Monolith recently announced a brand new DLC for Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor. Called "The Bright Lord", the DLC will allow players to take on the role of Celebrimbor, wielder of a Ring, and a worthy opponent to wrest control from Sauron. The campaign will feature ten new missions, the chance to face off against Sauron and a new Challenge mode.
We wanted to find out more and had the opportunity to interview the team. Check out what director of design Michael de Plater had to say.
MMORPG.com: We were able to play as Celebrimbor in the main campaign, what is different this time around in the DLC? I assume this is more direct control of the ring forger, and not his spirit?
Michael: That’s right, you are playing as Celebrimbor when he was alive, at the height of his strength and wielding the stolen Ring of Power.
MMORPG.com: So it appears that we will not have wraith powers this time but will have the power of the One Ring, are these similar to the wraith powers or will we be leveling Celebrimbor up from scratch with entirely new abilities?
Michael: Many of the powers which Celebrimbor’s spirit gave to Talion were based on the powers of the Rings. So the One Ring is providing stronger versions of these to Celebrimbor himself. You are more powerful, but so are your enemies, the Uruk Captains and Warchiefs, the soldiers are better trained and better armed and of course you are battling Sauron himself.
MMORPG.com: We will face newer stronger enemies in this DLC. Will they have any new powers?
Michael: Yes, the enemies are both more numerous and more powerful. And Sauron himself has a number of new powers, including the ability to dominate your followers.
MMORPG.com: Will we have access to any of what we learned in the Hunt DLC?
Michael: The Bright Lord is a separate, standalone DLC from the Lord of the Hunt.
MMORPG.com: How will we be able to get level 30 runes in the challenge modes if we are dominating and not killing the enemies?
Michael: You are still able to kill enemy warchiefs, and you can destroy your own Followers to harvest them for health or Runes.
MMORPG.com: One of the big requests from players has been new landmass in the DLC, some place new to explore. Will we see that with this DLC, or in future editions?
Michael: The game takes place in Udun, but at an earlier period of history where the power of Sauron is at it’s height so it does feel quite different.
MMORPG.com: How is the Nemesis System changing for this round?
Michael: The main difference, which has quite a big effect on gameplay, is that the enemy forces are more disciplined so you don’t have the opportunity to create Betrayals and Riots. You need to go after the Warchiefs and their Bodyguards as a more coherent group. Also Sauron has the ability to turn your Followers against you. You are more powerful, but the experience is more challenging.
