Will co-op players without the Durin’s Folk Expansion be able to visit their friends and experience the story and mechanics like other DLCs?
Previously released DLCs have given players who purchase the DLC access to new items to craft and build as well as wardrobe cosmetics, regardless of the world they were playing in. They could also gift crafted weapons and brews to their friends who did not own the DLC.
Durin’s Folk, however, is a major gameplay update that brings more than just new crafting/building recipes to a world, including Story Elements, new Playable Areas, Gameplay Mechanics and NPCs. These major additions can only really be experienced by players with the Expansion Pack. That means once a world has had the Expansion applied to it, only players who own Durin’s Folk will be able to join that world.
To clarify - the Expansion is applied on a world-by-world basis. You’ll receive a notification when you load a save asking you if you want to apply the expansion to it or not. So a player may have worlds with the expansion or without the expansion. Worlds without the Expansion applied can have anyone join.
Will players need a new save for the expansion?
No, players will not need a new save for the expansion, if players wish to start a fresh save for the expansion that is entirely up to them. Similar to previous Updates and DLC releases you will be able to access the content using a pre-existing save regardless of your progression level. However, it is important to remember that some content will only be accessible after the campaign is completed in your save.
Will players see new enemy types in the expansion?
Yes, there will be a few new enemies that have a particular role to play in the expansion’s story. We will share more about this in the coming months!
Will there be any new music or songs in the expansion?
Yes, there will be new songs in the expansion.
Will we get any mounts?
No, there are no mounts planned for the expansion.
Will there be any new beards or character creation options?
Yes, there will be a small number of new beards as well as a new set of cosmetics for completing the expansion’s story.
Will there be a new boss to fight?
There will be a few surprising hostile encounters in the Durin’s Folk expansion, but that’s all we’re saying for now!
Will players be able to place Mapstones at the Trading camp?
Some areas, like the Trading camp, will not be available for players to build in. However a mapstone will already be placed in key areas for you, for ease of access.
Will Sandbox Mode also contain elements of the expansion?
Yes, while all the features of Durin’s Folk will be available in Campaign Worlds, many elements will also be ported over to Sandbox Mode. The team is currently working on integrating these elements and we’ll share more details about them in the future.
Will Durin’s Folk affect the recommended requirements for the game in any way?
No, Durin’s Folk should work with any machine that can play RtM on the current published specs for each platform
Will we be asked about applying the expansion to a save each time we load it?
If you’ve applied Durin’s Folk to a save, it won’t ask you again. Otherwise it’ll ask you every time to convert an unconverted world to Durin’s Folk.
Can we bring items we’ve crafted, and DLC materials into non DLC worlds?
Yes, there is no restriction on a Dwarf’s inventory if you decide to visit a save that does not have the expansion enabled. The primary restriction is that every player joining a world where the expansion is enabled, must also own the expansion.
Will we get travelling merchants of different races?
Visiting traders are Dwarfs who act as the middle-men trading on behalf of the other free peoples of Middle-earth™
Will we be able to destroy poison mushrooms?
Yes! We know a lot of you are looking forward to this and it will be included as part of TU6 as well.
Will all platforms get the DLC at the same time?
Yes, to ensure crossplay and multiplayer continues to work as intended for all players, we always aim to release everything on the same day - Updates, DLC, etc. The Expansion will be no different.
That said, store pages themselves can take time once we hit the “GO!” button. So while we start everything rolling out at the same time, some stores may take longer than others and so there can be a couple hrs in the difference on the day of release.
If there any major delays, we try to let players know what we can through.
In the preview video, players could see a vertical chest, is this a regular chest rotated, or something new?
This is a Delving Chest where NPCs will deposit any items they collect or craft.
Do you add Muznakan statues to the Delvestones or are they automatically added?
As your Company Dwarves feel pride in their new Delving, the player can Raise the Delvestone higher. The look of it changes, implying the Dwarves carved these new ones representing themselves and their family.
Can we go to the Mirrormere?
You can see it from the Dimrill Gate, but you won’t be able to explore there as part of Durin’s Folk.
In the preview video, Jon-Paul said we can unlock the path to Durin's Tower at a certain point in the game "if you're lucky" - What does this mean? Is there a specific NPC needed?
“If you're lucky” means if you figure out where the door is, and how to unlock it. (“Luck was a poor choice of words, maybe…Nothing lucky about Dwarven work ethics!” - Jon-Paul)
Will mirrors reflect all light sources?
Mirrors will reflect the major moon and sunlight shafts which come in via the crystals in the ceilings of Moria.
Will mirrors reflecting sunlight turn trolls to stone?
You’ll just have to build one when a troll is attacking to find out...
What kind of effect will the Durin’s Folk Expansion have on a Sandbox save, if applied?
The basic flow of the Expansion will be there, just none of the story. Players will be able to complete the steps to get to Durin’s Tower at any point. Then once the Dimrill Gate is opened players can complete steps to open the Recruitment Camp, open the Trading Post, etc. From there you can do whatever you want!
Will Aric hang out in a specific spot or can we move him?
You can choose where to build his perch in your Delving, once it’s in place he’ll hang out there.
This was also answered in Forge Talk 13, you can listen to the extended answer here: [39:36]
How explorable are the outside areas in terms of size?
These are smaller areas that include new, key gameplay as well as some nods to the lore of the original game.
Will there be any new achievements with the Durin’s Folk Expansion?
No, there will be no new achievements added at this time.
Will Miner NPCs be able to mine where a "vein once was" in older worlds where players have strip mined everything from the mountain?
No, as skilled as the Dwarves are, once the ore vein is gone, they will not be able to extract anything further. As they do not damage the veins themselves, they can continue to mine for as long as you want them to, but once a player removes the vein, they cannot mine that area further.
This is one of our reasons behind designing the Expeditions, to help players whose established worlds have depleted resources.