Two Distinct Tracks!

Bree-land now focuses on player levels 14-22; a modest eight levels of story-driven questing with two distinct content paths. Of course, players are still free to wander about town and discover these stories as always. The goal is to provide a cleaner, more direct path to the most significant stories found in the region.

The first track follows our Epic story – more on the changes there later – and finds players in Buckland as they assist the Rangers in their tasks. Along the way they may meet fellows in Buckland who are in need of assistance with troubles arising in the Old Forest. This change leads players to complete the Epic storyline concurrently with the Old Forest quests following the arrival and departure of one Frodo Baggins.

The second track begins with a tour of Bree and extends toward the Bree-fields. There players are introduced to the troubles plaguing the people of Bree-land. This second line is the story of Bree-land itself and is separate from the Epic tale allowing us to explore and make use of underutilized areas in the Bree-fields and Andrath. You’ll find new quests throughout those areas in support of the new progression system.

Whichever path you choose, you will eventually converge on one place – Adso’s Camp.

Adso’s Camp – The Old Forest Road – The Barrow-downs

Player should be roughly level 16-18 as they make their way to Adso’s camp - right about the time they’re about to visit a certain someone in the Old Forest or following the trail of Sharkey’s Men and their ravaging of the land. Adso’s camp has seen some changes to support this shift. More quests and alterations to existing quests will prepare players to enter the darker parts of the Old Forest. We also complete the first leg of the story of Bree-land here and provide you a choice of where to go next.

Choosing to follow the Epic story will lead you into the heart of the Old Forest to visit a caretaker there. Following the trail he provides will take you along the Old Forest Road, where some familiar and unfamiliar faces are now holed up for fear of their lives. The reasons these former residents of Bree-town are in the space between the Barrow-downs and the Old Forest are made clear over the course of many quests and eventually lead you toward the southern Barrow-downs where even more Bree-landers, familiar and new, await your assistance. The northern Barrow-downs focuses on level 18-19 and the southern Barrow-downs focuses on levels 20-21 before introducing you to the Great Barrow.

The quests may seem familiar to those of you who have oft braved the Bree-land questing areas, but the stories behind them have changed to explain why some seemingly content residents of Bree town have suddenly decided to enter the strange and haunting barrows. The area focuses on creatures typically found as deed targets, which should further enhance the overall experience.

Deep within the Barrow-downs you will find The Great Barrow and outside of this instance – still targeted at full fellowships – you will find bestowers previously scattered throughout Bree-land. Though their locations have changed, their goals have not and they still need your help with the great evil dwelling within the rotting tomb. One major change to the quest arcs within the Great Barrow is the formation of the key. The travel time has been reduced significantly!

Rangers – Bandits – Orcs!

Following the story of Bree-land through Adso’s camp will open up the second questing path through the region. The Rangers require your assistance in helping the people of Bree prepare for the onslaught coming out of the North and South. Journeying north and seeking out the Ranger Saeradan will set players on a path that follows the same progression as the Barrow-downs with the new quests and revised quests taking characters from 19-21 and driving players into oft overlooked northern Bree-land areas like Hengstacer Farms.

Further in the north, new camps of orcs and new hunters offer players quests that will aid them as they learn and complete the story of Bree-land. This knowledge comes at a price, however, and also serves as the beginning of a new story progression that will draw players to the North Downs.