Need more SHIRE action ?

[mithelenthor]

I know there have been some mixed threads on this over the last few years but I was hoping to find out if there are many others who miss new content from the SHIRE>

So, who hopes we get some Shire action soon?

[Valather89]

Oh, nothing is set in stone (standing stones, heh) yet, but if certain hints here and there are anything to go by, I expect you will soon be pleased.

[DavidmeetHal]

I want to see the continuing adventures, I mean misadventures of Mayor Flourdumpling!

[Arnenna]

We need more hobbit action for sure. Doesn't necessarily have to be in the Shire though. River Folk - Anduin

I answered yes on your poll, but that's for hobbit content, not Shire content.

[Arabani]

Absolutely! More hobbits is always a win move.

[spaltung]

SSG should really work on an expansion to complete western zones including south of the shire and Lindon.

[TearMaker]

Yes to Hobbits and double yes to Shire.

[istvana]

It is a zero sum game. Resources spent on one thing mean resources not spent elsewhere. How many of the people that cheerfully answered "yes" would answer "no" just as cheerfully had the poll asked for approval of new content involving elves or Men? I won't mention dwarves for obvious reasons.

That said I tend to agree that a cycle devoted to hobbits is due. Even if it isn't time to finish the LoTR story of what happened in the Shire.

I would also add that if there is to be a new premium housing area my vote would be hobbit first and elf second though I can easily see a flet-lover with a contrary opinion. Though most of my characters are elves that flet-lover is not me.

[LabadalofDorlomin]

I would hope that they don't try and do hobbit content anywhere other than the shire. That would smack of desperately trying to create things for the sakes of doing it. I would prefer them not do any hobbit content if it meant that they are making up stories that would in any way cloud the known facts we have in plenty about the hobbits of the Shire.

We have much that can be accomplished in and around the shire and this can all be achieved before any talks of beginning the scouring of the shire, which is some time away yet anyway.

Southfarthing would be great but in all fairness, a more grown up (in terms of the story) instance of the shire would be amazing and all that work wouldn't be wasted because in a few years when we get to the scouring there will be a background and basis to work from. (if indeed we as players get to have a hand in the scouring - or maybe it will only be Hobbit character who can directly help)

[Trixie_Me]

No offence to the dwarves, but I'm over them. I'm over their impossible to remember or spell place names. I'm over the endless tribal warfare. The new housing is lovely, but I'm over the cold, stone decorations that don't look appropriate anywhere else. I'm just done. Bring on the hobbits! (or at least the Elves!)

[Cordovan]

We will have more information very soon about our upcoming plans in a new producer's letter, currently on track to get published next week. I think you will probably want to read it.

[Froyo_K_Baggins]

Nope, I want the Shire to remain a quiet backwater.

What I want, as long as they created the annoyance of Bingo, is to have some real adventures following Merry and Pippin around. The book implies they didn't stay and went wandering around Middle Earth. That could be fun.

Oh, I'd also love them to clear all the bs out of the center of Michel Delving and go back to the clean area it was before all those atrocious things were added.

[Hoppa_Joel]

Nope, I want the Shire to remain a quiet backwater.

What I want, as long as they created the annoyance of Bingo, is to have some real adventures following Merry and Pippin around. The book implies they didn't stay and went wandering around Middle Earth. That could be fun.

Oh, I'd also love them to clear all the bs out of the center of Michel Delving and go back to the clean area it was before all those atrocious things were added.

While this could be interesting, it is difficult for content writers to re-imagine existing lore.
With Bingo, we have a character that has a new and developing lore along side our existing set in stone tales. I really love the Bingo Boffin content and I'd like to see more like this. There are plenty untold tales, unsung heroes, and new stories that can be developed without potentially stepping on the authors toes.
We see some very damaging events happening in Telivision when the writers start going off script with the established characters of the original author. ( Examples that spring to mind is the Walking Dead content after Kirkman stepped away from the AMC projects or the last season of Game of Thrones but the list can go on and on )
I want more Shire content, I want the Devs to fill in the gaps of the landscapes, South Farthing, etc. I want enjoyable, peaceful content like we see in Northcotton farms. I want more cranky gaffers, I want more bumbling Boffins I want more low keyed common folk adventurers. Because, that is what "we" are when we take on the role of a hobbit.
I want more of the " I want to stay home, but I bloody well got roped into this quest I want no part of." feel.
That incidental happening of helping someone eith their chickens, or sheep, or pies..
Just my thoughts

[rodin12]

yes of course I want Frodo and sam to return home and there are new missions or instances for 140 level also that the river hobbit project be resumed with permission to play
the classes not allowed also the new house hobbit premium with a model like bag end

[Froyo_K_Baggins]

While this could be interesting, it is difficult for content writers to re-imagine existing lore.

They've regularly done that in many, many, ways. Just how many adventurers who loot corpses have now seen so many of the secret Palantirs? Bree as the travel center of the universe, according to lore? Sure.

Also, we're far past the books and they've been inventing all sorts of things. To invent the adventures lore mentioned could be fun.

More importantly, if you're talking about adding a lot to the Shire, that that's a far bigger violation of lore. After all, it is a small backwater. In addition, the 4th Age is the Age of Man. While the other races will still be around for a while, the story could easily focus on what men around Middle Earth are doing to come out of the control of evil elves and wizards.

[Siegfriedpf]

I want more Shire content, I want the Devs to fill in the gaps of the landscapes, South Farthing, etc.

Yes, this! I want to be able to have Falibrand go home to Pincup for a relaxing evening with his gaffer.

[Hoppa_Joel]

, if you're talking about adding a lot to the Shire, that that's a far bigger violation of lore. After all, it is a small backwater. In addition, the 4th Age is the Age of Man.

The Shire is not so very small.
We are only in part of it. South Farthing is a much much larger area if you are to look at Tolkien's hand drawn maps. Where he names many hobbit towns.
What we are only seeing is mostly the East Farthing and West Farthing.
I am not sure why you do not want to see the full Shire and why you think seeing all of the locations we don't have in game, would violate anything?
Nobottle, North and between Little Delving and Needlehole.
Tookbank, Pincup, Willowbottom, Whitfurrows, Rushey, Deephallow, Longbottom, Sackville, Hamwich.. Whitwell, and many more ( I can't currently think of, but they are on the old Shire maps. )
These are all towns we currently do not see of hobbit settlements in the Shire ( mostly South Farthing )
Additionally, South and West of the Shire, the Blue Mountains ( Erud Luin ) continues to the sea to Harlond and Harlindon.
We've just had Mitheiethel added in, thish is a wonderfully done "fill in the gaps" bit of the map.
I want also to see what will be done with the lands between the Baranduin and the Greyflood to the sea.
For me, I love exploration.
Having a "wall" that is impassable also kinda loses that explorers immersion.
Comparatively speaking, the whole of the Shire, is larger on map than all of Breeland. ( roughly the size of Breelands and the Lonelands combined ) or larger than all the Ettenmoors.
Its not just Bag End and Hobbiton.
The area we currently see for the Shire, in game, is about a third its actual size if all other pieces of it are filled in. I do hope they get filled in.

But, I don't want to argue with you.
I'd say if you want a small blip of a town there would be a few small ones in the South Farthings, lots of pipeweed towns there.

[Halphast]

Nope, I want the Shire to remain a quiet backwater. ...some real adventures following Merry and Pippin around. The book implies they didn't stay and went wandering around Middle Earth

I agree. Right now the Shire is in an ideal state- moving forward with Saruman and the Scouring will only sour if not ruin what we've come to love.

Love the idea of following Merry and Pippin on adventures though.

[LabadalofDorlomin]

We will have more information very soon about our upcoming plans in a new producer's letter, currently on track to get published next week. I think you will probably want to read it.

If I wasn't before, I am now firmly fixed on getting some good news for our imaginary world... How things are currently in the real world, I really wish I could take IRL the ambience of the Shire before it is changes forever.

I was born in Rural England and in the life before major communications and information highway we all now live upon, getting the post and who is baking what and where really was the most important things. One of the attractions for me of the Hobbits is they give me that childhood feeling of doing just enough to keep the big folk from noticing you and enjoying yourself immensely surrounded by the beauty of what is clearly, for me at least, the basis of the whole story.

How, he had the innocence of youth and very soon the childishness torn from him and he found himself in a world of death, pain and sorrow. He eventually finds his way back to a nice life but is always deeply affected by his experiences and very much like Frodo, never really got over them to a certain extent. Much as we all are to some extent which is why I think on a deep level, is one of the reasons we enjoy his works so much.

[Phantion]

The Shire is not so very small.
We are only in part of it. South Farthing is a much much larger area if you are to look at Tolkien's hand drawn maps. Where he names many hobbit towns.
What we are only seeing is mostly the East Farthing and West Farthing.
I am not sure why you do not want to see the full Shire and why you think seeing all of the locations we don't have in game, would violate anything?
Nobottle, North and between Little Delving and Needlehole.
Tookbank, Pincup, Willowbottom, Whitfurrows, Rushey, Deephallow, Longbottom, Sackville, Hamwich.. Whitwell, and many more ( I can't currently think of, but they are on the old Shire maps. )
These are all towns we currently do not see of hobbit settlements in the Shire ( mostly South Farthing )
Additionally, South and West of the Shire, the Blue Mountains ( Erud Luin ) continues to the sea to Harlond and Harlindon.
We've just had Mitheiethel added in, thish is a wonderfully done "fill in the gaps" bit of the map.
I want also to see what will be done with the lands between the Baranduin and the Greyflood to the sea.
For me, I love exploration.
Having a "wall" that is impassable also kinda loses that explorers immersion.
Comparatively speaking, the whole of the Shire, is larger on map than all of Breeland. ( roughly the size of Breelands and the Lonelands combined ) or larger than all the Ettenmoors.
Its not just Bag End and Hobbiton.
The area we currently see for the Shire, in game, is about a third its actual size if all other pieces of it are filled in. I do hope they get filled in.

But, I don't want to argue with you.
I'd say if you want a small blip of a town there would be a few small ones in the South Farthings, lots of pipeweed towns there.

Yep!

Another thing worth bearing in mind here too is that the in-game Shire is vastly scaled-down --- even compared, relatively speaking, to other scaled-down in-game regions.

Frodo, Sam, and Pippin had to travel quite a number of leagues to get between places, and while the Hobbiton area, paradoxically, is about equivalent to what Tolkien had in mind, the rest of the Shire is very truncated.

So, when the 3 Hobbits go to the Woody End and Gildor and company, they actually are able to see that Woodhall is far away on a distant hill; the game has the town right beneath the abandoned Elf camp. Similarly, the marish is a very large trek of boggy lands, and they have to cross many such lands and fields, before they get to Farmer Maggot's - which the game just has down the hill from the abandoned Elf Camp.

I'd say that if the in-game Shire was at an "equivalent" scale, it would be about the size of the lower half of East Rohan, and so on and so forth. Anyways, from what I recall Scenario saying on one of his livestreams, the reasoning at the time was not to overwhelm new players with the sheer size of things, and so they deliberately made parts of the Shire far smaller than their book descriptions.

If Ered Luin didn't exist, they could've, at least in theory, "revised" the coordinates to make the Shire bigger if they wanted to, but since Ered Luin has not only its geography but all its models and quest-pathing, etc., in place, the current Shire is as it is

In short: I really really really really really wish they'd go back and find some "magic trick" to, say, double the size of the Marish, double the size of Green Hills, literally just double the East-West Shire coordinates somehow with thicker woods and - the tree - the Hobbits hid behind from the Black Rider and so on, but I do recognize that's probably impossible in the current state of the game due to the Shire's placement relative to other zones / regions. For example, I recognize that Evendim, Forochel, ND, and Bree-land have pretty much "locked-in" the Shire's current coordinates. I mean, the Abandoned Elf Camp is supposed to be in the middle of thick woods filled with thickets and brush, not just surrounded by an odd few birch trees right off the road, and so on- but I get why! One can dream.......

So, expanding the Farthings outward would be a very good way, I agree, to help compensate for, say, the fact that areas that are leagues apart in the books are literally adjacent to each other in the game

I guess we've been spoiled with post-Rohan landscape development! Hehehehe- Fangorn feels much more "to equivalent scale" than the Shire does, for example!

Cheers!

[Froyo_K_Baggins]

The Shire is not so very small.

Why yes, it is. It's a small part of the Northwestern edge of Middle Earth. Take, for instance, this map, built with lore: https://imgur.com/LqFv5. There are larger nations to the south and east. Where do you think all those "enemies" came from?


And you're still not talking about this being the Fourth Age. Storylines about elves, dwarves and hobbits? Those are for the Third Age. While those races remain in Middle Earth, it's time to focus on the reality that is Man.

[gildhur]

In addition, the 4th Age is the Age of Man. While the other races will still be around for a while, the story could easily focus on what men around Middle Earth are doing to come out of the control of evil elves and wizards.

I agree. Right now the Shire is in an ideal state- moving forward with Saruman and the Scouring will only sour if not ruin what we've come to love.

Love the idea of following Merry and Pippin on adventures though.

These are all long term considerations and ideas. As MoL has confirmed here before, the game's current point on the LOTR timeline is still quite a while before either the Fourth Age begins or the Scouring of the Shire occurs. In development time, we're still probably several years away from those updates, though a new Shire addition could begin to plant the seeds for later.

Since we're unlikely to get another xpac this year, I'm hoping we get River-hobbits sooner than later, though that wouldn't technically be *Shire* content as Cord implied is coming. Getting both River-hobbits and a new Shire map area would be a dream come true.

[DavidmeetHal]

Why yes, it is. It's a small part of the Northwestern edge of Middle Earth. Take, for instance, this map, built with lore: https://imgur.com/LqFv5. There are larger nations to the south and east. Where do you think all those "enemies" came from?


And you're still not talking about this being the Fourth Age. Storylines about elves, dwarves and hobbits? Those are for the Third Age. While those races remain in Middle Earth, it's time to focus on the reality that is Man.

That's a nice map! Would you happen to know of a bigger version of it? The only ones I can find cut off at Harad and don't show the bottom coast line of the continent.

[Pontin_Finnberry]

More Hobbit Content would always be nice to see, there's more that can be added around the shire area we have

Why yes, it is. It's a small part of the Northwestern edge of Middle Earth. Take, for instance, this map, built with lore: https://imgur.com/LqFv5. There are larger nations to the south and east. Where do you think all those "enemies" came from?

That's a nice map! Would you happen to know of a bigger version of it? The only ones I can find cut off at Harad and don't show the bottom coast line of the continent.

I would note that this is a map made by Iron crown Enterprises and is not a real full map of middle-earth, most of it to far east and south is totally made up and not Tolkien, also the map he linked is huge heres the source https://i.imgur.com/LqFv5.jpeg

Edit if want a real map we don't have a full one for Third Age but we do have one for second age age here so see what it kinda like not 100% full but close https://i.pinimg.com/originals/81/80...65ce9a2beb.png

[Hoppa_Joel]

For folks interested in a good representation of the Shire, here is one of the maps I like:
http://www.brambleburygazette.com/ar...lmapoftheshire ( click on it to enlarge )