This week I got the pleasure to meet the flu, as did pretty much whole Switzerland recently. While I was mostly incapable of escaping my bed, progress on the server went its normal way at its normally crazy speed. However the big event this week was doubtlessly the release of the name changing ability. My only option would have been to change to plain "Finrod", without any underscore or similar, but of course thats already taken. What about you? Did or do you change your name?

So, as whoever you read these Times now, enjoy it!


Dol Amroth (/warp Dol Amroth)


Annúminas (In Progress) - Lead: @Wollip666
The first time since Wollip joined back in 2011 he was granted some time off from his server duties. As he's currently enjoying his holidays, so does his current project.

Calembel (In Progress) - Lead: @Ivan1pl
The wool outlines seem complete, and the first houses can be found there already. But the most notable thing from this location this week is the immense amount of terrain that Ivan and @oth0116 created: Whole Tarlang's Neck (with the mountains Dol Tarlang, Cûl Veleg and Cûl Bîn)

Dol Amroth (In Progress) - Lead: @Demonataz
Not much of the peninsula is free anymore now, an incredible amount of houses have been built, and more are still marked out and can be built by Artists. The palace gardens have been planned out, definitely something really beautiful will happen there soon.

Edhellond (In Progress) - Lead: @_Luk (formerly KlemensPlusLukas)
The building is mostly finished by now. A bit of decoration has to be added ere the only thing left to do is matching the settlement its history, aka ruining it.
Not only the majestic harbor is worth seeing here, have also a look at the small village above it, another unique building style has been developped and the scenery ended up looking very lovely.

Lebennin (In Progress) - Lead: @wodleth
- no progress this week -

Lossarnach (In Progress) - Lead: @Tyranystrasz
- no progress this week -

Misty Mountains (In Progress) - Lead: @Finrod_Amandil
Adding the materials to the valley of Nimrodel and surroundings has started by tackling the five glaciers in the section (part which needs the most time). Expect some jobs here this week.

Pelargir (In Progress) - Lead: @Credoo
The palace and the immense Theatre that are being built currently are nothing less than breathtaking. Don't know what else to say here, it's pure awesomeness, pure Credoo, MCME at its best.


Public Projects:

Agar and Udul (In Progress) - Lead: @Mandos (formerly Nightfalcon14)
The hill for the second town Udul has been finished voxelling, now already the first wool outlines for it can be found there. /warp udultemp to reach that town.

Bandit / Traveler Camps (New) - Lead: @PINT00
Close to the road between Linhir and Pelargir a total of five small tent camps will be built, let's see how this public project gets rolling.

Ethring (In Progress) - Lead: @AWOL777
More houses are being added consecutively. Be sure to have a look around there on your next Gondor trip, or just use the warp /warp ethtemp.

Lothlórien Vegetation (In Progress) - Lead: @yourie98
The first section beyond the shores of the Anduin is finished! And non-stop they moved on to Caras Galadhon, the capital of Lothlórien, where they made some first progress too. Many more jobs will follow here in the next time.

Shire Trees (In Progress) - Lead: @kisos (formerly K1sk1BBaB35)
A large number of Shire Town has already gotten their custom trees, but still some are left. Be sure to check out the Shire Treebuild (see below) to build kisos some trees.


Be sure to check whether there are still any public projects left to claim or join. New ones may get added at any time!

Current Plotworld Jobs and Projects:

• Shire Treebuild

- none -



Media of the Week

A new series of Screenshots by @kisos! Here's the one I liked most:

Road Dol Amroth - Linhir


Build of the Week

Nothing else to say here:


Pelargir (/warp Pelargir)


New Themed Build
>> Themed Build Post <<




From this week onwards it is finally possible to change your ingame name. However once you changed it, you gotta stick with it for at least a month!

To change your name, follow these steps:

• Log in to your Mojang account by going to https://account.mojang.com/
• Click "Change" next to your username:
  
  
• When successfully changed your username on Mojang, please also change it on the Forums. This you can do by yourself now via this Link: http://www.mcmiddleearth.com/account/changeusername
• Lastly it'd be nice if you could enter your name change into a google spreadsheet made by @DarthRagnar, so that we have a nice overview of all the changes.
  Enter your name change >>here<<
  View the Spreadsheet >>here<<

Part 4 - Elvish Scripts
First of all, thanks to everyone who voted on this format last week! Seems like its definitively worth continueing this for some more time!

Today I'll start a sub-series on elvish scripts, while in this edition I will give a short overview over all writing systems of the elves, the next issues will be about the most well known of these: The Tengwar. In the end you should be fully able to write Sindarin and English using the Tengwar.

The Sarati
The Sarati, which is Quenya for "characters", are the first writing system of the elves, invented by Rúmil in the early First Age in the Undying Lands. In the 3rd Age they are only used by the Vanyar in Aman, they were never used in Middle-Earth.
A special thing about the Sarati is, that they were both used in vertical as in horizontal (top-down) writing direction.

The "Namárië" poem by Galadriel, transcribed by Florian Dombach

The Tengwar
Feanor enhanced the Sarati of Rúmil and then in 1250 F.A. came up with the Tengwar. This Quenya term means "letters", "letter" in Singular would translate as Tengwa.
In the 3rd Age it was used aswell in Valinor as in Middle-Earth by the elves aswell as Men and even a few dwarves as Ori, but of course also by the Dark Lord himself on his Ring of Power.

"The King's Letter" from Sauron Defeated, transcribed by Daniel Andriës


The Cirth
Its a common misconception that the runes found in the book of Mazarbul are a script invented by dwarves. In fact they were invented by the Sindar in Middle-Earth. Daeron, the minstrel of king Thingol sorted the initially very chaotic system. The script was designed so that one can engrave it into wood or stone, and thus got popular by the dwarves too.
Cirth is Sindarin meaning "runes".

The Book of Mazarbul


More on the Tengwar in next week's Times!



Valentine's Day Tour: This Valentine’s Day join the Guides for a very special tour about the romances of Middle Earth. There will be tales of several famous couples from throughout J.R.R. Tolkien’s works. Whether you are single or in a relationship, come join us to learn a little lore and perhaps a little about love too. The tour begins on Feb. 14 at 9PM GMT.

Short Story Contest: @Tyranystrasz organised a Short Story Contest. Until the 29th of march you can submit your fan-fiction based on Arda / Tolkiens Lore. The winner can win a gift card and the 3 best stories get featured here in the Times!
For more info read >>this post<<

Times Feedback: Have a thought concerning the presentation of the MCME Times and how it can be improved? Because we are always looking for new ways to mix up and improve the Times experience through any means necessary and, if you have a comment or concern, it's likely that someone else had it as well and just didn't say anything about it. So be sure to message @Finrod_Amandil your thoughts through a PM or directly in this thread.




I really am curious how that name changing ability will change stuff and the way I see other player's names over longer time... So what could be better than a matching quote for that, to close this weeks Times?

“You're always you, and that don't change, and you're always changing, and there's nothing you can do about it.”
- Neil Gaiman

Click to expand...