This morning from the Penny Arcade Expo, Turbine unveiled The Lord of the Rings Online: Siege of Mirkwood, a new digital expansion to their MMO, launching this fall.  It will further expand the world of Middle-earth in the game, letting players venture further eastward into the forests of Mirkwood and take part in the conclusion to Volume II of The Lord of the Rings Online.

Siege of Mirkwood will be available as a digital download this Fall with an increased level cap to level 65, a new region including the legendary evil fortress of Dol Goldur, major enhancements to combat, Legendary Items, and the introduction of Skirmishes, a new system where players will train customizable soldiers and take them into battle as part of the War of the Ring.

Under the command of Celeborn and Galadriel, players will fight through vast armies of Orcs alongside the Elves of Lórien in a battle that will take them to Dol Guldur, the fortress of the Ringwraiths.  This update includes Book 9 and the Epilogue to the sweeping epic tale begun with the award-winning Mines of Moria expansion.  

Skirmishes offer a new system of repeatable, randomized instances where players can create and lead customized soliders into battle, training them to greater skill as they earn victories against the forces of shadow.  You can also answer the call to battle wherever violence erupts with the new "World Join" function that lets players and their fellowships band together to fight in various locations throughout Middle-earth.

Dol Doldur, the fortress of the Ringwraiths, will have new 3 and 6 player instances as well as a new 12 player raid where you will face off against a Nazgul Lord.

The combat system continues to see improvements with improved responsiveness when in the heat of battle.  The legendary item system will improve with players being able to create their own customized Second and Third Age legendary items from raw materials and increase their levels to 60.  You can also get new Legacies, new titles, and a fourth Runic slot to make Legendary items more unique and powerful.

More details will follow from PAX, so stay tuned!