Lord of the Rings Online MMO News, Guides, and Features at Ten Ton Hammer

The Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO) has gotten a lot of new content since launch, but none of the free updates compared to the games first expansion MoM (Mines of Moria). This vast expansion opened up a ton of new content, dungeons, and even added two new classes to the game. MoM also introduced the second volume of the epic book quest line with the first six chapters available for players to continue the games storyline. But since MoM’s release, Turbine has added two additional Volume 2 books as free content with Book 7: The Leaves of Lorien and Book 8: Scourge of Khazad-Dûm.

Mines of Moria
The Mines of Moria was the first, and currently only, expansion for LOTRO. Turbine took their time in crafting this vast expansion and introduced a host of new content with its launch, including a very unpleasant encounter with that big nasty balrog that Gandalf had it out with through a “Session Play” encounter. Travel far enough into the mine and you can see how that fight turned out, just make sure you bring a spatula to help with the balrog recovery effort.

MoM is without a doubt the biggest area Turbine has added to the game yet. Not only is it huge in its content size, but when you enter Moria you really feel like it’s the home of Durin’s folk. The artwork is well detailed, providing an immersive atmosphere for fans of Tolkien lore to enjoy, and the height of the area is massive, adding to the grand scale of the mines. However, if you don’t watch your step, you’ll be taking a swift trip into one of Moria’s vast chasms, complete with nifty little message about discovering how deep Moria is. It gives you something to read while you curse yourself on the way down.

New Classes
MoM brought many changes to the existing classes of LOTRO by adding new traits, skills, and a level increase, raising the cap to 60, but two new classes were also introduced.

• Rune-keeper: Rune-keepers are a sort of mix hybrid healer and offensive caster. As such they can provide groups with the benefit of either.
  
• Warden: The Warden is a master of spear and javelin weaponry. As they fight, this class can build up gambits that can help a fellowship and put an enemy in a hurt lock. This class is good for those preferring a more strategic melee fighter.