LOTRO Reporter Podcast

  Cari and Laynor talk about their experiences in Update 16, and ask do we need more skirmishes?   Audio Version: What We Did in Game Layanor – Imue Sword Research Cari Mac – Epic Storyline   News Servers Down for a Hotfix Last Friday I we could have found a way to not do…

Cari and Layanor are back. Update 16 dropped, and we find out how inappropriate we can be without getting in trouble. Audio Version: What We Did in Game Layanor - Anniversary Festival mount Did some epic battles Goblin King Instance   Cari Mac - Anniversary Festival Some of the Dol Amroth quests - Those Corsairs can be tough.   News Update 16 Official Patch Notes https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?&postid=7361217#post7361217 Legendary Item Imbuement is live! New Regions Spanning the rolling fields that run between the rivers Sirith and Erui, Upper Lebennin is a lake and still mostly unscarred by the wars that have ravaged the surrounding provinces. For this reason, many folk have traveled west from the great citadel of Minas Tirith to take refuge in the fortified mountain-vale of Tumladen. Meanwhile, dark rumors are spreading that something fell lurks at the Crossings of Erui, where long ago Castamir the Usurper met his end. Among the fiefs of Gondor, Lossarnach is widely considered the most beautiful. A land whose people are proud of ancient traditions, it is ablaze with flowers and blossoming trees. Forlong the Fat, beloved by all, has ridden to war from his stronghold of Arnach, and most of its people have fled to the refuge of Imloth Melui, renowned across the kingdom for both its healers and its vast gardens of rosebushes. Here, too, lies the Harlond, the river-harbor that serves the city of Minas Tirith, where the Corsairs of Umbar once planned to make their landing … and where Aragorn now plans to sail with his captured fleet. Long ago, South Ithilien was one of the realm’s mightiest and fairest regions, but now, though still lovely, it lies forlorn, abandoned by its people. Orcs and worse haunt its overgrown ruins, and the great refuge of Bâr Húrin -- ancestral home of the House of the Ruling Stewards -- crumbles among the hills of Emyn Arnen. Only the Rangers, commanded by Captain Faramir, remain to keep watch on the Enemy in the shadow of the Mountains of Mordor. The grand city of Osgiliath, once Gondor’s capital, has seen many woes. Standing athwart the River Anduin, it is a shattered shell of its former glory, long forsaken and left in shambles. The orcs of the Morgul Vale now teem in the city’s eastern half, under the command of the Lord of the Nazgûl. At last word, the defenders of Gondor still hold the western shores, but how long they can endure the Witch-king’s hosts is a question whose answer will likely prove grim. Epic Volume IV, Book 3: ‘Voices of the Past’ The Battle of Pelargir has ended in victory for Aragorn and the Grey Company, and now the Chieftain of the Dúnedain turns his eyes toward Minas Tirith. How can he come to the White City in time? He enlists your aid to keep secret the defeat of the Corsairs and to learn what has become of Faramir, son of the Steward, and the city he was charged to defend.   Instance Cluster Dev Diary: https://www.lotro.com/en/game/articles/new-instance-cluster-developer-diary   Dev Diary: Imbuement https://www.lotro.com/en/game/articles/legendary-item-imbuement-dev-diary   Dev Diary Sneak Peek https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?567445-Update-16-Developer-Video-Sneak-Peek   The Russian LOTRO Servers are Closing June 1 https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?567254-Russian-players-migration https://www.lotro.

  Cari and Layanor talk about the proposed Imbument system, and rambled about some other stuff that might be related to LOTRO. Audio Version:   What We Did in Game   Layanor - Paid my house   Cari Mac -  Beorning to level 27 Switched to Red Line   News Bullroarer Patch Notes: 16 Patch Notes https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?566538-Update-16-Beta-1-Release-Notes-%E2%80%93-PRELIMINARY-AND-NON-FINAL-BULLROARER-ONLY 16.1 Patch Notes https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?&postid=7346493#post7346493   Imbuement Changes: Dadi’s Guide to Imbuement http://rarebreed.guildlaunch.com//forums/viewtopic.php?p=37639769&gid=233773#37639769   Event Dates (Tentative) April 10-12 25% Skirmish Marks 14-28 8th Anniversary May 1-3 Hobnanigans 20-June 3 Spring Festival June 1-10 Hobnanigans 12-18 Lootbox week 19-21 25% XP Boost 26-28 25% Crafting boost Community Extra Life Emails went out. If you haven’t received your email contact Rick at SapienceXL4K@gmail.com. There were a lot of people who didn’t include an email. Send him your info if you want the codes. If you are having issues contact Rick. He’ll work on them this weekend.   LUNCH Runs https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?565222-L-UN-C-H-Leading-an-UNimportant-Chicken-to-the-Hornburg   Spring Racing Carnival April 25 https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?563496-LANDROVAL-Spring-Racing-Carnival-in-April   Contact Information Email: lotro.reporter@gmail.com Twitter: @lotroreporter Facebook: LOTRO Reporter Voicemail: 616-666-6778 or the widget on the right side of the screen when you visit the site. YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/mmoreporternetwork www.lotroreporter.com www.twitch.tv/mmoreporter   Cari  Twitter: @thecarimac Layanor  Twitter: @Layanor  

Cari went to Comic Con and bought her Precious. Layanor had to put up with the girly talk. Also the players council is taking applications. Audio Version: What We Did in Game Layanor - TSW   Cari Mac - TSW Comic Con I got a ring http://badalijewelry.com/The-Lord-of-the-Rings/Lord-of-the-Rings-Rings/Nenya-8482-with-Two-Tracer-Bands.html   News Apply for the 2015 Players Council https://www.lotro.com/en/game/articles/apply-2015-lotro-players-council https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?&postid=7339138#post7339138 Starting today, March 26th 2015, we invite players to apply for the 2015 LOTRO Player’s Council. Don’t want to join yourself? Recommend a fellow player you feel will be a positive addition to the council. We may also select players based on their in-game and community behavior and extend an invitation even if they have not otherwise applied or been nominated. Council members will be announced at the end of April 2015. Click here for more info!   Update 15.3 Patch Notes https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?&postid=7340720#post7340720 You can now alt-click to select, and double/right-click to equip items in the "Legendary Items" panel. The OSX Launcher will no longer download all the splash screens every time you start it. It does make an HTTP request for each splash screen to see if you have the most recent one on disk each time. Morskor in Barad Guldur will no longer become invisible every time he takes flight. The player music system has been spruced up a bit. There are new sounds for the bagpipe, clarinet, flute, horn, lute, pibgorn, and theorbo. We will continue to gather feedback on this system and make any needed adjustments.   Instances Closed https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?&postid=7341631#post7341631 Grand Stairs, Storm on Mathedras and Icy Crevasse We have closed these down due to some unintended behaviors, in particular with the end bosses and not being able to complete the instances. At this time we do not yet have an ETA as to when they will be available again.   The Mirkwood Landing Quest Deed will complete for everyone with Update 16. https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?564621-Add-Mirkwood-Landing-to-Mirror-at-Ost-Galadh I have an update for this issue -- when you log in for U16, the optional quests will have been removed from the 'Mirkwood Landing' deed, which means it should complete for anyone who's finished 'Hilltop Assault,' the quest that you do to leave the Landing. Sorry for the delay! No worries, it's confusing (which is why it took awhile to figure it out on our end). Basically, the deed is listening for three quests to complete, but only one of those quests is on the main-line path through Mirkwood Landing. It's entirely possible to miss those optional quests for one reason or another, and because of the way the Landing works, if you missed them on your first time through, there's no way to go back and ever get them. So you'd be stuck with an uncompletable deed in your deed log. If you already finished this deed, there'll be no change for you. You already got the deed reward, and you won't need to worry about anything. If you're already out of the Landing and didn't do the optional quests,

Cari and Layanor talk about the update 16 date. Bubbles in PvMP and mispronounce server names...again.   Audio Version: What We Did in Game   Layanor  Someting. He can't remember. Cari Mac Beorning to level 26 Did some Gondor Quests on Landroval News Portal to a Different Server https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?&postid=7334854#post7334854 Looked at it too hard, no plans in the future but not ruled out.   Update 16? https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?&postid=7334861#post7334861 Mid April with a possibility of a smaller patch before then. "Update 16 is getting ready for launch but no public discussion about PvMP has occurred" Correct. The PvMP improvements are not part of Update 16, they will come after.   Update on Transfers https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?&postid=7335854#post7335854 After update 16 Servers are moving to New Jersey and Amderestadam. Update 16 Mid - April   Music System Going Live Soon https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?&postid=7336496#post7336496 Before Update 16 Pushed in the next couple of weeks.   Sapience & Extra Life https://twitter.com/rickheaton/status/579053658635157504   Rumor: Players Council has been divided. It has been replaced with two new councils. One for PVP and one for PVE. From a Frelorn Livestream   LOTRO Lore https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aP9FONliQg&feature=youtu.be   Discussion Topic: Is it death or just defeat? https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?&postid=7335784#post7335784   Roving Threats Why? Community   LUNCH Runs https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?565222-L-UN-C-H-Leading-an-UNimportant-Chicken-to-the-Hornburg   Spring Racing Carnival April 25 https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?563496-LANDROVAL-Spring-Racing-Carnival-in-April Contact Information: Email: lotro.reporter@gmail.com Twitter: @lotroreporter Facebook: LOTRO Reporter Voicemail: 616-666-6778 or the widget on the right side of the screen when you visit the site. YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/mmoreporternetwork www.lotroreporter.com www.twitch.tv/mmoreporter   Cari  Twitter: @thecarimac Layanor  Twitter: @Layanor

Cari starts the show with Layanor, and then has to talk to herself.   Audio Version: What We Did in Game   Layanor - Did epic battles with a few listeners of the show     Cari Mac Life News   Music System https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?&postid=7328502#post7328502 Devs were on Bullroarer today for a couple of hours to listen to the issues that music players were having with dropped notes.   No Rangers for You https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?&postid=7328626#post7328626 I love this answer to why no Rangers (from a forum member) “Ranging was serious business, they were really serious guys. (I mean really serious, like Special Forces types - Theoden said they made his warriors look like boys). So, way too cool to be going around picking up sticks for Dwarves and all the other random stuff an MMO like this has characters doing.” MOL Response: The original reasoning for not using Ranger as a playable class was indeed because we wanted them to stand apart, and they have their own duties which don't mesh perfectly with the things we were asking of adventurers. That was back before the Grey Company storyline, so we weren't dealing with nearly as many Rangers as we are now, but even then the idea was that the playable classes should be more archetypal than specific groups from the book. Beornings, of course, are all from the same family, so that's not to say that we couldn't craft an experience to explain why a freshly-playable Ranger is deviating from the duties we know he has in order to live the adventuring life... just that we probably wouldn't.   How are Things in Bree? https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?&postid=7330855#post7330855 Dynamic Layering set to a lower level   Storylines https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?&postid=7331558#post7331558     Winter and Spring Events Tentative March 20 – 22: Buried Treasure 27- 29: 25% Craft XP     Did you Know   https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?565550-is-this-a-bug-or-exploit Bound to Account Items and non Bound items don’t stack together.   Community   LUNCH Runs https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?565222-L-UN-C-H-Leading-an-UNimportant-Chicken-to-the-Hornburg Contact Information Email: lotro.reporter@gmail.com Twitter: @lotroreporter Facebook: LOTRO Reporter Voicemail: 616-666-6778 or the widget on the right side of the screen when you visit the site. YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/mmoreporternetwork www.lotroreporter.com www.twitch.tv/mmoreporter   Cari  Twitter: @thecarimac Layanor  Twitter: @Layanor  

Cari and Layanor decide what the next new class will be in LOTRO by comparing it to Final Fantasy.   Audio Version:   What We Did in Game Layanor Epic Battles Cari Mac Laughed at Chris in FFXIV Did a couple of Big Battles with Layanor. I have some new jewelry.   News Server Transfer Update https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?&postid=7326602#post7326602 https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?&postid=7327061#post7327061 Winter and Spring Events Tentative March 6 - 8: Hobnanigans 20 – 22: Buried Treasure 27- 29: 25% Craft XP   Did you Know From Darren on Facebook: Little tip for your vitality essence's Layanor, get a cook to craft them rather than a weaponsmith. Cooks don't need a crafting journal as a crit ingredient :)   Discussion Topic Do we need a new class. What’s missing from the lore?   Community LUNCH Runs https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?565222-L-UN-C-H-Leading-an-UNimportant-Chicken-to-the-Hornburg 3rd Annual Florida LOTRO Meet and Greet https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?565226-3rd-Annual-Central-Florida-Meet-and-Greet Comment from the site: Great show again guys I for one like the fact that Layanor if playing in the background, maybe you could introduce a new segment called 'Challenge Layanor' , set up a poll of two or three instance's where the listeners get to vote on which he has to try to solo :) Also a tip for Layanor, get a cook to craft your vitality essence's because they don't require the crafting journal as a crit item. Taltoz.   Letters: From George: So today you asked a question, "Why to female characters not wear headgear". For me, a male playing a female elf, the helmet messes up the look. I want to see the hair and the face. I spoke to my wife, also plays a female elf, and she agrees.   From Amavocet: Hello again, folks! Did you know that VIPs have access to their mailbox anywhere in the world, and not just  when they receive mail? If you open the options and go to UI Settings, the very first section lets you set up the shortcuts that go in the little circles on either side of your main hotbar. Just bind Mailbox to one, and you can send mail no matter where you are! I use them for other panels that I don't have convenient keyboard shortcuts for. I can now click once to open the Instance Finder; my Collections, Mounts, and House; Epic Battles and the War; and the Plugin Manager. In closing, I will make Cari say "Until next we meet":  Tenná ento lye omenta [TEN-ah EN-toh LIH-eh oh-MEN-tah]   From the Chatroom: http://www.sauronsblog.com/?page_id=27   Contact Information Email: lotro.reporter@gmail.com Twitter: @lotroreporter Facebook: LOTRO Reporter Voicemail: 616-666-6778 or the widget on the right side of the screen when you visit the site. YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/mmoreporternetwork www.lotroreporter.com www.twitch.tv/mmoreporter   Cari  Twitter: @thecarimac Layanor  Twitter: @Layanor

Cari and Layanor give a February recap. We watch Layanor die in a fire or not.   Audio Version:  What We Did in Game Layanor LOTRO - 53% ettenmoors Finished 4 factions. Then finished 8 minor factions Started on my slotted gear set Working up legacies for my bridle Cari Mac Killed more Dragons than Chris in DA:I News 15.2.1 Release Notes: https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?&postid=7320254#post7320254 Roving threat mobs have been made more difficult (the mobs have reduced health but will do more damage on each attack.) The Pelargir bosses (6-man) have been returned to their normal selves. The Forochel treasure cache that couldn’t previously be reached is now in a much better location. We have fixed an issue that was making some warden legacies double up on their effects occasionally. The broken challenge quests are fixed for the following instances: School at Tham Mírdain Ost Elendil Glinghant Phone Closures: https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?&postid=7322931#post7322931 Feb 26th March 6 for PAX East. Turbine has a booth.   Winter and Spring Events Tentative February 27-March 1st: Lootbox Weekend March 6 - 8: Hobnaniganss 20 – 22: Buried Treasure 27- 29: 25% Craft XP Recap for February Livestream team is going strong. Seen several streams in the last week. No news update on the Extra Life Prizes yet. Community Lament for the Lone Musician http://www.linawillow.org/home/2015/02/lament-for-the-lone-lotro-musician/   Sunday Rocks Nimrodel https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?564711-Sunday-Rocks-Nimrodel-March-8th-1-pm-EST March 8 1 EST Across from the Bree Town Hall LOTRO Music On Tour with Lilikate Buggins https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?559392-Bugginses-Bands-Present-LOTRO-Music-on-Tour Contact Information Email: lotro.reporter@gmail.com Twitter: @lotroreporter Facebook: LOTRO Reporter Voicemail: 616-666-6778 or the widget on the right side of the screen when you visit the site. YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/mmoreporternetwork www.lotroreporter.com www.twitch.tv/mmoreporter   Cari  Twitter: @thecarimac Layanor  Twitter: @Layanor

  Cari and Layanor talk and talk while Layanor runs the Rift and doesn't die. Honest.   Audio Version:   What We Did in Game Layanor Working on Roaming Threats Deed First Ager for my Warsteed Pelargir rep   -       Low  Ally Ringlo Vale red -   High  Friend Dor-En Ernil -        Low  Ally   Cari Mac Leveling Beorning on Landroval - 20 Undying Title Forgotten How Many quests there were in the Northern Bree Fields Area Listened to the Tolkien Professor at Ales and Tales https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvYq0jn4dXO_Nrm9RHM4mJw   Discussion Topic: 5  Things We No longer Suffer From in LOTRO https://biobreak.wordpress.com/2015/01/27/5-features-im-glad-we-no-longer-suffer-in-lotro/   News 15.2.4 Bullroarer Notes https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?&postid=7316937#post7316937 Music system changes have been made to address dropped notes while playing abc music files. Roving threat mobs have been made slightly more difficult (the mobs have slightly reduced health but will do more damage on each attack.) The Pelargir bosses (6-man) have been fixed. Server Downtime 2/18/15 Update 15.2.1 https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?&postid=7319927#post7319927   Winter and Spring Events Tentative February 13-19: Skirmish 25% Mark Acq. Boost 27-March 1st: Lootbox Weekend   March 6 - 8: Hobnaniganss 20 – 22: Buried Treasure 27- 29: 25% Craft XP Did You Know http://www.departmentofstrategery.com/lotro/guides/the-great-central-gondor-reputation-faction-grind/   Community The end of an Era: http://theelventailor.blogspot.com/2015/02/my-final-farewell.html?utm_content=bufferb5409&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer   New Fashion Site http://wardrobeofarda.tumblr.com/ Letter From Synny - Hello Layanor! Love your podcasts, glad your back. I'm sure i'm just one of a billion fans, but really glad you're playing the secret world as well. I listen to both MMO Reporter and LOTRO Reporter on my bus ride. LOTRO Reporter is a lot of fun, even when there is no news going on. You and carrie have good chemistry, and you guys can pronounce words correctly! I am disappointed because i play a lore master, and they made a bear CLASS! I have like 20 bears, and i just wish turbine would give me the beorning's skill bar everytime I summon a bear! lol! I don't care for the skill trees for LM's. Making us pick between dps/control/healing sucks. We used to be able to do it all. Carrie wont like this but cosmetic pets bug me from a LM point of view. My daughter pointed out to me one day, that a beorning is actually more lore appropriate than a lore master is, so i guess i can't make that argument, but they used to say only lm's can have pets!   Contact Information: Email: lotro.reporter@gmail.com Twitter: @lotroreporter Facebook: LOTRO Reporter Voicemail: 616-666-6778 or the widget on the right side of the screen when you visit the site. YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/mmoreporternetwork www.lotroreporter.com www.twitch.tv/mmoreporter   Cari  Twitter: @thecarimac Layanor  Twitter: @Layanor  

  Cari and Laynor talk about Update 12.2, and stat tomes all while watching Layanor take down one of the roving threats in Angmar. Hint: It's a really tall troll that looks like a waggon from the back.   Audio Version:   What We Did in Game Layanor Caught up with store state scrolls for agility. Agility XII. “= +480” Working on rep   Cari Mac Leveling Beorning on Landroval - 16 The Speech of Animals Class Quest - Really Really big bear News 15.2 Release Notes https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?&postid=7312886#post7312886 Of Special Note New Roving Threats As the War of the Ring intensifies, new threats have come to Middle-earth! Powerful servants of the Enemy can now be found in Angmar, Forochel, Western Gondor, and the Misty Mountains. For those bold enough to stand against these foes, new and unique rewards can be obtained by claiming the brands they bear. Note: The existing Roving Threats of Central Gondor will also drop these brands. Roving threats: Weapon rewards received via barter are now bind on Acquire. Release Notes General The Full Screen checkbox in Graphics Options has been replaced by the Screen Mode dropdown, from which you can select Windowed, Full Screen, and, in Windows builds, Full Screen (Windowed). The latter option runs the game in a borderless window at desktop resolution. A Reflecting Pool for Central Gondor can now be found in the town of Linhir, and it contains several instances from the region as well as 'Even In Darkness. Some phantom mapnotes have been removed in order to cut down on confusion. Nothing to see here! Mathoms and Well-kept Mathoms can now be used at level 20 and higher. Players who are sitting, lying down, or fainted will no longer stand up upon entering AFK state. A New Reflecting Pool for West Gondor added to the Court of the Prince in Dol Amroth Many instances added to the West Gondor Reflecting Pools found near Morlad and in Dol Amroth When accepting quests, there's a new indicator that shows you when the quest being picked up is repeatable. Archet - Intro: The Wolves of the Ruins - Blackwold Wolf-Master no longer freezes if you try talking to him before he finishes his drama Ered Luin: Gondamon - Kolskegg the Healer is now Pall the Healer as to be confused with Kolskegg Gemcounter. Lone-lands - Quest: Iron-jaws / Deed: Warg Slayer - A couple of warg dens have been added to the Lonelands to make finding wargs easier Located a possible culprit for unexpected shallow-water dismounts. Please continue to inform us of situations/locations where you were improperly dismounted from a Warsteed or regular Mount -- but hopefully now you won't have to! Skirmish-specific stat breakdowns on the Skirmish Panel are sorted alphabetically by Skirmish name rather than randomly. Additional physics work for Captain Noreth, who should now be even less likely to fall through her boat. Several of the NPCs in Tur Morva were mistaking Beornings for Hobbits. They've been given some instructional charts and diagrams and should now be able to tell the difference. The hairy toes were throwing them off. The Clan Hunters around Aughaire were confused and believed they could drop pages for Beorning class books. They have been told otherwise, and they (and you!) should now be less confused. Players who used Gift of the Valar can now pick up the quest "A Tortured Mind" in the Entwash Vale Beornings Lots of Changes and Adjustments Pelargir Lots of changes timing etc. Known Issues: The Epic bosses in the six-man version of the Pelargir Epic Battle have received an inadvertent buff to their stats and it may be quite impossible to get Platinum status at this time. Snowpocalypse has Hit Boston Again Phone service has been up and down with the weather issues. The LOTRO Store was down for an issue on 2/5/15. Winter and Spring Events Tentative February 13-19: Skirmish 25% Mark Acq. Boost

  Cari and Layanor talk about Bullroarer Update 15, killing Beornings named Bearazar, and watched Layanor die in the moors.   Audio Version: What We Did in Game Layanor   Cari Mac Made BerryMac the Beorning   News Server mov...

Cari is joined by Chris again this week. He tries to level his Beorning to 20 during the show. He doesn't make it. 18 2/3 of the way.   Audio Version: What We Did in Game Chris Beorning - Level 18 2/3! Cari Mac Nada - Sick for a week   News Producers Letter http://www.lotro.com/en/game/articles/2015-producers-letter New Executive Producer: Athena “Vyvyanne” Peters, Executive Producer of The Lord of the Rings Online. Our story continues in 2015 with both Osgiliath and Minas Tirith! Although there will be multiple updates throughout the year, these major locations will be the focus of our largest releases. Each expands the world of Middle-earth even further, and puts us in view of the Ephel Dúath and Mordor itself. Major 2015 Initiatives: Legendary Items: With the Osgiliath update, you will be able to Imbue Level 100 Legendary Items. An Imbued item continues to gain experience and will no longer need to be deconstructed to advance. These items are already in internal testing! There are many details still to work out, but you should expect a developer diary on the topic early this year. New Fellowship Challenges: As we push into the heart of the War of the Ring, this is the perfect time for us to renew our focus on group content and instances. Expect new instances in Osgiliath, along with additional Roving Threats and group content on the landscape. Quality of Life: We have been working to identify your most persistent bugs. You can expect a renewed focus on resolving issues that may be small but troublesome, to improve overall gameplay experience. Episodic Content: We are currently in development on a new type of quest content that will roll out like an episodic TV show, a little at a time, as you follow a new friend across Middle-earth seeing familiar places in a new light. Server Populations: Based on your feedback, we’re taking measures to get everyone onto the more populous servers, so that finding parties is easier and festivals and live events are more fun. We are working on both improved server transfer tools and upgrades to our environments to improve playability. Also we will be moving our European servers back to the EU! More details on this coming soon! PvMP: The team is also seriously investigating a new PvMP map in Osgiliath. This landscape would tell the story of the Battle of Osgiliath, and the layout of the city (split by the Anduin) is perfect for smaller and more tightly focused conflicts than the Ettenmoors. This would make the perfect platform for gradual improvements to the PvMP experience, overall. We’ll provide additional updates on this initiative as we get deeper into 2015. And that is just for the first half of the year! Clarification to some questions issues from the letter https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?&postid=7296194#post7296194 Group Instances in Osgiliath: We are specifically referring to a cluster of instance content for 3 & 6 man fellowships that is neither a Big Battle or a Raid. We evaluate the type of content we build with each region for what is appropriate and feasible. So we might do a raid again some day, but Osgiliath is not the time to do it. Osgiliath PvMP map: This will be a different "layer" to the map. This way players will be able to explore Osgiliath in PvE mode in Update 16 and the goal is to then also provide a PvMP version shortly thereafter (not on the same release date). Music: We currently have our sound engineers looking into the issues with the newer version of the music system that we pulled out late last year. Our hopes is that we can have it fixed with or next update, but I am still awaiting implementation and testing of the fixes to see if they are affective. Once we have it in we will of course be placing it on Bullroarer so we can get feedback before it is released. More info once I have it. EU Servers: This will simply be a move of the physical servers to Amsterdam.

  Cari is joined by Chris this week. We talk about Beornings, hear new songs, and give the Rangers some love. Audio Version:   What We Did in Game Chris Leveling my Beorning - Level 17 and no deaths!   Cari Mac Yule Festival Attended a BBB concert   News Producers Letter Out in Early January - Hopefully https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?&postid=7287889#post7287889 Should be out this week. Which means it will come out on Wednesday morning after we’ve recorded the show.   15.1 Hotfix https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?&postid=7285857#post7285857 Some suppliers in Central Gondor got their names back The Ettenmoors department of Public Works has fixed a rather large hole on the bridge in Hithlad. It is now safe to travel again. Some Elite un-named creatures arrived a little early to greet players. They have been removed and will make an appearance again in a future update.   The Remaining Grey Company https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?560840-The-remaining-Grey-Company   Important announcement about recent exploits https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?&postid=7288091#post7288091 It has come to our attention that some players have been utilizing an exploit to change how powerful their characters are in the game world. Upon receiving reports of the issue we began an investigation. Due to the way our log system works we can definitively detect every account that is taking advantage of this exploit. December 16- January 15th : Winter Festival Community Winterstock II https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?555842-LANDROVAL-Winterstock-II! January 16th-19th, 2015 Thorin's Gate, Landroval server Schedule: Fri Jan 16th, 1:00pm-7:00pm (6 bands) and 8:00pm-11:00pm (3 bands); Sat Jan 17th, 12:00pm-6:00pm (6 bands) and 9:00pm-1:00am (4 bands); Sun Jan 18th, 1:00pm-6:00pm (5 bands) and 9:00pm-11:00pm (2 bands); Mon Jan 19th, 3:00-5:00pm (2 bands) and 8:00pm-11:00pm (3 bands). All times are /servertime; schedule subject to change.   PIMP YOUR ELF! http://layanor.wordpress.com/2014/11/25/pimp-your-lotro-for-5-bucks-with-sapiences-extra-life/ We got the Tundra Bear   The Tolkien Professor is Teaching a Course in LOTRO http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/09/professor-to-hold-open-course-in-lord-of-the-rings-online-asks/   Letter from George I just finished listening to your 2014 best of the year show. Wow, did I miss a lot of great stuff this year. Just recently found your show so I have only heard a few. Looking forward to all the great stuff in 2015.   Letter from AmAvocet: Hello again, folks! I just listened to the "Best of 2014" show. I had thought I might hear my rendition of "A Elbereth Gilthoniel," but that didn't make the cut. :( I was surprised to hear that my "sock letter" was important enough to make it onto the show. You guys have some weird priorities. Plus, too, one other gratuitous mention of me by Layanor. So, all in all, I came out ahead. Checking my Reputation with the Lotro Reporter faction, I see I have achieved the rank of Friend. Still a long way to go for Ally, though! Plotting my way into the Best of 2015 show, I remain yours truly, AmAvocet Contact Information Email: lotro.reporter@gmail.com Twitter: @lotroreporter Facebook: LOTRO Reporter Voicemail: 616-666-6778 or the widget on the right side of the screen when you visit the site. YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/mmoreporternetwork www.lotroreporter.com www.twitch.tv/mmoreporter   Cari  Twitter: @thecarimac Layanor  Twitter: @Layanor Chris  @almazar  

Best of 2014 in LOTRO Reporter Audio Version: Here is the best of the best or something like that.

  Cari and Layanor look into their crystal balls and come up with what they think will happen in LOTRO in 2015. Find out who won last years predictions. Hint: She was right. Audio Version:   Predictions for 2014 Cari's Predictions The Path’s of the Dead will be part of an instance pack     1 We'll get a new festival                                                        1 There will finally be a new hobby - golf                               0 We'll finally, finally get a new class                                     1 We won’t be getting much in the way of cosmetics until they figure out how to handle the inventory issue.                                                                  1 They will break apart the Rift.                                              0   Layanor's Predictions Moria instances will get scaled                                         0 Our first step into Gondor will be sesion play      0 No new 12 man instances 1 Trollshaws revamp 1 PVMP Map revamp 0 Revamping or adding in new Bounties 1   Chris Predictions The housing revamp will not be very exciting and players will be thoroughly underwhelmed.                                                             1 We will see more expansion within the already available land mass. No new zone (even mini-zone ala Great River) will be added to the game.          0 At least one festival will get a total revamp.                           1 New hobby - Horseshoes                                                       0 ENT PLAY!                                                                             1   2015 Predictions Cari Predictions 4 Updates 2 New Big Battles Minas Tirith will be Instanced 6 Man at the top Ues Mounted Combat in the Pelagrir Fields - Be Instanced Level 110 No More Ugly Blanket Horses Still get the Robes A New System of Some Kind i.e. collection, LI, etc Layanor's Predictions Moria instances will get scaled A new elvin only class Angmar revamp PVMP Map revamp Updated Conjunction System One new epic battle Four new skirmishes   Contact Information Email: lotro.reporter@gmail.com Twitter: @lotroreporter Facebook: LOTRO Reporter Voicemail: 616-666-6778 or the widget on the right side of the screen when you visit the site. YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/mmoreporternetwork www.lotroreporter.com www.twitch.tv/mmoreporter     Cari  Twitter: @thecarimac Layanor  Twitter: @Layanor .