99 instances – Skirmishes of Eriador

With the rangers and the people of Bree occupied its up to you to fend of the rest of the attacks on Eriador. All of the skirmishes in these parts are separate events in the history of Middle-earth. Each one takes place in a different region and time, but each has their own tale to tell as well.

The residents have provided you with quests, xp and gear as you quest in their little corner. But now its time to fend of the final attacks and take revenge on the bosses of the zone.

Siege of Gondamon
The fortified city of Gondamon sits on the crossroads between the harbors of Celondim and the dwarven city of Thorins Hall. If this city falls so would any chance for reinforcements from either side. Orchestrated by Skorgrim with the help of the Dourhands and Goblins of the blue mountains the attacks commence.

You fight 3 sets of enemies that have multiple waves on the 3 entrances of the city. Mathi bellows from which side their attacks come. If one of the guard falls the road to the center is wide open and will often lead to defeat (and less marks). The attacks only come when the mobs are dead, but still take quite a while as with any defensive skirmish.

The encounters feel a little bit underwhelming and copy paste across each of the sides. But the final fight with the boss and his protector the fire drake making you engage them on two fronts. The assault from walls by the reinforcements will have you siwtch your focus or part of your group to them.

SIege being a free for all skirmish is a nice balanced skirmish that only suffers from timers in between waves. It’s a nice return to the area after you went further into your journey. Skorgrim is watching for a chance to get revenge.

Trouble in Tuckborough
The scouring has started and the goblins, brigands and half-orcs have taken control of the Great smials just as you were hoping to find a good book to read. We’ll leave the scouring to the books and whenever lotro gets around to it. But for now you’re looking for xp most likely.

Trouble is the other free skirmish, but as opposed to Gondamon you can choose your own pace. This makes it far more popular with free players and players on a budget. Level 20 to 60 is the main range for the skirmish.

Encounters are spread out and sometimes hard to find, but all very Shirey. Big bears, goblins, cousins of Old willow and wolfs are there if you can find them. Having burglars vanish as they raise the flags at the control points, leaving the counterattacks wondering what they actually came for is a great way to rack up some quick raids skirmishes when they were a thing.

The fun, as with many hobbit things, is in the details and for the rest its just a quick breeze through. Trouble is for the hobbits, xp per hour and a quick buck.

History  –  skirmish packs
Currently the lotro market has the guardman, footman, and veteran skirmish pack available as a relic from yonder years. These stem from a time where lotro just went free-to-play and scalable instances were the next big venture. Each pack unlocks a different set of instances and skirmishes. The instances are great little off-sets and are often recommended for players looking for something different like Inn of the Forsaken or Halls of night.

The skirmishes were the main reason to get the packs, but over time as skirmishes lost their footing they became a byproduct of the packs. To the point hardly anyone would get the packs and with it the skirmishes. These days sadly these skirmishes are for the Vip or old-timers.

Attack at dawn
Leveld by the Ongburz and used as a staging ground by the forces of Angmar inbetween Thestlebridge, Bree and Esteldin. Dol dinen is a barren waste land filed with enemies. At the end of the North Down questpack your fellowship clears the lower regions. If you want to jump straight to the entrenched forces start up Attack at dawn.

Retaking the east and west gate means there is no way for the enemy to escape to. Cutting of their final escape route in the last gate. You make your way up the ramps on to the General. While making sure no golbins escape you take revenge and silence this camp of the enemy.

Fords of bruinen
Between the lower Trollshaws and the High moors that give access to the Gate of Rivendell lies the Fords of the Bruinen. Famous for the nazguls chases of Frodo. Sauron forces are back for round 2.

Facing several waves of Trolshaw citizenswith all orc variants, evil creatures and giants jumping down from the siege towers. After a final stand the boss Ningrat and its two troll guards will face you. Resembling the scene where the enchanted waters were raised the trolls will lose their protection and you can take them down.

A defenition skirmish fight with an interesting set of final bosses that resembles the scene from the books and movies. A nice defensive skirmish with varied encounters and a horsey twist of lore to boot.

Icy crevasse
Beyond the walls of ice that is guarded by rangers lie the waste of Forochel, the ancient Iron throne guarded by saber cats, ice giants and mammoths. Well some of them are at least. Fighting your way through the canyons to retake the pass. I was never quite sure in what time frame this skirmish took place. You had conquered this pass before and the guaradan are just a little presence in the questing time youre there.

However the Icy crevasse feels different and has the same feeling as Forochel. Denizens unique to the area and only one of two snow regions. Turbine also managed to give the final boss fight the “twins” mechanic with choice and placement of the hot spring. Do you go for extra in and outgoing damage on your group, but with your back to the adds? Or go slower and more secure?

Crevasse gets out of hand really quickly with 12 players, a mumak + Angmarim and waves of adds and luitenants. If its your forte its one of the best skirmish boss fights.