Turbine isn't resting on the laurels of the recent Lord of the Rings Online expansion, Riders of Rohan. At some point in the near future, they will be releasing the first major content addition, Against the Shadow. We've got an exclusive preview of the new content. Read on!

Titled "Against the Shadow" this update adds content, expands a number a existing features, and brings additional environmental technology to the game. The most noticeable change of the update is the addition of three all new instances.  These instances will send your character back in time where you will be tasked by Gandalf to complete the following missions: Head to the Misty Mountains and prevent a giant eagle's egg from becoming a stone giant's breakfast.  Travel underneath the Misty Mountains to the home of the Goblin King and prevent the goblins from reorganizing. Finally you will be asked to travel to Mirkwood and cull the wildlife. All three of these instances are designed for 3 players and scale in level from 20 to 85. In addition to talking to Gandalf you can access these through the instance finder.

Read more of Rob Lashley's Lord of the Rings Online: Against the Shadow Preview.

Originally posted by elocke
Rohan is so good and so fun, that I want to make alts to take into it to re experience all the new expansion content.  With how things are right now, that's a long endeavor and filled with annoyances.  This looks to be fixed by allowing open tapping and remote looting as well as mounted combat in the old world areas.  Will make leveling alts that much less of a chore and more streamlined and fun.  Can't Wait!

The open tapping change could be huge.  I really hope they take the next step and make more of an open grouping system by making group only buffs and heals work outside of group by making them aoe (maybe ground targeted).

Turbine is finally making some great quality changes to their game.  They're odd.  On one hand they try and pull some stupid toy pony mount thing (which is just beyond silly) then they adopt the open tapping system to promote more social play.

The one thing I found odd is the mixed reception to the open tapping.  I figured everyone would love it since no one loses, yet there is a rather polar debate about it over on their forums.

If I could have just one change made to this game, it would be to make levelling traits account wide rather than character wide. I would be much more motivated to play alts if they could level account-wide traits rather than have me spend long periods of time mindlessly killing grey mobs to get that +16 determination. 

Adjust this Turbine and you will see much more life in the lower level areas.

Overall I'm happy with Robert's preview and being a lifetimer in an excellent kin I'll always be around the place, I'm just struggling with motivation just now because levelling an alt is too painful with all the things you have to re do that you shouldn't.

Originally posted by marcust

If I could have just one change made to this game, it would be to make levelling traits account wide rather than character wide. I would be much more motivated to play alts if they could level account-wide traits rather than have me spend long periods of time mindlessly killing grey mobs to get that +16 determination. 

Adjust this Turbine and you will see much more life in the lower level areas.

Overall I'm happy with Robert's preview and being a lifetimer in an excellent kin I'll always be around the place, I'm just struggling with motivation just now because levelling an alt is too painful with all the things you have to re do that you shouldn't.

I Agree.  They should be account wide considering they are Lotro's form of Achievements.  Would make playing alts more fun as well. 

Not to sound too grumpy, but those 3 instances are part of the Rohan-expansion so dont sell them as a big NEW update.

There are even more instances which belong to RoR which are delayed to februari (or march).

So take of those rose-colored glasses; development is still painfully slow imo.

Originally posted by geremady

Not to sound too grumpy, but those 3 instances are part of the Rohan-expansion so dont sell them as a big NEW update.

 

Rift is doing the same thing with their 2.1 update, a raid they chose not to release with the expansion because apparently people cant handle having 2 raids to choose from anymore.  This sort of thing isnt that rare.

Between the update with free content before Rohan, RoR, and the big QoL patch on the PTS I'd say the LOTRO devs are back on track.

The cash shop aspect is sadly out of control though.

Originally posted by elocke

Originally posted by marcust

If I could have just one change made to this game, it would be to make levelling traits account wide rather than character wide. I would be much more motivated to play alts if they could level account-wide traits rather than have me spend long periods of time mindlessly killing grey mobs to get that +16 determination. 

Adjust this Turbine and you will see much more life in the lower level areas.

Overall I'm happy with Robert's preview and being a lifetimer in an excellent kin I'll always be around the place, I'm just struggling with motivation just now because levelling an alt is too painful with all the things you have to re do that you shouldn't.

I Agree.  They should be account wide considering they are Lotro's form of Achievements.  Would make playing alts more fun as well. 

They are more than achievements, they are a form of character progression.  But the slayer deeds are the worst thing in the game.  15/30 isnt so bad.  30/60 is ok for areas where you have to kill mst of that as quest mobs anyway.  Anything above that is brutal.

If they dont want to fully give the stuff away, at least make them half the kills for every character thats already done the deed.

Time-travel, huh? Hmmmm....maybe I won't be going back to Middle Earth anytime soon.

/shoehorn

Time travel starts touching on Tolkien's book the Lost Road.

With all the F2P players, they do need to do more for the lower levels. Especially to make it more rewarding for small groups (2-4 people) since so much of the content was developed for 6 man fellowships early on.

This is a good step in that direction.

The toy mount was a viral pr

And the open tag system makes me want to roll tons of alts. My Minstrel will never ever reach the top level (have played lotro since soa was freash) :)

Originally posted by strangiato2112

Originally posted by geremady

Not to sound too grumpy, but those 3 instances are part of the Rohan-expansion so dont sell them as a big NEW update.

 

Rift is doing the same thing with their 2.1 update, a raid they chose not to release with the expansion because apparently people cant handle having 2 raids to choose from anymore.  This sort of thing isnt that rare.

 

I really like Rift but I agree with you about 2.1. Other than the updated Fae Yule event, which isn't really new, all of the content in 2.1 being added is stuff that I believe should have been in  on the release.

Originally posted by Gaborik
For me LOTRO is the best MMO out today. It offers everything from challenging raid, housing, dyes, a great story and everything in-between. The main thing that seperates LOTRO from the rest is the community. I cant count the amount of times I have been in a group and another player wasnt geared enough and made the dungeon very hard and nobody not once raged quit. You would think with F2p that would bring in the trash (there are some) but the community in whole doesnt tolerate them and does a great job to weed them out. Turbine ontinues to improve this game and I am glad to have been with the entire time.

There was a pretty long 'dark' period for LOTRO after the freemium conversion where the content pace wasnt remotely acceptable.  After a two year wait RoI wasnt acceptable,but with update 6 and Rohan since then things are back on track.

The big issue right now is the cash shop.  It certainly has pay to win elements.  Turbine pointsare earnable in game and you get some with your sub, but theyve crossed the line that shouldnt have been crossed. Not gamebreaking atm, but they better melt the ice on that slippery slope fast.

Originally posted by strangiato2112

Originally posted by Gaborik
For me LOTRO is the best MMO out today. It offers everything from challenging raid, housing, dyes, a great story and everything in-between. The main thing that seperates LOTRO from the rest is the community. I cant count the amount of times I have been in a group and another player wasnt geared enough and made the dungeon very hard and nobody not once raged quit. You would think with F2p that would bring in the trash (there are some) but the community in whole doesnt tolerate them and does a great job to weed them out. Turbine ontinues to improve this game and I am glad to have been with the entire time.

There was a pretty long 'dark' period for LOTRO after the freemium conversion where the content pace wasnt remotely acceptable.  After a two year wait RoI wasnt acceptable,but with update 6 and Rohan since then things are back on track.

 

The big issue right now is the cash shop.  It certainly has pay to win elements.  Turbine pointsare earnable in game and you get some with your sub, but theyve crossed the line that shouldnt have been crossed. Not gamebreaking atm, but they better melt the ice on that slippery slope fast.

Originally posted by Gaborik

Originally posted by strangiato2112

Originally posted by Gaborik
For me LOTRO is the best MMO out today. It offers everything from challenging raid, housing, dyes, a great story and everything in-between. The main thing that seperates LOTRO from the rest is the community. I cant count the amount of times I have been in a group and another player wasnt geared enough and made the dungeon very hard and nobody not once raged quit. You would think with F2p that would bring in the trash (there are some) but the community in whole doesnt tolerate them and does a great job to weed them out. Turbine ontinues to improve this game and I am glad to have been with the entire time.

There was a pretty long 'dark' period for LOTRO after the freemium conversion where the content pace wasnt remotely acceptable.  After a two year wait RoI wasnt acceptable,but with update 6 and Rohan since then things are back on track.

 

The big issue right now is the cash shop.  It certainly has pay to win elements.  Turbine pointsare earnable in game and you get some with your sub, but theyve crossed the line that shouldnt have been crossed. Not gamebreaking atm, but they better melt the ice on that slippery slope fast.

 

I agree with some of the item should have a cap on them like deeds, and definitely should not be able to buy top legendary relics or crystals. Even with those its still not pay 2 win, your still missing a lot of major items to be pay 2 win.

Yeah I agree, as i said it has elements.  but its certainly not RoM where you are required to spend hundreds of dollars to be able to particpate in the top content or the other f2p games where your power is determined by your wallet and not what you have done in game.

Originally posted by strangiato2112

Originally posted by Gaborik
For me LOTRO is the best MMO out today. It offers everything from challenging raid, housing, dyes, a great story and everything in-between. The main thing that seperates LOTRO from the rest is the community. I cant count the amount of times I have been in a group and another player wasnt geared enough and made the dungeon very hard and nobody not once raged quit. You would think with F2p that would bring in the trash (there are some) but the community in whole doesnt tolerate them and does a great job to weed them out. Turbine ontinues to improve this game and I am glad to have been with the entire time.

There was a pretty long 'dark' period for LOTRO after the freemium conversion where the content pace wasnt remotely acceptable.  After a two year wait RoI wasnt acceptable,but with update 6 and Rohan since then things are back on track.

 

The big issue right now is the cash shop.  It certainly has pay to win elements.  Turbine pointsare earnable in game and you get some with your sub, but theyve crossed the line that shouldnt have been crossed. Not gamebreaking atm, but they better melt the ice on that slippery slope fast.

there is no way on earth this game is pay to win or even getting close.there is no grind at all really in this game apart from the odd deed.i have had nothing but fun playing this game.if peeps wanna buy out the shop i,m ok with that as well.i think those peeps are supporting the game so no complaints here.