The Lord of the Rings Online: Fate of Gundabad

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The Lord of the Rings Online: Fate of Gundabad is the ninth expansion for the MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online. It released on November 10, 2021 and directly continues the War of Three Peaks story, finishing that saga.

Key changes
- Level cap rises to 140.
- New region: Gundabad, with seven areas (five underground, two on the mountain’s northern and western slopes). It features true 3D space, with multiple vertical levels to explore.
- New class: Brawler. This melee fighter uses only fists and heavy gauntlets, inspired by Helm Hammerhand. It’s the first new class since 2014.
- Legendary Items overhaul: the old system is replaced. Items scale with your level and can be equipped with traceries that modify skills. Existing items can still be used but cannot be upgraded; they can be exchanged for the new Legendary Item currency.

Story and scope
- The expansion finishes The Legacy of Durin and the Trials of the Dwarves from War of Three Peaks.
- Prince Durin leads a dwarven army from Erebor into Gundabad, joining dwarves from many clans.
- They confront Gorgar the Ruthless and his orc forces. Hobgoblins of the Frost-horde, led by a dragon named Hrímil Frost-Heart, threaten Gundabad and challenge orc leadership.
- Dwarves explore areas controlled by hobgoblins, while Angmarim cultists bring powerful artifacts to the Misty Mountains.
- A goblin prisoner reveals Hrímil’s influence over Gundabad and Durin. Durin learns he has lived before and that Hrímil fears the mithril hammer due to wounds from the First Age.
- Durin calls a Dwarrowmoot to unite all dwarves. As battles rage, Gorgar is killed, the Angmarim steal the Black Anvil, and the hammer’s strike against the Anvil breaks Hrímil’s hold. Hrímil flees and is killed, allowing the dwarves to reclaim Gundabad.
- Durin promises Gundabad will belong to all dwarves, not just one clan.

Music and reception
- Music was composed by Bill Champagne, who crafted about 50 themes for the expansion and released a complete three-hour score on YouTube.
- The expansion received positive reviews: gamespace.com gave 9.5/10 for the new environment and class, while mmorpg.com praised the story but noted lag and performance issues common to an aging game, giving it 8/10.