Preparation:
According to the 2023 Public Event Schedule, Treebeard will be updating to Western Rohan on the 6th of December 2023. It is still worth keeping an eye on official channels just in case.
Summaries below, with links to full detail at the lotro wiki.
New Content:
Level cap: 95. On the live servers there is a ‘to level 95 Blessing of the Valar’ – I don’t know if it would be available this or next expansion.
Virtues: to rank 47.
Landscape areas: Kingstead, Eastfold, Broadacres, Stonedeans, Westfold, Entwood (+ After Isengard/Nan Curunir)
Bingo: We should be able to complete in full this series of quests. The highest quest level is 93 and, as far as I can tell, the furthest Bingo travels is to Helm’s Deep. (We reached Quest 39: A Cold Trail with Wildermore).
Epic Quests: Volume II Book XI to Book XIV
Treasure Cache Deeds: should be open to us at level 90.
Instances /raids (Scaling):
Its time for Epic Battles!
Helm’s Dike: Solo/Duo & Fellowship
The Deeping Wall: Solo/Duo & Raid
The Deeping Coomb: Solo/Duo
The Glittering Caves: Solo/Duo & Small Fellowship
The Hornburg: Solo/Duo
No new traditional instances this expansion, however we do also have the scaling instances/raids plus the two delving instance clusters (Barrows & Annuminas).
Legendary Server Deeds: Up to the Mark, The Battle of the Hornburg, Legend of Fangorn
Mounted Combat: 20 Warbands, varying from solo, small fellowship, fellowship & raid. Found in each area of the Westemnet except Fangorn. The two Westfold raid warbands can also drop some teal armour items (gloves & cloak). There should also be a level 95 bridle, available from the Eastemnet Miscellany QM in Snowbourn.
Crafting:
The next level of crafting tier & crafting nodes is available – Westemnet. Crafting guild reputation is Westemnet Master of the Guild but guild reputation isn’t capped so… Beware: the next tier (Minas Ithil) can be completed by a simple quest when we reach lvl 120, personally I will not be crafting rep items once I’ve reached Westemnet. The crit components are Emerald Shards.
Crafting recipes:
Scrolls & Barter (see below)
Gear & Reputation:
Legendary Items:
Big change for Treebeard! We will now be able to use the level 86+ traceries. We can continue to use our current level traceries but we can start replacing them with the level 86+ traceries as and when. The 86+ traceries will be more powerful: level 50 traceries can be upgraded to a max of 125, Level 86+ traceries start at level 126 and can (eventually) be upgraded to 200 (at level 105). Here’s a link to the legendary item page if you want to read further.
Don’t forget to upgrade your legendary items.
Gear:
No raid or instance sets this expansion. The Ents of Fangorn Forest recipes should have the best stats (it may depend on your class/build). Jewellery from Epic Battles (or crafted). It may be worth checking the drops from the raid warband / the teal shoulder from Helmingas / delving teal gear & the Motes of Enchantment gear.
Reputation:
The Eorlingas: Quartermaster in Aldburg & Helm’s Deep. Barter for Muster/Guide to Aldburg at Friend and Travel to Aldburg at Kindred. Otherwise some purple jewellery / weapons /shields.
The Helmingas: Quartermaster in Aldburg & Helm’s Deep. Barter for Muster / Guide to Helm’s Deep at Friend and Travel to Helm’s Deep at Kindred. Teal shoulders at Kindred. Crafting recipes at Ally standing – Bind on Acquire.
Quartermaster (Veterans of Helm’s Deep): Class based Teal jewellery with 2 and 3 set bonus, barter using marks and medallions. Fifth to Eighth named items. On live servers, it seems you just need to be level 95, no deed or completions needed that I can see.
Merit Committee (Battle Decorations Standard Honours): Barter using Stars of Merit. First to Fourth named items. Stars of Merit are the epic battle reward currency, so epic battles are a must. I think that jewellery can also be found as drops in the varying reward boxes.
Merit Committee (Battle Decorations High Honours): First to Fourth named class legendary jewellery (gold). Barter with Stars of Merit, Platinum reward.
The Ents of Fangorn Forest: Return to Derndingle at Acquaintance. Crafting recipes will require Ally status to barter & I think craft (Kindred for the single use teal recipes).
Phew! Not long to wait 