Lord of the Rings Online: Rise of Isengard E32011 Preview

It is just about time for the 3rd expansion to what is currently the 3rd most popular MMORPG. Not surprisingly there will be plenty of new content for current and new customers to explore. New dungeons, new factions, new quests, and plenty of new terrain await those ready to seek out Isengard. The factions are an important element to this expansion as multiple groups vie for the favor of both sides of the conflict. Helping one will be sure to annoy someone else. Along with determining faction standing, how players solve quests will determine not only their standing within that group, but how the world actually looks. With this expansion the game has progressed approximately halfway through the original novels. Already work is being done on the 4th installment.

What most players of the game will want to know is how the expansion affects the rest of the game. There are three significant changes. The first is an increase in the level cap to 75. This change brings about the second major change as older dungeons are rescaled to the higher level cap. The general layout and mobs will remain the same, but they will be more challenging, and, more importantly, their loot drops have been scaled up to provide a step towards end game level loot. What might prove the most popular the third significant change is that PvMP will now be free for everyone. Where this was once limited to paid subscribers now everyone can build their own monster characters. The free to play option will still be available though with the same restrictions on just how much non main quest options will be available. At that point players have to decide if they want to purchase the quest packs to fully experience all that this game has to offer. The release date is set for September 24th. Let the race to 75 begin.

Here is a look at the flavors that will ship on the 24th.

Rise of Isengard Base Edition – Includes the full Rise of Isengard expansion plus:

• Steed of the Gap, a new in-game mount with matching red cosmetic cloak for every character on your account
• In-game title – Guard of the Isen
• 25% XP boost for all characters on an account up to level 65

Rise of Isengard Heroic Edition – Includes the full Rise of Isengard expansion plus:

• 1,000 Turbine Points for use in the LOTRO Store
• Steed of the Gap, a new in-game mount with choice of matching cosmetic cloak and armor in your choice of red, white or green for every character on your account
• In-game title – Guard of the Isen
• 25% XP boost for all characters on an account up to level 65

Rise of Isengard Legendary Edition — – Includes the full Rise of Isengard expansion plus:

• 1,000 Turbine Points for use in the LOTRO Store
• All threeSteeds of the Gap, new in-game mounts with matching cosmetic cloak and armor in all three colors for every character on your account
• In-game title – Guard of the Isen
• 25% XP boost for all characters on an account up to level 65
• Access to the Path of the Fellowship Quest Packs including Trollshaws, Eregion, Moria, Lothlorien and Mirkwood

See below for our list of partners and affiliates: