Thread	Replies	Last Post
book 8 this Thurs?	3	Taffette	02-07-2009 23:32
Devchat log from June 2009	0	Krispy	14-06-2009 13:03
hey, (i'm new, please be ni...	6	Taffette	05-06-2009 21:05
[Event] The Shades concert ...	7	achazia	04-06-2009 06:28
Bellin at the Summer festival	0	Krispy	02-06-2009 22:28

Book 8: Scourge of Khazad-dûm out now!

Codemasters Online is proud to announce that the latest major free content update to The Lord of the Rings Online™: Mines of Moria™ is now live and ready to play!


Free to subscribers, Book 8: Scourge of Khazad-dûm is a huge new update with a whole host of new features. These include the continuation of the Epic storyline, crafting revisited and the return of the Summer Festival.

NEW FEATURES:

• The Epic story continues
  
• New Boat-keepers offer Swift Travel routes across Lake Evendim!
  
• Free up inventory space with item stacking to 50 or 100!
  
• New barter system for First Age legendary weapons!
  
• New UI to fill out a stack of goods or enter the amount you need!
  
• Save your UI layout with the /UI command!

For more detailed information about what new content is included in Book 8, view the official patch notes or check out our Book 8 overview page.

Book 8 - released this Tuesday?

It looks likely that the awaiting book 8 update for LotrO will be released to the European Live servers this Tuesday (30th June).  Bad timing for me, as I'll be at the Spinal Tap gig in London, but hey ho :)

Barring any further unforeseen issues to prevent it, please note that this week's maintenance will take place on Tuesday, 30th June, starting 7.00 – 15.00 hours (GMT+1).

This is to update to Book 8: Scourge of Khazad-dûm along with the hotfixes to resolve issues with instances reported earlier in the week and stuck characters/connection issues reported on the US service.

To read the preview patch notes of everything that's been fixed and added, visit our patch notes section.

Please note that there will be no maintenance on Thursday, 2nd July.

Devchat June 2009

Warcry hosted the latest LotrO dev chat (June 12th 2009) - and we have the transcript of the questions asked; http://www.lordoftheringsonline.net/readarticle.php?article_id=35

During the question and answer session I was pestering Faya for a release date for book 8 - but she resisted all my efforts (including offers of chocolate), she's a tough cookie! :)

So all I know is, book 8 is going to be here 'Soon' (damn that word).  My guess is... within the next two weeks... I've got a feeling in my ale. :)

Possible book 8 changes

Here's a HUGE list of possible (or probable) changes coming in book 8 - and when will that be?  I reckon fairly soon now, if Turbine are to keep to their 2 month release cycle.

Epic Book 8:

The plans of Gorothúl, sorcerer of Dol Guldur, begin to be made clear as ancient evils stir again in the depths of Khazad-dûm. Small fellowships must form to combat this emerging threat before the hopes of the Iron Garrison and the Elves of Lothlórien are ended by the darkness. The story of The Mines of Moria continues with new quests and challenges!

 

Crafted Equipment minimum level usage requirement changed

Certain crafted equipment items had their minimum level usage requirement changed for Book 8. However, bound items in the player's possession which were changed to exceed the player's level will instead match the player's level. Non-bound and banked items are not versioned in this way.

 

Lothlorien Gift Box Changes:

• There is no longer a chance to receive First-age items.
• There is no longer a chance to receive Tier 4 Runics.
• The Heritage Runes have significantly increased in value.
  • The lowest value is now 75k.
  • The highest value is now 250k.
• There is now a chance to receive Level 58 and Level 59 Second-age items (you can still get Level 60 Second-age items as well).
• The odds have been tweaked, the most significant of which is that there's now a slightly higher chance of receiving a Second-age item, but a lower chance of that Second-age being Level 60 (due to the inclusion of Level 58 and 59 Second-age items).
• The costs of the gift boxes have been significantly reduced: they now cost 15G 30S.
• The descriptions of the gift boxes have been changed to more accurately reflect the potential rewards.
• The gift boxes are no longer class restricted for those who mistakenly purchased the wrong box.
• Please note that there will be no compensation for those who have already purchased a gift box: when you opened that gift box you had a chance to get a Level 60 First-age item.

Explanation of Changes:

The gift boxes have been changed from a high-risk / high-reward design to a more friendly middle-ground design. The high-end rewards have either been removed (First-age) or had their chances reduced (Level 60 Second-age), while the low-end rewards have either been removed (15k Heritage Rune, Tier 4 Runics) or increased (250k Heritage Runes are now available). Because the high-end rewards have been removed/reduced, the cost of the giftboxes has been reduced as well.

First Age Legendary Items

First Ages are now dropped via a barter system.Each raid now drops barter tokens that can be saved up to use to trade for the First Age item of your choice. Vile Maw, Strange Happenings, and Dar Narbugud will all drop multiple tokens. Go visit the barter traders at the Hythe docks to see all the possibilities.

• Level 59 First Age's will cost 4 tokens
• Level 60 First Age's will cost 6 tokens

Currently First Age Legendary items are Bind on Acquire on Bullroarer. This change will be reverted and will not go live when Book 8 ships.

Next European Dev Chat on Friday 12th June!

You've got another chance to put questions directly to the developers of LotrO (Turbine) during another developer chat on IRC.

Don't forget that on Friday 12th June it's the European IRC dev chat night! From 20.00 until 21.00 UK time, (GMT + 1). Developers from Turbine will be on hand to answer your questions about all things LOTRO!

For full details on how to participate, please visit Warcry's site.

Not going to be around for the chat? Send your questions in early to lotro-europe@codemasters.com.

Dev Chat question guidelines:
Be sure to put "Dev Chat Question" as the subject line
Only one question per person
Your question must be in English
We can't answer all questions but we will select a representative group from all submissions.

“My Kinship - It's better than yours” LOTRO Contest

Codemasters are running another European LotrO competition - and it sounds pretty good...

People of Middle-earth! We’re pleased to announce a brand new contest for The Lord of the Rings Online™. We want to see who’s got the best Kinship in all of Middle-earth, so Kinship leaders – it’s time to unite your fellow adventurers and show us how valiant, courageous and down-right good looking members of your Kinship are.

There are two ways to enter this contest:

1. Kinship Portrait
All you have to do to take part is send us a screenshot of your Kinship doing their thing, (be it fighting a fearsome foe, or simply posing for a family photo). Include a small caption explaining why your Kinship is the greatest of all Kinships amongst the Free People.

2. Best Kinship Residence
Send us the address of your Kinship house and we'll pay a visit to judge which Kinship has the best house! Judges will be looking for well-placed trophies, beautiful décor and of course good Feng Shui.

The winning Kinship in each category will each be immortalised on a brand new Kinships Hall of Fame web page on lotro-europe.com as well as a receiving a special forum avatar and title.

Early heads up on Book 8 update

Thanks to Renkosi for pointing out that some news about book 8 (free content update) has already been sneaked out.

Head over here: http://renkosi.com/t/228 to find out more. 

The 'skirmishes' sounds interesting, dynamically 'sized' opposition in instances based on your party size, making them more repeatable and accessible by small and large groups.

If you've not tried LotrO yet, WHY NOT!  The game is growing and growing, and now has a HUGE amount of content.   See the news stories below to find out how you can try for free, and buy the original game for only £4.99.  Bargain!

Have your cake and eat it!

To celebrate the 2-year anniversary of The Lord of the Rings Online™, (LOTRO), you have the chance to win a very special The Lord of the Rings Online cake as well as other LOTRO goodies. All you have to do is boast to us your best moment that you experienced in The Lord of the Rings Online game. Maybe you helped in a server first? Maybe you made it to Rivendell with your level 6 character, or perhaps you owned in the Ettenmoors. Whatever it is we want to hear it.

Send in your boasts to lotrocompetition@codemasters.com using "I want my cake" as the subject line. Entries must be 50 words or less. Best believable boasts will win a prize.

Entries must be received by midnight (GMT+1) on May 8th, 2009. Codemasters Online expects to announce the winners during the week of May 15th. Eligible winners will receive a The Lord of the Rings Online related prize.

Click here for the full, official rules and tips on sending in your entry!

2nd Year Anniversay Celebrations

Can you believe it.. LotrO enters it's 2nd year very soon, and therefore we are about to enter a period of anniversary celebrations!

Eurogamer are giving away 2000 game keys (so you can download the client and play without having to buy a box!).  Check out Eurogamer for details.

Codemasters and Turbine are about to run an amazing competition; Where you can win a trip to Boston (that's Boston America.. not fenland UK), and have dinner with the Turbine dev team!  Now that sounds like a great competition.  It would only be better if I got to come along too! :)

Also you can now buy the LotrO game for just £4.99!!  That's a digital download; Only available whilst stocks last. Visit the Codemasters e-store today.

And for those who already have the game;

"Anybody logging into the game will be able to join in the celebrations in true Middle-earth style, with a program of live, in-game events and competitions.

Existing players will also be receiving cool birthday presents, with FREE birthday cakes being mailed out and FREE in-game items being distributed throughout the day for numerous lucky individuals."

 

BOOK 7 Relased (EU) today!

The latest FREE update to LotrO was released onto the servers today, so if you run up LotrO, you'll probably see you have a big update to do!

So while you wait, why not read some of the things which are included...

Welcome to Lórien
You have braved the darkest depths of Moria and battled the terrors of the Nameless Deep. Now in Volume II: Book 7: Leaves of Lórien, you are called upon to enter the enchanted lands sheltered beneath the shimmering leaves of the ancient forest Lothlórien.



Lothlórien Revealed

• Earn reputation with the Elves of Lothlórien to prove your worth and gain favour
  
• Reunite with the fellowship as they ponder their fate without Gandalf's guidance
  
• Return to Moria to seek out and destroy the evil Orcs that aim to claim the Mines as their own

Book 7: Leaves of Lórien EU Release

Looks like the new book 7 content update will be here later this month.  There's also news of a special St Patricks day event.

Turbine has officially announced that Book 7: Leaves of Lórien will be launched on their live servers on 17th March, 2009. Codemasters is currently anticipating a release date of 26th March, 2009.

...

We have arranged a series of fun Bullroarer Took (St. Patrick's Day) activities to take place across Middle-earth. These are an exclusive event for Codemasters customers. Details will be posted to the website shortly.