A Casual Stroll to Mordor Podcast

Episode 142: The Pits of Merricgard

podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com — Mon, 21 May 2012 01:30:00 +0000

This week there’s not a whole lot of news since Update 7 released on Monday so this is a tad shorter of a show.

Goldenstar said that she did some stuff in Bree-town won a second-ager in the Lottery and then called Merric a turd on the air. Enjoy that little spat or feel free to skip it.

Town Crier

Store News

Weekly Store Sale

CSTM News

Community News

Laurelin Concert – July 8, 8pm UK time
Crickhollow Memorial Day Cook Out – May 26th 2pm EDT
Weatherstock IV announced and bands scheduled

Raise Your Glass

Golmir of Brandywine

After a 150+ day absence from the game I have decided to re-install LOTRO. I have let my VIP subscription end and was wondering if you had any blog posts that detail what I will still have access to (characters, skirmishes, loot bags, etc)? If I resubscribe will it be like I never left (other than having to pay the lockout fee on my house)? Any information you have on this would be helpful.

Thanks,
Golmir of Brandywine

–> Downgrading from VIP to Premium

Leandor from Estel

Hi Goldenstar and Merric. I haven’t been able to come to the live recording for a long time now (naughty time zones), but i still listen to the podcast every monday on my way to work, keep up the good job o/

I am writing for two reasons. First, i wanted to share some personal experience about PvMP. I created a spider at least 4 years ago, and i let her nearly untouched for a very very long time. Each and everytime i played her, i felt so weak and crunchy, it wasn’t really fun, and i got discouraged. One can only be smashed to a puddle a goo by any player so many times before calling quit^

But with the weaver revamp in update 6, i rediscovered the class, and it’s becoming more and more fun. I started slow, doing some daily quests now and then, sometimes just an hour at night, after my loremaster time. And she started to gain ranks, new skills, and now she’s nearly rank 5, and it’s a ton of fun. I am not really a PvP player, but now i’m even starting to enjoy doing some real PvP, not only the PVE quests, and i feel like i’m starting to be useful.
So my advice is: if you tried PvP and got frustrated, don’t be afraid to try it again, maybe with some friends. Low-level monsters are really really weak, but the first ranks come fairly easily, and gaining a rank as a monster is not like gaining a level as a free player. The difference in power is way more tangible, and PvP can be a really nice experience, a break from the regular game. Plus, the weavers are just so cute, especially with anniversary outfit

Goodbye strollers,
Leandor from Estel

Adra.

Hi

First of all, I like a lot your blog ! (even if I would prefer you write it in french :p )

I’m contacting you to suggest a review, if you have the feeling for it ^^

I’m developing and maintaining a Lotro skin collection named JRR.

It is composed of freely revisited skins + a few original contents.
There are also a few addons available beside the main download.

Some skins are very close form the original release, as Durin’s folk, some others explore a new perspective, as BGM or Delving Hills.

Some skins were originally only a single toolbar : Smallbar, monsters lair short, or in a lesser way Greenleaves, which was a toolbar+minimap+player vital.

JRR is a true modular pack, where every skin is technically built as an addon, saving hard disk space by sharing as many pictures as possible and offering the end user to choose which skin will be featured ingame or not.

The JRR main download pack contains almost exclusively universal toolbar based skins (except “delving hills small” and “monsters lair small”),
addon files are not universal skins based.

Next release, planned for monday 14, will be compliant with Update 7 new toolbars design.

Here is the JRR main page :

http://www.lotrointerface.com/downloads/info581-JRR-AtributetoMiddleEarth.html

Here is a download link to the upcoming update 7 releases (this pack includes the addons) :

http://www.mediafire.com/?wkfwmuhm3l4lg5o

Thanks for having read me till the end ^
and greetings from France !

Adra.

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Visit our blog at www.casualstrolltomordor.com
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Listen to us live every Saturday at 9:30 pm Eastern on Middle Earth Network Radio

Recorded May 19, 2012

Episode 141: Merric has Man-Flu

podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com — Mon, 14 May 2012 01:30:00 +0000

This week we talk about Update 7 release coming on Monday, new dev diary, screenshots, star lit crystals and more!

This week Goldenstar’s Dum group completes the 21st hall skirmish. Dumidum was absent as he was at the hospital were his son was being born. Yay Baby Dum!

Merric didn’t do anything this week besides whining and being a baby about hurting his leg.

Town Crier

Official News

Developer Bites

Star Lit Crystal Clarification from Sapience
Tentative dates posted to the calendar for Spring Festival and the Farmer’s Faire:
- Spring Festival has tentative date of May 24 – June 11
- Farmer’s Faire tentative dates of July 19 – August 6

Store News

CSTM News

Community News

New LOTRO Blogs:

Raise Your Glass

Hadhreleb of Arkenstone

hello, goldenstar (and merric)

i was checking the roundtables to see if you had done any new champion guardian or hunter ones and was somewhat suprised to see that most of them were from 2010. i seems to me that in the two years since then many things may have changed and the old roundtables seem a bit lacking based on this new criteria. new mire comprehensive and up-to-date roundtables would be very useful.

also, your android app pauses the podcasts everytime the screen times out and tapping the screen every five minutes is starting to get old; please fix this issue.

hoping with fingers crossed that i will make it into your next podcast, hadhreleb of arkenstone

Torbo

I have recently stumbled onto your site, been playing LotRO for over a year, really got excited when it went Free to Play. So I am a total FREEP, but spent some money on Points a time or three so technically a “premium” player. I really love the site but wish I knew how to interact more directly with the site’s authors and/or friends. Anyhow some comments in a recent podcast made me wonder about expansions. I bought Rise of Isengard for myself and my wife, but we missed the Moria Expansion that gave the two new classes (UGH!!!). Is it necesarry to purchase all the expansions along the way or do later expansions usually include the previous content as well? We have been able to travel in Moria having gotten the “Path of the Fellowship”. I guess I am just worried this will become an expensive past time for me and my wife if we will have to keep up with expansions too much. However I was more than willing to invest in Isengard at the time since it is one way my wife and I have found to do something together. We love to run our main’s together and frequently reprimand each other if we catch the other running one of our mains without the other. Of course a little crafting or festival running are allowed but you know what I mean. Currently our mains are only 56 kinda stuck there, but we both have some alts in the 30′s and 40′s we also like to play. Also for funsies we created a hobbit kinship on another server with our two teenage daughters. They don’t play quit as much as we do but it is fun to get us all on and do some fellowship questing. ANyhow now I am rambling sorry…

Let me know if there is an IRC channel or forum somewhere I am missing would love to keep in touch when I have free time…

Kazren

Hi,

Every Monday I download the latest podcast and listen as I drive to work (and home again usually, too) and I was so glad you decided to tape the show, even if Merric(I hope he feels better by now) was sick. It reallly brightens my day. Baby Hobbit was adorable, too.

I have to share with you that I have 1 character who has gotten both steeds and the toast emote at the Anniversary from the Envelope quest. Friday night I created a new character, my first Warden(she’s already level 29! Gotta luv her survivability), just so I could try and win her the Dusk steed and darned if she hasn’t gotten a single steed, even though I must have spent $5 buying her extra badges all weekend. She did get the toast emote, but you certainly can’t ride that! She also earned both the Firework Laden and Anniversary Steed from going to the Fireworks event every 30 mins all “night” long, but I really wanted that Dusk steed for her!

It is whimsical riding through a dangerous area and seeing a fierwork launch itself from her new steed, which she’s named Rockette!

Thanks again for keeping me so entertained and filled-in on the news and current store goodies.

Hugs from afar,

Kazren

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Visit our blog at www.casualstrolltomordor.com
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Recorded May 12, 2012

Episode 140: Goldenstar & Baby Hobbit

podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com — Mon, 07 May 2012 01:30:00 +0000

This week is a special (very non-typical) episode. Merric felt very ill Saturday afternoon and so Baby Hobbit and Goldenstar take over the air-waves and do the podcast on their own.

We have update 7 information to share this week as well as a new horse themed Turbine sponsored event.

Goldenstar’s burglar hit level 59 this week and she got the /toast emote! She also popped into Bullroarer briefly to check things out. Expect a post or two this week with information on Bullroarer.

Town Crier

Official News:

Store News:

Weekly Store Sale

CSTM News:

Riddles in the Dark

Riddles in the Dark is a bi-weekly podcast series by Dr. Corey Olsen (The Tolkien Professor) and David Kale. Discussion will focus on the themes, characters, and events of Middle-earth and lay the groundwork for intelligent speculation about how the book may be translated to film. Each episode will culminate in the hosts making a specific prediction about the upcoming films, to be proven or disproven when the films are finally released.

More information on RITD can be found at http://www.mythgard.org/exclusives/riddles-in-the-dark/

What will be the MAIN role of the Nazgûl in the Hobbit films?

A. They are headed to Mordor: preparing for Sauron’s relocation to his old stomping grounds.
B. They are focused on Erebor: aiding Smaug, pursuing the Company, joining the Battle of Five Armies, etc.
C. They are focused on Dol Guldur: opposing the White Council, preparing for an offensive in South Mirkwood, etc.
D. They are seeking for the Ring: dredging the river near Gladden Fields, investigating rumors of the heirs of Isildur, etc.

Raise Your Glass

Inithril

Hi there,
I’ve been very casually playing LOTRO for about 6 months now, and just came across your blog. Where is the best place on the site to ask questions?

Specifically I have a question related to the task system.
I’ve decided that I want to tackle the task system deeds.

It seems to me, that as a VIP, I am levelling quicker than I can do the tasks, and usually by the time I find a new task board, I’ve out levelled many of the tasks. It also seems to me, that if a person wants to do the task deeds, they need to plan ahead carefully.

Should I just relax, go about the game – confident that I’ll have plenty of time and tasks to do later? Does this become a non-issue at higher levels?

I currently just finished my 200th deed at level 38.
I’ve been grinding soft skin off of salamanders for a couple days now.

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Contact Us

Visit our blog at www.casualstrolltomordor.com
We welcome your email to podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com or leave us a voicemail at 520-261-CSTM (2786)
We are available to follow on both Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus
Please leave us a review on iTunes or Zune Marketplace and we would really appreciate it!
Listen to us live every Saturday at 9:30 pm Eastern on Middle Earth Network Radio

Recorded May 6, 2012

Episode 139: Merric Listens

podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 01:30:00 +0000

In this episode we talk more Anniversary Festival as a bunch of stuff was released this week in regards to this event. A hint of Update 7 is mentioned. We also discuss VIP subscription options, the Mithril Edition sale, new points bundles and more!

This week Goldenstar complains about Moria epic story skirmishes and then beats Dumidum up with a huge bat.

Merric did a bit of festival on his warden and has taken his Warden out to Eregion to try out the new changes.

Town Crier

Developer Bites

Store News

CSTM News

Community News

Weatherstock IV Band Registration is Open

Riddles in the Dark

More information on RITD can be found at http://www.mythgard.org/exclusives/riddles-in-the-dark/

A. Immaterial, spiritual conflict from a distance
B. Epic, Battle-of-Helm’s-Deep-style battle between two large armies
C. Avengers-style small-band-of-superheroes vs. evil hordes battle
D. No conflict at all – the heroes will arrive to find the Necromancer has already fled.

Raise Your Glass

Larry

My name is Larry Longstreth and along with Lord of the Rings producer Mark Ordesky, I created an animated series called “Four Tanks and a Healer” that takes place INSIDE an MMORPG. Think WoW meets Family Guy. Anyway, we put the two pilot episodes online and the results were AWESOME. Now, we’re trying to use Kickstarter to get it made into a full season. I seriously think you guys will love it. Please help us spread the word. The one thing we’re missing is the power to get it out there across the internet where gamers will see it. Once enough of them do, we’re confident it will take off!

Here’s the link! Check it out for yourself and thanks!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fourtanks/four-tanks-and-a-healer-0

lar

Nate

Hello!

My parents gave me the green light to read something by Tolkien at my sister’s wedding. Do you know of a passage on friendship or love?

Thanks in advance!’

Nate

Chris

Hello, i have a subject u could write something about in LOTRO i dont know if u have seen all the “hiding rabbits” in this game but i have a youtube video that shows some of them + showing how to get to the hidden burrow and whats inside! So would be kindly apreciated if u could write about this and u have my permission to use my video as well. Hope u enjoy them as much as i do

And i would also like to thank u for all ur fine articles i read the news once as soon as it is out, keep up the good work!

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Visit our blog at www.casualstrolltomordor.com
We welcome your email to podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com or leave us a voicemail at 520-261-CSTM (2786)
We are available to follow on both Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus
Please leave us a review on iTunes or Zune Marketplace and we would really appreciate it!
Listen to us live every Saturday at 9:30 pm Eastern on Middle Earth Network Radio

Recorded April 28, 2012

Episode 138: I’mma Eat That

podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 01:30:00 +0000

This week we discuss update 6.1, anniversary festival, character transfers, lag and even more anniversary festival!

We have a bit of catch up in our return from vacation (which was fantastic). Goldenstar’s Dum Group had beat hard mode Igash in the Grand Stair before she had left even though they had met while she was on vacation. Since returning though all she’s done is play the anniversary festival like crazy-pants.

Merric did a little bit of the Anniversary Festival and not much else.

Town Crier

Developer Bites:

Lag Issues in LOTRO?
If you’re still having Lag Issues introduced in 6.0
Warden Changes in Update 7
Changes to Orthanc Challenge Modes in Update 7 Fire and Frost and Saruman

Store News

CSTM News

Riddles in the Dark

More information on RITD can be found at http://www.mythgard.org/exclusives/riddles-in-the-dark/

What will be the tone of the *final moment* of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey?

A. Suspense
B. Hope
C. Foreboding
D. Grief

Raise Your Glass

Peter

Dear CSTM, im an old LOTR player and huge fan of the books and movies, the whole Tolkien world feels as if home, i was a deticated player of LotR and i loved that game from the gameplay to the scenery, 3 months ago i realised that the game was an unending grind, and decided with heavy heart to try another mmo the known Star Wars TOR, i wont lie to u i start to miss the nice time i spent with my hunter when back in lvl 26 i was still a newb and was strolling through Middle Earth looking at the scenery. Today i decided to start to play again maybe i would find that spark again, but to my luck i only found out that the game became more like i have to have the latest armor than RP and have fun, where is the fun in lotro now? why everything has to be a grind?, maybe its my kin that is mostly raiding maybe my perfectionism, i need a reason or something to make me come back to the game that i loved, please i know u propably dont care but i would appreciate a second though in my already troubled mind, yours Peter

Limm

Hi Merric & Goldenstar,

A few months ago our kin leader Josc got an idea to make a thank you video for Turbine for 5 years of fun times. Kind of funny considering they recently announced a video contest (although the video she made has nothing to do with that contest). Anyway thought you guys would get a kick out of it, here’s a link to it on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=sDKA2EG7cX0

Giggles

Dawning Eclipse 5th year Kin Anniversary, Windfola Server

An invitation to come and celebrate with us. There will be music, fireworks, fun and prizes!

Closer to the time a list of events will be listed on http://bit.ly/HzR0Fq, one of our events the Lord of the Rings Joke contest is already underway.

Starting at Friday 4th May 8pm EST. Location is Home of Dawning Eclipse, 2 Chalk Road, Bullridge, Shire Homesteads, Windfola.

Giggles
Dawning Eclipse
Windfola Server

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Visit our blog at www.casualstrolltomordor.com
We welcome your email to podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com or leave us a voicemail at 520-261-CSTM (2786)
We are available to follow on both Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus
Please leave us a review on iTunes or Zune Marketplace and we would really appreciate it!
Listen to us live every Saturday at 9:30 pm Eastern on Middle Earth Network Radio

Recorded April 21, 2012

Episode 137: Black Arrow Roundtable

podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:00:00 +0000

The Black Arrow Roundtable was conducted by Ivaneus of Through the Palantir and is being redistributed with permission to the CSTM listening audience!

We had always had planned to do our own version of Creep class roundtables but when we heard that Ivaneus was going to host his own we sighed with relief as we are ettenmoor idiots. Ivaneus is the exactly perfect person to conduct these Monster Play themed roundtables!

This episode is detailed and will give a plethora of information to current and new Black Arrow monster players alike.

Thank you to Ivaneus for allowing us to share this with our audience and be sure to check out Through the Palantir blog and podcast!

Photo Credit: Clarysta of “That’s What C Said” blog

Episode 136: Warleader Roundtable

podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:00:00 +0000

The Warleader Roundtable was conducted by Ivaneus of Through the Palantir and is being redistributed with permission to the CSTM listening audience!

This episode is detailed and will give a plethora of information to current and new Warleader monster players alike.

Thank you to Ivaneus for allowing us to share this with our audience and be sure to check out Through the Palantir blog and podcast!

Episode 135: Defiler Roundtable

podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:51:31 +0000

The Defiler Roundtable was conducted by Ivaneus of Through the Palantir and is being redistributed with permission to the CSTM listening audience!

This episode is detailed and will give a plethora of information to current and new Defiler monster players alike.

Thank you to Ivaneus for allowing us to share this with our audience and be sure to check out Through the Palantir blog and podcast!

Episode 134: I Told Him He Was Number One

podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 03:00:00 +0000

This week we talk about the upcoming festivals, character transfers being closed, weekly store sales, free dye coupon codes and more!

This week in Dum time we weren’t all quite ready to continue on the epic story so we went back into Grand Stair and learned we could do a dum bum drumming conga line! I also attended a play by Mar Vanwa Tyalieva Kinship.

This week Merric did the new 6-man Roots of Fangorn.

During the show we are talking about how Merric and Opa Hobbit haven’t quite yet finished. Well as of writing the show notes, the play set is now done! This structure is Baby Hobbit’s birthday present. Our little angel turns 3 years old on Monday!

Town Crier

Store News:

Weekly Store Sale
Free Black – DYE923
Free Ranger Green – DYE312
Free Red – DYE979

CSTM News:

Andang’s Top 10 Changes to PVMP
LEAD Side Day: The Great River
Happy Birthday Merric
- Chippendales Video by Rifflo on our MME Group

Community News:

Raise Your Glass

Rabbitses of Windfola

Heya! This is RABBITSES STARKFOOT THE BOLD of Faramir’s Army on the Windfola Server! I’m just emailing because I would like to know where I can get one of those awesome shirts that Merric is wearing in the picture on his birthday post. I thought I heard you had a store on the site? I cant find it. WOE IS RABBITSES!

Thanks!

PS LOVE THE PODCAST YOU GUYS ROCK.

Hugh L.

I have a question about the landscape soldier. If you dismiss your skirmish soldier does the time keep counting down. For example: if I use the landscape soldier for 1 hour and I had a total of 3 hours, after I dismiss him do I still have 2 hours left?

Megalus of Crickhollow

About an hour ago from the point of starting this message, I had an epiphany while thinking about gaming. Most people will probably roll their eyes when they hear this, but it is a valid point. How is it that a player can report another player for offensive and/or abusive behavior only to come across a rude NPC somewhere down the line and be just fine with an NPC insulting them but not with another player insulting them in the same way. It stands to reason that if a developer is allowed to program an NPC in the Ettenmores to verbally abuse and even go so far as to threaten a player, then how is it that Turbine can punish a player for verbally abusing another player. I understand that if a player goes so far as to threaten physical harm to another player the situation shouldn’t be glossed over, but to program an NPC to ruthlessly de-humanize you every time you right-click on them even if your character isn’t human is hypocritical at the very least. If Saruman was programmed to walk up to your character, spit in its face and call you dirty rotten filth, the player-base would be estatic, but if another player would do the same thing using their character they would get reported. I’m personally sick of hearing those 4 or 5 phrases from the orc NPCs and wish that Turbine would ban the accounts of those quest givers at Dar-Gazag. I just wanted to give you some food for thought.

~MEGALUS, Lvl 56 Runekeeper of Crickhollow

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Contact Us

Visit our blog at www.casualstrolltomordor.com
We welcome your email to podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com or leave us a voicemail at 520-261-CSTM (2786)
We are available to follow on both Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus
Please leave us a review on iTunes or Zune Marketplace and we would really appreciate it!
Listen to us live every Saturday at 9:30 pm Eastern on Middle Earth Network Radio

Recorded March 24, 2012

Episode 133: Decoupaging Second-Agers

podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 01:57:33 +0000

This week we discuss the 6.0.1 patch notes, the re-scheduling of the spring festival and the upcoming Turbine Party at PAX East. Plus developer bites. *chomp chomp chomp*

Goldenstar’s Dum group spent their time this week in Grand Stair. Goldenstar blew hard mode for the group on the first run through but we were able to make the time limit on the second time.

Merric did Lightening and Fire & Ice wings in tier 1 Tower of Orthanc and also attended a skirmish raid this week.

Town Crier

Developer Bites

Store News

CSTM News

Community News

Where to get MMO Soundtracks – BioBreak

Riddles in the Dark

More information on RITD can be found at http://www.mythgard.org/exclusives/riddles-in-the-dark/

How will the trolls’ defeat and subsequent transformation to stone be portrayed on screen?

A. Gandalf will accomplish it as he does in the book, through sheer cleverness
B. It will happen via epic LOTR-style action sequence
C. Gandalf will accomplish it via magic, directly or indirectly
D. The trolls will fall prey to their own stupidity

Raise Your Glass

Eckee, Knights Who Say Ni! Brandywine

Hi,
Just wanted to let you know (in case you wanted to spread the word) that The Knights Who Say Ni! will be hosting a Free Range Chicken Run on April the 7th at 7pm EST on the Brandywine server. Anyone is welcome to come along, but you will need to have completed the 8 location quests beforehand to get the Free Range quest unlocked (if you have the cloak, then you’re ready).
We’ll have a vent server available and an escort or two to help in our journey!
Come along and have some fun.

PS the whole run should take 5-6 hours so be prepared!

Thanks,
Eckee, Knights Who Say Ni! Brandywine

Beldyl/Belloch/Belwynne

I completed your radio survey shortly after you went to the new host (great idea). Just curious if you’ll be sharing some of the information you learned with your audience. I, at least, will find the highlights to be interesting.

Good job, btw. At a time when there is so much stridency in player rhetoric (I think the elections are rubbing off on us) it was really good to see that more than 80% of respondents were “happy”. That’s a pretty high happy figure once you think about it.

Happy Birthday, Goldenstar.

Wineberry of Gladden

Dear Goldenstar and Merric
(my lotro idols),

First off, let me say how much I LOVE your site and podcast!! I have listened to every episode at least twice and you never get old! (on a side note I do kinda miss the “main topic” from the early episodes, it was always my favorite part. Just sayin’.) I am looking for a kinship and while I have been to the forums, the posts seem to mostly be old (like a year or more old). Maybe the age of the post doesn’t mean the kin isn’t still recruiting but I was wondering if, in your extensive wisdom and insight, you might have more recent info. Since between the two of you you know EVERYONE, do you know of any casual kinships on Gladden? I appreciate any advice you can give!

With Great Regard,
Wineberry of Gladden

Davoin of Elendilmir

Hi Merrick and Goldenstar,

I just uploaded my first plugin to LotroInterface and was hoping you would take a look at it and if you like it mention it on your show

The plugin lets you create views into your backpack for different types of items. I use it primarily to work out what items are Junk and I am going to sell at a vendor. This way I don’t need to remember what is useful and what is not, as soon as I make a decision about an item it is remembered by the plugin and available to all alts on the same server.

Adding items is easy. All you need to do is drag an item in and it’s remembered. You can resize, reposition, rename and hide and show windows easily. All this info is saved and remains for the next load.

I made this because I am a serious altaholic. I know your are an altaholic too, and I think it’s also for Inventory challenged hobbits too (in case you know any).

Cheers,

Davoin of Elendilmir

SteveO

Hi There,
Love the show and the blog, can you help?
I am a lazy warden, i admit it!
At lvl 40 or so on Gilrain but have not played him for months.
I just don’t find it fun having to learn what all the different gambits do at given times, which puts me off playing the class and with the changes I am more confused than ever. I used to have “warden ease” plugin running and it was a massive help to me. I take it with the most recent changes this is pretty much useless now. I was wondering if anyone can recommend something that can do a similar job as this plugin after update 6 thanks

Trowa of Imladris

Hi CSTM, I thought I would share some news with you, news that turbine is trying to keep on the down low apparently. I’m doing this with hopes that you will then relay this warning to the community at large. As of the update 6 the loot tables connected with our loot boxes have been broken, or corrupted in some manner. After some heated forum angst, Sapience finally spoke out about it, claiming it was players fault for opening loot boxes earned pre update 6 AFTER update 6. This has been proven wrong and completely out of touch had he read the forum posts. Turbine has no idea what is in fact wrong with the loot tables. They are dropping absolute garbage, wrong leveled pots and food, dyes (again), 1 single LI orc hewer scroll, 1 single mammoth tusk, etc…

This list of loot has been quite humorous since the update actually, however Turbine is still charging people 100 TP for keys to open boxes of vendor trash, despite knowing the system is broken. Most people have no idea this is happening, so I was hoping you could let the community know to hold on to their loot boxes and wait for further information from the devs. If we are no longer buying keys from them they will want to fix the system.

Thanks for your time and keep up the good work,
Trowa of Imladris.

Here is a link to this information on the forum, http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?450214-TURBINE-Did-U6-revert-lootboxes…

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Recorded March 24, 2012

Episode 132: Wish You Had a Wookiee

podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 01:30:00 +0000

This week we discuss Update 6 launching, a new dev diary, upcoming warden fixes, the fashion maven and more!

Goldenstar’s Dum burglar is now level 56. The Dums successfully ran the Forgotten Treasury this week and have started beating up bosses in the Grand Stair. Goldenstar the minstrel visited Draigoch for the very first time and was successful! The kin also went back into Orthanc and we were successful at clearing the lightening and acid wings!

Merric ran Fangorng and Dragnakh Unleashed. He mastered Westfold Metalsmith. He now has a ful Draigoch set except for the helm but he now has an Orthanc helm so he doesn’t care. Bryandt was nice enough to make him a new pocket item this week.

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Zach

Hi, Guys … I’m not sure if you heard about this, and I don’t feel right being the one to pass you the info, but I will, because I think it’s something the community should know. Of course, I don’t know if you actually want to write about this — it may not be fitting for the blog — but I’ll leave that to you.

A little over a year ago, Nidor of Brandywine was diagnosed with cancer, and just a few days ago, he passed away (which has been confirmed by several members of the Brandywine community)

This is Bruce’s (Nidor’s) original thread: http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?388542-Three-Words

We have a couple things planned: on 3/21, at 10 PM server time, there will be a memorial service in the Moors on Brandywine. More details can be found here: http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?449401-Nidor-Memorial-21-3-Nidor-Rock

Also, before he passed, Bruce wanted his friends to eat ice cream for breakfast, to “remember that there are worse things out there.” We are also observing that on the 21st, which marks the 1 year diagnosis of his cancer. More information can be found here: http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?446056-March-21st-Ice-Cream-for-Breakfast

Bruce was very well respected by the LotRO community, and I haven’t heard a bad thing said about him — which I suppose is rather rare for a PvPer! — I just thought I’d take the opportunity to allow the community to join us.

Duncan Feldane

Hi Goldenstar & Merric,

Just a reminder to all: uninstall Pando Media Booster and general bandwidth hog!
I think it was installed with Rise of Isengard. I remember reading that it uses resources, but forgot it.

Recently noticed my computer was painfully slow, uninstalled, and what an amazing difference!

—Duncan Feldane

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Recorded March 17, 2012

Episode 131: Birthday Princess

podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 02:20:22 +0000

This week we discuss the five new developer diaries released this week, update 6’s imminent launch, information on the music for Riders of Rohan, playing LOTRO with a browser and more!

This episode was recorded on Goldenstar’s birthday! Goldenstar developed tonsillitis and missed playing with her Dums this week.

Merric has been dealing with a sinus infection. He did run several dungeons, skirmish raids and Orthanc.

Both made some creeps on Imladris and Andang was nice enough to run them around and show their noob monsters the sites. On Friday they attended a kinship raid to Orthanc Steamworks where they were very close to beating the big ugly shocky troll!

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Official News

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Weekly Store Sale

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Community News

Merric joins Shipwreck in the latest edition of Beneath Your Feet

Riddles in the Dark

More information on RITD can be found at http://www.mythgard.org/exclusives/riddles-in-the-dark/

How will Thorin end up in the Elvenking’s dungeon?

A. Just as in the book: he will be taken by the elves prior to the spider conflict.
B. He will be captured with the rest of them, after the spider fight — they won’t be separated.
C. Neither of the above.

Raise Your Glass

Rose Maya:

I don’t know how it happened but as I logged in last week, and today March 9th, my character is still in Winter home, with all quests and NPC active. I have the screenshots to prove it…

Furism:

Hi there,

I just wanted to tell you (all of the contributors) that I find your website is the best LotRO news source. Whenever there’s a news, you provide insight, which is more than any other website. I’ll make a $10 donation soon (this is a big deal because in France this is not as usual as in the US , different cultures!)

As a side note, I’m the owner of www.wowbash.com and wanted to let you know that I’ll be updating the site soon to support multiple MMOs, including LotRO. Start saving images to upload there, please

Best regards,

Arnaud

Kazren:

Hi, Goldenstar,

The more I play, the more I notice the strange things that happen.

Mounts:

Big Goats have reigns, horses do not.

Humans and Elves bounce in the saddle: pony and small goat riders don’t have that problem, it’s their mounts that have it.

Terrain

Hunters can start campfires in very strange places (like above their own heads)

Animals in Middle Earth have issues with slanted terrain

People:

Halbarad fades in every time you visit him in Esteldin

Several beings and beasts suddenly fade into existence as you’re almost upon them or passing them

I bet you could collect lots more of these strange things.

Kazren

Bryan:

I wish you a very Happy and wonderful birthday! Have fun with Merric, baby hobbit and you family.

My wife is celebrating her birthday today and our youngest hobbit turns 3 on Monday

-Bryan

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Visit our blog at www.casualstrolltomordor.com
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Recorded March 10, 2012

Episode 130: Spectacular Death

podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 06:30:00 +0000

This week we talk about Update 6, Bullroarer, Premium Wallet, dev diaries, new store payment options and more!

Goldenstar this week now has both a master westfold jeweler and scholar. The Dums have finished volume 1 and attempted the Forgotten Treasury. Goldenstar has done some level 75 dungeons this week!! The 3-man Dargnakh Unleashed with Merric and Bryandt’s burglar. The Council of the Secret Fire was nice enough to allow Goldenstar to attempt to heal them while they entered Orthanc Steamworks.

In addition to the Dargnakh Unleashed and Orthanc, Merric ran the Foundry.

Town Crier

Bullroarer is Open: Update 6 Patch Notes
- Premium Wallet
Update 6 Screenshots
Dev Diary: The Great River
Dev Diary: Warg
A Developer Diary for the changes to the Instance finder is coming as is one for the RK
Official Class Update and Feedback
RK Bullroarer Thread

Store News

CSTM News

Community News

Raise Your Glass

Pounce

I just wanted to thank you guys for everything you do. I’ve truly come to appreciate it recently since my computer broke(no chance to be fixed) and you guys are my only link to LOTRO, it isn’t so bad but my poor kin and tribe (LMB of Landy and Pouncing pwnys) have no idea what happened, hopefully I’ll have enough by RoR for a new computer. Again, thank you, your podcast and app mean a lot!

Samdan(LMB) and Pounceclaw

Elthatlion

Dear Goldenstar and Merric,

Today marks the 2ND anniversary of my LOTRO account, however I still have never gotten a character to a mere level 45! I have just started a new RK yesterday and gotten to 25 today, hopefully that means might get far wish me luck!

Your great fan,

Elthatlion Similmuare, Kinsman of the Sons of Numenor, on Landroval.

Galactic Cactus

Hello Merric or Goldenstar or whoever I’m contacting,

Now I’m sure you must get these e-mails a lot, but I was wondering if you could give my YouTube Channel’s LOTRO Let’s Play a look. It’s not that great, but we are just starting as a Let’s Play group. If you do, for some odd reason, really like them, we would not be totally set against you sharing it with everyone you know! Haha, I make jokes, anyway thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to read this e-mail. I hope your week is filled with rare drops and lottery wins (maybe a horse for Merric, because, as of late, he doesn’t seem too lucky).

Sincerely,

Joseph of the GalactiCacti Team

P.S. – Here is a link to our LOTRO Playlist. http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8824DD44ABFD5602

P.P.S. – Please give everyone on the CSTM Team a hearty hello for us.

Abe

I have been playing lotro for a little over 3 weeks now and love the game. I lestened to all your round tables and follow your podcast. It has all been very helpful, thanks. I play a warden named Mesron on rhe vilya server. He is a member of The Captains of Middle Earth. I am level 49, finished the class quests that you get at 39 and 45, and have been adventuring in Moria since level 45. I love the warden. The gambit system is great and after awhile, it becomes second nature to you.

Soldanella of Eldar.

Merric’s game crashing problem was probably due to error in titanbar/hugebag “wallet” bug that was fixed this weekend. Just update your addons and enjoy playing again with your favorite plugins

Ethelros

Hey, never sent an e-mail to you guys before but I found some stuff on the LOTRO site that I found rather interesting.

I’m not sure if anyone else has seen them and just hasn’t felt the need to comment, but I thought I’d get the word out either way.

Here’s the link: http://www.lotro.com/lotro-media/concept-art/1781-update-6-wallpapers

Rather pretty if I say so myself.

Roselindea

HI Goldenstar and Merric. I’m hoping you can answer a quick quesiton. I’ve really enjoyed Pineleaf’s Spear and Skirmish blog and skirmish guides. I can’t seem to find any recent skirmish information from him. His blog link has disappeared from your blogroll. Is Pineleaf still reporting for CSTM? More skirmish stuff would be AWESOME.

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Visit our blog at www.casualstrolltomordor.com
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Recorded March 3, 2012

Episode 129: Captain Roundtable 2012

podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 01:30:00 +0000

The Captain Roundtable was recorded on February 19, 2012. This episode is with special guest Captains:

Elborigorn of Elendilmir
Ketani of Elendilmir
Phenyhelm of Landroval
Imperius of Landroval

Similar to our past roundtable discussions, this is a lengthy episode but it is full of Captain information. We discuss soloing, grouping, skirmishes, skills, traiting, legendary items and much more!

There’s plenty of information here on what a Captain in Lord of the Rings Online does. There’s great tips for new and experienced players alike!

Some helpful links for this episode:

Unfortunately the only format this is available in is audio. We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause some of you who would prefer to read.

Interested in joining a future class roundtable? Find out how here.

Episode 128: Wheel of Fish

podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 02:30:00 +0000

This week we discuss the dev diaries released this week about audacity and weavers. We both participated in the Treasury Hunt and discuss that. Information on upcoming RK changes, updates coming to Icy Crevasse and more!

Goldenstar this week ran the Sarnur area with the Dums collecting Thorin’s Hall reputation items. Other than that, she’s been playing around in the Treasure Hunt.

Merric leveled a bit on his hunter and also been playing around in the Treasure Hunt. He also apologizes to Ivaneus of Through the Palantir for missing the roundtable!

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Official News

Store News

CSTM News

iOS App Ventrilode
How to be a Monster Day 5
LOTRO Plugin Compendium
Winners of the “I am a Rockstar Contest”. Special thank you to Thaladus for his donation of Turbine Points for this contest!
- Emmilia of Laurelin = 2,500 TP
- Varia of Riddermark = 1,550 TP
- All Videos Have Been Uploaded to YouTube

Community News

The Khazad Guard wants more beards!

Riddles in the Dark

Prediction of the Week: will the filmmakers conflate (combine) the Battle of Azanulbizar with the Battle of Five Armies?

(A) No, not at all, they will be depicted completely separately.

(B) Yes, partially. They’ll retain the idea of the Battle of Azanulbizar but some elements will be incorporated into the Battle of Five Armies.

(C) Yes. The Battle of Azanulbizar will be completely removed and whatever elements appear on-screen will do so in the Battle of Five Armies.

Listen to Professor Corey Olsen and Dave Kale discuss this question in episode 3 of Riddles in the Dark.

Raise Your Glass

William

You mentioned in a recent ?December? (I’m behind) podcast about finding quest sequences in Dunland…

Over at lotro-wiki.com in working the ROI update, I developed a series of “gating” references (quest sequences) for the various areas in Dunland.

Start with either Trum Dreng or Bonevales

See: http://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Trum_Dreng
See: http://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Bonevales for a start…

You can then pick the particular area you where want to find quests from the Navigation bar at the bottom.

Hmmm… just noticed we haven’t finished the listings….

See: the Projects section of my page:
http://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/User:Magill#Projects

The quest sequences are “gated” — certain quests are not available “out of sequence.”

Mike

On some of the skirmish primers, especially Battle for 21st Hall, I am getting a ’404 Page not found’ error when I try to open up the PDF file. Any ideas why this might be happening? Thanks for the great site!

Jennifer

I am a relatively new gamer, cutting my teeth for a few months on DDO before moving to LOTRO (which I have been playing for about a year). I am a Tolkien fan, so LOTRO was a logical move for me. I play with DH and BIL and we have a regular weekly game night.

DH has played many RPGs throughout the years, and BIL actively maintains several WoW characters on several servers.

Being new to online RPGs, I only discovered plugins just before update 5. I’m looking for a plug in that will help me streamline questing. I’m hoping to find something that will help me organize my questing by location. Perhaps something that will remind me that I am near a quest action location (ie not merely where it is given or completed, but also fulfilled) so that as I am headed from one location to another, I can complete quests along the way. I’m told that there is at least one WoW plugin (or feature) like this. Can you help me?

http://www.lotrointerface.com/downloads/info663-LOTROPluginCompendium.html

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Visit our blog at www.casualstrolltomordor.com
We welcome your email to podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com or leave us a voicemail at 520-261-CSTM (2786)
We are available to follow on both Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus
Please leave us a review on iTunes or Zune Marketplace and we would really appreciate it!
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Recorded February 25, 2012

Episode 127: A-Merric-A

podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 02:30:00 +0000

This week we talk about a new developer diary on commendations, discuss the update 5.2 patch and buried treasure event, and talk about the announced update 6 known goodies.

This podcast was recorded earlier in the day as we spent the evening at a Lord of the Rings Concert performance! For the record, it was amazing!

This week Goldenstar’s Dum Group is getting very close to the end of Volume 1. We did extra solo stuff together to prevent having homework this week. Goldenstar also reset her skirmish points using the skirmish mark tip from a few weeks ago. She also spent a lot of time in the new Buried Treasure event early this week. In horse news, she got 2 new mounts this week. A Treasure-laden pony in the treasure-hunt and a Steed of Bright Days in the lottery.

Merric did very very little in the treasure-hunt. In fact, he did two rounds on Wednesday morning and then the event shut down. He raided Draigoch and had the beast bug out again but at least it was a new bug. He has started leveling his hunter.

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Geoff

Dear Adult Hobbits,

Thror’s death and what happened after actually make for a pretty cool story. I don’t know if they’ll have time for any of it in “The Hobbit,” but it’d be cool if they did.

Thror was indeed the King Under the Mountain when Smaug attacked and drove the dwarves out. He escaped and took his son Thrain (rhymes with “fine”) and grandson Thorin with him. As you know, they first settled in Thror’s Coomb and then in Ered Luin (the Blue Mountains). Thror helped his people survive, but when he got very old, he decided he couldn’t take being poor any longer and wanted to be king of something again. He was perhaps a little addled in the head, partially due to being old and partially due to being a dwarf. Thror tried to go into Moria, to see if he could find a bit of old dwarf-treasure, and his friend Nar waited outside. Thror’s body was thrown down the steps of Moria several days later, and his head came out after, with the name AZOG written on it. They also tossed out a sack filled with copper coins, basically to add insult to injury.

When the news came to Thror’s son Thrain, he simply sat in silence for several days before standing up and declaring “This cannot be borne.” So he called together all the Dwarven clans from all over Middle-earth (not just the Longbeards, but ALL the clans) and for the next several years they kicked the everlovin’ bejeezus out of all the Orcs and Goblins they could find, up and down the Misty Mountains. The war came to an end at the Battle of Azanulbizar (for Goldenstar “Az-uh-NOOL-biz-ar”), which was so epic that dwarves shudder whenever anyone mentions it. Azanulbizar is the place in the game just east of Moria with the big lake. Thorin got the name “Oakenshield” in that battle because his real shield was split in two, and he just picked up an oak branch and kept on fighting. Azog was finally killed by Dain (also rhymes with “fine”) Ironfoot.

This is important to “The Hobbit” because it’s Azog’s son Bolg that leads the orcs in the Battle of Five Armies at the end of “The Hobbit.” Dain Ironfoot also shows up at that battle.

I think Mazog in the game is Bolg’s son and Azog’s grandson.

After the battle, the dwarves thought about going into Moria. Dain Ironfoot, however, took one look inside the door and decided that was a bad idea. So the battle ended with Thorin and Dain becoming heroes of war, and Thrain becoming the king. As a parting gesture to the orcs, they cut off Azog’s head and stuck it on a pike, with the sack of copper coins in its mouth.

That is revenge. Dwarf style.

I hope this clears things up for you and you’ll be better equipped when you talk to the Tolkien Professor!

Geoff

Hess

Hey guy’s its Hess of Dirty Deedz from Elendilmir and I just wanted to let you guys know how awesome your guy’s podcast is! I am near to getting my 6 alts to level 75 among other things in game and the best way to pass the time while doing the same quests for the 7th time through is to listen to you guys, keep up the good work!
CHEERS!

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Recorded February 18, 2012

Episode 126: Human-sized Shoulder Armour

podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:30:31 +0000

This week we have information on Wargs in Update 6, lootboxes, fashion week and the new Buried Treasure Event!

Goldenstar this week spent a lot of time this week doing some housekeeping on her level 75 minstrel cleaning up her vault, removing duplicates from her wardrobe and setting up her new gear and legendary items.

Dum Group update: we ran another battle-skirmish in Angmar. Success! Then we ran around doing very dum things in Moria.

Merric ran the Pits of Isengard 3-man instance and had some confusion about the number of bosses there were to fight. He also had his first successful experience with Draigoch on tier 2! He won shoulder pieces and had enough medallions for boots as well. Also a short story about how gullible Merric is and how little we know about raid gear.

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Official News

Update 6 Warg Changes – Read more about Warg stuff and things from Mr. Warg!
New Phone Hours
Lootboxes and Store Only Items
Fashion Week
Dev Diary: Buried Treasure Events

Store News

Weekly Sale

CSTM News

Server Move to Middle-earth Network
Vraeden’s Guide to making a Ton of (Fake) Money
How to be a Monster
Final week of “I am a Rockstar” video contest! Entries must be in by February 17th
Will be different time next week as we will be at a concert next Saturday.

Community News

Riddles in the Dark

Riddles in the Dark is a new bi-weekly podcast series by Dr. Corey Olsen (The Tolkien Professor) and David Kale. Discussion will focus on the themes, characters, and events of Middle-earth and lay the groundwork for intelligent speculation about how the book may be translated to film. Each episode will culminate in the hosts making a specific prediction about the upcoming films, to be proven or disproven when the films are finally released.

Merric and Goldenstar have been asked to join in the hypothesis by sharing our thoughts on the topics.

More information on RITD can be found at http://www.mythgard.org/exclusives/riddles-in-the-dark/

Mithril Edition Giveaway

Couple of weeks ago I contacted you about transferring lotro to my laptop. Thanks to the collective knowledge of the cstm community I have it up and running, smoother than the desktop one runs as well.

So as a small thanks I’d like to give you a mithril edition code, bit odd that EU has it already but stranger things have happened in the world of turbine.

Only the one code in the box so it looks like the TP’s, mount and path of fellowship quest packs are all tied into the one. As most info came from the chat room feel free to throw it out to someone at random or make a competition for a week. However you want to pass it on I’ll leave up to yourselves. I’ll try and be awake enough to be around for the live show but am confident that I’ve not mistyped the code.

Thanks again for the help,

Andy

Congratulations to Adam from our chat room for winning this code!

Raise Your Glass

Damsadan

Dear Merric,

I’ve been using CSTM for over a year now and have been a somewhat silent reader. I enjoy all of your round tables and podcasts very much. One of your writers, Andang, peaked my intrest in the topic of monster play so much so that I wanted to be on a round table for monster play whenever that chance may come. Andang told me I had to prove I knew the most about what I wanted to talk about for me it is monster play. I was wondering since I’m new to being on a round table If you could perhaps reply with some suggestions for questions. All in all I hope you continue your blog and podcasts for the sake of LoTRO. I know you have a life out side this game and blog so I understand if you can’t reply.

Sincerely,

Damsadan

Ravenric

Hi Merric and Goldenstar

Got my first iOS device two weeks ago. One of the first things I wanted to try was tuning in to Middle-earth Network Radio. Worked perfect on the TuneIn app. I found out there was an option to schedule a recording, so I wanted to try to record your livepodcast. Next morning I listened to the recording and found it useless. The podcast played in double tempo – funny at first – sounds like chip & chap – but useless. Last week I was playing Lotro VERY late (in Europe its 3:30 AM when your show launches). Everything seemed fine on the TuneIn app on iPad – music on Middle-earth Network Radio was nice … and then your show started – double-tempo again arrrgh!!! I swiched to iTunes and listened to the show.

I just want you to know there may be a problem with the format, when sending through Tunein. I don’t know if you can do anything?

Love your blog and podcast. And Merric I really find your plugin reviews very helpfull.

Ravenric Warden of The Western Shore on Withywindle

Aaron

I found myself confronted this cold English afternoon, with an issue with the CSTM Ipod app. As I had been distracted for a large portion of week, I hadn’t noticed this issue before hand, nor had I had the opportunity to listen to last Saturday’s Podecast. But when I came to listen to the podecast, it was not possible! The link took me to a page with a small description of the episode, but it had no visible way of accessing the podecast. I attempted to access other past podecasts, but they also were not working. I can’t seem to find out why this has just occurred.

Wishing you all well

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Contact Us

Visit our blog at www.casualstrolltomordor.com
We welcome your email to podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com or leave us a voicemail at 520-261-CSTM (2786)
We are available to follow on both Twitter and Facebook
Please leave us a review on iTunes or Zune Marketplace and we would really appreciate it!
Listen to us live every Saturday at 9:30 pm Eastern on Middle Earth Network Radio

Recorded February 11, 2012

Episode 125: Seventy-four-and-a-half

podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:19:53 +0000

This week we talk about Update 6 Warden information, Riders of Rohan Mounted Combat, Bullroarer and more!

This week Goldenstar’s Monday Dum Group is finishing up Volume 1 quests (hopefully now done in Forochel). She did extra credit so her burglar followed along and got some reputation items for the hated lossoth. In other news, Goldenstar the minstrel is level 74.5! Actually she’s now level 75 but during the broadcast she was not quite there.

Merric didn’t do much this week. Going through the Isengard quests and has found Quickbeam’s quests.

Town Crier

Warden Update 6 Information
- Part 2
- Part 3
Information on Mounted Combat
Bullroarer Loaded with Update 5.2
- Relics not included in current build
Lotteries Updated

Store News

CSTM News

“I am a Rockstar” Video Contest
Skirmish Refund Tip
New Writer Andang: Riders of Rohan – A Monster’s Perspective

Raise Your Glass

Roselindea

After the changes to skirmish rewards in Rise of Isengard, many of us are confused. While it is simpler in terms of only three types of barter bits (marks, medallions, and seals) it is confusing because the daily reward are gone, the campaign marks are gone, and there are additional confusions with using the instance finder. Is it possible to get a rundown on the new skirmish rewards? In particular: what rewards do you get for running at various group sizes? Many of my kinnies are either solo or small group oriented and are trying to find methods to collect medallions and seals…can skirmishes help? Thanks!

Roselindea

[rose] {LIN] [dee] [ah]

OR call me “ROSE”

Response to Rose from Elborigorn

Skirmish Rewards:

-Rewards that used to exist in the form of the skirmish daily request are now spread through out the entirety of the skirmish. By doing this, Turbine eliminated the “penalty” of receiving less rewards for running the same skirmish more than once a day.

-Old campaign marks and other barter rewards were replaced by Medallion rewards on encounter monsters and a random chance of mark rewards on Lieutenants

-Raid-sized skirmishes still have a weekly quest that works the same way it did previously except that now instead of 3 superior 4th marks, you get 6 seals (also if you’ve already done the quest for a particulay raid in that week you’ll be inelgible for loot drops from that skirm until it resets on thursday).

-Other than getting seals once per skirm per week at the raid size, the medallion rewards for skirms are more or less the same at all sizes (and quite low at that)

-Skirmishes are designed as the primary way to get the “mark” type currency and are therefore quite low on medallions and seals.

The best way to get medallions and seals, especially for people who are small-group oriented, is to run the new Isengard instances:

These isengard instances have twice weekly resets on the quests that grant seals: Resets take place on Monday and Thursday mornings.

3-mans: (14 seals each if done on T2 Challenge)

Fangorn’s Edge
Pits Isengard
Dargnakh Unleashed

6-man: (25 seals for t2 Challenge)

Foundry

Other scalable 3 and 6 man content such as School/library, GB and Annuminas are great for medallions. GB and Annuminas will also grant 1 seal per challenge success (daily cooldown).

Zeke Iddon

Hey mate,

How’s it going? I’m just getting in touch for a couple of reasons.

First up, while I admittedly only visit the site once in a while, I’m a fan of A Casual Stroll to Mordor and wanted to send out an email high-five. It’s very obvious that a lot of work has gone into it, and I’m sure I’m not the first to say that I hope your services to the gaming community continue long into the future.

Secondly, I wanted to raise awareness to a fun charity drive I’ve recently launched. Iron Man Mode is a comedy gaming blog in which a bunch of us blog about playing stuff like Minecraft, Syndicate, EVE etc. with only one life – once we’re dead, the blog and game is over completely. It’s more for fun than anything, but we’re also using it to raise money for the Child’s Play Charity; details here:

www.ironmanmode.com/donate

Yours in Awesomeness,
Zeke Iddon

p.s: I’m kinda new to the whole Twitter thing. If you’d like to follow the site’s official Twitter you can do so @IronManMode. I’ll be sure return the favour in the spirit of networking.

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Episode 124: You Better Wait!

podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 02:30:00 +0000

This week we talk about the new expansion Riders of Rohan coming Fall 2012 and the news of what is coming with Update 6.

Goldenstar is still struggling her way through Rise of Isengard. She is very disappointed that despite effort on her part she’s still level 72.

Goldenstar’s Dum group this week went into Anuminas and finished off with a Thievery and Mischief Skirmish. Yay for big pink monsters!

Merric is working on more quests in Isengard, ran a skirmish with Moondog and Bryandt and then had his first chance to tank Draigoch!

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Dougal

Comments: Hi folks,

I know that the news on LOTRO at present is a tad on the slow side, but thought I would direct you to this little gem that was pointed out to me the other day. It’s a tad old but it’s so worth the read..

http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?283276-3-things-a-champion-would-like-…..

I don’t know if you can use it in the show or not but either way-

Enjoy!

D

Tommy

Greetings,

First of all, this is a fantastic blog, good job all!

I’m just wondering, if there’s any chance to have a post about interface skins (not just plugins), of course about the updated ones since RoI. Some of them worth mentioning.

Thanks

Andy

Dear GS, M and BH,

I’ve been working on getting a woodburning stove fitted into my bedroom instead of the old fireplace that came with my cottage and managed to drop the thing on my foot when lifting it up the step and through the front door. Should any other cstm listeners ever do the same tell them to wear decent foot protection as should you drop it on your foot IT HURTS.

How does that apply to lotro you wonder. Well it basically means that I have to rest my foot while it heals and so I was looking into putting lotro onto my laptop. This could allow me to play with foot up and have the option of playing through the tv as well.

ToR was copy pasted across from PC to laptop and I know you can do the same thing with WoW however with lotro it seems as though I cant get a working copy that way.

The laptop copy coming from my pc which will date back to codemasters which may be a source of issues being a mere eu copy. My problem seems to be missing dll files but its a different one each time.

And so my questions to yourselves, and other cstm founts of knowledge, is this.

Is there a simple way to copy paste a working copy of lotro from one machine to another?

And if there isnt an easy way is there a way of getting the client without afflicting my laptop with the pando tripe that turbine insists on using.

Fileplant does have something BUT I’d much rather not download something for hours when in theory I have the files already to hand which by the dates is more up to date. I also have hard copy of MoM but would be little more than a toe in the door, broken or otherwise.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

Andy

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Episode 123: I’m Awesome with Ketani

podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:52:24 +0000

This week we talk a lot more about the store armor, point to some articles on the big gaming sites, talk about Update 5.1 and more!

Goldenstar made it to level 72! Woo! And then promptly left Isengard to return to the Yule Festival. The Dum group is working on epics some more and picked up a sixth to run some skirmishes.

Merric ran some instances with Ara and Bryandt and talks about his experiences with the instance finder tool. He then ran some more quests in Nan Curunir for faction.

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BorisdBlade

Hello Merric and Goldenstar,

My player achievement is that I can now craft wooden kegs of ale! I’ve already made 20 and given them to kin members as celebration gifts. The screenshot is one of my kegs standing tall in the kin house. No one will have to be teleported by the Inn League Keg again! Now we can sit and drink in the comfort of the house. How many kegs do you have in your house? Did you know you could craft those Goldenstar?

BorisdBlade
-Thaladus, 23 Minstrel, Guardians of Middle Earth, Brandywine (alt going to main)

Sadorhael

Hi, Goldenstar and Merric!

I have some questions regarding stats, and I wondered if you maybe would like to do a round table on character stats around level 75? How much Finesse, Physical mitigation and Crit avoidance does an Elf hunter lvl 75 need for open world play, instances, raiding, the Ettenmoors, etc. I’m having a hard time choosing the best gear and my vault, house chests, shared storage and wardrobe is getting full…

Any good tips?

Sincerely,
Sadorhael of Lothlorien,
on Silverlode

Elborigorn’s Response:

Finesse: 4500-5000 Finesse is ample for any class in any situation. That amount of finesse reduces the Block, Parry, Evade and Resist of most mobs to nil (or so my experiences on combat analysis would have me believe.) a few mobs will still retain a litte bit of BPE and resist but it’s fairly minimal.

Physical Mitigation: In general, this should be a non-focus for a hunter. In PvP and possibly some of the tougher Raid encounters where taking damage is unavoidable you might wish to stack a bit of this, but even still, as a non-tanking, non-melee class this should generally be far from your mind.

Critical Avoidance: Same deal as Physical Mitigation. This should be far from your mind and even in situations where you might pay it a little mind it should still be taking a backseat to other stats more primary to hunters, this is another tanking stat.

As a hunter you really want to focus on Agility (damage, parry and evade) and vitality (morale as well as small amounts of both tactical and physical mitigation) while maintaining finesse of around 4500-5000 (more is not a bad thing if you don’t need to sacrifice anything major for it, but beyond this suggested mark the benefits are considerably less).
As for your space issues, in order to truly optimize for different scenarios, the hard fact is that you’ll want to keep several sets of things. but if you’re going for a decent middle of the road kind of build: shoot for 7000-7500 morale before any buffs and then pack as much agility into that build as is possible.

-Elb

Kazren

Hi, Goldenstar,

Thank you for the notice about the new horse at the Yule festival. When you go up to the farm, he’s still not on display, you just have to speak to the man who will barter and he shows up in the list. My Guardian had been saving up festival tokens and horse tokens for next year, but he went and spent some on the lovely new horse, so now he has all three.

I’m working on the Ale Assoc. Goat for him next. I didn’t realize, until I read your pages, that there were other ways to get rep and to get those Ale Assoc badges, other than doing the Bree pub crawl! I’ll try the whole run tonight. I figure with the bonus to rep, he can earn about 12,600 Rep points per day if he accomplishes all the daily quests (not including all the ride around forever delivering ale ones).

I’m also listening to the roundtable on Lore-Masters and I was inspired to start one of those, which I did this morning. If I can level him quick enough, he’ll get a festival mount, too!

Thanks to you and Merric for all the wonderful and much-needed information CSTM provides,

Kazren

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Visit our blog at www.casualstrolltomordor.com
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Episode 122: In Your Earholes

podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:30:00 +0000

This week we discuss warden and minstrel teasers, armour coming to the LOTRO Store and more!

Goldenstar has been playing with her Monday Dum group. We are working on Volume I epics and also ran a Trouble in Tuckborough skirmish. Tried playing Goldenstar a bit more but still is only 71 so far.

Merric played some Isengard trying to build Theodred’s Rider faction and complete the questing deed in Nan Curunir. Next week he plans to join a weekly dungeon group.

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Kazren

Hello Merric & Goldenstar,

Last Saturday morning I rolled up my first Guardian, Tolkyyn on Elendilmir. He is already level 32 (and I have a full time job, so I’m not playing during the weekdays until evening). I’ve listened to the Guardian Roundtable and Merric lamented how slowly they level up. This is the fastest character I’ve ever seen when it comes to leveling. He’s also up to Artisan as a prospector and nearly Artisan as a metalsmith, so he’s got a hefty wallet to boot. I lament the fact he can’t tan hides, because his side job is tailor and he really can’t do anything without that skill, but he makes himself some nifty armor.

I have to say, I’ve got a lvl 75 hunter, a lvl 38 Rune Keeper and Champion, and they’re all enjoyable, but the Guardian has them beat hands down as far as fun goes. He just whacks and sacks and moves on. My fragile hunter had to plan every step carefully, lay out traps, and hope they dropped before hitting him too hard, but not my Guardian. He rocks.

Thanks so much for the roundtables. I’ve listened to the ones for all my current classes and I have one suggestion. All the panelists basically focus on end-game gear and legendary traits, but that doesn’t help the early to mid-life characters who have no legendary belts or weapons. Maybe you can consider to planels on each class that focuses on how the characters can do their best at the early to mid-levels.

One more thing, I am totally baffled about the Guardian’s “acorn.” What is that? Were you all joking, or is it something that is real?

Thanks again for your wonderful podcasts and website,

Kazren

Grinili

Hi Guys

I was just wondering if either of you know what happened to liquid lotro? I had enjoyed listening to them however they seem to have stopped abruptly. Their twitter has not been used for some months and their website is gone.

Thanks
Grinili

Xhell

Hey metric and goldenstar I thought I’d be really cool if u would either have a roundtable about the moors or just a little bit of ur podcast be about it.

Thanks
xhell

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Visit our blog at www.casualstrolltomordor.com
We welcome your email to podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com or leave us a voicemail at 520-261-CSTM (2786)
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Episode 121: Poop Icing

podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 02:30:00 +0000

There is very little LOTRO news to report this week but we shared what we could and then talked for 40 minutes about stuff.

This week Goldenstar’s burglar is working on epics, Annuminas and had a bad run of one of the Angmar battle instances.

Merric has been using Goldenstar’s jeweler to craft gear for himself. He also attended another kin run of Draigoch and unfortunately the monster bugged out before they could complete.

We picked up SWTOR this week and fiddling around in space.

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Xhell

Hey Merric and Goldenstar, im a new listener and im really enjoying the podcasts! i heard at the end of all your podcasts you read these emails, so i thought id give it a shot. i have 2 lvl 75s and hunter and champion in the firefoot, my champ is my favorite (because of the sweet bubbles and crazy DPS) and i lvld my hunter just to pewpew in the moors. im currently in high school and play Lacrosse for the school team but lotro is still a passion of mine. although i cant play as much as i used to, i recently started playing again because my best friend deleted his characters (75 warden and 75 burg) but he decided to re-role, and i thought id help him. my friend and i have been lvling together for 3 days now and we are both lvl 29 burgs. Also my little brother plays he is a lvl 50 hunter and once me and my friend get to 50 all three of us will lvl together. its been ALOT of fun so far.

Thank you for all you do,

Xhell

Williamsoon

Hello Goldenstar and Merric,

I am an avid listener of your podcast. A few days ago I was level 69 and was trying to get myself to 75 just so I could say I did it. Dunland has been proven quite the challenge. Even more so that I am a squishy hunter. I was having trouble killing a boss, when I saw you near me. I instantly recognized your name and who you were but I didn’t want to act like a huge crazy fan. I thought you could rez me, so I asked. And then something happened with that boss that I’m not sure should of. I saw you were having trouble so I came back and tried to help you. I am also sorry if my comment seemed rude. I was a little unsure of what to say to you and didn’t want to leave you with a bad impression. Again I am deeply sorry for what happened. And I guess am I am a bit of an idiot.

I wish you nothing but luck in the future getting through isengard, good luck:

Williamsoon
Hunter: Landroval

Borisdblade

Helloooooooo Goldenstar and Merric!

I thought I would put my $80 worth into telling you about my experience with the Legendary edition of the Rise of Isengard digital download. I got back into Lotro last month, so I thought I would check up on the happenings of CSTM. Sadly, Itunes only has the 2011 episodes. I miss the old episodes where you guys first started and baby Hobbit let the world know she was there too on the first podcast. I have a new baby Hobbit myself, Penelope. (waits for goldenstar to quit “awww”ing).

So here’s my story about how I spent $80 on a $50 digital download. I had points left over from my first subscription, and taking advantage of the excellent 25% everything code, I bought the Mines of Moria expansion for 1800 points. Good deal I thought. But that doesn’t give me a month of VIP I realized later. That would get me level 60, still plenty of content for a “near free” cost.

I couldn’t get the wife to sign off on the $100 year subscription. I pointed out that we used to play that plus half again for 1 month of cable TV. She just shrugged it off. And living without cable TV can be done, and it is great! I poked around the Lotro community site for a few more days and found the Mithril Edition pre-order. I looked at what it offered and it was a good deal I thought. Then I found the Legendary RoI offers. I compared the two and the Legendary seemed the better deal.

Using in-store pricing, I built up my defenses against the “Wife Shrug of Destruction”. I gave her the spread sheet of the comparisons from the website, wrote down what that would cost to get ala’ carte. She’s a numbers girl and my maths were flawless. Like I did any real work into it. She said “Ok, go get your game.”

I order the digital download this morning, but….there’s a catch. You have to have a subscription to apply the code. So, I ended up renewing my VIP for $10/month, again. Merric, how do you break the “Honey, um guess what I spent.” news to Goldenstar? And are chocolates a good defense against losing limbs?

Thanks for the show and all the good works you’re doing!
-Borisdblade-> 33 Hunter, Guardians of Middle Earth initiate, Brandywine

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Visit our blog at www.casualstrolltomordor.com
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We are available to follow on both Twitter and Facebook
Please leave us a review on iTunes or Zune Marketplace and we would really appreciate it!
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Recorded January 7, 2011

Episode 120: Happy New Year 2011

podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 02:30:00 +0000

Happy 2012! This episode was recorded on New Years Eve a couple hours before the Eastern Time Zone said good bye to 2011.

Goldenstar finished Barad Gularan with her Monday night Dum group. She’s completed her Dum Time homework so next week we can do more of Volume 1 together. Goldenstar got her Minstrel to level 70 and then all of a sudden has a horrible time killing things. Her minstrel also finished Volume 2.

Goldenstar’s rage was calmed only by Bywater Brewing Company’s Old Withywindle. Thanks Law!

Merric got his character to level 75 and was able to go on a Kinship run of Draigoch (12-man).

Town Crier

New Official Player Guides?
Yule Festival End Date Confusion – Web site says January 30th.
LOTRO listed in G4TV’s best F2P games of 2011
Housing Inspector this weekend

Store News

Final Winter Special
25% off Coupon Code
Weekly Store Sales
Double Bonus Points extended to January 2nd
Fleet-Footed Goat leaves the Store January 5th

CSTM News

Community News

Raise Your Glass

Bryandt

Greetings Goldenstar and Merric (who doesn’t remember me. )

Last week, I suggested that to fill both the Damage and Heal role for Instance Finder a Minstrel could use the Protector of Song traitline. I promised you an email explaining why so, bear with me.

When you trait Protector of Song, you should be using the Harmony Stance. This turns your Major Ballad into a damaging ballad. It also turns your Coda into the Coda of Resonance. This will allow you to do damage with both those skills. Coda of Resonance also does an AOE heal to the fellowship and damage up to 6 targets. You’ll also have access to Echoes of Battle, allowing you to put a small damage tick on a target (small ghost swords). Mix in your ballads that increase resistances, outgoing damage and armour buffs and you’re now contributing more to your fellowship than you ever did before. Orion once stated that he wanted this trait line to be the trait line you use when you’ve mastered the class, and it is, indeed, hard to master. Firstly, you’re not going to have as many big heals as you do using the Watcher of Resolve trait line. Nor are you going to do as much damage as you do using the Warrior-Skald trait line. But you will do an even mix of both that will make you a real boon to your fellowships.

If you go 5 deep into the traitline (use what traits from Protector of Song you wish, but make sure you slot Glorious Anthem for the 5 second increase in ballad duration and Smooth Voice for the 5 second decrease in Anthem cooldown; max out the Anthem Duration legacy on your Legendary Weapon for around 30 seconds of buffs, allowing you to keep up to 4 buffs going at once), you can also mix in a couple of traits of your choice from the other trait lines to gain back some healing and/or DPS.

Personally, the two traits I would choose are Power of Song (+300 Power, +10% chance to unlock War-Speech calls on heal) and Improved Song of Soothing (-5 Induction Time for Song of Soothing to help with aggro management). But that’s just me.

Using Protector of Song means you get to both heal, do a fair amount of damage and contribute group buffs all at the same time. All without having to revisit the bard to change traits.

Hope this helps!

Penhalidor

I just wanted to let you know about a new Lotro blog one of our kin (Council of Eriador – Brandywine)has started.

http://lotrolorenuggets.blogspot.com/

Golden Treasure Inside is Hid – A fan site dedicated to compiling “Easter eggs,” Lore nuggets (and some “Chicken” nuggets!), and other fun facts about the Lord of the Rings Online game.

She’s always been a bit nuts (hosting kin quiz nights and things like that) but that may be enough to make this work!
Anyway, I hope you find it interesting.

Hayden

Hey Guys! I recently got into your podcast after i heard it in the car when my dad (Howard Griffith the LOTROHerald Creator). I enjoy your podcast and find it very interesting and informitive. If you ever find yourself on the Landroval Server, friend me and if I’m on we can hang out sometime!! I’m Leiff, a Hobbit Minstrel, and i am also in The Council of The Secret Fire Kin, which i enjoy being a member of.

Thanks for your time. =)
Hayden
A.K.A.: Leiff

Ilnenil

Hey there Goldenstar and Merric!
I found your podcast earlier this year, and just started listening regularly! I am happy to say that I have gotten my Minstrel to level 37 with a /played time of 9 days, and bought a deluxe house in Celondim, (which is just beautiful!) I just purchased VIP from the LoTRO WebStore, and I am having a hard time not starting a Warden because I have an alt that’s a level 27 Mini-Tank, (also known as a Hobbit Guardian ), that I have sort of neglected to level. Should I keep working on my Mini and pick up the Guardian; or start a Warden, get it up to 27 then bounce between characters? (Like You said Merric, the Guardian class doesn’t change much as you level xP) Your advice would be greatly appreciated for this decision of mine. :]

A merry late Christmas to your whole family,
Ilnenil, Officer in Durin’s Folk of Riddermark

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Visit our blog at www.casualstrolltomordor.com
We welcome your email to podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com or leave us a voicemail at 520-261-CSTM (2786)
We are available to follow on both Twitter and Facebook
Please leave us a review on iTunes or Zune Marketplace and we would really appreciate it!
Listen to us live every Saturday at 9:30 pm Eastern on Middle Earth Network Radio

Episode 119: Merry Christmas 2011

podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 02:44:12 +0000

Recorded December 24, 2011 we are full of holiday cheer (and perhaps a little cheer brought by on by wine in Goldenstar’s case).

Goldenstar was late to the Dum’s meeting due to a flat tire. I was able to join them late and finished the Tomb of Elendil and then ran an Angmar Battle Instance. Also Yule Festival is out so all my characters are in Winter-home.

Merric is playing his Guardian (without Goldenstar I might add) and gotten him to level 71. He’s also working on his crafting.

Intro Song: “Over the Anduin and Through Mirkwood” by Tyler M Jonnson of Middle-earth Network. More of Tyler’s voice over work can be found in the new project “My Little-earth”.

Ending Song: “White Hand Christmas” by Arjan Kiel. Available for purchase from Sword Song Records.

Town Crier:

Store News

Bandages back in the store
Shared Storage has an upgrade button, but not actually in the store
Daily Specials Dec 24-25 – Dec 26th is Legacy Tier Upgrade 15% off.
Weekly Store Sale
Double Bonus Points and 23,000 TP Bundle

CSTM News

Alphaman has caught up to the books releasing Vol 3 Book 4 and Book 5 this week in his LEAD series.
Poetry Contest Winners
Merric reviews plugin Hugebag
Weekly Poll
Thanks to Shane of PMS Clan on “Sword of Ajnta Pall” server donated 20 codes. 10 during the live show 10 on the blog.

Community News

Trailer for The Hobbit has been released.

Raise Your Glass

Dr. Stevl

Dear CSTM Pundits,

I may have missed it in your Update 5 discussion (probably a “senior moment”) but it appears to me that they took away alot of the Tier 6 (and maybe lower tier) recipes that you used to be able to buy from Expert Crafters and now you get them in the scroll drops. Im glad I leveled alot of my crafters before this update! Is this true or just an illusion sent to me by Saruman?

Regards, Dr. Stevl (“because there is no I in Evl”)

Jan

Hello M&G.

I really enjoy the latest Update(s) of LOTRO.

But I have a question about skirmishes. I always was a big fan of skirmishes. For several reasons like cosmetics, special jewelry, XP, pots, armour sets (Helegord & Annuminas) and some other stuff.

But since the currency consolidation skirmishes kinda became obsolete. Yesterday I ran a skirmish solo on tier 3 on level 75 with my Hunter. I finished it successful and all in all I got was around 110 marks (and some bounty coins). That’s all.

And that amount of marks is nearly the amount you need to barter for five (!) lvl 75 morale / power pots. But isn’t that a bit ridiculous? I mean you need like 5 of those pots for a skirmish alone. So at the end you basically have nothing from the skirmish. And you can’t do much with only the marks alone anyway.

And since there aren’t special coins for special stuff like the rift cosmetics anymore, you just could run a few Isengard 3-men instances or school/library, where you get way more marks way faster plus some medallions and chest-loot.

Okay sure you can run skirmishes as 12-men raids (for pale chest-loot and celebrimbor symbols at level 75) but except for that?

So, maybe I am just blind but what reason is there now to run skirmishes except for some mediocre XP at lower levels and maybe fun? Especially for the f2p guys, who need to buy them with TP, there must be something that makes it worthwhile somehow now.

kind regards – Jan

Alinniel, Officer Beholders of Ainulindale, Crickhollow Server

Dear Casual Stroll to Mordor (dodged that bullet):

I am very excited about the new Instance Finder, but I’m wondering how other players, mini’s especially, handle traits and choosing the different roles available to them in the IF.

Mini’s can choose either a healing or DPS role in the IF. I’m a West Coast player and it’s pretty late in the evenings when I get in game so I end up soloing most of the time. I’m normally traited as a war mini (I just love saying that). However, when in a group I prefer healing, and don’t have issues with paying to retrait to a healing spec. I don’t want to change my traits to healing just in case I can get into a group as a healer. Switching back and forth just can get expensive, and if I run in the healing spec solo it feels like I’m throwing wet toilet paper at the mobs. It’s just enough to annoy them, but not enough to hurt much. Do others have a spec they run that works for both healing and DPS even though it isn’t optimal? Is there time to run and retrait after you are assigned your role? That seems a bit rude for those who have waited their five minutes to ask for more time to retrait.

I’ve only tried the IF once, and I chose both healing and DPS. The IF couldn’t find a me a group and put me in the instance as a healer. Luckily I was still DPS traited or my soldier and I wouldn’t have been able to complete the skirmish.

I’d really love to hear how other players classes handle the choice of roles and traiting.

I really enjoy your podcast. Keep up the good work.

Sincerely,

Alinniel, Officer Beholders of Ainulindale, Crickhollow Server

Nalric of Riddermark

Hey Goldenstar and Merric,

I wanted to drop you a line and let you know that as my daughter and I were tracking santa this christmas eve, it was brought to my attention that there is an easter egg in google maps that give you directions from “the shire” to “mordor”. I have no idea if this is old news, but it was news to me and the first folks I thought of were you two so I thought I’d pass it on. Well, Really, it doesn’t so much as give directions as reiterate Boromir’s warning that Walking directions are in beta.
Use caution – One does not simply walk into Mordor. (check the directions column after hitting the link)

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=the+shire&daddr=mordor&hl=en&sl…

BTW, I’ve been an avid listener all year and I’ve started making sure that I grab the newest episode on sunday night to listen to on the way to work on Mondays. So nice you have to listen twice Thanks again for all your hard work on the blog and the podcast, and I hope there’s plenty more in the new year (I’m sure there will be).

Nalric of Riddermark

Meleliel of Gladden

Greetings Goldenstar & Merric!

Hope you guys have something fun planned for the holidays! Thanks so much for all of the work you do with the podcasts and website. I am having a bit of an issue with buffbars and was wondering if you had experienced the same or had any advice. I am using the new plugin manager to automatically load buffbars at login. However, it seems as though the quickslots for potions/pots do not work unless I go into buffbars options and click the accept button. They are loaded into buffbars for each character but pop up empty unless I click accept in the options EACH time I log in. The skills that I have set up (like prelude for morale on my rk and wound removal on my lm) all pop up, but the pots just won’t for some reason. Have you noticed this? I have the latest version of buffbars installed. Might try reinstalling to see if that fixes it, but thought you guys might have some ideas.

Thanks Much!

Meleliel of Gladden

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Episode 118: Caffeinated

podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 02:30:00 +0000

This week we had a ton of news between Update 5 launching, the treasure-hunt event and yule festival starting soon!

Goldenstar went to Carn Dum again this week and shared her awesome “get stuck behind flags” skills. Dumidum enjoyed this game as well and even posed for me for this picture! Other than that, we are working on Volume I once again.

Merric is still complaining about deeds. Still, people. Send help.

Town Crier

Update 5 Changes

Future Changes

Other News

Store News

CSTM News

Pineleafs Primer to The Battle in the Tower
Alphaman’s LEAD posts
- Volume III Book 3
- Side Day Enedwaith

Community News

Raise Your Glass

Hymne

Dear Goldenstar and Merric,

Before the real Christmas rush sets in, I want to take this opportunity to wish you all (Baby Hobbit included of course) a wonderful Yule Tide and a great 2012. Even though lots of predictions have been made about the year to come, I know for a fact that CSTM will only get better!

I enjoy your podcast and blog very much and I have enormous respect for all the effort and time you put into it to keep up with everything in Lotro. I appreciate all the guides, the guest columns, the news flashes, interviews and I was an honoured guest at one of the Round Tables this year. Your blog is more informative than even the sources of Turbine themselves.

Enjoy the Holidays, keep up the good work, and please accept my donation as a small Christmas present for CSTM.

Much love and hugs,

~Hymne

Zilliz of Windfola

Greetings Goldenstar (and Merric and Little Hobbit),
A few months ago you gave me some pointers on the LI system for my hunter. During that time I leveled my hunter to 65, then to 70 when Isengard came out (for crafting purposes only). Waiting for Isengard to come out I discovered a few things. You are going to be very upset with me but I have a serious problem with hobbits (except Baby Hobbit who is my fav!) The reason I say that is because of hobbits I almost did not discover just how awesome the burg really is. I kept rolling hobbit burgs. As a result, I grew frustrated with them for whatever reason and deleted them. Mainly it was the boring Shire questline and the terrible “hi-yay!” sounds hobbits make when fighting. A little while back I rolled a Man burg and the result was drastically different. In a little over one week play time I dinged 75. The burg is an absolute blast! This is the most fun I have had on any other toon and I have tried them all except the RK. Currently my burg is rank 5 and spam tracked on arrival in the Moors, raid equipped and my hunter is locked at 70 forever. Both have above average Legendary Items thanks to you!
Zilliz of Windfola

Kathwren

Hi Goldenstar and Merric,

Great podcast! Have been enjoying them for about a year now although can’t join you live I check for the new episode on itunes on a regular basis

Over the year, while listening to your podcasts, other podcasts and especially people I have played with (when using in-game chat or vent), it seems there is a lot of different ways people pronounce different name places (example – “Michael Delving” for Michel Delving I have heard one person insist that Eregion is pronounced something very close to Aragon – claims it was in a “movie” or an NPC says it) – I don’t plan on correcting people but I would like to know how these places are supposed to be pronounced – I’m hoping with all your contacts at Turbine, MyMiddleEarth, Tolkien Prof, etc, you can maybe go through the different areas and maybe even several of the cities within them (like in Forechel – or even Moria although some of those place names have got to be impossible) Or if that is an overwhelming task, maybe ask your listeners/readers if they have any particular places they have heard pronounced differently and just cover those. Certainly not enough content for an entire episode but maybe worth a couple of minutes if it’s a slow news week.

At any rate, keep up the great work – really appreciate all the time and effort you put into the podcast and website – very informative and enjoyable!

Kathwren

Ialva:

Heyooo!

So last week I guess you guys missed my email : ( But hey here’s a new one!

I just got back to the game recently after a long hiatus. College and work have been taxing but winter break is too cool for those! Got my minstrel from 65 to 75 from in 5 days. Special thanks to Maddening, a warden whom I bumped into while questing, we were burning through quests and I dinged 4 levels in 6 hours : D

I am liking a lot of the minstrel changes, especially the persisting ballad buffs, now I can eat pies and brush my hobbit feet while healing : D Hope there will be a new minstrel roundtable soon : D

Happy holidays!

Ialva of Brandywine

Carrie

I got the most interesting deed after Update 5. I used some fireworks on low level alts for the first time after the patch and got a deed. “Fireworks:Launch Yellow Fireworks” Launch Yellow One-shot Fireworks 50 times and you get an anniversary token. Thought it was interesting. I had used fireworks before Update 5 and wasn’t given a deed.

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Contact Us

Visit our blog at www.casualstrolltomordor.com
We welcome your email to podcast@casualstrolltomordor.com or leave us a voicemail at 520-261-CSTM (2786)
We are available to follow on both Twitter and Facebook
Please leave us a review on iTunes or Zune Marketplace and we would really appreciate it!
Listen to us live every Saturday at 9:30 pm Eastern on Middle Earth Network Radio