When Does It Run?
Per this tweet
, it runs from 10am /servertime on March 31st 2024, and ends at 3am /servertime on April 2nd.
Unlike last year, the April Fools chicken run featured in the LOTRO Events Schedule. Hopefully they will keep it there as it’s a great little bit of fun.
How Do I Take Part?
There are two parts to the April Fools weekend. You can grab a title simply by logging your characters in during the time the event is running. And the second is for following the quest – and completing it.
April Fools Day Walk-through
By definition, this contains spoilers. If you don't want to read spoilers, don't read anything more here!
Here are the steps you need to get fully started:
Log Your Character In
Title: April Observer
Mail containing a letter that triggers the quest “The Fox in the Hen House”
Find a Town Crier
The instructions say you need to bring the letter of distress from the unnamed “Concerned Farmer” to a Town Crier.
I just picked the one in Bree for convenience. LOTRO-Wiki has more info on Criers.
Queue for Session Play
How to Complete The Fox in the Hen House
Your Aim
As a chicken, your aim is to get from your starting point to the settlement of Glân Vraig:
- Within 15 minutes
- Without being defeated.
You are a chicken! If you’ve never done Chicken Play before, know that getting hit by anything is almost certainly your doom. You have a few speed and evasion skills, along with a Possum-like action. But don’t go near anything enemy-like!
Here are the steps you need to know.
Your Spawn Point is Random
You (in Chicken-form) are spawned at a random point on the Ettenmoors map. However that does not mean you’ll be plonked down in a safe zone!
If, as I did on the first try, you arrive in a Warg Den – then you’re Warg dinner. Double fool!
Just re-enter and hope Fate gives you somewhere better. Rinse and repeat as necessary!
Know Your End Point
So, you’ve been ported in and not insta-killed. Great. So, figure out where you are right now.
Your end point of Glân Vraig is in the very bottom right corner of the map. You’re safe a ways from it as there are some “Free Peoples” NPCs guarding the approach.
Get There Safely
Unless you spawn nearly on top of enemy creatures, this is relatively easy.
15 minutes is long enough for you to take your time and not rush. Just keep your eyes peeled for creatures and stay a long way away from them.
Reward
Rewards? You expected a reward for accepting a random cry from an unnamed person? Even the town-crier warned you about that!
Well, you do get one reward: Title: Fool
Outside Glân Vraig
Note: if you had dumbed-down graphics as I did and you wonder why, @MinstrelByNight pointed to the setting you need. Untick this before entering Session Play.
Have a fun Diversion with the LOTRO April Fools Day Event!
With two titles up for grabs and a random session play, it’s worth taking a break from questing for a laugh or two. So lay down your arms and pick up your chicken feet and go have the best April Fools Day you can. “FibroJedi, Fool” – yeah, sounds about right! Well at least the LOTRO Anniversary is coming, where I can redeem myself. Maybe.
About the Author
I have been playing MMOs for about ten years and began writing guides to The Lord of the Rings Online in 2017. I've only been creating content about Final Fantasy XIV since 2022, but I am glad for the mix. My current games include LOTRO, FFXIV and the occasional Palia session too.
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