http://www.lotro-europe.com/ Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:48:01 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.lotro-europe.com/news.php?id=10440 here!]]> News Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:01:00 +0100 http://www.lotro-europe.com/news.php?id=10435 Developer Diary from Jeff ‘MadeOfLions’ Libby!]]> News Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:00:00 +0100 http://www.lotro-europe.com/news.php?id=10433 That’s Right – we did it again! Critics have cast their vote and The Lord of the Rings Online: Siege of Mirkwood has won not one but THREE awards for Best Expansion of 2009. Plus, LOTRO has earned a 9/10 score from IGN.com and received their Editor’s Choice award for the third year in a row! Here is what they are saying:

"…the best MMO expansion I have played this year." – Gaming Trend.com

"…Fully scalable, repeatable, randomized and story-driven content nuggets of goodness, Skirmishes do for Lord of the Rings Online what Instances did for dungeons years ago." – MMORPG.com

"…what makes this expansion the top on our list of 2009 is the upgrade to the combat system and the Skirmishes…the new system just feels right. Combat is responsive and exciting." – TenTonHammer.com

If you'd like to try LOTRO for yourself, get a 14-day free trial now!
]]> News Tue, 02 Feb 2010 09:30:00 +0100 http://www.lotro-europe.com/news.php?id=6012 Interested in seeing what’s been added to The Lord of the Rings Online since launch? You can find an overview of the key features included with each patch below:



Siege of Mirkwood (Volume III Book 1)

In this brand new volume, Volume 3: Allies Of The King, Book 1: Oath Of The Rangers, players will return to Dol Guldur and fight in four Skirmishes with new 12-person mode in the shadow of the Necromancer’s Tower. Plus, fire and madness waits in the Depths of Nûrz Gâshu, an additional new Skirmish where you must rescue a brave fighter from flame and shadow. To help you meet the dangers ahead, you can now craft items up to level 65.

KEY FEATURES

• New Skirmishes - Expanded 12-Man Skirmishes in the Shadow of the Necromancer’s Tower
  
• Take the war to the shadows with four expanded Skirmishes!
  
  • At the Necromancer’s Gate, a powerful Olog-Hai thinks he’s king of the hill, and your force must prove him wrong.
    
  • Before the Gate of the Ringwraith’s Lair, creatures of nightmare seek to lay a deadly trap.
    
  • Man the catapults! A powerful force seeks to capture the outpost at Thangúlhad, and you must drive them back into the darkness.
    
  • In the dungeons of Dannenglor, captured elves face torment and destruction, unless you can rescue them from the Enemy!
  
  
• New Crafting Levels - New Level 65 Recipes and Crafting Skills! Make your own power with new Level 65 recipes and major updates to crafting abilities.
  
  • New icons and updated stats for all Jeweller recipes
    
  • New recipes and more powerful products for Cooks
    
  • New class items for Weaponsmiths and Woodworkers
    
  • New crop recipes for Artisan, Master, and Superior Farmers
  
  
  Read up on all that was implemented in this latest free update in the patch notes located in our patch notes section or browse some in-game screenshots in our gallery.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Siege of Mirkwood (Volume II Book 9)
  
  The Lord of the Rings Online™ sounds the battle cry and brings the war for Middle-earth to the gates of Dol Guldur with the Siege of Mirkwood™ digital expansion, the epic finale of LOTRO Volume 2.
  
  You’ve survived the depths of Moria and wrested glory and power from its dark halls. But now the true test has come: the Siege of Mirkwood, when the fate of all the Free Peoples of Middle-earth hinges on your courage, your skill, and your power.
  War has come to Middle-earth. And nothing will ever be the same.
  
  KEY FEATURES
  
  
  • Adventure into the new region of Mirkwood
    
  • Discover 100s of challenging new quests
    
  • Advance your hero to level 65
    
  • Take the power of your Legendary Items to level 70
    
  • Take part in the most deadly 12-player raid yet!
    
  • Face the ultimate challenge – the Nazgûl Lord!
    
  • Conclusion of the Volume II Epic Quest line
    
  • Battle the spreading War with the new Skirmish system - Create and lead your own customizable soldier
    
  • Achieve new Legacies, new titles, and a fourth Runic slot that will make Legendary Items even more unique and powerful.
    
  • Experience action like never before with new enhanced combat responsiveness!
    
  • Re-vamped Lonelands
    
  • Major Gameplay enhancements
    
  
  
  Read up on all that was implemented in this new digital expansion in the Siege of Mirkwood patch notes located in our patch notes section or browse the Siege of Mirkwood overview page here.
  
  
  
  
  
  Book 8: Scourge of Khazad-dûm
  
  Book 8: Scourge of Khazad-dûm is the next instalment to the epic story for Volume II. Including enhanced player experience for the mid-levels, a new 12-player raid and several small fellowship instances.
  
  KEY FEATURES
  
  
  • Continuation of the Epic Quest
    
  • Enhanced New Player Experience for the mid-level areas
    
  • New 12-player raid: Dâr Narbugud
    
  • New Instances: Nalâ-dûm, Lumul-nar and Halls of Crafting
    
  • Summer Festival returns!
  
  
  Read up on all that was implemented in this huge free update with Scourge of Khazad-dûm patch notes located here or browse the Book 8 patch overview page here.
  
  
  
  
  
  BOOK 7: Leaves of Lórien
  
  Book 7: Leaves of Lórien is the next instalment to the epic story for Volume II. Including over 50 new quests, enhanced new player experience and a new 12-player raid.
  
  KEY FEATURES
  
  
  • Continuation of the Epic Quest
    
  • New area: Lothlórien
    
  • Enhanced New Player Experience
    
  • New 12-player raid
    
  • Crafting instances
    
  • Spring Festival returns!
  
  
  Read up on all that was implemented in this huge free update with Leaves of Lórien patch notes located here or browse the Book 7 patch overview page here.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Book 14: The Ring-Forges Of Eregion
  
  Book 14: The Ring-forges of Eregion is the last free major content update before Mines of Moria™, the first expansion pack to the critically acclaimed The Lord of the Rings Online™: Shadows of Angmar™. Book 14 brings to life the prelude quests of Moria, updated dungeon loot and the conclusion to the Volume 1 epic storyline.
  
  KEY FEATURES:
  
  
  • Journey to where the Elven Rings were forged!
    
  • Prelude quests to the Mines of Moria
    
  • Improved animations
    
  • Upgraded loot drops in dungeons
  
  
  
  Read up on all that was implemented in this huge free update with The Ring-forges of Eregion patch notes located here.
  
  
  
  Book 13: Doom of the Last-king
  
  Free to subscribers, Book 13: Doom of the Last-king was a huge update with a host of new features, including the continuation of the Epic storyline, player customisation, enhancements to the Burglar and Guardian class and much more.
  
  KEY FEATURES:
  
  
  • New Region: Forochel
    
  • Fishing!
    
  • New Monster Play Class: Orc Defiler
    
  • Improvements to Finding a Fellowship
    
  • Tweaks to Annúminas
    
  • Anniversary Celebration
  
  
  Read up on all that was implemented in this huge free update with Doom of the Last-king patch notes located here or browse the Book 13 patch overview page here
  
  
  
  Book 12: The Ashen Wastes
  
  Free to subscribers, Book 12: The Ashen Wastes was a huge update with a host of new features, including the continuation of the Epic storyline, player customisation, enhancements to the Burglar and Guardian class and much more.
  
  
  KEY FEATURES:
  
  • Cosmetic customisation
    
  • The Epic Quest Continues!
    
  • New Underground Player vs. Monster Player instance – The Delving of Frór!
    
  • Burglar and Guardian Class Enhancements
    
  • Revitalisation to the Angmar region
    
  • More player housing decoration and taxidermy items
  
  
  Read up on all that was implemented in this huge free update with The Ashen Wastes patch notes located here or browse the Book 12 patch overview page here
  
  
  
  Book 11: The Defenders of Eriador
  
  Free to subscribers, Book 11: The Defenders of Eriador was a massive new update with a host of new features, including the continuation of the Epic storyline, 40 new quests, 400 new crafting recipes, new monsters, player housing and much, much more!
  
  
  KEY FEATURES:
  
  • Player Housing
    
  • Meet the famous Gollum!
    
  • The Epic Quest Continues!
    
  • New 12 Man Raid – The Rift!
    
  • Two New Areas - The High Pass and Tal Bruinen
    
  • Minstrel and Loremaster Class Enhancements
  
  
  Read up on all that was implemented in this huge free update with The Defenders of Eriador patch notes located here or browse some in-game screenshots here.
  
  
  
  Book 10: The City of the Kings
  
  Book 10: The City of the Kings continued the epic story, added over 100 new quests, implemented significant enhancements to Monster Play and introduced the Reputation and Bartering systems.
  
  KEY FEATURES:
  
  
  • Continuation of the Epic Quest
    
  • Critter Play
    
  • Legendary Play
    
  • New Reputation and Bartering Systems
    
  • Over 100 New Quests
    
  • Enhanced User Interface
  
  
  Read up on all that was implemented in this huge free update with The City of the Kings patch notes located here or browse some in-game screenshots here.
  
  
  
  Book 9: The Shores of Evendim
  
  Released on June 14th Book 9: The Shores of Evendim was the very first free content update for LOTRO and saw many great feature additions including a whole new region!
  
  
  KEY FEATURES
  
  
  • Discover Evendim - About 100 miles north of the Shire, in northern Eriador, lies Evendim, a vast region dominated by the Lake Nenuial, the 'Lake of the Twilight'.
    
  • Over 100 New Quests - The story continues for players as they aid the Fellowship and encounter new adventures, characters and monsters including the Rogmûl!
    
  • Raid in the Battle for Helegrod - Challenge the fearsome dragon Thorog in a massive 24-player raid in the Misty Mountains.
    
  • Major Updates to the Music System - In addition to the new percussion and bass instruments, players can now utilize a new music notation system that enables them to compose music offline and upload it to your character in-game.
    
  • New Collectible Armor Sets - Seven new sets of epic armor enable players to gain progressive bonuses for each piece of armor worn from a set.
  
  
  Read up on all that was implemented in this huge free update with The Shores of Evendim patch notes located here or browse some in-game screenshots here
  
  
  ]]> News Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:16:52 +0100 http://www.lotro-europe.com/news.php?id=10426 Skirmishes 101 in today’s content update!]]> News Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:13:05 +0100