Are you still forced to go thru Moria?

[Vindictus]

Being forced into Moria was why I left, I thought that was a boring place.

[NavFamG]

Kind of / Not really.

From a straight leveling path, than yes. Officially there's a lvl 53 to lvl 60 gap that Moria fills.

Now I'm like you, I didn't like Moria and after doing the stuff in the very first room, stopped questing there.

If you're like most and over level just from normal outside Moria quests and then do festivals, the Epic (which does have Moria quests) and the Bingo Boffin quest line (same as Moria in that it goes through there) you can effectively skip Moria like I did. I did end up going back and doing 85 - 90% of the Moria quests but not until I was around mid level 80's.

So if you can do other stuff to fill that level gap, than sure - you can skip Moria if you want to.

[oreyos]

I believe you get a trait point for completing the Moria epic quests. (And there is a trait point you can get when you're kindred with the Iron Garrison Guards)

So even though you might not like Moria (and I agree with you there. With 20 alts Moria gets dreary to go through once again), you more or less need to for the points.

You can skip a lot of the quests though; just do enough to keep up with the levels of the epic quests

[OSIDE Italian]

Drink a stout and power through the mountain

[ImageryGuy]

Yes, Moria is an expansion. Completing Walls of Moria is an epic series of quests that rewards quite a few good quest rewards, but mostly gains you access to Moria and use of legendary items. Completing Moria quests and deeds is not required, or for that matter any quests or deeds in any zone. but if you do, you will realize there is a LOT of good content in Moria. at level 45, I detail all the steps to preparing for walls of Moria, the level 50 class quest, and obtaining your legendary items (by level 45-46), and beginning quests and deeds in Moria in my guide. maybe it will help you understand. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2306557722

[SangReal]

These days if you really hate Moria all you would really have to do is unlock the LI system outside of Moria and use another way (such as skirmishes, continue questing outside of Moria) to level to 57 or so and get to Lothlorien. Spend a few Mithril coins to unlock the quick travels in Moria, should need 1 to get you from Dolven-view to the 21st hall and then another to get you from 21st to the 1st hall. Probably could spend less than half an hour in Moria if you really wanted to.

[NomadicCanuck]

Started Lothlorien at 55, makes it more interesting, mobs don't just melt before you.