‘Middle-earth Role Playing’ is a modification for ‘The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion’ that aims to recreate the fantastic world that J.R.R. Tolkien imagined. We thought it would be great to find out more about the mod, so we contacted the MERP development team and they graciously agreed to answer our questions for this interview. They even threw in a bunch of exclusive, never before seen, screenshots for your viewing pleasure! Read on to find out what they had to say!

MR. How would you, in a paragraph or three, describe Middle-earth Role Playing?

Large Jack: MERP (Middle Earth Roleplaying Project) There and Back Again is quintessentially a HUGE Total Conversion mod for Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion set in Middle Earth.

It means more than that though to anyone deeply involved in this project. On a personal experience, since I was a boy, (I’m 35 now so I’ve waited a long time) I’ve dreamed of exploring Middle Earth top to bottom, visiting all the famous places, and meeting all the famous characters (yes that’s right, even on my ZX Spectrum 48) . “Ooohh how long has it been made to suffer for … preciousss???” However, modern technology has now made that dream a reality, though the challenge is still enormous, but equally fun.

Suffice to say MERP will be that dream and the dream of many others… I hope. It will also prove what can be achieved with the right dedication, enthusiasm and commitment, (and we’ve been wrote off by many in the past… with phrases like “This will go the same way as other ambitious projects!”) and we aim to ensure that doesn’t happen and to be able to say at the end of it that ‘nothing’s impossible.’

There have been many attempts by professional software companies to recreate Middle Earth, and apart from the online version (which is not my forte really) nothing has come close to that ultimate Middle Earth adventure in my opinion. It will also be nice for those like myself who were disappointed when the White Council was aborted, or more likely never got off the ground. Also in these troubled times we live I hope we can bring as much pleasure to those who wish to immerse themselves in this legendary story.

I also want to say we have a wonderful team and whatever the outcome I’m really proud of them. I give special thanks to Jnor and disturbed, who without there administration and modding skills none of this would be possible. I also thank NAU for reorganizing the team and Ced for his determination on Moria.

Bree

MR: When is the starting date of the mod? Will it, and it will if I remember correctly, take place during the War of the Ring?

Large Jack: This mod will definitely take place during the War of the Ring period of the Third Age
Jnor: The events will however not be scripted to happen on the actual date it should. Even though the map is huge it is still smaller than 1:1 scale so trips are faster.

MR: Will it be possible to encounter characters – both major and minor – from the book? Personally, I’d love to have a beer or two with Barliman Butterbur or the Gaffer…

Jnor: Yes, that will be possible. We will try to add every single character mentioned in the trilogy or any other of Tolkien’s works if they are still alive by the time the game starts. Barliman Butterbur and the Gaffer will probably be included in the next release.

Desolation of the Morannon

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Tags: Arthedain, Bethesda, Blue Mountains, Bree, Celduin, Dale, Desolation of the Morannon, Ered Luin, Ettenmoors, Fantasy, Harlindon, Interview, Lord of the Rings, LotR, MERP, Middle-earth, Middle-earth Role Playing, Minas Tirith, Mirkwood, River Running, TES:IV, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, There and Back Again, Tolkien

Cheydinhal

«Unique Landscapes (short: UL) is based on the vision of a diversified and beautiful Cyrodiil. Imagine a world where exploring not only means to find new enemies and treasures but to enjoy gorgeous landscapes, a world where every step could lead to a new and unique visual experience. That is the Cyrodiil UL is working on.»

The ‘Unique Landscapes’ team have released another overhaul of a region in Cyrodiil, this time focused on the lands surrounding the city of Cheydinhal. You can read more about exactly what has been changed in ‘Cheydinhal Falls’ here, find out more about UL here, and download the mod here.

‘Unique Landscapes’ is a modification for ‘The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion’.

Discuss in the forums.

Tags: Bethesda, Cheydinhal, Cheydinhal Falls, TES:IV, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, UL, Unique Landscapes

«Perhaps one of the most limiting factors of the world of Oblivion is size. People ask: Why is there a bandit cave two feet from Chorrol? Or: Why is every city so tiny? In fact, if one were to take a decent horse and ride from edge to edge of the map, it wouldn’t take very long. This limitation can severely hamper the imagination, and no solution has yet been offered. Until now.

About two years ago, a total conversion mod appeared that promised to shatter all previous beliefs on the possible size of a virtual world. It promised a vibrant and, more importantly, gigantic world that would rock the foundations of modding history. It’s name: Mesogea.»

A preview of ‘Mesogea’, a modification for ‘The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion’, has hit the internets, promising a game world of immense size. Where the world in Oblivion is 120 cells from edge to edge, for example, the map of Hiboria in the mod spans 510 cells. That map will be populated by many new races, creatures, kingdoms and peoples inspired by Greco-roman history, with a fantastic spin. There will also be a new storyline and intro quest plus new architecture, weapons and armour. Sound interesting? The preview can be found here.

Source: planetelderscrolls.com

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Tags: Bethesda, Fantasy, Hiboria, Mesogea, Oblivion, Preview, TES:IV, The Elder Scrolls, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Video

Reclaiming Sancre Tor - RST Sign

After a couple of months of silence the ‘Oblivion’ mod project ‘Reclaiming Sancre Tor’ has posted a new, quite long blog post. The post covers current progress and addresses the rumour of RST’s release, stating;

“for now X date is still elusive to pin down“

Bringing new members on board  for various parts such as modelling and a reshuffling of the voice talent, the project seems to be coming along very well.

Reclaiming Sancre Tor - The Void

If you wish to find out more about ‘Reclaiming Sancre Tor’, then check out the official Bethesda forum topic here, or you can read the post here on the ‘Reclaiming Sancre Tor’ blog. Also, you can see the superb video for RST below:

‘Reclaiming Sancre Tor’ is a modification for ‘The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion’.

Discuss in the forums.

Tags: Bethesda, DarkRider, Oblivion, Reclaiming Sancre Tor, RST, TES:IV, The Elder Scrolls, Video

Tamriel Rebuilt - Smugglers Cave

The ‘Oblivion‘ ‘Tamriel Rebuilt‘ team is still going strong and recently gave us another a glimpse of the region of Goldmoor. The six brand new screenshots show off various details from the Tark river to an old quarry.

Tamriel Rebuilt - Tark River

If you wish to find out more about ‘Tamriel Rebuilt‘, then check out the official website here, or you can read the full preview here on the ‘Tamriel Rebuilt‘ blog.

‘Tamriel Rebuilt – Hammerfell‘ is a modification for ‘The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion‘

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Tags: Bethesda, Goldmoor, Hammerfell, Oblivion, Preview, Tamriel Rebuilt, TES:IV, The Elder Scrolls

large jack from the ‘Middle-earth Role Playing’ mod for ‘The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion’ has posted some landscape screenshots of Ered Luin (the Blue Mountains) which lie in western Eriador. The mountain range is split in half by the Gulf of Lhûn, and both the northern and southern half were home to Dwarves in the Third Age. Thrain II, and his son Thorin Oakenshield, ruled a kingdom in the northern mountains before Erebor was reclaimed. You can see all the images here, or visit the MERP forum here at MR.

Discuss in the forums.

Tags: Blue Mountains, Ered Luin, Eriador, Fantasy, Gulf of Lhûn, Lord of the Rings, LotR, MERP, Middle-earth, Middle-earth Role Playing, Oblivion, Screenshots, TES:IV, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Tolkien

«For the fashion of Minas Tirith was such that it was built on seven levels, each delved into the hill, and about each was set a wall, and in each wall was a gate. But the gates were not set in a line: the Great Gate in the City Wall was at the east point of the circuit, but the next faced half south, and the third half north, and so to and fro upwards; so that the paved way that climbed towards the Citadel turned first this way and then that across the face of the hill. And each time that it passed the line of the Great Gate it went through an arched tunnel, piercing a vast pier of rock whose huge outthrust bulk divided in two all the circles of the City save the first. For partly in the primeval shaping of the hill, partly by the mighty craft and labour of old, there stood up from the rear of the wide court behind the Gate a towering bastion of stone, its edge sharp as a ship-keel facing east. Up it rose, even to the level of the topmost circle, and there was crowned by a battlement; so that those in the Citadel might, like mariners in a mountainous ship, look from its peak sheer down upon the Gate seven hundred feet below.» – The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Minas Tirith

If there is one city I’ve always wanted to explore in a game it’s Minas Tirith – and now the guys from the ‘Middle-earth Role Playing’ mod are making my dreams come true. This latest batch of screenshots is showing the White City in all its glory, with my favourite shots being of the Great Gate and the outer wall of the First Circle (though it should be black, if we go by the book), the Hall of the Kings, and the Tower of Ecthelion.

The Tower of Ecthelion

All the screens of the great City of Kings can be seen here, where you’ll also find some close up shots of Third Age Gondorian armour (it’s the plate kind seen in the films, not the maille from the book). Make sure you explore the MERP forums, as well – there are a lot of interesting gems to be found there, especially in the MERP Videos thread and the Screenshots thread.

The Hall of the Kings (Tower Hall)

The MERP team have released a BETA version of the mod (v0.2.2) which allows you to run around in and explore some of the areas of Middle-earth that they’ve landscaped. All instructions on how to download, install, and play can be found here.

The outer wall of the First Circle and the Great Gate

‘Middle-earth: Role Playing’ is a modification for ‘The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion’.

Discuss in the forums.

Tags: Bethesda, City of Kings, Fantasy, First Circle, Gondor, Gondorian Armour, Great Gate, Hall of the Kings, Lord of the Rings, LotR, MERP, Middle-earth, Middle-earth Role Playing, Minas Tirith, Oblivion, Outer Wall, Screenshots, Shivering Isles, TES:IV, The Elder Scrolls, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Tolkien, Tower Hall, Tower of Ecthelion, Tower of Guard, White City