Learning LOTRO: Lesson Thirty-One - Beorning Class Quests

 

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 sixth character, the wild Rhosynarth. Our sometimes-bear lass in rose has grown up a bit and has had to face the Beorning Class Quests. These quests rely on the unique talents of the Beorning Race-Class and put every Beorning to the test!

Since writing about Rhosynarth seven weeks ago, she'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 Beorning 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. Since Beorning is also a race, these class quests are a little different from the other classes and offer different rewards!

Class Trainer

Forget what I said to remember about class trainers if you are playing a Beorning. There are only 5 Beorning trainers in the entire game, and this isn't by accident. They don't offer anything to crafters, or any class-specific tools. Were you wondering why you didn't see them anywhere? It's okay, you aren't blind!

Here is the list of trainers, with links to their wiki pages that list their items, and my summary of why you'll be visiting them:

• Vales of Anduin: At the Beorninghús. When you reach level 19, you can complete the Enmity of the Goblins II racial deed to unlock the Return to Grimbeorn's Lodge skill. You'll need this racial trait equipped to visit this trainer when you reach level 39 in order to acquire the 3 books from them for a book-based set of quests all classes have. Yup, all that just to buy 3 books which are missing a lot of pages (and you get to go find them, lucky you).
  
  
• Moria: In the Twenty-First Hall (the main hub inside Moria). This trainer offers class-specific gear which can be acquired with Moria barter currency (Platinum Coins and Medallions of Moria) starting at level 58. All of this gear will automatically unequip when you reach level 70.
  
  
• Caras Galadhon: In Lothlórien. Small spoiler: Once you exit Moria and enter the woods of Lothlórien, the elves are going to send you back into Moria for more things (dungeons, mostly). To ease this pain, they offer slightly nicer gear, and that's what this trainer has to offer you for Medallions of Lothlórien (from instances in Moria) and specific dropped barter items from bosses in Dâr Narbugud (dungeon in Moria). This gear starts at level 59 and will automatically unequip at 69 or 70 depending on the piece.
  
  
• Mirkwood: In Ost Galadh (the main hub in Mirkwood). This trainer offers more class specific gear in exchange for Skirmish Medallions and barter items that drop from bosses in Barad Guldur (12-man instance in Dol Guldur). This gear starts at level 59 and will automatically unequip at 69 through 75 depending on the piece.
  
  
• Nan Curunír: The Ox-Clan Merchant Camp just east of Isengard (which you have to follow a quest chain to discover). This trainer offers -- you guessed it -- more class specific gear. In this case, however, it's much easier to acquire. It's all available for Skirmish currency (Marks and Medallions). You'll find other barter vendors near this one, however, with more complicated items that can be leveled up or improved.

And that's it. They're really not trainers so much as barter vendors specifically for Beorning gear. 

Level 15: The Speech of Animals

The first big difference you'll find for the class quests as a Beorning is that you don't get a piece of mail called "Pressing Matters" and you aren't asked to see your trainer (as noted above, you can't at this point in your leveling). Instead, you receive a letter from your sister, Langhár -- remember her from the intro? You fought goblins with her. She talks of a maddened bear, and wants you to investigate to find out if it's just a bear... or another skinchanger! You're directed to Adso's Camp, west of Bree, just outside the Old Forest.

Clothar Sandheaver

Oh, look -- a hobbit! This one's as talkative as any, and is willing to show you into the Old Forest where you can find the maddened bear -- and hopefully put an end to the threat one way or another! And look -- the quest reward isn't a piece of equipment, it's a class trait point! 

Skittish Creatures 

Clothar makes it pretty apparent that he doesn't enjoy being in the Old Forest, but don't worry about that right now. Just keep up with him and have yourself a giggle when he cowers in fear... the first time, anyway. The second time is a legitimate reason to worry, but you shouldn't have any problems. You're of the line of Beorn!

    

I'm not a big fan of the reason behind the bear being mad, but I suppose it's there to set you up to go deal with everything crawling around in the Barrow Downs. Either way, this is a super easy quest to tackle compared to some other class quests, and the class trait point is a way better reward than an item you can out-level! And look, you've got yourself a pint-sized fan!

Level 30: Hatred of Bear and Man

You'll be backtracking a little bit for your level 30 quest, or already be up to your eyeballs in quests in the area that Langhár tells you to go to. Langhár herself has asked you to meet her in Ost Guruth in the Lone-lands!

Langhár

Your sister isn't excited for this trip even though she was so eager to leave home and see the world. The sad news is that one of your kin, Ofolmóth, has turned to evil ways and it's your job together to see him put to an end. 

Unlike other quests where you have an NPC character in tow, you don't have to worry about keeping Langhár alive -- she's good and sturdy, like you!

Bog-lurkers, Dwarves & Bears -- Oh My!

Once you travel into the instance with Langhár, you'll find yourself in flooded ruins to the south. You'll have approximately 3 sets of enemies to fight on your way up a path. There will be 2 pairs of bog-lurkers, followed by a pair of dwarves you've likely encountered before: Dourhands. This should tell you what evil influence has turned Ofolmóth into a menace.

Per usual, no spoilers from me about what actually goes on during the instance, but I'm sure you realized by now how it would have to end. But hey, not only do you get another class trait point -- you get a Racial Trait: Virtuous Beorning (which gives you a bonus to Fortitude, Empathy, and Honour).

Choosing Man or Bear

Beorning is not my best class, not by a long shot, but I do think it's a very intuitive class to play. Depending on which trait tree you are building from, you'll figure out as you go which form to use more to get the most out of it. You'll have abilities in both forms regardless of the tree, but how you use their skills is another matter. A lot of people play the class because HEY, THEY CAN BE A BEAR! But bear form alone does not make a Beorning -- it is the mix of both, otherwise you'd just be a bear.

TL;DR version: You'll figure it out, but a mix of both is what makes Beornings what they are.

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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