The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria revealed at Connect 08

Let’s forget about those special titles you got at Connect 08 for a moment and focus on some big news coming in for Lord of the Rings Online. Turbine Inc. has announced Volume II of the game, and a big part of it features the Mines of Moria. More on this after the jump!

While the acquisition of special titles for The Lord of the Rings Online was certainly a big hit with the gamers who attended Connect 08, there was one big announcement that really threw LotRO fans for a loop. That was the announcement of the first expansion of the game, called The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria.

What’s so great about this expansion, you might be wondering? Well, in addition to a level cap increase and new items, it also lets us travel to a new lore-filled area filled with new creatures and adventures. Here’s a list of the new features that’ll make its way into the game:

• Speak Friend, and Enter – Moria, called Khazad-dum by the dwarves, was their capital and the grandest of cities. This enormous underground cavern in north-western Middle-earth, comprises an immense network of tunnels, chambers, mines and huge halls that run beneath and ultimately through the Misty Mountains. For the first time, players of The Lord of the Rings Online will enter this ancient city which has served as the foundation for the modern-day dungeon-crawling adventures to battle the hordes of goblins and the Nameless of the Deep and journey through hundreds of new quests within six new kinds of stunning environments.
• The Epic Continues! – The Mines of Moria represents the beginning of Volume II of The Lord of the Rings Online. Players can experience six new books as part of this update and participate in the release of DurinÂ’s Bane, battle the Watcher, aid Galadriel and more!
• Increased Level Cap – Players will be able advance their characters up to level 60, gaining access to new traits, virtues, skills and class quests. The crafting system will also expand, giving players the ability to craft even more powerful items.
• Discover Two New Classes -The Rune-keeper and the Warden, the first new classes to be introduced since the launch of the game, allow players to build exciting and powerful new characters in The Lord of the Rings Online in diverse new ways.
• Forge Legendary Items – The Mines of Moria will introduce TurbineÂ’s new item advancement system to The Lord of the Rings Online. Players will be able to forge weapons and class-related equipment and evolve them to build a legacy the likes of BilboÂ’s Sting and GandalfÂ’s Glamdring. These legendary weapons will level-up along with the player, allowing customization by advancing the itemÂ’s virtues, adding runic legacies, modifying its titles and forming fables.

Legendary items, new classes, and an increased level cap! Those sound like great incentives to sign up for the game. In any case, we’ll be sure to keep you updated on news regarding the Mines of Moria expansion, so sit tight, and sharpen those swords!