LOTRO Academy: Recent Episodes
LOTRO Academy Team
LOTRO Academy is a free, weekly audio podcast focused on getting the new player up to speed in Lord of the Rings Online™. Each episode will feature an in-depth look at a particular element of the game, starting with the basics, such as character creation, soloing and grouping, and using the LOTRO Store, but moving onto more intermediate and advanced topics as we continue our adventures in Middle-earth. Our goal is to learn as much about LOTRO ourselves as we can, and to share what we learn with our listeners.
Branick, Teriadwyn, Pineleaf, Sanswinda, and move on to a spoiler-heavy discussion and in-depth look at the Epic Story of Volume 2 of The Lord of the Rings Online™. Thanks for listening.
Teriadwyn, Pineleaf, Sanswinda, and Mortumbra wrap up a spoiler-heavy discussion and in-depth look at the Epic Story of Volume 1 of The Lord of the Rings Online™. Thanks for listening.
Teriadwyn, Pineleaf, Sanswinda, and Mortumbra continue a spoiler-heavy discussion and in-depth look at the Epic Story of Volume 1 of The Lord of the Rings Online™. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Teriadwyn, Pineleaf, Sanswinda, and Mortumbra kick off a spoiler-heavy discussion and in-depth look at the Epic Story of Volume 1 of The Lord of the Rings Online™. Thanks for listening.
LOTRO Academy: After School is our monthly live show where we talk about what each of us have been up to during the month and answer questions from the live chat. Thanks for listening. LOTRO Academy: After School is recorded live on the last Friday of the month and posted when I can get to […]
Teriadwyn, Pineleaf, Sanswinda, and Mortumbra talk about where and how to go about getting those levels from 66 to 75. Thanks for listening.
LOTRO Academy: After School is our monthly live show where we talk about what each of us have been up to during the month and answer questions from the live chat. Thanks for listening.
LOTRO Academy: After School is our monthly live show where we talk about what each of us have been up to during the month and answer questions from the live chat. Thanks for listening.
Before recording episode 139, Branick and Andang recorded a conversation about the Champion class, The Lord of the Rings Online™ in general, and more. A small section was included in LOTRO Academy: 139 - The Champion, but the entire conversation is presented here as bonus content for you to enjoy. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Teriadwyn, Pineleaf, Sanswinda, and Mortumbra discuss the Champion class in The Lord of the Rings Online™ and are joined by a recording of noteworthy Champion, Andang. Thanks for listening.
LOTRO Academy: After School is our monthly live show where we talk about what each of us have been up to during the month and answer questions from the live chat. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Teriadwyn, Pineleaf, Sanswinda, and Mortumbra kick off the first episode of the new year with a LOTRO Academy tradition. It's time for another LOTRO Goals episode, in which we set our goals for 2017 as well as look back on our goals from 2016. Thanks for listening.
LOTRO Academy: After School is our monthly live show where we talk about what each of us have been up to during the month and answer questions from the live chat. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Teriadwyn, Pineleaf, Sanswinda, and Mortumbra are joined by guest hosts Flosiin, Kudithi, and AllupEnya for an in-depth look at the Captain class in The Lord of the Rings Online™. Thanks for listening.
LOTRO Academy: After School is our monthly live show where we talk about what each of us have been up to during the month and answer questions from the live chat. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Teriadwyn, Pineleaf, Sanswinda, and Mortumbra continue our series on leveling in The Lord of the Rings Online™ with this look at levels 61 to 65. Thanks for listening!
Branick, Teriadwyn, Pineleaf, and Mortumbra answer more of Sanswinda’s questions. Not every question needs an entire episode to explain the topic. In this episode, we seek to answer those little questions that players may have when starting out in The Lord of the Rings Online™. Thanks for listening!
LOTRO Academy: After School is our monthly live show where we talk about what each of us have been up to during the month and answer questions from the live chat. Thanks for listening.
LOTRO Academy: After School is our monthly live show where we talk about what each of us have been up to during the month and answer questions from the live chat. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Pineleaf, Sanswinda, Mortumbra, and eventually Teriadwyn are here to talk about trait lines, virtues, and everything else under "J". Thanks for listening!
Branick, Teriadwyn, Pineleaf, and Mortumbra answer more of Sanswinda's questions. Not every question needs an entire episode to explain the topic. In this episode, we seek to answer those little questions that players may have when starting out in The Lord of the Rings Online™. Thanks for listening!
Branick, Teriadwyn, Pineleaf, and Sanswinda welcome Mortumbra to the Academy Team with this episode focused on answering Sanswinda's questions. Not every question needs an entire episode to explain the topic. In this episode, we seek to answer those little questions that players may have when starting out in The Lord of the Rings Online™. Thanks for listening!
LOTRO Academy: After School is our monthly live show where we talk about what each of us have been up to during the month and answer questions from the live chat. Thanks for listening.
This is a rather special episode of LOTRO Academy: After School. We say goodbye to Draculetta, welcome Sanswinda to the fold, announce Late Night LOTRO, and explain the ongoing changes to the LOTRO Academy schedule.
Starting next week, we will begin recording episodes on Saturdays rather than Fridays. Depending on my work schedule for the week, I may not be able to participate in every episode going forward. The new recording schedule applies to After School as well. Our next episode will be LOTRO Academy: After School - Episode 8, which will be broadcast live on the Players Alliance mixlr on Sat. August 27th, at 2PM CDT. I hope to see you there in chat.
Branick, Teriadwyn, and Pineleaf explain how the LOTRO Store works, how it compares to more cash shop focused games, and what kinds of things are available for purchase. Thanks for listening!
LOTRO Academy: After School is our monthly live show where we talk about what each of us have been up to during the month and answer questions from the live chat. Thanks for listening.
Teriadwyn teaches Branick and Pineleaf all there is to know about the cosmetics systems in The Lord of the Rings Online™. Thanks for listening!
Branick, Teriadwyn, and Pineleaf return to the topic of skirmishes, this time with an in-depth discussion on skirmish camps. Thanks for listening!
LOTRO Academy: After School is our monthly live show where we talk about what each of us have been up to during the month and answer questions from the live chat. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Teriadwyn, and Pineleaf once again talk about the differences between Free, Premium, and VIP account types in order to keep new players informed about how this stuff works. Thanks for listening!
In our first ever class-focused episode, Branick, Teriadwyn, Draculetta, and Pineleaf are joined by guest hosts Ritelberry and the Tolkien Professor to talk about LOTRO's sneakiest, most mischievous class: The Burglar. Thanks for listening!
LOTRO Academy: After School is our monthly live show where we talk about what each of us have been up to during the month and answer questions from the live chat. Thanks for listening. LOTRO Academy: After School is recorded live on the last Friday of the month and posted the following Wednesday. Join us […]
In this episode, Maven returns to join Branick, Teriadwyn, Draculetta, and Pineleaf in the conclusion to our in-depth discussion of crafting in The Lord of the Rings Online™. Thanks for listening.
Draculetta hosts our Monsters of LOTRO episode, recorded on Friday the 13th. Thanks for listening.
LOTRO Academy: After School is our monthly live show where we talk about what each of us have been up to during the month and answer questions from the live chat. Thanks for listening.
In this episode, Branick, Teriadwyn, Draculetta, and Pineleaf are joined by guest host Maven for an in-depth look at crafting in The Lord of the Rings Online™. Thanks for listening.
Unfortunately we were unable to record a new episode for this week, but we do have some bonus content for you. Before recording episode 123, I decided to record some of our conversations on TeamSpeak during the Academy Field Trip. There's really no format to this bit of discussion, but Pineleaf was certainly on point for this informative, though off-topic, bonus segment. I hope you enjoy it. LOTRO Academy will return next week with episode 124.
In this episode, Pineleaf teaches Branick, Teriadwyn, and Draculetta all about the Collections Panel in The Lord of the Rings Online™. Thanks for listening.
In this episode, Branick, Teriadwyn, and Pineleaf welcome Eldalleth to the podcast as a guest host to teach us all about The Road to Erebor instance cluster, which was added to The Lord of the Rings Online™ with the Riders of Rohan™ expansion pack. We cover each of the seven Erebor instances, including Iorbar's Peak, Seat of the Great Goblin, Webs of the Scuttledells, The Bells of Dale, Flight to the Lonely Mountain, The Fires of Smaug, and The Battle for Erebor. Thanks for listening.
LOTRO Academy: After School is our monthly live show where we talk about what each of us have been up to during the month and answer questions from the live chat. Thanks for listening.
In this episode, Branick, Teriadwyn, and Pineleaf wrap up our multi-episode review series on The Lord of the Rings Online™: Mines of Moria, the first expansion pack to be released for LOTRO. Part 5 is focused on the various options for purchasing the content, our conclusions on Moria as a whole, and our listener-favorite Armchair Designer segment. Thanks for listening.
In this episode, Branick, Teriadwyn, and Pineleaf, are once again joined by guest host Zirrok to continue our multi-episode review series on The Lord of the Rings Online™: Mines of Moria, the first expansion pack to be released for LOTRO. Part 4 is focused on the areas of Nud-Melek, Dimrill Dale, and Lothlorien. Thanks for listening.
In this episode, Branick, Teriadwyn, Pineleaf, and Draculetta are one again joined by guest host Zirrok to continue our multi-episode review series on The Lord of the Rings Online™: Mines of Moria, the first expansion pack to be released for LOTRO. Part 3 is focused on the areas of Redhorn Lodes, Flaming Deeps, and Foundations of Stone. Thanks for listening.
LOTRO Academy: After School is our monthly live show where we talk about what each of us have been up to during the month and answer questions from the live chat. Thanks for listening.
In this episode, Branick, Teriadwyn, and Pineleaf are joined by guest host Zirrok to continue our multi-episode review series on The Lord of the Rings Online™: Mines of Moria, the first expansion pack to be released for LOTRO. Part 2 is focused on the areas of 21st Hall, Zelem-Melek, and The Water-works. Thanks for listening.
In this episode, Branick, Teriadwyn, and Pineleaf pick up where the listener-favorite Quest Pack Review episodes left off with the first of a multi-episode series in which we review The Lord of the Rings Online™: Mines of Moria, the first expansion pack to be released for LOTRO. Part 1 is focused on the areas of The Great Delving, Silvertine Lodes, Durin's Way, and Zirakzigil. Thanks for listening.
This is the first ever live broadcast of LOTRO Academy, now available in the podcast feed for those who couldn't be there live. Thanks to everyone who did show up in chat for making this episode a success and giving LOTRO Academy: After School a great debut. We hope you'll join us in chat on February 26th for the next episode of LOTRO Academy: After School. Thanks for listening.
In this episode Branick, Pineleaf, Teriadwyn, and Draculetta talk about the process of leveling from 51 to 60 and about aspects of the game that start to need your attention post level 50. Thanks for listening.
After over 5 years of LOTRO Academy podcast episodes, we've decided that 2016 was the time to make some changes to the format of the show, the biggest of which is our brand new live show which will debut on The Players Alliance mixlr next Friday (January 29th) at 7:30 PM CST. Intended to serve as a replacement for the long-running Last Week In LOTRO segment, the new show will be called LOTRO Academy: After School, and will air on the last Friday of the month. These episodes will then be added to the podcast feed on the following Wednesday.
This will be our first attempt at a live broadcast of LOTRO Academy and we'd love for you all to join us in the chatroom for our debut episode of LOTRO Academy: After School. The exact live show format is likely to change as we go along, but one of the primary goals is to allow for a live Questions and Answers segment. So if you have questions for the LOTRO Academy team, you'll be able to ask us live! We'll do our best to answer any questions you have about LOTRO and if we don't know the answer immediately, we'll be happy to do the research to get your questions answered in a future episode of the LOTRO Academy podcast!
We plan to start the broadcast as soon as we can after the Academy Field Trip on Arkenstone, which means the broadcast may start up to half an hour before the official start of the episode. I hope to see you there on Friday. Come early and you can join us for our pre-show banter.
In this episode Branick, Mysteri, Pineleaf, and Draculetta listen as Teriadwyn teaches us all about Essences and Essence Gear. As an added bonus, Mysteri takes us on the most on-topic tangent in LOTRO Academy history! Thanks for listening.
In this episode Branick, Mysteri, Pineleaf, Draculetta, and Teriadwyn celebrate the new year with a look back at our LOTRO Goals for 2015 and a look at the year ahead with a brand new set of LOTRO Goals for 2016. Also, Branick announces changes to the show's format intended to bring the LOTRO Academy podcast back into full swing for the new year! Thanks for listening.
In this episode Branick, Pineleaf, Draculetta, and Teriadwyn return to the topic of LOTRO Plug-ins with our list or recommendations for you. We hope you find these plug-ins to be as useful as we do. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Pineleaf, and Teriadwyn are joined by Karvett to conclude our Pre-Moria Quest Pack Review series with a close look at the Quest Pack for LOTRO's original End Game, Angmar. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Pineleaf, and Teriadwyn return to the topic of Skirmishes with this updated in-depth look at skirmish soldiers in The Lord of the Rings Online™. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Draculetta, Pineleaf, and Teriadwyn conclude our three part series on Stats in The Lord of the Rings Online™ with an episode covering LOTRO's Defensive Stats. Whether you're looking for a better understanding of Resistances, Avoidances, or Mitigations, the LOTRO Academy Team has you covered. Thanks for listening.
The LOTRO Academy team takes an unscheduled tour of the Shire in this off-topic episode. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Teriadwyn, Draculetta, and Pineleaf discuss LOTRO and Draculetta blows Branick's mind in this delayed episode. Thanks for listening.
Branick and Pineleaf welcome Teriadwyn to the podcast with an off-topic LOTRO discussion. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Draculetta, and Pineleaf are joined by guest hosts Andang and Teriadwyn from LOTRO Players to talk about an upcoming project of a formerly secretive and now not so secretive sort. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Pineleaf, and Draculetta take an in-depth look at the Eregion Quest Pack and discuss whether it might be worth your Turbine Points.
In this episode, Branick resorts to asking Pineleaf and Draculetta some impromptu questions when it becomes apparent that a suitable topic eludes them all. Thanks for listening.
It's been over a year since our last Quest Pack Review, but Branick, Pineleaf, and Draculetta, are hear to let you know whether the Misty Mountains Quest Pack is worth your Turbine Points. Thanks for listening.
In this episode, Branick, Draculetta, and Pineleaf continue our series covering the stats in LOTRO with a look at each of the offensive stats and damage types. Thanks for listening.
In this listener requested episode, Branick and Pineleaf cover all the basics of Mounted Combat, from when you'll be able to participate, to explaining the trait trees, bridles, and relics. Thanks for listening.
This is the second bonus episode accompanying episode 100 of LOTRO Academy. This bonus episode consists of a conversation with Mysteri, Draculetta, Pineleaf, and Rolfkrage. A portion of this recording was used in episode 100, but here you can listen to the entire discussion. Thanks for listening.
This is the first bonus episode accompanying episode 100 of LOTRO Academy. This bonus episode consists of a chat I had with Krorain about LOTRO and what he's been up to since leaving the podcast. A portion of this recording was used in episode 100, but here you can listen to the entire discussion. Thanks for listening.
After numerous delays, the long awaited LOTRO Academy: Episode 100 is finally here. Wrapped in our first ever live recording, this celebratory episode takes a look back at over four years of LOTRO Academy and features recorded segments with some former podcast hosts as well as a selection of clips from previous episodes and our 2015 LOTRO Goals as recorded live in Teamspeak with The Academy Kinship.
Recorded in late September, the first of a new three-part series on Stats is finally ready. We originally covered this topic way back in Episode 2, but after four years it was time for an update. In this episode Branick, Pineleaf, and Draculetta cover the core stats and lay the foundation for upcoming episodes on attack and defense stats. Thanks for listening.
Branick and Pineleaf offer an overview of Skirmish Lieutenants, and the best way to approach taking them down. While this episode contains useful information for every skirmisher, this is classified as an Advanced episode because some of the terminology used does presume an understanding of concepts from Beginner and Intermediate episodes. Thanks for listening.
At last the origins of Detestable Us are revealed in the lost Episode 95 of LOTRO Academy. It's our review of Hobnanigans, the sport that almost was. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Pineleaf, and Draculetta are joined again by the founder of LOTRO Players, Andang, to discuss the growth of the premier LOTRO community website. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, Pineleaf, and Draculetta are back after an extended delay. Listen to find out what the gang has been up to, how our LOTRO Goals for 2014 are coming along, what Draculetta does with his sewing machine, what happened to episode 95, and what happens when you talk about siege turtles. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, Pineleaf, and Draculetta are joined by special guest-host Bloobwulf, winner of our auction in last year's Fellowship Walk, to talk about LOTRO's Update 13 and the in-game Anniversary event. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, Draculetta, and Pineleaf discuss the various travel options available in The Lord of the Rings Online™. This episode was suggested by (and notes were generously provided by) listener Bloobwulf, who won our Fellowship Walk auction last year. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Draculetta, and Pineleaf discuss the many upcoming changes expected with Update 13 of The Lord of the Rings Online™. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, Pineleaf, and Draculetta are back with an episode about storage in The Lord of the Rings Online™, covering Bags, Vault Space, Shared Storage, Housing Chests, even Wardrobe Space and the Barter Wallet. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, Pineleaf, and Draculetta return with another Quest Pack Review episode to help you decide if Forochel is worth your hard-earned Turbine Points. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, Pineleaf, and Draculetta finally get around to celebrating the New Year with the 2014 LOTRO Goals episode. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Pineleaf, and Draculetta ramble on about the class changes introduced with Helm's Deep, the future of epic battles, the magic of 27, and the problem with memorable catch-phrases from '80s cartoons. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, and Pineleaf welcome new host Draculetta for this introductory look at Epic Battles. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, and Pineleaf are joined by Achazia from the popular in-game LOTRO band The Shades, and by Cari from LOTRO Reporter for this episode. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, and Pineleaf are back for another LOTRO discussion. This time Branick interviews Mysteri about the Fellowship Walk, a player-driven event to benefit the Child's Play charity. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, and Pineleaf are joined by Ace, a returning playerwith a fresh perspective, to answer his questions and talk about The Lord of the Rings Online™. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, and Pineleaf are joined by Achazia, Eovina, Semjase, Erihael, and Abergar from the popular in-game band, The Shades, for discussions on LOTRO, music, and more. With five of the six Shades members present, we have a lot to talk about. Thanks for listening.
In this episode of the LOTRO Academy podcast, Branick, Mysteri, and Pineleaf continue their 2013 Character Guide with discussions on the introductions, early game structure, beginning group content, crafting, and LOTRO's unique cosmetic system. Also, Branick refers to the Great Barrow as the Barrow Downs far too many times. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, and Pineleaf have so much to say about the races and classes available in The Lord of the Rings Online™ that they run out of time to talk about anything else. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, and Pineleaf ramble on about The Lord of the Rings Online™ for a while and talk about plans for the upcoming in-game festival, Weatherstock. Thanks for listening.
Andang returns to guest host this episode of the LOTRO Academy Podcast alongside Branick, Mysteri, and Pineleaf, to talk about the new LOTRO Players website and how it came about. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, Rolkrage, and Pineleaf chat about the latest major update to The Lord of the Rings Online™. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, Rolkrage, and Pineleaf return with another off-topic episode in which they discuss the announcement of Helm's Deep™, the next expansion for The Lord of the Rings Online™. Thanks for listening.
The Lord of the Rings Online™ can be a little overwhelming or confusing at first, especially in regards to the Free to Play model adopted in September of 2010. So Branick, Mysteri, Rolfkrage, and Pineleaf are here to answer your account-related questions in what we hope will be the first of an annual series of New Player guides. Our goal is to record updated versions of these guides every year in order to consolidate the most important information new players will need right away. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, Rolfkrage, and Pineleaf chat with Andang about Murder In Bree, creating LOTRO video content for youtube, and more. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, Pineleaf, and Rolfkrage chat about LOTRO, twice. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, and Pineleaf are joined by returning hosts Krorain and Rolfkrage to record an in-depth review of the Trollshaws Quest Pack. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, and Pineleaf talk about some of the changes to The Lord of the Rings Online™ coming in Update 10. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, and Pineleaf celebrate the New Year with LOTRO-specific resolutions in this feedback-filled first episode of 2013. Thanks for listening.
In the last episode of 2012, Branick, Mysteri, and Pineleaf go over the changes in this year's Yule Festival in The Lord of the Rings Online™. Thanks for listening! We'll be back in January!
Branick, Mysteri, and Pineleaf talk about The Lord of the Rings Online™ in another Off-Topic episode. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, and Pineleaf talk about The Lord of the Rings Online™ in another Off-Topic episode. Thanks for listening.
Branick and Pineleaf welcome Andang onto the podcast as a guest host for in-depth an discussion of Rescue at Nurz Ghashu and Storm on Methedras to round out our series on skirmishes in The Lord of the Rings Online™. In addition, we talk a bit about some of the upcoming changes in Update 9. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, and Pineleaf return in another short off-topic episode to talk about The Lord of the Rings Online™. Thanks for listening.
In this pint-sized episode, Branick pretends to be Mysteri, Mysteri pretends to be Branick, and Pineleaf doesn't have to pretend to be himself. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, and Pineleaf talk about our visit to Archet Aid 2012 and ramble on about The Lord of the Rings Online™ for a while. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, and Pineleaf return to talk more about the Riders of Rohan™ expansion for The Lord of the Rings Online™ and generally chat about LOTRO for a while. Thanks for listening.
Achazia Songweaver and Abergar Gildensong of the popular in-game LOTRO band, The Shades, join Branick and Pineleaf to guest host this special episode celebrating Riders of Rohan™, the recently released expansion pack for The Lord of the Rings Online™. There's plenty to talk about, both good and not so good, and afterward Achazia and Abergar share a history of The Shades and talk about some upcoming concerts you can attend in game. Thanks for listening.
In the second part of our new-player focused Where to Begin series, Branick, Mysteri, and Pineleaf discuss how to get horses and houses, and we give a primer on the various types of item storage available in The Lord of the Rings Online™. Thanks for listening.
This over-sized Festival Special features Branick, Mysteri, and Pineleaf talking about the Harvestmath Festival in The Lord of the Rings Online™. Thanks for listening.
In our new Where to Begin series, Branick, Mysteri, Pineleaf, and Rolf get back to basics and explain some of the fundamentals of Lord of the Rings Online™, starting with How Experience Works, The Four Roles, and Choosing a Class. Thanks for listening.
In this episode Branick, Mysteri, and Pineleaf chat about upcoming changes to the way monster experience is awarded to players, including the surprisingly controversial (to some) Open Tapping system which is expected to be included in the upcoming Riders of Rohan™ expansion pack, and an expected fix to the most broken game mechanic in The Lord of the Rings Online™. Thanks for listening.
In this episode Branick, Mysteri, Rolfkrage, and Pineleaf talk about the 2012 Summer Festival in Lord of the Rings Online™. Thanks for listening.
In this episode Branick and Pineleaf share their experiences and thoughts so far on the Riders of Rohan™ beta program for The Lord of the Rings Online™ now that Turbine has released us from our NDA shackles. Thanks for listening.
In this Off-Topic episode, Branick, Mysteri, and Pineleaf start out talking about Update 7.3 and the up-coming Riders of Rohan™ expansion pack for The Lord of the Rings Online™, but somehow end up in an impromptu infomercial for Duck Duck Go. Thanks for listening.
In the 6th episode of our ongoing series on Skirmishes in The Lord of the Rings Online™, Branick and Mysteri get in-depth lessons on each of the Mirkwood skirmishes, including Strike Against Dannenglor, Protectors of Thangulhad, Breaching the Necromancer's Gate, Assault on the Ringwraith's Lair, and The Battle in the Tower. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, and Pineleaf discuss the Farmer's Faire, a brand new in-game festival for The Lord of the Rings Online™. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, Rolfkrage, and Pineleaf review the Evendim Quest Pack available in the LOTRO Store. Find out whether it's worth the Turbine Points, and listen to us ramble on about our favorite (and least favorite) aspects of the zone. Thanks for listening.
In this episode, Branick, Mysteri, Rolfkrage, and Pineleaf talk mostly about what they've been up to for the past couple weeks before getting into deeper discussions about the recent Update 7.2 patch and the upcoming Riders of Rohan™ expansion for The Lord of the Rings Online™. Thanks for listening.
What begins as a typical LOTRO discussion ends with Branick, Mysteri, Rolfkrage, and Pineleaf diverting course for such discussion topics as The Smurfs and the VHS versus Betamax Format War. Thanks for listening.
In the first of a 7 part series of quest pack review episodes, Branick, Rolfkrage, Pineleaf, and Mysteri talk at length about what makes the North Downs unique among zones, including discussion of the Fornost instance and our brand new Armchair Designer segment. Thanks for listening.
In this Off-Topic episode, Myst is missed and Branick, Rolfkrage, and Pineleaf welcome the influx of new LOTRO players from Steam, discuss the wonders of Weatherstock (forever), and explain the oft-confusing process of purchasing the new Steam Starter Pack and applying it to a turbine account. Thanks for listening!
Branick and Mysteri welcome Pineleaf and Rolfkrage as regular LOTRO Academy hosts in this Spring Festival 2012 Special. The four hosts cover this year's new additions to the festival and offer recommendations for festival activities. Thanks for listening.
Guest hosts Pineleaf and Rolfkrage join Branick and a mostly-silent Mysteri to talk about Update 7: Shades of the Past, the latest update to The Lord of the Rings Online™. Thanks for listening!
Branick and Mysteri are here by listener request to talk about the housing system in The Lord of the Rings Online™. Thanks for listening.
Lord of the Rings Online™ has turned five years old and to celebrate, Turbine has added lots of fireworks themed shenanigans to keep us all occupied. Join Branick, Mysteri, and Krorain, as they discuss the many happenings of this festival-like event that may or may not be considered a festival in our 2012 Anniversary Special! Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, and Krorain are joined by guest host Pineleaf Needles for an epic fiftieth episode celebration. The topic "Reaching 50" serves the dual purposes of celebrating this podcast milestone, as well as covering levels 40 to 50 in Lord of the Rings Online™ and also features the original compositions of popular in-game band, The Shades, and a special Episode 50 Feedback section. Thanks for listening.
In this alcohol-fueled episode Branick, Mysteri, and Krorain have meandering conversations about Lord of the Rings Online™, Update 6, MMOs, the Free to Play model, and plenty of other things. There's no specific topic and little order, but plenty of discussion. Thanks for listening.
In this episode Branick, Mysteri, and Krorain take a detailed look at the many uses of the Social Panel in Lord of the Rings Online™. Thanks for listening.
In this belated episode, Branick, Mysteri, and Krorain talk about the treasure hunty thing, the search for a good kinship, when dwarves with guns are awesome, and Turbine's grammatical errors. Thanks for listening.
In this episode, Pineleaf returns with a Legendary Title Acquisition supplement to our recent Legendary Item episodes and reveals the details of Update 6, a listener finds a picnic basket for Mysteri, and Branick finds something to rant about at the last minute. Thanks for listening.
Braag, Tomeoric, and Pineleaf join Branick, Mysteri, and Krorain once again to finish up our in-depth series on Legendary Items. Thanks for listening.
This time Branick, Mysteri, and Krorain are here to learn as guest hosts Braag, Tomeoric, and Pineleaf tackle the subject of Legendary Items in this oft asked for, and long-awaited episode. Huge thanks go to all the guest hosts for making this episode possible, and thanks to you as well, for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, and Krorain return to talk about the upcoming Riders of Rohan™ expansion pack for Lord of the Rings Online™. Other topics of interest include the subscription model, lockboxes, the legacy of Rise of Isengard™, and completely unfounded speculation on what the future may hold for LOTRO. Thanks for listening.
In this episode, Branick, Mysteri, and Krorain ramble on about LOTRO when they're not meandering off onto tangents. Thanks for listening!
Branick, Mysteri, and Krorain are once again joined by master skirmisher, Pineleaf Needles, to continue our series on Skirmishes in Lord of the Rings Online™. In addition to in-depth coverage of the Mines of Moria™ skirmishes, Battle of the Deep-way, Battle of the Way of Smiths, and Battle of the 21st Hall, Pineleaf also explains how some of the changes to LOTRO in the past few months have affected skirmishes. Thanks for listening!
In the first episode of 2012, Branick and Mysteri look back on our goals for 2011, and along with Krorain come up with some new goals for the new year. Happy New Year everyone, and thanks for listening.
It's the last show of the year! Branick, Mysteri, and Krorain enjoy plenty of LOTRO discussion in this topicless pre-holiday episode. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, and Krorain return to talk about the changes coming in Update 5. Discussion centers mostly on the Instance Finder, but we talk about the other changes as well. Thanks for listening.
Branick and Mysteri return from our Thanksgiving break to chat for a while about Lord of the Rings Online™. In our meandering dialogue, we talk a bit about Forochel, a bit about Moria, a bit about pumpkin pie, and a bit about a certain MMO game mechanic that makes Branick feel dirty. Thanks for listening!
This special episode features a collection of twelve LOTRO songs by the popular in-game LOTRO band, The Shades. It's a musical look back at our Christmas In July concert finale, when The Shades graced the snowy hills outside Thorin's Hall with these festive melodies. Achazia, composer and bandleader for The Shades, was also kind enough to share some information about the song selection and the songs themselves with us. On behalf of LOTRO Academy and the Shades, we hope you enjoy the music. Thanks for listening.
LOTRO's chat system is very versatile and quite powerful, and though it's rather simple and intuitive once understood, it can be quite confusing, and even off-putting, to new players. We wanted to do something about that, so in this lengthy episode, Branick, Mysteri, and Krorain (Okay, mostly just Branick because he talks so much in this one) cover the vast array of options available to you. Thanks for listening.
In this episode Branick, Mysteri, and Krorain get caught up on the listener feedback that has piled up from the last few episodes. Also, Mysteri talks to herself and Krorain teaches us all a valuable lesson. Thanks for listening.
Branick, and Mysteri attempt to convince Krorain to participate in the Harvestmath Festival with our discussion of the various quests available. We talk about why the Haunted Burrow is good, why griefers are bad, and which of us is a terrible dancer. Thanks for listening.
Branick and Krorain welcome Mysteri back onto the podcast with plenty of LOTRO discussion on a variety of topics. Thanks for listening.
Directionless and without a topic, Branick and Krorain chat about LOTRO for about an hour in our most random episode ever. It may not be a typical episode, but we hope you enjoy it anyway. And as always, thanks for listening.
Branick and Krorain cover some last minute news before the release of the Rise of Isengard™ expansion before tackling the subject of food in Lord of the Rings Online™. Thanks for listening.
Branick and Krorain have a lot to say about Rise of Isengard™, the upcoming expansion pack for Lord of the Rings Online™ in this Pre-Isengard episode. We've also been quite busy in Moria during the past week, so there's plenty to talk about. Thanks for listening.
Branick and Krorain have returned, without a topic, to respond to listener feedback. This is more a short update than a full episode, but we hope you enjoy it anyway. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, and Krorain are joined by Merric from A Casual Stroll to Mordor for this Plugin-focused sequel to LOTRO Academy: 12 - Customizing LOTRO. We had great, albeit meandering, conversations on LOTRO Plugins as well as some other topics, including some tips for players entering the Mines of Moria for the first time. Thanks for listening!
Branick, Mysteri, and Krorain are back to celebrate the 27th episode of LOTRO Academy with 27 Answers, a segment mathematically proven* to ward off orcs and reduce fatigue. Thanks for listening!
Branick and Mysteri ramble on for a while about LOTRO. We talk about the end of the Christmas In July Festivities, the contest that almost was, and Branick has a special announcement about the future of LOTRO Academy. Thanks for listening.
Branick, Mysteri, and Krorain discuss the questing zones, skirmishes, and instances available to take you from Level 20 to Level 40 in Lord of the Rings Online™. Especially useful for Free and Premium players who may need help deciding which quest-packs to purchase, this episode picks up where LOTRO Academy: 3 - Leveling to 20 left off.
This is a short status update to keep you informed of what's been going on with LOTRO Academy.
Branick and Mysteri welcome Sean onto the show as a new cohost for this Independence Day episode on the Summer Festival. We talk about the benefits of fishing, the pitfalls of gambling, and what might happen if Christopher Walken were to play LOTRO. We also kick off Christmas In July with a contest and several event announcements.
Achazia and Abergar, members of the popular LOTRO in-game band, The Shades, join Branick and Mysteri for an epic two hour episode about LOTRO's unique Player Music System. Featuring a look back at Weatherstock 2011, an interview about the history of The Shades, and tons of information on how anyone can learn to play music in LOTRO, there was just too much of interest here to cut. We had a blast recording it and hope you enjoy listening to our biggest episode yet.
Clocking in at over an hour and twenty minutes, this episode is packed full of MMO and LOTRO terminology. Branick and Mysteri do their best to define and explain the terms you're likely to come across in Lord of the Rings Online™. We try to keep it friendly and entertaining rather than dry, and hope you find it illuminating. Thanks for listening.
Rise of Isengard™ is the next expansion pack for Lord of the Rings Online™ and will release on September 27. It's available for pre-purchase right now, so Branick and crew are here to go over the differences between the three Editions available, in order to help you choose which is right for you. For our main topic, we offer some security tips, suggestions, and recommendations to help you stay safe in today's era of increasing cyber-crime.
In this episode, we wrap up our series on Skirmishes with a look at Skirmish Soldiers. Pineleaf, Master of Skirmishes, once again returns to teach us which soldiers work best with which classes, and what to do with the soldiers we've selected. Thanks Pineleaf!
Our series on Skirmishes continues. Pineleaf Needles, Skirmish expert, joins us for a short interview followed by a discussion of the new Skirmishes added in Update 3. Are they worth your Turbine Points? Give a listen, and find out. For more Skirmish information, be sure to check out Pineleaf's detailed Skirmish Primers at A Casual Stroll to Mordor. A link is provided in the show notes for this episode. Thanks for listening.
The LOTRO Academy Team return after an unexpected hiatus to talk about the future of the show, LOTRO's 4th Anniversary festivities, the upcoming server migrations, plenty of horse news, and we speculate about possible future additions to the game.
Long overdue, Branick, Mysteri, and Calddir devote this episode to discussion and comparison of Free, Premium, and VIP LOTRO accounts. There continues to be a lot of confusion regarding the three account types in LOTRO since the Free to Play transition. We hope to make sense of it for you. Thanks for listening.
Branick and Mysteri respond to feedback, give status updates, and talk about a few contests.
Branick, Mysteri, and Calddir return to discuss Reputation in LOTRO. Whether you're new to Lord of the Rings Online™ and looking to understand what Reputation is all about, or a veteran player just looking for a refresher on the subject, this episode has you covered. And as usual, for even more in depth information, you can find relevant links in the show notes below.
In this episode, Branick, Mysteri, and Calddir are joined by surprise guest host Wicket to talk about the Spring Festival taking place right now in Middle-earth. We keep this one pretty light hearted and fun, so don't expect to learn a lot with this one. We're just here to have a good time during the festival. Join us, won't you?
Despite working with somewhat limited and dry information, Branick and Mysteri attempt to keep this discussion of traits as lively and entertaining as possible. Paying special attention to Virtues and Racial traits, they try to make sense of this often confusing topic. Also, Mysteri shows her skills as a research assistant and Branick shows his frustration with outdated and inconsistent information.
PinkFae guest hosts this Monster Play focused episode to teach Branick, Mysteri, and Calddir everything they need to know to get started kicking butt in the Ettenmoors. If you're at all interested in LOTRO's version of Player versus Player competition, but aren't sure where to get started, then pay attention. We've got you covered.
Often overlooked by new players, deeds are an important aspect of Lord of the Rings Online™ and we're here to explain why. Branick, Mysteri, and Calddir discuss all 10 types of deeds in LOTRO as well as the rewards for completing them.
LOTRO Academy is back. Brygard, author of the popular B.G.M. series of custom LOTRO UI mods, joins Branick, Mysteri, Calddir, and Areuhat for this episode about customizing your LOTRO experience.
In this episode we discuss some changes to the LOTRO Academy site and go over a variety of other websites and podcasts that we find useful, seeking to introduce you to several resources every LOTRO player should have at his or her disposal. Thanks for listening!
This episode has been a long time coming. We had planned to cover fellowships much earlier, but were unable to for a variety of reasons until now. This time, neither flood, nor recording difficulties, nor software crashes during editing could keep it from you. If you've been hesitant to group up with your fellow LOTRO players, this is the episode for you.
This one is a bit more chaotic than usual, as real life kept us from our initially planned topic. Branick, Mysteri, Areuhat, and Calddir discuss various aspects of the Fishing Hobby in LOTRO in a somewhat rambling, and unprepared, format. We hope you enjoy it anyway.
It's the first episode of the new year, and we've got some Resolutions to share with you. Branick, Mysteri, and Calddir share their individuals goals for the year and discuss what you can expect in the coming year at LOTRO Academy. Thanks for listening.
In our first Special Episode, Branick and Mysteri welcome our new cohost Calddir and we discuss pretty much everything we can think of about the Yule Festival. Happy Holidays everyone, and thanks for listening!
In this lucky seventh episode Branick, Mysteri, and Areuhat take a look at how to train your Skirmish Soldier. In addition to wrapping up our discussion on Skirmishes, Branick also interviews Calddir about his Steeds of Middle Earth website. Thanks for listening.
This episode marks the first of a two-part series on skirmishes. Even so, the episode weighs in at a hefty hour and a half, with plenty of content left for next week. Be sure to leave a comment with any skirmish related questions you have and we'll do our best to answer them next week in Skirmishes Part 2.
Branick, Mysteri, and Ramesey discuss buying and selling on the Auction House as well as other ways to make money in LOTRO.
This episode is all about crafting. With the help of LOTRO Wiki, Branick and crew are here to help you choose a crafting vocation and learn all about how the crafting system in Lord of the Rings Online™ works.
In the third episode of LOTRO Academy, Branick, Mysteri, and Ramesey welcome Areuhat to the team. The four of us kick off the first episode of our regular weekly schedule with the basics of getting to level 20, from the Introductions, to getting your first house. If we left anything out or you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below, send us an email, or look for us in Middle-earth.
In the second episode of LOTRO Academy, our new cohost Ramesey, joins Branick and Mysteri for an in-depth look at the various stats you'll come across in Lord of the Rings Online™. From Morale and Power to Vitality and Will, we let you know just what those numbers mean.
For the introductory episode of LOTRO Academy, Branick and Mysteri invite Damworth, leader of the Swifty and Hammo kinship on Arkenstone, onto the show to offer a brief primer on character creation in Lord of the Rings Online™. Topics discussed include where to go to get started, choosing a server, choosing a race, and choosing a class. Though we keep this one pretty light, we plan to go much more in-depth in our future episodes. You can listen to the episode using the player below.