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In recent days, the region of the East Wall has become overrun with Orcs and Uruks, far more than one would expect in such a remote area. Rohirrim from the Wold have arrived to deal with the incursion but have found evidence of a great battle in a glade not far from the ancient seat of seeing, Amon Hen.
Geography
The East Wall region is dominated by rugged, stony hills and bony forests. Along its eastern edge flows the river Anduin on its way to the lake of Nen Hithoel and the thunderous Falls of Rauros. To either side of the falls, one may find the twin peaks of Amon Lhaw and Amon Hen and their ancient ruins, all but forgotten.
Lore
Along the northern edge of East Wall, where the Great River flows south, stand the great Argonath marking the once-northern border of Gondor. The great statues were carved in the likenesses of the brothers Isildur and Anárion, the first kings of Gondor.
Rohan’s northernmost border march, the Wold is all but cut off from the capital at Edoras but its men are no less loyal for it. Beset on all sides by enemies, Orcs massing to the west and Easterlings crossing the Anduin to the east, the Rohirrim of the North-march refuse to abandon their watch even when ordered. Should they leave, who then will hold back the tide of their foes?
Geography
An expanse of rolling hills covered in tall grasses that wither in the dry earth, the Wold marks the northernmost border march of Rohan.
Lore
The men of the North-march are amongst the most rugged, yet unwaveringly faithful Riders. Their leader, Aldor Harding, would give his life to save Rohan from its enemies and believes it is fated for him to do so.
Travel to the Norcrofts, where the idyllic rolling plains disguise a land in turmoil. Uruk-hai from Isengard and Orcs from Mordor raid the grazing lands, burning and pillaging as they go. Rohirrim from the village of Cliving strive to keep their lands safe but the brutal raiders have proven themselves eerily elusive.
Geography
The green plains of the Norcrofts are the grassy, expansive heart of Rohan. Its tall grasses ripple and swell in the wind like a great, green sea.
Lore
The prime grazing lands of Rohan, the Norcrofts were once frequented by the mearas but they seem to have vanished of late. The people believe that these noble horses will return during a time of great need.
Even the quiet farmlands of the Sutcrofts are not beyond the reach of the enemy. The current lord, Fastred, came to power when an orkish arrow felled his father. Despite having been ordered to withdraw from his lands by Éomer, he refuses to leave his lands until it has been purged of all Orc-kind.
Geography
Underground streams keep the fields of the Sucrofts rich and green. Its dark, soft soil gives rise to growths of wildflowers and stands of maple and elm amongst the rolling grasses.
Lore
Though the Sutcrofts is the region least affected by recent invasions, it has a long history of orkish troubles. Éomund, father of Éomer, was slain in an Orkish ambush in the Sutcrofts near the East Wall.
Already a thinly-populated area, the strongholds of the Entwash Vale are now only guarded by a few Rohirrim as the residents flee west at Éomer’s command. Orcs have taken advantage of the weakened defences, burning huts and preparing for the eventual sieges of the region’s two keeps: Thornhope and Eaworth.
Geography
The most diverse landscape in all of the eastern plains, the Entwash Vale ranges from stony knolls in the north to thick, reed-filled marshes in the south.
Lore
As the vale abuts the Forest of Fangorn, the people who live here have a strong tradition of tales about wood-giants though no living man can claim to have seen one.
The dark, forboding Fangorn Forest has long been a place where only the mad might tread. But in desperate times, one must look for allies in the most unlikely places. The memories and ancient strength sleeping in the dark forest could turn the tide in the battles to come.
Geography
Fangorn Forest is a dark, shadowed forest with thick boughs which all but block the sunlight above. The trees stand silent, covered in trailing beards of lichen and moss, bearing ragged dead leaves that will not fall. Its eaves, where the trees are sparser, are still dangerous but a careful adventurer may walk there at their own risk.
Lore
Fangorn Forest is one of the last remaining ancient forests which once covered Middle-earth. It is cousin both to Mirkwood and to the Old Forest in Bree-land. Though the Rohirrim call it the Entwood, no man living believes the Ents to be anything more than myth.
New to Riders of Rohan™, Warbands are elite groups of mounted enemies that roam the plains on foul errands. Those enemies drafted for Warband duty are some of the deadliest riders found on the plains. While their appearance may be rarer in occurrence, they are feared above most as the bands themselves travel in greater numbers and boast great strength.
Unlike other foes, Warbands travel over large distances and can quickly overcome the unwary adventurer. Often times, a Warband will be better dealt with by riding alongside your allies as you charge into battle.
New “open tapping" combat rules also ensure that more than one player can get credit and experience for defeating enemies in mounted combat, even when ungrouped, which encourages cooperation towards common goals.
The cavalry of Mordor are known only to ride black steeds, most of which were stolen from the herds of the Rohirrim.
Wargs are a sentient, demonic breed of wolf, with a howling speech of their own and the ability to comprehend other tongues.
Many of the Easterling tribes are nearly as renowned for their horsemanship as the Rohirrim.
Orcs freely roam the fields of Rohan by edict of Théoden, King of Rohan. In spite of this, many Rohirrim still hunt Orcs on their lands.
In addition to Warbands, Mounted Combatants in Riders of Rohan will present a very different type of challenge for heroes accustomed to facing foes on foot. Mounted Combatants may take on several new roles such as…
Flankers and Pursuers
Flanker and Pursuer enemy types attempt to stay with you, riding next to you or pursuing close behind, trying to beat you down with a steady string of attacks. They will often attempt to hinder your movement or weaken your defenses. Wargs and mounted swordsmen might fall into this category.
Jousters
Jouster enemy types charge at you at great speeds, making hard-hitting attacks as they pass by before riding off to take another pass at their target. They will often buff themselves prior to an attack which can make them a very lethal foe. Mounted opponents wielding spears or large weapons will tend to joust.
Archers and Shamans
Archer and Shaman enemy types prefer to keep their distance to pepper their target with an array of arrows, javelins, or spells. A dangerous enemy type to ignore, Archers and Shamans need to be chased and confronted before they can cause serious harm. Some of them may have special abilities designed to hinder pursuit.
The White Hand
Enemies bearing the sign of the White Hand, serve Saruman the Betrayer, who commands them from his stronghold of Isengard. The most dangerous are the mighty Uruk-hai, which the wizard breeds in the deep pits beneath the tower of Orthanc.
Mordor
The Goblins and Uruks that carry the mark of the Great Eye are servants of Sauron. Amongst the cruelest and most vicious foes to be found upon the plains, these servants of Mordor bear no love for the White Hand. They would gladly turn on them if not for their orders.
Easterlings
Evil men of Rhûn driven back across the Great River centuries ago by the might of the Rohirrim, the Easterlings have returned to wreak revenge on the Horse-lords. Fearless and formidable warriors, they count among their number cruel sorcerers who worship powers unknown.
White-upon-green flags wave against a clear blue sky. Armoured warriors ride atop horses, their hooves pounding across a great open plain. Anyone familiar with such imagery knows the mastery of Rohirric horsemanship and combat. In The Lord of the Rings Online: Riders of Rohan™, you can master the speed and maneuvering of mounted combat, develop a War-steed to the highest realms of potential, and perfect new class techniques through the use of Rohan-inspired Mounted Disciplines.
That the blazon of the House of Eorl – the white horse on a green field – was inspired by a chalk image carved into a hillside in England in ancient days?
Mounted combat is mentioned several times in The Lord of the Rings, including the Field of Celebrant, Helm's Deep, the Battle of the Pelennor Field, and the ride of the Rohirrim through the Drúadan Forest, among others?
Mounted combat figured strongly in The Song of Roland, an epic medieval French poem that may have been one of the inspirations for the Battle of Helm's Deep?
The Rohirrim, as an oral culture, often recited verses or sang songs while riding into battle?
Speed plays a primary role in Mounted Combat and players will experience riding across the plains of Rohan faster than ever before. Fury – the primary resource of mounted combat – is generated through swift movement across the battlefield. Higher speeds result in faster Fury generation.
The purpose of Fury is two-fold. First, as your War-steed builds Fury your active attacks become more powerful and generate greater damage with each attack. Second, Fury can be used to augment damage and healing done by some skills.
In mounted combat the core identity of each class remains intact, but also grows through War-steeds. There are a number of new class skills only available while riding a War-steed. These new skills give additional depth to mounted combat while maintaining the original feel of each class, and can be further enhanced by using a Discipline.
There are three mounted combat Disciplines: Rohirrim, Riddermark and Red Dawn. A Discipline augments and alters your moment-to-moment experience of mounted combat.
Rohirrim Discipline
Alters class skills to increase defenses, increases enemy threat/distraction capabilities, and can enhance healing and survivability. Receive a benefit indicative of your class, such as a bonus to healing or increased protection from damage.
Riddermark Discipline
Alters class skills to provide more support-based tactics, increased combat sustainability, and further control over the battlefield. Receive a benefit indicative of your class, like a bonus to critical chance or a modest boost to damage (or to critical damage).
Red Dawn Discipline
Alters class skills, bringing them to a new peak of damage dealing. Receive a benefit indicative of your class, such as a boost to critical chance, critical damage, or enhanced damage to certain skills.
Class Examples
Burglar
Focuses on weakening enemies, evasive maneuvers, positional game play, and melee damage.
Jollification: A burglar knows when to revel in the face of another's folly.
Rohirrim: Restores both morale and power to their mount.
Riddermark: Increases the burglar's chance to critically strike by 25%.
Red Dawn: Applies a powerful short-term bleed to the target.
Requires Trick: Stratagem to be on the target. Removes Trick: Stratagem when the skill is executed.
Captain
Focuses on strengthening allies, weakening enemies, directing the battlefield, and dealing a mix of melee and ranged damage.
Cry Havoc: Unleashing a mighty cry, the Captain is capable of bolster allies while unnerving foes.
Rohirrim: Deals a low amount of damage to a targeted enemy and heals a great deal of morale and power the Captain and their War-steed.
Riddermark: Deals a low amount of damage to up to 6 targets in a ~40m radius around the target and heals the Captain's fellowship members and their War-steeds for a low amount of morale.
Red Dawn: Deals a significant amount of damage to a single target and restores a small amount of morale and power to the Captain and their War-steed.
Champion
Focuses heavily on melee damage, a very small amount on ranged damage, the ability to threaten/distract enemies, and controlling the battlefield.
Destabilizing Strike: Calling upon inner will and strength to unnerve their opponents, a Champion can force enemies to behave as they desire. Also deals a significant amount of damage to the target.
Rohirrim: Taunts the target to attack the Champion and forces the target to ride in front of the Champion for a short time.
Riddermark: Applies a significant slow to the target and has a very small chance to dismount them when the slow expires.
Red Dawn: Applies a significant bleed to the target and has a small chance to halt the target when the bleed expires.
Consumes all Fervour.
Guardian
Focuses on melee damage, self-sustenance, controlling the battlefield, and threatening/distracting enemies.
Rohan's Edge: Though not a powerful attack, a critical strike can cause your next attack to greatly inspire you and your nearby fellowship members. Deals low damage to a target.
Rohirrim: Your next attack will instantly restore a small amount of morale to you, your fellowship members and war-steeds.
Riddermark: Your next attack will instantly restore a small amount of power to you, your fellowship members and war-steeds.
Red Dawn: Your next attack will instantly increase the damage dealt by you, your fellowship members and war-steeds.
Hunter
Focuses heavily on ranged damage, a very small amount of melee damage, controlling the enemy, and self-sustenance.
Noble Arrow: You unleash a noble arrow at your target. The arrow seeks its target with a critical intent. Deals good damage to the target and on critical:
Rohirrim: restores health and power to the hunter and their war-steed.
Riddermark: reduces the armor rating of the target and their war-steed.
Red Dawn: applies a bleed to the target and their war-steed.
Lore-master
Focuses heavily on ranged damage, a very small amount on melee damage, strengthening and healing allies, weakening enemies, and controlling the enemy.
Enduring Embers: Using your knowledge of fire and all that burns, you heave handfuls of embers at your target. They burn hotter and longer and increase with each application. Deals a minor amount of damage initially and increases damage over the duration of the effect.
Can stack up to 3 times.
Minstrel
Focuses heavily on ranged damage, a small amount on melee damage, and healing and buffing allies.
Call of the Eorlingas: The Eorlingas can use the power of voice to calm allies and war-steeds or bring great harm and ruin to their enemies. You have learned to channel your voice in much the same manner.
Rohirrim: Heals a targeted rider and their steed for a good amount of morale.
Riddermark: Heals the minstrel and their steed for a small amount of morale and heals friendly players and war-steeds within 30m of the minstrel for a fair amount.
Red Dawn: deals damage to a up to three targets in a 30m radius.
Rune-keeper
Focuses heavily on ranged damage, controlling the enemy, and healing allies.
Resolution: In the end, everything is resolve; though some may not like the final result.
Rohirrim: Applies a healing effect to the target and their war-steed. If Fixation is present on the target a secondary Heal-over-Time effect is applied to surrounding friendly targets. (Fixation is removed from the target.)
Riddermark: Applies fair damage to the target. If Fixation is present on the target the target is halted and cannot move for a short time (Fixation is removed from the target.)
Red Dawn: Applies a healing effect to the target and their war-steed. If Fixation is present on the target adds a potent short-term fire based DoT. (Fixation is removed from the target.)
Removes all attunement.
Warden
Focuses on a mix of melee and various ranged damage dependent on stance, controlling the battlefield, threatening/distracting enemies, and self-sustenance.
Skill of the Eorlingas: The ultimate expression of the tactics of the Horse-lords. This is a powerful strike without enhancement. When enhanced along the manner of true horsemanship and style this becomes a devastating maneouvre.
Rohirrim: Deals high damage to the target and decreases incoming damage by 10%.
Riddermark: This skill deals high damage to the target and increases outgoing ranged damage by 5%.
Red Dawn: Deals high damage to the target and increases your outgoing melee damage by 10%.
When a Shield token is active, deals a good amount of damage to the target and increases the armour of the warden and their mount for a period of time. Also decreases incoming damage by 30% for a short time.
When a Lance token is active, deals a good amount of damage to the target and has the potential to unhorse the target. Also increases outgoing melee damage by 25% for a short time.
When a Shout token is active, deals a good amount of damage to the target and reduces the target's speed to 0 for a short time. Also increases ranged damage by 15% for a short time.
General Skills
Double Barrel Kick: Your steed leaps into the air, kicking out with its hind legs. The force of this attack has a chance to knock down all affected targets.
Rear Back: In an act of aggression, your steed rears back onto its hind legs, breaking free of its bonds and placing fear into the hearts of all those around it.
Light Steed Train Skills
Feign Injury: You fake an injury just long enough to divert the enemy's attention elsewhere.
Medium Steed Train Skills
Intimidate: You let forth a mighty scream that frightens your enemy, forcing them to turn and flee from battle for a short time.
Combine this with the Trait Deadly Pursuit to apply bleed damage when attacking from behind.
Heavy Steed Train Skills
Ride for Ruin: You ride for ruin and for victory, greatly increasing your chance to land a critical hit.
Combine this with the Trait Shields Will Be Splintered to apply bleed damage and armour reduction when you land a critical hit.
Group play in mounted combat is fast, dynamic, and challenging. Expect to manage multiple opponents while traveling at high speed. Mounted combat succeeds most when you support Fellowship members and coordinate your attacks.
Here are a few tips to help you on your way:
Know Your Roles
The class roles you use today continue, but with a combination of Disciplines and War-steed those roles can be expanded. A Guardian, Warden, or Champion may still be the best at tanking when riding a Heavy War-steed; however, there exists a real possibility for a Lore-master, Rune-keeper, or Hunter to serve as tank—with the correct Discipline, Steed and Advancement Path. The important thing to remember is the strengths and weaknesses of your War-steed and class.
Mark your targets
As always, communication is paramount to success. Your target indicator will help track your immediate opponent, but your enemies (and friends) will cross the battlefield at rapid speeds. Use Fellowship Target Marking to maintain visibility on specific foes.
Stay close to your group
Many healing and enhancing abilities are available to use in a Fellowship, but these will only apply to riders around you. Ride together.
Maintain your speed
To maximize your healing and damage, you'll need to build your Fury. Keep your speed high to build this resource and unleash devastating blows.
In The Lord of the Rings Online™: Riders of Rohan™, the War-steed is your personal combat mount. It gains experience, levels up, and can be equipped with a Legendary Bridle—bringing the Legendary Item equip total to three during mounted combat. The War-steed can be trained and specialized in a variety of ways; earning specific trait points will allow you to improve their attributes,acquire new skills, and improve your own mounted combat skills.
Unlike standard travel mounts, War-steeds hail from a long lineage of majestic, highly intelligent, and kingly creatures known as the Mearas. They are faster, stronger, and thoroughly trained for battle.
Shadowfax is not white. He is, in fact, a silvery-grey that shines like silver in the sunlight and renders him virtually invisible in the shadows of the night.
Tolkien never explains why dwarves seem afraid of horses, but not of ponies.
The common name for War-steeds in the real world is charger. A medieval breed, now extinct, chargers were akin to the larger breeds of today.
Hasufel, the horse given to Aragorn by Éomer, was of the charger variety—but Arod, the horse ridden by Legolas and Gimli, was a lighter, faster breed.
Tolkien considered horses and ponies important enough to name, among them Bill the Pony, Shadowfax, Hasufel, Snowmane, Roheryn, and Windfola… to name a few.
There are three types of War-steeds, and while the mounts themselves are not specific to individual classes, their characteristics will allow you to mix and match with your class abilities and your play style.
The Courser
A fast and agile Light mount, a Courser's greater speed allows them to build Fury at a quicker pace, allowing the execution of more devastating Fury-fueled attacks. Great speed comes at the cost, however, as their Endurance and Armour is reduced.
The Rouncey
This is a moderately armoured Medium steed providing balance and stability without sacrificing or favouring survivability or maneuverability. Riders of the Rouncey are usually more focused on close combat, blending greater offense over defense and support tactics more evenly than its lighter and heavier brethren.
The Destrier
This Heavy mount protects more than it speeds. The Destrier's greater armour allows them to take more damage and their enhanced Power allows extensive use of special mount charges and abilities. In trade, a slower speed makes for slower Fury generation and less overall mobility.
The three War-steed types in Riders of Rohan are further specialized by earning and allocating trait points. All three steed types have access to unique trait trees, each complementing the three disciplines — Red Dawn, Rohirrim, and Riddermark.
Red Dawn
Focused on skills that deliver large amounts of direct damage.
Rohirrim
Defensive skills designed for sustaining considerable damage.
Riddermark
A blend of support, utility, and some damage skills.
While a War-steed's trait points can be evenly spread across the three branches, many of the most potent skills come from investing in one or two disciplines. You can decide to enhance the strengths of your mount, such as specializing in Rohirrim on a Heavy mount. Conversely, you can mitigate a steed's weaknesses—investing into the Rohirrim tree on a Light War-steed.
In addition, trait tree configurations can be saved and swapped at a later time. Swap between different Trait Configurations when you choose a new War-steed type, or encounter a new situation.
The War-steed features an extensive visual customization through seven cosmetic equipment slots: Head, Body, Legs, Tail, Hide, Saddle, and Gear. A few cosmetic styles included for launch are Bone, Leather, Elven, and Chainmail. You can also swap a War-steed's coat, allowing total control of your mount's appearance.
Select Dye
Select Coat
*Some coat/tack colors and coat styles may require additional purchase
