Editor's Note by Mapthor
Howdy everyone, welcome back to the Times. We are so close to the 10th Anniversary of Minecraft Middle-Earth. I’ve been on here for almost four years and it’s crazy to see how the server has changed since 2017. I’ve seen so many new builds, unique players, and one hell of a community change. If you’re an old player or just a newbie, be sure to cherish this chapter in your life. MCME isn’t just another server, it’ll become a part of your life, just like it’s done for so many players on this server. Go out and have fun. Meet some friends, learn how to build, and hop in some tours because you’ll regret it if you don’t.

Happy Sailing,
Mapthor


Anorien - Lead: @barteldvn | In Progress
Report by Mershy

Streams, streams and more streams are being added to Anorien. Since the update, vegetation concepts will start to be made for the plains around the region. The final update to push Anorien is one step closer.





Moria – Lead: @barteldvn | In progress
Report by Mershy

Moria getting a lot of cave updates by the amazing voxelling skills of Lacotax. A cave off of Mershy Mine, a connector in between that and Tomb Cave and The Great Mines. Houses and mines keep popping up across the Upper Mines as it is renamed. Other news include the Upper Stairs connector getting a retouch.





Lond Daer – Lead: Ivan Co-Leader: Mattlego | In progress
Report by Soarz

The project has officially begun, after months of planning and testing. mattlego did a reference block and its looking like a public job may be ran later, but with all the lag its not set in stone. Some of the poor houses as well as the middle class housing have been built, also some different types of roads have been tried.





Osgiliath – Lead: @ooitsbirdo | In progress
Report by maski98

So basically since the new vegetation is out, we'll be able to run extra vegetation jobs around the edge of the wall, also big thanks to toti for adding heavy moss stairs, those are useful. probably only need 6 jobs for the NE quadrant. then congratulations to @TheSweViking for winning our tower concept contest. - @Rogue_Scholar
And for the south side is currently on hold because of @mask98 (me) not having time to build






Become a Donor
Keeping MCME running is not free, every month we have to pay $235 to keep up all our work. Donations help us keep doing what we love and providing you with amazing builds to look at. Donations are not required but greatly accepted, if you want to help us in our feat of rebuilding Middle Earth in Minecraft you can donate here.
Viewing Donation Drive: Community Costs
Our Donors

• ooitsbirdo
• aVeryAngryBadger
• Nexus3_
• JackSparrow225
• We also had one guest who contributed to MCME, from us all, Thank You!!!

#MCMEdoesnotrunitself


#NEWS

Make Your Own Hobbitsona Parade and Contest:
Players were invited to make their own Hobbit skin and persona to parade for Hobbit Day. Some submitted drawn depictions, but the ones who were able to wear their skins came to the parade. After walking from Bag End to the Green Dragon, the judging commenced in the tent that Ooitsbirdo temporarily placed on The Water. We had 12 contestants. Ooits interviewed each contestant for their Hobbitsona backstory. GingerlyGinger and Sevy689 evaluated the Hobbit skins in aesthetics and general Hobbit feel.

1st place: Rudolphius
2nd place: givet10
3rd place: puddingsenpai

Special mention:

• SpassTV for best Hobbitsona backstory
• MaddiganAllen for an amazing flower crown detail

Dishoborable mention: AVeryAngryBadger "for having a white shirt with bloody purple buttons, like tf, only psycho have a white shirts with purple buttons" - Ooitsbirdo


And special mention to Melkor_Thalion for his assistance from start to finish. Screenshots incoming are by Ginger (with shaders) and Melkor (without shaders)


Commoner News:
Greetings Commoners from different lands, Droogs of old. We have gathered here today to examine what’s new in our commonhood, once again. Please join us! Also, as we move on, we will be releasing Commoner News once a month given the current small number of ongoing projects and to coincide with the commoner of the month system.

Common Projects:

• Common Room- progress is being made in the common room. We have reestablished a community using the Common Room. Contact the King, Amha333 to help out.
• The Vault- The Vault has undergone great progress but is still not complete! Make sure to contact Nelman_Black, Bean327, johnyeric, or givet10 to finish and help out!
• BoM- The project has Amon Rudh almost finished and will move onto Gondolin soon!

Note: We wish you all luck on your badge, artist, and guide applications!



Guide of the Month:
Over the course of every month a guide has the chance go above and beyond to get this achievement. This person has consistently been helping over a course of months and this month has done a lot of background work. That person is your local editor and friend Mapthor!!!!!


MCME Podcast:
Speaking of Mapthor he has produced another banger of a podcast for you to listen to this month. With having local artist @rwyland and exhead guides @Arkengard and @Mandolore! Make sure to check it out you wont be let down!

MP3:


MP4/Youtube:



MCME 10th Anniversary Celebration and Awards:
To be caught up on what is going on with the anniversary!

Also make sure to vote for the awards below!
Best couple? You know who



MCME Youtube:
It has been a long time coming but we finally have more videos. _Luk with help from TotiGonzales have created an amazing Dol Amroth showcase, putting this city in the best light you will ever see!!




Theme-Build:
They can always change so make sure to stay up to day by checking out the section on the forums! Also don't forget that we judge every fortnight and one of you lucky people could win, so make sure to give it a go and who knows you could surprise yourself!!!



Report by Monster_Duck

RubenPieterMark: This is coming to the Times a bit late, but we are all sad to see Pieter move on to university. We wish him the best with his learning.
Resignation

rwyland: We are glad to welcome rwyland back to the purple legion! We can’t wait to see what he builds for the server in Moria.
Artist Promotion

Johnyeric: We are overjoyed to welcome Johnyeric to the rank of guide! He will make a fine addition to our team.
Guide Promotion



Now this weeks guest needs no introduction, but for the sake of this I’ll do one. Without this person we wouldn’t all be sat here today on MCME arguing, laughing and building together. I’m guessing you’ve all figured it out, but for the slower players , it is… drumroll @q220!

Interview with @q220

Question 1: You’ve been on the server for a VERY long time. What was the first Day, Week, Month, Year and Decade like on the server?
I can’t remember the first day I joined the server, but I do remember how crazy starting the community was. Shorvok posted the idea of Lord of the Rings Minecraft server on www.minecraftforums.net. At that time I was basically messing around with server hardware and Minecraft, and was looking to make a long lasting community. When I read the idea, being a Lord of the Rings fan, I was immediately interested.

There was this person who hacked/impersonated him that almost made me drop the entire proposition to make a Lord of the Rings Minecraft server. There were multiple incidents where I became more and more suspicious and averse to pursuing the idea, but I continued to give it a shot anyway. Looking back at it, it is pretty crazy how a deciding moment that was.

The first week / month I barely remember too, I still know it took a while before I actually ‘got into’ the community as I just wanted to get into server managing/hosting. I think I only got actively involved in running community after like 2-3 months. At that time we were building the areas of Bree and Rivendell.

First decade? Pretty amazing if you look at all the stuff that happened, is happening and what is going to happen. This community has been a gift to have and work with. Minecraft itself is still going strong despite its age. With each update we get more ways to make detailed builds. Sometimes we even get completely new tech we can have fun with (like blockstates).

Technically, the evolution has been insane. We went from city planning by manually counting blocks and placing torches (we had no mapping system like dynmap) to pretty advanced tools like Dynmap, WorldEdit and VoxelSniper. Developers on MCME also had a major impact in the way we do stuff on MCME.

Nowadays we have a community with multiple activities, the pvp server, minigames, art, texturing, video making, building, and so much more.


Question 2: What is the story behind the Great Username of q220?
At the time I was going through usernames at a quick pace, generating a variety of usernames, sometimes derivations from baseline usernames (like Legolas2787) sometimes abbreviations (like Afotai) and sometimes just from videogame characters (Ocelot). Q220 came from a barbecue


Question 3: A question just in from the Audience, Why did you name yourself after a barbeque? ?




Question 4: If you had to ban one of the Valar Members who would it be and why?
Probably Credoo, because putting fritessaus on fries instead of mayonnaise is something heathens do. Also French fries are not French! Americans thought they were in France when going through Belgium during WW and called them French :-(


Question 5: Have you ever regretted doing something with MCME?
Uhm, I’m pretty happy with how stuff is right now. I wouldn’t call some things a regret, though there have been a few moments that I would consider a ‘sad’ moment.

Seeing how some people left MCME while being a great asset for it and never seeing them back again, this happened plenty of times and involves a lot of looking and consideration to fill the gap. But then again we are still here and found other new, great people who all have something positive to add to the project!

I sometimes think that maybe not investing enough time in the exposure of MCME from the start to get it to a bigger/better project than it is now? But it is hard to say if getting bigger would be better, I still find it successful where we are now.


Question 6: Now I might be pushing the limits with this question but out of the Valar who would you have a special hug with, marry and kill??
Yavanna sounds great, and that means Aule has to go

Question 7: If you could make any rank what would it be called and what would they do ?
For a new rank? Probably something goofy. I’d make it ‘Animaiar’, give them a stick, and they would have to hit people with the stick which would turn them into animals.

Question 8: If you could be any race from Tolkien's Middle Earth, what race would it be and why?
Hmm tough question. I think an elf since they are blessed with health, immortality and knowledge. Though at the same time it is a curse to not be able to truly die? Still, I’d prefer the increased senses, agility, intelligence and sense of magic any time!


Question 9: Who is your celebrity crush?
Right now? Probably Scarlett Johansson.


Question 10: If you could live anywhere in MCME where would it be and why?
Rivendell. The atmosphere, the mountains, it being quiet and in the middle of nature while still having everything you need. I really like to go away or isolate myself from busy places and come to rest.


Question 11: If you left MCME who would you want to take over?
That would highly likely be Eriol_Eandur since he’s very technical oriented (stuff like debugging, problem solving, creating solutions, researching, …). A lot of the challenge lies in the supporting systems (servers, tech) and setting them up and making sure they run without problems.

Plus he is also very knowledgeable of Lord of the Rings and MCME. Which would be great to determine the general direction of where to build and what to focus on.


Question 12: What are some of your favourite memories on MCME?
Oh I remember a lot of good and funny tours on MCME that were improvised on the spot and were hilarious. Though my favorite memories are basically the achievements of MCME (Map 2.0, networked servers, finishing major landmarks on the map, ..)

• Setting stuff up for streamers and then seeing their reactions.
• Messing around with people in vanished mode and rocketing them in the sky or playing random sounds that distract them. Slight trolling really.
• The mcme-memes!
• Voicechats and jokes
• Overcoming challenges and obstacles
• All the stuff I’ve learned through MCME

Question 13: Are you single?
No, I am in a 7 year relationship right now and living together.


Question 14: What is your favourite strip club in MCME?
There used to be one inside one of the Argonath statues, which was my favorite. It had a pole the length of half the argonath. Also came with plenty of bars, jacuzzis and ambient light.


Question 15: What's the dumbest thing you've ever seen/ read?
I think I’d agree with most of the stuff posted in the legendary “That droog said” thread. I really don’t like it when people ask questions that have been asked numerous times or can easily be found in documents or manuals. But I’m also aware that people are different and there are many who don’t bother with finding answers themselves.

The dumbest thing I ever heard is how some very entitled person made ‘rightful demands’ such as the ‘right to download the map’ ‘how he wanted better support for his problems’ or how MCME must cater to the whims of that same person because he wasn’t entertained.
I mean this is not a store, the project is free and people use their free time to build stuff. Don’t like it? You can just leave it I say.


Question 16: The server has been going for 10 years now! Put that in perspective, we have a lot of young members that would be 3-5 when this server was created. How do you feel about that? Did you ever think this would be as big as it is now?
No, I never set out to make a community that would last a decade, nor did I expect it would become this popular that we can still go on after all these years.

Having a server dedicated to just building is a pretty niche focus when you look at all the other Minecraft servers, so I’m pretty happy that it turned out to be long lasting .

It’s also pretty nice to see how everyone is doing in life, some of the people I’ve started with or been with for a long time, now are all into college or starting professional careers. Some say that growing up with MCME influenced them into a career pursuing IT, which is great to hear.


Question 17: If you had to sum up MCME in a sentence what would it be?
MCME is so much more than just building stuff in Minecraft?


Interviewer: @Archimdes




This week we have another round of amazing builds and Media posts. We only choose from the best every time, so hard work does pay off. Sometimes it can get competitive and that is what will win a place here. Please give a warm welcome to this Times, winners of this week.


MEDIA Winners:
Screenshots generally weren't as impressive or widespread this fortnight, but nonetheless, I have taken the time to comb through each and every shot for the Media Winners this edition. Well done to the winners, as always, though even if you didn't win, keep trying! Or bribe the judge. That might work too

(http://imgur.com/a/FGI694O)


THEME-BUILD Winners
Amazing builds on this weeks themes. Hoped to see more medieval battlefields but sadly that wasn’t the case. But some of those Erebor gates were amazing. Good builds everyone!

(http://imgur.com/a/yknu3oQ)


Screenshot Contest Winners
Many great screenshots found their way onto the forums in the past four weeks, but only four images were able to make it into this Imgur Album. Great work to everyone who took part in this competition, and I hope all of you had fun.

(http://imgur.com/a/LmZPVfO)

Artwork Winners
This Fortnight we sadly only had one entry, but that entry was immaculate! Bringing the theme to life, thanks to hobbit day, is Sevy689! With her artwork of Bag End!




Mîm the Petty Dwarf:

Mîm lived with his two sons at Amon Rûdh in middle Beleriand, where he kept a secret treasury.
During Túrin's time with the Outlaws, Mîm and sons were seen as they snuck past the outlaws carrying heavy sacks. Mîm was captured, and arrows were shot at his sons Ibun and Khîm.
In exchange for his life, Mîm was forced to lead the outlaws to his secret halls in Amon Rûdh. There, it turned out Khîm had been killed by an arrow, and Túrin repenting offered his service to Mîm. For this reason Mîm tolerated the outlaws, and eventually even took a liking to Túrin.
When Beleg Cúthalion arrived at Amon Rûdh, Mîm was angry: he hated Elves, especially the Sindar. Nevertheless he had to tolerate the Elf in his halls. After he betrayed Amon Rûdh to Morgoth under the promise that Túrin would not be harmed, Mîm somehow escaped, but it seems Ibun was killed by Orcs. In F.A. 499 Mîm made his way to Nargothrond after Túrin had killed Glaurung, and he took the treasure for his own.
In 502 Húrin Thalion, who had seen all that had happened to Túrin with Morgoth's eyes, came across Mîm in Nargothrond, and killed him, deeming him partially responsible for Túrin's fate. With his dying words Mîm cursed the treasure. Húrin's band brought the treasure of Nargothrond to Doriath, where eventually the gold was a reason for the Second Kinslaying and the death of Thingol, which were separate events.




This Week's Question:{Question}
What is the term for the female valar?


Unfortunately there are no winners this week! And no one spotted my intentional error

Presented by: Arothir Alamáreo




You know us, we love sharing our progress and Twitter is the perfect place. Give us a good follow and always have something to look forward to on your daily scroll. Just to spice it up, comment your favorite parts of our builds at

MinecraftMiddleEarth (@MCMiddleEarth) | Twitter . You won't be disappointed!


Sometimes you just want to enjoy some quality pictures, we got you covered. Head on over to our Facebook account, try following us there too Minecraft Middle-Earth

It doesn't matter if you just woke up or after a busy day at work; scrolling through Instagram and seeing a cool project you have worked on, or just amazing graphics from your favorite server on your favorite game. MCME's Instagram is the right place to be. Check it out at mcmiddleearch on Instagram, or this perfectly good link to take you straight there.

But of course, the most important and obviously most used social network is of course Planet Minecraft! Be sure to give us a diamond there. It costs nothing! Minecraft Middle Earth Minecraft Server



Artist
Ahh yes. We all know the question. “How can I build?", As well as the responses “You can try a theme build” and “You can take part in jobs." The other answer is “Apply for Artist”, and the last option is by far the most exciting. Being able to build in your favorite places all the time. Sounds awesome. We can never have enough Artists, and with a wide range of current projects, there’s plenty for you to do!
Are you inspired to join MCME’s main build rank? You can apply for Artist/ today on the forums! The Managers, Designers and current Artists will work with you and help you on your journey.

Guide
Or perhaps, you’re not a builder. Well. That’s not a problem! Becoming A guide is obviously the better option anyway. As a Guide, you’re the forefront of MCME, and there’s no greater feeling than when someone says your tour was awesome. You don’t actually have to be a lore nerd either, you’ll pick up on lots really quickly.
When you join the Guides, you’ll be giving tours, running mini-games and testing players in lore quizzes, or if you prefer less “on the spot” stuff, Guidebooks are obviously your zen, or helping to tell MCME about MCME by writing up articles in the times. You’ll also plan help plan events such as The Summer Events and The Anniversary Events. We hope you join us soon, because us Guides really would love some more of us. What’re you waiting for?
Just click Guide and apply today!