The MMORPG Lord of the Rings Online by developer Standing Stone Games receives a rework of Gondor and many other extras with its extensive Update 36. But one detail brings particular joy to a passionate player who is now a father of an 8-year-old child. Thanks to the difficulty slider, HdRO now allows the father to have an even better experience when playing with his son.
What is Lord of the Rings Online? Lord of the Rings Online (short: HdRO) is a game set in the Tolkien universe, which has been open for 17 years and is regularly updated, such as with an improved graphics.
Recently, the announcement from Amazon Games about a new “Lord of the Rings” MMO has caused a stir. This prompted developer Standing Stone Games to issue a statement to reassure the community, assuring that HdRO would continue to be available.
Check out a trailer for content from HdRO here.
What does Update 36 bring? Update 36 has been released today and also brings the updated area of Gondor. The developer describes the change as follows:
After the defeat of Sauron, King Elessar and Queen Arwen try to bring peace to their kingdom, but the danger is not over and new enemies try to threaten Gondor. Fresh adventures await you in the new zone of King’s Gondor East, which takes place after the War of the Ring, where fresh breezes dispel the fog of Dawnless Day and let the sun shine again! Discover the beginning of a new storyline of epic proportions, titled “The Song of Waves and Wind,” and join Legolas, Gimli, and old as well as new friends to investigate the ongoing threat of the heirs of Castamir! Gone are the dark skies, replaced by bright and sunny fields and hills. Players familiar with the original central and eastern Gondor regions will recognize King’s Gondor, but there are new additions and locations that players could not visit before. These are now open for further exploration!
Press release, Update 36 Release Notes (via lotro.com)
Additionally, there are 80 new quests associated with the Song of Waves and Wind. However, to play these, you must have reached the maximum level or Level 140 and either pay for the quest package or subscribe. You can find the complete patch notes here.
A new feature in Gondor enables better family gameplay
How does Update 36 help father and son in their gameplay? According to Reddit, the father spends time with his 8-year-old son by diving into the world of Lord of the Rings for one to two hours a week. It seems both of them enjoy exploring the world and having fun together.
The proud dad is very pleased with Update 36 and describes his experience with his son as follows:
So far, we spend our time fooling around and looking at the area. He shows me the way, and I hold back from pushing him in any direction, which is good for his experience.
Reddit user galbraithta (via Reddit)
He further explains that he was super hyped after hearing about Update 36 and the difficulty slider feature in Gondor. This way, it would make gameplay much more fun. He would finally be able to adjust the difficulty for himself and his son, enhancing their experience even further.
What do you think of Update 36 from HdRO? Have you ever played an MMORPG with family members? What were your experiences? Share in the comments below.
If you value story in MMORPGs, you should read the following article: The 5 best story MMORPGs you can play in 2023
