LOTRO's fall update to include mounted combat, level cap increase
Turbine is planning to release a new expansion to Lord of the Rings Online this fall called Riders of Rohan, and it will add mounted combat, making it one of the few MMOs to include the mode.
The landscape will be the largest zone Turbine has ever released, covers the eastern side of Rohan, and it will be twice the size of Moria. Players will also get to visit places like Amon Hen and the Eaves of Fangorn and the level cap will be raised to 85.
With all that in place, let's get to the mounted combat bits. Players will finally, after being teased and rumored to death over it, be able fight from horseback in LOTRO and of course you're getting a new horse to battle with.
The war horse will be stronger than current mounts, comes with in-battle abilities like Trample, and while you can fight from its back, note that your enemies will be able to as well. Players will encounter mounted Warbands, and future content will include Helm’s Deep - where there will be plenty of warg riders if the lore comes into play.
All of this is coming in the fall, but there are goodies heading your way in the spring as well.
According to executive producer Kate Paiz, the Great River region which is an area just south of Lothlorien will be coming in the spring, and it will also provide the first taste of the Rohirrim content. But a new area to the map is just the start, according to her interview with GameFront.
Players who need another sword handy will be able to call upon their Skirmish solider anywhere in the game instead of being limited to only skirmishes. The only place you will not be able to call your solider is in instances.
Monthly or "near-monthly" patches are to go into effect to provide more bug fixes, new cosmetics, and new rewards.
This spring will mark the fifth Anniversary of LOTRO and Turbine's planning to hold a large celebration. While no details were dropped, they said players "won't want to miss it."
A new festival will be added later on this year as well, but Turbine is staying mum on what it entails for the moment.
A release date was not provided for the spring or fall updates, but they're coming.