The Galadhrim Defender & Happy Anniversary

Happy 8th Anniversary to Material Middle-earth!

Every year I've reached this anniversary milestone, which officially falls on April 21st, I can't help but think "Has another year come and gone so quickly?" Having been blogging for LOTRO these past eight years, I'm surprised I haven't run out of content to publish between reviving old cosmetics and exploring the newest ones. I'm always finding rewarding things to do. Just in the past year, I've helped judge several cosmetic contests across several servers, I've even hosted my own with the help of Gladden's Rangers of the West, and I've also expanded the Cosmetic Weapons section to include a vast selection of shields. There have been other projects and events, too many to name in fact, but they've left me satisfied without feeling burned out, as they normally do. I've even rediscovered my love for raiding, which I haven't actively done since Riders of Rohan was the current expansion!

It's been a great time for LOTRO too, thanks to Minas Morgul. It might not be the perfect expansion, but it's the best content LOTRO's seen in ages. The landscape offers the right amount of challenge without discouraging casual players. The higher tiers of most endgame dungeons and raids have been very satisfying in the hardcore community. We've been given the opportunity to play Stout-axe Dwarves, a new race released with the expansion. SSG has also taken us through the Vales of Anduin to the Gladden Fields, where we encounter the Shade of Isildur, and given us the chance to relive the final battle of the Second Age and Sauron's defeat. The Black Book or Mordor also reached it's conclusion while working to reclaim Minas Morgul itself. Most of Mordor's Gúrzyul have met their end as well on the way to a fated encounter with Shelob herself. This was just the past year. And there's much more to come, as noted in the 2020 Producer's Letter.

Speaking of Shelob, I've been able to complete the Remmorchant raid. The raid itself is mostly well done and it has some insanity-inducing mechanics. I think couple of things could be toned down on T1 to make it more accessible to players, but I digress. Upon completing it and turning in the Enter the Remmorchant quest, players are rewarded with a special cosmetic set based upon Celeborn's armor, which is seen after the Torch Ungol sequence. I've used the chest and circlet in this outfit and I love the elven look. It was definitely worth collecting.

Anyway, here's to another year of playing LOTRO. To another year of memories and another to passionately blogging. To a year that, I hope, will top the last one! And here's to another Anniversary Festival, which starts on April 22, 2020!

Head: Celeborn's Circlet (Default, reward from the raid quest Enter the Remmorchant)
Shoulders: Strong Shoulder Guards of the Reclaimed City (Sea blue, Reward from the quest The Fallen King Renewed)
Back: Cloak of Many Worlds (Lorien gold, rewarded from the 2015 World Consolidation Giftbox)
Chest: Celeborn's Battle-dress (Sea blue, reward from the raid quest Enter the Remmorchant)
Hands: Ceremonial Gauntlets of the Iron Arm (Sea blue, skirmish camp Cosmetics vendor - Moria Heavy Armour)**
Feet: Ceremonial Boots of the Iron Arm (Sea blue, skirmish camp Cosmetics vendor - Moria Heavy Armour)**

Weapon: Blade of Unity (Reward from the Epic quest 2.7.3)
Shield: Elite Vanguard's Defensive Shield of the Ithil Minstrel (T13 Metalsmith recipe)

**If you'd like a little less sea blue, walnut brown makes a great alternative!