That's awesome! Welcome to the club!
Enjoy your glory 
(Topic ID: 49617)
Linked Games
Lord of the Rings
Stern, 2003
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Quoted from swampfire:I've had mine for 9 years too, and I've never even gotten close to Valinor. I'm tempted to take the glass off and start it. I'll give it one more year...
You'll appreciate it more if you earn it.
If it is too far out of reach on factory, set the game at 10 balls, difficulty to easy, and move the inlanes all the way in (or whatever settings you desire) and at least PLAY the game and achieve it. That way you can say you reached Valinor and NOBODY can take that achievement from you regardless of how the game was set up.
Reaching a wizard mode in a game with the glass on ALWAYS trumps taking the glass off and pressing switches
1 week later
Quoted from heckheck:Congrats to the OP. I was close many times too (once only 1 shot away that was a heartbreaker) before finally nailing it. I remember screaming for the whole family to come watch me play it.
To those trying to achieve it, here are some tips.
1. Learn to shoot the left orbit with precision, it's probably the most important shot in the game. Always try to keep Palantir lit. The add-a-ball is key to help finishing the multiballs. This shot also gets you to POTD to collect souls, which is the inevitable grind you have to do to win ROTK multiball.
<big gap>
2. Try to finish TT multiball in 2 tries. After the third (I think) DTR, you start getting nasty KEEP locks. Better not to have to deal with these when trying to qualify a DTR to start Valinor.3. Try to win at least two modes early to have enough elf gifts without having to play TT too many times. Escape Ringwraiths can be won on it's own. Ents, Shelob, Sauraman, Wargs (IMO that order) are great for stacking with a multiball to win. Getting gifts also earns you an important extra ball to bank.4. Try to keep Gollum multiball lit until you start a multiball (especially ROTK). Shooting this shot even in the grace after you drain to one ball will stack Gollum and keep the multiball alive.5. Ring multiball also allows you to win an extra ball and should be banked.6. Don't waste energy over playing multiballs you've already won or TABA (unless stacked to win a mode). You need the goals not the points.
Valinor mostly comes down to a grind to win ROTK multiball before you either
A. Get too tired. Thirty+ minute intense games get hard to sustain towards the goalB. Have to deal with Nasty KEEP locks to qualify TT multiball for DTR gate to Valinor. It's not impossible by any stretch, but harder when you factor in A. without making mistakes.C. Run out of balls
1. Yes, the left orbit is major. (Don't forget to work toward the 50 tower shots for an extra ball. Extra balls are your friend.)
2. To clarify, DTR attempts have no bearing on the KEEP lock diffculty. It is a function of how many times TTT is played. You could theoretically play TTT all day and never reach DTR.
3. Earn as many gifts as you can. Once you complete the pie and the "gift of the gifts", the extra ball gifts are available again. Remember, extra balls are your friend in LOTR
4. Gollum ball save is a good strategy.
5. Extra balls are still your friend
6. Yes, use any and all mbs with modes if you can. a) it helps work toward TABA which playing it only is necessary for Valinor, b) it helps with gifts which are also required and gifts help with extra balls (did I mention extra balls were your friend?) and once the modes are all played, play them again and use the easy ones to earn more gifts and more extra balls etc. etc. Carefully picking your modes with multiballs is also strategic since the multiball lights trump the mode lights. I suggest memorize shot patterns for modes and pay attention to audio cues.
I've never made it to Valinor in 30 minutes. I think my fastest time is around 45 minutes. Yes every Valinor game is a marathon session. So, LOTR is next to the mini fridge stocked with Mountain Dew
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