Rune-keepers are one of two new classes added with Mines of Moria. I thought it would be nice to play a bit as one and give you an idea of what to expect if you’ve not tried one out yet.
Starting out as a Rune-keeper is just like starting out as any other class. You begin in an introduction area, which you can skip as you like. As I’ve played this as a Dwarf a couple of times now, I skipped it and was handed the items you’d typically get for completing the introduction. I quickly equipped my new tarnished rune-stone. Rune-keepers use rune-stones as their main weapon type and each one is affiliated with a certain attack type. The tarnished rune-stone that I have right now does lightning damage.
As a Dwarf, my early life pretty much focuses on Thorin’s Hall. Nothing seems to be out of the ordinary here, aside from the addition of Warden, Rune-keeper and Crafting Hall trainers. The local Town Crier told me about Moria and Eregion, but at this point those are just distant dreams.
Continue reading ‘Runekeeper Rumination: Volume 1′
Many MMORPGs allow characters to have so called “non-combat” pets. They serve no real purpose and simply follow your character around once they’re summoned. A lot of people enjoy this little extra, however, and the practice has become extremely common. World of Warcraft, for example, seemingly has dozens of the things. Some of them can be purchased, while others are far more rare. Either way, they’re quite popular and some Korean developed MMORPGs revolve around them.
Many people don’t know that there are non-combat pets in LotRO. The most likely reason why people don’t know is that the ability is restricted to only one class in the game: Lore-masters. The other reason is that this ability wasn’t added until Book 11, a while after the launch of the game.
In LotRO a Lore-master can only have one pet out at a time, regardless as to whether or not it’s combat or non-combat. Don’t expect your little snake friend to dish out any damage . . . . Their sole goal in life is to be cute and impress your friends.
Continue reading ‘Guide to Non-combat Pets’
MMORPG.com posted a new Developer Diary Video today. I can’t seem to figure out where they got it and unfortunately they don’t allow you to embed their videos elsewhere.
The video gives some general details on the new Warden and Rune-keeper classes, narrated by Cardell Kerr, Creative Director, and Ryan Bednar, Lead Game Systems Designer. While it doesn’t offer any new information, it is a nice way to see both of the classes in action.
Turbine has added a new article entitled “Rune-keeper Mastery” to the official LotRO site. As with the one detailing the Warden, this article deals with playing as a Rune-keeper from the start up through Level 50. It covers the class’s abilities, attunements, play style and purpose in the game. Be sure to read the full article as summarizing it here won’t do it justice.
I’ve noticed some concern that groups will be arguing over what role their Rune-keeper will take. In most situations the class will likely be forced to make a choice between a heavy healing focus and a heavy attack focus . . . . Groups forcing people into certain play styles certainly won’t go over with some Rune-keepers.
This type of thing comes up in other MMORPGs and it will be interesting to see how it plays out here. It seems that this potential issue is why games like Warhammer Online have classes that instead use a system where attack skills increase the potential of healing skills and vice versa.
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