensive overview of upcoming updates and answered several burning questions from the player base.

Key Highlights from the Stream:

1. 2024 Roadmap Overview:
   • +Orion detailed the roadmap for 2024, highlighting the commitment to complete the Corsair of Umbar content, including the release of pending instances and raids.
   • The roadmap also includes plans for quarterly updates, with a focus on expanding the game’s story and introducing new content and features.
2. Instance Clusters and Epic Maluses:
   • The upcoming instance clusters promise diversity and innovation, covering various areas of the Umbar expansion.
   • A new feature, “Epic Maluses,” was discussed, which will bring unique challenges and events within instances, elevating the player experience.
3. Kinship System Refresh:
   • Orion emphasized the importance of the social aspect in MMOs, revealing plans for a kinship system refresh. The goal is to enhance the support kinships provide to both new and veteran players.
4. Future Content and Updates:
   • The stream touched upon the continuation of the “Songs of Waves and Wind” narrative, the addition of new epic battles, and plans for the 17th-anniversary celebrations.
   • Details on class updates, VIP improvements, and the introduction of a new crafting profession were also shared.
5. Community Questions Addressed:
   • Orion took the time to address various community queries, ranging from specific game mechanics to broader development strategies.
   • The discussion covered topics like legendary servers, player concerns over certain game aspects, and the balance between new content and revisiting older game elements.
6. Engagement and Transparency:
   • The stream was an effort to engage transparently with the LOTRO community, providing insights into the game’s development process and future plans.
   • Orion’s interaction exemplified the team’s dedication to community feedback and the ongoing evolution of LOTRO.

In a missive from the heart of The Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO), Orion, the steward of Middle-earth, shares a glimpse into the game’s anticipated journey throughout 2024. As LOTRO gracefully strides into its 17th year, players can expect a year packed with content, improvements, and surprises.

Reflecting on the challenges and successes of 2023, Orion takes the opportunity to convey gratitude for the community’s unwavering support. The year witnessed the realization of some ambitious goals laid out in the roadmap, accompanied by the joys of sailing the seas and harmonizing shanties.

Winter 2024: Corsairs of Umbar and Epic Malices

The New Year kicks off with promises of excitement as Winter 2024 concludes the Corsairs of Umbar saga. Players can brace themselves for the climactic release of all content related to this captivating storyline. Elderslade missions receive a facelift with the introduction of delvings, while the Delving system gets a spine-chilling boost known as Epic Malices.

Spring 2024: Kindred of the Coin and Creature Updates

As spring unfolds and LOTRO celebrates its remarkable 17th anniversary, a content pack takes center stage. Time-released quests will enthrall players further with the enigmatic Kindred of the Coin and their unfolding plans. Additionally, the landscape will witness enhancements, making creature encounters more immersive and compelling.

Summer 2024: New Hobby, Class Updates, and Elf Avatar Refresh

Summer heralds a flurry of updates, introducing a brand-new hobby and unveiling updates to classes. Players can also anticipate the introduction of the fourth profession. Elf avatars, a cornerstone of Middle-earth, will undergo a refreshing transformation, and the VIP systems are slated for an overhaul.

Autumn 2024: Expanding East of Umbar Baharbêl

In the crisp autumn breeze, a new expansion pack is set to take LOTRO enthusiasts east of Umbar Baharbêl. This expansion introduces four new zones, a new culture, and a vast complex, providing the backdrop for instances and raids. Simultaneously, essential changes to the kinship system are on the horizon, expanding its role, importance, and overall value.

Orion signs off with infectious excitement for the future, expressing anticipation for the upcoming releases and the continued journey through Middle-earth. As the LOTRO community ushers in the New Year, players can expect a year teeming with adventure, challenges, and the enduring enchantment of Middle-earth.

Lord of the Rings Online plugins are useful to all players. Whether you are a veteran or beginner, casual or hardcore, these tools improve many aspects of the game. We present a variety of LOTRO plugins designed to make your Middle-earth adventures more successful.

Combat, Raiding, and Performance

Combat Analysis

What’s an MMORPG without a combat parser? Combat Analysis is your DPS check, healing meter, and tank parse all into one. This tool provides a breakdown of your abilities and other significant data. The MMO community is ambivalent towards this kind of plugin, but if you want to improve your performance, a combat parser is of unquestionable help.

MiniRaid

Don’t let the name fool you. MiniRaid is a handy plugin for all players, not just raiders. Initially, it catered towards healers, but eventually, it became practical to all roles. You can use it to keep track of boss timers, debuffs, and raid member statuses, including yourself. It also works for PvP.

Prime Plugin

Prime Plugin elevates the gaming experience, offering greater convenience and personalization. It has several modules serving different purposes. Using the UI module, one can create timers, bars, alerts, and more. This function is of tremendous help in combat. The Bags module is a handy bag organizer. The Vitals module shows vitals for you and your party. Prime also includes a combat parser.

CC Timer

The CC Timer plugin helps players keep track of crowd control abilities. It displays visual timers for skills like stuns, roots, and dazes, allowing for better coordination and timing during encounters. The plugin shows several columns that display which crowd control skills are optimal to use on an enemy already under the effect of a crowd control ability.

PvMP+

The PvMP+ plugin offers Ettenmoors-specific information and functionality. It tracks how much infamy and renown a player has accumulated. It also shows player ranks, creeps, and freeps. Customizable alerts for key events are part of the deal too. You may also want to check out PvMP+ Revisited, an alternative version developed by another author.

LIP – Legendary Item Planner

The plugin provides a comprehensive toolset for planning, tracking, and managing legendary item upgrades and legacies. It includes a compendium of all legacies for all classes and legendary items. The functionalities include optimal point spending. It is an invaluable tool for players seeking to maximize the power and effectiveness of their legendary items.

Palantir III

Stemming from the original 2011 Palantir, this third version is the newest installment of the custom HUD. The plugin allows players to make personalized heads-up displays keeping vital information readily accessible at all times. All the combat info you need is right in front of your eyes.

Epic Battle Plugin

As the name suggests, this Lord of the Rings Online plugin is specifically conceived for Epic Battles. It provides objective-related information, such as available quests and progress. It has timers for waves, traps, and side quests. It also features a kill count.

Group Manager

Group Manager is used for quick regrouping. It’s great for party leaders when they want to resume a raid with the same party. The plugin shows a list of the people that were in the group. You have the option to invite or dismiss them. Fellowship members are shown in green. Group Manager also has a ready check function.

DebuffVitals

DebuffVitals provides information about the conditions that affect your character and targets. We are talking about buffs, debuffs, and other effects. It is an essential tool for serious raiders. You can modify it to track certain effects and hide it outside combat.

Gibberish

Gibberish is a plugin to track the timers for buffs and debuffs. It’s an alternative to Prime and Buff Bars. You can create various tabs to keep track of the desired buffs. Which of the three is the better plugin depends on your personal taste. Prime is more comprehensive, but some prefer Gibberish because of its simplicity.

Scrolling Combat Text

The name of this Lord of the Rings Online plugin couldn’t be more accurate. This tool places combat information in the middle of the screen. It shows dealt and taken damage, healing, and power gain. You can customize the color of the messages, scrolling direction, scroll speed, and placement.

Maps and Navigation

MoorMap

MoorMap is a utility plugin that improves the in-game maps. Users can add personalized annotations to a certain location. A handy filter allows quick browsing. The plugin keeps track of NPCs, spawning locations, mines, and more. It also has annotation synchronization with Terrain Map.

Terrain Map

With Terrain Map, players can better navigate and explore the diverse landscapes of Middle-earth. This navigation plugin provides players with a detailed representation of the game’s terrains, including elevations, landmarks, and geographical features. You can scroll and zoom the game’s regions to easily find locations. It supports annotation functionality similar to MoorMap.

StableGuy

StableGuy allows players to rapidly plan and execute their journeys across Middle-earth. The plugin is easy to use. Select your From and To and let StableGuy work its magic as it computes the shortest route. It displays all the Stable Masters and other locations, such as raid entrances and campfires.

Travel Window II

Travel Window II streamlines the use of travel-related skills. The plugin displays all the travel skills in one window. It also includes reputation, housing, race, and class skills. You can opt for one of the four display styles: icon, text, carousel, or pull-down list.

Waypoint

If you are having trouble figuring out in which direction to go, Waypoint is a must-have plugin. It eliminates the need to use the map. The arrow on your head points to the direction of a location of interest. It also informs you when you reach the set destination.

Activities, Items, and Crafting

Deed Tracker

Deed Tracker conveniently organizes and tracks progress on various deeds, allowing players to efficiently plan their activities. It shows both completed and uncompleted deeds. A nice functionality is that it even shows the hidden deeds. Thanks to a search bar, you can immediately get info on a specific deed.

LOTRO Compendium

Aptly named so, the LOTRO Compendium is a comprehensive database serving as a valuable resource. It provides info on quests, deeds, and items. It is of undeniable help as it shows quest prerequisites and directions. With its intuitive search functionality and organized categorization, Compendium offers quick access to essential knowledge.

Item Treasury

Item Treasury is a valuable plugin that assists players when they want to know more about an item. No more alt-tabbing as this comprehensive database has all the items in the game. Item name, description, and category work as search filters.

Daily Tasks reference

The plugin is an encyclopedic database of daily tasks, complete with objectives, rewards, and locations. Moreover, it searches your bag for trophy items that are task objectives. It also tells you if your alts can use your items. It is a great tool to improve efficiency and rewards from tasks.

Crafting Companion

The Crafting Companion works as an assistant for the daily crafting tasks. From tracking ingredients across multiple characters and calculating the optimal number of crafted items, this plugin helps you maximize the rewards. It also gives you the base materials needed to make crafted ingredients.

Alt Management

Alt Inventory

Alt Inventory is a convenient plugin that simplifies inventory management across multiple characters. It provides a centralized view of your alts’ inventories, including equipped bags, vaults, equipped items, and shared storage. It does not have access to the house storage. Text search and item category facilitate browsing through your alts’ possessions.

KikiInventory

Kiki’s take on alt storage management is a worthy alternative to the Alt Inventory plugin. This tool lets you view and search the wallet, bags, vaults, and shared storage of your alts without actually loging in on those characters. You can search items by name. The option to limit the search in one (or more) of the four categories listed above is also present.

AltHolic

AltHolic is an indispensable plugin for players with multiple characters. It offers a comprehensive overview of all characters, tracking their equipped gear, money in the wallet, reputation, shared storage, profession level, XP, recipes, and more. It has a search function so you can quickly locate an alt. You can even use AltHolic to delete characters.

AltWallet

Alt Wallet is a practical plugin that simplifies currency management across multiple characters. It provides a centralized view of the finances, allowing players to track currency between their alts. It also shows character and account-bound wallet items. A search function is not missing.

User Interface and Bag Management

LoTRO Alerts

LoTRO Alerts keeps players informed with customizable alerts and notifications. You can set it to react to specific words and chat channels. It is of use in combat and also outside of it. From tracking in-game events, incoming messages, item drops, or quest updates, Lotro Alerts ensures players never miss important information.

TonicBars

TonicBars is a bar manager plugin that allows users to add new bars and extend the functionality of the traditional bars. The plugin allows the creation of personalized bars. You can set the number of rows and visibility conditions (in or outside combat or specific HP values). The bar setup can be saved and copied to another char.

Titan Bar

The Titan Bar plugin adds a customizable bar with various widgets, such as character stats, currency display, reputation tracking, XP, time, equipment score, shared storage, and more. Players can select what info they want to see on the bar. The visibility options include the auto-hide and hide in combat settings.

HugeBag

The HugeBag LOTRO plugin combines all your six backpacks into one giant bag. You can choose between the widget and window modes. The plugin shows the total number of slots, free slots, and occupied slots. It has a search function and can also see shared storage and alts vault.

Pets and Mounts

Animalerie and AnimalerieV2

Animalerie is a pet plugin that allows players to manage their pets and food. This simple tool displays two bars. The first one has the pets. The second one shows their nourishment. It has a feature to randomize pets. AnimalerieV2 is the new version created by the same author.

PetStable and Pet Carousel

PetStable is a simple plugin for all the pet enthusiasts out there. It shows a bar with your available pets and it offers the option to call on a random pet. Pet Carousel shows three pets. You can change them using the mouse wheel.

Horsey!

Horsey! is a fun plugin that randomly activates one of your available mounts. If you like to cycle through mounts but don’t want to make the decision, let the plugin pull one for you. And if you don’t like the mount, simply click on Horsey! and it will make a new selection. The plugin has multiple modules, so it can be used with pets and other collections.

Miscellaneous

Songbook

The Songbook plugin is a fantastic tool for anyone who loves music and role-playing. The plugin allows you to play music in the game. It imports and plays ABC music files. You can easily select and play songs and even synchronize with other players.

FoodAndDrinks

Just as the name implies, this plugin provides access to your consumables. It creates a bar with your foods and drinks, so you can easily consume them. If you don’t want the plugin window to take up space on the UI, just close it and open it when you need to eat or drink.

Festival Buddy II

This one is for all the festival-goers on Middle-earth. The plugin manages your progress, so you can have the most out of these events. It shows how many tokens you have in the wallet and the cost of the festival items. It provides a guide for quests. The dance instructor helps with the tasks that involve dancing.

Graphic Enhancement and Customization

JRR Skins Collection

This is a collection of skins or user interface themes that alter the aspect of the game. The skins do not provide any functionality, they just offer a different look. The JRR Skins Collection currently holds the most popular Lord of the Rings Online skins, including some that have been abandoned by the original creators. Users can modify or delete any individual skin as they are interdependent.

ReShade

No one can question the beauty and immersive quality of the game’s art style, but the aging visuals are becoming less and less attractive with each passing year. ReShade is an open-sourced post-processing tool that enhances LOTRO’s graphics. You can download it from its website and set it up thanks to plenty of online guides.

Outdated Lord of the Rings Online Plugins That Might Still Work

We chose to list these outdated plugins as they are among the most useful – and still used – LOTRO tools. At the time of this writing, these highly-popular plugins have stopped receiving support from their original creators. Occasionally, community members provide fixes and updates to keep these plugins afloat.

• BuffBars – It shows a bar displaying the buffs, debuffs, and potion cooldowns for your character. This particular outdated plugin receives patches from the community to keep it relevant.
• Bevy o’ Bars – Quickslot bar creator and manager that lets users make personalized bars.
• Buff Monitor – Similar to BuffBars but simpler and with fewer configuration options.
• Mouse Cursor Highlighter Advanced – Makes the mouse cursor more visible.
• Mouse Finder – Encloses the mouse cursors in a rotating circle to improve its visibility in combat.
• Simple Notes/ Simply Notes/Lotropad – Easy to use notepad plugins to make quick notes.
• Sequence Bars – A plugin that creates a mobile skill sequence you can click without moving the mouse.

The Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO) has announced the reopening of its Bullroarer public test server. Players will have access from Monday, September 18, starting at 4:00 PM ET, until Thursday, September 21, at approximately 5:00 PM ET. The new server launch showcases LOTRO’s latest Update 37.2, which introduces the much-anticipated Mariner class.

Meet the Mariners: Middle-earth’s New Melee Masters

The Mariner class promises to enrich the LOTRO experience with its unique take on melee combat. Described as “confident melee fighters,” Mariners utilize a specialized balance system, intricate skill chains, and group-support abilities to engage foes and assist allies.

A Balancing Act: The Mariner’s Innovative Combat System

At the heart of the Mariner’s playstyle is the Balance system. Functioning on a forward-backward mechanic, the Mariner’s state oscillates between ‘Aftward,’ ‘Steady,’ and ‘Foreward,’ with each state affecting the class’s abilities and skills. Players must remain vigilant, as losing balance could result in penalties.

Chain Reactions: Mastering the Art of Swordplay

In addition to the Balance system, Mariners are adept in swordplay that allows for skill combinations. Individual swordplay abilities can be linked to create powerful combos, providing a complex layer to their melee combat.

Dive into Specializations

Update 37.2 offers three trait specializations for the Mariner class:

• The Shanty-caller: A group-support specialist designed to maximize group damage.
• The Duellist: Tailored for players who favor a balance between offense and evasion.
• The Rover: Focused on controlling and debuffing enemies to keep the group alive.

Beta#2 Notes and Skill Tuning

The second beta phase comes with several adjustments. Most notably, Mariners no longer require a dagger in their off-hand, simplifying the equipment requirements. Skill damage has also been boosted by approximately 50%, and various other tweaks have been implemented to improve gameplay experience.

How to Get Involved

Players who wish to test these new features can access Bullroarer through the ‘Transfer’ button available on any LOTRO Launcher. Additionally, the server offers a ‘Report A Bug’ feature for players to give direct feedback.

The latest update to the long-running Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO), Update 36: Gondor Renewed, was launched today, opening a new chapter in the story set in the world of Middle-earth. This update is of special note as it introduces the refreshed realm of King’s Gondor East and a fresh storyline, ‘The Song of Waves and Wind.’

Taking place after Sauron’s defeat, the narrative follows King Elessar and Queen Arwen as they strive to establish peace in Gondor. Despite the victory, danger continues to loom over their kingdom as new foes, the Heirs of Castamir, threaten its tranquillity. Players can explore the newly-added zone of King’s Gondor East, where the sun shines once more after the cessation of the Dawnless Day. The stage is set for a thrilling adventure as players team up with fan-favorite characters like Legolas and Gimli.

The fresh quest line, ‘The Song of Waves and Wind,’ accessible to level 140 characters, is set to be an integral part of the new narrative. Players can commence their journey by meeting Glindor in Minas Tirith (Midsummer). The quest line is open to VIP members, purchasers of the “Gondor Renewed” quest pack, or those who acquire quest packs related to the storyline in future releases.

The Gondor Renewed quest pack offers more than 80 quests and Deeds for level 140 characters, and it’s free for VIPs. Those eager to explore King’s Gondor can do so by traveling to Minas Tirith (After Battle) and proceeding South through the Pelennor Fields. Once an impassable region, these fields now open up a new path of exploration.

Along with these exciting additions, Update 36 reworks the Landscape Difficulty setting system initially introduced with Treebeard. This feature is now available in general game worlds, offering a new layer of challenge. Players can adjust their difficulty level by interacting with a Hardened Traveller, found in major hubs and new player zones throughout Middle-earth. A variety of titles are up for grabs for players who can maintain a difficulty of 3 or higher from levels 10 to 50 and subsequently to level 130.

Lastly, more Delvings are now accessible. The Annúminas instances Glinghant, Haudh Valandil, and the Great Barrows instances Sambrog, Thadûr, and The Maze have been retooled to be playable as Delvings, available via the Instance Finder.

With Gondor Renewed, LOTRO continues to expand and refine its vast world, giving players more to explore and accomplish in the realm of Middle-earth. As Tolkien fans await further quests, Update 36 looks set to provide hours of adventure and discovery.

Community Manager Assures Fans that The Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO) is not going anywhere

Since the announcement of Amazon Games’ new The Lord of the Rings MMO, players of The Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO) have voiced concerns about the future of their beloved game. Yesterday, LOTRO’s Community Manager, Cordovan, took to the forums to assure the community that LOTRO is not disappearing amidst the advent of the new MMO.

“We wanted to give everyone in the community an update and assure you all that LOTRO is not going away!” Cordovan wrote in a forum post addressing the community’s worries. He acknowledged the excitement and concern that the announcement of Amazon’s upcoming MMO had stirred among LOTRO players.

The announcement of the new MMO had sparked speculation among fans about the future of LOTRO, which has been running for over 16 years and continues to hold a loyal player base. As one of the longest-running MMORPGs, LOTRO has cultivated a passionate community of fans and players, many of whom have been playing the game since its early days.

“Like you, we, and our partners at Middle-earth Enterprises, are huge fans of LOTRO,” Cordovan added. He equated LOTRO to the enduring figures of the Ents, Elves, and Dwarves in the Tolkien universe. He reassured fans that Standing Stone Games, the developer of LOTRO, plans to continue supporting and expanding the game and its community.

Cordovan’s message seems to underscore LOTRO’s enduring nature, suggesting that the game is an evergreen fixture in the MMORPG landscape, much like the ageless beings within Tolkien’s Middle-earth. By ensuring fans that the game is not going anywhere, the community manager has put to rest some of the fears that have been floating around since Amazon Games’ announcement.

As for the future, it appears that the road indeed “goes ever on” for LOTRO. Players can rest easy knowing that the game they’ve come to love over the years will continue to be a fixture in their gaming lives, even as Amazon Games brings a new addition to the Tolkien-verse.

Update 36 for The Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO) has entered its beta testing phase on the Bullroarer test server. This update brings forth a plethora of new content, including the introduction of King’s Gondor, a level 140 region set after the Battle of Pelennor Fields and the Great Wedding of Aragorn and Arwen.

King’s Gondor, known for its bright and sunny fields and hills, offers players a fresh experience in an old region. While retaining the familiar navigation elements of the original Central and Eastern Gondor regions, King’s Gondor introduces new areas with previously impassable regions opened up for exploration.

To reach King’s Gondor, players need to travel south from Minas Tirith (After Battle) through the Pelennor Fields. Questing commences in this area of the Pelennor Fields and an under-construction version of The Harlond. However, it’s important to note that the Epic Book is currently unavailable during this beta testing phase.

During the beta testing of Update 36, players will have the opportunity to experience the reworked Landscape Difficulty setting system introduced in the Treebeard update. The Paths of Valour, a new Faction and reward structure, can be advanced by playing on higher difficulty settings. By speaking with the Hardened Traveller, players can activate their preferred difficulty setting and embark on challenging quests to increase their challenges on the roads of Middle-earth.

Completing quests on higher difficulties may reward players with Tokens of Valour, which can be used to complete weekly tasks from the Hardened Traveller, increasing reputation with the Paths of Valour faction. Additionally, titles are available for players who activate a difficulty of 3 or higher and maintain it throughout specific level ranges.

Delvings, a new feature in Update 36, have been added to several instances, including Glinghant, Haudh Valandil, Ost Elendil, Sambrog, Thadûr, and The Maze. Delving Barter Vendors and Mission Givers can now be found in all Skirmish Camps, making it easier for players to turn in delving quests.

In the Ettenmoors, the PvP region of LOTRO, a new siege mechanic has been introduced. Towers such as Lugazag and Tirith Rhaw can now have gates established at their entrances and on the top of the stairs. With the addition of siege weaponry, players can utilize schematics to build ballistae, catapults, and battering rams to tear down gates and defend the towers’ walls. Commendations can be used to purchase these schematics.

Furthermore, adjustments have been made to the commendation and renown/infamy gains in fellowships and raids. Raids of 24 players now yield fewer rewards, and the value of defeating higher rank players has been increased, while lower-ranked players are worth fewer points.

The beta testing phase for Update 36 on the LOTRO test server began on May 10 and is scheduled to conclude on May 12 at approximately 5:00 PM EDT. Players are encouraged to provide feedback and report any issues encountered during their testing.

As Middle-earth prepares to celebrate another year of The Lord of the Rings Online, players can look forward to the Anniversary Festival event, full of fun activities, quests, and rewards.

The Anniversary Festival takes place in various locations throughout Middle-earth, including The Party Tree in The Shire, Bree, Thorin’s Hall, and more. Players should begin their adventure at The Party Tree, where they can pick up quests from Waldo Rumble. Completing these quests will reward players with items and tokens that can be exchanged for a range of rewards, including mounts, pets, and cosmetic items.

One of the main attractions of the Anniversary Festival is the Scavenger Hunt, which takes players on a journey through Middle-earth to visit iconic locations from the game’s history. The Scavenger Hunt comes in three different categories: Tales, Travels, and Trifles, each with varying levels of difficulty. It is worth noting that the Scavenger Hunt remembers where players left off each year, so they can pick up where they left off and continue their journey.

Players can also participate in the Festivity Instance, “A Flurry of Fireworks,” which rewards players with Festivity Tokens that can be exchanged for even more rewards. In addition, there are various Anniversary barter vendors and Keepers of Gifts scattered throughout Middle-earth, where players can exchange Anniversary Tokens and Steel Tokens for a wide range of rewards.

With so much to see and do, The Lord of the Rings Online’s Anniversary Festival promises to be an exciting and memorable event. Whether players are seasoned veterans or newcomers to Middle-earth, this guide will help them navigate the festival and earn some fantastic rewards. So don’t miss out on the festivities and join the celebration!

The Lord of the Rings Online has just released its latest update, “Return to Carn Dûm,” on Wednesday, March 22nd, 2023. The update includes exciting new content that will take players on a journey through re-imagined Carn Dûm, where they will fight against the Iron Crown and its minions.

One of the highlights of the update is the Angmar Reborn: Carn Dûm feature. The last remnants of the Iron Crown have returned to Carn Dûm, and players must aid the Hill-men of the North and their allies in their fight to cast off the Iron Crown once and for all. The update features three new instances, and soon a new raid, for Level 140 players.

To participate in the fight against the Iron Crown, players should travel to Bail Avarc in Angmar. Although the location can initially only be accessed via stable-master routes, other options for swift travel are available for barter from the Stewards of the Iron-home.

The update also includes new content for players to explore in the Last Homely House in Rivendell. The Last Homely House has undergone a beautiful makeover, which players will surely appreciate.

The new instances include Sant Lhoer, the Poison Gardens, and Thaurisgar, the Vile Apothecary, both available for tiers 1-3. The Sagroth, Lair of Vermin, is a fellowship instance available for tiers 1-3. Additionally, the update promises a new raid, Gwathrenost, the Witch-king’s Citadel, which will be available soon.

Players of The Lord of the Rings Online’s Delving system have reason to be excited for the upcoming Return to Carn Dum expansion, as Systems Designer Mitth recently shared details about the new changes to the system in a developer diary.

The changes to the system are broken down into four categories, starting with general balance adjustments. Specifically, the difficulty modifiers of enemies will be lowered, particularly in Tiers 5 through 10. Additionally, the alert range of enemies will be decreased at higher tiers, and the radius effects that activate other enemies in the area once alerted will be smaller.

Malice changes are also on the way, including a shift in the rotation of Malices from a weekly to a daily schedule and the addition of a sixth variant. New Malices that players can counter will be added, including Epic Monster Skills and Cursed Hotspots. Some Malices will be replaced or reworked, and a balance pass will be done on others.

Delving gem consolidation is another change players can expect, with fewer gems needed for more inventory space. There will be four gems that can be used across 12 tiers, with each gem unlocking three levels of delvings. Gems will no longer have cracked versions, and players will get the next gem when they successfully complete a delving.

Finally, reward updates include the addition of two weekly quests to Delvings, with rewards of Virtue XP and Delving Writs. Instances will also be added to Delvings, with The School at Tham Mírdain and The Library at Tham Mírdain offering a small chance at a second, rare Delving Box with rare rewards. The worst individual rewards from the Tier 7-10 band will be eliminated, and rotten fruit and lumps of coal will be removed from treasure tables.

According to Mitth, these changes are in response to player feedback, and the team behind The Lord of the Rings Online’s Delving system is eager to hear more. The system was ambitious from the start, and it has taken time to build, tweak, and adapt it for the live game. Mitth encourages players to share their thoughts on the system in the comments.

Return to Carn Dum is expected to be released soon, so players won’t have to wait long to try out these exciting new changes to the Delving system.

The Lord of the Rings Online has just released Update 34.2. The update comes with a range of new features and improvements aimed at enhancing the gaming experience for players.

One of the most notable changes is the return of the Ill Omens Skirmish Event, which begins on Thursday, February 2nd and runs until Tuesday, February 28th. The event features new rewards, including two new cosmetic pets and Conspicuous Portent items for level 136-140 characters. The event’s quest “Skirmish – Ill Omens” also grants a Tracery Token, Legendary package in addition to its previous rewards.

Update 34.2 also brings improvements to the classes in the game. The Burglar’s effects Relish Battle and Bob and Weave now display their effects text and healing amount in their tooltips respectively. Additionally, several Lore-master skills now properly apply to Monster Players near the target.

The update also includes updates to translations for various items and quests, and fixes for various bugs, such as players getting stuck in the Steepset, floating structures in the Bree-land Homesteads and the 5th Season of the Legendary Items Reward Track begins on February 15th with new rewards.