Archive
Gearing up in Isengard or “Yay math!”
Ah, gearing up. The constant fight for the “best” items for your class, level, and playstyle. With a new level cap and stat changes, the old gear is worthless and the new gear is just out of reach.
Draigoch armor set
Rise of Isengard shipped with one new armor set per class. The first four pieces (boots, gloves, chest, and legs) are available by bartering Superior Fourth Marks. The last two pieces (shoulders and helm) only drop from the Draigoch raid, thus this armor set is known as the “Draigoch set” or the “Dragon set.” I just hope they don’t shorten it like they did with the “Hele set” (Helegrod). I don’t want to be walking around in the “Drag set”…
"Dragon" is way cooler...
Superior 4th Marks, or “S4Ms” as they are seen in chat, are granted upon completion of Challenge modes of any 3- or 6-man Classic instance and 12-man Skirmishes, sans Icy Crevasse and Attack At Dawn, and they are also found in chests at the end of those instances. Challenge modes grant 3 Superior 4th Marks apiece. Read more…
Orion’s Minstrel Instrument changes
Orion made a post today about future changes to the Tier 7 crafted minstrel instruments.
Basically, he is addressing something I think should have been taken care of a long time ago. There was an update a while back to woodworking recipes to allow for multiple outputs with one recipe. Orion is trying to make the Tier 7 minstrel instrument recipes into multi-output recipes, that way you can have whatever instrument you desire paired with the buffs you want.
These changes are slated for Update 5, towards the end of the year.
The following combinations are the ones he is considering. He is pairing two regular buffs for each recipe, with a third buff available on critical success. Read more…
Rise of Isengard photo-journal and tips
My Captain, Ardaheru, hit 75 Monday night! I was 8th in Southern Cross to do it. It was a very interesting experience, and I wanted to share with you some screenshots and advice for a smooth experience.
Fun Moments
- I found that wargs in Dunland are very well behaved.
- My first glimpse of Saruman was a “jump-up-and-down-with-joy moment.” Somehow, I missed this quest in the Beta, which I am glad about, because I got experience it for the first time “for real.”
Saruman is a cheapskate though!
- Here is the quest I was referring to in this post about humor and engagement in the Epic story in Dunland.
"There are very few desirable tasks when it comes to preparing for war"
- When we come across the Riders of Rohan for the first time: another “jump-up-and-down-with-joy moment.” Théoden’s son!!!!! Read more…
Making a Metalsmith: Starting crafting from scratch on a level 65
My captain Ardaheru was my fifth level 65. He was also my 8th character, created after the LOTRO Store came out and character slots were available for purchase. He quickly became one of my favorite classes and characters, partly because of his playstyle and group dynamics, and partly because of the idea I had in my head of a captain from A Casual Stroll to Mordor’s Captain Roundtable.
Since he was my 8th character, and I have been obsessed with crafting since the beginning of my journey in Middle-Earth, Ardaheru became an Explorer, with no primary craft, as I had a guild kindred crafter in every craft already. As Ardaheru climbed the levels, he eventually gained supreme level prospecting and forestry, funneling plenty of materials to my other crafters. Read more…
Rhekk
Geldarion
Torvox
The Fanatical Swordsman 