I made 12 Middle-earth locations, true to the books

[@tobywaller7574]

Lovely. This does feel a little closer to England. A bit colder, a bit greyer. As an Englishman it feels a little closer to home. Wonderful.

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Oh nice! Glad I was able to get the right feel!

[@bbrother92]

@@PlacesofMiddleEarth Blender?

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

@@bbrother92 Unreal. For environments like these, I prefer it over Blender.

[@bbrother92]

@@PlacesofMiddleEarth gooood

[@Ddlfgks-sds-et9fp]

Finally the monopoly of Peter Jackson's aesthetics is challenged! I like your Lake-town, it enhances the original drawing's convincibility yet keeps its overall vibe.

[@Spobbles69420]

Hits like a freight train, the feeling of knowing I’ll never own a hole in the ground, much less a house

[@JackSmith-em4pv]

I love seeing the real Middle-earth come to life. I’m a fan of the Jackson trilogy, but seeing what Tolkien described and what it would really look like is amazing. Thank you!

[@hearthseeker2425]

I'm from ArdaCraft which also has a heavy emphasis on the books, letters, and other writings when making our world. This is quite impressive! Its great to see others doing the same :)

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Thanks! You all are the GOAT of Middle Earth depictions! Please keep up your amazing work!

[@hearthseeker2425]

@@PlacesofMiddleEarth Thank you as well!

[@rj8877]

I love this so much. Wellinghall was always one of my favourite passages, I loved seeing that environment brought to life.

[@vde1846]

I generally love this sort of stuff, and this is really great work. The time and effort you have put into this is really appreciated. It also emphasizes how seriously the team behind the movies took the text in their design work considering how close much of it is (the parts that where adapted that is).

[@fabiomarang]

Thanks for sharing this work with us. It is clear that you put a lot of effort and passion into the analysis of those Middle-Earth locations and their representation, resulting in an immersive journey for us viewers into Tolkien's worldbuilding. Well done!

[@Leprechaunproduction]

I wonder what Tolkien would have thought about seeing his artwork coming to life like this. I hope he would have enjoyed it!

[@s.w.4409]

Probably not tbh

[@aresaurelian]

I believed this was in the game Tiny Glade, for a moment. Lovely work, lad. Keep it up. It does look like the 18th century English country side. Well done.

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Thanks!!!

[@Trojanponey]

I love it, you did a fantastic job and the presentation was excellent. I think you captured Tolkien's vision very well!

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Thank you very much!

[@isengrim99]

This is really neat! So much of Tolkien's originally intended versions of these places seem have a lot of influences the Peter Jackson-trilogy never had, like Renaissance-esque symmetry in a lot of the designs, and an unnatural, artificial look to the "darker" places(like The Doors of Durin) rather than the spiky, thorny and jagged look Jackson went for. It's subtler and more effective, imo. Rivendell and the elves also remind me of paintings of The Decameron

[@pa0mafeurtadott777]

Rivendell did indeed come as a shock, much more grounded

[@fredko7086]

Liked and subscribed. As a long, deep Tolkien fan, I have to say that, after many readings of the books, I ended up with quite my own depictions of Middle earth, made from Tolkiens drawings, other illustrators, and of course P Jackson movies. The last not always convincing, as some of the places are not, in the movies, like my imagination has made them. But that is the point of books, telling stories and let the imagination of the reader create his own worlds. Rivendell is the less shaped in my mind. I love your work on Bombadil's home, which turns out (mainly the inside) almost like it is in my mind. Great work on the barrows too, the Shire, even if I imagine the houses less... As big folks ones, less square, more weathered and old. But overall thank you so much for making alive all those places that I have been through so many times without seeing them in reality. Excellent, thank you.

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

You are quite welcome!!!

[@ice9snowflake187]

I'd love to see a rendition of Minas Tirith in the future. I'd also love to see Edoras, and maybe Minas Morgul.

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Definitely! Minus Tirith is a good one especially because the movies have some major differences.

[@overlythicc4773]

These are killer man I loved your interpretation of wellinghall, I know from now one whenever i’m reading the books again that your visuals will come to mind when envisioning tolkeins fantastic world!

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Thanks! That makes my day!

[@brendenschultz1628]

Wow, fantastic video. Amazing to see such wonderful depictions of these locations that have lived in my mind for so long spring to life. Fantastic presentation as well!

[@Blazbaros]

I like the renders, they have that early 90s 3D video game vibe to them, a very different atmosphere for sure.

[@sivanlevi3867]

You're a fantastic reconstructionist. it made me feel like I was there in Middle Earth.

[@kirkhenry2652]

This is very special, very wonderful, very beautifully done. Superb detail!!

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Thanks, I really appreciate you saying that!

[@adrianfuegoscuro6308]

These work is just Amazing! Thankyou very much!

[@adamATOM3]

These are awesome! Thanks for making them and sharing. Good job!

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

My pleasure! I hope I can continue to do more!

[@kullenberg]

Some of these scenes almost feel like a Myst/Riven type game in Middle-earth.

[@LtSpiteful]

Man that would be cool

[@ianwilliams2632]

Astounding work. I've never felt so "inside" the author's secondary world before.

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Thank you! That's the best compliment I could receive!

[@albertwayne2323]

Wonderful, simply wonderful.

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Many thanks!

[@stevehodson2613]

Beautiful, simply beautiful. Thank you so much, that was wonderful.

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ddr72]

This is beautiful. Thank you so much for making this

[@ottopippenger1590]

Wonderfully mundane- really brings the verisimilitude to the fore marvelously!

[@pachacutti1012]

This is incredible work! Amazing to see the books come to life!

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Glad you like them!

[@sadounabderrahim7676]

That was beautiful , it take me to a hall other World, i could Say that you are a great fan of this immense work , and i feel that your passion in this work of animation transcended it into something far better 😊 👍

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Thank you so much!

[@sb6370]

Thank you for this wonderful journey! I could spend hours watching this and wandering about. Please tell us there is more…Crickhollow is one of my favorite locations.

[@CharpyTheHedgehog]

Wow, very cool! I particularly loved seeing Bag End and Lake Town- fees like I stepped right into the books! The only thing I would change is I would make the Shire a LOT more lush and verdant. But I don't know if that's possible. But thank you for doing this.

[@time-lapseseb1141]

Even the best adaptation is always fan-fiction. And even though I love the works of Alan Lee and John Howe as well, as the adaptation of Peter Jackson with my whole heart, the scenery always felt a bit too epic and less nuanced. You managed to bring these missing nuances to shine, which make me feel so nostalgic, in a good way. I grew up in SW Germany, surrounded by medieval villages, castle ruins to the north and the edge of the Black Forest to the south, and believe it or not, you came the closest to how I imagined the Places of Tolkiens Middle Earth. I have much respect and gratitude, that you try to reimagine the world of Tolkien as true as possible. I can relate to this, since I am a Taxidermist and Paleoartist, where I aim to recreate the animals as realistic as possible, to how they looked alive. But in my spare time I draw, paint and sculpt cratures and places of my own imagination. And with modern fantasy that's my mainissue, that they have no imagination of theire own, but corrupt the deep and timeless beauty of the poetry of people like J.R.R. Tolkien.

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Thank you so much! I don’t even know that to say!

[@besserschreiben9481]

Genial, auch die einfühlsame Musik dazu. Ob man daraus ein Computerspiel machen sollte?

[@NinjaParkourTV]

Ein Spiel wie Skyrim oder Oblivion wäre toll wenn es wie dieses Video gemacht wird

[@theproplady]

The movie versions feel like the Disneyland versions of the setting, while this version feels like coming to it in person and seeing a place that's not as flashy, but way more practical to live in.

[@theodenofrohan1]

A Masterpiece :) really amazing looking and exactly how i imagined the tolkiens world. subscribed

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Brilliant minds think alike! Haha

[@1ix8ys]

This is phenomenal! Thank you!

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Glad you like it!

[@TheTolkienCurmudgeon]

Wonderful! Thank you!

[@20ftPythonInHiding]

I've always wondered how the hobbits managed to keep their walls from being infested and eaten by bugs, seeing as they are dug into the dirt. Also you did an amazing job bringing Tolkien's work to life :)

[@luispablogonzalezv4522]

This is great! I hope you keep recreating places like those

[@samuelroveda9706]

What a great initiative!

[@ipercalisse579]

Wowowowowo this is so exciting!!! Wonderful work👏❤

[@IanZ_Forge]

May I ask what the song was at the beginning during the showing of bagend? This is an awesome video and project! God bless - Ian

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Thanks! It's "Wherever I wander" by Bonnie Grace.

[@IanZ_Forge]

@ Thank you! Great video!! 🙌

[@thecaveofthedead]

I really enjoyed it. Wonderful efforts. I particularly love - of all things - that you put a flush toilet in bag-end. It seems somehow consistent with the kind of technology allowed for in The Hobbit (like the dwarves and their matches).

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Thanks! Yeah, we know Bag End has a bathroom and a flush toilet seems like just the kind of anachronism that Tolkien allowed. It’s either that or a hole in the ground. ☺️

[@robert5976]

This is incredible, thank you

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Glad you liked it!

[@LoreOfTheRingsYT]

Amazing! This is lovely

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Oh gosh, that means a lot coming from you! Thank you!

[@LoreOfTheRingsYT]

@@PlacesofMiddleEarth Thank you! Would you consider making Minas Morgul like depicted by Tolkien as well?

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

@ but of course! Pauline Baynes also did a depiction which Tolkien said was almost exact to his own vision

[@LoreOfTheRingsYT]

@@PlacesofMiddleEarth Amazing!

[@jespernielsen8549]

This is absolutely stunning and the music was spot on. Of course I subscribe.

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Thanks!

[@eosborne6495]

Your Rivendell is exactly how I imagined it when I read the Hobbit as a kid! Though I do enjoy the art nouveau aesthetic that Peter Jackson’s elves have. It makes them seem more otherworldly.

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

So cool I could bring your childhood imagination to life! I did incorporate some art nouveau elements into Rivendell. The windows panes are art nouveau and the gardens are patterned in art nouveau as well. The patio where the elves are singing/dancing is an art nouveau inspired mosaic design but I could get it quite like I wanted. Also, the front and back porch have an art nouveau mosaic tile but I didn’t really show it. I want to eventually do the interior of Rivendell, and I think I might do it much closer to art nouveau than the movies.

[@recepisigibol]

as I have been in Rivendell's inspiration place Lauterbrunnen , it feels so real and looks perfect

[@tylerlyon773]

Holy crap this is awesome dude… guess who’s getting another subscriber dude you rock keep up the kick ass videos. Will you ever do these types of videos but with a song of ice and fire/ game of thrones or the Witcher?

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

No, that would be copyright infringement. You are allowed to do that for shorts, though.

[@tylerlyon773]

@ interesting

[@kojinaoftheinvertedeye810]

It's surprising to see these places as close to the descriptions and illustrations as possible, I find it interesting how some places like Bag-End and the doors of Durin could still fit in with Jackson's take where as others would have felt extremely out of place and vice versa, seeing Jackson's Rivendell next to the more accurate one would feel so weird it's actually bizarre how different the 'same' place can be taken, it makes me wonder how other adaptations would have depicted them

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

For sure! There's other adaptations, though, such as the cartoons and Lord of the Rings Online!

[@Pedrift0]

This is incredible. I've always preferred the more realistic despctions of the books. Good job

[@wearedonenow]

Amazing work! Would love to see Beorn's hall and compound.

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

That's what I'm working on next!

[@hkhjg1734]

i would love to hear a narration of the sources you used for each area when viewing them.

[@konstantinpobedonotsev5589]

This is amazing! I really wish someone would do this for Westeros too!

[@mnk9073]

You can tell Tolkien was an Englishman by the tiny number of of windows and lack of natural light in Bag End.

[@robertmiles1603]

Great job. You should also do videos of the rest of Arda. I'd especially like to see Barad-dur.

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Absolutely! I've already started work on the next location.

[@RghtBrnd]

Keep doing what you do. Eventually all the hard work will pay off. It may take some time, but if you keep uploading, it'll hit.

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Thanks, I appreciate the words! I know you’ve commented a few times and I appreciate your support as well! Unfortunately, I’m not sure if my videos have much appeal to the broader Tolkien community, given the rapid success you can see with Tolkien AI channels. Ah well. 🙁

[@RghtBrnd]

@@PlacesofMiddleEarth those AI channels are only successful because they pump out videos at a fast rate and because of that, the algorithm pushes them out to a bigger audience. Once your videos break that algorithm wall, you'll get more recognition. The Tolkien community will eat this up. Those of us who are here now certainly are.

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

@@RghtBrnd Maybe you were right after all! Thanks for believing in me!

[@RghtBrnd]

@@PlacesofMiddleEarth I just saw! 7.8k and climbing! Keep it going!

[@unclejoe7466]

This world looks like a labor of love. I'd be adding to it without ending if it were mine. Will you add some dark pines and ruins on the high points above Rivendell?

[@diggus88]

Great stuff, especially the barrow downs, west gate of moria, and caras galadhon which are sometimes hard to visualize the dimensions and topography of. You should really do helm's deep and point out where certain things happened during the battle, as even with all the descriptions in the book I find myself getting a bit confused as to what happened where.

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Thanks! I can make that happen!

[@user-jc5xg5qd5x]

It is too bad that Tolkien didn't live long enough to see his works visualized, both in the movies, and like this. I think he would have thought it a wonderous thing to be able to walk in his work in VR. As for the videos: Great work! Hope to see more from you in the future. I would have put quite a bit of the text before showcasing the scenes however, as I find myself reading the text instead of looking at you great visual work, and have to pause and rewind a lot. :)

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

That's how I though people would feel as well, buy I did a poll a little while back and hardly anyone said they wanted a voice over. But I'll definitely try a VO at some point soon and see how it goes.

[@ZephyrOptional]

I had to zoom in but I see your elves have pointed shoes, just like Tolkien drew! Well done!

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Ha! Good catch! Only one of them does, I think. The one with the blue shirt sitting on the bench. I did specifically get those shoes, though, because of Tolkien’s depiction.

[@ZephyrOptional]

@ I recreated a close up sketch of Tolkien’s painting of Beleg. He has long black hair & pointed shoes and is wearing breeches and a puffy shirt. I also helped my wife with a Bag End tattoo that matched Tolkiens art rather than the PJ films. The single door henge and direction of the door swing was important to get right. I’m really looking forward to your Barad Dur! Tolkien only drew one tiny corner of one of its countless ramparts.

[@Warriorpoet79]

Well done, extremely well done. 👍🏾

[@3791Kementári]

Rivendell looks like the Swiss Alps. Tolkien wrote the Hobbit in inspiration of this mountains. Well done!

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Yes! Thank you!

[@plumbthumbs9584]

Lovely work, thank you!

[@ImBatfan]

I feel like your versions of the landscape is much more subtle and natural than PJ's much grander and more mythic look. It seems more like what Tolkien had in mind, knowing the kind of person he was. I really like your take on Laketown as a cleaner and more comfortable place instead of PJ's grimy and dingy dump of a place, and NOTHING in the movies compares to how Tolkien described Lotholorien

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Thank you!

[@twogungunnar9456]

It's well done and neat and I enjoyed this, but the toilet was confusing. Isn't this a thoroughly pre-industrial setting with no plumbing? Why does Bag-End have a toilet?

[@Mackijs]

Wow, amazing. Thank you Sir 👍

[@Johnathanhubertmusic]

Amazing work.

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Thanks!

[@anti-liberalismo]

I was truly hoping that you would show us the vision of Tom Bombadil that he showed to the Hobbits, would be good to see King Araval 😭 your art is very very good though, and Lothlorien is my favorite one

[@ronpudding9598]

Amazing work!

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Thanks!

[@mathiasgreyjoy1611]

I would lose the AI slop voice. If you're not prepared to use your own voice, just having captions or KZbin subtitles would be better (played over music/ambient sounds). The AI voice turns people off, and makes your content feel like it's part of the sea of AI slop out there to farm views. And I can assure you, no matter how rough your real voice, it would be much better than this rubbish AI slop voice that brings the entire video down. It's a really excellently produced video, so I would really like to see more of YOU in the video, and less soulless slop.

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

Absolutely. It mocks people who have elegant voices.

[@itsanit123]

I don't care

[@MrFirefox]

I went in a coma 2 years ago and now everyone is saying slop

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

@@MrFirefox I never left 2019 and now all I hear is "bro -every sentence-.", "vibes", "frfr", "🔥💀🤡", "downbad", "it's giving", "that ate", "cooked", "ahh" and so many more. Stupid society.

[@Clone_Captain_Rex]

@@WitchKing-Of-AngmarWhile i do agree with you, what would YOU consider better?

[@AudieHolland]

Bag End really is more like an underground mansion. It's so big that a group of unexpected guests could just as well camp in the spacious corridor. I'm sure they wouldn't mind when they were camping outside the day before,.

[@sergiosantiagojalao4071]

Oh wow that's amazing sir 😍

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@katherinec2759]

This is beautiful! But I think your two Bag End models don;t line up. In the outside shot, all the windows are stretching off to the right. But inside, all the rooms are to the left of the door.

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

There’s two doors. 😊 If you are seeing the windows to the right of the door, that’s the door at the end. The front door is next to the bench and two trees in planters, and the windows are to the left. This is the door we go through to enter the interior.

[@ErikSallad1]

I taught this was new maps for mount & blade warband

[@DanMRochaa]

OMG, this is amazing! Thanks ❤

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Glad you like it!

[@dyinggaul8365]

Nicely done.

[@Stepney101wikiuser]

now THIS is how its done. You've given me the final inspiration I needed to start learning 3d modelling. Also how long did this take you to make, it seems like an awful lot of effort went into it?

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Probably several hundred hours, at least.

[@Stepney101wikiuser]

@@PlacesofMiddleEarth Wow, that's one big commitment

[@timarquitt590]

This is excellent!

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Thank you!

[@yrantiquebrand]

Good stuff with the Mount & Blade font.

[@brendabennett2439]

Fascinating !!!

[@TL_1920]

Excellent work! Earned a new sub! Could jot down a bit more, but its getting late. Hopefully we shall see more from You soon!

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Thanks! I'm working diligently on the next video!

[@MonographicSingleheadedM-sp2wk]

I really hope u release those just to explore. ❤

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Probably won't release like a game, but turning them into VR video is something I want to do.

[@MonographicSingleheadedM-sp2wk]

but I understand. it s probably only done to what is shown in camera, I d imagine doing it all would be too much work and unfair if these shots are meant for youtube series. it s like expecting a filmmaker to release every location as a stand alone later on lol. 😂

[@MagicAccent]

The algorithm just sent me here. Fantastic work really! And so cool to see Karen Wynn Fonstad's maps come to life together with Tolkien's own illustrations! Are you panning any locations from the silmarillon?

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Thanks! Yep, I definitely want to get to Silmarillion stuff. Honestly, biggest reason I haven't done any yet is because I only have the physical book and when working on these it's easier to have ebooks for referencing. I've been waiting for it to go on sale but they just aren't cooperating with that. haha If it doesn't go on sale soon I'll just bite the bullet and buy it or use my physical copy.

[@MagicAccent]

​​@@PlacesofMiddleEarthWow can't wait to see Gondolin! I watched all your previous videos to support your channel. I see you ask for feedback so I will humbly offer some: - The descriptions are very helpful. If you want to reach a broader audience perhaps you should consider narrating them. Whatever your accent or voice quality I'm sure it will be great. I would give a "tour guide" vibe to these places. - the music and sound effects are very nice touches! - very good camera work - If possible, also include the maps for reference. Because it really is impressive how you've adapted KWF maps to 3d. I've seen them so many times in 2d that seeing them as a real place is kind of mind blowing. suggestion for a video: - Some behind the scenes on your 3d process and book research. - a collaboration with some other of the (high effort) tolkien youtuber? There is so much to discuss about these locations. Cheers :)

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

​@@MagicAccent Thanks, I really appreciate that! I've considered doing VO. I guess I can always give it a shot and see! I've actually thought about doing the videos as actual "tourism" videos. 😂 I can do maps! I might have to draw them from scratch, though, as taking them straight from Fonstad could get me into copyright infringement territory.

[@dannyangeli1852]

Outstanding

[@maxzzzzz3004]

It looks like you used some real-time 3d engine. Ever thought of porting to UE5? They have tons of assets and it looks sooo realistic. The Locations you created look so much more grounded and believable. I really like it. It remembers me of some places I have been in my Childhood.

[@the_epipan]

It's really a work of great fidelity, congratulations! Very nice to see, and it's certainly very interesting to you to be able to have it to walk around that environment recreated so much in the author's style/vision. But notice that it's not perfect yet, here for example ( 02:18 ) if you compare it with the drawing you notice that the 3D adaptation lacks the texture details, for example the wood of the walls, that the drawing indicates... look all those lines in the wall, it looks like you applied a paint-like texture but it looks cleaner, different than in the drawing (and the white and black floor tiles, although it could simply be something typical of a pencil drawing, have a certain noise that one could interpret as dust or wear and tear of the material over time)... which makes the 3D version feel less real, more plastic. It's a problem that one always faces when working with 3D. But it is a minimal detail of feeling.

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Thank you! The walls are a plaster material. :)

[@JarkkoHietaniemi]

Another suggestion: maybe try Cirith Ungol, there's a big illustration of it by Tolkien.

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

For sure! I think I want to do this two videos from now.

[@FrozenMurican]

Much more dark ages fantasy as it should be, especially lothlorien, more Grimm fairy tale then modern fantasy. Love the Roman touch of Rivendell as well

[@Barcodum]

I don’t suppose you’d have floor-plans of these models you could share.

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

For the most part I follow The Atlas of Middle Earth.

[@adrielbrandt]

Love this! Have you played any LOTRO (The Lord of the Rings Online, an MMORPG)? They've also modeled the world after the text, and it's a delight to explore them as a character. It's lovely to see your interpretations, and to have them based on Tolkien's illustrations as well.

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Thanks! No, I haven't played but I have looked at some videos and pictures to get ideas. :)

[@hungariannerd8445]

What tool is this created with? Unreal engine, or Unity or something like that?

[@paulozavala3232]

This is amazing!! I have to requests/suggestions! Please, when you refer to a place give us the page number and in what book. Also point out in a map where we are. Ive seen the movies and read the books but im no expert! When you say that this is the last xxx battle i dont realy know what you always is referring to! Thank you!

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Absolutely! Will do!

[@paulozavala3232]

@ :)

[@LanguageOdditorium]

Lovely. Thank you

[@Sen-xt5oj]

This is amazing!!! Instant sub.

[@madguy881]

It's really cool, what program did you use?

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Unreal Engine.

[@madguy881]

@PlacesofMiddleEarth thank you

[@thundercliff93]

Imagine a LOTRO style game with these type of graphics!

[@Gandalf-The-Green]

LOTRO also did a fairly decent job with the locations, especially for a video game. I recommend every Tolkien fan should plays this game just for the sightseeing. In certain places like the shire it feels like an open air Middle Earth museum. Who knows how long we have until they finally turn it off?

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

Arda craft, a Minecraft world, is also good!

[@huntclanhunt9697]

My guess is the two tiered rock formation for Durin's Doors is two reasons: 1) It looks a bit like a castle wall in Tolkien's sketch. 2.) I imagine there being a second, smaller door up there that would allow the dwarves to come out and shoot down upon attacking foes, effectively being a rampart.

[@PlacesofMiddleEarth]

I like the rampart idea! You could be right!