- see also Lord of the Rings Online Wikia
The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar (LotRO) is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) set in Middle-earth during the time of The Lord of the Rings. It was developed by Turbine. It was previously called Middle-Earth Online, and was a joint production with Vivendi Studios. The first expansion pack, Mines of Moria, was released in Autumn 2008. The followup expansion, Siege of Mirkwood, was released on December 1st, 2009. The third expanion, Rise of Isengard, is set to be released in the fall of 2011.
Setting
LotRO is set during the events of the War of the Ring. Players will be able to meet the characters from Tolkien's story, including some members of the fellowship. The four playable races will be Dwarves, Elves, Hobbits, and Men. LotRO is explicitly based on the books, not Peter Jackson's adaption in movie form.
Races
Video advertising the game |
Classes
In a similar approach to many Massively-Multiplayer Online realms, Lord of the Rings Online retains a class based system.
| Class | Dwarf | Elf | Hobbit | Man |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champion | • | • | • | |
| Captain | • | |||
| Guardian | • | • | • | • |
| Hunter | • | • | • | • |
| Burglar | • | • | ||
| Minstrel | • | • | • | • |
| Loremaster | • | • | ||
| Warden* | • | • | • | |
| Rune-Keeper* | • | • | ||
| *: only avalible in Mines of Moria Expantion | ||||
Setting
The game mostly takes place in Eriador. Rumored expansions promise Rohan and other areas as far out as Mordor and Rhûn. Turbine has said they plan on making an expansion every year, the last of which they make will be Mordor. The first expansion pack; The Lord of the Rings Online, Volume 2: Mines of Moria, was released in autumn 2008. Features include; three new areas (Eregion Moria and Lothlórien), two new classes and a controversial level cap increase to 60. The second Expansion Pack, The Lord of the Rings Online, Volume 3: Siege of Mirkwood, was released one year later. Features include; a new area (Mirkwood, a specialized set of instances called Skirmishes, a further level cap increase to 65, and other miscellaneous gameplay enhancements. A third expansion, Rise of Isengard, has been announced and will be released in autumn 2011. According to previews, it will allow players to explore Isengard (including the tower of Orthanc), Dunland, the Gap of Rohan, another level cap increase to 75, and 24 person raids.
Development
Interview with the producer |
Some of the gameplay |
Sierra On-Line first announced the development of a licensed, Middle-earth MMORPG in 1998. This caused some excitement among fans, who were awaiting The Lord of the Rings movies, and was also slightly controversial for a few design decisions. The most debated design idea was the planned use of "permadeath": When a player character would die in the game, that character would be permanently dead (most MMORPGs resurrect a dead character with minor penalties). Sierra had financial troubles in 1999 and replaced the staff working on the game.
Sierra continued to confirm development on the MMORPG was progressing, but did not release any development details over the next few years. Vivendi Universal Games, the parent company of Sierra, secured eight-year rights to produce computer and video games based on the The Lord of the Rings books in 2001. Finally, Vivendi announced an agreement with Turbine in 2003 to produce Middle-Earth Online (at that time expected to be released in 2004). In March 2005, Turbine announced that it had bought the rights to make massively multiplayer games based on Tolkien's literature and that Turbine will assume publishing duties on The Lord of the Rings Online from Vivendi. The release date was also delayed to 2006.
Expansions
Mines of Moria
The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria teaser trailer |
First expansion for Lord of the Rings Online.
Features
- Speak Friend, and Enter - Moria, called Khazad-dûm by the dwarves, was their capital and the grandest of cities. This enormous underground cavern in north-western Middle-earth, comprises an immense network of tunnels, chambers, mines and huge halls that run beneath and ultimately through the Misty Mountains. For the first time, players of The Lord of the Rings Online will enter this ancient city which has served as the foundation for the modern-day dungeon-crawling adventures to battle the hordes of goblins and the Nameless of the Deep and journey through hundreds of new quests within six new kinds of stunning environments.
- The Epic Continues! - The Mines of Moria represents the beginning of Volume II of The Lord of the Rings Online. Players can experience six new books as part of this update and participate in the release of Durin's Bane, battle the Watcher, aid Galadriel and more!
- Increased Level Cap - Players will be able advance their characters up to level 60, gaining access to new traits, virtues, skills and class quests. The crafting system will also expand, giving players the ability to craft even more powerful items.
- Discover Two New Classes - The Rune-keeper and the Warden, the first new classes to be introduced since the launch of the game, allow players to build exciting and powerful new characters in The Lord of the Rings Online in diverse new ways.
- Forge Legendary Items - The Mines of Moria will introduce Turbine's new item advancement system to The Lord of the Rings Online. Players will be able to forge weapons and class-related equipment and evolve them to build a legacy the likes of Bilbo's Sting and Gandalf's Glamdring. These legendary weapons will level-up along with the player, allowing customization by advancing the item's virtues, adding runic legacies, modifying its titles and forming fables.
Siege of Mirkwood
Second expansion for Lord of the Rings Online.
Features
- New area the encompasses southern Mirkwood, including Dol Guldur
- New Skirmish battle system
Facts
Demo |
- Play PvP in a separate area by using existing character or creating a Monster Character
- Based on the books (not on the movies)
- PVE and RP concentrated
- Based on the works of Tolkien (LotR and the Hobbit)
- A big questsystem
- 1st AND 3rd person view
- Level cap is 50 (65 with "Siege of Mirkwood")
- Pets can be renamed
- New combat skills available every other level
- New passive skills available every other level
- The currency system is neatly created as copper, silver and gold
- The Open Beta "World Tour of Middle-Earth" began on April 6, 2007.
- A chance to meet up famous characters from LoTR such as Elrond, Gandalf, and Gimli.
- The first expansion pack: "Mines of Moria" was released in autumn 2008.
- The second expansion pack: "Siege of Mirkwood" was released in winter 2009.
- Has recently become free-to-play
External links
- LotRO official community site
- The expansion pack "Mines of Moria" official site
- LotRO Wiki
- LotRO Fansite "LotroSource": Your Source for Lord of the Rings Online
- LotRO Fansite "The Arda Post"