The Hidden Hobbit Village adventure (HIGH bandwith)

[Silirien]

The adventure
I've always regretted that I missed out on Hobbit Farmer and Squirrels... I was kinda thinking it will always be there for me to explore, and now it's closed off..

One more reason for me to hurry to explore another hidden wonder, The Hidden Hobbit Village just west of the Shire.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p59/vial_of_black_dye/lotroblog/ScreenShot00062.jpg
If you manage to fool the Bounders and sneak* pass Ered Luin gate unattended, following the road will finally lead you to this secluded, quiet place (alternatively, you can sneak* pass the gate in Michel Delving leading west...).

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p59/vial_of_black_dye/lotroblog/ScreenShot00063.jpg
The place itself is surrounded with thick foliage of elderly oaks, which make quite a lovely sight as you approach.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p59/vial_of_black_dye/lotroblog/ScreenShot00064.jpg
Not many know about it's existence so no wonder that the knowledge about it exact location is even more rare, which suits it's shy inhabitants. As you will inevitably notice, they did not agree to pose to any of the pictures I've made.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p59/vial_of_black_dye/lotroblog/ScreenShot00065.jpg
Rare visitors can leave their mounts at the stable in northernmost part of the village (visible on the right side of the photo) and proceed to the center of the little town, marked by a huge windmill, standing proudly above the fields.


http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p59/vial_of_black_dye/lotroblog/ScreenShot00068.jpg
Among cozy hobbit holes a more extraordinary structure stands, clearly showing the influence of long legs architecture on the native art of the Shire folks.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p59/vial_of_black_dye/lotroblog/ScreenShot00069.jpg
Weary traveler can take a sip of clear, cold water from the village well.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p59/vial_of_black_dye/lotroblog/ScreenShot00066.jpg
But this building is unique in the whole Shire - you will not find another one like that. Even the Mathom House - itself build bearing strong resemblance to the architecture of Bree - looks totally different. I don't recall a building like that in the whole Middle Earth I've visited so far. The type of windows is unique, so are the ornaments adoring it.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p59/vial_of_black_dye/lotroblog/ScreenShot00070.jpg
In some distance to the east, digging under the hills of Little Delving, new hobbit holls are being buid. Still unfinished, and for some reason missing doors...

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p59/vial_of_black_dye/lotroblog/ScreenShot00045.jpg
A campsite to the far south end of the area. Secluded, and empty. A puzzling sight, as the fire still burns brightly and the rabbit has just been prepared for roast, but not eaten yet. Who might have camped here?

Behing the scenes
As Liquilla posted (http://community.codemasters.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4230965&postcount=16) on CM Forums, the "hidden" Hobbit village was added to showcase the game at E3 many years back but you didn't hear that from me! (...and I may be wrong).

Some old Shire preview screenshots show area bearing a striking resamblence to this village, but they are not identical. I tried hard to catch the same angle, but it has prooven impossible.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p59/vial_of_black_dye/lotroblog/LOTRO_Shire_B.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p59/vial_of_black_dye/lotroblog/ScreenShot00067.jpg
The Windmill Sight looks very alike, and at first glance it may seem that the only thing that has changed was the design of the horses in game, and that the chickens are gone. But the angles are seriously different, bushes have moved and a cart has been placed a bit off.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p59/vial_of_black_dye/lotroblog/87.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p59/vial_of_black_dye/lotroblog/ScreenShot00043.jpg
While trying to reshoot the scarecrow image, I stumbled upon even more difficulties. Apparently the guy has been moved altogether, and so have the fences. Also, there's no bag of grain resting anywhere in place allowing me to get the windmill and hobbit holes with the right angle.

But still, the place looks remarkably the same... Just... recreated?
My guess would be, it's either not the original E3 location, or it has been modified for some strange reason. Anyhow, the adventure was a great one!

* These passages are by no means ment to represent the actual route to Hidden Hobbit Village. It's an even longer trip, I just used Ered Luin and Michel Delving gates for RP and localization reasons.

[Haleabor]

Sil

This is awesome and I didn't know this existed.

I love the look of the house and the windmill and the attention to detail (the Water bucket and the rabbit) mean that Turbine must have had something in mind....

I wonder if there are placed eslewhere (thinks about the rubble blocking the path in both Lorien and the midgewater pass)

Hal

[Silirien]

There was the hobbit farmer...

I know of a person who got through the whole of Lothlorien before it's release and even to the Gray Forrest, but than got stuck or fell down or whatever. The areas are there, they are just empty, or so I think. If you get off map, there aint any objects really, just plain grass and land formations (tho I have seen a lake with some trees further to the west from the Hobbit Village, but an invisible wall blocks passing).

But if I find/hear of anything else, I'm sure to let you know ;)

[Abarax]

[Looks wearily up from his tankard]

Are there agents of the eye to hunt in these places? If not, it seems unlikely my road will lead me to them...

[takes a sip of Barliman's Best]

[Derigar/Tarinas]

I recall one up in Forochell that had a cliff you could fall off and free-fall for the best part of half a minute, although with the addition of Moria thats less unique than it once was ;)