LOTR Campaign/Mod

I haven't really decided that yet, I was thinking about making a whole new Neutral Race, and have them chop trees and mine gold...ya'know to keep up the Hobbit community. But the project is still in its Brainstorming stage, so final decisions haven't been made.

Oh, I have begun designing a site, and will have a forum up within the hour, and will post the link in the General section of the Forums. So be on the lookout!

Well everyone, I have gotten the forums up, and am working on the site. Come join the forums!

http://www.lotrmod.netfirms.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi

If you want to make a Lord of the Rings map, then you're in for quite an ordeal. Tolkein's writing of the books took several years. The films took well over two years. Thus, even compressing the story into game form will take a great deal of time and effort.

However, this is not to say that it is a one-man project. Many people, including myself, have dabbled with the idea of a Lord of the Rings map, so I am sure you will find great public support. The only problem is, that due to it's popularity, you will find that everyone has their own seperate take on how a game format of Lord of the Rings, should play.

Warcraft 3 represents a creative solution to this problem because it allows focus on both the individual quests (such as Sam, Frodo and Gollum's journey into Mordor) as well as the great battles (such as Minas Tirth and Helm's Deep). But, again, how things end up are in the eye of the beholder (or map creator in this case).

What this boils down to is, if you are making a MOD for the Lord of the Rings, then be ready to reinterpret some of the items that are presented in the book. The film gives us aspects of the book, but, in itself, does not contain all the permeatations that the book presents.

In other words: if you are doing a MOD of the Lord of the Rings based on the film, your job is MUCH MUCH easier. So, define now, whether or not your basis for you MOD will be the newly-adapted film, or the original novel, because it will account for worlds of difference in the progression of your project.

The books took a lifetime. But yeah, you're right. I'm working on a map that covers, in some detail, the area between Hobbitton and Bree, and it's probably going to end up taking me another two weeks working a couple of hours a day. That's just the topography (terrain and doodads)!


The film, bah. I'll say it every chance I get: the film blows chunks as a move about Tolkien's epic tale. As a stand alone fantasy epic, it's awesome, but when PJ started *gasp* changing stuff, he crossed the line. Cut as much as you want, but change the stuff that remains and it's no longer Tolkien.

There will be no reinterpretations. Whatever content is there will be in my mod. Things that were not there, like if Hobbitton contained 12 houses or 15, or if Bree had a Tailor next to the Inn, will be open to artistic interpretation. But if you travel through the Old Forest, expect the possibility of running into Tom Bombadil and Old Man Willow. If you run through the Barrow Downs at night, chances are you'll fall into the hands of a Barrow Wight. Buckland? Buckland ferry. Woody End? Farmer Maggot's house. Etc., etc. Tolkien's work is so awesome because of the details. He skillfully weaves such a detailed tapestry for his world that you can't help but be drawn into the almost completely realistic setting.


The work we are cooperating on is based on the Books, completely and utterly. First and foremost. The map I am making, Three is Company, where you will in one fashion or another (sort of a dual mod with me focusing on multiplayer and Arcuivie on single) control the destinies of the 4 hobbits from Hobbitton to Bree, trying to avoid capture by the 9 Nazgul. Freedom to choose a different path is a must, so you will be able to completely avoid areas covered in the book if you so desire, with your final objective simply to reach Rivendell with the One Ring. Bree to Rivendell will be the second map (as of yet unnamed). Both maps are gigantic (480x480) and will be as detailed as I can make them.

More details to come, but you're right: this is a grand undertaking but one worthy of the effort. I've always wanted to play in Middle-Earth, and here's my chance to help make it so others can too.

Care.

I would be willing to help if it's needed. I might suggest leaving some parts out, like the movie left of Tom Lambardi (sp?). You could make him a little secret that you find in the mission, and perhaps gives you an item.

Yeah spelling for sure, thats Tom Bombidil (somewhere more along those lines.), they took that out because it was just a tad worthless. well really not needed anyway.

Sticked From now on Campagins that are doing relitivly well will get stickyed its second best thing to forum :)..keep up the good work

Sweet, thanks for the sticky...capkiller when did you become Moderator anyway? (Just curious)

Woohoo, great news, I found this kick-*** .obj MAXscript importer. Anyway, I have started working on the Hobbit Holes, and will be done by the end of this weekend, or next week. (All I need now is an .obj exporter)

friday :P i was a mod before but now mod of this forum too i asked skull to make me mod for it :P

Cool, I wish I was a mod, I would make a good one. I have been from board to board for like 3-4 years now, and I think I finnally found a good one ;).

Anyway, I have been working on the site (not my layout, got it from a free layout site(don't have the time to make my own)) and as soon as I finish the pages I'll get it up ASAP.

Last night I modified the UndeadArthas model, and I say it looks pretty good. Except for some things like the cape going thru the body, but that can easily be changed. I even made a test skin, but I didn't spend much time on it so its not much, and my first skin...I also haven't skinned the horse, and I still need to get rid of the team colors.

Heres another.

Lookin pretty good. Cant wait for skin of others. Paste the url once you get the site up.

Don't worry, I will.

Anyway, I started on a Hobbit Hole, and plan to have it finished soon.