LOTRO News: /follow Command Now Applies 6ft Distance Between Players

Times are hard and everyone is trying to keep away from everything and everyone amid COVID-19 breakout.
In order to encourage the players to keep to the social distancing rule, Lord of the Rings Online has now changed /follow command to automatically leave a 6ft gap between each player in the latest update.

This is before the change, with players hurdled dangerously close to each other:

This is after the change, with safe distance between each player:

Now you can relax and auto follow someone comfortably without constantly being anxious about actively keeping a safe distance.

Stay Safe, and Happy April Fools! 😛

Chapter 30: Squirrel Quarrel

SQUIRRELS ARE SCARY!!!

I would like to make it clear that I did not make this up at all. It’s actually all in game!

That little scoundrel’s ambition for world conquest is part of Chicken Instance: Flying the Coop – Bree-land quest. The grey squirrel found in Nen Harn says that line exactly, word for word.

The not-so-helpless red squirrel village also really exists in West Rohan, at 68.9S, 61.4W in Eastfold. I’ve counted at least 40 red squirrels concentrated in that area, completely taken over the dilapidated ruins of a Rohirric house and the surrounding area. I slowly walked away before they found out that I had been talking to the grey squirrel.

Words of the Stripper:
This was the first time properly drawing a squirrel, and I had to draw a dozen of them! I think I’m learning to draw animals more than anything while drawing this comic series. LOL So far I’ve drawn chicken (duh), shrew, bear, sheep, wolf, pig, spider, horse, goat, squirrel… Geez that’s a lot of animals! This was not my intention when I first started, but such is inevitable in an adventure of a chickeny hobbit, I guess!

Also, I’ve always wanted to draw a magical chicken transformation sequence. Maybe I’ll animate it one day. XD

Oh, and here’s the obligatory Dramatic Squirrel.

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Chapter 29: My Little Pony

Welcome to Horsing Around!
One Two of these are not like the other…
I’ve always said that hobbits should be able to ride the enormous shrew. It’s just the right size!
(Also, bonus point for anyone that recognized the pig mount from Minecraft! You actually make it walk by holding a carrot on a stick in front of it. XD)

Yes, Carica actually names ALL her steeds after food. I got Cupcake, Muffin, Pumpkin, Millefille, Buffet…
My favourite steed is actually the hobby horse because it just looks so cute & silly when a hobbit rides it, but as it has zone restrictions, my second favourite is the Inn League Pony that gives you the drunken effect while you ride. ;D

Words of the Stripper:
Horses are hard to draw! This was the first time properly drawing a horse, and I focused on it so much that I forgot to make Carica’s steed look like a pony. I think I did well enough to make it recognizable as a horse, but really need to practice more if I’m going to draw more riders in the future.

Fortunately, I won’t be drawing Rohan any time soon… but eventually… >_<

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Chapter 28: What is the Harvest Festival?

Did you know that the Fall Festival is called differently by each race of Middle-earth?

• Elves call it Iavasmereth, where Iavas = autumn, mereth = festival in Sindarin.
  It most likely originated from Yavanna, as her name is also known as Ivann, with September being Ivanneth.
• Men call it Harvestmath which is actually the ninth month in Bree calendar (though it seems the Hobbits of Bree use it more than men). Math stands for month and not the other kind of math as mentioned in the comic.
• Dwarves simply call it Autumnfest, which makes sense since they aren’t really known for farming crops. I wondered what they actually grow and eat in the caves and mines, and ended up with mushrooms.
• Hobbits are the ones that call it Harvest Festival, but really all the harvest & food related events are taken care of during the earlier Farmer’s Faire and the Harvest Festival is all about Halloweeny spooky haunted pranks, so there we have it!

Words of the Stripper:
I must say this was probably the most effort I’ve spent painting the background, and it was really fun drawing all the different parts of the Middle-earth in one comic.
Elvish carvings are tricky though!

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Chapter 27: Patches for Eyes

ARRRGH, SHIVER ME TIMBERS!
ME POOR INNOCENT PIRATE EYES!!!

Words of the Stripper:
I start’d on a different comic, but whence I saw th’ poor naked dwarf Thrasili at Pirate’s Ales & Tales I just had ta draw this.

I tried my best to upload this before the Talk Like A Pirate Day was over, but it really cut close. Welp, them scallywags must’v not had Daylight Savings Time back in th’ days, so it technically still counts, aye? AYE??

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Chapter 26: Fly, You Fowls!

See, they want to fly! It’s not animal abuse! 😛
(Nobody tell them they just end up in the graveyard right down the hill…)

Words of the Stripper:
I originally planned to upload this in time for Hobnanigans, but ended up being stuck for two weeks… much apologies!
At least it’s still the Month of the Chicken, so bok bok bakawk!

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Chapter 25: Pipe-weed Smoke-off

What is your favourite pipe-weed?
Gotta love fancy ones like Sweet Galenas (sailing ship that Gandalf floated in the movie), but my usual go-to pipe-weed is Old Toby! ♡

Featured pipe-weed in the order of appearance:

• Longbottom Leaf (single ring)
• Old Toby (heart ring)
• Roper’s Twist (spiraling line)
• Shire Sweet-leaf (butterflies)
• Dragon’s Breath (flying dragon breathing fire)

If anybody needs any pipe-weed, please let Carica know and she’ll grab you a barrel or two from Saruman’s stash! 😉

Words of the Stripper:
I accidentally deleted part of the comic & overwrote, so had to redraw a lot of it! >_<
Gotta remember to save often!

Also, excessive smoking can be bad for your health in real life.
Please be nice to your and your loved ones’ lungs!

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