In this series, I talk about various aspects of The Lord of the Rings Online. This series is meant for newcomers, but may also help veteran players find more to love about the game.
It's time for us to check back in with our fifth character, the suave Toneirin. Our floral-clad and debonair musician has grown up a bit and has had to face the Minstrel Class Quests. These quests rely on the unique talents of the Minstrel Class and put every Minstrel to the test!
Since writing about Toneirin seven weeks ago, he's been leveled up to 50 so that I can cover a variety of other basics in this series. In this entry, we're going to talk about the first two Minstrel Class Quests that are auto-bestowed at level 15 and level 30. There are others, but they're a bit more advanced and complicated -- and thus will end up in a future entry.
The first thing I'll ask you to remember is that I specifically said that the Trainers are NOT obsolete even though we no longer have to visit them to learn our class skills. When you reach level 15, you're going to get some mail called "Pressing Matters." This mail is going to send you to one of the many Minstrel trainers scattered throughout Middle-earth, because they want to send you to help someone and learn a lesson.
And as I mentioned in previous Class entries, Trainers have a variety of goods to purchase. In the case of Minstrel Trainers, they offer items for Minstrels as well as crafting recipes for Cooks and Scholars (the results of which are for Minstrels). If you have the itch to burn through Mithril Coins, you can also purchase consumable Mentor skills (per instrument) that are bound to your account upon purchase.
The first class-specific quest is going to send you to The Prancing Pony in Bree. If you happened to talk to Burt Ninetails in the Pony when you were directed to see a Trainer, simply turn around and you should see the NPC you have to help, who happens to be a fellow minstrel: Piper Prescott.
Piper has heard rumors of an event unfolding that would make for an excellent song -- by you! He directs you to seek out a hobbit named Leland Underhill who has gone looking for some Blackwold thieves which stole from him. You will head just outside the western gate of Bree to find him (if you cross the bridge, you've gone too far).
Leland will be only too happy to have a minstrel along to help him reclaim what's his and teach the brigands a lesson!
At level 30, you'll be asked to travel to Trestlebridge -- and you should have already been here before. This is the first settlement you visit when heading north from the Bree-lands into the North Downs. It's clearly taken a hard hit from orc attacks as half of the town is charred ruins. You're directed to speak to the NPC there named Leigh Putnam.
Leigh is glad to see a minstrel when you arrive, as you are most likely able to lighten the spirits of the people of Trestlebridge. More importantly, she was just on her way to try convincing some refugees to get out of a cave and take shelter in the town because it's unsafe in the cave. You're hired on to help convince them to get to safety!
This is another very easy instance to complete. You follow Leigh into the caves (which are some of the nicest I've seen in the game, really -- there are actual constructed archways and fancy stonework), and you eventually reach the back where the three refugees are and they are stubborn about not wanting to leave.
Well, here comes Severin and Leigh's brother to tell you the orcs are on their way. You get to join the two of them to prevent the orcs from reaching the refugees. You can either shout and strum them to death, or heal the two NPCs and let them do all the grunt work. (It's faster if you fight.)
There are 3 waves of orcs:
Yeah, it's that quick and easy!
Once you've repelled the orcs, you get to go tell Leigh they're safe -- and somehow the refugees will decide to go to Trestlebridge instead of blaming you for bringing the orcs with you. But hey, it all works out! And Leigh will reward you with your choice of hat/helm and a fancy title. Yay!
Choosing to Damage or Heal
Class Trainer
And as I mentioned in previous Class entries, Trainers have a variety of goods to purchase. In the case of Minstrel Trainers, they offer items for Minstrels as well as crafting recipes for Cooks and Scholars (the results of which are for Minstrels). If you have the itch to burn through Mithril Coins, you can also purchase consumable Mentor skills (per instrument) that are bound to your account upon purchase.
Level 15: A Song for the Company
Piper Prescott
Leland will be only too happy to have a minstrel along to help him reclaim what's his and teach the brigands a lesson!
Mr. Underhill & Teaching Manners
This is a very short and easy instance to complete! The enemies are easy to fight, and there are only a half dozen to contend with from start to finish. If you want it to take longer, you can choose to simply heal Leland as he fights... but I don't recommend it.
Performing at The Prancing Pony
Surely you didn't think you were done after helping Leland teach manners to the Blackwolds? You return to Piper in The Prancing Pony, who writes down the story you relay, and then you have to climb up onto a table and sing it to everyone. It is somehow a hit, and Piper rewards you with a sturdy club and a title.
Level 30: A Minstrel's Hope
Leigh Putnam
Leigh is glad to see a minstrel when you arrive, as you are most likely able to lighten the spirits of the people of Trestlebridge. More importantly, she was just on her way to try convincing some refugees to get out of a cave and take shelter in the town because it's unsafe in the cave. You're hired on to help convince them to get to safety!Orcs & Caves
This is another very easy instance to complete. You follow Leigh into the caves (which are some of the nicest I've seen in the game, really -- there are actual constructed archways and fancy stonework), and you eventually reach the back where the three refugees are and they are stubborn about not wanting to leave.
Well, here comes Severin and Leigh's brother to tell you the orcs are on their way. You get to join the two of them to prevent the orcs from reaching the refugees. You can either shout and strum them to death, or heal the two NPCs and let them do all the grunt work. (It's faster if you fight.)
There are 3 waves of orcs:
- 1st wave: 3 grunts.
- 2nd wave: 2 grunts, 1 heavy.
- 3rd wave: 1 raid leader.
Yeah, it's that quick and easy!
Once you've repelled the orcs, you get to go tell Leigh they're safe -- and somehow the refugees will decide to go to Trestlebridge instead of blaming you for bringing the orcs with you. But hey, it all works out! And Leigh will reward you with your choice of hat/helm and a fancy title. Yay!
Choosing to Damage or Heal
You may have noticed in both of these class quests that you were able to choose whether you dealt damage or simply healed your NPC allies through the fights. Minstrels are most often, and primarily, healers in groups. The class has a broader arsenal of instant heals in addition to heals-over-time and morale boosts than other classes who heal.
This doesn't mean you absolutely have heal when you're in a group -- but you should be prepared to. When you're playing solo, brandish that red trait tree and blast your enemies with sound, but be sure to dabble in the healing skills as you level up. I've found that you will also want some friends to accompany you through anything relating to Mounted Combat in Rohan, but that's a topic for another day!
Other Class Quests
As I mentioned before, there is a class-specific set of quests that will send you back to your Trainer at level 39, and all of the classes have the same format, so I'll be talking about that set all at the same time in a future entry.
There is also a bigger set of quests at level 50 (available at level 45) that all of the classes get, but they are wildly different and more complicated. You can expect those quests to be in a much further entry in the future after we cover more of the basics. And there are a LOT of basics left to cover!
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