The Middle-Earth Roleplaying (MERP) mod - LOTR Total Conversion mod for Skyrim

[NamesAreUseless]

What is the Middle-Earth Roleplaying Project?

Welcome to the Middle-Earth Roleplaying Project - There and Back Again (MERP) mod. This is a Total Conversion modification for The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, based on the magnificent world of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord Of The Rings. MERP was being created for The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion, and we have released Beta v0.2.6 for Oblivion (see below).


Who are we?

The MERP team is making an addition to Skyrim. That is, the world of Middle Earth! We are adding all of Middle-Earth in it's entirety, obviously including such places as: The Shire, Eriador, Gondor, Rohan, The Rhovanion, Moria, Mordor, and many other locations!

We have a very large, dedicated, and talented team working to create the world of Middle Earth!


Our Goal

Our goal as a team is to realize the world of J.R.R. Tolkien as closely as we can to his vision. We hold the lore to a very high standard and will not compromise the lore as often as we can. We do use the visual appearance of the films, but if there is a conflict then we generally take the books over the movies. We work very hard to bring a quality product that's even better than the original Oblivion game. We want to make our work look as though professional game developers have created this, an open-world Middle-Earth RPG like no other!

Currently, we have a completed heightmap of Middle Earth (over 10 times the size of Skyrim!) that we will be populating once the Creation Kit is released for Skyrim. Our goal is to create detailed landscapes, towns, interiors, new playable races, weapons and armor, and more!


Preview

With the release of v0.2.6, we are planning to create a trailer for it. In the meantime, check out our June trailer of our older 0.2.4 Beta version HERE! You can also find older trailers of our work on our MiddleEarthRP channel. Check out our Autumn 09 trailer, and this older Beta trailer.

Here is an image of our new heightmap for MERP Skyrim:
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/7214/comparisonyq.png

Also check out this video showcasing MERP & Blade, a per-conceptual sub-mod for Oblivion that is planned to be created for MERP Skyrim. It's goal is to give MERP more Mount&Blade-esque combat!

Here are also some screenshots of our work of MERP Oblivion:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I would also advise to check out our Moddb page for more videos, screenshots, music, the latest news, and more!


Download the MERP Beta

MERP Beta version 0.2.6: Download it HERE! You can find a tutorial of how to download our Beta HERE if you have any problems.

This is our final release of MERP for Oblivion (with a possible mini-patch or two to fix any bugs). From here on, we will be working on developing MERP for Skyrim!


More Information

To contact us, or see more of the MERP mod, you can go to:
Our Moddb page
Our developer's forum
Our Bethesda Softwork's thread

We are always looking for more help. If you'd like to join the MERP team, please feel free to make an account on our developer forum and check out our Application section HERE!

Any questions, comments, suggestions, etc. are appreciated.

[Vanquisher]

Just incredible. I would install Oblivion onto another PC with this mod just to get it working so I don't lose my current game

[The Librarian]

How long have you been developing your mod? I followed some ME mods a while ago, but most of them were never completed. I wish you the best of luck, your work looks stunning.

[NamesAreUseless]

Just incredible. I would install Oblivion onto another PC with this mod just to get it working so I don't lose my current game

Yes if you're going to download MERP, install another copy of Oblivion for the mod.

How long have you been developing your mod? I followed some ME mods a while ago, but most of them were never completed. I wish you the best of luck, your work looks stunning.

Actually, I don't know the exact date myself

At the latest, I would say around early 2007. The mod at one point was scrapped and then brought back to life from scratch not too long ago (only about half a year ago) due to new management, a new heightmap, and other reasons.

[The Librarian]

Yes if you're going to download MERP, install another copy of Oblivion for the mod.


Actually, I don't know the exact date myself

At the latest, I would say around early 2007. The mod at one point was scrapped and then brought back to life from scratch not too long ago (only about half a year ago) due to new management, a new heightmap, and other reasons.

Did it have something to do with the team loosing the original forum because of some quarrel? Or was that another mod ?

[DAVIDE]

good mod. Do u use models already present in vanilla oblivion, or u just recreating everything new?

[Danny_K_1]

Keep up the good work. I followed you guys ages ago but then the mod died. Good to see it up and runnig again.

[NamesAreUseless]

good mod. Do u use models already present in vanilla oblivion, or u just recreating everything new?

We use as much as the Oblivion stuff as we can (saves us time and should decrease the size of the mod files as well). Granted, we have created TONS of custom models

Did it have something to do with the team loosing the original forum because of some quarrel? Or was that another mod ?

It had mostly to do with the Grey Wizard disappearing (without a word to the rest of the team). For some odd reason, one of the team members will get a hold of Grey Wizard, but that happens rarely.

Since Grey Wizard's disappearance, the team tried to continue, but people started dropping out of the team. Eventually, large jack decided to take control and since then the mod has flourished.

Of course, this is all from what I've heard, I'm still a relatively newer member.

Keep up the good work. I followed you guys ages ago but then the mod died. Good to see it up and runnig again.

A lot of people STILL think this mod is dead. Its rather unfortunate really. Once we get past landscaping development and start populating Middle Earth, I think we'll be able to create some interesting trailers and hopefully get a lot of new fans

[DAVIDE]

if u can recreate the 7 levelled Minas Tirith i will marry u

[Selifator]

The question is if they want to marry you, let's establish that first before they are scared and run off.

[NamesAreUseless]

if u can recreate the 7 levelled Minas Tirith i will marry u

My girlfriend won't be happy

Alas, our marriage must wait, for Minas Tirith is still in development. We plan on making all 7 levels of the city. We do have this done though (yeah I know its not much):
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...Greatcliff.jpg

The question is if they want to marry you, let's establish that first before they are scared and run off.

It'll take a lot more then that to scare me off

[DAVIDE]

in what era, your mod is located?

[Danny_K_1]

I think its set in the Third Age although I could be wrong

[NamesAreUseless]

During the last years of the Third Age (aka the time in the LOTR trilogy, the War of the Ring period).

[gambit]

Looks absolutely fantastic. Will being certain races have an actual effect on gameplay? I take it they dont let orcs waltz around Rivendell just because they asked nicely, that would be an interesting touch.

Also is there any LoTR music in-game?

[NamesAreUseless]

Looks absolutely fantastic. Will being certain races have an actual effect on gameplay? I take it they dont let orcs waltz around Rivendell just because they asked nicely, that would be an interesting touch.

Of course orcs won't be allowed in a place like Rivendell! If you play an Orc and you try to enter Rivendell, the guards should attack you on site. However, our mod will simply be starting with playable Good races: the Race of Men, Dwarves, Elves, and Hobbits. Evil playable races would come later.

Also is there any LoTR music in-game?

No movie music, we have a couple guys making Tolkien-themed original music for this mod.

[Danny_K_1]

I remember I read what you guys had planned for the Nazgul, sold it to me right there.

[ccllnply]

OMG! Where can I buy Oblivion? I need this mod. This and The Lasst Days for Mount & Blade will keep me going for months

[NamesAreUseless]

OMG! Where can I buy Oblivion? I need this mod. This and The Lasst Days for Mount & Blade will keep me going for months

I'm sure you can buy Oblivion at any place that sells PC games. The game was released about 3 years ago, so it might be a bit harder to find then the new releases, but not so old that you have to rely on eBay

If you do get the game, be sure to pick up the Knights of the Nine and Shivering Isle expansion packs, which this mod requires (may not require Knights of the Nine, not sure). The Game of the Year edition has it all, so try and find that version

[thatguy]

I'm sure you can buy Oblivion at any place that sells PC games. The game was released about 3 years ago, so it might be a bit harder to find then the new releases, but not so old that you have to rely on eBay

If you do get the game, be sure to pick up the Knights of the Nine and Shivering Isle expansion packs, which this mod requires (may not require Knights of the Nine, not sure). The Game of the Year edition has it all, so try and find that version

I was so phyched for this mod.
Then I read this, and Died a little.
I don't have these!
*sigh*
Guess I better go find it somewhere cheap.