Update 2 ETA?

[Vilnas]

We may be able to tie back into Hobbit territory (igoring any potential IP issues), but, you'd also have to consider how that would affect the game's current hike towards Mordor via Rohan. It wouldn't make a whole lot of sense to go through Eregion, Moria, Lothlorien, Mirkwood, Enedwaith, and parts of Isengard and Rohan, only to turn around and be sent quite a distance away, to Erebor.

I think it all depends on what the storyline is for the game post Rohan. I suspect is isn't going to be as simple as "take part in the Battles of the Pellenor Fields and Black Gate." If anything, I think would be fairly logical for Gandalf to task us off with warning Erebor of the coming assault and assist in its defense. Essentially protecting the Freeps backside while Gandalf & Co. handle the Ring business, as we have been doing ever since the beginning of SoA.

But I do agree that the overall momentum of the game has been, and should be, heading towards Gondor and then Mordor. That's what the majority of the player base presumably wants and expects,and Turbine obviously will need to be careful with how it handles the flow and pace of the game toward that end.

[Lohi]

The time line has already been very fluid. A player could make a beeline to follow the fellowship as much as possible, but we're able to move around and do side quests all we want. When the game first opened the fellowship was already in Rivendell (and out in the open too, not hidden in guest rooms). But book 1 make it seem like they just left Crickhollow, and book 2 makes it seem like we just missed them by a week or two at Weathertop, and book 4 we're searching for one of the Nazgul that was swept away by the Bruinen, etc. Now the fellowship has moved on. But with fast travel we can see them in Lothlorien and Rivendell within five minutes of each other.

So I wouldn't worry too much about the time line or us being forced to rush to keep up with the story's schedule.

Another important point which many still have trouble grasping: this game is not about following the fellowship. Ie, we're not dogging their steps, but exploring lots of middle earth. Thus Gladden Fields is an appropriate zone even though the fellowship didn't go there, nor the rangers, etc. Some players said "we must go to Rohan next since that's where the story went!" and then they cried foul when Enedwaith was released. Of course players are going to want to see settings from The Hobbit as well.

Also this game is not over when we get to Moria. There's a ton of stuff outside of the direct book storyline that's viable; Gladden Fields, Dol Amroth, etc. Then we have stuff that is in the books but not in the direct line to Mordor; players will want to see the Argonath, fight some corsairs near Pelargir, the maze of crags in Emyn Muil, etc.

[HeyDoMerryDew]

If there is a date in this thread then please disregard the following guess as to the day the update is available...

My guess is... *trumpet fanfare* ... March 22nd! Why? Because that is the day I leave for vacation and will not have access to the game! ARGH!!!!!!!!!

[Armysniper]

The problem with dropping a new class like a horse-combat related one is that it would be almost impossible to fit into the game as it is now. Without actually using a horse, a horse-lord class would likely be very similar to the warden - medium armour, spears and javelins, that sort of thing - and it would be very difficult to make content that works for a class built around mounted combat and for those classes that aren't - especially in the lower-level areas.

Honestly, I don't see what the big fuss about mounted combat is - it's been the flavor of the month for years now, but without anyone ever really saying why it would be so great. It would most likely be combat exactly as it is now, just sitting on a horse.

We may be able to tie back into Hobbit territory (igoring any potential IP issues), but, you'd also have to consider how that would affect the game's current hike towards Mordor via Rohan. It wouldn't make a whole lot of sense to go through Eregion, Moria, Lothlorien, Mirkwood, Enedwaith, and parts of Isengard and Rohan, only to turn around and be sent quite a distance away, to Erebor.

Forochel had little to do with it as did Evendim yet they were added. Turbine needs to delay as much as possible to keep the flow of the game towards Mordor being an epic fight.

As for mounted combat, remember the idea that you can fight mounted and then be removed if you get hit hard enough...such as it is now. Ever do jousting or fighting on a horse? I have, and its hard. So you could make it a higher level skill. You start fighting on the ground, but you move towards mounted combat as a perk. Similar to other games where mounts are a bigger deal.

[Armysniper]

The time line has already been very fluid. A player could make a beeline to follow the fellowship as much as possible, but we're able to move around and do side quests all we want. When the game first opened the fellowship was already in Rivendell (and out in the open too, not hidden in guest rooms). But book 1 make it seem like they just left Crickhollow, and book 2 makes it seem like we just missed them by a week or two at Weathertop, and book 4 we're searching for one of the Nazgul that was swept away by the Bruinen, etc. Now the fellowship has moved on. But with fast travel we can see them in Lothlorien and Rivendell within five minutes of each other.

So I wouldn't worry too much about the time line or us being forced to rush to keep up with the story's schedule.

Another important point which many still have trouble grasping: this game is not about following the fellowship. Ie, we're not dogging their steps, but exploring lots of middle earth. Thus Gladden Fields is an appropriate zone even though the fellowship didn't go there, nor the rangers, etc. Some players said "we must go to Rohan next since that's where the story went!" and then they cried foul when Enedwaith was released. Of course players are going to want to see settings from The Hobbit as well.

Also this game is not over when we get to Moria. There's a ton of stuff outside of the direct book storyline that's viable; Gladden Fields, Dol Amroth, etc. Then we have stuff that is in the books but not in the direct line to Mordor; players will want to see the Argonath, fight some corsairs near Pelargir, the maze of crags in Emyn Muil, etc.

Very good point. Also remember that we are fighting the war while the fellowship moves on through its journey. Just as they discovered was going on while they roamed into Rohan. The War of the North game is coming out and it covers an entirely different location than the fellowship and the movies. Would be easy to tie in and would give them a tie in to a movie that is gaining steam rather quickly...the Hobbit.

[Lohi]

Turbine needs to delay as much as possible to keep the flow of the game towards Mordor being an epic fight.

Mordor is not necessarily going to be the end of the game or the ultimate destination.

[Armysniper]

Mordor is not necessarily going to be the end of the game or the ultimate destination.

I think it would be safe to say it is since that was the end of the war for the ring. I doubt they would have us off to other places when people have been talking about marching to mordor (including the name of a paticular site) since before the game was launched.

[Lohi]

I think it would be safe to say it is since that was the end of the war for the ring. I doubt they would have us off to other places when people have been talking about marching to mordor (including the name of a paticular site) since before the game was launched.

Heading off to other places is going to be the fun stuff. Expand beyond the narrow confines of the book. Even if we restrict ourselves to just the "War of the Ring", which this game does not do, we still have a lot of extra stuff to see. The war isn't over at the end of the books, except in the most broad brush strokes. Orcs are still out there, the eastern and southern men who allied with Sauron are still out there. The Dunlendings and wild men still hate the men of Rohan. There are battles up in Dale and Erebor.

The game will be over when we get to Valinor.