Budgeford has released a Developer Diary centering around the creation of the new area in Update 6, The Great River. And I have to say that the content in this looks to be stunning.
New art assets for this zone began pouring in not long ago, and we had the pleasure of watching the formation of an entirely new territory in Middle-earth. The Great River not only offers something fresh-feeling and new, but also some fairly epic eye candy. This region delivers the first established Rohirrim-run town, a settlement called Stangard, with interiors and exteriors unlike all others in the game. As you roam through this zone, you will likely feel a rekindling of your early sensations as an explorer of Middle-earth.
And while visuals are so important to having a great atmosphere within the game, there is no doubt that the content within will be of great importance as well. So what’s the breakdown of the zone?
- It will be a 75 end-game region
- It’s focused around solo or duo gameplay
- There will be a new reputation faction “…with notably better barter items than the rep stuff found in the Rise of Isengard release.”
- Quests will give items that are upgrades to those rewarded in the Dunland/Isengard areas.
- “There is plenty of content to help you earn these rewards without having to grind…” (Consider me hopeful, but skeptical on this one.)
And it appears that there will be group content as well:
If you prefer to do more challenging content in groups, there is a new landscape division just for you: the Limlight Gorge. There is a separate reputation faction just for the brave folks who want to tempt their fate against terrifying trolls and enraged huorns, with higher-end loot to barter when you earn rep with that area.
The rest of the article discusses the development process in creating a new region. Anyone who is interested in game design or at a behind-the-scenes look at how these areas are created should definitely check it out.
March 1, 2012 at 6:03 pm
I love the fact that it’s focused on solo/duo instead of raid grind.
March 1, 2012 at 6:03 pm
that screenshot is stunning
March 1, 2012 at 6:07 pm
I’m amready so excited!
I only wonder what the exact date this region will come out is, antone knows?
March 1, 2012 at 6:20 pm
We don’t but since it is already live on the testing server (or at least I think it is) I believe it will get released by the end of March. There’s also comments by Sapience on the forums that are in the same vein – like “Sooner than expected” and stuff like that.
I’m unsure when the Anniversary celebration should happen, maybe the two things are about to go live at the same time?
March 1, 2012 at 6:23 pm
Looks awesome. It’s going to be hard not to check this out on BullRoarer, but I think this time I’m going to wait.
March 1, 2012 at 6:51 pm
If the patch notes are up from Bullroarer is anyone that has participated in the testing of the area able to shed light on the new “faction” that exists in Limlight Gorge? I’m guessing it’s an opposite corner of “Fangorn’s Edge” and that the northwestern borders are either steep foothills to the Misty Mountains or forest that is too dense to walk through? I’m just curious how they’ll move on to Rohan (just the one funneled road south?)
March 1, 2012 at 7:57 pm
Really looks great. Between this and the notes for Bullroarer I feel like Turbine is really stepping things up. Hope it continues
March 1, 2012 at 8:02 pm
Decorations looks stunning!! Wow!
March 2, 2012 at 2:25 pm
Does anyone know how many Turbine Points this is going to cost?
March 3, 2012 at 8:20 am
The initial pricing was 1495TP. Later it has been changed to 895. Needless to say there is no solid number to run with as of yet. xD
March 3, 2012 at 8:34 pm
Interesting, I hadn’t heard about the latter price. That’s definitely better, although I’d not mind cheaper
March 2, 2012 at 3:20 pm
Newbie Question: What exactly do it mean – “It will be a 75 end-game region”.
What does “end-game” refer to exactly?
March 2, 2012 at 4:49 pm
It just means it’s for level 75s to run around in and be entertained in. Sort of like how Enedwaith is level 65 zone. Some could possibly level there but that probably isn’t it’s primary purpose.
March 4, 2012 at 12:07 pm
Not the same as leveling per se, but an important function of Enedwaith is simply getting to kindred status with the Algraig (the Grey Company, thank Eru, now have a lot more rep-granting quests) — important if you want to show off that World-Renowned horsey with the red flag on the bum. (This is where I reluctantly agree with the anti-flag folks, because white horse + red flag = SPOT ME FROM A DISTANCE AND COME KILL ME, I AM A FREEP, but that’s another story for another day.)
March 8, 2012 at 2:04 pm
It is great that it focuses on solo play for once. As it is I can not do raids with my computer barley able to handle the min requirements to run lotro and I can’t afford a new one yet. As said they are focusing on solo play but they are offering better rep items still to raid groups. So this means once again that people with inferior equipment( I e computer) will once again find inferior equipment in the game. Or that people who do not have a raiding kin or just like to play alone will not be able to receive the same type of rep equipment that a member of ainur or massive dynamics to name a couple will be able to get. I have been playing a while, I have gridded out instances just to get a set of riddle tellers gloves and a set armor from the moors( can’t raid there either) I don’t mean to rant so I am sorry but it is not fair and btw I have a VIP member and still do not do the content I pay for. I love your pod casts also and thank you from all of us that listen.