Is Deadly Too Deadly?

I was excited that today would be my triumphant return to Blaugust since I’ve struggled mightily over the past few weeks to publish content. I had everything set up. I was planning on making some comments about how I was trying out the landscape difficulty modes in LOTRO, I was trying out a new class, and I was kicking off my journey on the slow-rolling Treebeard Legacy server.

The best-laid plans…

Ok, I did start up a new character class on Treebeard – the Beorning. I have heard some good things about the Beorning, and since I really enjoy my Druid in WoW, I figured a character that can morph into a bear would be enjoyable no matter what game I was playing. And I really want to explore the story of LOTRO.

So I ran through the opening scenes of the Beorning class and made my way to Archet. I was a bit surprised to end up in Archet since I’ve been there so many times as the other races that I thought there would be a different starting area for Beorning. Nevertheless, I knew the area well so I wasn’t too worried.

Actually, I was so confident I knew what I was doing in the area I nearly ran out of the gates without grabbing all the quests and without adjusting the landscape difficulty. I actually thought I was gonna have to wait until I reached Bree to change the difficulty, but there [he] was ready to change up how difficult the MOBs were gonna be out in the wilds of Middle Earth.

I figured I’d go for Deadly since that would be the easiest level that gave me all the special titles when I reached level 50 and 100, and I figured since Boernings had the option for tanking, I wouldn’t have much difficulty with the setting.

I ran out of the city gates and immediately died to the first Diseased Boar I ran into…oops!

WTF?

Wow! Deadly is not even close to the most difficult setting for landscape level, and the first creature I fight kills me. Either the Beorning is really squishy, I really am bad at LOTRO, I had some terrible luck, or…after looking at the critter I died to, I was facing a Diseased Boar that was level 7 while I was level 3 in the first fight with a new character class on an increased difficulty setting. I really messed this up.

Now I need to figure out why I was up against a MOB 4 levels high than me, which would probably kill me even if I knew the class…even if I didn’t set the difficulty to deadly.

So I suppose my triumphant return to Blaugust has been diminished. My chance at achieving the Undying title for my first Beorning is gone, and I’m a bit disillusioned. Back to the drawing board.

I’ll start up a new Beorning and see how that works. At the very least, I’d like to see about getting through the first few levels until I start seeing MOBs that are even level before I change up the difficulty setting. Perhaps if I’m fighting creatures my level or one above, I’ll be able to survive… maybe if I gain a few levels, I’ll have some better damage mitigation skills…I’m not sure, but I’m not giving up.

…on LOTRO, landscape difficulty levels, or Blaugust.

Ramble 9 Aardvark 9| Is Deadly Too Deadly?