The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar

From Tolkien Gateway
"I shan't call it the end, till we've cleared up the mess." — Sam
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The name Angmar refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Angmar (disambiguation).
The Lord of the Rings Online- Shadows of Angmar box.jpg
The Lord of the Rings Online:
Shadows of Angmar
Video game
DeveloperTurbine, Inc
PublisherTurbine, Inc (North America and Europe)
Midway Games
Codemasters (Europe, till 2010))
IT Territory (Russia)[1]
NHN Corporation (South Korea)[1]
Sakura Internet (Japan, till 2009)[2]
PlatformMicrosoft Windows
Release dateApril 24, 2007
GenreMMORPG

The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) set in Middle-earth during the time of The Lord of the Rings. It is the initial version of The Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO or LotRO) and is referred to as volume I of the game.

The game's story line starts at the beginning of The Fellowship of the Ring Book I, Chapter III "Three is Company" and ends at the end of Book II, Chapter II "The Council of Elrond".

Release[edit | edit source]

Turbine and Midway Games, Inc. officially launched The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar on April 24th, 2007 in North America for PC computers. Codemasters handles the European version of the game.

Game Play[edit | edit source]

In Shadows of Angmar, Turbine allows players to create customized characters (elves, dwarves, hobbits, or men) to explore Middle-earth as a persistent 3D world environment, undertaking trivial and epic quests (the main story line), and battling against a wide variety of creatures and enemies in player-vs-environment. These are creatures and enemies found in the legendarium. Players can also craft equipment and consumable items (including the popular varieties of pipe-weed), as well as enjoy recreational activities such as player-generated music.

The game also has player-vs-player (PvP) combat with the free peoples fighting player controlled enemies (called "creeps). Once the player levels a free person to level 10 they can create an orc, uruk-hai, warg or spider and fight against the free peoples. Player-vs-player is limited to the region of the Ettenmoors.

Cast[edit | edit source]

The majority of the dialog in the game is textually based, but there are some characters with spoken dialog. There are also some characters that will speak a line or two of the dialog, but the rest of the dialog will be text.

Role Actor
Gandalf Harry Chase
Sandar / Chef Vraz / Warg Rider Goblin Mike Vaughn
Additional Voices Brian Talbot
Additional Voices Neil Kaplan

Epic story line[edit | edit source]

The prologue and books one through eight were included with this title. The introduction for Dwarves, Elves, Hobbits and Men were also in Shadows of Angmar. The introduction for Beornings was introduced in the update Gondor Aflame, for High Elves in the expansion Mordor, and for Stout-axes in the expansion Minas Morgul. The epic story line continues in the patch Shores of Evendim.

Introduction[edit | edit source]

There are five different introductions depending on the race of the player.

Beorning:
The player is spending idle time on the shores of the river Anduin with another Beorn named Sterkist, the player's brother. He reflects if there is more to life than spending it gazing at the river after chores are done. The voice of Radagast is heard coming from Grimbeorn's lodge. Sterkist wonders what brought the wizard to their home. He sends you to Varthmath to see if he knows the answer. If he knows, he's not telling the player. He instructs the player to mind their own business and bring the milk-cow back into her pen. After herding the cow, the player meets up with Ofolmóth who remarks that the player has grown soft. He challenges the player into a spar. After he's had enough, he tells you to hunt the sickle-files that plague the area. After defeating a number of them the player's sister Langhár draws your attention from a nearby field of clover. The two of you head back Grimbeorn's lodge. Along the way the player spots goblins. Langhár tells the player to warn the others at the entrance to the lodge. You find Sterkist and tell him about the goblins. It is unusual for them to venture this close to home since they fear the Beorn. You overhear Radagast talking to Grimbeorn saying that word of this unusual activity by the goblins needs to be relayed to other folk that can be trusted. Radagast wants him to send all of his kin, but Grimbeorn said he could only spare one, the player. Packing up some belongings, the player makes towards the mountains on horseback.
After a long journey, the player arrives in Archet. The player asks Letty Foxtail if she knows where the Ranger Aragorn is at as he heard he was heading this way. She says that he did pass this way. She tells the player to seek out Jon Brackenbrook as he might know more. Jon states that he doesn't know where Aragorn went to. He informs the player that the town was attacked and nearly burned down by Blackwold brigands. He says they have slain his father, the leader of Archet and that he is trying to rebuild the settlement. He requests the player's assistance. The story continues in Prologue: Man and Beorning.
Hobbit and Man:
The Hobbit introduction begins at a dusk road in Green Hill Country, via Old Odo's Leaf-farm to a brigand jail somewhere. After a sudden rescue the Hobbit eventually ends up in Archet. The Race of Men introduction begins in a jail in a brigand camp somewhere. After a dramatic and violent escape the Man eventually ends up in Archet. From there the two races' introductions merge.
The player along with two Hobbits escaped the brigand jail with the aid of the Ranger Strider and his friend Amdir. During the escape, Amdir was stabbed by one of the Black Riders. He looks very pale and Strider is concerned for him. Strider wants to find him aid and warn the people of Archet that Blackwolds mean to raid the town. He also mentions that he needs to find a Mister Baggins before the Black Riders do.
The player seeks out Captain Brackenbrook and warns him of the Blackwold threat. Yet, he doesn't trust the Rangers that you are with and doesn't believe the player. The player tries to warn other citizens, but no one believes an attack is imminent. Strider is informed that the player is unable to convince anyone that they are in danger. Strider tells the player to hone their skills to prepare for battle.
Once the player is finished practicing, Strider requests for the player to find some Kingsfoil to treat Amdir's wounds. He also suggests aiding Captain Brackenbrook to win over his favor. The captain informs the player where some Kingsfoil grows. He also accepts your aid, telling you to help Calder Cob who has been having problems with wolves on his farm.
Dwarf and Elf:
High Elf:
Stout-axe:

Prologue[edit | edit source]

There are four different prologues with the dwarf/stout-axe and elf/high elf prologue merging at one point. Although they are initially separated by race, a player of any race can do any of the prologues.

Dwarf and Stout-axe:
Elf and High Elf:
Dwarf, Stout-axe, Elf and High Elf:
Hobbit:
Man and Beorning:

Book I - Stirrings in the Darkness[edit | edit source]

After the prologue, the player is sent to Aragorn, who needs your help to weaken the Blackwolds, a hostile gang within Breeland, secretly backed by agents of Angmar. After helping Aragorn and the Rangers, they send you to Tom Bombadil to destroy the evil in Othrongroth, The Great Barrow of the Barrow-downs. Though the Wightlord Sambrog is defeated, the Witch-king, Ivar and Skorgrim escape. Upon returning to Bree, you discover Aragorn has left with the Hobbits and the player meets Gandalf, who was too late to help. As he leaves for Rivendell too, he instructs you to find one of his fellow Istari.

Book II - The Red Maid[edit | edit source]

Radagast the Brown asks for your help in cleansing Garth Agarwen from the evil wights that inhabit it. Ultimately you and Radagast will fight Ivar the Bloodhand, their leader and a servant of the Witch-king. After succeeding, you are urgently sent to the North Downs to aid the Rangers there.

Book III - The Council of the North[edit | edit source]

You are asked by Halbarad to aid in the defence of the North Downs against Angmar's forces, by uniting the three main armies of the North Downs: the Men of Trestlebridge, the Dwarves led by Dori and Gildor's Elves. After this, You are sent to Rivendell, where the Fellowship has now safely arrived.

Book IV - Chasing Shadows[edit | edit source]

The Black Rider that survived the Flood of Elrond is still in the Trollshaws, making it impossible for the Fellowship to leave. With the help of Legolas, Elladan and Elrohir, you chase the Nazgûl, destroying the Trolls he has corrupted, and forcing the Ringwraith to retreat to the Misty Mountains. You are sent to pursue him, where Glóin and Gimli have set up camp.

Book V - The Last Refuge[edit | edit source]

Your search for the Nazgûl brings you to the final stronghold of Skorgrim and the Dourhands. An assault led by Gimli will result in the fall of Skorgrim and the Dourhands. But the Nazgûl has fled to Helegrod, where the ancient Dragon Thorog has been revived in order to serve the Dark Lord. You arrive just in time to stop the Nazgûl, defeating him and making the Dragon harmless, for now. Now that Rivendell is safe, it is time to move on to Angmar itself.

Book VI - Fires in the North[edit | edit source]

Rangers, led by Corunir and Golodir, have gone to Angmar and their kinsmen want to know what has become of them. Upon entering Angmar, you find Corunir safe in a friendly Hillmen village. He begs you to find his lost company, who passed through Rammas Deluon: a great series of statues that weakens (or even kills) those who pass it. But after destroying the spirits within them, you are able to resist the power of Rammas Deluon, and find a dwarf settlement, where a part of the scattered party lives.

Book VII - The Hidden Hope[edit | edit source]

You are informed Golodir settled at Gath Forthnir, far in the North. When arriving there, Golodir is gone and the Rangers are led by his daughter, Lorniel. Lorniel reveals that Golodir has been captured by Mordirith, Steward of Angmar, and has been locked away in Carn Dûm. As leader of the remaining Rangers, and with the help of Laerdan, Lorniel launches an assault on Carn Dûm, where she is slain by Mordirith, who then releases Golodir, to continue his torture.

Book VIII - The Scourge of the North[edit | edit source]

Golodir's grief for the death of his daughter has almost destroyed him, yet he sees a chance to avenge her. Reclaiming an ancient sword, he travels with you to the heart of Carn Dûm, defeating Mordirith with the blade. Mordirith drops his palantír, a great seeing stone, which is quickly taken by the mysterious Sara Oakheart.

Trailers[edit | edit source]

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References

  1. 1.0 1.1 William Dobson, "Lord of the Rings Online launches in Korea and Russia" dated 23 April 2009, Engadget (accessed 23 August 2020)
  2. Karl B., "Turbine eyes Japanese market for LotRO distribution" dated 22 September 2006, qj.net (accessed 23 August 2020)
The Lord of the Rings Online
Games titles Shadows of Angmar · Mines of Moria · Siege of Mirkwood · Rise of Isengard · Riders of Rohan · Helm's Deep · Mordor · Minas Morgul · War of Three Peaks · Fate of Gundabad · Before the Shadow
Storyline Volume I: Shadows of Angmar · Volume II: Mines of Moria · Volume III: Allies of the King · Volume IV: The Strength of Sauron · The Black Book of Mordor
See also Characters · Locations · Shadows of Angmar soundtrack · Mines of Moria soundtrack · "King Under the Mountain" minigame
Licensed video games set in Middle-earth
 Melbourne House: The Hobbit (1982) · Lord of the Rings: Game One (1985) · Shadows of Mordor (1988) · War in Middle Earth (1988) · Crack of Doom Software Adventure (1989) · Riders of Rohan (1990)
 Interplay Productions: The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I (PC) (1990) · The Lord of the Rings, Vol. II: The Two Towers (1993) · The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I (SNES) (1994)
 Vivendi Universal: The Fellowship of the Ring (2002) · The Hobbit (2003) · War of the Ring (2003)
 Electronic Arts: The Two Towers (2002) · The Return of the King (2003) · The Third Age (2004) · The Battle for Middle-earth (2004) · Tactics (2005) · The Battle for Middle-earth II (2006) (The Rise of the Witch-king (2006)) · Conquest (2009) · Heroes of Middle-earth (2023)
 Turbine/Standing Stone Games: The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar (2007-) (Mines of Moria (2008) · Siege of Mirkwood (2009) · Rise of Isengard (2011) · Riders of Rohan (2012) · Helm's Deep (2013) · Mordor (2017) · Minas Morgul (2019)) · War of Three Peaks (2020) · Fate of Gundabad (2021) · Before the Shadow (2022)
 Warner Bros: Aragorn's Quest (2010) · War in the North (2011) · Guardians of Middle-earth (2012) · Kingdoms of Middle-earth (2012Armies of The Third Age (2013) · Shadow of Mordor (2014) · Shadow of War (2017) · Rise to War (2021)
 Glu Games: Middle-Earth Defense (2010)
 Traveller's Tales: Lego The Lord of the Rings: The Video Game (2012) · Lego The Hobbit (2014)
 Daedalic Entertainment: The Lord of the Rings: Gollum (2023)
 North Beach Games: The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria (2023)