The latest expansion for Lord of the Rings Online will be released digitally on December 1, according to Turbine.

Continuing the eastward march across the Tolkien map, the Siege of Mirkwood adds the aforementioned forest region. New quests and monsters populate the zone, in addition to the raid dungeon of Dul Guldur.

Mirkwood also raises the level cap to 65, adds a new skirmish system for randomized instances, and an improved mount system.

The expansion can be had for $20. Current or former subscribers that sign up for a multi-month subscription before October 31 will receive the expansion for free. More details follow:... Read more

The war for Middle-earth will continue this fall in Lord of the Rings Online new downloadable expansion 'Siege of Mirkwood,' announced today by developer Turbine.

Expanding to the "Dark, foreboding and treacherous forest of Mirkwood," players will conclude the previous expansion 'Mines of Moria' with a slog through hordes of orcs to the Ringwraith fortress of Dol Guldur, which houses new instances and a 12-player raid.

Siege of Mirkwood will boost the MMORPG's level cap to 65 with accompanying new skills and class quests, add new legendary crafted items, and bring repeatable randomised instances with customistable AI companions in the new 'Skirmishes' mode.

Turbine has yet to announce pricing for the download-only expansion.