Nov 27, 2022

Welcome back to Pineleaf’s Pictorial Primer to Skirmishing. In this series, we will look at each of the skirmishes in The Lord of the Rings Online. In this installment, we will look at the first new skirmish to be released in years: Doom of Caras Gelebren This information in this guide is up-to-date as of Update 34. You can download the PDF here. Now...

Oct 22, 2022

Before the Shadow will be released on November 8, 2022 (barring any unexpected delays). One of the features of this update will be a new skirmish: The Doom of Caras Gelebren. Unlike most skirmishes, which are set during or near the main LOTRO timeline, this new skirmish is set in the distant past during the fall of Eregion during the Second Age. This skirmish...

Oct 3, 2022

Before the Shadow will be released on November 8, 2022 (barring any unexpected delays). If you order either the Collectors Edition or the Ultimate Fan Bundle, you will receive a number of items prior to the release of the expansion. The video below, I look over the various items you receive when you complete your order.   The most important part of the...

Sep 8, 2021

Over the course of the year, we’ve been hearing rumors and teasers related to the upcoming brawler class. Finally, we have our first official preview of this new class. What are the features of this new class? The brawler may be selected by any race that can select a class (i.e., excluding only Beornings).The brawler’s primary weapon is a set of...

Sep 24, 2020

When I posted my first article on missions, the intro mission was not working. Since then, SSG updated the preview build and fixed the introductory mission. In response to this, I created a video showing how to get started with missions, including how to get to the camp from Bree. Naturally, everything seen here is subject to change. We will surely see some...

Sep 23, 2020

As Squirle discussed in his Quick intro to missions, missions are a new feature currently planned for the War of the Three Peaks expansion (Update 28). I have played several missions using two characters: a high-level warden and a low-level Rune-keeper. Below is a video highlighting a pair of missions with my warden. Note that this is the first test release, so...

Jul 28, 2018

We now head into a sticky realm.   Chapter 3, Part 1 – The Tower of Webs We sped to a land Of spiders and bugs Where Atli sought To sweep them away. There we headed to a tower Terrorized by spiders To seek some orders Of Ugrukhôr of the Pit. The tower’s old garrison Was torn asunder As they fought for trinkets Found on prisoners. A second force Now...

May 26, 2018

Exploring Mordor can drive you mad.   Chapter 2, Part 2 – Madness in Mordor From the east there came A clatter that told That Rhogrin went mad In a raging fury. We found our friend Near a fetid pit Where Barad Dûr’s Basement Gaped. We knocked some sense And soothed his mind Then Rhogrin left Rotten Mordor. Thus Covadil learned That the land’s too...

May 11, 2018

It is now time to learn more about the trinket we found.   Chapter 2, Part 1 – A Light in the Darkness We travelled afar With the treasure we gained To learn its lore And links to the past. It was a source of hope Before Sauron’s forces Brought it to Mordor And muddied its light. When the taint was cleansed By our quest to the source, To Elrond we...

May 3, 2018

We serch for the missing Ayorzén.   Chapter 1, Part 4 – Ayorzén We galloped to the gate To Gorgoroth the dark To learn if Ayorzén Had left Udûn. The gate was open But guards blocked the way So wily Ayorzén Still wandered within. We searched the camps Of his countrymen But found no sign Of the sneaky thief. Yet soon we learned That the sneak was...

Apr 25, 2018

Now that we know Durthang’s history, it is time for us to enter it.   Chapter 1, Part 3 – Unintentions Into Durthang we delved, Now a dungeon most foul, Where orcs and uruks Scream orders to kill. We cleared the guards Gathered at the cells Then released the pitiful Prisoners within. Most were from Nûrn, Which nourished the realm, But one was...

Apr 21, 2018

Finally, we enter into Mordor, where we encounter the enemy and learn a bit of its history.   Chapter 1, Part 2 – Deadly Durthang We fought the forces At the forges of Udûn, Where the sweat of slaves Made swords and mail. At Mornaur we met The mercenary Rhogrin Who thought to ruin The ringing anvils. With the anvils toppled For Annoth we searched...

Apr 11, 2018

We with ring destroyed, it is time to enter into the land of Mordor. Today, we start our journey through the Black Book of Mordor. Today, we reach the gate but don’t get very far inside.   Chapter 1, Part 1 – Four at the Gate The gate to Mordor Was mangled and bent Leaving a way For wanderers to pass. The fearless and foolish Followed the path...

Apr 7, 2018

When the folk at Standing Stone opened the northern lands, Pineleaf headed north to face the perils that awaited there. In this 32-episode video series, you can follow the adventures of Pineleaf through Northern Mirkwood, Lake Town, Dale, and The Lonely Mountain. This series includes the main quest content as well as chapters 5 and 6 of the Black Book of...

Dec 30, 2017

Welcome to the third edition of Pineleaf’s Pictorial Primer to Skirmishing. In this edition, we will bring the primer up to date with the latest LOTRO releases, consolidate redundant information, make the morale listings consistent, and repost the guides that mysteriously disappeared from our library. We will begin the new edition with two guides. The...

Nov 22, 2017

  Executive Producer Severlin posted the latest producer’s letter looking forward to what’s ahead for next year. The full text of the letter is at the LOTRO forums. Much of the letter discusses what is coming in Update 22: The continuation of the Black Book of Mordor. Lands featured in The Hobbit: Northern Mirkwood, Laketown, Dale, and Erebor....

Sep 28, 2017

Can we possibility survive this encounter? Book 9 – The Ring of Power At the point of despair The pressure was eased As the eagles arrived To reverse the tide. The Nazgûl fled south To Sauron’s aid, Till the gate groaned With a ghastly crash.   Then Landroval carried us To the ledge of Doom To find our friends Frodo and Sam. They were tired, hungry,...

Jul 19, 2017

As we wait for Mordor, let’s take a walk in the Old Forest. Interlude – The Old Forest Deep in the dark And dangerous wood A hatred hampered Four hobbits on a quest Their path did twist To push them south To the Withywindle Where willows slept   By the foulest tree Frodo was snared As his friends were trapped In a frightful grip. As Frodo’s...

Jun 27, 2017

What will we find at the Black Gate? Book 8 – The Black Gate At the edge of the Waste Our wandering mind Drifted to Frodo And the fateful ring. Our march was small Next to Mordor’s horde But perhaps the hobbits Would be helped by our show.   We marched to the gate And gathered our strength Then demanded that Sauron Surrender at once. In response, the...

Jun 22, 2017

It is time to March towards Mordor. Book 7 – March of the King Our rest was brief When the battle was done As the hale must heal The hurts of the wounded. The captains took council On the course to take And chose to march And challenge our foe.   We sounded the trumpets As our troops set forth Into Gondor’s glorious Garden – Ithilien. There we...