"Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow -
Bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow."

He's jolly, good-natured, and an excellent host - but beneath his affable exterior there is a Being of extraordinary power and wisdom. Is he Maia, one of the lesser supernatural beings sent  from the Deathless Lands to protect Middle Earth in its time of troubles? Who - and whatever he is, Tom Bombadil, whom the Quendi (Elves) name "Iarwain Ben-Adar"  is far older and more powerful than anyone can imagine.

Tom Bombadil and his companion, Goldberry the River Maiden are now part of the virtual world of Lord of The Rings: Shadows of Angmar. Weary travelers between Buckland and the Barrow-Downs will be glad to encounter his welcoming abode in the middle of the Old Forest. They will also benefit from his protection; within his forest realm, Tom Bombadil is indeed the absolute master.

Lord of The Rings: Shadows of Angmar is published by Turbine. The game has not yet been released, but beta testing will be starting soon.

 

Electronic Arts has released a spectacular video trailer for the latest edition of Lord Of The Rings: Battle For Middle Earth II - which, although much smaller, looks almost as good as Peter Jackson's recent  big-screen epic.

Lord Of The Rings: Battle For Middle Earth is set in the Northern regions of Middle Earth, Sauron's forces battle an alliance of the Quendi and the Khazad (Elves and Dwarves). Except for "historical" figures such as Arwen, you are free create and customize your own character, and increase your power as you progress in the game. While LoTR:BFME took place on the land, the sequel will include high-seas naval battles, a little bit of which you can see in the video.

You'll need the Quicktime in order to view the trailer.

Download: [LotR: Battle for Middle Earth II Trailer]

Fans of the MMO Lord Of The Rings Online will be glad to know that the Elves - known in Tolkien's writing as the Quendi - will be available as a "playable race."

Anyone familiar with The Silmarillion (the legends and background history that form the basis of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings) knows that the Elves were the Firstborn, existing for ages uncounted before the arrival of Iluvatar's Younger Children, the Race of Man. Immortal, the Elves - or Quendi, as they are more properly known - initially befriended Men, and occasionally intermarried with them. Long ages of warfare and betrayal have estranged the two races, however, as the Quendi now live in seclusion in their deep forest kingdoms.

Now, the remnants of an ancient evil is once more rearing its head, and the Quendi find themselves once more drawn into a  war, the roots of which stretch far back into the distant past of the First Age. As they again ally themselves with the races of Man, LOTRO gamers  have a choice of five Elven classes: Champion, Guardian, Minstrel, Hunter, and Lore-Master.