Episode 37 - The World Renown RPer?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

In this episode we'll cover:

News
Congratulations to Casual Stroll to Mordor (www.casualstrolltomordor.com/) for being named the #1 MMO Blog by Massively
http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/27/massivelys-top-10-mmo-blogs-of-2010/

What I've Been Doing in Game
Reputation Grind for World Renowned Title:

• Algraig of Enedwaith (Done)
• Men of Bree (Done)
• Hobbits of the Shire (i.e the Mathom Society) (Done)
• Dwarves of Thorin's Gate (Working on this now)
• Elves of Rivendell (Done)
• Eglain of the Lone Lands
• Rangers of Esteldin
• Wardens of Annuminas
• Council of the North in Angmar
• Lossoth of Forochel
• Grey Company (Done)

Winter Festival Picture for the Festival Fashion Contest
http://www.lotro.com/news/latestnews/955-2010-yule-festival-fashion-contest

Yule Festival Glittering Horse

Heart of the Show focuses on LOTRO's inclusion of RP in recent Holiday Events

And then we wrap up with listener feedback including news on radiance and gloom
http://www.pcgamer.com/2010/12/16/arbitrary-gear-checks-lifted-from-lotro-bosses/

I hope you enjoy the show.

Alberos

Episode 36 - Sick in Ost Elendil

After a holiday break and a bout with Strep I am back with another episode.

News

Rise of Isengard
http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/loadNews/18704/utm_campaign/MMORPG%20News%20Alert%20Email/utm_source/MMORPG/utm_medium/email

November Update Went Live
http://www.lotro.com/gameinfo/bookspotlighs/904-november-2010-update

12/6 Patch Notes
http://lorebook.lotro.com/wiki/Release_Notes_November_2010_Update,_Patch_1_Official

Lone Lands are Now Free!
http://www.lotro.com/news/latestnews/924-the-lone-lands-is-now-free


What I've Been Doing In Game
My New Horses
This is my Grey Company Mount

This is my Elf Ambassador's Mount

Taking Down the Great Goblin

The Heart of the Show:  Ost Elendil

Hope you enjoy the show!

Alberos

Episode 35 - Fall Update

Hi all-

In this episode we cover....

News

Ian McKellan's Re-enacts Balrog Scene
http://blastr.com/2010/11/ian-mckellans-hilarious-r.php

Tolkien Killed a Beatles LOTR
http://blastr.com/2010/11/little-known-sci-fi-facts.php

The Hobbit Casting Update (Gandalf isn't signed!)
http://blastr.com/2010/11/two-more-dwarves-cast-in.php

New Zeland passes a law to keep the Hobbit Movie local
http://blastr.com/2010/10/new-zealand-passes-new-la.php

In Game

Ale Association Repeatable Quest Guide
http://thelotrocast.blogspot.com/2010/10/ale-association-quests-my-run-down.html

Heart of the Show

Bullroarer Patch Notes
http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?364747-Release-Notes-November-Update-%28BULLROARER-ONLY%29

Spotlight on Rune Keepers
http://www.lotro.com/gameinfo/devdiaries/889-developer-diary-november-update-rune-keeper-changes

Spotlight on Lore Masters
http://www.lotro.com/gameinfo/devdiaries/877-developer-diary-november-update-lore-master-changes

Listener Feedback

Docholiday's Lua Page
http://docholidaymmo.com/tag/lua/
Merric & Goldenstar's Plugin Guides
Video Guide: http://www.casualstrolltomordor.com/2010/09/lotro-plugin-reviews-01-how-to-install-plugins/
Written Guide: http://www.casualstrolltomordor.com/2010/09/how-to-manually-install-plugins/

I hope you enjoy the show!

Alberos

Ale Association Quests - My Run Down

I am trying to get to Kindred with the Ale Association (the nefarious rivals to the Inn League).  In some ways the AA Rep Quests mirror (darkly) the Inn League quests.  I'll cover all of the quests in more detail in an upcoming podcast but wanted to give you a pattern of AA quests that is working for me.

Start by getting all of the AA quests from Jonar in the bar in Thorin's Gate.  The Quests he gives you (at least the ones I can do right now at Friend level are as follows:  An Inn League Disaster (ILD), An Irritating Initiation (II), Jonar's Special Brew (JSB), Jonar's Special Delivery (JSD), Tainted Mug (TM), and The Draught Drought (DD).  The steps to complete these quests are as follows (Note the JSD quest has a 30 min timer):

1)  Intimidate Oli in the Thorin's Hall Bar three times (II)
2)  Go to Ferin's Court and Ruin the Tasting (ILD - complete)
3)  Ride a horse to Noglond and intimidate Kopur three times (II)
4)  Ride a horse to Gondomon and intimidate Grimar three times (II)
5)  Ride a horse to Duillond
6)  Ride a horse to Needlehome and intimidate Herluf three times (II - complete)
7)  While in Needlehome collect 5 Swamp Gas from Rushock Bog (JSB)
8)  Ride a horse to Hobbiton and go to the party tree.  While you are there deliver the Special Brew (JSD complete) and break on of the kegs (DD)
9)  Ride a horse from Hobbiton to Brockborings and steal the recipe (TM)
10)  Ride a horse to Stock but dismount in Budgeford....break the keg (DD)
11)  Go to Stock and steal the recipe (TM) and break the Keg (DD)
12) Go SW to Woodhall and break the Keg (DD)
13) Go NW to Frogmortton and break the Keg (DD)
14)  Go west to Bywater and break the Keg (DD)
15)  Go SW to Tuckburoug and steal the recipe (TM)
16)  Go NW to Waymet and steal the recipe (TM - Complete)
17) Go West to Sanderson's Farm and get the rotten egg (JSB)
18)  Go south to Michel Delving and break the Keg (DD - Complete)
19)  Swift Travel to Celondim and kill seven slugs, getting their slime (JSB - Complete)
20)  Swift Travel to Thorin's Gate and Turn In Quests

I hope that helps!
Alberos

Episode 34 - Not Orome goes to Harvestmath

Hey all

In this episode we revisit Enedwaith, talk about Orome and get ready for Harvetmath.

News:
The Hobbit to begin production in 2011
http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/18/the-hobbit-to-begin-production-in-early-2011/?hpt=Sbin

Casting Rumors including two Timelords!
http://blastr.com/2010/10/david-tennant-and-michael.php

What's I've Been Doing in Game
Enedwaith Daylies

Not Orome
A Post from Robert
http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?359604-big-D-small-d&p=4996860&highlight=#post4996860
A Segment from Shipwreck from Elendilmir

The Heart of the Show:  Harvestmath
http://www.lotro.com/gameinfo/devdiaries/861-developer-diary-the-2010-fall-festival
The Inn League Revisited
http://thelotrocast.blogspot.com/2010/08/episode-30-better-late-than-never.html

I hope you enjoy the show

Alberos

Episode 33 - The Enedwaith Hodgepodge

This episode seemed to be a mix of this and that.

News

Hobbit Headlines from TheOneRing.net (http://www.theonering.net/)

• The Hobbit in 3D
• The Hobbit boycotted by NZ Actors
• Peter Jackson to Direct

Turbine is looking for Testers for the Palantir Private Preview Program (P4?)
http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?360699-The-Palantir-Private-Preview-Program

MMORPG.com articles on New vs Old MMOs
Part 1
http://www.mmorpg.com/showFeature.cfm/loadFeature/4547/page/1
Part 2
http://www.mmorpg.com/showFeature.cfm/loadFeature/4554/page/1
Part 3
http://www.mmorpg.com/showFeature.cfm/loadFeature/4569/page/1
Part 4
http://www.mmorpg.com/showFeature.cfm/loadFeature/4587/page/1
 
What I've Done in Game
Tail of the Shipwrecked Mariners

Orome, Huntsman of the Valar

Virtues and Traits

The Heart of the Show:  Thoughts on the LOTRO Store and Enedwaith

I hope you enjoy.

Alberos

Special Episode #1- The Podmoot!

Hey all-

This episode is a special episode and is recording of the F2P Podmoot that was recorded just prior to F2P going live.  In this episode, I was able to join Bill and Chris from the LOTROReporter, Merric from a Casual Stroll to Mordor, and Xyderias and Fyurae from the Mordor or Bust Podcast to discuss our experiences in the F2P beta and our expectations for LOTRO going F2P.  Please check out the links to their shows on the right side.

Before getting into the Podmoot proper I do touch base on a couple of LOTRO and LOTR headlines including:

The 73 Year Tortured Journey of the Hobbit
http://blastr.com/2010/08/infographic-the-tortured.php

A Map to Minas Elendur

http://rpg-exploiters.com/guides-strategies/the-maze/#more-4477

I also included a brief bit of my technical difficulties before getting into the Podmoot itself.  It shows what a noob I am with Skype.

I hope you enjoy this Special Episode.

Alberos

Episode 32 - First Things First

LOTRO is Free to Play!  Servers were up on Sept 7th and as soon as the news broke the servers were flooded with current and returning players.

So this short episode focuses on what are the first things you should do when logging into the new version of the game:

1)  Watch all of your deeds and titles popup on your screen.  It reminds you of how much you've done in game.
2)  Re-spend your legendary item points.  Turbine has yet again refunded your Legendary Item Points as they have tweaked the legacys.
3)  Re-spend your points on your Skirmish Soldier.  Similar to the Legendary Items, Skirmish Points were apparently refunded as well.
4)  Check in with your class trainer.  While my loremaster didn't have any skills to learn I have heard that some classes did have changes to their skills.  Plus it never hurts to check in to make sure you are up to date.
5)  Check out the new Vault and Wardrobe system.  Its not pretty, but it works.
6)  Visit the LOTRO store and purchase the 'must have' items which include:  Permanent increases to Virtues (but only the ones you use), Permanent increase to Stats (but them all), The Riding Skill (now available at lvl 5), and your first mount.
7)  Join a kinship.  The game has changed and a group of built in friends will help with the learning process.

If you are on Arkenstone and looking for a kin...check out Amistad Del Otro (http://www.delotro.com/).  Its one of the larger kins on Arkenstone and is a very friendly kin. 

Hope this helps when you log in.

See you all in Middle-Earth.
Alberos

Episode 31 - F2P Update and Getting to 65

Hey all

In this episode we cover:

News:
LOTRO goes F2P on September 10 (or 8th if your lucky)
(http://www.lotro.com/news/pressreleases/782-the-lord-of-the-rings-online-will-be-free-to-play-starting-september-10-2010)
Sapience Announces F2P Head Start
(http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?t=350862)
Dev Diary:  Instances 2.0 Part 4 - Helegrod
(http://www.lotro.com/gameinfo/devdiaries/772-developer-diary-instances-20-part-4-)  
Dev Diary:  Instances 2.0 Part 5 - The Great Barrow
(http://www.lotro.com/gameinfo/devdiaries/785-developer-diary-instances-20-part-5-)
Dev Diary:  Volume 3 Book2 Quest Notes
(http://www.lotro.com/gameinfo/devdiaries/786-developer-diary-volume-iii-book-2-quest-notes)
The Hobbit News
(http://the-hobbit-movie.com/)

What Have I Been Doing in Game

The Heart of the Show will address a listeners question on how best to solo to 65
Pre-leveling

• No why you want to get to end game before you try to get there (healer? tank? other?)
• Enable your Quest Tracker and Quest Guide

Levels 1-20

• Learn your class
• Pickup the explorer vocation
• Focus on the Epic Story line
• Get every solo quest you can in an area (focus on the green and blue quests)
• Don't forget your lvl 15 class quest

Levels 21-40

• Continue to follow the Epic Story line
• Continue to grab every solo quest you can
• Do the lvl 30 class quest
• Make sure you do the Skirmish quests and tutorial

Levels 41-50

• Get past the experience hump by focus on Skirmishes to get XP and skirmish marks (to buy class quest items that normally drop from elite mobs)
• Buy you legendary class trait quest books from your trainer and complete these deeds/quests
• Complete the lvl 45 Class Quests which will unlook another legendary trait

Level 50+

• Back to the epic story line, but this time the Mines of Moria Volume not Shadows of Angmar
• Be prepared to group....some Epic quests and some areas just require it

Hope you like the episode

Alberos

Episode 30 Better Late Than Never

Hey all-

Sorry for the delay in getting a show out.   As you'll hear in the show, my wife passed away after a 3 1/2 year battle with lung cancer.  She never smoked or was exposed to second hand smoke which makes this even more tragic.  While the kids and I are doing OK I felt it was important to share what happened and provide a way for people to help so that others might have a better chance of surviving this terrible disease.  For those interested in helping I am adding a link to the American Lung Association both here (http://www.lungusa.org/donate/) and in the list of links on the left. Please make a donation to help stop lung cancer.

You are also probably noticing that the show website has gone through some rennovation. I've changed the look and feel of the website to hopefully make it more attractive and easier to use. Key changes are:

1) A RSS link to my "my.lotro" blog (http://my.lotro.com/alberich/) where I am trying to put out a new post about my experience in the game every Monday. This list will automatically update every time I post which is cool.

2) I have split all the links and polls into two columns. The Left hand side of the website will contain links more specific to my experiences in LOTRO and what I'm doing (this includes the my.lotro blog mentioned above). The right hand side will be more show specific with the polls, podcast feeds, archived show notes, etc...

3) To make this more clearly about LOTRO I've changed the header to highlight that LOTROCast is about Middle-Earth and the LOTRO game.

Vote on this week's poll and let me know how you like the new setup.

In this week's show we cover the following:

Recent News and Notes
Lunna the Burg's New Series: The Path of the Fellowship (featuring music by Falthom and the Lonely Mountain Band)
Shire to Bree (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa_DnRUKdhM)
The Road to Rivendell (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YmnH34MAOE&feature=related)
Into Khazad-Dum (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_iNvb1ixF0)

Turbine F2P Dev Diaries and Beta Journals
Enedwaith Dev Diary (http://www.lotro.com/gameinfo/devdiaries/747-developer-diary-enedwaith)
LOTRO Store Beta Journal (http://www.lotro.com/gameinfo/feature-articles/757-beta-journals-the-lotro-store)
New Player Experience Beta Journal (http://www.lotro.com/gameinfo/feature-articles/760-beta-journals-new-player-experience)
Class Changes Beta Journal (http://www.lotro.com/gameinfo/feature-articles/769-beta-journals-class-changes)

What I've Been Doing in Game
* My most recent experience with the Watcher
Check out this link where they show you how to take this monster down (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-EGpQkqrvk&feature=player_embedded)

The Heart of The Show focuses on:
* The Inn League
List of Inn League Member Locations and the Beers/Wines they need:
Edhelion (by Thorin's Gate) needs Dorwinion White from Rivendell
Zigigund (in Forochel) needs Moar Beer from the Prancing Pony in Bree
Brockborings (NE of Hobbiton) needs Stars of Old Cider from the Prancing Pony
Thrasi's Lodge (SE of Gondomon) needs Forsaken Ale from the Forsaken Inn
Aughaire (in Angmar) needs Swill from the Forsaken Inn
Misty Mountains (SE of Goblin Town) needs Beakbreker Ale from Combe
Oatbarton (North of Brockborings) needs Blagrove's Brown from Michel Delving
Ost Haer (in the Lone Lands) needs Thistle Belly Brew from Hobbiton
Echad Candelleth (in the Trollshaws) needs Brandy Wine from Stock
Thornley's Worksite (NW of Bree) needs Limael's Vintage from Celendom
Othrikar (NW of Esteldin) needs Bombur's Beard from Thorin's Gate

Typically I would by 5-10 of each brew and just make a circuit to each of these every day. 
Route 1:  Edhelion, Thrasi's Lodge
Route 2:  Zigilgund, Oatbarton, Brockborings
Route 3:  Aughaire, Othrikar
* The Halls of Crafting Moria Dungeon
* Developer Diary: Instances 2.0 (Parts 1-3)
Part 1 http://www.lotro.com/gameinfo/devdiaries/754-developer-diary-instances-20-part-1-
Part 2 http://www.lotro.com/gameinfo/devdiaries/759-developer-diary-instances-20-part-2-
Part 3 http://www.lotro.com/gameinfo/devdiaries/764-developer-diary-instances-20-part-3-

Listener Feedback

Hope you like the show

Alberos

Hiatus

Hey all-

LOTROCast will be taking a short hiatus as I deal with a RL issue. I hope to have the next show up and out around mid-late August.

While I am gone please check out some of the other LOTRO podcasts highlighted on the right.

I apologize for the disruption.

Alberos

Episode 29 - And the Winner is.....

Hey all-


Lots of content in this show.

LOTRO News

LOTROCast now accessable through http://www.lotrocast.com/, http://www.lotrocast.net/, and http://www.thelotrocast.blogspot.com/ (Special Thanks to Cyberears)

Featured Player: Harperella
http://my.lotro.com/turbinecommunity/2010/06/11/featured-player-harperella/

Heirs of Cardolan as the LOTRO Ghostbusters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJuU0oOKPdE

Revisiting FRP

A screen shot of the DDO Store where $19.99 will get you 1,550 Turbine Points. Races and classes cost about 1/4-1/2 of that amount.




Tips for F2Players

1) Be prepared for an experience unlike other MMOs...the lore prevents a lot of the glitz and glam of games like WoW. Remember...Its Tolkien's World, We Just Play in It,
2) Don't Rush. Lots of players are going to think they need to rush to end game to really enjoy this MMO and I'd warn them that by doing this they miss the point of this very story driven MMO.
3) Join a kin. Experience this game with the help of a kin will make it more enjoyable. (If you start a toon on Arkenstone check out Amistad Del Otro. I joined them over nine months ago and really enjoy it. They are at www.delotro.com)
4) Be RP Friendly. Even if you aren't a 'role player' lots of people in this game are.
5) Finally...don't be afraid to ask questions. This game is populated by lots of friendly people who will help you out if you ask.

The winner of the Backstory Contest is.........Devon's story about Stando of Landroval:

If you were to ask any Hobbit from the village of Staddle you might be
surprised to find them happy to share with you the location of their
best fishing spots. Indeed, they would smile when they told you that
the most wondrous fishing for miles around could only be found along
the western edge of the Midgewater Marsh. They would then chuckle as
they revealed that the fishing was certainly excellent, but only if
you could tolerate the nasty smelling fog and all the bothersome and
carnivorous bugs. No, the real secret known only to the locals was the
location of a small spot near the Swatmidge farm where the mist was
thin, the bugs small, and the fishing unusually good.

It was at that exact spot that a tired young Hobbit sat in the shade
of a small oak tree. He cast his line into the green, thick looking
water amid a steady din of buzzing insects. His day of fishing, which
had begun with such promise, had crawled along from a warm morning to
an uncomfortable mid-day heat. To make matters worse he was yet to
catch anything but a few sickly smelt.

My luck may yet change, Stando thought as he cast his line again into
the murky water. The irony of the thought left him frowning though.
Luck had been anything but good to him lately.

Frustrated, he pushed back his cap and scratched at his temple before
swatting at a gnat buzzing around his head. He paused and after a
moment let his hand stray to the deep scar that cut a jagged line
though his left eyebrow and across the empty socket where his eye
should have been. He touched the patch covering it carefully, still
unused to the feel of its leather surface upon his face.

For the hundredth time he wondered why he couldn’t have been content
to remain a simple farmer. No, he had to dream of being the greatest
cook from Staddle to Needlehole. He even secretly hoped that such a
famous cook might catch the notice of lovely Lily Underhill. She might
then stop to chat instead of just hurrying by with a quick wave and a
brief smile. To that end he stubbornly walked the path between Staddle
and Archet every day to work as a cook’s helper at the Mad Badger Inn.
Now, as he sat there with no fish on his line, he cursed himself for
such stupid, frivolous notions.

It was only a few weeks ago that he paused at the back door to spend
a few moments feeding kitchen scraps to a stray dog. That was when the
Blackwolds came with swords drawn and torches held high. Among them
had also been a few strangely robed figures from the far away wilds of
Angmar. It was one of these, with a fierce tattoo of a dark bird
across his face and ritual scars along his arms, which lead the group
that came upon him while he knelt at the back door.

The Angmarim gave a command and the bandits threw their torches at the
tavern and set its thatched roof alight with flame. Shocked by such
madness, Stando rose and called out for them to stop. The Angmarim
laughed at him and slashed through Stando’s face with his cruelly
curved blade. He stepped towards him to strike again but the stray dog
leapt to his defense. To the poor thing’s credit she did her best but
the Angmarim swung his sword around and he heard her yelp and whimper
in pain. Stando looked around to try and help the dog but the blood
from his face kept flowing into his eyes. He groped blindly in the
dirt but eventually the pain overwhelmed him.

In the days that followed his wound healed with the aid of a Ranger
who tended to many of the injured townsfolk. Despite his considerable
skill he was unable to save Stando’s eye as the damage had been too
great at the outset.

Stando lowered his head and closed the one eye that remained. He felt
it grow wet. It wasn’t fair to be marked like this. Who would ever
want a half-blind Hobbit? Not Lily, that’s for sure. The few times
they had seen each other she would look away and run off. He longed to
tell her what happened but in the end he decided it was best if he
left her be.

After that he had stayed away from Staddle. Rather than go home he
spent his time training with the Bree militia and helping with the
efforts to clear Archet of debris and the dead. He never discovered
what had happened to the dog. Later, when he went back to the ruin of
the inn there was no sign of her amongst the many blood stains and
burned timbers.

They buried those that fell in the town’s defense but for the
Blackwolds and their allies there was little pity felt for them. Their
corpses were heaped into piles near the banks of the Midgewater.
Stando checked each one but none were the Angmarim who had taken his
eye. When they finally lit the fires to burn the corpses he closed his
eye and for a moment he was back in Archet among the flaming
buildings. He saw the Angmarim’s laughing face and felt the slash of
his wicked blade all over again. He heard the brave growl of the stray
dog and her sudden painful yelp. He would never forget these. That he
vowed.

A tug on his fishing pole snapped him back to the present but he
didn’t even bother trying to pull it in. Instead he gripped the pole
like his spear and thought of driving the steel tip deep into that
Angmarim’s face over and over again. He knew these were not a Hobbit’s
thoughts.

No, he thought, these are the thoughts of Men and their ways. This is
what makes them want to fight each other and I am glad to have it. I
will find that Angmarim and have his eyes for what he did to me and to
the stray. I may be unwelcome among my folk now but I would guess that
brute’s people have even less use for a blind man.

Lily and the other Staddle folk were right to shy away from him. In
fact, he didn’t feel the need to fish any longer either. He wasn’t
that hungry, not really, and he could make good time today if he
stopped wasting it here trying to be what he wasn’t anymore.

He stood and wrapped his fishing rod in an oiled cloth. He fixed it to
his pack along with his shield and slung both over his back. He had
heard a rumor that a Ranger near the Forsaken Inn might have
information about these Angmarim. That would be as good a place to
start as any. He knew it would be a hard march though the marsh, but
testing the weight of his spear in his hand he felt resolved to
dispatch whatever crossed his path.

It was time to move on.

Other backstories that you can find online:

RannaDylin and her backstory for Linett Redfern (see also the continuing story in her other entries)
http://my.lotro.com/rannadylin/2010/01/24/have-you-seen-grace-redfern/

Lddiaz backstory for Cobrett (see her continuing story in her other entries)
http://my.lotro.com/character/elendilmir/cobrette/journal/

Hope to see you all in middle earth.


Alberos

New Beginnings

Hey all-

As you probably heard on the podcast, the original website (http://www.lotrocast.com/ and http://www.lotrocast.blogspot.com/) and the original email (lotrocast@gmail.com) have become corrupted and I cannot regain access to the accounts.

Instead of starting a new podcast (Casual Stroll to LOTROCast or Green LOTROCast Inn) I thought I'd setup up shop in a similar but slightly different location. You can now visit the blog at http://www.lotrocast.net/ or http://www.thelotrocast.blogspot.com/ and you can send emails to thelotrocast@gmail.com.

In more news, Turbine has announced that LOTRO will be going F2P (Free to Play) this Fall. See the link here for more details.

http://www.lotro.com/news/709-announcing-the-lord-of-the-rings-onlines-move-to-free-to-play-

Here is an article on the F2P from MMORPG

http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/game/45/feature/4292/Lord-of-the-Rings-Online-Free-to-Play-Interview.html

Alberos