[Sxc-Mary]

Wow, the updates on the ModDB site are impressive, the music especially. This will sound like a dumb question, but is all of the music done synthetically? I find it really hard to believe that one person has the power to create fully orchestrated music for a game mod .

But I guess I kind of expected too much in such a short time. Realistically, do you guys really see yourself releasing at V1.0 mod? 4 years of development time is a hell of a long time, usually people need to move on at some point in the middle.

Music and Visual development seems to be our two areas where we have extremely good work in abundance. It's not just one person in Music.
It may seem like a long time, but considering what all the members contribute inspite of their own lives and responsibilities, I think it's reasonably quick with the rate how content is being created. We certainly welcome new modders to join and in so doing, helps our expectations for release time.

[Nims]

Hey MERP fans, just to let you all know, we now have a new developer forum. If you'd like, you can register there and join the MERP community

http://merp.straygenius.com/forum/index.php

[Verity Hurding]

Wow, I cannot believe the progress that's been made! I remember when this was first starting-I used to talk with Gandalf the Grey about it, and even joined the first forum. I know he left the project, but is he still checking in?

Anyway, I actually wrote a story for the Moria competition. Wrote four chapters and sent it to them-unfinished, but sent it. Now I've written up to Chapter Nine...resumed writing during the summer. I can send it in if you like...it was a highly speculative work of Dwarven fiction. Not based on anything, just something that might exist as a fantasy novel with the mod. I can dig it up if you like.

But this is nothing short of amazing work. I am astounded at what you guys have been able to accomplish.

[Tinkerbells]

Propably I'm not a member for long enough, but I think you are confusing people ... the original founder of MERP was the Grey Wizard - I think you are talking about him. Well, he left the team, came back some months ago, and left again. He might be astonished about our current progress too.

I also can't remember a Moria competition But please send it to us so that someone of the literature team can have a look at it. It would be sad if your work would have been in vain

[BRIANNA]

This looks like a great idea! Good luck with it, I remember some other groups trying to do the same thing for Morrowind, but were shut down for copyright infringement when they were almost finished. Those who own the rights to Tolkien's estate are very protective of the intellectual property related to this. I hope the same thing doesn't happen to you, as it looks like you guys have worked really hard on this!

If you're looking for some textures and meshes, the new Nehrim TC that just came out borrowed heavily from the LOTR films. Some weapons are a straight rip, and there is a section of the main quest that follows big parts of the Moria journey. Using their stuff might remove the need for reinventing the wheel as it were, but I don't know their policies on sharing.

Again, good luck with this! I look forward to seeing the final product!

[Inol Wakhid]

This looks like a great idea! Good luck with it, I remember some other groups trying to do the same thing for Morrowind, but were shut down for copyright infringement when they were almost finished. Those who own the rights to Tolkien's estate are very protective of the intellectual property related to this. I hope the same thing doesn't happen to you, as it looks like you guys have worked really hard on this!

If you're looking for some textures and meshes, the new Nehrim TC that just came out borrowed heavily from the LOTR films. Some weapons are a straight rip, and there is a section of the main quest that follows big parts of the Moria journey. Using their stuff might remove the need for reinventing the wheel as it were, but I don't know their policies on sharing.

Again, good luck with this! I look forward to seeing the final product!

Someone forgive me if I'm wrong, however I'm fairly sure the project went through all of the proper legal channels at its onset.

[Cedric Pearson]

It's been nearly a month since anything happened in this thread, so I figure I'll give it a nudge so it doesn't get buried.

[Ladymorphine]

Sorry for the silence from our side. At the moment we are working on merging our individual work into a new esm and had to solve some problems due to the huge size of our esm. But with the help of Stray Genius / MentalElf we've overcome those problems now. Apart from that I've some fantastic news for you: MERP will also include a complete combat overhaul, which aims to create an immersive and more strategic combat system like you might know from Mount & Blade. We've thought that it would be impossible to implement a system like that for a long time, until Maegfaer finally showed us a preview video.

You can follow the progress of this combat overhaul (which also will be available as a stand-alone mod for Oblivion) at this thread: http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1136004-wip-merp-blade/. We still could need additional animators, so don't hesitate to contact Maegfaer!

[Jessica Thomson]

there been a lawsuit yet? like the MEMOD?

[Ricky Meehan]

there been a lawsuit yet? like the MEMOD?

No, we've never had any legal problems and I'm sure this will stay so, like it has also been for other LOTR mods that have been created in the last years. For example like http://www.moddb.com/mods/third-age-total-war ...

[Eilidh Brian]

I finally downloaded this mod last night, having just watched the Fellowship of the Ring again. And wow. I am mind-blown.

I had two hours of play-time ahead of me, and figured I could run across Middle Earth checking out the major landmarks. My character has a speed stat of 100, and two spells used often that boost Speed by another 100 points, and Athletics by 100 points. In those two hours, I just about managed to leave the Shire, and called it a night in Bree. At least I think it's Bree. I don't have the map yet (downloading it now) and couldn't find the Prancing Pony. I wouldn't be surprised if it just happened to be a random settlement at the edge of the Shire, considering the amount of exceptional work that has been put into this project. I explored the Shire quite thoroughly in those two hours, but I can still recall forks in the road that I didn't get a chance to explore - running down one path and making a mental note to come back later to follow the other.

There's one thing I really want to praise you for, and that's the woodland. Oblivion's woodland and forest really annoyed me with how sparse the trees were, how built up the ground flora was, and how you could always see the sky. The woodlands in this game have different canopy levels, accurate ground flora, dense tree cover, and a very realistic edge effect. You guys put Bethesda's forest world-builders to shame. Thank you!

I can't wait to see how this progresses!

[Stephanie I]

I finally downloaded this mod last night, having just watched the Fellowship of the Ring again. And wow. I am mind-blown.

I had two hours of play-time ahead of me, and figured I could run across Middle Earth checking out the major landmarks. My character has a speed stat of 100, and two spells used often that boost Speed by another 100 points, and Athletics by 100 points. In those two hours, I just about managed to leave the Shire, and called it a night in Bree. At least I think it's Bree. I don't have the map yet (downloading it now) and couldn't find the Prancing Pony. I wouldn't be surprised if it just happened to be a random settlement at the edge of the Shire, considering the amount of exceptional work that has been put into this project. I explored the Shire quite thoroughly in those two hours, but I can still recall forks in the road that I didn't get a chance to explore - running down one path and making a mental note to come back later to follow the other.

There's one thing I really want to praise you for, and that's the woodland. Oblivion's woodland and forest really annoyed me with how sparse the trees were, how built up the ground flora was, and how you could always see the sky. The woodlands in this game have different canopy levels, accurate ground flora, dense tree cover, and a very realistic edge effect. You guys put Bethesda's forest world-builders to shame. Thank you!

I can't wait to see how this progresses!

Thanks xD

The reason you couldn't find the Prancing Pony is (as far as I am aware) we haven't implemented it yet xD

Look out for it in future releases though

[Emzy Baby!]

Thanks xD

The reason you couldn't find the Prancing Pony is (as far as I am aware) we haven't implemented it yet xD

Look out for it in future releases though

Is it safe to assume you're referring to the 'soon to be released' 0.2.5 beta? I ask because I read somewhere that Bree will be completely ready for this version. Doesn't matter if it isn't. There should still be plenty to see, I'm sure.

[Code Affinity]

Is it safe to assume you're referring to the 'soon to be released' 0.2.5 beta? I ask because I read somewhere that Bree will be completely ready for this version. Doesn't matter if it isn't. There should still be plenty to see, I'm sure.

It's planned, and we'll do our best xD

If it doesn't make into this one, it will definitely be in the next one.

[Charlie Ramsden]

Hey guys
First of all I have to say what almost everyone interested in this mod. AWESOME work.
But I am not writing in this topic just to cheer for You.
I am sure that You are working about Your own soundtrack for the mod.
So I just HAVE TO propose to You the music of Michal Cielecki. He's a music composer for computer games. You may know his stuff from The Witcher and of coruse OBLIVION Akavir Island mod.
Here You have the link, but this just a small part of his music. If You are interrested, I could send You more of this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBDH5LP7c4s

and here is his website:
http://www.michalcielecki.com/

P.S Cannot wait for the next beta uffff ...

[Adam Kriner]

Hey guys
First of all I have to say what almost everyone interested in this mod. AWESOME work.
But I am not writing in this topic just to cheer for You.
I am sure that You are working about Your own soundtrack for the mod.
So I just HAVE TO propose to You the music of Michal Cielecki. He's a music composer for computer games. You may know his stuff from The Witcher and of coruse OBLIVION Akavir Island mod.
Here You have the link, but this just a small part of his music. If You are interrested, I could send You more of this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBDH5LP7c4s

and here is his website:
http://www.michalcielecki.com/

P.S Cannot wait for the next beta uffff ...

We only want to use original music in MERP, but I might try contacting the guy telling him about our project, so thanks for the suggestions.

[Yung Prince]

Yes, we are still going strong with new new modders and new content continually. The team members come and go, but it's still larger even now than it was a year ago.