Lord of The Rings Online : beta

Exploit Found

TucksMa — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 02:33:07 GMT

And this is why beta is GOOD!

From Turbine:

"Earlier today, we discovered a very serious potential exploit in the Auction System.

The good news:

We already have a fix which we're currently testing. This fix will be rolled into the game as quickly as possible. In order to do this, we will try to move our next patch forward by a day and schedule it for tomorrow (time TBA).

The bad news:

In the meantime, we're closing the Auction Houses throughout the game. Players will not be able to post new auctions or bid on existing auctions.

Here's what this means to current users of the Auction System:

Any auction which was scheduled to end between the time we closed the auction houses and the time we come back up after patching, will end on schedule.

If the item had a bid before the system was shut down, the item will go to the highest bidder when the auction system is re-opened..

If the item did not have a bid, it will be returned to its owner when the auction system is re-opened. Any auction which was not scheduled to end until after the auction houses are re-opened will continue normally.

If you try to bid on an auction now, you will receive an error about the maximum number of outstanding bids being reached.

Unfortunately, listing fees will not be automatically refunded by the system. We're assessing this situation to determine the impact on players and will have more information about the issue tomorrow. Tonight, our priority is testing the fix and getting the Auction System back up and running as soon as possible.

We know how important the auction houses are to players and we're doing everything possible to fix things quickly and safely. Rest assured that auction data is intact and that your auctions will be completed properly."

LotRO Open Beta is LIVE!

TucksMa — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 16:19:25 GMT

The special 'closed' Open Beta is over and now it's time for everyone to enter Middle-earth and help Frodo and friends on their journey to Mount Doom!

Check out the Official Forums for information on joining the World Tour and spend the next 18 days in Middle-earth for FREE!

Pre-orders are still available up until the launch date of 24 April 07. Remember, the ONLY way to get special Founder pricing is to pre-order. For more details head to Turbine's Founders Page.

Open Beta has Officially Begun!

TucksMa — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 17:12:23 GMT

It's Friday 30 March 2007, do you know where your Hobbits are? If you pre-ordered your copy of Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar you do! Turbine has opened the flood-gates and the seven new servers are UP and available for play!

While they're calling this "Open Beta", it's only open beta for a select few, comparatively speaking. So I guess it's semi-open. TRUE Open Beta starts next Friday Aprith 6th. For the true believers that pre-ordered, head on in NOW and when you're ready to write your review, show your screenshots, or make that GUI add-on... remember that Curse is the place where everyone can contribute!

Beta Journal - Monster Play

TucksMa — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:40:06 GMT

This week's beta journal on the official site covers the innovative Monster Play of Lord of the Rings: Shadows of Angmar. Check it out and read the first impressions of a beta tester in PvMP by clicking here.

Then be sure to visit our Monster Play - PvPM pages in our ever-expanding LotRO Wiki to learn even more.

Schedule for Open Beta

TucksMa — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 04:25:07 GMT

Well it's finally over. Closed beta is officially ended and the devs went out with a bang! At least they say they did. I couldn't get past the lagfest to get a good look at any of it. Ah the joys of online gaming!

Turbine Community Matron Patience has posted this schedule for the remaining time until Open Beta:

Tuesday, March 27:[[br]] LOTRO game servers will go dark in the morning and will remain closed until Friday. All player characters will be wiped.

Wednesday, March 28:[[br]] Beta forums: The beta forums will be brought down in the morning. Accounts created on the Beta forums and associated with either Pre-order or Beta keys will be preserved. All other accounts will be wiped. [[br]]

Live forums: The live forums (currently located at http://www.lotro.com/forums) will be brought down in the late afternoon, and will not come back up. If there are any posts which you feel should be saved and/or reposted on the new forums, this is the time to save them! [[br]]

After March 28th, the beta.lotro.com forums address will no longer be valid, and http://forums.lotro.com will be the link to the only set of official forums. Only Pre-order customers and beta players will be able to post on the public forums. If you had a Closed Beta, Open Beta, or Pre-order account on the beta forums, you will be able to log in and use this account. [[br]]

Wednesday - Thursday, March 28-29: [[br]] The forums will be open to beta players.

Friday, March 30: [[br]] Servers go live and Open Beta begins for Pre-order customers! See you in Middle-earth!

Latest Beta Journal

Nimloth — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 18:26:32 GMT

Today’s Beta Journal talks about one of the many Traits available in LOTRO for players to customize their characters with; Charity. Read on to learn about how Charity functions in LOTRO’s Traits and Deeds system!

Sign up for The Lord of the Rings Online™: Shadows of Angmar™ Beta Program, and a chance to start forming your own impressions! US players, sign up for the Turbine Beta at http://www.thelordoftheringsonline.com.

Virtues are the first traits available to characters, the first chance to really customize your character and playing experience. Among a Hobbit’s many positive traits, Charity might not necessarily come to mind first, but as a Hobbit Guardian, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of specializing in the virtue Charity. It all started when my Guardian was still getting his feet beneath him, with a shopping trip to Celondim in the Ered Luin for green onions. While visiting this beautiful outpost of the elves, I heard heartbreaking stories of loss and sadness from the locals, who suffered from persecution by both goblins and renegade dwarves in the area. What is a guardian to do but lend a hand? I enjoyed many hours of charitable works in the Ered Luin, recovering lost or stolen heirlooms, reuniting family members, and even rescuing an abandoned kitten (awwwwww…).

Before long, I was ready to pay a visit to the local elven bard to equip my Charity virtue. Since Charity has benefits including an increased protection from missile fire, I was able to complete more of these noble quests, advancing the virtue even farther. Soon I followed rumor of further tribulations to Buckland, just across the river from the Shire, where I saw first-hand how necessary the protection and Charity of a guardian was needed. Even in this beautiful land, so like the Shire, need was apparent. From recovering stolen goods and finding water for the thirsty to protecting innocents from the terrifying Barrow-Wights, the Breelands presented another opportunity for charitable behavior. Completing a sufficient number of these quests raised my Charity rank another notch, along with a corresponding increase in each of the corresponding benefits.

With my increased rate of power regeneration - another benefit of Charity - I was ready to follow the stories of refugees east, to the Forsaken Inn. Here in the Lone Lands, the need for Charity was obvious, as refugees crowded the room, hungry and cold. Gathering boar meat to cook, lynx pelts for blankets and creban feathers for pillow-stuffing took care of their immediate needs, and even rescuing lost friends continued to prove my guardian's selfless dedication to Charity. On the same day I reached level 20, I also reached the fifth rank in my Charity trait. Along with the other benefits mentioned, this virtue makes me more than twice as resistant to wounding as my peers without Charity - an important and useful trait for a guardian. Of course, Charity work might not be for everyone – it was a long time before I finally saved up one whole gold piece in a day’s work!

A great feature is the ability to check out the virtues of other adventurers with whom you interact. Who can help but feel at least a little smug when you are the most charitable (or honorable, or zealous, or loyal...) member of the fellowship? With my dedication to charitable questing, I am excited to lift this trait even higher - a wonderful means of setting myself apart from the crowd!

Beta Journal Updates

Nimloth — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 02:55:16 GMT

Our journey began in the Lone-lands. Two champions, two hunters, and two minstrels (myself one of the latter) gathered in Ost Guruth, determined to make our way deep into Garth Agarwen and destroy the evil festering there. We shared several quests from across the Lone-Lands and Bree-Land, for the occupants of Garth Agarwen - the hillmen of Rhudaur and the cursed shades of Arthedain - had made numerous enemies in their service of the Red-maid.

Leaving Ost Guruth we traveled east, entering the Haragrim swamp and then turning north. From there, we fought our way through the corrupted forest of Agamaur. More difficult foes presented themselves as we approached the outer gates of Garth Agarwen, but we pressed onward, determined to complete our quests...

Our group wasn't well balanced, or typical, so planning and executing each encounter was rather interesting - and the results entertaining. Our hunters laid traps to take an enemy or two out of commission and then let loose with a rain of arrows. Ducking behind the nearest cover, they lured the enemies towards our fellowship. Unleashing furious attacks, the champions then took over. The minstrels had very different traits slotted, so one focused on healing (with improved casting times and power costs) while the other concentrated on enhancing the group's abilities (with improved buff effects and durations).

The inside of Garth Agarwen is a maze of ruins, overgrown with foreboding red trees and scattered with foul pools of water. Most of the enemies were severely challenging for adventurers of our experience, so our fellowship made its way slowly and carefully deeper into the ruins. We fought groups of hillmen, and slogged through pools haunted by gloom-waters. Eventually we found ourselves within an eerie glade. Our fellowship had been told of this place, where a great tree named Oakenbark had fallen to corruption. Now named Grimbark, he stood between us and our goal.

Our champions charged the great tree while the hunters eliminated the roots that sprung forth to hinder us. The battle went on, both champions constantly being swatted by Grimbark's branches, and everyone else suffering from surprise attacks by roots. Low on power only a third of the way through the battle, we appeared to be in trouble, until a lucky strike opened a conjunction for our group.

"Choose blue!" everyone yelled simultaneously, and moments later (thanks to some luck and quick thinking) everyone's power was completely restored. We fought on even harder now. But two-thirds of the way into the fight, Grimbark shook his branches and dropped beehives directly onto our fellowship. The angry bees made a beeline for both minstrels. A horde of angry bees can be quite demoralizing, especially on the receiving end, and without support the rest of the fellowship soon succumbed to Grimbark. But despite the dread of this defeat, our fellowship swore to return another day and finish what we had started.

Beta Journal Writeup

Nimloth — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 11:05:44 GMT

>Today’s session begins with my level 36 Captain resting in the beauty of Rivendell. My quest log reads like a book of short stories told by Tolkien himself. Bilbo Baggins wants me to solve his riddle, Elrond has asked me to talk to Frodo, and there is a Troll problem in the South Trollshaws. There are hundreds of decisions to be made during my time in Middle-earth, and this is the one I always get hung up on. What shall I do first? A member of my kinship informs me that he will be hunting stone trolls in the very near future and that I am welcome to join him if I like. Problem solved. I mount my horse and blaze off in the direction of the troll hunting party. (Yes, I have a horse.) > >The ride from The Last Homely House to the hunting party is a long one; Middle-earth is a big place, and travel takes time. Along the way I pass Sam at the Meeting Spire, Boromir near the road to the Misty Mountains and a number of friendly Elven merchants selling their wares. I cross the Ford of Bruinen without incident, but the ride gets more dangerous from here. Many creatures roam these lands and running into a Troll is not uncommon -- get too close to one of these and you’ll find yourself knocked from your steed and in a very tight spot. Luck is on my side this day, and I meet up with my party in one piece. > >Scanning my group list, I quickly realize that we’re more than a match for any Trolls in the area. Small talk commences as we wait for one or two more members to show up. It’s not long before we are all assembled and searching for our quarry. My quest log currently contains two Troll quests. The first of these was given by a Dwarf; he is searching for an unremarkable stone and is convinced that one of these monsters has walked off with it. Its return has become my responsibility. My second quest is to thin out the Troll population some. I’m to kill 6 of them and report back for my reward. > >As we follow our tracker through the woods, my attention turns to the skill bar on my user interface. The Captain is a good secondary buffer and I contemplate which party members should receive which buffs. The Champion will get “Relentless Attack.” This is a “Command” buff and it allows one to attack ferociously, giving them the ability to critically wound with their attacks more often by adding 5% to their critical hit chance. We also have a Guardian in the group and on him I bestow “On Guard.” This is a defensive buff that adds 5% to his parry chance. These are in addition to the “Motivating Speech” buff I have already placed on the entire group. This skill increases the affected player’s morale pool by 1.1%.

Read the full story here!

New Beta Journal

Nimloth — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 13:52:04 GMT

>Coming out of the intro in Archet, my Guardian made his way to Combe for his next step in vanquishing evil from Middle-earth. After picking up all of the available quests in the area he ventured into the Chetwood. The area was ripe with enemies that the Guardian skills were very valuable against, and the blocks and the parries opened up other skills with great effect. > >The Guardian is the tank of the classes for the most part. He takes a lot of damage, and many have commented to me in game that they could hardly believe that the Guardian could last as long as they do. Our damage output is varied depending on what type and level of weapon you use. My Guardian wields the highest rated weapon he can find at all times along with the best shield available to him. Some Guardians prefer to go with a two-handed weapon approach with no shield, but that limits some of the skills that the Guardian gets. Going two-handed will increase damage output, but I don't think of the Guardian in this way. That is a matter of personal preference of course. > >The Guardian class quest that becomes available at level fifteen is well done and symbolizes what I think a Guardian should be: The Protector. Drawing aggro off of other classes while they wear down the mobs is one of the primary responsibilities of the Guardian. In most cases the Guardian is able to do this with significant success, and the ability to open up conjunctions with overwhelm adds a lot of flavor to their use also. > >Guardians get heavy armor at level fifteen, and this allows them to wade into more dangerous areas to protect their fellows. Guardians can use most weapons, which again opens up the option for personal preferences. The animations on the Guardian attacks to me are well done and mostly realistic, and the available skills fit well with my image of this class. The use of the shield to stun a foe is very useful against multiple opponents, and I like the varying styles of shields that are available. > >For the solo player the Guardian class is a good choice due to the high morale level and the use of heavy armor and shields. Only in the toughest of spots will the Guardian be required to call upon their allies for assistance. The Guardian can take on multiple opponents while soloing if the strategy is well thought out. The light morale heals in the tough spots are very useful, and the block and parry skills go far in taking down multiple opponents. > >All in all, the Guardian class is very well done. They are great for soloing, but as with the Burglar class they are even better in fellowships. If you are looking for a class that draws the attention of the enemy and takes the fight to them then the Guardian class is the way to go.