Some screenshots from the Far Anórien region and LOTRO update 18!

Here we go, update 18 of Lord of the Rings Online was just released on the Bullroarer test server. It’s time to go to Far Anórien, the area between Rohan and Minas Tirith/Old Anórien, south of the Entwash (see the main map above). Below are the more detailed maps to the new areas, plus a few pictures.

First off, a disclaimer: If you want a pristine game experience with no ruined surprises about the new regions, you should probably stop reading now, if not before! Not least because I have added some screenshots at the bottom of the post.

You can see larger versions of all the maps by clicking on them. As always, you can find the latest patch notes on Turbine’s Bullroarer forums.

Far Anórien

Anórien was a region/fiefdom north Minas Tirith and the line of the White Mountains (Ered Nimrais). There were no cities in Anórien. The Warning Beacons of Gondor were built on mountain peaks along the Great Road towards Rohan.



Far Anórien map

The new region has one main map, with two more detailed maps to zoom into:

Taur Drúadan

The Beacon Hills

There are also three new instances (not epic battles), which can be played from level 75-105 (yes, there is now a level cap increase to 105):

Blood of the Black Serpent (3-person)

Quays of the Harlond (3-person)

The Silent Street (6-person)

Taur Drúadan

Drúadan Forest was in Anórien, lying north of the eastern end of the Ered Nimrais. Three of Gondor’s warning beacons were near the forest. The Great West Road connecting Gondor to Rohan passed by the northern edge of the forest. The forest was generally avoided, since it was believed to be haunted.



Taur Drúadan map

The Beacon Hills

The western part of Far Anórien is just south of the Mouths of Entwash, west of Firien Wood. Home to more of the warning beacons of Gondor, it is a grassy hilly area with fine views of mountains and rivers nearby (besides the dark sky due to the Dawnless Day, that is…)



The Beacon Hills map

Some screenshots

Here are a couple of screenshots plus a preview of all the new dye colours coming with the festivals this year.

I didn’t expect running into these fellers outside of Moria. Perhaps they’re just placeholders?



The Dheghun have escaped from Moria!

A view east from one of the beacons in the Beacon Hills. Silly night-time, although it makes for a slightly dramatic image.



East is no place to go…

More or less the same view as seen in daytime.



East is still no place to go

The Mouths of Entwash area, the delta where the Entwash runs into the Anduin river.



Watch out for reeds down there

The falls of Rauros as seen from below. The falls are in the north end of the Mouths of Entwash.



Rauros

It is possible to ride up along a pathway on the west side of the falls of Rauros and enter the East Wall area in Rohan. This picture is taken from that path, overlooking the Anduin river.



Fine river views

There are tons of these “troll” figures around the landscape. Possibly placeholders for things to come?



Trolls in Gondor

Below the Nardol beacon, in the western part of Taur Drúadan.



Nardol

View of the mountains south of Nardol beacon.



Ered Nimrais

Looking north from the Nardol beacon, with the Great West Road between Rohan and Gondor below.



Great Weast Road

Greetings from Nardol beacon.



Sure is a huge structure!

Turbine has added a new graphics option, “Avatar Texture Compositing”. Turn it off to disable facial details on player characters, tenatively to improve performance in areas where many players run around at the same time.



This is without the option enabled



And this is with the option enabled. More shadows, slightly rosier cheeks and more details around the eyes.

New dye colours

From the patch notes: New dyes have been added to the seasonal festivals! Look for four new exclusive dyes available in the Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter festivals this year. In each festival, two of the new dyes will be available for festival currency, and two will be available for Mithril Coins. The dyes available for Mithril Coins this year will be available for festival currency next year, and vice versa.

I found 14 new colours at first glance, take a look below.

Shire plum Sunset orange Dark clay Dark mossy green Rohan green Bullroarer's green Lorien gold Belegaer blue Moria silver Ashenslades green Shire peach Lavender Dark purple Imladris Fallen Leaf

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