By Justin Olivetti

In a recent forum discussion around whether or not Lord of the Rings Online will wrap up its story when (and if) the Scouring of the Shire arrives, Standing Stone Games assured fans that this won’t be the case.

If the star of the show is Middle-earth, you can definitely have adventures there even after the Ringbearers leave,” said SSG’s Jeff Libby. “It’s more that given the place of the Scouring at the end of the novel, it’s fairly reasonable for players to think that once they see it in-game, the story’s probably pretty close to over. Since we have lots and lots and lots of adventures still to have in Middle-earth, I think it’s perfectly reasonable to hit that pause button and explore those.”

And speaking of past adventures in Middle-earth, SSG’s Scenario took players on a guided and informative tour through Dagorlad and the Dead Marshes in the most recent Casual Stroll video series: