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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.

The Elf is possibly the most intricately-detailed race in all of J.R.R. Tolkien's works. He created their histories, bloodlines and origins throughout his entire life, from before The Hobbit to works published after his death.

Did Tolkien invent Elves? No, but he did redefine them as they're portrayed today in modern fantasy settings. Mostly everything we see in WoW, Warhammer, and of course LotRO come from Tolkien's descriptions of the Germanic and Celtic mythological creatures. Follow along below on our journey through the origins and progression of Tolkien's Elves in Middle-earth and beyond.

In recent memory the Cryptic crew has given us a lot of Star Trek Online goodness to chew on. There was the unveil of the NX-91001, an advanced exploration craft in the Federation fleet. There was the tour of the studio, you might remember, or even the news that the game might be coming to the PlayStation 3. One of their other recent features was entitled 'The Road to 2409', and began the process of moving prospective players through the future history of the Star Trek universe. The time after the show Deep Space Nine and the movie Nemesis is completely untouched by official media, so we as Trek fans need all the help we can acclimating to that big jump in time.

Their newest feature brings us to the year 2384, a stardate still bearing many familiar faces and names for long-time Trek fans. The bulk of the article concerns upheaval in the Romulan Empire, with political changes still echoing through that body in the wake of the final Next Generation movie. Meanwhile, across the galaxy, the Klingon Empire faces new threats from an old border. Old familiar names from DS9 (Odo, the planet Bajor) are mentioned in passing, and the Federation as always is involved throughout the Alpha Quadrant. Read the full article for details and to make the timeline jump to the year 2384!

Earth and Beyond. Star Wars Galaxies. Auto Assault. Tabula Rasa. For a genre that dominates television and written media, science fiction can't seem to find a good foothold in the MMO industry past EVE Online. Even the upcoming Stargate Worlds is on shaky ground, and it hasn't even stepped over the threshold into the market. With a genre so plagued by failure, what can a company do to succeed like CCP? Can Star Trek Online, Jumpgate Evolution, and Star Wars: The Old Republic shake the curse?

These were the topics of a recent interview between Cody Bye of Ten Ton Hammer and Rob Hill and Kevin Beardslee of Trion World Network, the developers behind the Sci-Fi channel's MMORPG/television tie-in game. The interview covers all manner of things, like how Trion seeks to differentiate themselves from the current MMO market, how they want to interact with their community, how they are handling the creation of the game next to the television series, and how Blizzard's polish mantra can really support a well made game. You can check out the full interview over at Ten Ton Hammer.

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.

For some, the holidays are already over, but for many they've just begun. Throughout Middle-earth, none are known better for their love of celebrating those holidays than the Hobbits. We've talked about the Hobbits here before on Know Your LotRO Lore, but with the winter festivities in full swing, we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to explain more specifically about just why those Hobbits are so infamous for their partying.

As we mentioned earlier this month, the lore of Aion is shaping up into some intriguing backstory. In what seems to be bi-weekly installments, the folks at NCsoft are giving us bits and pieces of what Aion is all about. In the latest piece, the epic cataclysmic event that we've heard so much about has finally been revealed.

Check out Chapter V in the ongoing story of how the Tower of Eternity fell and changed the world of Aion forever. This chapter, as with all previous chapters in Aion lore, is told through two opposing viewpoints: the Elyos and the Asmodian. Find out how each side viewed that historical event and how it will eventually shape the world as we'll know it when the game launches (hopefully soon!).

A significant twist in EVE Online's lore was announced on Christmas day: emancipation for much of the subjugated Minmatar race. EVE's far-future galactic setting of New Eden is characterized by struggles between the four (playable) races. Of those races, the dynamic between the theocratic but cruel Amarr and the tribal Minmatar is often one of master and servant. The Amarr enslaved the Minmatar race centuries ago; this is a prevalent aspect of the backstory (lore), the game's missions (quests) and factional warfare, as well as a focal point of the roleplaying that some players opt to engage in. Even some player alliances have taken a stance for or against slavery in the game. (Those who don't play EVE might be surprised to learn that slaves can be bought and sold on the open market as a low-cost commodity. Note, however, that the players themselves cannot be forced into slavery. It's just an aspect of the setting... one which is intended to evoke response from the players.)

CCP Games has decided this change in the Amarr-Minmatar dynamic was warranted in terms of New Eden's backstory, with the freed slaves numbering in the hundreds of millions, although the existence of slavery in EVE is still far from being abolished.

The Star Trek Online official website has a Christmas day present in the form of the first ship description and details. While there's no actual in-game goodies, it's the first information we've been given on something that will probably end up in the final code of the game. We even a pretty good ship to start with: an iteration of the sexy Sovereign-class ship seen in the last Next Generation movies.

If there was ever any doubt that there wouldn't be much combat in the game, the NX-91001 (or as we like to call it, "The Nixy") is armed with 16 heavy-duty phaser arrays and 8 torpedoes. For the sci-fi tech nerds out there, the computer systems use a "Bioneural circuitry" that mimics organic neurons for super-crazy-fast computing. And no Star Trek ship would be complete without regenerative shields. Although this ship also boasts some incredibly thick future-alloy armor, as well.

We know Star Trek isn't all about combat, and we hope Star Trek Online will be more than that, but there's no denying that the allure of hopping into the bridge of this ship and kicking some space-butt is strong.

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.

In this week's installment of Know Your LotRO Lore, we're going to cover one of the most popular non-Fellowship characters throughout all of Tolkien's works: Gollum. Known for his certain unhealthy obsession with the "precious" One Ring, the true origins of Gollum are often unknown to all but the most studied of lore buffs.

Follow along as we discover the very beginnings of the Gollum creature: how he began and what he became. As always, we'll also cover his role in Lord of the Rings Online, and we've included an extra special extension of that where we speculate on his progression throughout the future of the game.

In this week's Hero's Guide for Lord of the Rings Online's Mines of Moria, we get an in-depth look at Zelem-melek. This area is just east of the Great Delving and the first spot you can venture when taking a rented goat mount in the mines themselves. If you choose to explore from the Hollin Gate to Zelem-melek, be aware of many Orcs and Goblins in your path.

This Hero's guide explains much more than what creatures you will face, though. We get a look at the lore and history behind this vast area, as well as the best methods for navigating its crumpled ruins. You can also check out some of our previous coverage on these areas through Turbine's video trailers, released prior to Mines of Moria's launch. If you're new to this Hero's Guide series, check out the complete collection and stay tuned for more!

If you've ever wondered what there is to NCsoft's upcoming Aion: The Tower of Eternity MMO besides wings, you might be interested in their recent installments of lore for the game.

Each faction, the Elyos and the Asmodian, has their own set of historical folklore that pertains to a certain cataclysmic event in their past. This event separated the two once-friendly groups, but the blame is told differently for each side. At this point, we have an introduction and four chapters for each faction, giving us plenty to read as we prepare for this game's launch. If you're a lore buff, or you simply want to soak up any and all info on Aion, check out these chapters of lore and let us know what you think so far.

Prior to the launch of the first Lord of the Rings Online expansion, Mines of Moria, Turbine made an effort to put out grand, sweeping previews of upcoming content. Now that the expansion is out they're looking to be a bit cagier, unwilling to give away the goods now that players are actively exploring the depths. The most recent posts to the official LotRO website have given just a tantalizing glimpse of the new content. One touches on the realms above the surface, the brand new area of Nimrodel. Adjacent to the city of Lothlórien, it is steeped in Elvish lore. Another post explores the Twenty-first Hall of Khazad-dûm, an ancient mustering hall used by the Fellowship as an encampment.

The final post delves deep into Dwarrowdelf, into the very forges of Khazad-dûm. Created for the game specifically by the designers, it's an epic testimony to the now long-gone dwarven kith and kin. We discussed some of these delights in our Massively Speaking interview with Jeffrey Steefel from a few weeks ago. And if you like reading about where the dwarves delved too deeply, our ongoing Know Your LotRO Lore column might be right up your alley! Check them out.

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.

Known as essentially the main characters of Tolkien's books, Hobbits are an interesting bunch that have been admired and copied in stories for generations. They are a race of small home-bodies that prefer a good meal, good ale and a nap to most other activities. In some circles variations are known as Halflings, Bobbits or Kender, but despite being a "branch" of the race of Man, these peaceful hole-dwellers have very distinctive features that set them apart from most others in Middle-earth.

If you're curious about the origins and lore of the Hobbits both in the books and the game, follow along on our journey through the link below. We'll cover their migration to the Shire, their peculiar lifestyle, their interpretation in LotRO and even if Hobbits are real.

We've learned about many areas of Lord of the Rings Online: Moria of Moria throughout Turbine's Hero's Guide series, yet none could be as structurally important (literally) as the Foundations of Stone. Being the bottom-most level of the mines, this area is actually the foundation of Khazad-dûm. In fact, the murky lake in the center of this level holds a remnant from the Bridge of Khazad-dûm which had fallen from Nud-melek above.

Being in such a remote and subterranean locale, the Foundations of Stone is home to a great infestation of fungus that deforms the creatures who dwell near it. You'll see Orcs, Trolls and other creatures plagued by the mysterious fungi, hoping to spread a bit your way.

However, amid this grotesque infestation is a true work of art: The Endless Stair. This structure stretches from the bottom of the Foundations of Stone to the highest peak above Nud-melek. You can bet that falling from this would do much more than simply break your legs. Check out Turbine's entire Hero's guide series for more on navigating your way through the Mines of Moria.

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.

Chasing the four Hobbits through The Shire, Bree-land and eventually confronted on Weathertop for the first time, the Black Riders are a source of impending fear for all. Why are they there? Who sent them? What are they?

They are the Nazgûl, the Ringwraiths, the Úlairi, the Black Riders or the Nine. They are undead Kings of Man who have been transformed by the curses of the Rings of Power to serve under Sauron's command. They do his bidding, and they are his most terrible servants.

As was discussed in last week's Know Your LotRO Lore, this week's installment will be a continuation of the Ring Lore study and focus on the Nazgûl. We will detail the origins of these wraiths and how they're depicted in Lord of the Rings Online. Follow along through the link below to begin the journey into the world of the Black Riders.

Cryptic has updated the Star Trek Online timeline that leads up to when the game takes place. Just to refresh everyone's memory, Star Trek Online is set in the year 2409, which is thirty years after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis. The newest update on the official website covers the events of the year 2382, or 27 years prior to the game.

The biggest part of this updates deals with the Romulans (biological cousins to the Vulcans) who are heading down a path to civil war, as political in-fighting continues to grow. Meanwhile the Unification movement, represented by Ambassador Spock, once again attempts to push their agenda by seeking the support of the Federation Council. Ultimately though, the Federation declines to support the movement to unify the two races, as the Vulcan members of the council aren't too keen on such an uncertain and essentially illogical idea.