Thread: How many times do players encounter Durin’s Bane?

This is a trivia question from Twitter a few days ago.

The answer is said to be "3 – During session play in Moria, as an illusion in the Ost Dunhoth Raid, and as a corpse atop Zirak-zigil." but some other posters contested that the correct answer is 4.

I just levelled another character through Moria to take advantage of the bonus XP event, and, what-do-you-know, the correct answer is indeed 4. There are actually two quest instances which feature Durin's Bane:-

1. As Nafni in the Fall of Moria session play from V2B1. (Durin's Bane's first appearance.)
2. As Ori in the We Cannot Get Out session play from V2B3. (This event takes place many years later after Fall of Moria. It's an entirely separate session play and separate encounter from "Fall of Moria" in all of people, time, and place. Durin's Bane makes a brief appearance in the First Hall.)
3. As an illusion in Ost Dunhoth.
4. As a corpse atop Zirak-zigil.

I got the answer wrong personally (forgot entirely about the corpse and the very brief appearance in We Cannot Get Out), but I think people who got the real and correct answer should perhaps get their prizes out of fairness.

This was indeed a tricky question, me and a mate where having a hard think about this (in the middle of a F/F T2 raid ). We both sended in 2 as we wheren't sure if there was 1 or 2 session plays and if the illusion or the corpse would count.

And keep those trivia's coming Turbine, we love them!

I also answered 3, because I never cleared Ost Dunhoth so I didn't know about that illusion. But I also counted two session plays and the corpse. :-)

Yes, and bunches of folks responded within seconds on Twitter when the "correct" answer was announced that it was wrong and actually four. Perhaps one of the Balrog's in one of the sessions isn't named/defined specifically as Durin's Bane?



"Sometimes survival comes down to not being hit. Actually, most times." -the chicken skill, Bob and Weave

Originally Posted by RJFerret

... Perhaps one of the Balrog's in one of the sessions isn't named/defined specifically as Durin's Bane?

Technically, the Balrog isn´t "Durins Bane" until AFTER the first session play, when Durin VI falls.

This is the second time that the official trivia answer has been provably wrong. Celestrata saw the topic (now moved or deleted) about the first one (I know because she issued me a (deserved) infraction for a reply), and I also PMed her about this wrong answer the day it happened. FWIW, I have not heard back an apology or explanation or even acknowledgement.

Yes, I'm nerd raging. I answered correctly both times, and missed out on the chance to win something.

Turbine said "During session play in Moria."
They never said HOW many session plays, so they probably counted both of them as one because they're both in Moria.

Isn't the answer: as often as you like? You can replay the session-play in Rivendell as often as you want, IIRC.

Originally Posted by Vandervahn

Technically, the Balrog isn´t "Durins Bane" until AFTER the first session play, when Durin VI falls.

Fair point. In Fall of Moria, the NPC is titled "The Lord of Shadow and Flame" or some such.

Though to not count that, and yet count a corpse and an illusion, would be beyond pedantic. It's still the same creature, no matter what it's called.

what about the balrog in the rift? maybe not durins bane but balrogs arent realy running around like goblins in middle-earth...

Originally Posted by maxximus_EU

what about the balrog in the rift? maybe not durins bane but balrogs arent realy running around like goblins in middle-earth...

Uh, the question was "how many times does the player encounter Durin's Bane?" Thaurlach is a completely different Balrog. He doesn't count.

Originally Posted by Vandervahn

Technically, the Balrog isn´t "Durins Bane" until AFTER the first session play, when Durin VI falls.

Technically, it did become "Durin's Bane" when Nafni starts to flee.

Originally Posted by FragLimiT

Isn't the answer: as often as you like? You can replay the session-play in Rivendell as often as you want, IIRC.

As a raider I've also encountered Durin's Bane in OD dozens of times.


This is certainly a tricky question.