Map and pictures of the Black Gate and LOTRO update 20!
Right then, the beta of update 20 of Lord of the Rings Online was just released on the Bullroarer test server. We’re getting ever nearer to Mordor, heading for the lands outside the Black Gate. Below is the map of the new area and a few screenshots.
The usual disclaimer: If you want a pristine game experience with no ruined surprises about the new regions, you should probably stop reading now, if not before!
You can see larger versions of pictures by clicking on them. If you want more details, you can find the latest patch notes on Standing Stone’s Bullroarer forums.
The Wastes
The new area released with update 20 is called The Wastes. Standing Stone says the area has three regions: Noman-lands, Dagorlad, and the Slag-hills. Those regions have no detailed maps of their own, though.
Map of The Wastes
The Wastes covers the area outside of the Black Gate of Mordor (Morannon). Dagorlad was the dusty plain just below the gate, and the site of the great battle between Sauron and the Last Alliance of men and elves at the end of the Second Age. The Slag-Hills were great mounds of waste, rocks and earth, built up over the years by orcs working around the gate.
The new area is pretty small, not least since it is wide open and explorable from the get go. There are no hindrances, maze-like valleys, mountains blocking the way or similar.
Updated emotes
With U20, Standing Stone has added animations to many of the existing emotes in the game: assist, attack, blush, brb, curtsey, drool, fight, grumble, hug, innocent, mumble, pat, ready, resist, rest, stare, stretch, succumb, sweat, tear, wait, & wink. You can see a preview of the emotes in the video below, at least as performed by a hobbit lass. The animations look very nice, and thankfully they have no sound effects (yeah, I still remember this thing).
Animated emotes previewScreenshots
Screenshots of various things coming with U20 below:
Looks like we’re getting new pets, including dogs!
Barterable mushroom hat and backpack
View towards Haerondir
A new roving threat in Noman-land
The marsh edge of Dagorlad. You can’t pass through the reeds.
Another view of the marshes to the north of Dagorlad
Dol Acharn, a likely very scary heap of buildings in Dagorlad
Aye, a predictable outcome of a visit to Dol Acharn
The Black Gate of Mordor
A closer look at the gate
The eastern edge of the new area, Lang Rhuven
New crafting recipes, tailor version
The Gondorian exterior of the new Bree scholar’s hall has been removed.
Like what yer see so far? Let me know in the comments below!