Armies of Isengard info : LOTRO - Discussions

Armies of Isengard is the game's first post-Rise of Isengard release, and it's been highly anticipated as it will finally add the long-awaited instance cluster to the endgame. This cluster contains five new dungeons: three three-person, one six-person, and one twelve-person.

In addition to the cluster, Update 5 is including the next book in the epic storyline, The Prince of Rohan. Through it, players will gain a nifty set of Ranger cosmetic armor and participate in an epic battle at the gates of Orthanc. The update also will add an instance finder, unified currency, a LUA plugin manager, a reputation update, and far, far more.

Update 5, Armies of Isengard, Official Patch Notes
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LOTRO Store: New With Update 5
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Update 5: Armies of Isengard – Known Issues Updated: 12/12/11
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(unofficial) U5 Known Issues list
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Before a major patch release, the devs responsible post their thoughts on the new content:

Update 5 Developer Roundtable
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Update 5: Instance Finder Developer Diary
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Update 5: Reputation Item Revision Developer Diary
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Update 5: Currency Consolidation Developer Diary
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Update 5: Instance Cluster Developer Diary
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Undocumented Update 5 Changes
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Steel-Bound LootBox
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Now in the Store: Property Guards!
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Q) If a player already purchased update 4 rise of isengard, which update pack for update 5 armies of isengard should be bought?

A) Did you buy the RoI EXPANSION (with real money) or the RoI QUEST PACK (with TP)?

If you bought the EXPANSION, you need to buy nothing else.

If you bought the QUEST PACK, you only need to buy something (the instances) IF you want them.

Update 5: Skirmish via Instance Join preliminary itemized findings (75 solo Tier 1) Register to unlock hidden link

The Spreadsheet:
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Testing pre formed group for Instance Finder
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Some things that should be fixed ASAP in the Instance Finder
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EPIC Line Volume III, Book 5 Chapter 4, The prince of Rohan,
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1hr epic book that rewards you with a 6 pieces cosmetic outfit a Fused Deep relic and perhaps a LI Scroll (if your class is compatible)

I did the new book 5 of the "epic" last night and was totally underwhelmed at the start one of the group members said "all they are giving is wardrobe rewards, Huh what a coincidence that they just added a way to purchase more wardrobe space at the store!"

My friends were grouped together on their weekly Kin Night, which coincidentally was a day after the Armies of Isengard release, to enjoy the thrill of doing a new chapter of the Lotro Epic

After all the RoI $ expansion had _30_ chapters over 50 quests to complete book 4

this one: not so much

the first part was talking to people about 50 feet to 500 feet away then off to Grimbold's camp to do the second half

I had gotten lulled into just going from point a to point b and tune out whatever was said, when the actual fighting bits started so I had to kite for a little bit as I had no buffs on that was the only exciting part, but in each fight there was usually a helper (who sometimes got lost)

really loved the cut scenes with their battlefield maps with the "checkers" icons showing the troop movements sarcasm off

I felt sorry for my friends who had looked forward to this _epic_ and then had the first half so trivial and the second half all solo instanced so their getting together for a night of camaraderie was wasted and then to find the end reward was pretty much class specific and useless to most.....

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Deed Tracker Spreadsheet Available Here (ROI compliant!)
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The Spreadsheet
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