The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria
Encyclopedia
The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria is the first retail expansion pack
for the MMORPG
The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar
released on November 18, 2008. It was announced on March 14, 2008 at Codemasters Online Connect 2008.
The storyline is set in Moria
, an enormous underground complex in north-western Middle-earth
. Apart from that, the expansion also adds the region Lórien. The game's level cap has been increased to level 60; and the expansion (also called "Volume II") extends the Epic storyline by six more books, and adds two new classes, the Rune-keeper and the Warden. Other new features include environment aware AI
, dynamic lighting, and a new weapon
enhancement system.
d through playing web-based minigame
s. Visitors could play three games: King Under the Mountain, Swig & Toss, Eleventy-Seven Morsels at the official site. By performing certain tasks players could complete "deeds", three of which unlocked a "goodie". These included one trailer and three pieces of game art. By applying for a beta invitation, players could also receive a fourth game art.
Wardens primarily use spears (though they can opt for other small arms) and wear medium armour, making them neither a tank nor a DPS
class specifically. Designed to represent the equivalent of a town sheriff, Wardens are protectors that specialize in combination attacks using their Gambit User Interface. The idea is that a Warden will execute their abilities in certain sequences that eventually culminate in a special attack only available after completing the prescribed set of moves. In practice, the Warden's Gambit UI is an array of two to five (depending on character level) squares that slot the abilities as you use them. Once all of the squares have been filled, a new skill will flash at the end of the bar as it becomes available.
Rune-keepers are the closest things to magic-users offered in The Lord of the Rings Online, but they aren't magicians in the traditional sense. Their new Attunement mechanic is represented by a bar with a sliding scale to illustrate whether they're attuned to dealing damage or healing wounds. As a Rune-keeper uses either healing or damaging abilities, the scale slides towards either end of the bar and the Rune-keeper's proficiency in either focus increases. As the Rune-keeper increases focus towards one end of the scale, more of those skills become available in greater power. However, the Rune-keeper will then also lose focus on the other end of the scale, making the skills associated with the opposite end unavailable. Therefore, the Rune-keeper can only effectively maneuver either their healing or damage abilities, but not both. Switching between proficiencies requires time. This release of this class was very controversial, as Turbine claims to have no use of magic in the Lord of the Rings world, as in the lore magic was restricted to the Ainur.
As well as these new classes, current classes that were available with the release of The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar
were improved with added skills for the additional levels included in the expansion.
's short sword Sting, Gandalf
's Glamdring and Aragorn's Andúril are renowned as superior implements of battle, and Turbine wanted to give players a similar sense of ownership over their own hardcore hardware. To that end, two new NPCs called Forge Masters and Relic Masters were added to assist in the construction and maintenance of a special new class of customizable weapon. These weapons, denoted by gilded borders on their icons, can be forged and re-forged with a variety of abilities and stat boosts and actually grow in efficacy over time.
While Forge Masters are necessary to identify and reforge the legendary weapons and items a character may come across throughout his or her adventures, Relic Masters provide the raw materials for further modifications and can break down existing weapons into their constituent runes. Basically, players can choose to have a Relic Master destroy some of their legendary equipment for components that they can then infuse into another, while Forge Masters undo these infusions and increase the item's abilities through successive recastings. Players can even name their gear during the reforging process, giving their new gear a specific identity.
Their legendary equipment gains experience and levels alongside their character, so the more they are used, the more powerful the items will become. Special drops known as Heritage runes can be applied to legendary gear that will instantly increase the amount of experience points and artificially level them. Between the increased potency through use and the reforging and slotting of stat-boosting runes and gems, the Legendary Item Advancement System has the intended side benefit of eliminating the "loot malaise" that goes along with scoring new gear that may outshine previous hard-won acquisitions. For instance, if a player likes his axe he needn't vendor them just because he found some new axe with slightly better stats, because he can just break down the new axe and add some of its pieces to his old standby. It's not a straight-across stat trade, but it should give his favourite pieces a bit of extra longevity.
Currently, each class may acquire and equip two items: a class weapon, and a class item. The weapon may be any of the common types of weapon available to the class, while the item is often a class-specific aid (such as a Minstrel's songbook or a Captain's emblem). These Legendary items range in base power by level (51-60), rarity (Third
-, Second
-, or First Age
), and the random abilities assigned to them. Because of this, it is quite possible for, say, a common Third Age weapon at level 60 to outperform a rare Second Age at level 55. It is even possible, though extremely rare, for the combination of random attributes on the player's first, quest-granted weapon to prove superior to all subsequent combinations. Thus the intended goal, the prevention of 'loot malaise', holds theoretically true, if statistically improbable. It also remains confined to the Legendary system items, at least for now.
The last part and the epilogue are part of the Siege of Mirkwood expansion.
Moria is opened! An expedition of Dwarves send by King Dain Ironfoot and known as the Iron Garrison begins its attempts to excavate and enter the Hollin Gate, shortly after the Fellowship's passage. Led by Dwarves Bosi and Brogur, sons of Bifur and Bofur, they finally succeed with the player's help, yet when the last rocks are cleared, the Watcher in the Water
attacks the assembled Dwarves, claiming the life of Brogur's son Broin. As the Dwarves regroup, they turn their hope to a discovered cache of older weapons, tasking the player with discovering if one such weapon might be endowed with the power to fight off such a foe as the Watcher
. After selecting, training with, and reforging such a weapon, the Iron Garrison faces the Watcher again. This time, it is forced from the Black Pool, and the Iron Garrison passes into Moria.
Book II - Echoes in the Dark
Establishing themselves in their new home, the Iron Garrison begins the task of rediscovering the lore and artifacts of their heritage. One such passage of lore speaks of an ancient Dwarf-smith, favored by Durin
, who endeavored to create an axe of solid mithril
. So large was the task that an entire forge was created specifically for it: The Heart of Fire. After searching the mines for clues to its location, the Heart of Fire is unearthed, yet the axe, Zigilburk, is nowhere to be found. Nevertheless, the Dwarves are heartened by the recovery of one of their greatest forges, and Brogur pushes onward into Moria, establishing a command post in the Twenty-First Hall.
Book III - The Lord of Moria
Brogur sees to the defense of the Twenty-First Hall, only to learn of the presence of the White Hand's minions nearby. Meanwhile, excavation begins in the Chamber of Mazarbul, producing the Book of Mazarbul, a record of the demise of Balin's Company. While Bosi takes on the task of reading the tome in its entirety, his son Bori plans a strike against the White Hand in Broin's honor. While a pair of Dwarves cause a diversion, Bori and the player sneak into the White Hand camp and confront the commander, Ashpar. Before he dies, Ashpar boasts that his is not the major power, and mentions the name of Mazog, son of Azog and brother of Bolg. Brogur rests assured that Ashpar was simply boasting, yet the news weighs heavy on Bosi. Mazog, he reveals, was the Orc
commander responsible for the demise of Balin's
company at Mazarbul.
Book IV - Fire and Water
The Orcs and Dwarves each prepare for war. Fearing that attacks may be imminent, Brogur and Bori see that the defenses are secured at the Twenty-First Hall, the Chamber of Crossroads, and the Heart of Fire. The player is sent into the rotting Waterworks and Orc-infested Flaming Deeps beneath Moria to both harass the Orcs and gather supplies. In the meantime, Bori sneaks a look at the Book of Mazarbul, finding mention there of a Dwarf named Óin who went off in search of Zigilburk. Bori and the player follow Óin's path, arriving after a time at a flooded treasury, The Hall of Mithril. There they find not only Zigilburk, but also Broin, wounded yet alive, and the Watcher in the Water
. The player drives the Watcher
from the hall once again, and the Dwarves return in victory. Yet Broin confesses from his sickbed that he feels a dread about Zigilburk, and fears it may be cursed. Bori does not agree with Broin.
Book V - Drums in the Deep
Broin is still worried about the repercussions of recovering Zigilburk, yet Bori laughs them off and sends the player to Zabadgathol, Mazog's fortress, to defeat some of his bodyguards. Some of these in their dying words speak of an alliance they have obtained, and the player is sent away to collect some of the treasure in Zabadgathol to see if it can shed some light on the issue. It is discovered that Mazog is indeed allied with Dol Guldur
. Upon discovery, Bori plans a raid on Zabadgathol to defeat Mazog once and for all. Yet the appearance of Gorothul, Sauron's servant from Dol Guldur, ruins the plan and despite Zigilburk, Bori along with the legendary axe are captured while the player is sent to deliver the news to the Dwarves. After this blow, Bosi has lost hope in the expedition to reclaim Moria, and leaves it up to the player to see to the defenses during a major raid by Mazog's forces, in which the Dwarves succeed for a time.
Book VI - The Shadowy Abyss
Even after the successful defense of several key locations, Bosi's spirits are still low. He sends the player to Lothlórien to seek help from the Elves
of the Golden Wood. After proving to Haldir that you are indeed a friend, the player is asked to assist Haldir's brothers in patrolling the borders of the Wood while messengers are sent to Galadriel
to relay Bosi's request for aid. By the time the task is done, a company of elves has been sent to the Foundations of Stone, while player is directed to help them. The players learns that the Elves believe Dol Guldur is behind this move of the Orcs, the proof of which is soon discovered. The player is then instructed to find clues of Gandalf
's passage through the area, and his fater following the fall from the Bridge of Khazad-Dum begins to unravel. An Elf named Magor has gone missing, and the player is sent to discover his fate. Magor is found captured by Orcs, and the player is able to free him from his captors. Magor then asks for the player's help in defeating the source of the evil that Galadriel
sensed beneath Moria. After a hard-fought battle, the player defeats the nameless creature in the depths of the cave. Finally, hearing of the victory the Lady Galadriel summons the player to her garden where many secrets are revealed, including a partial explanation of the fate of Gandalf.
Book VII - Leaves of Lórien
The Fellowship rests in Lórien, while Elves and Dwarves take their first steps toward peace. Bosi is granted an audience with Celeborn
and Galadriel
, resulting in a contingent of Galadhrim being dispatched to aid the Dwarves in Moria. Among their first joint tasks is to sweep an infestation of the fungus-infested Orcs called the Globsnaga from a recent excavation in Buzun-ghar - a matter that proves especially frustrating to Broin, in the wake of Bori's capture. Instead of working to free their kinsmen, Brogur is pushing ahead with mining efforts, tasking Broin with searching old mining records for notes on potential nodes. Yet such efforts once again prove fruitful, as one record speaks of a secret emergency passage leading from Durin's throne (on which Mazog now sits) to Buzun-ghar. Through its use, and the cooperation of Elf and Dwarf alike, Mazog is captured, yet Bori is nowhere to be found, having been already sent away to Dol Guldur
. Celeborn
grants the player an audience, commending them while also disagreeing on the notion of sparing Mazog's life. Haldir confesses the time may be drawing near for the Elves to cross the Anduin
to confront the evil in Mirkwood
directly.
Book VIII - Scourge of Khazad-dûm
Issuriel, Lothlórien history keeper, asks the player to recount the finer points of the escape with Mazog in tow from his throne room. Mazog lets slip a chilling fact: that he's not interested in being a king of Moria because Moria will soon become not fit even for the rule of the Orcs, referring to the rise of ancient nameless creatures from within the depth of Moria. This concerns both the Elves within Foundations of Stone and the Dwarves in the Upper levels. Several relics left by Gorothul before his leave for Dol Guldur are found to attract the nameless creatures, yet the player manages to destroy them.
The conclusion of the Epic Volume 2 takes place within the Siege of Mirkwood expansion
Book IX - Fortress of the Nazgul
An full-front assault is launched against Dol Guldur by the Elves of Lothlorien, under the banners of the Golden Host. Meanwhile, a small band of Elves known as the Hidden Guard also crosses the river Anduin in secret, with Mazog as their prisoner. Accompanied by player and Dwarf Broin, the seek to exchange the life of Mazog for the life of the prisoners, including Dwarf Bori. Yet while militaty campaign of the Golden Host goes well, the Hidden Guards faces the risk of disaster since the very start: Raddir, the scout, is found dead before he reveals the planned route and soon Issuriel, the scholar, is poisoned by the deadly spiders alongside Mazog. The stout Elf Achardor becomes furious that his friend has been wounded and threatens Mazog's life if Issuriel falls. Issuriel speaks of a rare antidote that will cure the poison but later refuses to take it, allowing Mazog to take it instead. Achardor is even more outraged with this action taken but just before Issuriel loses her life the Dwarf Broin brings another portion of antidote and the quest to Dol Guldur continues. The Hidden Guard soon arrives at the gates of Dol Guldur where the planned exchange takes place. But Gorothul and Ringwraiths who arrive at the scene refuse to hand over Bori, and Achardor sacrifices himself, allowing the rest to escape, while Mazog goes with Gorothul into Dol Guldur. The mission of the Hidden Guard is a total failure, yet the military campaign of the Golden Host goes extremely well: multiple adversaries are slain, enemy communications are disrupted and the Tower of Dol Guldur itself besieged. The task meant to be secret is accomplished by force and Bori is rescued from the Dungeons of Dol Guldur. He recounts a secret passage into tower, once used by Gandalf to find Thorin's father Thrain
. The passage is used to launch a surprise assault and during battle in the tower, Broin slays Mazog, reclaiming the mithril axe Zigilburk.
Epilogue - Of Elves and Dwarves
While the assault was successful, the Elves do not have the strength to break the walls of the fortress. Enemy reinforcements are coming from the East and the Elves prepare to fall back beyond Anduin: the whole campaign was a diversion both to weaken the enemy and allow the Fellowship to safely depart Lothlorien. Both Elves and Dwarves finish the last deeds throughout southern Mirkwood. The axe Zigilburk is buried yet again where the dwarves found it, to never wield its power again. The Elves of Lothlórien also strike several additional blows against the dark fortress, and Gorothul is challenged within his quarters in Sammath Gul, and finally defeated.
by adding the area of Moria and Lothlórien:
Inside Moria there are seven important 6-player instances: Fil-gashan (FG), Forges of Khazad-dûm (Forges), Grand Stair (GS), Halls of Crafting (HoC), Skumfil (Skum), 16th Hall (16th), and Dark Delvings (DD). Each of them has different loot rewards and involving quests. These instances may be completed in two modes, Normal and Hard mode. Hard mode will reward the group with even more Medallions of Moria, coins that can be bartered for one sole piece of a class-specific gear set. For example, completing Grand Stairs in hard mode will reward each player with a total of 7 Medallions which can be accumulated and then bartered by any class for a piece of the class-specific gear set of their choice.
Also, two new three-mans have been added with Book 8. The Mirror-Halls of Lumul-nar(HoM), where bats and evil merrevail have occupied them. The merrevail seek to forever extinguish the light of the dwarf-mirrors and bring darkness once more to Moria. Nâla-dûm (The Water-Wheels), among it were the great Water-works which funneled water from the mountains into the halls of Moria. The chief engine of this process lay within the chambers known as Nâla-dûm.
Aside from those, there are currently three raids that can be completed with a 12-player group. Harazgund, where the Watcher in the Water
is found; Dâr Narbugud, where the Mistress of Pestilence seeks to bring her plague to the world of light; and Filikul, where a giant turtle dwells.
There are also over ten instances which may be completed by players. They involve part of the Epic story or may be quest related.
Solo Instances
There are several instances that can only be completed by one person. Some are a new addition in Book 7 which are commonly called Crafting Instances. These instances reward the player with several resources used in crafting and with barter tokens that may be exchanged for several goods.
There are also several solo instances which involve part of the epic story or may be quest related.
Jeffrey Steefel
revealed plans to add a new "volume" each year. The expansion The Mines of Moria and subsequent content updates (patches) will signal the end of Tolkien's first book, The Fellowship of the Ring
, and set the tone for the second, The Two Towers
, which will allow players to visit Rohan
, the Dead Marshes
, and more. Turbine plans to gradually include the entirety of north-western Middle-earth in more expansions. Lately, game developers have stated that the next expansion will come before the end of the year 2009 together with the introduction of level-adjustable instances and new explorable areas. On September 4, 2009, it was announced that the next expansion would be Siege of Mirkwood.
who worked on the first installment of The Lord of the Rings Online
has been confirmed to be working on the expansion.
's Kevin VanOrd stating, "The bowels of Middle-earth have no right to be this interesting to investigate..." WarCry.com
went so far as to call it "[t]he best fantasy MMORPG yet created". Gaming Trend claimed it beat World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King
(released at roughly the same time) as an expansion, citing its replay value and gameplay quality. The review also praised Turbine for making a complete expansion, rather than simply cashing in on the license in their possession. EuroGamer observed the story as one of the high points, stating that frequently this is a weakness of many MMOs. Rather, LotRO was said to be faithful to Tolkien's original narrative, and thus provided a very good storyline.
Expansion pack
An expansion pack, expansion set, or supplement is an addition to an existing role-playing game, tabletop game or video game. These add-ons usually add new game areas, weapons, objects, and/or an extended storyline to a complete and already released game...
for the MMORPG
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar
The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar
The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game for Microsoft Windows set in a fantasy universe based upon J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth writings...
released on November 18, 2008. It was announced on March 14, 2008 at Codemasters Online Connect 2008.
The storyline is set in Moria
Moria (Middle-earth)
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, Moria was the name given by the Eldar to an enormous underground complex in north-western Middle-earth, comprising a vast network of tunnels, chambers, mines and huge halls or 'mansions', that ran under and ultimately through the Misty Mountains...
, an enormous underground complex in north-western Middle-earth
Middle-earth
Middle-earth is the fictional setting of the majority of author J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings take place entirely in Middle-earth, as does much of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales....
. Apart from that, the expansion also adds the region Lórien. The game's level cap has been increased to level 60; and the expansion (also called "Volume II") extends the Epic storyline by six more books, and adds two new classes, the Rune-keeper and the Warden. Other new features include environment aware AI
Ai
AI, A.I., Ai, or ai may refer to:- Computers :* Artificial intelligence, a branch of computer science* Ad impression, in online advertising* .ai, the ISO Internet 2-letter country code for Anguilla...
, dynamic lighting, and a new weapon
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
enhancement system.
Unlock the Mines of Moria
The expansion was promotePromotion (marketing)
Promotion is one of the four elements of marketing mix . It is the communication link between sellers and buyers for the purpose of influencing, informing, or persuading a potential buyer's purchasing decision....
d through playing web-based minigame
Minigame
A minigame is a short video game often contained within another video game. A minigame is always smaller or more simplistic than the game in which it is contained. Minigames are sometimes also offered separately for free to promote the main game...
s. Visitors could play three games: King Under the Mountain, Swig & Toss, Eleventy-Seven Morsels at the official site. By performing certain tasks players could complete "deeds", three of which unlocked a "goodie". These included one trailer and three pieces of game art. By applying for a beta invitation, players could also receive a fourth game art.
New classes
The expansion adds two new classes to the game: Warden and Rune-keeper.Wardens primarily use spears (though they can opt for other small arms) and wear medium armour, making them neither a tank nor a DPS
Damage per second
Damage per second is a term used with computer games to describe the average rate of damage inflicted over time. The term is especially common in massively multiplayer online role-playing games and is a key aspect of theorycraft...
class specifically. Designed to represent the equivalent of a town sheriff, Wardens are protectors that specialize in combination attacks using their Gambit User Interface. The idea is that a Warden will execute their abilities in certain sequences that eventually culminate in a special attack only available after completing the prescribed set of moves. In practice, the Warden's Gambit UI is an array of two to five (depending on character level) squares that slot the abilities as you use them. Once all of the squares have been filled, a new skill will flash at the end of the bar as it becomes available.
Rune-keepers are the closest things to magic-users offered in The Lord of the Rings Online, but they aren't magicians in the traditional sense. Their new Attunement mechanic is represented by a bar with a sliding scale to illustrate whether they're attuned to dealing damage or healing wounds. As a Rune-keeper uses either healing or damaging abilities, the scale slides towards either end of the bar and the Rune-keeper's proficiency in either focus increases. As the Rune-keeper increases focus towards one end of the scale, more of those skills become available in greater power. However, the Rune-keeper will then also lose focus on the other end of the scale, making the skills associated with the opposite end unavailable. Therefore, the Rune-keeper can only effectively maneuver either their healing or damage abilities, but not both. Switching between proficiencies requires time. This release of this class was very controversial, as Turbine claims to have no use of magic in the Lord of the Rings world, as in the lore magic was restricted to the Ainur.
As well as these new classes, current classes that were available with the release of The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar
The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar
The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game for Microsoft Windows set in a fantasy universe based upon J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth writings...
were improved with added skills for the additional levels included in the expansion.
Legendary Items
The new Legendary Item Advancement System is designed to replicate the kind of connection with individual weapons characteristic of the most famous weapons found in Tolkien lore. BilboBilbo Baggins
Bilbo Baggins is the protagonist and titular character of The Hobbit and a supporting character in The Lord of the Rings, two of the most well-known of J. R. R...
's short sword Sting, Gandalf
Gandalf
Gandalf is a character in J. R. R. Tolkien's novels The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. In these stories, Gandalf appears as a wizard, member and later the head of the order known as the Istari, as well as leader of the Fellowship of the Ring and the army of the West...
's Glamdring and Aragorn's Andúril are renowned as superior implements of battle, and Turbine wanted to give players a similar sense of ownership over their own hardcore hardware. To that end, two new NPCs called Forge Masters and Relic Masters were added to assist in the construction and maintenance of a special new class of customizable weapon. These weapons, denoted by gilded borders on their icons, can be forged and re-forged with a variety of abilities and stat boosts and actually grow in efficacy over time.
While Forge Masters are necessary to identify and reforge the legendary weapons and items a character may come across throughout his or her adventures, Relic Masters provide the raw materials for further modifications and can break down existing weapons into their constituent runes. Basically, players can choose to have a Relic Master destroy some of their legendary equipment for components that they can then infuse into another, while Forge Masters undo these infusions and increase the item's abilities through successive recastings. Players can even name their gear during the reforging process, giving their new gear a specific identity.
Their legendary equipment gains experience and levels alongside their character, so the more they are used, the more powerful the items will become. Special drops known as Heritage runes can be applied to legendary gear that will instantly increase the amount of experience points and artificially level them. Between the increased potency through use and the reforging and slotting of stat-boosting runes and gems, the Legendary Item Advancement System has the intended side benefit of eliminating the "loot malaise" that goes along with scoring new gear that may outshine previous hard-won acquisitions. For instance, if a player likes his axe he needn't vendor them just because he found some new axe with slightly better stats, because he can just break down the new axe and add some of its pieces to his old standby. It's not a straight-across stat trade, but it should give his favourite pieces a bit of extra longevity.
Currently, each class may acquire and equip two items: a class weapon, and a class item. The weapon may be any of the common types of weapon available to the class, while the item is often a class-specific aid (such as a Minstrel's songbook or a Captain's emblem). These Legendary items range in base power by level (51-60), rarity (Third
Third Age
The Third Age is a time period from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fantasy writings. The history of Middle-earth is to be taken fictionally as a history of the real Earth....
-, Second
Second Age
The Second Age is a time period from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fantasy writings. Tolkien intended for the history of Middle-earth to be considered fictionally as a precursor to the history of the real Earth....
-, or First Age
First Age
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, the First Age, or First Age of the Children of Ilúvatar is the heroic period in which most of Tolkien's early legends are set...
), and the random abilities assigned to them. Because of this, it is quite possible for, say, a common Third Age weapon at level 60 to outperform a rare Second Age at level 55. It is even possible, though extremely rare, for the combination of random attributes on the player's first, quest-granted weapon to prove superior to all subsequent combinations. Thus the intended goal, the prevention of 'loot malaise', holds theoretically true, if statistically improbable. It also remains confined to the Legendary system items, at least for now.
Storyline
The second and wholly unrelated to the first story line, the Epic Quests, continues the player in following the path of the fellowship. Much like the first, it focuses on both new additions, created by the makers of the game, and directly related material from the Lord of the Rings story, though this storyline occasionally conflicts with the lore.The last part and the epilogue are part of the Siege of Mirkwood expansion.
Volume II: Mines of Moria
Book I - The Walls of MoriaMoria is opened! An expedition of Dwarves send by King Dain Ironfoot and known as the Iron Garrison begins its attempts to excavate and enter the Hollin Gate, shortly after the Fellowship's passage. Led by Dwarves Bosi and Brogur, sons of Bifur and Bofur, they finally succeed with the player's help, yet when the last rocks are cleared, the Watcher in the Water
Watcher in the Water
The Watcher in the Water is a fictional creature in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium; it appears in The Fellowship of the Ring, the first volume of The Lord of the Rings...
attacks the assembled Dwarves, claiming the life of Brogur's son Broin. As the Dwarves regroup, they turn their hope to a discovered cache of older weapons, tasking the player with discovering if one such weapon might be endowed with the power to fight off such a foe as the Watcher
Watcher in the Water
The Watcher in the Water is a fictional creature in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium; it appears in The Fellowship of the Ring, the first volume of The Lord of the Rings...
. After selecting, training with, and reforging such a weapon, the Iron Garrison faces the Watcher again. This time, it is forced from the Black Pool, and the Iron Garrison passes into Moria.
Book II - Echoes in the Dark
Establishing themselves in their new home, the Iron Garrison begins the task of rediscovering the lore and artifacts of their heritage. One such passage of lore speaks of an ancient Dwarf-smith, favored by Durin
Durin
Durin is the name of seven Kings of Dwarves in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. They were held by the Dwarves to be the reincarnations of the first one, Durin the Deathless, resembling him in appearance and said to have preserved memories of their 'earlier lives'.Tolkien took the name Durin, like...
, who endeavored to create an axe of solid mithril
Mithril
Mithril is a fictional metal, originally used in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fantasy writings. It is described as silvery and stronger than steel but much lighter in weight. The malleability, lack of tarnishing and use of the metal in jewellery suggest some similarity to the non-fictional metal...
. So large was the task that an entire forge was created specifically for it: The Heart of Fire. After searching the mines for clues to its location, the Heart of Fire is unearthed, yet the axe, Zigilburk, is nowhere to be found. Nevertheless, the Dwarves are heartened by the recovery of one of their greatest forges, and Brogur pushes onward into Moria, establishing a command post in the Twenty-First Hall.
Book III - The Lord of Moria
Brogur sees to the defense of the Twenty-First Hall, only to learn of the presence of the White Hand's minions nearby. Meanwhile, excavation begins in the Chamber of Mazarbul, producing the Book of Mazarbul, a record of the demise of Balin's Company. While Bosi takes on the task of reading the tome in its entirety, his son Bori plans a strike against the White Hand in Broin's honor. While a pair of Dwarves cause a diversion, Bori and the player sneak into the White Hand camp and confront the commander, Ashpar. Before he dies, Ashpar boasts that his is not the major power, and mentions the name of Mazog, son of Azog and brother of Bolg. Brogur rests assured that Ashpar was simply boasting, yet the news weighs heavy on Bosi. Mazog, he reveals, was the Orc
Orc (Middle-earth)
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings, Orcs or Orks are a race of creatures who are used as soldiers and henchmen by both the greater and lesser villains of The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings — Morgoth, Sauron and Saruman...
commander responsible for the demise of Balin's
Balin (Middle-earth)
Balin is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. He is an important supporting character in The Hobbit, and is mentioned in The Fellowship of the Ring.-In the books:...
company at Mazarbul.
Book IV - Fire and Water
The Orcs and Dwarves each prepare for war. Fearing that attacks may be imminent, Brogur and Bori see that the defenses are secured at the Twenty-First Hall, the Chamber of Crossroads, and the Heart of Fire. The player is sent into the rotting Waterworks and Orc-infested Flaming Deeps beneath Moria to both harass the Orcs and gather supplies. In the meantime, Bori sneaks a look at the Book of Mazarbul, finding mention there of a Dwarf named Óin who went off in search of Zigilburk. Bori and the player follow Óin's path, arriving after a time at a flooded treasury, The Hall of Mithril. There they find not only Zigilburk, but also Broin, wounded yet alive, and the Watcher in the Water
Watcher in the Water
The Watcher in the Water is a fictional creature in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium; it appears in The Fellowship of the Ring, the first volume of The Lord of the Rings...
. The player drives the Watcher
Watcher in the Water
The Watcher in the Water is a fictional creature in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium; it appears in The Fellowship of the Ring, the first volume of The Lord of the Rings...
from the hall once again, and the Dwarves return in victory. Yet Broin confesses from his sickbed that he feels a dread about Zigilburk, and fears it may be cursed. Bori does not agree with Broin.
Book V - Drums in the Deep
Broin is still worried about the repercussions of recovering Zigilburk, yet Bori laughs them off and sends the player to Zabadgathol, Mazog's fortress, to defeat some of his bodyguards. Some of these in their dying words speak of an alliance they have obtained, and the player is sent away to collect some of the treasure in Zabadgathol to see if it can shed some light on the issue. It is discovered that Mazog is indeed allied with Dol Guldur
Dol Guldur
Dol Guldur was Sauron's stronghold in Mirkwood in the fictional world of J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. It is first mentioned in The Hobbit. The hill itself, rocky and barren, was the highest point in the southwestern part of the forest. Before Sauron's occupation it was called Amon Lanc...
. Upon discovery, Bori plans a raid on Zabadgathol to defeat Mazog once and for all. Yet the appearance of Gorothul, Sauron's servant from Dol Guldur, ruins the plan and despite Zigilburk, Bori along with the legendary axe are captured while the player is sent to deliver the news to the Dwarves. After this blow, Bosi has lost hope in the expedition to reclaim Moria, and leaves it up to the player to see to the defenses during a major raid by Mazog's forces, in which the Dwarves succeed for a time.
Book VI - The Shadowy Abyss
Even after the successful defense of several key locations, Bosi's spirits are still low. He sends the player to Lothlórien to seek help from the Elves
Elf (Middle-earth)
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Elves are one of the races that inhabit a fictional Earth, often called Middle-earth, and set in the remote past. They appear in The Hobbit and in The Lord of the Rings, but their complex history is described more fully in The Silmarillion...
of the Golden Wood. After proving to Haldir that you are indeed a friend, the player is asked to assist Haldir's brothers in patrolling the borders of the Wood while messengers are sent to Galadriel
Galadriel
Galadriel is a character created by J.R.R. Tolkien, appearing in his Middle-earth legendarium. She appears in The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, and Unfinished Tales....
to relay Bosi's request for aid. By the time the task is done, a company of elves has been sent to the Foundations of Stone, while player is directed to help them. The players learns that the Elves believe Dol Guldur is behind this move of the Orcs, the proof of which is soon discovered. The player is then instructed to find clues of Gandalf
Gandalf
Gandalf is a character in J. R. R. Tolkien's novels The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. In these stories, Gandalf appears as a wizard, member and later the head of the order known as the Istari, as well as leader of the Fellowship of the Ring and the army of the West...
's passage through the area, and his fater following the fall from the Bridge of Khazad-Dum begins to unravel. An Elf named Magor has gone missing, and the player is sent to discover his fate. Magor is found captured by Orcs, and the player is able to free him from his captors. Magor then asks for the player's help in defeating the source of the evil that Galadriel
Galadriel
Galadriel is a character created by J.R.R. Tolkien, appearing in his Middle-earth legendarium. She appears in The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, and Unfinished Tales....
sensed beneath Moria. After a hard-fought battle, the player defeats the nameless creature in the depths of the cave. Finally, hearing of the victory the Lady Galadriel summons the player to her garden where many secrets are revealed, including a partial explanation of the fate of Gandalf.
Book VII - Leaves of Lórien
The Fellowship rests in Lórien, while Elves and Dwarves take their first steps toward peace. Bosi is granted an audience with Celeborn
Celeborn
Celeborn is a fictional character in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He appears in The Lord of the Rings as the Elven husband of Galadriel, Lord of the Galadhrim; and co-ruler along with Galadriel of Lothlórien. He was the father of Celebrían — the wife of Elrond — and thus the...
and Galadriel
Galadriel
Galadriel is a character created by J.R.R. Tolkien, appearing in his Middle-earth legendarium. She appears in The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, and Unfinished Tales....
, resulting in a contingent of Galadhrim being dispatched to aid the Dwarves in Moria. Among their first joint tasks is to sweep an infestation of the fungus-infested Orcs called the Globsnaga from a recent excavation in Buzun-ghar - a matter that proves especially frustrating to Broin, in the wake of Bori's capture. Instead of working to free their kinsmen, Brogur is pushing ahead with mining efforts, tasking Broin with searching old mining records for notes on potential nodes. Yet such efforts once again prove fruitful, as one record speaks of a secret emergency passage leading from Durin's throne (on which Mazog now sits) to Buzun-ghar. Through its use, and the cooperation of Elf and Dwarf alike, Mazog is captured, yet Bori is nowhere to be found, having been already sent away to Dol Guldur
Dol Guldur
Dol Guldur was Sauron's stronghold in Mirkwood in the fictional world of J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. It is first mentioned in The Hobbit. The hill itself, rocky and barren, was the highest point in the southwestern part of the forest. Before Sauron's occupation it was called Amon Lanc...
. Celeborn
Celeborn
Celeborn is a fictional character in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He appears in The Lord of the Rings as the Elven husband of Galadriel, Lord of the Galadhrim; and co-ruler along with Galadriel of Lothlórien. He was the father of Celebrían — the wife of Elrond — and thus the...
grants the player an audience, commending them while also disagreeing on the notion of sparing Mazog's life. Haldir confesses the time may be drawing near for the Elves to cross the Anduin
Anduin
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth, Anduin is the Sindarin name for the Great River of Wilderland, the longest river in the Third Age . The ancestors of the Rohirrim called it Langflood. It flowed from its source in the Grey and Misty Mountains to the Mouths of Anduin in the Great Sea...
to confront the evil in Mirkwood
Mirkwood
Mirkwood is a name used for two distinct fictional forests in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. In the First Age, the highlands of Dorthonion north of Beleriand were known as Mirkwood after falling under Morgoth's control. During the Third Age, the large forest in Rhovanion, east of the Anduin in ...
directly.
Book VIII - Scourge of Khazad-dûm
Issuriel, Lothlórien history keeper, asks the player to recount the finer points of the escape with Mazog in tow from his throne room. Mazog lets slip a chilling fact: that he's not interested in being a king of Moria because Moria will soon become not fit even for the rule of the Orcs, referring to the rise of ancient nameless creatures from within the depth of Moria. This concerns both the Elves within Foundations of Stone and the Dwarves in the Upper levels. Several relics left by Gorothul before his leave for Dol Guldur are found to attract the nameless creatures, yet the player manages to destroy them.
The conclusion of the Epic Volume 2 takes place within the Siege of Mirkwood expansion
Book IX - Fortress of the Nazgul
An full-front assault is launched against Dol Guldur by the Elves of Lothlorien, under the banners of the Golden Host. Meanwhile, a small band of Elves known as the Hidden Guard also crosses the river Anduin in secret, with Mazog as their prisoner. Accompanied by player and Dwarf Broin, the seek to exchange the life of Mazog for the life of the prisoners, including Dwarf Bori. Yet while militaty campaign of the Golden Host goes well, the Hidden Guards faces the risk of disaster since the very start: Raddir, the scout, is found dead before he reveals the planned route and soon Issuriel, the scholar, is poisoned by the deadly spiders alongside Mazog. The stout Elf Achardor becomes furious that his friend has been wounded and threatens Mazog's life if Issuriel falls. Issuriel speaks of a rare antidote that will cure the poison but later refuses to take it, allowing Mazog to take it instead. Achardor is even more outraged with this action taken but just before Issuriel loses her life the Dwarf Broin brings another portion of antidote and the quest to Dol Guldur continues. The Hidden Guard soon arrives at the gates of Dol Guldur where the planned exchange takes place. But Gorothul and Ringwraiths who arrive at the scene refuse to hand over Bori, and Achardor sacrifices himself, allowing the rest to escape, while Mazog goes with Gorothul into Dol Guldur. The mission of the Hidden Guard is a total failure, yet the military campaign of the Golden Host goes extremely well: multiple adversaries are slain, enemy communications are disrupted and the Tower of Dol Guldur itself besieged. The task meant to be secret is accomplished by force and Bori is rescued from the Dungeons of Dol Guldur. He recounts a secret passage into tower, once used by Gandalf to find Thorin's father Thrain
Thráin II
Thráin II is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. He is first mentioned in The Hobbit, and more of his history is given in Unfinished Tales.A Dwarven king, Thráin is the son of Thrór and father of Thorin Oakenshield...
. The passage is used to launch a surprise assault and during battle in the tower, Broin slays Mazog, reclaiming the mithril axe Zigilburk.
Epilogue - Of Elves and Dwarves
While the assault was successful, the Elves do not have the strength to break the walls of the fortress. Enemy reinforcements are coming from the East and the Elves prepare to fall back beyond Anduin: the whole campaign was a diversion both to weaken the enemy and allow the Fellowship to safely depart Lothlorien. Both Elves and Dwarves finish the last deeds throughout southern Mirkwood. The axe Zigilburk is buried yet again where the dwarves found it, to never wield its power again. The Elves of Lothlórien also strike several additional blows against the dark fortress, and Gorothul is challenged within his quarters in Sammath Gul, and finally defeated.
Free Updates
Like Shadows of Angmar, Mines of Moria continued to regularly release updates. Updates have been less frequent than Shadows of Angmar.Book 7: Leaves of Lórien
Book 7 was released on March 17, 2009. This update included: (complete release notes)- Continuation of the Epic Storyline.
- Expansion of the Lothlórien Area including the reputation gated city of Caras GaladhonCaras GaladhonIn J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Caras Galadhon is a fictional city in his work The Lord of the Rings. It appears mostly in The Fellowship of the Ring, but it is also mentioned in the Appendices of The Return of the King....
and a conflict area north of the Golden Wood. - A new raid entitled "Strange Happenings" in the Waterworks.
- The new faction of the Galadhrim.
- Crafting instances allows players to gather resources.
- Revised new player experience in Ered Luin for Elves and Dwarves.
Book 8: Scourge of Khazad-dûm
Book 8 was released on June 23, 2009. This update included: (complete release notes)- Four new raids and instances: Dar Narbugud (a multi-boss, radiance-gated 12-man raid) in The Foundations of Stone, The Halls of Crafting (a 6-man instance), Lumul-nar (3-man instance) in Zirak-Zigil and Nala-dûm (3-man instance) in the Waterworks.
- Revised new player experience in Bree-land.
- The continuation of the storyline with the character returning to Moria.
New Areas
The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria expanded the world of Middle-earthMiddle-earth
Middle-earth is the fictional setting of the majority of author J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings take place entirely in Middle-earth, as does much of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales....
by adding the area of Moria and Lothlórien:
Moria
- Great Delving: Home to many chambers of Dwarvish lore and the Dolven-view, where the Iron-Garrison Expedition has set their first camp. Within this area, the player is introduced to the plans of the expedition and directed to other areas inside Moria.
- Durin's Way: Within this avenue of old, the player may find the Chamber of the Cross-roads and many a goblin camp. Orcs of the White-handSarumanSaruman the White is a fictional character and a major antagonist in J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings. He is leader of the Istari, wizards sent to Middle-earth in human form by the godlike Valar to challenge Sauron, the main antagonist of the tale, but later on aims at gaining...
have been seen prowling the roads and bat-like evils rest within its rooms.
- Zirak-zigil: At the highest peak of the Misty MountainsMisty MountainsIn J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy world of Middle-earth, the Misty Mountains is a mountain range, running for 795 miles from north to south, between Eriador and the valley of the Great River, Anduin, and...
, the player finds a harsh cold climate and as well as a smote evil of old. The Mirror-Halls of Lumul-nar are accessible through here.
- Zelem-melek: This previously hospitable delving is home to the Twenty-first Hall. Within this hall the player finds the main camp of the expedition, as well as the main centre for trade, training and services. The leaders of the expedition rest in the Chamber of Leadership and the Chamber of Mazarbul lies in ruin.
- Silvertine Lodes: One of the latest delvings inside Moria. This area is home to the Forgotten Treasury (6-player instance) as well as many secrets forgotten by time. Goblins have one of their many camps within this mine.
- The Water-works: This deep delving is flooded with water. Wheels creek and Globsnaga Orcs prowl its ways. The player may find the Rotten Cellar, quest hub for the area as well as several lizards, toads and turtles. The Watcher in the WaterWatcher in the WaterThe Watcher in the Water is a fictional creature in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium; it appears in The Fellowship of the Ring, the first volume of The Lord of the Rings...
lies hidden within the Vile Maw and a shelled mystery awaits you.
- Flaming Deeps: This previously habitable area in the deeps of Moria is now flaming with fire. The great Forges of Khazad-dûm can be found as well as the Orc keep of Fil-gashan and the Halls of Crating. This is one of the hardest areas for most classes. The player is challenged by fiery spirits of old and fire-orcs have established camps around its halls.
- Redhorn Lodes: Within one of the oldest delvings of the Dwarves, the White-hand Orcs have been seen infesting the mines. They have guarded themselves inside the Grand Stair and the player must clean the area and expel the orcs out of Moria. Two of the newest mines found by the expedition can be accessed by the player in the form of a Crafting Instance.
- Foundations of Stone: The Dwarves delved too greedily and too deep and they woke an ancient evil of earlier ages. Being the most difficult area inside Moria, the player fights off a dreadful infestation while clearing the chasm of Skumfil and the rune-caves of the Dark Delving.
- Nud-Melek: The entrance to Moria from the East, this area is home to the Bridge of Khazad-dûm and to the First and Second Hall. The Throne of Durin lies in its wastes and the 16th Hall is infested with Globsnaga Orcs.
Lothlorien
- Dimrill Dale: The West Doors of Moria and the Mirrormere are to be found. The player gets to help the Elves of Lothlórien to drive back the orcs into Moria and defend the borders of Lothlórien. Once inside the Golden Wood, the player has access to both pacific and war-like quests; while proving their worth in the Battle of Lórien (6-player battlefield instance).
- Caras Galadhon: The city in the Golden Wood, founded by Lord CelebornCelebornCeleborn is a fictional character in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He appears in The Lord of the Rings as the Elven husband of Galadriel, Lord of the Galadhrim; and co-ruler along with Galadriel of Lothlórien. He was the father of Celebrían — the wife of Elrond — and thus the...
and Lady GaladrielGaladrielGaladriel is a character created by J.R.R. Tolkien, appearing in his Middle-earth legendarium. She appears in The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, and Unfinished Tales....
.
Instances
Group InstancesInside Moria there are seven important 6-player instances: Fil-gashan (FG), Forges of Khazad-dûm (Forges), Grand Stair (GS), Halls of Crafting (HoC), Skumfil (Skum), 16th Hall (16th), and Dark Delvings (DD). Each of them has different loot rewards and involving quests. These instances may be completed in two modes, Normal and Hard mode. Hard mode will reward the group with even more Medallions of Moria, coins that can be bartered for one sole piece of a class-specific gear set. For example, completing Grand Stairs in hard mode will reward each player with a total of 7 Medallions which can be accumulated and then bartered by any class for a piece of the class-specific gear set of their choice.
Also, two new three-mans have been added with Book 8. The Mirror-Halls of Lumul-nar(HoM), where bats and evil merrevail have occupied them. The merrevail seek to forever extinguish the light of the dwarf-mirrors and bring darkness once more to Moria. Nâla-dûm (The Water-Wheels), among it were the great Water-works which funneled water from the mountains into the halls of Moria. The chief engine of this process lay within the chambers known as Nâla-dûm.
Aside from those, there are currently three raids that can be completed with a 12-player group. Harazgund, where the Watcher in the Water
Watcher in the Water
The Watcher in the Water is a fictional creature in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium; it appears in The Fellowship of the Ring, the first volume of The Lord of the Rings...
is found; Dâr Narbugud, where the Mistress of Pestilence seeks to bring her plague to the world of light; and Filikul, where a giant turtle dwells.
There are also over ten instances which may be completed by players. They involve part of the Epic story or may be quest related.
Solo Instances
There are several instances that can only be completed by one person. Some are a new addition in Book 7 which are commonly called Crafting Instances. These instances reward the player with several resources used in crafting and with barter tokens that may be exchanged for several goods.
There are also several solo instances which involve part of the epic story or may be quest related.
Future expansions
At a Mines of Moria presentation, Turbine'sTurbine, Inc.
Turbine, Inc. is an American computer game developer that pioneers 3D massively multiplayer online role-playing games . Turbine was founded by Johnny Monsarrat, Jeremy Gaffney, Kevin Langevin, and Timothy Miller, changing their company name in 2005 to Turbine, Inc...
Jeffrey Steefel
Jeffrey Steefel
Jeffrey Steefel is an American producer of video games and a former actor. He attended University of California, Davis where he earned a degree in drama. Since 2004, he has served as executive producer of The Lord of the Rings Online at Turbine, Inc....
revealed plans to add a new "volume" each year. The expansion The Mines of Moria and subsequent content updates (patches) will signal the end of Tolkien's first book, The Fellowship of the Ring
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Fellowship of the Ring is the first of three volumes of the epic novel The Lord of the Rings by the English author J. R. R. Tolkien. It takes place in the fictional universe Middle-earth. It was originally published on July 29, 1954 in the United Kingdom...
, and set the tone for the second, The Two Towers
The Two Towers
The Two Towers is the second volume of J. R. R. Tolkien's high fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings. It is preceded by The Fellowship of the Ring and followed by The Return of the King.-Title:...
, which will allow players to visit Rohan
Rohan
Rohan is a realm in J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy era of Middle-earth. It is a grassland which lies north of its ally Gondor and north-west of Mordor, the realm of Sauron, their enemy . It is inhabited by the Rohirrim, a people of herdsmen and farmers who are well-known for their horses and cavalry....
, the Dead Marshes
Dead Marshes
The Dead Marshes is a fictional place from J. R. R. Tolkien's universe, Middle-earth.-Literature:Once a part of the ancient battlefield of Dagorlad, the Dead Marshes lie north-west of the Morannon, the principal entrance to Mordor...
, and more. Turbine plans to gradually include the entirety of north-western Middle-earth in more expansions. Lately, game developers have stated that the next expansion will come before the end of the year 2009 together with the introduction of level-adjustable instances and new explorable areas. On September 4, 2009, it was announced that the next expansion would be Siege of Mirkwood.
Soundtrack
Critically acclaimed video game composer Chance ThomasChance Thomas
Chance Thomas is a composer and producer of original music for video games. He has worked on titles such as King Kong, X-Men, Lord of the Rings, and Quest for Glory V: Dragon Fire. Thomas' projects have won major awards, including the Oscar, Emmy, IGN, and G.A.N.G...
who worked on the first installment of The Lord of the Rings Online
The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar
The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game for Microsoft Windows set in a fantasy universe based upon J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth writings...
has been confirmed to be working on the expansion.
Critical reception
Mines of Moria has been praised for its attention to detail, with GameSpotGameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
's Kevin VanOrd stating, "The bowels of Middle-earth have no right to be this interesting to investigate..." WarCry.com
WarCry Network
WarCry Network is a fan-based web site network centered around MMOGs and other similar interests. It boasts a large community of professional web sites and databases for these games....
went so far as to call it "[t]he best fantasy MMORPG yet created". Gaming Trend claimed it beat World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, often referred to as WotLK, WLK or Wrath, is the second expansion set for the massively multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft, following The Burning Crusade...
(released at roughly the same time) as an expansion, citing its replay value and gameplay quality. The review also praised Turbine for making a complete expansion, rather than simply cashing in on the license in their possession. EuroGamer observed the story as one of the high points, stating that frequently this is a weakness of many MMOs. Rather, LotRO was said to be faithful to Tolkien's original narrative, and thus provided a very good storyline.