Learning LOTRO: Lesson Thirty - Skirmish Camps

 

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.

Last week, we took a look at Skirmishes and the basics of how to run one -- by yourself with your soldier, or with others -- and what to expect when you play through one. This week, we continue the topic by looking at Skirmish Camps: what they offer, how to use them, and where to find them in Lord of the Rings Online.

Locations

It would almost be easier to say where you CAN'T find a Skirmish Camp, but that would be... well, too easy. The best way to keep track is thinking about the region in general. If it is the land of an enemy, or lacks permanent settlements (as in, only camps of friendlies), then it probably won't have a Skirmish Camp. 

Areas Without a Skirmish Camp

You won't find any in the Misty Mountains, the Gap of Rohan, or Nan Curunir (Isengard) in Eriador. You won't find any in Ered Mithrin & Withered Heath, Iron Hills, Vales of Anduin, or Wells of Langflood in Rhovanion. You won't find any in Central Gondor or Far Anorien in Gondor. There is one Skirmish Camp considered to be on the Mordor maps, but it is right on the edge of Eastern Gondor -- the Camp of the Host in The Wastes.

All Skirmish Camp Locations

These are all of the current Skirmish Camp locations. If you have trouble finding them, the page in the LOTRO wiki has map coordinates and will show you the spot on a map if you hover over them in your browser.

• Bree

• Brockenborings (The Shire)

• Thorin's Gate

• Rivendell Valley (Trollshaws)

• Ost Guruth (The Lone-lands)

• Esteldin (North Downs)

• Tinnudir (Evendim)

• Aughaire (Angmar)

• Suri-kyla (Forochel)

• Gwingris (Eregion)

• Harndirion (Enedwaith)

• Twenty-First Hall (Moria)

• Echad Andestel (Lothlorien)

• Ost Galadh (Mirkwood)

• Galtrev (Dunland)

• Stangard (Great River) [indoor]

• Snowbourn (East Rohan)

• Forlaw (Wildermore) [indoor]

• Aldburg (West Rohan) [indoor]

• Dol Amroth (Western Gondor) [indoor]

• Minas Tirith (Eastern Gondor)

• Camp of the Host (The Wastes)

• Lake-town (Dale-lands) [indoor]

Vendors

Those NPCs in the camp aren't there just for show -- you can interact with each of them for different items. Most of them will barter for Marks, Seals, and Medallions. One deals in Mithril Coins. And there is a Currency Exchange NPC that will let you convert between the different types so you can purchase what you need. Here's a rather lengthy list of the Vendors and a generalized list of what each one offers (you can visit the full list and item links via the LOTRO wiki's page on Skirmish Camps):

Classic: Armour sets from Annuminas, Great Barrow, Eregion, Helegrod, Inn of the Forsaken, Halls of Night, Fornost and Barad Guldur; Treasure (jewelry, pocket items, weapons, decor) from all of those places except Barad Guldur.

Cosmetics: Decor, player character clothing, skirmish soldier races, skirmish soldier hair and clothing (by race), mystery boxes, cosmetic-only sets from Annuminas, Helegrod, Rift, and Moria.

Crafting: Critical success ingredients, scroll cases, expertise recipes, shards, mithril flakes, special crafting components, expertise tokens.

Curiosities: Consumable faction reputation items for Elves of Rivendell, Council of the North, Rangers of Esteldin, Wardens of Annuminas, Lossoth of Forochel, Men of Bree, The Mathom Society, Thorin's Hall, Iron Garrison Miners, Iron Garrison Guards; reputation accelerator; minor class items for class quests, major class items for class quests; moor cowbell; essence reclamation scroll, essences.

Jewellery & Cloaks: By level -- 20, 23, 27, 30, 33, 37, 40, 43, 47, 50, 53, 57, 60, 63, 65, 65+, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90 (agility, might, will), 95 (agility, might, will), 100, 105.

Legendary Items: tier upgrade scrolls, scroll of renewal, titles, fused relics, Moria barter items, unidentified items by level: 65, 75, 85, 95, 100; first age symbols, heritage runes (legendary xp).

Light Armour: By level -- 20, 23, 27, 30, 33, 37, 40, 43, 47, 50, 53, 57, 60, 63, 65, 65+, 70, 75, 80, 85, Erebor armour 85-95, 90, 95, 100, 105.

Medium Armour: By level -- 20, 23, 27, 30, 33, 37, 40, 43, 47, 50, 53, 57, 60, 63, 65, 65+, 70, 75, 80, 85, Erebor armour 85-95, 90, 95, 100, 105.

Heavy Armour: By level -- 20, 23, 27, 30, 33, 37, 40, 43, 47, 50, 53, 57, 60, 63, 65, 65+, 70, 75, 80, 85, Erebor armour 85-95, 90, 95, 100, 105.

Provisioner: Athelas essence level 25-100, Celebrant salve level 25-100, Milkthistle draught level 40-100, Lhinestad draught level 40-100, Healing draught level 40-100, Conhuith draught level 40-100.

Currency Exchange: Marks, medallions, seals, landscape soldier tokens.

Weapons: By level -- 20, 23, 27, 30, 33, 37, 40, 43, 47, 50, 53, 57, 60, 63, 65, 65+, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105.

Mithril Trader: soldier's summoning, reconnaissance report, scroll of skirmish refund, landscape soldier token.

Skirmish Captain: For slotting skirmish traits. (Skirmish Bard in housing areas.)
Skirmish Trainer: For learning skirmish traits. (Also available in housing areas.)

Skirmish Traits

Not all of your Skirmish Trait slots will be available when you first unlock Skirmishes at level 20. As you level up, more of the slots will open so that you can make you and your soldier stronger. Note: You can overpower your soldier if you have the marks to spare to increase the ranks of their traits!

Here's an example of traits on one of my characters, per the Skirmish Captain window:

To learn the different traits, you have to talk to the Skirmish Trainer. You'll be able to acquire the Role you want for your soldier, their appearance traits, their skills, and their training. You can then also choose some personal traits to make you stronger during a skirmish! The more skirmishes you run, the more barter currency you'll have to improve all of the traits!

Skirmish Tokens & Emblems

There are some tokens, emblems, and scrolls that you can use only inside a Skirmish. Some Skirmishes will have clickable items for you to pick up and use at your discretion. Others will give you tokens or emblems as loot to use during that Skirmish and will disappear from your inventory when you leave. Look for these, as they can help a great deal in Defensive Skirmishes, as well as bolstering you and your soldier during an Offensive or Survival Skirmish! 

Post Script

I did a lot of procrastinating in putting this entry together. I actually chose to do some crafting one night, and when I was in-game to get screenshots of Skirmish Camp locations... I randomly saw a chicken (player) leaving South Bree, so I trotted after them and escorted them all the way to the Misties. And then I also browsed cosmetics. And watched a music video...

Really, compiling this entry was probably the most tedious entry yet, but I felt it was a useful entry for newer players. Most new players have no idea what's available from Skirmish Camps -- a lot of which helps outside of Skirmishes and saves on spending money through Auctions. Happily, there are far more interesting entries moving forward! Next week is a Class Quests entry, and after that is the next Class entry!

Was this entry helpful? Let me know! The series continues next Monday!

If you play LOTRO, consider joining The Fellowship on Patreon for as little as $2!