The Lord of the Rings Online: Siege of Mirkwood Previews
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Tolkien fans will enjoy Trouble in Tuckborough for the simple fact that it brings to life the Scouring of the Shire, that sorry story which formed the penultimate chapter of The Return of the King but was side-stepped in the movies. Stand At Amon Sul, meanwhile, sees you fighting atop Weathertop. This one got a bit hectic for me on the minstrel Zzordon as I was running around keeping defensive fires lit, and fighting, as well as throwing a few heals at my slightly erratic Soldier, Trevor. Soldiers' behaviour can be a minor nuisance; like other MMO "pets", they can occasionally surprise you by pulling a bunch of enemies. Trevor even occasionally had some trouble getting stuck on the scenery. By and large, however, Turbine is introducing an impressively smooth experience with Skirmishing.
In The Ford of Bruinen - you know, the place with the Guinness surf horses - you fight alongside some Rivendell elves, facing waves of mobs, including elite Lieutenants, until an enemy General finally leaps into the fight. Generals are the bosses of the Skirmishes, but you can define how tough they're going to be by changing the Skirmish settings . The Siege of Gondamon, meanwhile, sees the market and fort in Ered Luin being besieged by sundry orcs and Dourhands, those treacherous dwarves who have sided with the enemy. Gondamon's usually such a pleasant place, but here the stalls are overturned, the stonework cracked, the ground charred. Survival: Barrow-downs is a little different, as you're on a timer. The fog rolls in, then the Wights and other nasties arrive. Trevor and I didn't last long, but in our defence this one has no solo option.
