Returning player questions about War of the three peaks

[Eadreid]

Ok returning player after 2 year absense. Last played before the Gundabad expansion.
Returned as a lvl 130 player and levelling through Elderslade.

I have been mainly following the Epic Durin quest line and made it to the end of chapt 4 culminating in the instance where you assualt the gates of Gundabad, to be blocked by the drake etc.

The next quest in the series is the Azog Interlude which ive started, before i move on the chapter 5.

My question is one of immersion really. The quest seems to have been "dipping in and out" of the "battle" version of Elderslade, using the banners. One minute i have to outside of the battle at Annak-Khurfu and then the next need to be in the "battle" at Zarkul-Sulun. This transporting back and forth doesnt seem to make any logical sense and really breaks immersion, plus doesnt seem to "flow" in terms of a story.

Now it might be because theres a lot more content ahead of me, and might have made more sense/played out a different way if i was playing on-level, at the initial release etc, but was just wondering if anyone else feels the same about this part? or is it just because im playing a little out of sequence? Maybe im missing something entirely that i should go back and do initially.

My thinking would be once youre in the Battle of the three peaks, you would stay there. Similar to how it went with the Pre and Post battle Minas Tirith zones.

I hope im missing something, and please fill me in if i am, otherwise the story doesnt seem to make much sense to me.

Thanks all, and glad to be back

[WeirdJedi]

There is a certain sequence of events. There are the regional quests that has you advancing the dwarf line up to Gundabad, the missions where you fight certain skirmishes, the mission quests that you get after you advance the reputation a tier that explains the communication between the enemy troops, and the fellowship instance that all takes place before the war. Then comes a certain moment inside the Epic where the war starts and has you being surprised by the enemy. Not only do central locations get burned but the dwarves get pushed back. This begins a new line of regional quests. You have to fight the lieutenants on the field and meet up at a pivotal moment inside the raid. That raid is key for it explains what happens after Chapter 4 but before Chapter 5 when you enter a reprieve that permits you the time to enter the Tale of Azog Interlude.

While I understand how it might seem strange to do things out of order, I would not like to be permanently locked out of any content. You can still visit old Isengard and old Minas Tirith to finish the quests you might have not completed when advancing the Epic.

[Eadreid]

There is a certain sequence of events. There are the regional quests that has you advancing the dwarf line up to Gundabad, the missions where you fight certain skirmishes, the mission quests that you get after you advance the reputation a tier that explains the communication between the enemy troops, and the fellowship instance that all takes place before the war. Then comes a certain moment inside the Epic where the war starts and has you being surprised by the enemy. Not only do central locations get burned but the dwarves get pushed back. This begins a new line of regional quests. You have to fight the lieutenants on the field and meet up at a pivotal moment inside the raid. That raid is key for it explains what happens after Chapter 4 but before Chapter 5 when you enter a reprieve that permits you the time to enter the Tale of Azog Interlude.

While I understand how it might seem strange to do things out of order, I would not like to be permanently locked out of any content. You can still visit old Isengard and old Minas Tirith to finish the quests you might have not completed when advancing the Epic.

Thanks for the reply, most of what you have written does sound familiar, i remember the point in the epic that you refer to. I do admit i havent done the raid, but do remember the qest dialogue text that stated where in the epic line it should be run (for sake of story). So the raid itself explains the transition from chapt 4 to Interlude to Chapt 5? Is it right to the interlude after chapter 4, and before 5? It still doesnt make sense to me (although it seems i am maybe missing something) why it is making me jump between a quest hub that is in pre-battle and one that is during battle. Ive just done another chapter and its now sent me to Erebor to help bring reinforcements back for the battle.

The only thing im wondering is whether something about the raid re-opens Annak-Khurfu, in the battle version. at the moment i cant travel there, which is why i have to use the banners. If somehting happens in the raid that makes it possible to travel there again (clean up the road, remove debris etc) then i can see how the flow would make more sense andthere wouldnt be the need to jump in and out of the battle as im currently doing. Is this the case?
thanks

[WeirdJedi]

A part of it is convenience. It is easier to just have a "base" you can travel to at any time. Once the war starts, everything changes and they would have to create another mission stable-master, another travel route, another of everything since that area is technically a whole different zone entirely. So yeah, the mission room is before the war but you can be "called to war" by clicking on the banner.

The raid sort of concludes everything by showing why the forces clear out and how Gundabad is blocked. More of the background events that unfold within this crucial moment is explained as you get into the Gundabad portion of the Epic.

[TesalionLortus]

The only thing im wondering is whether something about the raid re-opens Annak-Khurfu, in the battle version. at the moment i cant travel there, which is why i have to use the banners. If somehting happens in the raid that makes it possible to travel there again (clean up the road, remove debris etc) then i can see how the flow would make more sense andthere wouldnt be the need to jump in and out of the battle as im currently doing. Is this the case?
thanks

That's your answer and why it's a bit clunky, but that's how it's supposed to be. Nothing really happened to Annak-Khurfu during the war, it's just not there "doubled" - I guess they wanted to avoid this confusion? There is only one Annak-Khurfu, in the pre-war map - for immersion purposes, you're just supposed to use banners on the war map (Zurkul-sulun and Shakal-atrad) which takes you to Annak-Khurfu and if you don't really go outside it's all ok, you just use a banner again, and go out on the war map. Think of this like you're in the front trenches and when you're using a banner you travel to safety behind the frontlines, accept any quests there and go back to the frontlines through a dwarven tunnel or something like that.

But I guess it is possible to run the content a bit out of order some places, though I don't really remember having this problem there

[Eadreid]

Thanks for the replies. At least i know im not doing things in a backwards order or something.

One other question. The "missions" and daily/weekly quests in Elderslade....Im assuming these were the lvl 130 endgame grind, so if im just carrying on with leveling once finished the area i dont really need to bother with these. The rewards arent as good as my current Shelob armour and ive not found any quests over lvl 130 yet, so assuming that is in the next area/expansion.

[Vilan]

Elderslade missions have deeds for doing a pile of them, plus barter rewards, but other than that you can skip past them. If you get to kindred (or whatever the dwarf word is) there are some bonus missions that unlock where you go hunting for Gorgar, but they're not really critical to understanding the storyline. Neither is the Threshold raid, it just takes the epic quest where Hrimil freezes the gates closed and adds a short battle with Gorgar and his troops prior to that happening.

[TesalionLortus]

Elderslade missions have deeds for doing a pile of them, plus barter rewards, but other than that you can skip past them. If you get to kindred (or whatever the dwarf word is) there are some bonus missions that unlock where you go hunting for Gorgar, but they're not really critical to understanding the storyline. Neither is the Threshold raid, it just takes the epic quest where Hrimil freezes the gates closed and adds a short battle with Gorgar and his troops prior to that happening.

Way to spoil it man :P

Speaking of which, I thought raid was much much better experience of it. The epic "alternate" sequence is weirdly fast-paced and confusing, in a way that you might even not realize what's actually going on. The build-up and talk in a raid were slower and better handled, so when it happens you can clearly notice what's happening. (Plus the environment is clear, not a smoke and fire everywhere at night, which is how it was in that alternate Epic quest I think)

[Eadreid]

Cool thanks all.

Ive ot a couple of the small FS quests left to do in Elderslade but ive also just started the Azog interlude so will carry on with both of them for now.

Thanks again

[Bothketbog]

Cool thanks all.

Ive ot a couple of the small FS quests left to do in Elderslade but ive also just started the Azog interlude so will carry on with both of them for now.

Thanks again

If you are referring to the Blood of Azog interlude(s), it's extra material added after Three Peaks was released. You do need to go there to discover the Fall of Khazad-Dum raid, but otherwise it's possible to skip it and just do the war in Elderslade. It's a very tough area (or was at 130 for me) packed with lots of mobs. Just FYI.

[Eadreid]

If you are referring to the Blood of Azog interlude(s), it's extra material added after Three Peaks was released. You do need to go there to discover the Fall of Khazad-Dum raid, but otherwise it's possible to skip it and just do the war in Elderslade. It's a very tough area (or was at 130 for me) packed with lots of mobs. Just FYI.

The small FS ones just outside Gundabad gates you mean? Yeah those are the quests i have now. Im lvl 136 and multibox with a 2nd account. So 2 toons at 136 should be able to manage them im sure

[Bothketbog]

The small FS ones just outside Gundabad gates you mean? Yeah those are the quests i have now. Im lvl 136 and multibox with a 2nd account. So 2 toons at 136 should be able to manage them im sure

Sorry, I thought you were referring to the new(ish) zone of Blood of Azog. So long as you're in Elderslade, you'll be fine.

[beorf]

I just started the dailies in War of the Three Peaks, and I do find it a bit confusing that the daily quest givers are in Annak-khurfu (Elderslade) instead of Zarkul-sulun (War of the Three Peaks) where the quests actually take place. How many times have I run down the ramps and out into Elderslade only to go "D'oh" and turn around and run back upstairs to click the banner? (EVERY SINGLE TIME so far!) It would be less confusing if we just stuck with Zarkul-sulun after the war begins. It would need the addition of a Vault, quartermasters, etc though. Return/Guide/Muster would be nice too.


As an aside, any tips on the Commander Hoshkhor daily? He absolutely destroys my lvl 130 Guardian/Minstrel/Hunter trio within a few seconds with what appears to be an uncurable Creeping Cold that does 60k dmg every 3 seconds and additional 200k+ IcyTorrents. Not having any issues with any other content, so this really sticks out. Is there some kind of frost resist potion I'm missing?

[Hierona]

I just started the dailies in War of the Three Peaks, and I do find it a bit confusing that the daily quest givers are in Annak-khurfu (Elderslade) instead of Zarkul-sulun (War of the Three Peaks) where the quests actually take place. How many times have I run down the ramps and out into Elderslade only to go "D'oh" and turn around and run back upstairs to click the banner? (EVERY SINGLE TIME so far!) It would be less confusing if we just stuck with Zarkul-sulun after the war begins. It would need the addition of a Vault, quartermasters, etc though. Return/Guide/Muster would be nice too.


As an aside, any tips on the Commander Hoshkhor daily? He absolutely destroys my lvl 130 Guardian/Minstrel/Hunter trio within a few seconds with what appears to be an uncurable Creeping Cold that does 60k dmg every 3 seconds and additional 200k+ IcyTorrents. Not having any issues with any other content, so this really sticks out. Is there some kind of frost resist potion I'm missing?

They are designed for small fellowship or fellowship, so best to tackle the warbands in a group, or just level to 140 and do it than.

[beorf]

They are designed for small fellowship or fellowship, so best to tackle the warbands in a group, or just level to 140 and do it than.

Actually Hoshkhor appears to be a pure DPS race; the solution is everyone in DPS spec doing max dmg. It doesn't look like it is possible to outheal or mitigate his damage once he starts.