The Middle Earth Mod, Recruitment Options

[Rapishorrid]

Hello all.

I have always drempt of having J.R.R. Tolkien's fantastic world of Middle Earth in a game. This really has never been effectively done yet. EA's attempts, obviously were for money only and not really to portray Middle Earth accurately.
As things began unfolding about Oblivion I saw that this was a prime oppurtunity. It was clear to me that Middle Earth had to be in an RPG, and from my long experience with Morrowind, I knew that Oblivion is right now the best engine to have a Middle Earth based game in.

The mod will be a "Total Conversion"...so there will be very few used models from Oblivion. (probably things such as some of the trees and rocks might be used). The rest of the models, quests, scripts, books, npcs, possibly voices, will be made by the team.

What I am saying is that I am starting a mod for Oblivion: The Middle Earth Mod (I will use that until a better name is decided upon). The mod will portray Middle Earth as accurately as possible, using the literature provided by Tolkien. I am aware that this is a massive undertaking, for a single forest in Middle Earth (Mirkwood for example) is easily twice as big as Vvardenfell itself. I am also aware that such a mod is already in existence: Adventure Middle Earth. Due to its German population I thought it futile to apply for it, and I find myself disagreeing with some of the things that they are doing. And most importantly I am aware of the legal issues that caused the decision to end MeMod. My answer to these problems is this: We will make this mod, and if we are asked by the holders of the copyrights to discontinue the mod, we will continue it (we have the right to do so) and distribute it amongst the team. In this manner we are not violating copyrights. We may so venture to distribute it amongst forum goers who contribute ideas and criticism as well...But I find it highly unlikely that this mod, or any Middle Earth mod will be asked to stop by the copyright owners.

Currently I am the only one in the mod. Of course because I just founded it...
This mod, until Oblivion is realeased, will need Concept Artists, Story Writers, and Public Relations. (public relations, would be things like web site desiners). People who want to join this mod, must be enthusiastic about Tolkien's world and have a decent understanding and knowledge of it. I chose here to start recruiting because I don't want major publicity and everyone knowing about it before it's even underway. I know lots of people are interested in Middle Earth mods such as this so I thought I would keep it confined at first.

This mod is going to be very organized (as in development wise). There will be various teams, each assigned to a different region, which contains a different culture. Each team will have the people to complete the work (3d modelers, texture artists, concept artists, scripters, etc.) and each team will have one leader. The communication will be somewhat similar to the army (lol). The team will ask their team leader about design issues and things ("should I put this armory in the town" or w/e) and the leader will either decided or talk the team about it. If the question is very large and significant to the whole of the mod, and the team leader can't answer it, he will ask the mod leader. Which would be me, or possibly someone else or both. In this way it is not a mass of confusing communication, and things will be very structural and able to get done.

If you are interested in joining this mod, please contact me at: rapishorrid@gmail.com. I will answer your questions about the mod in detail. Also if you know anyone who might be interested in joining, either refer them here, or preferably give me their email address so I may contact them.

Cheers -Rapishorrid

This post has been edited by Rapishorrid: Oct 1 2005, 09:36 PM

[RobRendell]

I once playtested a Middle Earth (pen-n-paper) tournament scenario set in ME during the events written up in LotR.

We were playing two hobbits who came across an account that led them to believe that there was wild pipeweed growing on the eastern slopes of Weathertop. Having recently been stiffed in the purchase of a pipeweed farm in the southfarthing which turned out to be blighted, we went to Bree, hired some help (the other PCs) and headed off with wagons to harvest the weed and try to make a quick profit.

We'd just finished harvesting the stuff when that nice firework-maker Gandalf came along the road. He seemed rather upset with us being so far from the shire, and told us to abandon our wagon of pipeweed and go cross-country without using the road to (some town north of Bree), because it was dangerous for hobbits to be seen travelling in this part of the world at the moment.

Then he thought again and asked us if we'd take this rather nice ring with a red stone with us when we went cross-country, and to bury it somewhere to the north before going to the town. We agreed.

When we stopped for the night, we saw some sort of lightning storm during the night back south at Weathertop. It was rather odd, since the weather was clear where we were.

We then spent a few days fleeing across country being hunted down by four Nazgul and killed. That's why there were only five Nazgul at Weathertop when Aragorn and co. got there.

It was cool. Fun to play around the edges of a well-known story. We also enjoyed outselves trying to "unwittingly" bring as much grief down on ourselves as possible (by chosing to go under the pseudonym of "Baggins" when in Bree, for instance )

[moomoo]

It was cool.  Fun to play around the edges of a well-known story.

kinda like The Third Age, only fun?