FiringSquad: How will the combat system be handled in the game and what can players expect to face in terms of creatures and enemies?

Jeffrey Steefel: The combat system is quite diverse in that players can immediately engage in battle using the Auto Attack feature or take things to the next level using skills that your earn as you advance through Middle-earth. These skills can be modified by using Traits that area acquired through accomplishments achieved throughout the game. LOTRO's combat system also uses special events (determined by the player's class) to open up abilities that make combat more interactive. One sample of this would be the Captain's "Cry of Victory" that fires off whenever anyone in his fellowship defeats an enemy.

Conjunctions are another unique feature in LOTRO. They allow a party to apply their skills in combination during attack. A member of the party uses a skill to place the opponent in a vulnerable state (dazed, knocked back) and then icons appear immediately on the other party members' screens. The players have seconds to select an icon, and the resulting combination of individual skills is combined into a "Group Skillh that results in a coordinated group attack. The system is designed to be useful even if you do not know it well, but even more effective for groups that know the unique combinations and their effects. This encourages group play, cooperation, and provides increasing complexity for advanced players who want it. At launch, LOTRO will have over 2200 unique and authentic monsters for players to challenge as they defend Middle-earth.