Two quick screenshots today, from recent adventures in gathering the Grey Host.
What the...?
What is THAT? What the heck is that??!?!!
Did I miss something my first time through the North Downs? Where did that gateway come from? Needless to say, it caught me by surprise, and stumbling across it was a really nice moment! I guess I need to start looking up a bit more.
Impressive!
Before I could even get over my shock, Turbine hits me with Tham Umdur! All I could do was say, “whoa…”.
Maybe it was residual awe from what’s right outside (see above), but this area hit me full-on with two fists crammed full of pure Cool. Nearly blinded by Sheer Awesomeness!
A whole village built into a cave? Are you kidding me?? It was so atmospheric, so captivating for some reason, that I stayed around and explored the entire area even after finishing off the quest objectives. If that’s not an indication of great visual design, I don’t want to know what is.
This is the reason LotRO continues to hold my (nearly) full attention, how it keeps pulling me back in. Little surprises and not-so-little details and utterly gorgeous design.
Bravo, Turbine! Bravo!
(/gushing)
pix'led life 
I know of that area with the hillmen where the gate is, but I’ve never really noticed it either and I think it is due to it normally being so dark in that area. But that is pretty cool! Tham Umdur though I must have missed too because I’ve not seen this place.
Yeah, caught me completely off guard! And I think Tham Umdur is a new area for Volume 3…maybe not accessible until you reach that point.