2.5.5 Skirms o.o

[AlphaMan]

So, for all those who have done these so far...

WOW aren't they great? Let me stress, 2.5.5 was the part of the game I disliked, nay, loathed the most prior to update 2. Now, these are some of my fave skirms in the game! Sure, not as challenging, but to me fun comes more from a game component being well, fun, than merely challenging (and of course, you can always up the difficulty on skirms if need be via size and tier)

Keep in mind, Pony has always been a fave of mine. I like defending a spot from waves of invaders, getting gradually harder ,and eventually the Big Bad showing up. It's cool, but nowhere near as annoying as those battle instances. So, I'm definitely biased towards this format of skirmish (they also do better than Gondamon, because although you run to the invasion point, that "round" is only at that point, less long distance chugging :P). I'm likely going to add these to a daily rotation - they're pretty fast too.

Anyone else love em? Or dislike that they aren't the hard "rite of passage" they may have once been?

[chompo78]

I love the changes! 2.5.5 and 2.6.8 took forever to find groups for. Plus, the deep way was always a PITA.

[sir-rinthian]

I'm excited to try to solo the full 6-man size again now that I can take my soldier in there with me. I've made it to the last boss on each one using my warden, but I never have enough DPS to kill them before they kill some vital NPC.

[Malachi108]

I was seriously let down by them. I ran all three and NONE OF THEM HAD THE MUSIC!

It didn't just stopped at some point, there were no music playing at all. No battle tune, no casual tune - nothing! It really made my experience so much less enjoyable.

Apart from that they seemed good, but seriously - I expect someone to put the music back in the the next patch, or I won't be replaying them.

[DanteIL]

So I couldn't find a better thread to post this on, so I hope that someone can point me in the right direction...

Before the update, I had done the Epic Quests all the way up to 2.5.5. -- that is, I had accepted the quest that then sends you to the three separate sub-quests for 2.5.5 but had not actually done any of them, because I wanted to wait until after Update 2 in order to do these as skirmishes.

However, now after the update, Volume 2 Book 5 has completely disappeared from my Quest Log, and I don't know how to pick it up again -- the dwarf in the 21st hall doesn't have the quest to give me again. And the different parts don't show up in the skirmish panel (probably because I haven't done them yet). Any ideas on how to find these and do them? Much appreciated...


EDIT: in response to the post below VVV -- thanks! My memory was probably faulty so I'm sure that you are right and the CoftheC is the place to go. I'll check it out...

[tessathecat]

Try the Chamber of Crossroads.

[djheydt]

So, for all those who have done these so far...

WOW aren't they great? Let me stress, 2.5.5 was the part of the game I disliked, nay, loathed the most prior to update 2. Now, these are some of my fave skirms in the game! Sure, not as challenging, but to me fun comes more from a game component being well, fun, than merely challenging (and of course, you can always up the difficulty on skirms if need be via size and tier)

Everybody has his/her/its own definition of "fun." For some people, it's endless fighting, smash slash thud bang, till either the mobs die or you do, preferably the former. I look forward to doing II.5.5 in a day or two and SURVIVING it.

Keep in mind, Pony has always been a fave of mine. I like defending a spot from waves of invaders, getting gradually harder ,and eventually the Big Bad showing up.

I hate that one, for the same reason I hate defending Gondamon. Too many waves of baddies coming in from here and there and Stupid, my Warrior, and I have to keep running back and forth, back and forth, trying to cut them all down before they reach the Pony. Preferable to me are Thievery and Mischief and Trouble in Tuckborough, because we can pause between battles, heal, resummon, eat, buff, and generally gird our loins for the next battle.

It's cool, but nowhere near as annoying as those battle instances. So, I'm definitely biased towards this format of skirmish (they also do better than Gondamon, because although you run to the invasion point, that "round" is only at that point, less long distance chugging :P). I'm likely going to add these to a daily rotation - they're pretty fast too.

If that's what you like, go ahead. If I manage to complete II.5.5 ONCE I'll never attempt it again.

[tessathecat]

I just did all three skirmishes and it was monotonous. Basically doing Gondamon three times in a row except in different settings. They were easy, at least for my Warden, even with an under-leveled healer. They are true skirmishes now so if you just want to get through them you can lower the level to make it easier (with a loss of skirmish marks of course).

[jhan75]

which of the 3 skirms is giving iron garrison miners rep?
or are 3 of them all giving iron garrison guards rep?

[EarlAlaric]

Completed them this morning, they where OK but not great IMO. Was just glad to get through them to continue the epic, so very pleased from that point of view.

[Berephon]

I was seriously let down by them. I ran all three and NONE OF THEM HAD THE MUSIC!

It didn't just stopped at some point, there were no music playing at all. No battle tune, no casual tune - nothing! It really made my experience so much less enjoyable.

Apart from that they seemed good, but seriously - I expect someone to put the music back in the the next patch, or I won't be replaying them.

This is a bug...they were supposed to have the same music as before.

[Berephon]

which of the 3 skirms is giving iron garrison miners rep?
or are 3 of them all giving iron garrison guards rep?

Deep-way and Way of Smiths give Miners, 21st Hall gives Guards.

[jhan75]

Deep-way and Way of Smiths give Miners, 21st Hall gives Guards.

Thanks! always find it harder to get miners rep up than guard rep
good way to get the moria goat

[Doruin]

Are these skirms just for 60+ characters?

[Reximus]

Are these skirms just for 60+ characters?

If I am recalling correctly the minimum level is 55 for these.

[Berephon]

Correct. Though the Epic Book that you have to have to open the Skirmishes is lvl 59, you can actually take it at 55, so the Skirmish itself is 55+.

[Doruin]

Thank you.

[Skigorn]

Love it! Did all 3 on my warden last night.

[little_stone]

I also want to add that I really enjoyed them and thought they were well done.

One problem I had though was that after completing The Deep Way there was no chest at the end and I could not find a body to loot either.

I was kind of sleepy when I did it so maybe I just couldn't find it.

I know for sure there was a lootable body at the end of The 21st Hall skirmish.

I also got 2 special marks which I turned in for chests of relics and got 1 x t3 and 1 x t4 which is quite nice and definitely makes them worth repeating if you are working on building up relics.

SPOILER

I actually laughed when the bank got robbed! In fact I laughed a little too much and I actually failed to take him out before he got away, very good!

End SPOILER

[Berephon]

One problem I had though was that after completing The Deep Way there was no chest at the end and I could not find a body to loot either.

Hmm, not sure what's up here. The boss' body should have been lootable. Did anyone else have this issue?

[AlphaMan]

I hate that one, for the same reason I hate defending Gondamon. Too many waves of baddies coming in from here and there and Stupid, my Warrior, and I have to keep running back and forth, back and forth, trying to cut them all down before they reach the Pony. Preferable to me are Thievery and Mischief and Trouble in Tuckborough, because we can pause between battles, heal, resummon, eat, buff, and generally gird our loins for the next battle.

Actually, I don't like Gondamon myself for that reason as well (in pony, you don't really need to run.. you stay there, and finish them when they come to you. The next wave doesn't come until you finish)

The thing is, in these, the invasion points *don't* switch up, once you get the "invaders from _ direction", you defend that spot until the next round begins. Way of the smiths is slightly different, it can change mid round but not as often as Gondamon or Pony (several waves within the round at the spot first), and it's a tiny area so you don't have very far to go at all.

Pausing before the next battle can be good, yes, and if you prefer that the Battle of The 21st hall might be for you- you have to talk to the npc to begin the next round, it doesn't just give you a brief green message. The other two pause, and then continue though like Pony or Gondamon.

However, For Battle of the (smiths?), the one in the Way of the Smiths, it's SUCH a small room that none of that really matters, very little actual running around (and easily accessible encounters so you don't have to go out of your way, just be able to defeat them).



And to Berephon, can't remember from yesterday myself, sorry.

[BetterOffDead-2]

Hmm, not sure what's up here. The boss' body should have been lootable. Did anyone else have this issue?

Had this happen last night on Way of the Smiths. Boss was lootable, but only dropped some normal trash loot without anything skirmish related. Looked around for chest too and didn't see anything.

[Freahelm]

Hmm, not sure what's up here. The boss' body should have been lootable. Did anyone else have this issue?

I did. The boss in the Way of Smiths dropped a piece of regular trash loot rather than any skirmish rewards. I don't remember what the boss in the Deep Way dropped as I wasn't paying much attention for that one.

[ANewMachine]

This is a bug...they were supposed to have the same music as before.

I wonder if this is related to the fact that the Isildur Session Play had no music. It really took down the epicness to come up the ridge to the Stone of Erech overlooking that beautiful valley and it was just... silent.

I'll submit a bug on it if it recurs for my next character to run it.

[Skigorn]

Hmm, not sure what's up here. The boss' body should have been lootable. Did anyone else have this issue?

I was able to loot the boss.