A very warm welcome my friend!
It seems like it has been a busy week for us all. Spring is finally coming again to Eriador, and many gather again to celebrate this time of year. I and Lufere have been looking around to see if there were new steeds on sale, since such a festival is an excellent excuse to see what is about. I found one to my liking, which will ease my travels, my new and great companion Raider the pony. Lufere himself wrote me that he got himself a blue roan steed, Frerer.
Lufere on his new blue roan steed
Nimreidhreth himself seems to have been lost in the depths of Moria fighting orcs, for the poor dwarves that want to return to their ancestral homes. Look at what he writes:
“… these wretched dwarves just don’t have a sense of when to give up. I’d myself turn my back to the place if it weren’t for my fear of the outcome of the upcoming war if the orcs could get a hold of the mithril. I have thus been aiding their chieftains, but all it has brought to us is an open war with the terrible orcs and forces I am yet to comprehend; those of the old evil fortress of Dol Guldur. Cousins of mine, the wild elves of Mirkwood have told me about that place, and those are tales better not to be repeated. Something tells me my travels will take me there, no matter how much I fight it.
I have heard the last few days many drums rumble in the deeps. I see also that the dwarves have moved something deeper than I thought was possible. Still, they are lost in the search of past glories, which seems to have diverted the attention the real problem of the orcs. We have been now preparing battle stations to confront the dreaded and evil alliance, and Durin’s folk has asked me to help them defend certain positions. And I just might, although not for glories of the past, which are destined to fade in the west, but to rid Middle Earth of a possible threat of orcs with mithril armors. May the Valar protect us…”
Mordor, present even in the depths of Moria
Serious, as always, this poor Nimreidhreth. Seems like much has been going on through his head. But there while, I think we should just enjoy that spring has arrived at these green lands. Maybe one day I’ll look into this Moria place.
Going again? See you then next time, as more news arrives from far (and not so far) away lands.
Until then, fare well.
[So guys, the idea is simple: since the Turbine team said we could start the 2.5.5. quests at level 55 instead of the normal 59, and on top of that as a skirmish, I decided that, as soon as Nim hit level 55, I’d start questing the epics to get the new instances. The second reason to it, by the way, was to test the soloability. If I could reach with 55 the 59 quest, then it was more than soloable.
Please remember that the experiment was done with a Guardian, this means, that through the tanking ability, it was a bit easier to quest through all the 56-59 level quests, so some restrictions (but to my point of view, few) may apply to classes that are harder to play.
The trip started out smoothly, for it was mostly just little “kill this” and “get that” quests, which with very little patience you can get done in almost no time. As always, an epic does involve much travel. The only problem I saw was on two little instances. The first one, that propelled me to level 56, was the Drowned Treasury, which may not be hard except for two battles (the two insect queens that pop up suddenly and the Watcher himself), but it was long and boring. As I was halfway through, I already expected to see some end, since I was doing one generic battle after another, after another, after another. In group it might have gone faster (not to mention the funny comments of your fellowship mates). But to be honest, as a solo quest I think it should have gotten a few mobs taken out to accelerate the descend a little but. By the time I reached the Watcher, I had already gone almost an hour above my average time to stop playing. But the sheer idea of doing all again kept me going.
Tough tentacle… errrr… cookie to bite solo at 55: the Watcher
The harder one was the story-driven one, chapter 3 of book 5. I think that it is level appropriate, but for a level 55 guy it may be a bit hard. I was sometimes hanging on my last piece of life.
But… is it worth it to get the skirmishes? Yes it is. The three may be the same Gondamon formula, but they are quite fun nonetheless. I like skirmishes per se, for they let me get away from questing and still get some XP, so I really don’t mind having another three more. There would be not much to say, except maybe a guide, but I’ll wait for those to come out in time. They aren’t hard and I suspect even a bit easier than Gondamon. Just one tip: don’t run off after beating a wave of enemies, unless the instance tells you they are attacking another side. It is not just one group of mobs, but 2-4 groups in total, coming in at varied times. Second one: get prepared for funny and even well thought moments in the defence of 21st Hall. Those who played it before the update know what I mean.
So, summing it up, I recommend getting the skirmishes at level 57, although if you are one of the cool players, well then, you might even get it earlier. The way is a bit tortuous, but the skirmishes are fun all in all, and it’s nice to get new skirmishes, besides all the normal ones. And for free to play, having 5 instead of the same 2 will certainly enhance the fun in skirmishing. I like skirms a lot.
As for the festival, I think you should just go to CSTM to look at the guide(s).
After a short thinking period, I switched to weekly posts. I should really give it a try, heh.
All Hail!]
