Thread: Elebrandir's Horseshoe - What the devil does it do?

The horseshoe is a possible quest reward for one of the early quests of the new epic story chapter. The description says that some people think it's lucky. There's no stats and it's a pocket item. What does it do?

I have a hunch.

Back when I played Runescape (stop laughing), there was an item you could wear called a Ring of Wealth. Wearing it gave you a better chance of getting rare drops. I think this might do the same.

There was much testing in Beta. Everyone seemed to have their own opinion.

Personally I think it's little more than an Urban Legend item, heh. If it does anything, it'll probably be something some random NPC remarks on further down in the storyline, my best guess.

helpful in epic quest only from wot i saw

It was carefully tweaked and designed to be mysterious, and keep the community guessing.

I think it's a social experiment and Turbine is keeping track of how many people choose it over the items that are actually useful.

I heard it rumor that it improves tome drops in instances?

This may be the first step in the history of LOTRO mounted combat. When we get to Rohan, we will be given a horse that has only three shoes. Those of us that have the horseshoe in our pocketssess are good to mount up and start cuisinarting the bad guys from the saddle. All other toons will be hobbling along on a three-legged horse and will make a tasty bedtime snack for some troll.

How much luckier than that can a horseshoe get?

I have it on good authority that you're able to solo all the Volume I Epic Quests with it.

Originally Posted by Arasilion

The horseshoe is a possible quest reward for one of the early quests of the new epic story chapter. The description says that some people think it's lucky. There's no stats and it's a pocket item. What does it do?

I have a hunch.

Back when I played Runescape (stop laughing), there was an item you could wear called a Ring of Wealth. Wearing it gave you a better chance of getting rare drops. I think this might do the same.

I think the main purpose of the item is to make people speculate and ask questions

It keeps tigers away. I haven't been attacked by tigers, either in game or real life, while wearing mine.

Originally Posted by Devildoc

I think the main purpose of the item is to make people speculate and ask questions

Yeah I'd go with this as well.

Have fun with it.. Everytime someone asks about it in GLFF (or unite - Vilya), take a shot.. Its a fun drinking game.. Even if you do not actually drink just type "*takes a shot" in chat.. We had a few people doing it the last couple of days... WARNING!!! If you do actually play the Horsehoe Drinking Game you are likely to be tore up within an hour... Enjoy!

Originally Posted by abrahamL

Have fun with it.. Everytime someone asks about it in GLFF (or unite - Vilya), take a shot.. Its a fun drinking game.. Even if you do not actually drink just type "*takes a shot" in chat.. We had a few people doing it the last couple of days... WARNING!!! If you do actually play the Horsehoe Drinking Game you are likely to be tore up within an hour... Enjoy!

Hmmm... now there's an idea.

What does it mean if you find Elebrandir's horse shoe? Elebrandir's horse is walking around in his socks.

When I tell people that this item shows up under your character bar with all the other buffs when equipped, they really start scratching their heads
I took a big stat hit when I decided to put this on, yet seem to have no problems as far as mobs are concerned. I was wondering if it makes mobs appear to be, say, 2 or 3 levels lower than they actually are? I've been getting more timely crits on my relic deconstruction, lately, as well. Around the house, all my foodstuffs appear to last longer without spoiling, my razor blades are staying sharper longer, my love life has never been better, and all the aches and pains in my joints have virtually dissapeared. Thank you Lucky Horseshoe!

The question was raised during Beta whether Erebrandir's Horseshoe had been thoroughly tested; the answer is that it was.

MoL

If you are looking for an example of a non-answer to throw gasoline on the fire, here it is

it is a mysterious and powerful device, whose mystery is only exceeded by its power.

I tried some conventional tests, looting with it equipped and unequipped- didn’t notice anything.

So I tried some non-conventional approaches. Falling off a cliff is pretty unlucky, so what if I equipped something lucky? Surprisingly I found you could fall from higher cliffs without "misadventure" with the horseshoe than without. I tried this test just outside of Trestlebridge, where the crafting quest is. I tested it a number of times and it seems to be the horseshoe gives a little extra buffer when falling from heights.

Give it a shot and let me know what you think.

Originally Posted by Jilla

What does it mean if you find Elebrandir's horse shoe? Elebrandir's horse is walking around in his socks.

No. Elebrandir still has four shoes. The one you have is the old worn out shoe. You talk nice to Elebrandir, Elbrandir will show the brand new fancy model of shoe that replaces the one you have.

If that shoe was so lucky, Elebrandir would still be wearing it. It would be handed to you by the eye twinkling horse smith that went. I bet I can give Tantalus this old shoe. Not have to give a real reward. Hmm. That elf is not as young and naive as she looks. She does not want the shoe.

I'm of the firm opinion it does nothing. I think it was a way for the Dev's to have a joke at our expense and make us think we were getting something to help with the Symbol drop rate.

Nothing else to see here - back to the Batcave with you all.

I heard:

If you place the item in your pocket, and stand in a field, and wear a pointy hat with a long beard and robes, and /whistle, the fabled Shadowfax will come be your mount!

Either that or some WB lawyer goons will appear and tell you after /whistling that: the following scene cannot be shown due to copyright infringements.

Originally Posted by Fruinjuice

I'm of the firm opinion it does nothing. I think it was a way for the Dev's to have a joke at our expense and make us think we were getting something to help with the Symbol drop rate.

Why would they do such a thing at the same time that they ACTUALLY make Symbols as easy to get as Mithril Flakes?

Originally Posted by LordFrieza

It keeps tigers away. I haven't been attacked by tigers, either in game or real life, while wearing mine.

LordFrieza, I want to buy your rock.

Originally Posted by bigsix66

This may be the first step in the history of LOTRO mounted combat. When we get to Rohan, we will be given a horse that has only three shoes. Those of us that have the horseshoe in our pocketssess are good to mount up and start cuisinarting the bad guys from the saddle. All other toons will be hobbling along on a three-legged horse and will make a tasty bedtime snack for some troll.

How much luckier than that can a horseshoe get?

Wow. This wins best shaggy dog explanation, hands down. /clap

Shortly after I selected the horseshoe, I got a new house, ergo the horseshoe must have an upper hand in the real estate market. Of course, shortly after selecting the horseshoe, I also had to change my son's diaper....

Originally Posted by LordFrieza

It keeps tigers away. I haven't been attacked by tigers, either in game or real life, while wearing mine.

Seriously, if I knew how to give you rep under this new horrible forum I would.

Specious reasoning for the win.

Originally Posted by JRonnie

Seriously, if I knew how to give you rep under this new horrible forum I would.

Specious reasoning for the win.

On the bottom-left of the post, under where it says Moderation is a nearly invisible sheriff's star...

Originally Posted by MadeOfLions

The question was raised during Beta whether Erebrandir's Horseshoe had been thoroughly tested; the answer is that it was.

MoL

OK, thanks MoL! That got me chuckling!

"Is that a horseshoe in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?"

RP'ers need love too.

I guess I'm the only one that doesn't like being left in the dark - I find no fun in ignorance. I asked what the horse-shoe did on the beta forums and got nothing but useless, run-around answers...similar to the answers found here in this thread. And in beta, much like here, people seemed all to happy to accept the empty answers they were given.

Yeah, yeah, yeah - it's all well and good to have a nice little laugh. But what does the horseshoe actually do? And why won't you tell us?

Well, here's the scoop folks: It does nothing - nothing at all. It takes up a space in your inventory and (if you equip it) deprives you of some actual stat bonuses - that's it. And yes, the devs tested it thoroughly to make sure that it had absolutely no effect on your character whatsoever. So you can rest assured it does exactly what the tool tip tells you it does - nothing.

Don't believe me? Prove I'm wrong.

Has anyone tested to see if it affects /roll 100 (or any other number)?

I think it's fun for players to actually figure it out, EVEN if they ultimately find that it does nothing (we will still be kept wondering though).

Personally my guess is that it improves your chances of winning lotteries on that character. But that's entirely a guess.

Originally Posted by Yula_the_Mighty

No. Elebrandir still has four shoes.

If Elebrandir needs four shoes, he must be the most unusual elf in the history of Middle Earth. And his blacksmith must be quite busy: "After you're done with me, you can take care of my horse."

Originally Posted by Devildoc

I think the main purpose of the item is to make people speculate and ask questions

yep... Diablo 2 Chat Gem anyone?

secrets secrets are no fun
secrets secrets hurt someone

devs need to go back to kindergarten if this is a joke at the expense of those who help them pay their bills

I'm with you, TheREALify. I'm not finding it amusing in the least bit, it just doesn't seem funny. Cheers to all you finding this amusing. How does it go again... ignorance is bliss?

The least that management could do is confirm that it does or does not do something and I'd be happy. There's a fine line between 'having a fun thing for the community to find out' and 'simply being a ****'.

Originally Posted by TheREALify

I guess I'm the only one that doesn't like being left in the dark - I find no fun in ignorance. I asked what the horse-shoe did on the beta forums and got nothing but useless, run-around answers...similar to the answers found here in this thread. And in beta, much like here, people seemed all to happy to accept the empty answers they were given.

Yeah, yeah, yeah - it's all well and good to have a nice little laugh. But what does the horseshoe actually do? And why won't you tell us?

Well, here's the scoop folks: It does nothing - nothing at all. It takes up a space in your inventory and (if you equip it) deprives you of some actual stat bonuses - that's it. And yes, the devs tested it thoroughly to make sure that it had absolutely no effect on your character whatsoever. So you can rest assured it does exactly what the tool tip tells you it does - nothing.

Don't believe me? Prove I'm wrong.

To each his or her own, I guess. This is why they give it to you as a selectable reward. Some people don't want it taking up space in their inventory, especially since they believe it does nothing. Some people believe it does something and take it. Some people have enough in the way of legacy stat scrolls and end up taking the horseshoe for a laugh. I guess what I'm trying to say is that you don't have to take it.

Also, everyone is entitled to their own beliefs, and so they don't have to prove anything to you if that is what they believe. Now, if they were to try to convince you that what they believe is true, then yes, I would think that some sort of proof would be in order. However, I believe that any sort of proof about this matter would essentially be a Dev outright saying that it does something beyond take up space and give you an ambiguous effect or doesn't.

You can do various things thousands of times each with and without the horseshoe equipped, and you may even see some sort of statistical correlation in doing certain actions. However, a correlation does not a proof make.

Anyway, now that all that is said, I believe that it increases your chance to start a random fellowship maneuver while in a group.

And as an aside, I personally like the addition of this item. I certainly won't wear it when I'm, say, fighting Nengon in Glinghant, but I will otherwise just because its nifty and I can.

Originally Posted by toga

The least that management could do is confirm that it does or does not do something and I'd be happy.

You should be happy, then, because it does have a verifiable in-game effect. The question is whether you believe it is something you would like to have.

MoL

Originally Posted by gantoris

it is a mysterious and powerful device, whose mystery is only exceeded by its power.

We will now use the power of Elebrandir's Horseshoe to banish you to Hoboken, New Jersey.

Originally Posted by toga

secrets secrets are no fun
secrets secrets hurt someone

devs need to go back to kindergarten if this is a joke at the expense of those who help them pay their bills

I'm with you, TheREALify. I'm not finding it amusing in the least bit, it just doesn't seem funny. Cheers to all you finding this amusing. How does it go again... ignorance is bliss?

The least that management could do is confirm that it does or does not do something and I'd be happy. There's a fine line between 'having a fun thing for the community to find out' and 'simply being a ****'.

I'm going to take a guess that someone never did the riddle quests in Rivendell.

Originally Posted by FoxFire

I think it's fun for players to actually figure it out, EVEN if they ultimately find that it does nothing (we will still be kept wondering though).

Personally my guess is that it improves your chances of winning lotteries on that character. But that's entirely a guess.

I like your outside-of-the-box thinking. I think I'm going to subscribe to your particular wacky theory over everybody else's particular wacky theory.

Originally Posted by MadeOfLions

You should be happy, then, because it does have a verifiable in-game effect. The question is whether you believe it is something you would like to have.

MoL

Is that verifiable effect the little status icon you get under your vitals?