Announced this morning via Press Release, Turbine has announced that their upcoming expansion to the Massively Multiplayer Online RPG The Lord of the Rings Online will launch this September 5th,
The Lord of the Rings Online: Riders of Rohan will allow the epic story to continue as the story takes the player south into the land of Rohan. The game will also feature the addition of the highly anticipated Mounted Combat, as players will be able to fight the forces of evil from their trusty warsteeds!
Check out the teaser trailer below, as well as the official press release from Warner Bros and Turbine!
Official Press Release:
THE LORD OF THE RINGS ONLINE™: RIDERS OF ROHAN™
TO LAUNCH SEPTEMBER 5, 2012
Players may Pre-Purchase the Fourth Major Expansion to the Award-Winning MMO Starting Today!
NEEDHAM, MA – June 5, 2012 — Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Turbine announced today The Lord of the Rings Online™: Riders of Rohan™, the next expansion to the award-winning free-to-play massively multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG), will launch on September 5, 2012. Players can pre-purchase Riders of Rohan and gain special benefits starting today by visiting .
“Riders of Rohan is our biggest expansion yet, and raises the bar technically and artistically much like Mines of Moria did in 2008. We’re introducing the largest area we’ve ever built and a combat system unlike anything that has been built before in MMOs,” said Kate Paiz, Executive Producer of The Lord of the Rings Online, Turbine. “We’re excited for players to be able to continue the epic story as players immerse themselves in Rohirrim culture and support King Théoden himself as they strive to keep the eyes of Mordor distracted from the Ringbearer’s task.”
THE LORD OF THE RINGS ONLINE: RIDERS OF ROHAN FEATURES:
Introducing Mounted Combat — Ride into Combat atop your loyal War-steed as you defend the people of Rohan from the forces of Isengard and Mordor. Customize your War-steed’s armor and level its skills over time to aid you in mounted defense of King Théoden’s lands. Mount your steed and gather your fellows to fight against Warbands, contingents of roving wargs and orcs that have been scouted all over the Plains of Rohan! It falls to you to head off and defeat this new threat before they over take the land.
Explore Largest Landscape Yet! — Nearly three times as large as Moria! Join with the Rohirrim and ride across the sprawling Eastern Plains of Rohan. Raise high your sword to fight for honor and glory in the name of Théoden King! Experience hundreds of new quests, earn new favor, gear, deeds and more!
The Epic Story Continues — The Fellowship is on the move once again and must achieve their task at all cost. It falls to you to clear the path and turn the Eye of the Enemy away from their progress as you aid the Rohirrim in their own struggle close by. Witness the breaking of the Fellowship at Amon Hen; forge alliances with the Ents of Fangorn; and aid Éomer, nephew of Théoden, as he seeks to protect his homeland from the growing Shadow.
Advance to Level 85 — Learn what it means to be Rohirrim as you face new challenges throughout the Riddermark on your journey to level 85. Continue your legend as you grow in power with new skills and deeds and earn new armor and gear to aid you in the battles to come.
Starting today, players can take can take advantage of three special pre-purchase offers to celebrate the release of the next major expansion to LOTRO:
Legendary Edition — Includes the full Riders of Rohan Expansion plus:
The Steed of the Eastemnet – An exclusive Rohirrim Mount available immediately with matching War-steed appearance available when Riders of Rohan launches
Armor of the Eastemnet — An exclusive full set of Rohirrim cosmetic armour
Friend of the Mark — An exclusive in-game Rohirrim title
6th Inventory Bag – An inventory bag that grants 15 additional storage slots
Crystal of Remembrance – Adds one additional legacy to your legendary weapon
Exclusive Rohan Content — Discover the lineage of the great War-steeds and earn a mounted combat deed that grants an exclusive skill for your War-steed
Pre-Purchase Bonuses:
Rohan Elite Guard Statted Cloak — A box of four level 75 statted cloaks that allows you to choose a power bonus for your hero type
The Outriders Token — A 25% XP Boost for all characters on your account that will last up to level 75
Rohirrim Soldier on Landscape Appearance — Upon reaching level 20, you can customize your Soldier on Landscape with a Rohirrim Appearance
Heroic Edition – Includes the full Riders of Rohan Expansion plus:
The Steed of the Eastemnet – An exclusive Rohirrim Mount
Hauberk of the Eastemnet — An exclusive Rohirrim cosmetic chest piece
Friend of the Mark — An exclusive in-game Rohirrim title
Evendim, Moria, and Lothlórien Quest Packs — Over 650 quests, 10 fellowship instances, and two raids
Pre-Purchase Bonuses:
Rohan Elite Guard Statted Cloak — A box of four level 20 statted cloaks that allows you to choose a power bonus for your hero type
The Outriders Token — A 25% XP Boost for all characters on your account that will last up to level 75
Rohirrim Soldier on Landscape Appearance — Upon reaching level 20, you can customize your Soldier on Landscape with a Rohirrim Appearance
Base Edition — Includes the full Riders of Rohan Expansion plus:
The Steed of the Eastemnet – An exclusive Rohirrim Mount
Friend of the Mark — An exclusive in-game Rohirrim title
Pre-Purchase Bonuses:
Rohan Elite Guard Statted Cloak — A box of four level 20 statted cloaks that allows you to choose a power bonus for your hero type
Rohirrim Soldier on Landscape Appearance — Upon reaching level 20, you can customize your Soldier on Landscape with a Rohirrim Appearance
Players will have access to all of the bonus items including the Steed of the Eastemnet, the Armour and Hauberk of the Eastemnet, the Friend of the Mark in-game title, the 6th inventory bag, the Crystal of Remembrance, the Exclusive Rohan Content, the Evendim, Moria, and Lothlórien Quest Packs, the Elite Guard Statted Cloaks, the Outrider’s Token, and, upon hitting level 20, the Rohirrim Soldier on Landscape Appearance after purchase. The Riders of Rohan expansion itself and the Steed of the Eastemnet War-steed appearance will be available to play on September 5, 2012. These special offers will only be available for a limited time. For more information, please visit www.lotro.com.
# # #
THE LORD OF THE RINGS ONLINE™ interactive video game © 2012 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and patents pending. All rights reserved. Middle-earth Poster Map © 2007 The Saul Zaentz Company, d/b/a Middle-earth Enterprises (SZC), under license to Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.. All rights reserved. “The Lord of the Rings Online”, “Riders of Rohan”, Middle-earth Enterprises logo, “The Lord of the Rings” and the names of the characters, events, items and places therein are trademarks or registered trademarks of SZC under license to Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Turbine and the Turbine logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
I thought for a second there was gonna be some sort of re-release of the old Riders of Rohan game and I got all kinds of excited. Not that this isn’t exciting, but…. I mean, does anyone remember that game? It was epic.