Game Mechanics
Nuts and bolts of the game. How things work.
Grizanni is Internet famous!
Dec 10th
A couple of weeks ago I was invited by the very friendly crew over at The Dunedain website/podcast to give an interview about my experiences playing a warg out in the Ettenmoors. I really enjoyed talking to them!
Have a listen here: http://www.thedunedain.net/podcasts.html.
To Guardians
Nov 12th
Recently I have received emails from Stratus of Crickhollow and Senseye of Evernight requesting some more information for Guardians I have chosen to answer them here. First there is a guide on the lorebook that is very involved you can find it here. Second as to virtues there are two very good resources the virtue finder at Mmorsel.com and the virtues tab at burgzerg.com. I have only used the one at burgzerg myself but try them out and see what you think.
LOTRO Reporter Experiment: Completing Bree-lands!
Oct 14th
The people have spoken! According to our latest poll, most of you would like to see me complete Bree-lands as the next LOTRO Reporter Experiment. The rules?
- I must complete every quest in Bree-lands
- I must complete every deed in Bree-lands
It’s pretty simple, and I’m sure that I’ll enjoy this one as much as I did The Shire experiment.
I do foresee some problems, and they’re pretty simple. I don’t really like two of the biggest areas in Bree-lands: Midgewater Marsh and The Old Forest. I find both of the areas a pain, and when I’m leveling, I tend to avoid them like the plague. This time around though, I’m going to get everything done, and hopefully I’ll learn something new like I did in The Shire.
I don’t know what that’s going to be, but I’m excited to find out!
See you in-game!
The Shire Experiment Ends
Sep 27th
Without much ado, Almaburg left The Shire on Sunday night. With a deep sigh, he crossed the Brandywine Bridge having completed ever Deed, Quest and activity there was to do in The Shire. The only exception to this completionist binge was the chicken quests that required leaving the shire. With this experience, I know that I grew as a player, and I think that I have a new found respect for The Shire.
There are a few resources that I would recommend if anyone else where to try this experiement would be:
- LOTRO Database: For quests locations and guides.
- Mmorsel: Great guides to all of the different zones.
On top of these two guides, I would recommend all of the usual LOTRO resources for classes and crafting.
Overall, I have to say that I really enjoyed the experience. As I mentioned before, I got a new found respect for the zone, and explored it in a way that I never had. What I also enjoyed about it was the slow pace. My experience with MMOs in the past has always been to try to level as quickly as I can. I would race for the end game, rarely reaching it, trying to “finish” the game. Why did I rarely reach it? I would burn out on the game. My focus on nothing but the next level would remove so many aspects from the game that I wouldn’t really get the true flavor of the game.
Captains lets finish this 61-65 for now
Sep 17th
Captains are armoured melee fighters and masters of buffing; skills that enhance allies. They may summon a Herald companion to fight by their side, ensuring they always have an ally to buff. They can also Mark foes, giving benefits to all who attack them. In fellowships, a Captain supports his allies with healing and buffs, while still dealing respectable damage. The Captains of Middle-earth hold the future in their hands. By their own strength of arms and the inspiration they instill in others, they must lead the Free Peoples to victory. With this in mind let us move on into Mirkwood or soon into Enedwaith. You may want to wait to level 62 to head into Enedwaith but that is entirely up to you.
Hunters lets finish this 61-65 for now
Sep 15th
Hunters are masters of field and forest, unmatched in their dexterity with the bow. They use their survival skills to guide companions and lay traps for enemies. The coming of the Enemy has forced them to adapt these skills to use against new prey. With this in mind let us move on into Mirkwood or soon into Enedwaith. You may want to wait to level 62 to head into Enedwaith but that is entirely up to you. More >
I am Creep
Sep 14th
For Grizanni’s earlier adventures, check here.
I have been a busy young warg. My jaws are well and truly crusted red, and the tantalizing scent of Hobbit, Man, Elf, and Dwarf remains in my nostrils.
As I am scouting around Lugazug, desperately hoping to join the fight to retake this keep that the conniving Freeps have wrested from our control, I stumble into the path of a large and hungry pack of wargs I have never met before. I feel humbled in their presence and most honoured to be invited into their pack. The leader whips me into shape immediately. “No moving out of turn, obey all orders, stay where you’re told to stay, attack when and whom you’re told to attack! Got it, pup?” I bow low before him, careful to avoid staring into his startling bright, vicious eyes.
Burglar Introduction and Levels 1 – 10
Sep 10th
Welcome to my look at the Burglar class. I’ll do my best to do a brief overview on the class in a similar layout to the way the the other writers on www.lotroreporter.com have done. However I didn’t want to delve too deeply into the way burglars do things, other than to note that they split things up into level blocks.I’m starting with levels 1 to 10 and hope to continue in the same manner until we get to level 65.
Firstly, however, I wanted to explain what the Burglar is basically about.
The Burglar is the master of stealth, the debuff, positional damage and starting fellowship manoeuvres (also known as Conjunctions or “cj’s”). They have other aspects to what they do, but basically that is where their strengths are.
Also before we get started I wanted to clear up some terminology. To make it easier to type and to save myself explaining on every skill what it does I want to define some acronyms or you. Also it is a good idea to learn these acronyms, because I’ve found they are used quite a bit on websites and also when talking to people in game.
DD = Direct Damage to your enemy.
DoT = Damage over Time for your enemy. Also known in the business as a “bleed”. This means that damage is done to your enemy over a period of time, not just in one big hit.
DH = Direct Heal to you.
HoT = Heal over Time for you.
Guardians lets finish this 61-65 for now.
Sep 5th
A doughty fighter and protector of the weak, a skilled Guardian can face even the toughest foes and survive. The Guardian is one of the few classes willing and able to try to draw more blows onto themselves, so they can retaliate with devastating maneuvers in response. and with this in mind let us move on into Mirkwood or soon into Enedwaith. You may want to wait to level 62 to head into Enedwaith but that is entirely up to you.
Captain’s leveling guide 51-60
Sep 2nd
This week we cover the areas for leveling from 51-60 and the skills you will attain from them.
Having reached level 50 and finishing your level 50 class quest you can finish up in Eregion and move into Moria, which is like nothing you have ever seen. Gaining access to Moria requires the purchase of the Moria expansion and the completion of Volume 2 Book 1 of the epic quest line, so we are going to operate on the assumption that you have both of these taken care of. After entering Moria you will first notice that it is huge with multiple quest hubs. The first few are levels 50-56 and then the lower levels are 55-60.
Another option once you are in the level 55-56 range is to quest in the outer Moria pre-Lothlorien areas for reputation with the Elves of Lothlorien which will grant you access to the Lothlorien areas. There are two Factions of Dwarves in Moria for reputation the Miners and the Guards. Both of them have decent
rewards. The Guards have a book for a legendary trait 
Master of Oaths from The Master of the Charge. The Miners have a Nimble Goat for you to purchase for 6
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and of course for both rewards you need to be Kindred with both factions.
