Radiance system working a bit different that asumed by most

Credit for this discovery goes to my guildie Tarinas who decided to check what rest of us assumed without proof about the radiance (former hope) system.

As it is true that the system rounds hope down to multitudes of 10, it is also true that dread is part of the same system and it is also rounded down, so contrary to popular belief, it's actually worth it to get all 3 parts of the Tier 1.5 gear.

Proof - also taken by Tarinas in Vile Maw (I think):

The cuteness that is Nanu

My cute little Nanu.. We found him on our first Turtle attempt few weeks ago, but because he's so special I decided that the screenshots I made back than weren't good enough. Today I finally made my Meleth Nin spare me his computer for a few minutes so that I could catch the cuteness in full grace.

So, here is cute little Nanu, my little dream in LotRO - next time he appears in the Mossy Chest, he is mine. Unfortunately, despite the numerous attempts since the encounter was released, we haven't seen him since... And trust me, restraining myself not to steal this one from Nimminas kin house is a big achievement for me.

As you can see, the small little fella is not quite shy, above you can probably spot that he's trying to nom on Sil's satchel. He probably wants the treats she always brings him ;)

Fellowship Manouver Trainer

A little thing I've created few weeks ago, ment to help training ad hoc straight manouvers.

Hereby we present you v1.0.

The application is pretty simple and it only covers straight manouvers (the Around the clock combinations).



There's not much configuration to be worried about at the current state, you can only change Difficulty (the speed with which the manouver progresses; by default you get plenty of time to react) and Mode
(you are either assigned a possition at which to contribute to at the
begining of each round, indicated by a golder ring on Fellowship
manouver display - Fixed position mode - or you can try to contribute at any given time - Full ad hoc mode).



If you're interested, please visit http://www.raidsrus.com/forum/showthread.php?t=457

A very lucky Captain

The story begins when Silirien decided to kill some time in Barad Gualaran with a PUG. Those of you who know me a little closer are perfectly aware of the fact that I'm in love with the place... The design clearly shows it was run by a woman! An evil villain, yes (mark the use of red, fire in general, demon ornaments and always fashionable spider webs), but a woman.



...the windows!

It's one of a few places in LotRO that actually have a window view...!

And red heavy curtains...!

And.. and the Sorc's have awesome dresses!



I don't know why, but something tells me that woman fashion in Angmar is to have shaved head... :X

<3 the dress.



Anyway, in the PUG Sil met a friend from R'r'U, Captain Beor, a very noble dwarf Guardian Raori, a silent hobbit minstrel, a decent Loremaster and a nooby hunter Ery.



By nooby, I mean nooby. Everyone may have an unlucky shot and aggro adds during a fight with Elite Master monster, but trying to make it look like it was on purpose is really nooby. In the derogatory meaning. And pushing the blame on others doesn't help. Nor does the fact, that Sil was 'the other'.



Nevertheless, it all went rather smooth and we got to the Casstelan - a worthy enemy, and one of great wealth, known to drop a weapon greatly cherished and desired by Captains, Captain's Arm. Unfortunatelly, Loremaster's tactics was one year old, and outdated. Uncle Google said "DPS him down, the faster, the better as he spawns adds every few seconds". Quite a straightforward tactics, but here we lost our minstrel... Nevertheless, we decided to take our chance and strike Castellan down. And we did, but his adds stroke us down in return, without giving us a chance to proper loot him and the Chest he kept his treasures in.



Now the problem with Barad Gualaran these days is that after wipe, you spawn quite far away, over a valley crawling with elites, so it takes a lot to get back. The mobs remaining after the fight didn't help - it's really quite impossible to open a chest while something is hitting you, not to mention loot it...



Still, as the rest of the group was quite desperate to get the Key and the Horn that were kept in the chest, Sil decided to take her chances and stealth behind the guards to the chest, hoping that primo, they won't see her approaching, and secundo, she will manage to loot whatever was in the chest before they get to her.







As you can see from the picture, the legendary Elven stealth, tho untrained, proved sufficient (some Strange Flowers Sil carries with her for such occasions might have helped as well) and she got to the chest and, among the Key and the Horn, she saw Captain's Arm... but the chest itself was not affected by Master Looter..! I could not give the items to anyone, I could only put them into my inventory, but they would bind...



Than I thought... if I could open the chest and take the other BoA's, if Beor can get here and is given enough time... he might get the Arm!



First plan was that I will keep the two remaining guards occupied, and Beor rushes to the Chest. But it was growing really late and we didn't want to take chances... Fortunatelly, there is always Kin to help :) Bodin and Hal rushed with Beor to rescue me from my uneasy possition and set the treasure free :) The ammount of compliments and proofs of love end eternal devotion that Beor showed to me would excell far beyond the capacity of this blog tho ;)



This is why the Halberd is so precious:





I must say, I really felt like a ninja there! :D

Raids'R'Us first Balrog down

First Balrog to go down under the swords, arrows, songs and knowledge of lore of Raids'R'Us members!



Roggie ain't a very hard boss to bring down if all members know what to do and do it before Raid Leader even speaks up. But for this kind of coordination and tactics knowledge, practice is needed. Long, irritating and costly practice. But it payed off, we got two weapon gems! And second Blade of Thaurlach for the Raiding Hall (first one Sil ninja'ed from Silver Blades' raid just a week or two earlier ^^).





Glathlírel says, ''Strangers... you were sent to me by the Eldgang?''

Glathlírel says, ''Then it is as I have feared. There is little time, but you must know the peril you face! Prepare yourselves and listen to my tale.''

Glathlírel says, ''Long ago, at the breaking of Thangorodrim, Thaurlach flew to this land and I gave chase.''

Glathlírel says, ''At his coming, all was beset with brimstone and flame, and he eluded me.''

Glathlírel says, ''For long years he lay hidden, until the Dark Power rose again and Thaurlach awoke from his secret slumber.''

Glathlírel says, ''He was revealed to me in that moment, and I struggled with him in battle.''

Glathlírel says, ''With the aid of the wizards I threw down my foe: defeated, but not slain.''

Glathlírel says, ''Thaurlach sued for pardon at the feet of the wizards.''

Glathlírel says, ''They deemed he should be imprisoned where he could await his judgment at the end of days.''

Glathlírel says, ''Long have I here waited for Thaurlach to seek his freedom, that I may end his menace for good if he sought to escape!''

Glathlírel says, ''When I open this seal, the true test of your will shall begin!''

Glathlírel says, ''First, I must remove the seals.''

Glathlírel says, ''Now to open the locks....''

Glathlírel says, ''You have come just in time! Thaurlach is stirring. There is something amiss!''







Gandalf says, ''Indeed it is...a link from the chain Angithron that was forged when this world was young.''

Gandalf says, ''A Balrog lies defeated.''

Glorfindel says, ''Ai!''

Glorfindel says, ''A Balrog of Morgoth!''

Glorfindel says, ''You are mightier than I first perceived.''

Gandalf says, ''Yes, one which was awakened long ago by his master's call.''

Glorfindel says, ''You speak, then, of Thaurlach, Glathlírel's Bane. My heart is heavy still from her loss.''

Glathlírel says, ''Then let your heart be lightened, Glorfindel, for I have returned!''

Glathlírel says, ''Mithrandir speaks true. I was with the adventurers when the Balrog fell.''

Glorfindel says, ''And even more wonders, Glathlírel! When you did not return...we feared....''

Glathlírel says, ''I found aid unlooked for in the North.''

Gandalf says, ''Two others of my Order, who have since vanished into the East, aided her in imprisoning the Balrog. Alas, for the treachery of the Enemy.''

Glathlírel says, ''I remained in Nûrz Ghâshu as the warden of the Balrog until another of Morgoth's servants sought to free him.''

Glorfindel says, ''And with the aid of these heroes which you mention, you were able to overcome Thaurlach?''

Glorfindel says, ''I will compose the song of their triumph myself, and it will be known to all the Elves that yet dwell....''

Gandalf says, ''I think not, Glorfindel...''

Gandalf says, ''For even among the Elf-lords, you still keep secrets...battles and deeds enough for a thousand songs.''

Gandalf says, ''No...not until the world has changed should this tale be told in full.''

Glathlírel says, ''The Dark Lord of Mordor would be troubled by the death of Thaurlach...''

Glathlírel says, ''But I fear he would gain much knowledge of hidden things that should remain lost were the full tale known.''

Glorfindel says, ''Your deeds will not be forgotten among the Wise.''

Gandalf says, ''Certainly not! It is the responsibility of the Wise to keep such lore until its chosen time.''

Glorfindel says, ''And it is well that you have returned out of the darkness, Glathlírel.''

Glathlírel says, ''It seems that Imladris will require my sword and more if we wish to continue the fight!''

Glorfindel says, ''We have fought many battles, but alas, our time has passed...''

Glorfindel says, ''The duty of great deeds has fallen to others. The time of the Elves is fading.''

Glathlírel says, ''Then it seems there is little left for me here...''

Glathlírel says, ''I will travel to Mithlond and join our kin where I may find peace.''

Glorfindel says, ''And what do you make of this, Mithrandir? What now should be our course?''

Gandalf says, ''Our course?''

Gandalf says, ''What should have been done two thousand years ago has been done...''

Gandalf says, ''All that is left now is to plan for the journey to come, and I have much to do before that journey begins.''

Glorfindel says, ''Creatures such as Thaurlach do not easily fall, my friend. You have brought hope unlooked for to our struggle against the Shadow, both in the East and in the North.''



Actually, only when I read the dialogue again, it stroke me how utterly irrational Glorfindel sending
Glathlírel away was: the war is at hand, The Nine have just awaken and there ain't that many that can match them. And here we have 
Glathlírel, a hero of the Old Days, returning miraculously and Glorfindel... sending her away?! Than why did he, Elron or Galadriel stay behind, if it's an Age on Man?



OK, I know that if he didn't, the cat-fight between her and Silirien would be unevitable, but seriously.. it's not that Sil stays at Riv all the time. He could have send
Glathlírel away after the war!



Men >.> Just so typical...