Hidden Nuggets we see all the time...

[Warlockdba]

I would just like to say I like reading post like this , much much much more then the post about what should be changed/nerfed/fixed. To many people take time to point out what should be changed rather then enjoying whats there.. Me I always liked the story of the hobbit/goblin battle. Were one hobbit defeats the leader of the Goblins, and ends up useing his "club" to hit the head , which lands in a hole....A hole in one that. The statue to this deed is there. Yes, details abound.

[Berephon]

This brought to mind Ted Pickthorn, the NPC whose has a memorable (at least to me) mini quest-arc in Combe. Specifically, the thought passed through my head, "Poor Ted and things were just starting to look up for him. Now his cousin, or some such, was violently killed..."

The funny thing is, most folks don't realize that "little" Tom Pickthorn isn't a hobbit, but a Man. My impression is that he was not yet a grown man among Men either . . . rather brings the War home.

[Witchchild]

The funny thing is, most folks don't realize that "little" Tom Pickthorn isn't a hobbit, but a Man. My impression is that he was not yet a grown man among Men either . . . rather brings the War home.

O_O
.

[Schildawg73]

I went through the entire Garth Agarwen quest series, and didn't realize who the "Iarwain Ben-Adar" who cursed Darnassus and his men seven times was. And the reference to Darnassus' master "Iarwain" not being satisfied yet to release them from their oath.

Last night while reading "The Council of Elrond" in FoTR, Gandalf and crew refer to Tom Bombadil as Iarwain, and a light clicked on. I went out to the lorebook and reread all the quest info for Iarwain and it all made sense--the connection of Goldenberry and the Red-Maid, and Grimbark.

[Berephon]

I went through the entire Garth Agarwen quest series, and didn't realize who the "Iarwain Ben-Adar" who cursed Darnassus and his men seven times was. And the reference to Darnassus' master "Iarwain" not being satisfied yet to release them from their oath.

Last night while reading "The Council of Elrond" in FoTR, Gandalf and crew refer to Tom Bombadil as Iarwain, and a light clicked on. I went out to the lorebook and reread all the quest info for Iarwain and it all made sense--the connection of Goldenberry and the Red-Maid, and Grimbark.

I was wondering when someone was going to catch that . . . you win an imaginary cigar!

[MorganM2]

On the topic of mobs fighting one another, I'd like to point you all to a quest in Evendim quite near to the gate to the North Downs. There's an NPC ranger on the road there, and he directs you to a ruin just south of the road to slay some named Wight. When I got there, I found the wights and the tomb-robbers at those ruins just don't get along at all! I suppose the wights are tired of tomb-robbers poking around their remains, because I saw the named Wight dispatch a few tomb-robbers. Not just sparring, they fought to the death.

[DreamMaster]

If this is a Hidden Nugget, it is very hidden because I have never heard of it existing in the game, but I figure this is the place to ask:

Can we see, or will we ever be able to see, the tunnels and caverns under the Misty Mountains where Gollum spent all of those years? I think that would be pretty intense just to walk around in there.

[Silverlocket]

The pair of spear-holding guards (in Trestlebridge, and also at the Archet-Combe gate) who stand aside to let you pass. Whoosh! They are awesome. I want to tip them.

I always wait for them to stand at ease when I enter the bank in Bree just so that I can watch them come to attention again when I walk up to them.

Also, regarding NPC and mob interactions, I have seen wolves kill rabbits and also, for some reason -- I assume a bug -- I have seen many a Bounder in the Shire be one-hit by shrews. That is always pretty bizarre.

SL

[peanuts01]

[QUOTE=Carfilhiot

My copy of The Annotated Hobbit is out west at the moment, but I found a copy of "The Quest of Erebor" online [B][QUOTE]

Thanks for posting the link to "The Quest of Erebor", just read and loved it, going to have to get a copy of "The Annotated Hobbit" now.

Thanks again

[Icehawke]

Not a lore-bit, but was in Lone Lands, near Weathertop with my baby guard hunting lynxes. Come up over a ridge and there's a lynx, squatting on it's back legs scratching at itself like it has fleas. Wish I'd been quick enough to grab a screen of it.

[JasonOB]

I always wait for them to stand at ease when I enter the bank in Bree just so that I can watch them come to attention again when I walk up to them.

Also, regarding NPC and mob interactions, I have seen wolves kill rabbits and also, for some reason -- I assume a bug -- I have seen many a Bounder in the Shire be one-hit by shrews. That is always pretty bizarre.

SL

Ah the level 1 Bounder near the Budgeford mailbox. I don't know if there is any lore for that one, I figured it's where Bounce sent anyone dating his daughter

[Firesong]

The Player Versus Player crowd is FAR from a minority. There is a reason it has been an ever increasing focal point in MMORPGs - the people WANT it. And rightly so. I've yet to read a story where the characters were unable to draw blades and fight to the death. It is only appropriate that it be implemented in this setting. (Though I do admit that weighty repercussions are few and far between.)

As for fluff, it's not a focal point because it scarce competes with what the people demand from this media type. Few of us log in to play chess at the Prancing Pony. In fact, I laugh at the ridiculousness of this notion. If you're looking for online chess I believe Yahoo Games has that available (for free I might add!!). And for people to watch? C'mon... This is Middle-Earth!! Remember - the epic tale of good versus evil? The burden of the One Ring? The forthcoming peril of the Freepeople...?

... and you want to play CHESS?! Tolkien is rolling over in his grave, to be sure. To think that he created such an exciting, compelling, and exotic world that people want to... play chess in it...

I think Tolkien is rolling over in his grave at the suggestion that his world be only about swords too. It's a full world, and some people would rather play chess. Having one thing doesn't mean you can't have another.

[Firesong]

'Far from a minority' implies that PvPers are a majority. That is clearly not the case. PvP fans are always claiming to be a majority, but it's obviously far from being true.

They are a minority, they just have big mouths.

[Firesong]

And there was much rejoicing.

yaaaaaaaaaay

[LawLessOne]

If this is a Hidden Nugget, it is very hidden because I have never heard of it existing in the game, but I figure this is the place to ask:

Can we see, or will we ever be able to see, the tunnels and caverns under the Misty Mountains where Gollum spent all of those years? I think that would be pretty intense just to walk around in there.

The story has not reached that area yet. The caverns beneath the Misty Mountains (Goblin Mines) should be in the update where they move the Fellowship of the Ring beyond Rivendell.

[auximenes]

On the topic of mobs fighting one another, I'd like to point you all to a quest in Evendim quite near to the gate to the North Downs. There's an NPC ranger on the road there, and he directs you to a ruin just south of the road to slay some named Wight. When I got there, I found the wights and the tomb-robbers at those ruins just don't get along at all! I suppose the wights are tired of tomb-robbers poking around their remains, because I saw the named Wight dispatch a few tomb-robbers. Not just sparring, they fought to the death.

I did that quest last week, and was about to lose that battle, when it dawned on me that the tomb-robbers could be my saviour, so I retreated from my position and got a pair of robbers involved, which allowed me to prevail. Thanks tomb-robbers!

[jocast]

I thought i was the only one who had to get some help from the tomb raiders, theres a point when the wight was fighting two and they got him down halfway and i just wailed on the wight till it died without pulling aggro, now i feel pretty bad about the tomb raider killing deeds .

[MorganM2]

Don't feel bad for the tomb-raiders! I don't know who's more evil, the dead reanimated by the Dark Lord and his minions, or the scum who pillage the graves of the Dunedain, but they are both alltogether evil.

Still, it's kinda cool to see them duke it out, as they should.

[Sojourner]

The funny thing is, most folks don't realize that "little" Tom Pickthorn isn't a hobbit, but a Man. My impression is that he was not yet a grown man among Men either . . . rather brings the War home.

True, but he was listed among the first three. So with some reflection it's pretty clear that "little Tom" was one of the Big Folk.

[Berephon]

Don't feel bad for the tomb-raiders! I don't know who's more evil, the dead reanimated by the Dark Lord and his minions, or the scum who pillage the graves of the Dunedain, but they are both alltogether evil.

Still, it's kinda cool to see them duke it out, as they should.

Technically, the tomb-raiders aren't "fundamentally evil," beyond redemption, but I agree . . . they're still a wretched band of scum and villainy, not worthy of concern.

[ManticoreFalco]

Something that's bugged me for a while though: How, fundamentally, is what the tomb-raiders do any different from what the Eglain do? For the most part, the tomb-raiders get relics from the ruins, and not the tombs necessarily (which, admittedly, the Eglain don't do).

[steelsnake]

Technically, the tomb-raiders aren't "fundamentally evil," beyond redemption, but I agree . . . they're still a wretched band of scum and villainy, not worthy of concern.

So they're like the brigands in Leland Underhill's quest? Happy to get some food in the end after being beaten soundly by Leland?

[Berephon]

Something that's bugged me for a while though: How, fundamentally, is what the tomb-raiders do any different from what the Eglain do? For the most part, the tomb-raiders get relics from the ruins, and not the tombs necessarily (which, admittedly, the Eglain don't do).

The inference is supposed to be that most of the ruins from which the tomb-raiders are robbing are broken crypts/tombs. It also does not mean that they always take from tombs, just that they have not conscience-problems doing so.

The Eglain, on the other hand, refuse to take anything that has not come to the surface over time. (Which is why they are nomadic . . . when the surface junk runs out, they move on, maybe coming back when more surfaces.)

[Berephon]

So they're like the brigands in Leland Underhill's quest? Happy to get some food in the end after being beaten soundly by Leland?

Lol, maybe not quite *that* tame, but still not utterly beyond redemption (well, not all of them anyway.)

[Merciful_Death]

Technically, the tomb-raiders aren't "fundamentally evil," beyond redemption, but I agree . . . they're still a wretched band of scum and villainy, not worthy of concern.

Well, except that my Mistrel's "go away shout" works on them....

But really, aren't we ALL doing what they are? The only difference being that we raid tombs and ruins all over the place, instead of specializing in one set of ruins.