“As Chief of the Wizards, Saruman the White is most effective controlling the battlefield with his voice,” the character description reads. “The order of Wizards also includes Radagast and Gandalf, all of whom were sent to protect Middle-earth.”

Check out the video below to see Saruman in action and let us know what you think!

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The Mouth of Sauron is currently available on the Playstation Network (US), and will be available on Xbox and PSN tomorrow (EU).

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Within Wildermore are five new areas to explore:

• Writhendowns – All word from Wildermore has ceased and rumors point to the worst. You must find and aid the town of Scylfig, which suffers from a strangely deepening winter and an Uruk-hai threat.
• The Fallows – Uruk-hai invaders have torched the region’s farms, slaying many and driving the survivors from their homes. You must ride into the smoldering remains to help drive out the evil tides of Núrzum’s raiders before meeting with the brooding Reeve of Wildermore.
• Whitshaws – As the brutal winter rages, many folk have gone missing, and the small village of Dunfast is in dire need of protection. You must follow in the wake of Núrzum’s destruction, but can you find him in time? Face marauding Warbands as you race to save the people of Dunfast.
• High Knolls – The town of the High Knolls, Byre Tor, long held out against the powers of Núrzum, but now has fallen to the beastly enemy.  Venture among forbidding crags in search of the city’s hunted refugees, but use caution, for whispers warn that the Knolls are thick with Saruman’s minions!
• Balewood – In the unruly, northern expanses of Fangorn Forest, the Darkness has taken hold.  In the Balewood, violent Huorns and Wood-trolls prowl and Saruman’s Uruk-hai linger. You must gather young Ents to rally against the growing corruption.

Update 11 also includes a revamp to mounted combat, housing changes, daily Hobbit presents, and “New VIP Benefits.”

For a closer look at some of the upcoming locations/features in Middle-earth (including some gorgeous screencaps), be sure to visit A Casual Stroll to Mordor!

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Lord of the Rings Online fans rejoice!

In an April 24^th press release, Turbine has announced a fifth expansion for the epic online world of Middle-earth, scheduled for ‘Fall 2013’. Players will become even more immersed into Rohan, the region which was first introduced in the Riders of Rohan expansion.

Fight for the good of all free peoples, by enlisting as a soldier in the Battle of the Hornburg. Rewards will be earned for contributions in the war effort and every player makes a difference in the outcome of the battle.

Along with the massive Battle of Helms Deep, Turbine also plans to raise the level cap to 95, add new skills and class specializations as well as open up the Western Rohan landscape, which includes notable locations such as Edoras and Dunharrow.

For more information, visit A Casual Stroll to Mordor for more updates on the Helm’s Deep Expansion and all of your Lord of the Rings Online news.

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Class: Tactician

Bio: As the Half-elven Ruler of Rivendell, Elrond is a mighty leader and the brother to Elros, the first King of Númenor. During the end of the Second Age, his exceptional skills were put to use when the Last Alliance of Elves and Men set out from Rivendell for Mordor where they fought in the Battle of Dagorlad and eventually defeated Sauron. He would later welcome both Bilbo and Frodo to Rivendell during the War of the Ring.

Gameplay Abilities:

• Call of Rivendell: Increases movement and attack speeds, damage
• Elven Grace: Damages enemies and give stealth to allies
• Take Refuge: Area effect increases health and resistances
• Honored Guard: Summons an archer to damage and slow enemies

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All updates and information can be found on the Windy Acres website. For the full 2013 Spring Racing Carnival *schedule, see below:

Friday, May 3

7:30pm – Pre-race music and festivities.
8:00pm – Mathom Cup in Michel Delving (qualifier race #3)

9:00pm – Pre-race music and festivities.
9:30pm – Moonstone Cup in Duillond (qualifier race #4)
Saturday, May 4

11:30am – Pre-race festivities, music by Die Meisterbarden von Bree.
Noon – Mithril Cup in Gondamon (qualifier race #5)

1:30pm – Pre-race festivities, music by Breakfast Club.
2:00pm – Longbottom Leaf Cup in Michel Delving (qualifier race #6)

3:30pm – Pre-show festivities at the Horsefields near the festival grounds north of Bree, music by Die Meisterbarden von Bree.
4:00pm – Formation riding team demonstration and fireworks show.
4:30pm – Group ride from the Horsefields to Bree’s town square.

5:00pm – Parade of rare horse breeds at Bree town hall.
5:30pm – Spring Racing Carnival concert, music by the Lonely Mountain Band.
6:30pm – Horse show (mounted fashion contest) at town hall, top prize 1,600 Turbine Points.
7:30pm – Bree Cup Championship Race – 300 gold for first place, 100 gold for second place, 75 gold for third place.
8:00pm – Closing ceremonies.

*All times are Landroval /servertime or EST.

Qualifier races have an entry fee of 1 gold. Qualifier race prizes are 10 gold for first place, 5 gold for second place, and 3 gold for third place. Riders must win top three in a qualifier race to be invited to the Bree Championship Cup.

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In this video, the LEGO designers show off their 2-feet-tall set!

Tower of Orthanc

Ages 14+. 2,359 pieces.
Build the The Lord of the Rings™ trilogy must-have model!
US $199.99 CA $249.99 DE 199.99€ UK 169.99 £ DK 1699.00 DKK

Finally, collect one of the most instantly recognizable and iconic buildings of The Lord of the Rings trilogy: The Tower of Orthanc! Build all 6 highly detailed floors filled with fascinating movie-related details including the attic, library, alchemy room, Saruman’s throne room, entrance hall and dungeon. This exclusive model stars in some of the most iconic scenes from The Lord of the Rings movies. Swoop down with the Great Eagle and rescue stranded Gandalf the Grey from his tower-top prison after his defeat at the hands of the white wizard, Saruman. Build the powerful, tree-like Ent, with poseable limbs and cool swinging arm function, then attack the Uruk-hai and Orc Pitmaster while Saruman and his servant Grima Wormtongue take refuge high in the tower. The Tower of Orthanc is a must-have model for any The Lord of the Rings collection!

• Includes a Great Eagle, buildable Ent figure and 5 minifigures with weapons: Saruman with kirtle outfit, Grima Wormtongue, Gandalf™ the Grey, an Uruk-hai™ and the Orc Pitmaster
• Features 6 highly detailed floors with lots of functions, including a folding staircase, LEGO® light brick palantir, opening entrance doors and a trap door
• Weapons include 5 staffs, knife, sword, shield and a long axe
• The attic features a folding staircase, the 3 staffs of the missing wizards, the 2 keys of the Two Towers, 2 maps and an Uruk-hai helmet, shield and sword
• The library features 2 books, 2 torches, 2 maps and 2 skulls
• The alchemy room features 2 torches, a bomb (being produced for the Battle of Helm’s Deep™), 2 potions, bottle, skull, gunpowder keg, pot, cauldron and a long axe
• Saruman’s throne room features lamps, 2 bookcases with 3 potions, map, letter and the powerful palantir with a LEGO light brick
• The entrance hall features opening doors, trap door, 2 large banners, chandelier, statue and 2 axes
• The creepy dungeon features a chain, 2 bones, 2 skulls and a rat
• Buildable Ent features poseable limbs for holding a minifigure and a cool swinging arm function
• Attack the tower with the cool buildable and poseable Ent!
• Swoop to the rescue with the Great Eagle!
• Activate the LEGO light brick and make the palantir glow!
• Set the trap door and banish unwanted guests to the dungeon!
• Prepare the bomb for the Battle of Helm’s Deep™!
• Swing the Ent’s arms to smash or grab things with the poseable fingers!
• Measures over 28″ (73cm) high, 8″ (21cm) wide and 6″ (16cm) deep
• Ent stands over 9″ (23cm) tall

My favorite elements are the portraits of Middle-earth’s five wizards! What do you think of The Tower of Orthanc? Is it a must-have for your LEGO/Lord of the Rings collection?

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Hail friends – The page turns once again in our LOTRO journey together!

Turbine recently announced that there are quite a few changes coming to the community features of the LOTRO websites. You can read all about it here on Casual Stroll to Mordor. (http://casualstrolltomordor.com/2013/04/lotro-community-site-changes-coming/)

One of the most striking changes is the removal of the blogging feature.

“The current player blog functionality will be discontinued. We are investigating ways of bringing blogging to players in the community site, but in the meantime existing player blogs can be exported for use at a later time. Exporting your blog will create an XML file containing all your blog entries, comments, and images, which can be imported into a variety of blogging platforms.” – Turbine, INC.

While many serious LOTRO players left the MyLotro blogging system already because of the various problems and changes it suffered over the years, this leaves some with a dilemma about what to do with their archived posts, as well as the question of whether or not to maintain a blog at all. One of the main deterrents to keeping a blog active is the notion or worry that nobody is even bothering to read it. This is a concern the Middle-earth Network was considering at our foundation. MyMiddle-earth is a great solution for LOTRO, fantasy and gamer blogs in general because it runs on WordPress, you can easily import your old blog, basic blogs are free, and best of all you get to share your blog with thousands of other users across a network of like-minded friends.  The community is managed by fans, and doesn’t have to answer to any corporate concerns that can often squelch creativity and free speech.

To bring your blog over from MyLotro, simply login to your forum account, goto your blog admin, click tools, and then export.   If you don’t already have a MyMiddle-earth Blog, simply go here and create one:  http://mymiddleearth.com/network-tracker/create/ .  Once you activate your new blog, simply goto tools in the admin menu and import your XML file.  You may need to re-upload or fix image links.  There are more detailed instructions on CSTM here.  If you need help exporting and importing your MyLOTRO or any other blog, the support team at Middle-earth Network is happy to help.  http://support.mymiddleearth.com/ If Turbine starts up a new blogging system and you want to return, you can always export your MyMiddle-earth blog and start over there or mirror your blog on both sites.

Kiralynn of Rohan, founder of the Windy Acres Ranch  had this to say about blogging;

“MyMiddleEarth is the perfect place to express yourself online and share your creativity with other Tolkien fans. It’s fun and easy to use. You won’t find a more welcoming community anywhere.”

The founders of MyMiddle-earth are die-hard LOTRO fans, in fact some may not know that founders met within the LOTRO world.  We want to see the LOTRO blogging community grow and thrive and we want send a heartfelt invitation to any and all LOTRO and fantasy bloggers to join us so that you too can call it MYmiddle-earth.  Remember, MyMiddle-earth is more than a blogging site, its a social network that brings fans and artists together.

Some of the great sites already making use of the MyMiddle-earth blogging & social network.

A few LOTRO related Blogs:
Windy Acres Ranch
LOTRO Music
Glimpses from Other Lands

Full Websites
Casual Stroll to Mordor
Ted Nasmith

& MANY others… 
A star shone on the hour of our meeting.

John Di Bartolo – Founder Middle-earth Network, Lonely Mountain Band, Ales & Tales
Galenhir on the Landroval Server

“Far Apart, Never Alone!”

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The free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena game is available on both PSN and XBLA. Kili can be purchased for 160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360 or $1.99 on PlayStation 3.

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Following its official debut on March 21, the game attracted more than 250,000 new players. Now, less than four weeks later, the game has welcomed over one million new users.

“We’re elated that fans of The Hobbit have responded so enthusiastically to The Hobbit: Armies of the Third Age and we’re incredibly proud of how the game has performed in such a short time,” said Kabam Studios president Andrew Sheppard. “With our mobile game, The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle-earth remaining popular on the iOS and Android charts, The Hobbit Film Trilogy has inspired one of Kabam’s hottest mobile game properties to date.”

The Hobbit: Armies of the Third Age is a browser-based game which focuses on fast-paced tactical combat; players can join alliances and partner up with other users in an epic online war, in which they can play as popular characters from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – such as Bilbo, Thorin, and Radagast.

The game is available in English, French, Italian, German and Spanish via Facebook, Kabam.com, and the Google Chrome Store.

Kabam’s other Hobbit-based title, The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle-earth, is available on mobile platforms as an empire-building strategy game. Users can download the game from the Google Chrome Store.

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