Just got the game over the weekend. Pretty awesome so far!

I think my game has the higher powered flipper coils, and just wanted to ask what you all think about this. I like to play my games the way they were intended/designed, but if the stock coils were problematic, then maybe I'm better off with the ones in the game now.

Cheers.

I'm just curious to know the difference. Can anyone explain.

Thanks.

What would you say the main difference is? The game plays faster and thus harder?

Although it may be unreasonable, I do want to get to Vallinor one day, so making it harder isn't really what I'm going for haha!

I also like my games to play as close to factory as possible, unless something was really defective and needed changes.

Appreciate you taking the time to explain that. I think I will play it as is for now, but eventually, when I want to clean the game up a bit, I might also rebuild flippers with the stock one.

Can anyone confirm the coil that I would select from PBL: https://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=3748

Thanks!

Yes, I have a standard. I'm going to order the stock coils. No rush to change them, but eventually I'd like to.

Also, what slant do you guys have this game at? I put my digital torpedo level in the drain, so the center of it lands sort of where the slings start, and I get 6.5 degrees.

But the game plays fast! Wondering how you guys have your games playing.

How many hits does it take to beat Balrog in the multiball?

And how many shots are required in the two other multiball modes? Doesn't seem to show anywhere.

Man, this game is no joke! Makes you work for it!

How many shots are needed to beat each multiball?

Loving the game, but damn is it deep! Feel like I need to take a vacation just to learn the rules haha!

My balrog doesn't register all hits. Any thoughts?

Yup, searched this thread and seem the switch is often the issue. How do I access the switch? From the top or bottom of pf? Does Balrog need to be removed?

You should be pretty happy with yourself even if you didn't make it. It's quite the feat. I'm still trying to understand the rules to one day hopefully get somewhere closer to it. I think I've only beat the multiball once, and I've only had 3 or 4 gifts in a game. I have done DTR twice in a game, but everything else was incomplete.

I'm wondering if my high powered coils are making it harder to get things done. The ball blasts around pretty fast.

Quick question, when trying to complete a multiball mode, if you do not finish it the first time around, are the shots still in memory the next time you attempt it? For example, if you were 5 shots away the first time in ROTK, and the second time you start it you make 5 shots, will it complete it? Was just watching Keith Elwin doing Valinor, and seems one of the multiballs he completed pretty quickly.

And one last thing... On default settings, does it take 2 shots to the ring to complete DTR? I swear the first time I did it, it was only one shot, but when I played today, the first shot went in, and the mode was still going.

Interesting!!! Not that I'm anywhere close, but the mountain just got a little shorter to climb!

Can anyone confirm if these are the same as the stock coils?

https://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=3747

And, like the factory coils, will these overheat/lose power during a long game?

These?

https://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=3747

Dammit!!!!!!!!

I had 5 gifts, 2 MBs completed, TABA started and failed, and I had a mode started with just fellowship mb to start. The inserts showed Frodo was the only one flashing, but I kept hitting it and nothing!

Does it need to pass through the ring to light Frodo?

Also, after completing fellowship, the inserts go blank (unlike flashing when game starts). Do I have to hit the shots more than once the second time around?

And is it fair to think that if I had started the fellowship MB, completed it, got the 6th gifts, and then started DTR, I would have been at Valinor?

Anyone?

Yup

Hmmm... So back to my question, would me completing Fellowship MB not have earned me my 6th gift, and the 7th could have come from the DTR that followed (which at the same time would have started Valinor)?

Thanks

So 7th gift is just another gift? Essentially I could get all 7 by finishing 3 MBs, and 4 modes?

And someone mentioned something about a gift from 2+ MBs. What's that?

I have high powered could right now, and the balls flies like a bullet around the pf. Just ordered the medium powered ones, so I'm hoping it improves the overall flow. Might even make achieving the goals a bit more doable.

Do most of you guys run stock coils, or have you changed to medium or high?

I bought a set of the medium strength ones sold here on Pinside, and hopefully they won't be as powerful but also won't lose power over lengthy games.

Quick question, when the ball come out of the pops and travels down the right orbit lane, should it hot the right slings, or go to the flipper?

If anyone can snap a quick photo of their ball guide on the right (mainly to see where it is in respect to the rubber post at the end).

Thanks

Can I bug someone to take a photo of where there right orbit ball guide ends, so I can see how close it is to the rubber post.

Thanks!

Thank you so much!

And do you recall if the ball hits the slings anytime it comes down from that right orbit lane?

You're a f'ing machine!

Did you seriously do that on ball 1?

Man, I have a LOOOOOOONG way to go... But I'm determined as hell to get there!

Balls are getting stuck in the Shire (I think usually in MB modes).

It doesn't eject until the ball search goes off, and if there are multiple balls stuck, it seems to only eject one.

Does it sound like it's that little fork switch thingy that might need replacing or something else?

Go LOTR... I just got one, and it's a blast to play. Longer than average ball times, and always a sense of completion which i find you don't get in most games. Going for Valinor feels like an adventure, and doing DTR and TABA along the way are super fun. Probably the best call outs in any game ever.

TSPP is fun, but to me just feels way to crowded, and having a wizard mode that literally no one can complete sort of turns me off.

Speaking of drains, when you don't quite make the sword ramp, and it rolls back down, should it be heading between the flippers for a drain? Mine very often does.

I'm guessing this raised screw is not a feature

IMG_20180509_212538 (resized).jpg

Just shit the bed big time on my Valinor run... Had 5 gifts, 2 MBs completed (FoTR & TTT) and was just a few shots away from ROTK (would have got it next time I lit it up). And did all this on one ball. Next two balls basically went down the drain, and then ball 2 and 3 were me struggling to load up modes and then Gollim. I should have walked away, calmed my nerves, and then returns to try to load up ROTK and another mode for gift 6 and 7.

Obviously, I still had DTR to get to Valinor, and my success rate at DTR is probably 20%!

Great game regardless! Loving it!

Curious to know what slope you guys have your game at? With my 9" digital level at starting just above the flippers, and going to the top of the slings, it's at 6.5 degrees. Moving the level up so it's close to Balrog, it's 6.7.

However, the bubble level on the shooter Lane has the bubble slightly going over the top line.

It plays alright, but definitely tough to live catch balls.

Curious to know what you guys are set at.

Does this look normal? The sling rubber on my LOTR sticks out much more than my other games as shown here with AFM where the rubber is recessed.

MVIMG_20180515_130113 (resized).jpg
IMG_20180515_130129 (resized).jpg

One more...

MVIMG_20180515_130054 (resized).jpg

I think the ones I have are the right ones?

IMG_20180515_205717 (resized).jpg

Could be. I'm going to replace all rubbers, change all bulbs to LED, and a few other things once I get some time.

Another question... Seems the audio levels are all messed up in this game. The soundtrack is much lower than the call outs. I think the MB modes also increase in volume too.

Is this a known issue with this game, or something specific to my machine?

Oh. Where would I find that? And does it sound good using this option?

Getting quicker... Now if I could only get better at finishing FOTR and ROTK MBs!

IMG_20180517_010030 (resized).jpg

TTT is probably the easiest to beat of the three. I find FOTR hard because you're required to hit those two shots constantly.

I played one game today, had everything completed except FOTR and ROTK. I had a good run at them, and was a few shots away from finishing them. But after TABA, I messaged up by starting a mode at random. I should have started WOTE and loaded up ROTK.

Valinor is definitely an adventure to get to!

Anyone know how many shots roughly need to be made in TTT and ROTK?

How the hell did you put that score up???

I played almost an hour the other day and ended up with 305M!

Weird. Regardless, congrats on getting to Valinor!

Wondering if anyone can help... My right flipper keeps getting stuck in the up position.

With most games, I'd normally just go in and check the coil sleeve or flipper for binding. But I know LOTR has issues with overheating.

Does this sound like it's the coil? Seems to only happen on the right.

Will check it out over the weekend.

Was looking to replace the flippers switches and sling switches. Manual shows that there are two switches:

180-5164-00
180-5160-00

Anyone know why there are two different? Can't seem to find 180-5160-00 on Pinball Life.

Also, for the slings, do I just need 4 of these:

https://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=1033

I thought I saw a diode connected to one on each side.

Anyone?

Did a little more digging.. Is this the switch I need for both flippers?

https://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=153

I'm thinking first it could be a broken flipper button. I sometimes hit my buttons very spiritedly, and I'm starting to remember this might have also happened to my MMR.

I just looked now, and the right button looks a little more resessed than the left.

Thinking the button might be the issue. If it's locking up and not coming back out fully, it could be closing the switch and thus having the flipper stick in the up position.

I should have an extra button around, and will try swapping them out when I get some time this evening.

Can anyone tell me if these are stock coils?

IMG_20180520_225604 (resized).jpg

Switched out the flipper button last night, and it works perfectly. Looks like the spring might have popped inside. Switch looks perfectly fine, and played my best game after installing it!

Got all gifts, all MBs completed, and TABA. Just had to start up Two Tower again, and it would have been only DTR left to do! Soooooo close!

You guys sure? The ones on PBL have "LOTR" labelled on them, unless these are older ones.

Either way, I bought a set from APB, so I'll see how those work out.

Please post a video when you get it set up. Curious to see how it sounds.

Ahhhhhhh, there we go! So then I have the stock coils?

The PBL ones looks the same right, except the label says LOTR?

I ordered the medium strength ones, so interested to see how that will improve gameplay.

I haven't noticed the coils dropping a lot of power. Maybe it's a little tough to make it into the ring at times, but never to the point that I can't make it after a couple of attempts.

I'm going to be doing a full LED treatment on my game. Do you suggest going warm or natural/cool white?

My Balrog does not seem to be registering hits unless you really smack it hard with a straight on shot.

What's the best/easiest way to get access to the switch in Balrog so I can adjust it?

Also, when does the diverter at the top of the pf get activated? Should it be up during War of the Ents. I make the right orbit shot during this mode, and it just sent the ball around the full orbit exiting out of the left side. Should it be stopped by the diverter to be sent into the Path of the Dead?

Cheers

Took the back plate off Balrog, pulled the switch out and bent it a bit so that it requires less of a gap to activate. It's not perfect, but definitely improved.

I'll play around with it more when I have some time.

I'll also have a look at that diverter. I guess it's not uncommon for the ball to whip around the right orbit and pass through the post.

One last thing... I have stock coils and I swear in the last few games I've played, it feels much harder to hit the ring. I understand that the coils heat up and lose power during gameplay but could they lose power in a way that the coil itself becomes weakened over time and just doesn't have the juice to make those shots whether you've just started a game or are half hour in?

You're probably right. I bought a rebuild kit from PBL and also ordered the medium strength coils sold here on Pinside.

I'll change them out when I have some extra time. I'm pretty sure the game I have is HUO and by the looks of it, not a great deal of mileage. But I guess it is 15 years old, and that's definitely a lot of time for a flipper assembly to get some wear and tear.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Just had my best game yet. Had 6 gifts, and was about to start Fellowship again that only required one more pass.

Sooooo close, yet so far!

Definitely one of the best pinball wizard mode journeys ever.

How can I check if lotr program is loaded in my LED OCD?

Frosted or not for the GI? How about the inserts?

What are minis?

Can someone who has stock lighting on their game post a photo of the lights on the backboard (modes, POTD, and that strip of lighting that runs across the top).

Thank you so much

Hmmmmmm... Trying to figure out what to do with that strip of lights.

I'm doing warm LEDs for all clear insets and GI bulbs (frosted for GI) and then green LED for greeninserts, red for red, etc...

I'm trying out the two SMD clear warm white bulbs for the inserts. Right now the game has color-matched bulbs but I'm going to see how it looks when everything is warm white.

Above the pf, I went with the same bulbs, but frosted.

These new bulbs are in my TWD, and they look pretty sharp.

For the strip on the backboard, I'm going to experiment with some colour combos.

Quick question... When you don't fully make a right ramp (sword) shot, and the ball rolls out, does it generally go to the middle of the flippers (often causing a SDTM) or does it go to the left sling?

Watched a couple of gameplay videos, and seems it often goes to the sling which makes is much easier to play.

I decided to reset my settings to factory just to make sure everything was stock, and one major thing I've noticed is there is no ball save now.

Is that how the game is supposed to play on factory settings?

So "cave troll" is just that sequence before Balrog comes out?

And what is "attract mode"? It's not in the manual.

And last thing, the Palantir target keeps getting bumped to the left. I manually center it, but after a couple of games, it goes back. Any fix for this?

Has it kept it in place?

Quick question...

In the menu, I have the following set as default:

Flipper Adj 1 - 20
Flipper Adj 2 - 50
Flipper Adj 3 - 3

First, what do these settings control/change, and the manual shows that Flipper Adj 1 should actually be 10, but the factory reset has it at 20.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Anyone?

So this was added in an update to address the overheating issue with coils?

Just curious, because I know a lot of people have switched over to medium and high (PBL) coils, so wondering if I need to.

I find I often can't make the ring shot, but that could either be power or my shitty aim. Sometimes when I'm on, it feels good, but otherwise, I generally feel like there is a lack of power.

Congrats! Did you end up finishing it?

I only tried to play it once, and was one ring shot away before it timed out.

Now when I reach it, I'm usually chasing down Valinor, so I trap and hold onto the ball as it's too much risk for drains.

How often should shots to the ringramps fail to make it into the ring?

Not sure what is going on with my game, but I finished DTR in 35 seconds last week, and now it's taking me over 2 mins.

Feel like at least 60-70% of shots don't have enough juice to hit the ring.

I've noticed a lot of games have the Galdalf on his horse figure, but mine has this one. Anyone know why?

MVIMG_20180613_214527 (resized).jpg

Yeah, maybe I'll just stick with Gandalf the Grey and try to find a stick for him to hold.

I levelled my game today so the bubble sit between the two lines on the shooter Lane, but with my digital level between the slings, it's reading 6.3.

Higher on the pf it's at 6.5.

I know every game is different, as well as player preferences, but curious to know where you guys have you game set at?

Do you use a digital level?

Yup, I have one of those as well.

Where on there pf do you gauge your 6.5 level?

I know for me, at the flipper gap, it's like 6.2 degrees, about 6.4 degrees between slings, and 6.6 in the middle of the pf.

Cool. I think I'm at about 6.5-6.6 in the middle.

I finished TABA for the first time last night. Pretty intense mode!

Just had one of those games... 5 gifts collexted, getting close to completing ROTK and FOTR, but just can't get the shots together!

It's pretty awesome how this game gives you a sense of being so close, but tying up those last few things feels like you actually have to climb Mordor!

I thought I had it tonight!

Had 6 gifts collected, and only needed ROTK. I was on wave 6 of it.

I was about to make the shot to start TABA, so I could start up Ents and build up my dead for ROTK.

Closest I've been! I bricked that ring shots because the nerves got the best of me.

Game is such a rush when you get deep into it!

Well, that's a heartbreaker!

Finally finished everything. Started DTR, and that's all I had left for Valinor!

Unfortunately after making 2 of the shots, I got a cheap outlanes drain that brought my best effort to a halt.

509 million, so at least I walk away with a new GC... But it seriously stings to be that close and lose it

Was about to install Pinball Pro speakers, but the instructions call for the connector on the speakers to be plugged into J10.

J10 is 9 pins, and the speaker connector only has 5.

Any know what to do?

MVIMG_20180708_000735 (resized).jpg

MVIMG_20180708_000756 (resized).jpg

Nope, the kit should be correct.

Can someone confirm if it's J10, or is there another connector?

I think J10 is on the driver board, so maybe the install video was referring to SAM?

Please help!

looking over the manual I think it is supposed to connect to CN4 on the soundboard.

Can anyone confirm?

Sweet!

And for the volume control knob, do I actually have to screw it into the header? Would definitely prefer not to.

Congrats!

I was almost there last week! Had it all lined up, started DTR, hit two of the shots, went for the the third and it came back with a funny bounce and drained out on the left outlane. I was crestfallen! Ended up with a score of 509M which was almost double my previous GC.

Getting that close and failing forced me to take a little break from the game. In the interim, I've installed a ColorDMD, and have some Pinball Pro speakers to put in when I get some time.

I'll try again soon...

didn't someone at some point create a t-shirt for those who reached the Promised Land?

Is there too much pinball on the brain when you're washing your hands and think... A gift from the elves!

IMG_20180713_123450 (resized).jpg

Has anyone installed Flipper Fidelity or Pinball Pro speakers in their game? Just wondering if the upgrade is worthwhile.

Please let me know if you find this as well. I'm looking for one.

If you find a good source for this please update us. The left side of my blackbox is scuffed.

Just curious to know what pegs setting was default for the outlane post?

Mine was on the bottom (easiest) when I got the game, but I've moved it to the middle.

When I watch the PAPA Vlainor tutorial, the peg is also on the bottom like mine was initially, so I have no clue.

Anyone?

Such as?

I know with MMR, you can hear some of the effects, like the castle gate clanking as it opens.

I had to get the small sub for it since the troll carriage goes down deep into the can, so the bass is limited (which is fine by me).

I'm debating whether to put the new speakers in my LOTR or TWD.

I was 3 shots away from Valinor with pegs at bottom. Just one ramp shot, and two ring shots, and it would have been glory!

Moved pegs to the middle and the journey shall continue...

Does this make any sense...

Tracing the speaker wires, it looks like CN4 is where it all connects.

The kit I got from PinballPro has a molex with 4 female contacts, but CN4 has 6 pins.

However, when I look at the factory molex, it the bottom two spots on the molex are unused, so in actuality, only 4 pinsare used.

Does this look right?

IMG_20180729_185133 (resized).jpg

Having an issue where during DTR the magnet in the ring doesn't seem to catch like it does the rest of the game. Seems to take a lot more attempts than it does trying to start a mode for instance.

Is this normal?

I'll check that out. It's strange because the magnet seems to hold the ball during regular gameplay but when I get to DTR it seems significantly harder to get the ball in the magnet. Almost seemed like it was intentionally designed that way for that mode but doesn't really make that much sense.

also I think the ramp may need an alignment fix. Can anyone take a photo of their ramp with maybe a straight edge ruler to show how closely the angle of the ramp lines up to the hole.

Wondering if someone can quickly post a pic their ring ramp, with maybe a small ruler or something flat to showing how it lines up with the ring hole.

Thanks

Can anyone tell me if this post to the right of the ramp is supposed to have a rubber sleeve on it?

IMG_20180825_182435 (resized).jpg

Cool, thanks!

Can anyone help with this. Was trying to take Balrog apart, and the top of the bulb snapped off. When I tried to remove the base, it's attached by a thin wire.

What should I do?

IMG_20180825_184820 (resized).jpg

IMG_20180825_184853 (resized).jpg