Sorry, I'm not going to Google the Hobbit release date for you, nor give you a rundown of all the changes. Maybe someone nicer will. In the meantime you can always read the changelogs and the dev diaries.
A spaceship from another star / They ask me where all the people are
I tell them I'm the only one / There was a war, but I must have won
This is not the same game you played two years ago. It's a very different game completely. There are far too many changes to say which ones you will like and which ones you won't like.
You may recognize much of the scenery and many of the quests but loads have been re-written and re-vamped so the ones you remember may not play the same.
You might also recongize some of the options for weapons, traits and armours but those have changed too and even some of the optional appearances.
A few things have not changed: Most of the bugs from two years ago are still here waiting for you and we have quite a few new ones for you to enjoy too.
I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here! <Your winnings, sir.>
[sotto voce] Oh, thank you very much.
The Hobbit is due out in December. The changes are many. Best to read the diaries and change-logs as pointed out, and just play the game. Ask in-game if you don't understand something, usually someone will be willing to give you a helpful answer. And Welcome back!
@adder: now i have something more to do in december!
also thanks to everyone who's answered my questions. only reason i asked was because i was on a friends phone and i couldn't really research all of what i needed to know, but since i've gotten home i found out all that i needed to know.
made a new dwarf and i'm liking everything so far and i'm doing my best to steer clear of the previous/present glitches.
on that note i hope that everyone has a good summer!
Magnusadan - Lore Master
"Old Toby...the finest weed in the Southfarthing." -Bilbo Baggins, film Lord of the Rings: Fellowship