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Welcome to Know Your LotRO Lore, a new weekly column here at Massively showcasing the lore of J.R.R. Tolkien's world as it intersects with Turbine's Lord of the Rings Online.

With Mines of Moria releasing today, we thought we'd focus this week's Know Your LotRO Lore on one of the key monsters you'll encounter on your trip into the mines: The Watcher in the Water. This is the tentacled creature that lives in the dark pool of water, just outside of Hollin's Gate (aka Durin's Door). There are many theories as to the nature and origin of this creature, and most of it is either pure speculation or educated guess.

In this article, we'll explain the creature's role in Tolkien's Lore, the many speculations of its purpose and how it pertains to Lord of the Rings Online and the first expansion, Mines of Moria. Follow along through the link below... and beware!

In Sunday's The Daily Grind, we asked if you had purchased the Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria Collector's Edition. Some of you said you did, while others of you said that you didn't see the sense in paying extra for physical items that would simply collect dust or sit in a box. While we're not here to push unwanted extras on anyone, we wanted to show our readers what all is included in this complete Collector's Edition box.

Follow along through the unboxing gallery below for a piece-by-piece tour of the LotRO: Mines of Moria Collector's Edition box contents.

So you are enjoying Lord of the Rings Online, and are looking forward to the Mines of Moria expansion tomorrow, but you're wondering if it will actually have anything for you, as a low-level casual player. This is a very common concern with most MMO expansions, so we've assembled a little guide for those of you out there who could really care less about the hardcore 12-man raids or end-game content offered in Mines of Moria. What's in it for you?

Luckily, there is quite a bit, but it often gets overshadowed by the information for the higher level players. Follow along after the cut for a summary of the improvements available to those unsure about purchasing Moria with only low-level characters, as well as some of the lower-level features that will be available with the free Book 15 content upgrade.

It's no secret that EVE Online has one of the steepest learning curves in the MMO industry. The open sandbox-style world and unfamiliar sci-fi context leave most new players feeling overwhelmed and unsure what to do. Additionally, while the real-time skill training system is appreciated by player with little free time, it doesn't encourage players to log in and play the game. The result is that a lot of new players don't do a lot and quickly get bored of the game. These are some of the big hurdles that new players face in their free trial and are responsible for turning many players away from a game that they would otherwise like.

In this article, I give my top five tips for beating the learning curve in EVE Online and link to some invaluable resources for new players.

Turbine is at it again with their latest Lord of the Rings Online Hero's Guide, detailing the lore and history of the Waterworks area of the Mines of Moria. If you've ever wondered about how the entire mines get their water supply, or how those freaky, mutated Orcs came to be, this six-page lore-tastic guide will clue you in to the details.

In fact, Turbine has been fairly diligent about giving us tons of information on these new areas of the Mines of Moria. If you've missed any of the previous Hero's Guides, check them all out to get a deeper understanding of what to expect in Khazad Dum. Only four more days until Moria!

Unless money or time is not an issue (or you write about games for a living), you have quite a decision to make this week. World of Warcraft's second expansion, Wrath of the Lich King, has released yesterday. Lord of the Rings Online's first expansion, Mines of Moria, is releasing this Tuesday. They both promise to be revolutionary expansions, and the fact that their launch dates are within a week of each other most likely means that you won't be playing both. Well, we're here to help bridge that gap a bit.

While both games are considered high fantasy, and many of the features of both games could be considered very similar, actually comparing the two is a whole different story. In this feature article, we're going to break down and compare the two games and what they have to offer. Whether you're a LotRO fan who makes a little cross with your fingers every time someone mentions WoW, or you're a WoW player who thinks "Hobits r dum!", we'll let you know what you would have to look forward to in either game and their new expansions. Follow along through the link below!

The much-anticipated Wrath of the Lich King expansion has arrived for World of Warcraft, and may well be one of the most popular expansions we've ever seen in the MMO industry. That said, WoW players may find themselves a bit overwhelmed by their unfamiliar surroundings. Fortunately, our friends over at our sister site WoW Insider have been tearing into WotLK, and put together a series of guides called "Wrath 101." The WoW Insider guides will give you an in-depth look at the Wrath expansion's geography, and help you to find your way around. We've rounded up the entire guide series and assembled them for you here. Enjoy, and keep watching Massively for our ongoing news and features focusing on the Wrath of the Lich King expansion.

	Wrath 101: How to get to Northrend and where to go once you're there How do I get to Northrend? For Alliance, head to the northernmost dock at Stormwind Harbor to get to Borean Tundra or take the boat out of Menethil Harbor in the Wetlands to be dropped off in Howling Fjord.
	Wrath 101: Level 70 PvP gear If you were looking forward to getting gear upgrades through Honor at Level 70 when Wrath of the Lich King finally arrives in a few days, you probably shouldn't hold your breath. I know I advised doing a lot of PvP, but I meant that you should be keeping all that Honor for Level 80 rewards.
	Wrath 101: Getting from Borean Tundra to Howling Fjord and vice versa One of the questions frequently asked is which zone will you be leveling in first? A large majority of players will pick Borean Tundra or Howling Fjord. Why not both?
	Wrath 101: Alliance flight paths in Howling Fjord, Borean Tundra, and Dragonblight We'll all be storming the (figurative) gates of Northrend, in one of two zones: Borean Tundra and Howling Fjord. The zones are pretty large, but fortunately, they're replete with flight paths.
	Wrath 101: Horde flight paths in Howling Fjord, Borean Tundra, and Dragonblight Previously, we covered the Alliance flight paths of the first three zones in Northrend. Now it's the Horde's turn.

Over the last few weeks the EVE Evolved column has gone through a series of informational articles, exploring the world of PvP in EVE Online. As shown in our introductions to all forms of combat in New Eden, explaining fleet combat, piracy, and even corporate espionage, PvP in EVE is one of the most visceral experiences you can have in an MMO environment. Read the full article series below to understand this compelling style of gameplay.

	PvP masterclass - Introduction In this new series of articles, I will explain PvP from the bottom up, with a particular focus on helping anyone that has always wanted to give EVE's high quality PvP a try but wasn't sure what to do. In this first article, I examine the different types of PvP available in EVE Online.
	PvP masterclass - Gang warfare In this second part, I explore how small gang warfare fits into the PvP landscape of EVE and help you decide what avenues you should pursue if small gang warfare is your cup of tea.
	PvP masterclass - Fleet warfare Fleet warfare in EVE Online is a big step up from the small, casual PvP gangs discussed in last week's PvP Masterclass article. In this guide, I explore the day to day activities of EVE's largest combat machinations, from 30-man faction warfare gangs to 300-man territorial fleets.
	PvP masterclass - The dark side In this final part, I explore EVE's evil side as I talk about piracy and corporate infiltration.

One of the big lures to EVE Online is the fact that its PvP isn't just shoehorned into consensual duels and battlegrounds. Instead, EVE PvP can occur anywhere whether you like it or not and punishments are levied after-the-fact for engaging in unsanctioned combat in designated safe areas. In the previous three parts of this exhaustive guide on where you can take your PvP career, I described the different types of PvP EVE has to offer from small gang warfare to massive territorial fleets. In this final part, I explore EVE's evil side as I talk about piracy and corporate infiltration.

Griefing?:
In most MMOs, stealing from other players or indiscriminately killing them for fun or profit can be considered griefing and may be against the rules or worse. In the cold, harsh universe of New Eden, however, piracy and theft are just another facet of the complex player-based gameplay. From the common gatecamping pirate to the criminal masterminds behind the Guiding Hand Social Club heist, players of all kinds are drawn into the criminal underworld of EVE Online.

If piracy, theft and corporate infiltration sounds like your cup of tea, continue reading as I delve into the dark side of EVE Online.

Fleet warfare in EVE Online is a big step up from the small, casual PvP gangs discussed in last week's PvP Masterclass article. In this guide, I explore the day to day activities of EVE's largest combat machinations, from 30-man faction warfare gangs to 300-man territorial fleets. In stark contrast to a small and highly mobile gang, a large fleet is a lumbering hulk that favours combined firepower and good co-ordination over all else. Massive fleets of hundreds of pilots routinely clash in the outskirts of EVE's lawless 0.0 space. But when they move at the speed of their slowest member and are really only as good as their fleet commander, what can you do to make sure your fleet is a success?

Fight-by-numbers:
The essence of fleet warfare is that using more ships is usually better. By focusing all attacks on one enemy at a time, a larger fleet has a very high damage potential. It also allows a more diverse range of ship types to take part in the fight such as an electronic warfare wing or sniper squadron. Forming a large fleet usually requires some planning and co-ordination, making them less suited to casual PvP and more suited to organised assaults on specific targets like POS.

Read on as I tackle the question of how to make a fleet effective from the perspective of both the fleet's individual members and the fleet commander.

With the introduction of Patch 1.0.4, Witching Night has hit Warhammer Online. This is the first seasonal event the game has seen since its launch in September, and Mythic are doing their part to keep up with the whole "MMO holiday" thing that is so popular across many games. Participating in the events of Witching Night gives you a chance to get your hands on a number of rewards, including masks, cloaks and titles.

Although the special PQs have some irritating aspects (detailed in our guide), you'll still probably find yourself coming out to see what all the fuss is about. We've made a gallery guide of all that Witching Night has to offer, so click on the button below to find out all there is to know, before the event ends on November the 2nd!

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	Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out our Warhammer guides: Massively's Character Creation Guide and our WoW Player's Guide to Warhammer. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

PvP Masterclass is a series of articles explaining PvP from the bottom up and showing you how to get involved even if you're a new player. In part 1 of this series, I examined the main types of PvP a player can choose in EVE Online and showed the directions players can take their PvP careers. In this second part, I explore how small gang warfare fits into the PvP landscape of EVE and help you decide what avenues you should pursue if small gang warfare is your cup of tea.

Numbers game:
A complaint I hear all too often today is that small gang warfare in EVE is dead, that PvP is a numbers game and competing on the battlefield means having the biggest blob. It almost always transpires that these people are trying to shoehorn small gang warfare into places it's not suited for like major 0.0 territorial conflicts or that they're neglecting the importance of intel-gathering scouts. Small gang warfare isn't about your gang of five ships trying to take on a blob of two hundred. It's about putting together a small, tight unit of pilots and picking your fights carefully.

Whether you're planning to pirate, fight for the Gallente Federation or declare war on your neighbours, small gang warfare is for you. Read on as I examine the small roaming gang, one of EVE's oldest and most fun avenues of PvP.

John Davison is a veteran of writing about 'the games'. He's a much-respected games journalist, and until a time not too long in the past he was a fixture at Ziff Davis/1up. Now he's putting his efforts in a somehow more noble direction: informing parents about videogame content by heading up the site What They Play. What They Play is a site where gamers talk to gamers and non-gamers alike about the actual content in videogames. Touching on everything from Carnival Games to Grand Theft Auto IV, it allows folks playing the ultimate mini-game (child-rearing) to make informed gameplay decisions.

It should come as no surprise that this year's MMO darling Warhammer Online got a bit of attention from the site's writers. Indeed, they have up a lengthy guide on the title, walking parents through the game. Starting with the basics like 'what is it?', the guide walks interested parties through account registration, character creation, and deals with the realities of online realtime MMO communication. It's a great resource from a generally great site, and well worth passing on to anyone that might be considering letting their kid pick up the game. Check it out.

Dee Carson is a Director at EVE University, a corporation in EVE Online devoted to showing newer players the ropes of the game. Budding industry-types in EVE (as well as players interested in other professions) will want to refer to Carson's recent post at the Miner with Fangs blog -- he's made his 'EVE University Co-Operative Mining Guide' available as a pdf, and is definitely worth a read.

The guide walks a newer player through all aspects of mining in groups, from the skills required to the different ship choices and their relative merits. Most importantly, he lays out why players should mine cooperatively rather than it simply being a solo pursuit, namely that it's more profitable and adds a social dynamic to the activity. Of course there's safety in numbers, particularly when you've got a good mix of the different professions in EVE represented in the operation -- an ideal operation being comprised of miners, haulers, salvagers and 'top cover' damage dealers. Given that the guide was originally intended for EVE University students, the terminology and information imparted in the guide are accessible to most any pilot in the game, regardless of their familiarity with the industry side of EVE Online. It serves as an excellent introduction to the mining profession, and a stepping stone to more advanced guides like Halada's 'The Complete Mining Guide'. You can find the link to EVE University's guide in Carson's post over at Miner with Fangs.