This fall with F2P Lotro model, new features and a new region, Turbine will also be adding new servers! We still don't know how many new servers will be added but with the current poll choices (13 names) there must be more than two. As we can see the new servers names will be a break from the current name pattern. New options for servers names are locations in the Middle-Earth world while this wasn't a case with more than a half of the live servers. Unfortunately players don't have a chance to suggest new names :)

This fall many exciting changes are coming to The Lord of the Rings Online. In addition to new features and a new region, we’ll also be adding new servers! Choosing a server can be an important part of your LOTRO experience and the name of your chosen server is an important consideration. So we’re asking you to help us name our newest servers!

We’ve assembled a list of names to choose from. Simply cast your vote for your favorite and we’ll refer to the community selections as we name our new servers. Make your choice quickly! You only have until Friday, July 23, 2010 at 5:00PM Eastern (-4 GMT) to cast your vote!

[Sapience]

The latest news about implementation of LUA scripting in Lotro have cause mixed reaction among Lotro fans. Today, Narrel, Game Systems Engineer, made additional clarification about LUA scripting abilities. With the breaking news of Lua’s...Click here to read full

The latest news about implementation of LUA scripting in Lotro have cause mixed reaction among Lotro fans. Today, Narrel, Game Systems Engineer, made additional clarification about LUA scripting abilities.

With the breaking news of Lua’s introduction into The Lord of the Rings Online, we wanted to give you a brief history of how this system came about, what state it is in, and where we want it to go.

History:
To start, I will say that the primary driver behind introducing UI plugins is this: no single version of a UI element will ever be ideal for all players everywhere. What one player loves about part of the UI can send the player standing next to them reeling into a frothing rage of frustration. Knowing this, a small group of us got together last year and began investigating the possibility of adding a UI scripting system.

As several other games have used Lua successfully for UI scripting, we decided to look into it and were quickly able to get a prototype Lua UI scripting interface into our engine. Since then, we have gradually continued to develop the system alongside our other initiatives. Today, we are in the process of Beta testing the Lua UI scripting interface on our closed Beta preview servers.

Current State:
Many of you have been asking what this means when it goes live. This system has been implemented to allow players to override existing elements in the graphical user interface. The functionality available in its current state is small in scope but introduces a lot of fun UI possibilities. Our Lua-based UI plugin system exposes functionality through chunks of functionality referred to as “APIs.” In its current state, we have implemented the following APIs:

• Basic UI element creation (such as windows, text boxes, buttons, etc.)
• Quickslot information (allowing for additional quickslot arrangements for skills, items, etc.)
• Inventory UI information
• Your character’s morale/power information as well as what effects you currently have on you

To clarify, our implementation of Lua scripting in our game is not a macro-able/BOT-able interface. The system does not allow automated input such as mouse-clicks or macroing, nor does it allow automatic skill execution. Any UIs created through Lua scripts will still require human interaction to use.

We intend to continue heavy Beta testing on the Lua UI scripting system on the private test servers. There are several internal hurdles that remain to be cleared before the initial launch of the system and it is not yet guaranteed that “Lua in LOTRO” will launch in the Volume 3 Book 2 (F2P launch) timeframe. Much like our initial launch of QuestGuide or DX10, we will likely launch the feature as a public “beta” stage/“work in progress” as we continue to solidify and expand the initial functionality.

The Future:
As for our future plans for this, our intention is to continue to add more API functionality after the initial launch. For example, some of the popular requested APIs are: target, fellowship, and raid vitals, as well as vault functionality similar to the current API’s inventory functionality. The ultimate goal for this system is to allow players to legitimately customize their UI as a largely upgraded version of our current long-standing “UI skinning” tech. It’s all about the UI and letting players change it so the information we already expose in our current UI can be presented in different aesthetic fashions.

I hope this information clarifies what “Lua scripting” means for The Lord of the Rings Online. As we come closer to the actual launch, we will provide more information into the specifics of the system. We are very excited about this feature and look forward to the day when it goes live allowing players to have a much more customizable experience with our graphical interface.

This is not a post about making and decorating beautiful cakes. I would rather define it as a little batch of yummy Tolkien-inspired cakes. The first one I came across was beautiful Hobbit Hole cake on CasualStrolltoMordor. This great article is for...Click here to read full

This is not a post about making and decorating beautiful cakes. I would rather define it as a little batch of yummy Tolkien-inspired cakes. The first one I came across was beautiful Hobbit Hole cake on CasualStrolltoMordor. This great article is for all of us who have a sweet tooth, and the best part is that they have decided to make a new one.

My next discover was cakewrecks blog - Think of this blog not just as a collection of baking disasters but accidental art in the kitchen, at once spectacular and bizarre (time.com). When I read this my first though was - Do they have anything about LOTR. And the answer was yes, but under NON-Wrecks feature :) As they specified the most popular LOTR cake themes are Minas Tirith and The One Ring.

And my next step was - google! Several sites like greatwhitesnark, wetanz, always.ejwfiles, lotrfanshop, have also tickled my belly. At the end of this journey I wish you beautiful Sunday!

Lotr Cake	Lotr Cake	Lotr Cake
Lotr Cake	Lotr Cake	Lotr Cake

MMORPG.com  is offering 2500  Lotro Beta Keys in a random sweepstakes event from July 16 to July 22. The only thing you have to do is to login to MMORPG.com during this period. If you do not have an account yet, you can get one free of...Click here to read full

MMORPG.com  is offering 2500  Lotro Beta Keys in a random sweepstakes event from July 16 to July 22. The only thing you have to do is to login to MMORPG.com during this period. If you do not have an account yet, you can get one free of charge.


[Source]

Tournaments & Events are new community features coming to LOTRO this fall. Similar to a public quest system or challenge system, Tournaments will offer a variety of events and competitions for those who wish to participate. Players who...Click here to read full

Tournaments & Events are new community features coming to LOTRO this fall. Similar to a public quest system or challenge system, Tournaments will offer a variety of events and competitions for those who wish to participate. Players who participate in Tournaments may win community renown, badges for display on player profile pages at mylotro.com, or even in-game items, gold, or Skirmish Marks!

How Do I Join?
Keep an eye on mylotro.com/tournaments for a list of upcoming events along with the information you’ll need to participate. Every event will have at least one round with a start and end time, along with an activity that players must complete to qualify for the round. Once the event begins, simply do the action required and we’ll automatically enter your character in the event – there’s nothing else you need to do.


[More details]

Turbine released a set of new screenshots about upcoming F2P model. If you are waiting for a sneak peak on a character creation or locked quests take a look at the new screenshots. Elf...Click here to read full

Turbine released a set of new screenshots about upcoming F2P model. If you are waiting for a sneak peak on a character creation or locked quests take a look at the new screenshots.

Elf	Elf	Dwarf
Dwarf	Hobbit	Locked Quest
Locked Quest	Locked Quest	Locked Quest
Vip Account

This Friday Codemasters Anniversary Raid winners will be making their way to Codemasters HQ to take part in a live raid with the Codemasters team – the daunting and intensely challenging Lieutenant of Dol Guldur raid! Codemasters will be...Click here to read full

This Friday Codemasters Anniversary Raid winners will be making their way to Codemasters HQ to take part in a live raid with the Codemasters team – the daunting and intensely challenging Lieutenant of Dol Guldur raid!

Codemasters will be live streaming the raid out to the internet so you can come and watch in glorious victory or crushing defeat. There will be live commentary too to help you follow the action.

To watch, you’ll need to visit Codemasters special live stream web page. Raid coverage will commence at approximately 2.00pm, (GMT+1/UK time).

Codemasters 'll also be taking comments and questions during the raid. Codemasters'll be taking the questions via LOTRO Europe Twitter channel.

For those who have been wondering about the amount of content being released with Enedwaith, here are a few highlights: New contiguous landscape moving south from Eregion. More quests than the North Downs (previously holding the record...Click here to read full

For those who have been wondering about the amount of content being released with Enedwaith, here are a few highlights:

• New contiguous landscape moving south from Eregion.
• More quests than the North Downs (previously holding the record for most quest content outside of Moria), many heavily influenced by Old Welsh folklore and Tolkien-lore.
• More deeds than the North Downs.
• Twelve almost completely revised instance dungeons/raids from Shadows of Angmar, level-scaled and added to Instance Join with new rewards available at higher levels (effectively making these completely new experiences).
• More new and unique art per square meter than Moria (relative to the space, mind you!).
• Two new Reputation factions.
• Small Fellowship quests.
• A large Epic Book, including some very special instance quests.

Amon Min	Cuthraul	Druggavar
Dunlendingscout	Elhudan	Fordirith
Gwiber	Harndirion	Kings Way Gate
Nars Peak	Shadow-wolf	The Lich Bluffs
Uch-luth Clansman	Whitestag	Lotro Vol3 Book2 Map
Oldwoman

Fordirith: The first division you will enter from Eregion is named Fordirith, the Northern Watch (is named in Sindarin). The primary theme of Fordirith is the passage of the Grey Company into the South, scouting the most secret route possible. Completely new art for Dunlending Deserters and Shadow-wolves. Besides the standard landscape quest fare, Fordirith boasts two instance quests featuring the Dunlendings and Shadow-wolves.

Windfells: As players come down from the hills of Fordirith, they will find themselves in a windswept valley. New monsters in Windfells: Cuthraul, Druggavar, Cun Annun. The entire story of the Windfells leads up to a capstone instance quest beyond Gwyllion’s Gate. Besides the Draig-luth, ordinary wolves, and crebain, players will encounter several new creatures in the Windfells, complete with new art and abilities

Gloomglens: The North-South Roads runs north from Dunland through Enedwaith and into the Windfells, where it turns somewhat westward into the Gloomglens. The Gloomglens features two instance quests, including a new boss monster.

The Mournshaws are a vale of strange and gloomy trees and marshy lands, fraught with mystery. The Mournshaws are a forest haunted by the savage Cun Annun and great Wood-trolls, but also by the ghostly Elhudan. The Mournshaws feature several instance quests revolving around the Wild Huntsman and the Lords of the Forest.

Nan Laeglin: The rolling hills of Nan Laeglin are home to the Uch-luth and the now extinct Turch-luth. Nan Laeglin features a story-based instance which culminates in the success or failure of the Grey Company’s efforts in Lhanuch.

The Lich Bluffs: This grim place is a great burial ground, not unlike the Barrow-downs of Bree-land. There are three instance quests in the Lich Bluffs, two of which deal with the tragic story of the Oathbreakers who dwell here, and a third that brings forth a previously unrevealed member of an ancient order intent upon raising his terrible army.

Thror’s Coomb: In the eastern reaches of Enedwaith, nestled in the snowy arms of the Misty Mountains, lies Thror’s Coomb
From deep within the Misty Mountains, a fearsome breed of drake known as the gwiber have come forth to nest among the crags of Thror’s Coomb.
Thror’s Coomb features both solo and small fellowship content, including an instance which pits players against the Draig-luth in an effort to free the captive Algraig people.

[Source]

A few days ago casualstrolltomordor.com had a special guest on Stuncast episode 5 - Meghan "Patience" Rodberg. In this interview Meghan announced implementation of LUA scripting in Lotro. This script will allow players to create add-ons for...Click here to read full

A few days ago casualstrolltomordor.com had a special guest on Stuncast episode 5 - Meghan "Patience" Rodberg. In this interview Meghan announced implementation of LUA scripting in Lotro. This script will allow players to create add-ons for the game. Immediately after this information was publicized, Lotro Fans started a discussion about this idea on the official lotro forums . Since the reaction was very diverse, Frelon has decided to throw some light on the subject:

We wanted to clarify a few things about the potential implementation of LUA scripting. As it stands right now, the LUA scripting ability is completely controlled by us and its use is limited.

The Framework API, which controls what can and cannot be done, is separated into two main functional areas. The Framework API provides the basic structure of the scripts (classes), UI creation (windows, buttons, images, etc.), and a controlled setting to receive input, events, and actions generated by the game. The Gameplay API provides access to internal gameplay systems. The first pass of the gameplay API includes access to your own character's vitals, the ability to interface with quickslots, and the methods for interacting with items in your inventory.

So what does this all mean? Right now, given the limitations we have in place, the “plugins” players can create are restricted to the above Gameplay API areas. They can change some of your UI elements, add built in HUDS and allow for things like a travel panel or a single window inventory bag. Our intent is to not allow players to make “plugins” that will give them any kind of advantage over other players. The main idea here is that LUA allows the players the ability to customize their user interface the way they want to.

We are going to handle things very carefully as we move forward; to be very clear, LUA Scripting is still in the early stages of testing and we don’t yet have a date for when the system will go live.

[Frelorn]

Keep in mind it might NOT launch with Volume III if it's not ready!
[Meghan]

Keeping my eyes on the recent Lotro videos I came across this awesome HD video - Collection of mounts. This video includes 27 horses and goats currently available in LOTRO. As Eldarond stated in the video description: all graphic settings are the...Click here to read full

Keeping my eyes on the recent Lotro videos I came across this awesome HD video - Collection of mounts. This video includes 27 horses and goats currently available in LOTRO. As Eldarond stated in the video description: all graphic settings are the highest possible, antialiasing 8x, DirectX10, on Windows7 64-bit.



[Eldarond]