Monster Play classes in Lord of the Rings Online
One of the coolest things in Turbine Soft and Codemaster’s The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar is the addition of Monster Play classes. In a recent developer’s corner post on the main site, they covered the Orc-reaver, Spider-weaver, Uruk-Blackarrow, Uruk-Warleader, and blogger Ryan’s favorite class: the Warg-stalker.
The classes are interesting and the amount of history behind them very rich. It would be interesting to see these characters in play with gamers actually roleplaying them according to their roles on the battlefield. Perhaps this MMORPG will actually have a large enough fanbase to pull off those large-scale battles that you’ve seen in the movies or read of in the books. Anyway, without further delay, here are the classes:
First off, we have the Orc-reaver. This character is said to be at home on the field of battle, and nowhere else. It’s said that the reaver’s attacks are as fast as the wind, and when he is equipped with two weapons, is as devastating as a tornado. When backed into a corner, this creature calls upon the strength of his blood which further increases its attack speed making short work of whatever foe dares to challenge it.
Skills of the Orc-reaver:
- Devastating Strike – Starting Skill – When your target has less than half of their morale, you can make an extremely damaging attack with an increased chance to critical. This skill will consume all your remaining power.
- Glory In Victory – Destiny Point-purchased Skill – The sight of your opponents falling before you catapults you into an empowering rage, giving you burst of healing and increasing damage dealt and taken.
- Burning Blades – Destiny Point-purchased Trait – Your weapon attacks now deal Fire damage.
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One of the coolest things in Turbine Soft and Codemaster’s The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar is the addition of Monster Play classes. In a recent developer’s corner post on the main site, they covered the Orc-reaver, Spider-weaver, Uruk-Blackarrow, Uruk-Warleader, and blogger Ryan’s favorite class: the Warg-stalker.
The classes are interesting and the amount of history behind them very rich. It would be interesting to see these characters in play with gamers actually roleplaying them according to their roles on the battlefield. Perhaps this MMORPG will actually have a large enough fanbase to pull off those large-scale battles that you’ve seen in the movies or read of in the books. Anyway, without further delay, here are the classes:
First off, we have the Orc-reaver. This character is said to be at home on the field of battle, and nowhere else. It’s said that the reaver’s attacks are as fast as the wind, and when he is equipped with two weapons, is as devastating as a tornado. When backed into a corner, this creature calls upon the strength of his blood which further increases its attack speed making short work of whatever foe dares to challenge it.
Skills of the Orc-reaver:
- Devastating Strike – Starting Skill – When your target has less than half of their morale, you can make an extremely damaging attack with an increased chance to critical. This skill will consume all your remaining power.
- Glory In Victory – Destiny Point-purchased Skill – The sight of your opponents falling before you catapults you into an empowering rage, giving you burst of healing and increasing damage dealt and taken.
- Burning Blades – Destiny Point-purchased Trait – Your weapon attacks now deal Fire damage.
Next up, we have the Spider-weaver which provides a stark contrast to the beastial Orc Reaver. Not known for their constitutional prowess, these creatures use stealth, guile and cunning to overcome their foes. Primarily a support class, they are known to employ poison and clinging webs as they attack from the flanks. They particularly enjoy disabling their foes to be finished off by their stronger compatriots. If one were to back this one in the corner, they may be surprised to find that their “prey” has disappeared from their clutches by burrowing underground.
Sample skills for the Spider-weaver:
- Snaring Web – Starting Skill – A ranged attack that targets the victim’s legs with sticky webs, rooting them in place.
- Lie In Wait – Destiny Point-purchased Skill – When not in combat, you can hide beneath the ground, unseen by foes, until you burst from the ground.
- Steelweave Webs – Destiny Point-purchased Trait – The duration of your Snaring Web root is doubled.
Attacking from a distance, you will find the Uruk-blackarrow. A support class that prefers a more direct approach compared to the subtler methods of the Spider-weaver. These accurate and vindictive archers are more than capable of blotting out the sun when a group of them decide to do so. In addition to their deadly arrows, these beings use the gifts of Shadow to further the destruction they cause on the battlefield.
Sample skills for the Uruk-blackarrow:
- Flaming Arrow – Starting Skill – A fire tipped arrow which will continue to burn the target after landing.
- Set Trap – Destiny Point-purchased Skill – You carefully place a snare on the ground to trap your foes.
- Uncanny Reactions – Destiny Point-purchased Trait – Your ability to evade ranged attacks is significantly increased.
Another Uruk warrior, the Uruk-warleader can be found on the front line unlike the Uruk-blackarrows. These creatures are known for their ability to lead and goad their troops into battle. It is said that the Uruk-warleader can inspire the meekest of troops to greatness. His shouts in battle bring fear into his foes and inspire bloodlust to his allies.
Sample skills for the Uruk-warleader:
- Aura of Command – Starting Skill – When the fight has begun, your commanding aura allows your allies to fight more viciously.
- On Your Feet! – Destiny Point-purchased Skill – You bellow a harsh command, enabling up to five nearby and defeated allies to rise, albeit at very low health.
- Harsh Language – Destiny Point-purchased Trait – The amount of healing your skills bestow is increased.
Last but not the least we have the Warg-stalker. This creature is equally comfortable hunting alone or with its pack. Unlike the Uruk-warleader which commands attention, this creature prefers to stalk its enemies silently.When it feels that the opportunity to strike has come, it attacks viciously with its claws and powerful bite. Very few have walked away from a warg-stalker’s attack alive, and none have ever come back with all their body parts intact.
Sample skills for the Warg-stalker:
- Savage Fangs – Starting Skill – You rip at your target’s flesh, tearing muscle and slowing his attacks. If the target was suffering from your crippling bite he begins taking damage over time.
- Throat Rip – Destiny Point-purchased Skill – You sink your teeth and rip, your target is silenced.
- The Element of Surprise – Destiny Point-purchased Skill – Your chance to critical when attacking from stealth is significantly increased.
Judging from the classes mentioned above, this game looks to have one of the most interesting sets of classes ever released in an MMORPG. The game has already been released in Europe and is set to be released in the US on April 24, 2007, so if you’d like to try it, pick up a copy and see if it’s your cup of blood tea.