Dev Diary Feedback: Evendim - A Taste of Twilight

[FoxFire]

Evendim... *Yawn* old news. I want to hear what's coming NEXT!!

[werwolflord]

I would like to hear more of the bug patches that are being released, or are there any?

[twicethepride]

I would like to hear more of the bug patches that are being released, or are there any?

heh bugs? i havent noticed anything too serious. but as for comming up for a new area, i would like to see Mirkwood

[Sallust]

Release date or it isn't happening!
(j/k of course)

[Antillehs]

What is the minimum level needed in order to enjoy Evendim?

[FoxFire]

Release date or it isn't happening!
(j/k of course)

June.... 2008

[Cerion]

What is the minimum level needed in order to enjoy Evendim?

Depends on how thoroughly you want to enjoy it... Seems the dev diary states the quests are from 30 to 40 level...but if it's anything like the other areas in LOTRO, you could probably sneak in there at 6th level.

[Neithan]

heh bugs? i havent noticed anything too serious. but as for comming up for a new area, i would like to see Mirkwood

Oh that probably won't be for another year at least. They still need to finish Eriador. Then add Lindon, Forodwaith and Enedwaith... so maybe 2 years.

I hope the new zones will be a little more dynamic then the ones in game right now. A totally static feel is standard for MMOGs but isn't very immersive--it should change a bit over time (even in cycles) and be somewhat experienced differently depending on race or class, level or renown (which is also important to the Lore).

[avlee]

BTW, I don't think Boggarts are originally from HP :P They were in British folklore, first. So I'd say they were appropriate

Wow! You learn something new everyday

[goombatommy]

Sound's good =D. Can't wait to play it! Btw, I'm new here, just started playing 2 days ago. Level 7 Elf Champion.

[gildhur]

That last screenshot with the big "castle" looks really nice. I wonder what it could be however? The only real big landmark I know of in that area is Annuminas, but the look of this building is quite different from all the Arnorian ruins from across Eriador. It seems almost elvish...

It is certainly Annuminas, and beautifully so. There should be a marked distinction between the buildings in Evendim and other areas of the former Arnor. Annuminas was the original capital of the Northern Kingdom and essentially the first major Numenorean settlement after the fall of Westernesse. Fornost and the other cities further East were settled much later, by hundreds of years in most cases. The architecture and overall culture of the Arnorians had undoubtedly changed by then. I can't wait to see more of what it looks like.

[Scenario]

Everyone likes new content & info on it, but how about more info on issues being addressed with its release?

As we approach the release date of the Shores of Evendim, you will be seeing more and more information to be released. If, after all our various articles leading up to the the launch, you are still wanting for more information, we will be releasing patch notes to read as well (though when the patch notes and additional articles will be coming online, don't have the dates at hand myself).

Also, is the Boggart an attempt to keep all the HP fans hooked as anticipation for Deathly Hallows comes to a head?

As SniperCT noted, a Boggart is a creature of real-world folklore. Tolkien found inspiration for his writings within the cultures and folklore of the real world.

[Nefarioux]

the devs say they want to bring middle earth "alive" ... it will never be this unless you can swim underwater.. the world seems cut off.

[Cassea]

the devs say they want to bring middle earth "alive" ... it will never be this unless you can swim underwater.. the world seems cut off.

I don't mind the swimming part but in regard to underwater zones...

JUST SAY NO!!!

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr I'm having flashbacks to Kedge Keep

-JB

[Sojourner]

the devs say they want to bring middle earth "alive" ... it will never be this unless you can swim underwater.. the world seems cut off.

On the otherhand, other than going down to gawk at level 1 fish, what do plan on doing down there? The Lore doesn't involve any sub-marine battles or races. It's not like your character will be able to find a Ring of Power down there, they are all accounted for. True, there are a couple of suken continents from the First and Second Ages of the Sun, but Turbine's liciense doesn't include the books they are featured in so it might even be a breach of contract to implement them in this game as underwater area.

I'm not a fan of seemingly arbitrary limitations like this either, but I just don't see enough justification for the time and effort involved.*shrug*

[Derazor]

I'm looking more forward to the developers fixing my broken Loremaster class than content updates. The last thing I want to deal with is even worse pet pathing than there already is.

So, whatever you do, please fix Loremasters. Please. With a cherry on top?

[NeoVelamir]

I remember hearing they are buffing up Champions. I remember finding a list of their new skills but I can't find it again. Anyone have a link or remember them?

[DaviBlight]

im little underwhelmed but the visuals of the new content, i can understand that they need to draw from pervious materials to strimline the process of adding more content, but it really seems too much of what ive already seen...

you could have told me they were screenshots from misty mountians, elf homeland, and a hillman camps in angmar and i wouldnt have even noticed, i really would like to see the new creatures promised, hopefully they will add more spice.


(ps: dont read this wrong, im not knocking the content before its release, its just a general perception from the screenshots, still cant wait for it.)

[Sojourner]

im little underwhelmed but the visuals of the new content, i can understand that they need to draw from pervious materials to strimline the process of adding more content, but it really seems too much of what ive already seen...

you could have told me they were screenshots from misty mountians, elf homeland, and a hillman camps in angmar and i wouldnt have even noticed, i really would like to see the new creatures promised, hopefully they will add more spice.


(ps: dont read this wrong, im not knocking the content before its release, its just a general perception from the screenshots, still cant wait for it.)

Some perspective is necessary, it's coming just two months after the intial release and it is a free content addition. Neither of these things are exactly common in modern MMRPGs. Furthermore, if you look at the screenshots of the large castle-like building, its architectural style is noticably different than what is in-game now (with good reason that others have already noted). So that's a minor visual additon, anyway.

Also, this place is still in Eriador, so I wouldn't expect any major changes in climate or terrian types anyway. If this was adding part of Moria, Fangorn, Mirkwood, or Mordor; then there would be justified cause of complaint for "the land looks the same" (even recognizing the timing of this release). However that is not the case, Evendim's basic terrain should look like most of Eraidor. There's no lore-consistant reason why the basic terrain would be drastically different.

[gildhur]

im little underwhelmed but the visuals of the new content, i can understand that they need to draw from pervious materials to strimline the process of adding more content, but it really seems too much of what ive already seen...

Um.... The ruins in that and other media released screenshots are COMPLETELY different from what we have already. That combined with the SEVERAL new enemy types that have been announced should make for a new area with a very different feel from the others, I think.

[Falion2]

Game is overall pretty polished so far, and I am awaiting the new content eagerly. One thing, that I do hope they are working on, in the update, is the sound bug in the Great Barrows. This seems to happen to users with SB cards, and results in you hearing battle sounds ( and other sounds ) many seconds, too even minutes after the activity has already ceased. Sometimes the sound stops completely. Even so, this new area sounds pretty darn nice, especially for a free content update, so soon after the initial release.

[dermax]

It is certainly Annuminas, and beautifully so. There should be a marked distinction between the buildings in Evendim and other areas of the former Arnor. Annuminas was the original capital of the Northern Kingdom and essentially the first major Numenorean settlement after the fall of Westernesse. Fornost and the other cities further East were settled much later, by hundreds of years in most cases. The architecture and overall culture of the Arnorians had undoubtedly changed by then. I can't wait to see more of what it looks like.

Actually, with the last batch of screenshots released, you can see this same "castle" from a different angle marked as "Ost Elendil". So basically this is the "Fortress of Elendil", not Annuminas.

Also, to the poster that remarked the similarity of landscape... I agree. We need to recall, however, that Evendim is simply another part of Eriador; so the landscape should look the same.

The part of this expansion that I'm most interested in is seeing how they fit Evendim into the current world. I'm going to guess, just from Tolkien's maps, that this area will be above (and probably connected to) the Shire. Hopefully, it will also be connected to Bree-land and (possibly) Ered Luin. Lake Evendim is the headwaters of the Brandywine River, so it should be possible to swim up the Brandywine to Evendim. I'm viewing these expansions like pieces of a puzzle. They should all fit together to make a whole. Someday in the future, I hope to be able to walk from the Great Sea to Mordor and back with only the fewest possible "forced funnel points" in use.

[Sojourner]

Actually, with the last batch of screenshots released, you can see this same "castle" from a different angle marked as "Ost Elendil". So basically this is the "Fortress of Elendil", not Annuminas.

Just a quick thought... Since Annuminas was the capital of Arnor, Elendil's Kingdom, would it not be likely for there to be a "Fortress of Elendil" somewhere in Annuminas?

[dermax]

Just a quick thought... Since Annuminas was the capital of Arnor, Elendil's Kingdom, would it not be likely for there to be a "Fortress of Elendil" somewhere in Annuminas?

I guess it's quite possible, I'd never thought of that. Perhaps, you are correct. It does seem interesting to me that Annuminas (if this is the same area) would be in such good condition after so many years. While this city, unlike Fornost, was abandoned, not destroyed by enemies, it is still strange that it would be in such good shape. The ruins of Edhelliond (sp) destroyed in the Elf Prolouge had been laying about for around 700 years or so, while Annuminas would have been abandoned for around 2000 years!

[Sojourner]

I guess it's quite possible, I'd never thought of that. Perhaps, you are correct. It does seem interesting to me that Annuminas (if this is the same area) would be in such good condition after so many years. While this city, unlike Fornost, was abandoned, not destroyed by enemies, it is still strange that it would be in such good shape. The ruins of Edhelliond (sp) destroyed in the Elf Prolouge had been laying about for around 700 years or so, while Annuminas would have been abandoned for around 2000 years!

I don't know, in The Return of the King Gimli and Legolas discuss the difference in both style and quality of the different examples of stone work in Minas Tirith. The oldest was made by the Faithful Númenorian (or at least under their leadership), and even after thousands of year Gimli found it in remarkably good condition. Annúminas would like-wise have been built by the original Númenorians.

In contrast, while Fornost may have existed before the break-up of Arnor, it wasn't really a city until it became the capital of Arthendain. Therefore, much of the construction could've been from that era when Númenorian lore and influence had greatly declined in all aspects of life.

Perhaps the contrast in the two architectural styles is intentional, to illustrate how much the area has fallen, even centuries prior to the "present".