Lord of the rings online

Zantipe was in thoughts about activity. Vales of Anduin almost finished. Went to Ered Mithrin, to run quests for Dwarves of Skarhald. This time situation was different – I was stronger, wighs could not manage to do me harm. Kill this and that, explore over here. Soon it was almost done, except some instances.

Then it was question on activity. Go to Mordor besieged and run untill Minas Morgul, the ghost city? Run older content for virtues. Kinnies were helpfull and adviced Black book of Mordor.

Yes, it re-started the adventure. I went to these grumpy lands, taking only Black book quests and ignoring landscape. Killing deeds almost auto-advanced, exploring went good. I went from NPC to NPC untill – untill I became the Mouth of Gondor, to meet Mouth of Sauron.

Of course, negotiations failed. Dulgabeth was so arrogant, so over-confident as if he has won. Peace is good, but not on such terms and not with evil. I returned to Aragorn. Some moment later, I moved to Dor Amarth. Very short epic here – and redirection to remaining regions: Lhingris, Talath Urui (and Agarnaith?). But of course, prior to that – visit Gandalf outside of Black gate.

Which -very conveniently – leaves me to finish almost all deeds in Udun. Exploration, slayer ones. Gain valuable reputation to get “Return to Udun foothold” skill (and Lotro points). To get valuable xp. Then – Dor Amarth with same intentions. Finally – Lhingris to kill almost everything that moves.

And so, my adventures resume. Some seven more books in Black book to go untill finish. Then, I will have my ideas about what to do next. Like, some more levels and finish Eryn Lasgalen/Dwarf lands deeds?

Lord of the rings online

Zantipe continued questing. More Elf lady flowers, then return to Elf lady, find her prisoner (Shade). Yeap, it’s Isildur. He gets freed all thanks to Gandalf, Elrond…and me. Then – helping Radagast’s little friends (birds): explore this, calm those, by the way – kill these, return to Radagast.

By mistake picked some quest concerning Isildur – and got teleported to Mordor besieged. I thought it would be temporal thing. Turned out – nope. Picked only epic quests, stopped when they started to run too deep. No, my dear folks, I did not finish with favourite Vales of Anduin.

Here, I still have Goblins and Wargs to kill, locate treasure chests. Kindred reputation already reached, so – taskboard items could be grinded for alts only.

Real life mood is terrible. War rages in Ukraine, with Putin’s hordes of darkness doing all they can to destroy freedom. Reminds me of Sauron and his hordes of orcs, unleashed to destroy any hope and light in Middle Earth. Reminds me of darkest hours when many lands were destroyed, Osgiliath fell and huge hordes of darkness marched to Minas Tirith.
In Lotr/Lotro Minas Tirith withstood and Sauron was destroyed, along with his slaves.
In real world outcome is not that clear. I am losing my faith in God, for He allows attrocities and does nothing to stop.

Lord of the rings online

Yesterday – last day before World War 3 – Zantipe spent questing in beloved Vales of Anduin. I thought it would be all about Shade.
It wasn’t. Go, pick some soil. Then fertilize some flowers. Most of them are conveniently growing in/near Orc camps. Looks like Orcs just love to observe flowers…

I went. Killed Orcs, poured soil on flowers…and Radagast asked to care about his little pet friends. Sorry, dear Wizard – next time. All the time I was preoccupied with Hultvis quests. These were more interesting that pouring soil on flowers.

First, it was story of Snatcher, Old Mad Ubb – also known as Gollum. This “lame little creature” appeared as one really evil. Kidnapping kids and eating them. Hunting at night, evading every trap. Story about boy who lost his father, then took father’s dagger and went to avenge. Of course, Gollum overpowered little boy – and would have eaten, if not Beorn himself. He saved boy, brought in safety to Hultvis. This was a…darker story than one could expect. But I enjoyed it, even if dark and tragic.

Then had to kill one named Warg in Avarbarg, place traps, warding totems, explore cave of Gollum with some items left here. Enough activity to keep occupied and looking at quest tracker: always low, always at some 40/50.

Yet SSG is bit greedy. Charging 40 mithril coins for additional 10 quests to be added. And I thought to purchase additional…Sorry, not purchasing then.

Day was good. Yet this morning ruined almost every my hope. War has started, war that rages nearby to me, war started by madman Putin to destroy freedom wherever it exists. My God, why hast Thou abandoned us, for what unforgivable sins?

Lord of the rings online

Zantipe is really happy to quest in Vales of Anduin. So nice atmosphere, so much to do. Scout, find, kill kill kill… Of course, Goblins are to be killed, these creatures exist only to be killed. Thus, it was weird to see some Beornings hiding in fear from Goblins. No, that’s not right, Beorning would fight back.

Rhosgobel quests were – lucky for me – short. Repair bird houses, then note song of river and return to Radagast. From there, I got to swamps, then some Beorning village that required me to do 7 quests for them. Ok, kill this, find that – almost no problem. Except one: collect venison from forest harts. Come on, you cruel folks, no need to kill those animals! We have agressive Wargs and Boars, let’s kill them!

Got to kill one named hart who was really elusive – running at full speed nearby. But lucky for me, killed it.

Another quest got me follow Elf-lady, who gets imprisoned by orcs and wargs (?), I get to rescue her, prior killing half dungeon. Luckily, Galadriel appeared, scared named huge Warg and quest chain ended.

And then it was local swamp (for almost every region has to have its swamp). Kill shades, scout locations, talk to Gandalf, return to scout locations, then locate one shade, follow it…only to receive quest from Elf lady. I do know it will end with imprisoned shade and elf-lady wanting shade to be imprisoned forever. Not exciting (why should Beorning be excited about some imprisoned shades?), but still something to do and reputation to grow up.

My quests in Beorning lands are coming to an end. Now must focus on deeds, especially hated Goblins and Wargs slayer. Destination is Kindred and all deeds (except Rhosgobel) done.

Lord of the rings online

I am really happy to quest in Vales of Anduin with Zantipe. Everything is nice, green, everything speaks about Beornings. I take every quest. I read every text that makes sense. I feel at home.

It was first time (!) that I read how Beornings were born: well, Radagast aided. Then, how Gauredain and Ungoledain appeared. How they differ and what has Radagast to do about it. I talked to Beorning NPCs feeling like they were my family/relatives.

And of course, Goblins. Killing them all the way, wherever possible. Just because they are Goblins, hated and killable creatures. Quests guided me to various places, infested with Wargs and Goblins, requiring me to cleanse world from them.

Grimbeorn was also there, inviting Gandalf and Co to his table, showing his hospitality and wishing to hear tales. Of course, Grimbeorn is bit grumpy, taking only Eagles as his allies.

Being Beorning makes quest texts differ and that feels. I am at home, almost every quest is like “You know, we happened to do such and such…”. It really reminds I am home with my relatives. Thus – am really happy with Vales of Anduin, so satisfied to quest there.

Kinnies persuaded to equip new LIs. Had to spent some 2000 Ancient scripts for traceries – and regain them through deconstructing old ones + using Coffers of Ancient script. Now, have almost same DPS as on old LI, yet – higher resistance versus enemy attacks. Bleeds are still a problem: maybe equipment would help.

The only problem – not enough Vales of Anduin taskboard items. I struggle to get these. Grey mountains task items are piece of cake, too easy to fill inventory. Vales – not so, basically only furs are in normal quantities. I am still too far from Kindred, so Stormsong could be sent to farm taskboard items.

And so the day has ended, really good one in native Vales of Anduin.

Lord of the rings online

Lame Reward Track (LRT, as I call it) works. In some mysterious way – I managed to reach second level on my Zantipe (lvl.119 toon). Only by missions, not much of them. Which is weird, even one level requires some 1 million xp -amount, I could not have accumulated by missions.

LI runes are, of course, tied to levels, highest level ones – to highest levels. So if you deconstructed your LI at lvl.100 and got some 800,000 xp rune – you could use it at lvl.130 only. Screw you, noob – says SSG and laughs at you.

Which makes me to take one alt (lvl.43), grind some xp till lvl.45, take it Moria, finish that specific epic and try to use all of low lvl. runes. More efficient, have to say and pity I did not accumulate more low lvl. runes.

To be fair, I noticed one more quality of life improvement: taskboard items now clearly indicates which region(s) you can use them. Bravo for that, SSG – at least some wise and kind decisions.

Zantipe now is busy, devoting time for Missions and rest time – for grinding xp+reputation. First goal is Wilderfolk, must reach as high as possible before I even go to Vales of Anduin. Then – all this endless grind of Mordor and Wastes. Yeah, I am still lame lvl.119, getting xp from missions and taskboards, but that may change soon.

Vales of Anduin awaits my Beorning and with them – some joy with stories. And Goblin killing, no doubt.

Lord of the rings online

We have new update, “Ruins and rangers”. Good news first: trait, virtue, racial slots are finally free for all who reached certain level. Also, gold cap is removed for all players, so everyone starts with 9999 gold cap. That’s good news, quality of life improves…and leaves me with one thought: what about attractiveness of VIP then? Quick travel and rest points?

Then, we have new region near Trollshaws. Ruins, amongst them – them rangers and probably monsters. Some 700 Lotro points, free for VIPs, level 40s levelling area. Many players rushed there, I personally am not that enthusiastic. Wildwood proved to be boredom without stories. Rangers in ruins have no stories so far.

And finally, long awaited Legendary reward track is there. Just get those LIxp runes, use and enjoy. Well, evil hides in details. First, there are boxes you should pick in order: if you want lvl.3 reward only, you must take lvl.1 and 2 rewards first. Second, xp grind is huge. First level is around 1 million LI xp. One kinnie emptied his all runes…only to reach lvl.17. Nobody is happy with such insane grind, yet developers won’t change it. Track itself is scrolling from left to right one (like Allegiances) – and does NOT show how many xp you have and how many is left. In short, it must be remade from scratch (which won’t happen, since it’s wise).

Other changes are minor, like Brawler ones or some tiny class changes. Do not care much about these.

Impressions are mixed a bit. Quality of life improvements are always wise and good (more happy players – better for game – more money). New areas for questing only that have zero stories and are free for VIPs: just temporaly solution and no lore behind that. Empty region where some blank NPCs offer blank quests. And so far we are not robbed of our currency. One day they will take away all of it, since you know – “not working as intended”.

The day has ended, half-good in Lotro.

Lord of the rings online

Questing in Ered Mithrin was an ultimate failure: my Beorning was killed by almost each lvl.115 (!) undead. Group fights seem to be impossible to win.

Following advices, I left Dale lands and Ered Mithrin – now am grinding deeds. First stop, Dunland and almost all slayer deeds there. Had to visit Isengard, do some quests here (!), throwing quest rewards and gathering xp. Dunland deeds were done, my virtues increased – it was time to move to Enedwaith. Needless to say, Dunland saw me killing Goblins with some joy. And Wargs too. Pity, Enedwaith has no Goblins.

One Erebor quest send me to see Dragon bones – so I managed to visit all of them, ending with Forochel. There, worm slayer, snow beast slayer were done. The only slayer deed I made by mistake and will NOT advance – is bear slayer. Sorry, just no.

Result of this huge grind: some virtues maxed, one – close to maxing; I also got some nice piece of armour due to Dragon bones quest.

Side activities: missions in War room. Sometimes I am killed (group fight is still nightmare). Mostly – surviving, killing almost anything and grinding valuable xp.

Strategy: get trait tree maxed, i.e. finally use those 36 unspent points, max virtues and then grind my way to some lvl.120. And then – yeah, favourite Vales of Anduin.

But before that, tons of old deeds to max everything…

Lord of the rings online

Zantipe still busy with Ered Mithrin. Levelling goes slowly, task board items’ income is slow – and quests became problem. Because well, I have too many unfinished ones that yesterday almost hit the (increased) cap: almost 50. I had to be carefull with what am I picking.

Skarhald is one of the worst settlements. Ruins, unsuitable for life, maze made without any logic and quests made so poorly that they could serve as example: kids, don’t do this ever. No joy, just pure running, “yes-yes-next-next-finish” approach. I did not care what these Dwarves have to say or why. Just let me finish that quest and do not offer new in return.

Meanwhile I have to explore some areas, kill some Orcs, then probably some more etc. The only dilemma are bears. My Beorning just cannot kill Bears, they are like brothers for me – who would kill his own brother, even if he turned to the criminals? Kinnies keep telling this is roleplay.

For me, it would be nice if developers make a substitute for Beornings: instead of Bears, ask to kill anything else. Wargs, wolves, spiders – whatever. But since that’s Lore appropriate and wise, it will never happen.

Side note: living without even slightly thought of Gundabad. Would wait for sales (they will happen).

And yes, still waiting for level 120. Finish boring Dwarf land, run to green and inviting Vales of Anduin! There, I could finish almost all quests and deeds, earn all titles and gain valuable xp.

Lord of the rings online

Zantipe is really busy in Strongholds of the North. First – turning in task items, grinding reputation with everyone. Trouble is – not enough items to turn in.

Second: Dwarf stories. This time there was disquiet, some Dwarves rushing to reclaim what was theirs (which was a bad idea…), so it was up to me to rush and see what happens. One little conspiracy, then some running and finally, expedition to Ered Mithrin. En route to it, met one Dwarf who offered three quests, including really cruel one: kill bears for pelts! No, never gonna happen, my Beorning would never kill bears, unless absolutely pressed to.

I met famous Karazgar, witnessing how he met Dragon and got cursed for slow death. Yes, it would be entire set of adventures and I wish Karazgar finally dies. He really deserves that. Meanwhile, I just follow his steps. Follow, while waiting for level 120.

Level 120! I do want it, for only then would I receive invitation to re-visit Vales of Anduin, home of Beornings, place of Beorn lodge where everything looks like paradise. Even tons of Goblins to kill (yet which Beorning would stop killing these?). Yes, I do want to go there, engage in all activities (except dailies to protect certain races), finish all deeds before moving to boring Wells of Langflood. The only thing I won’t do – would be Radasgast quests to give treats. Too much, too boring, too worthless rewards.

Meanwhile, I am in Ered Mithrin and would grind everything I could. Untill level 120.