Introduction
If you’ve ever searched for Middle-earth recreations in Minecraft, you might have noticed some striking differences between results. Why do some builds look so visually distinct from each other? Why are there multiple versions of locations like Helm’s Deep? The answer lies in the fact that two major servers are working to recreate Middle-earth: ArdaCraft and Minecraft Middle-earth (MCME). Although their goals are similar, the two projects differ in many ways, such as MCME being four years older than ArdaCraft. These differences are explored in more detail below.
History of MCME & the founding of ArdaCraft
MCME was founded in 2010, only a year after the release of Minecraft itself. Initially, all of the mountains, rivers and forests were done by hand, in-game, at an approximate scale of 1:58. The builds took heavy influence from the Lord of the Rings films, as can be seen in their portrayal of Hobbiton and Rivendell, and did not use any mods at all, instead relying on texture packs to retexture vanilla blocks to their liking. Early projects on the MCME map included Helm’s Deep, Edoras and Tharbad. In May 2014, a few members of MCME left the server and formed ArdaCraft. Our server was founded with the motivation to achieve greater detail, both in how we portray Tolkien’s works and how we take inspiration from history. Building on MCME continued after this split, with notable locations such as Dol Amroth, Osgiliath and Cair Andros being finished since then.
The differences between MCME & ArdaCraft
Mods
The most fundamental thing that separates the two servers is their approach to modding. ArdaCraft utilises the Conquest Reforged mod, as well as an abundance of other mods to improve detail and immersion. For example, Distant Horizons allows players to see far beyond Minecraft’s regular limit and Create allows us to represent moving objects in the world such as watermills and gates. Whilst these mods broaden our creative capabilities beyond the limitations of the vanilla game, they do require new players to download a launcher in order to join the server.
MCME, by contrast, is entirely mod-free. Players can join simply by entering the server IP, just like any other Minecraft server. Instead of mods, MCME uses vanilla resource packs to create custom textures and music. These packs load automatically when entering different regions, eliminating the need for a separate launcher, though they may involve some waiting when moving between areas.
How MCME & ArdaCraft differ in lore accuracy and research
Another way in which the servers differ is in lore accuracy. ArdaCraft bases its work solely on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, e.g. The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, as well as information from titles published posthumously. These can range from direct descriptions to inferences made from particular passages. MCME do not adhere to any one source in particular, but tend to recreate locations as they were depicted in the films. This is evident in their versions of Helm’s Deep and Minas Tirith. Furthermore, ArdaCraft is based on deeper research when it comes to architecture, ancient ways of life, geography, and geology, helping us create a more grounded and realistic world.
Size
Whilst both servers aim to recreate the world of J.R.R. Tolkien, we do it at different scales. Since it would be unfeasible to make a 1:1 replica, as Middle-earth is canonically the size of Europe, we both have to create scaled versions. When MCME started, their map was at a scale of 1:58, but with the release of a new map in 2013, they changed the scale to 1:100 (decreasing the map size). ArdaCraft, on the other hand, maintained the larger, original scale of 1:58.
Other similar Minecraft servers
Middle-earth isn’t the only fictional world to have Minecraft servers recreating it. Other prominent servers include WesterosCraft, dedicated to the world from George RR Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire and WarhammerCraft, who recreate the setting of the Warhammer series.
Conclusion
Whilst our exact methods differ, both of our communities have been working tirelessly for a combined quarter of a century to recreate the world described by J.R.R. Tolkien. It is a testament to his writing and the effort of both projects that we are here today.
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