In the free-to-play MMO The Lord of the Rings Online, update 14 is coming in a week. It brings so many features, quests, and new content that one could almost call it a mini-expansion.
A journalist from the US site massively was granted an appointment by Turbine to take a first look at the upcoming trip to Gondor, which will also be available to players in update 14.
And update 14 brings an astonishing amount of new content to Middle-earth on July 14:
- 5 new levels await the heroes
- 3 new quest regions
- over 100 quests
- a continuation of the epic story
- and a new feature with the essence system.
In Aragorn’s Footsteps
The story follows the footsteps of Aragorn, who leads the undead oathbreakers into battle. The developers faced the question of what they could make the players do while Aragorn leads the oathbreakers: the caves would be deserted.
The solution was found in recalcitrant undead who are so bitter that they do not seek redemption from their fate but choose to remain behind. The army of the dead and their story will run like a red thread throughout the update. This will allow players to take a glimpse into the past to confront the oath-breaking. And they will visit a terrified village – the night before, Aragorn had stayed here… with his new troops.
Essences to be Introduced Cautiously
The colleague from massively raves about the Mediterranean flair of Gondor. It is just as beautiful and lovingly designed as Rohan, but with a slightly different twist.
The devs promise to introduce the new essence system cautiously. These are “essences” that players can add to their armor to achieve specific effects and further refine their character and item composition, their “build.” The essences are expected to be rare at the start of the fourteenth update to avoid flooding the market.
In a conversation with the massively reporter, the developers of The Lord of the Rings Online candidly acknowledged the challenges of working on an aging MMO in today’s market. However, the greatest strength of The Lord of the Rings Online, the fantastic book source material and world, remains unmatched.
