The folks over at Turbine's Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar have released a new Beta Journal.

Humans are good at anything, Hobbits are quick and sturdy, and elves are practically demi-gods with spell or bow, but dwarves are truly the masters of battle. Dwarves have a high tolerance for pain and poison, as well as high strength, but are less agile than the other races of Middle-earth. Dwarves can be Minstrels, Guardians, Hunters, or Champions. Unlike the other races, dwarves are simply "dwarves", and have no male/female character option - Dwarf gender is difficult to discern by non-dwarves, and they guard their women more carefully even than their Mithril! Playing to the might of the Dwarf, I chose to play a Champion, the most powerful class in melee combat against multiple opponents and the one in which I believe his dwarven talents can be used to their greatest effect.

Regardless of where they hail from, dwarves begin their adventures in the mountains of Ered Luin at Thorin's Gates, after an introductory adventure which includes meeting a couple very familiar characters, and an adventure with a Cave Troll. This area also has many elves, who escaped from Edhelion during the siege and subsequent downfall of the city. A variety of gathering, fighting, and exploring quests take my Dwarf up onto snow-covered mountains and down into deep, dank caverns under ancient ruins. Combat ranges from trading blows with simple beasts of the wilderness to fending off multiple goblin warriors. Once my Dwarf has proven himself a worthy member of his race, he is trusted with a difficult rescue mission. After this, he is allowed entrance into Thorin's Halls and given free reign to delve into the lands around Thorin's Gate.

Read it all here.