LotRO VP Talks Book 13 and Moria

Craig Alexander, Turbine’s Vice President of Product Development took time to talk with MMORPG about Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar. The interview covers Book 13: Doom of the Last King, but also reveals details on the first true expansion for LotRO; Mines of Moria.

Book 13 introduces the frozen land of Forochel in Northern Eriador. Like the Misty Mountains, the area has an arctic climate which brings a new facet of PvE to players, who will have to keep themselves warm.

The Mines of Moria is a vast underground environment that required the developers deal with it in a whole new way. It will be a labyrinth of tunnels as big as Bree or the Shire. They’re using a duel height map technique to create the ground as normal. However, what would be sky outside is the ceiling in Moria. It’s a very simplified explaination, but it does allow them to create this vast underground environment without loosing detail or creating performance issues.

Moria will also feature a more intelligent game AI, dynamic lighting and player lights. Look for more on Moria in the next few months.

via MMORPG

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