This is a world map of Arda, the world in which the LOTR trilogy takes place.

This is also an early version of the map, without starting points.


Also this map is intented mainly for scenario builders, not the casual player, all though it would only take a few minutes to slap down some random resources and start points.
This isn't a map of Middle Earth, as their are plenty of those already.
It's a map of ARDA, the whole world.
But Middle Earth IS there, quite easy to find, about in the middle.

Version: 0.2
Numenor has been added and Gonder has been improved.
Also the map is now optimised to work with the WH-MOD by Embryodead.
It should work with normal civ, or other mods, but it will look a little odd prehaps, I havn't really checked it out.

*Also added resources though they are only there has a, sort of test...*

Middle Earth updated, Swamp is in place,(in the WH-MOD), and I think that I have got all the major rivers..

Mountain ranges are okay aswell, although I think that Mordor still needs a little work, aswell as the Blue Mountains.

I have found Middle-Earth okay, but I can't find the Great River, the Lonely Mountain, Dunharrow, the Misty Mountains or that big swamp near Mordor etc, etc.

Beta version remember
:)
Theres a lot of work to be done yeah.

There'll be a new version by monday at the latest, I posted mainly to get suggestions and comments..

{update moved down thread}

Please if you download this map, take the time to post a comment.
(to be added in next version)
Lonely Mountain
Further improvement of the mountain ranges, especially the Blue and Grey mountains.
Further Mordor revisions.
More accurate forest placement.
And I might update the resource placement, making them more realistic and LOTR related.

I thnk the overall effect isn't bad but shouldn't Numenor be further north toward the equator at least?

I'd also expand Harad and Rhun to be roughly twice as large as they are, they probably contained a greater population (and hence area) than the west.

Yeah, next update I think Gondors gonna shrink a little, and maybe move a little north, and as for Numenor, well...Its a little difficult to fit at the moment, and I dont want to size it down..

Sometime this week I'm gonna remake, to a larger size, with more detail + resource placement and maybe Start locations, although the resources and start locations are only gonna be good if you run the map with WH-MOD as is intended.

Oh dear.
Graphics card problems are delaying this update for about a week, as I try to work out why a brand new Radion 9800 pro refuses to get past the login window and sprayes yellow dots across my screen.
*Smites "graphics card", with screw driver.*

I like the overall layout, but the map-part of the trilogy can really be improved. No ice in Forochel? No desert anywhere? You should shrink Numenor down, and move it north. And you should mix plains and grassland more. Its too green right now.

To tell the truth, I dont think that the current map size I am using is big enough to fit it all in..
To that end I'm gonna make a larger version, which will enable more accurate sizes and locations.
I didnt want to make Numenor to small, as this would make it a bit unfair on any civ starting their, especially in the WH-MOD which this map is designed for, where boats come a little later then usual, or at least it seems that way to me.
What I have been doing since the last update is mainly play testing the old map, without Numenor, + resources and start locations, obviously.
I might release the WH-MOD playable version, but it will only be to fill in until the new Uber-sized (well at least less micro sized), map is ready for play. :goodjob:
{edit}
And I dont want to go sticking desert and plains everywhere until I can figure out wether they should be there or not.
Thats why I am re-reading the book again now...

Version 3 of the map is now up.

It looks a lot better! Gondor is still too large though, and perhaps you could use more plains mixed with grassland.

Sorry, but you need some better maps to make this. It was a good try though, but the map you used was horrible.

First off, "Middle-earth" as you say is not the westlands where LOTR takes place, but the whole continent.

If you want Arda in the Third Age, then there should be four continents. Two continents resembling the Americas, Middle-earth, and the Dark Lands. Here's a picture of Arda in the Second Age

Arda in the Second Age (http://www.thetwotowers.hpg.ig.com.br/mapa14.gif)

For the Third Age, I would suggest making it round, and taking out Númenor, the Eastern Continent, and the Western Continent. The Middle Continent, or Middle-earth, and the Dark Lands, the one that sticks up from the bottom, should be left alone. You would then need to make continents that resemble the Americas.

If you want Arda in the Second Age, it should be flat and you should use the map above. If you want Arda in the First Age, use this map (http://www.thetwotowers.hpg.ig.com.br/mapa13.gif). The "island ferry" needs to be placed directly in front of the Western Continent rather than in the middle of the great sea.

Your map was good, you just used a pretty bad map to make it. It'd be neat if you could use these pics to make a new one.

Thanks for the fresher maps Obi Zhan, they do seem to be of a higher quality and will be of great use in my next version :P

I have been away for sometime now, due to hardware errors and malfunctions but all is repaired now and I intend to start work on a brand new version of the map, pretty much after posting this message.

The time since my last post hasn't, however, been waste, as I have gathered more detailed maps of the smaller areas, gathered whatever information I can find purtaining to the Non-Trilogy areas of the world and also bought a huge sack of coffee.

Now to begin the Arda map mk2.:P

Well, this is the new map.

I'm probably gonna end up increasing the size of middle-earth, as it didnt come out right.

Download, tell me what I missed, and remember that this map will look a bit funny in CivIII, Unless you have Embryodead's Warhammer Fantasy mod, which I used to make this MOD because I like it.

*Slaps* Go! Download!

Well, Arda was based on Earth. Endor/MiddleEarth is Europe, Harad is Africa, etc. In fact, if you twist around your map enough, you can actually see India, Austraila, the Sainai Peninsula, etc.

Well the map I made is created from what Tolkienites have made, Inherited from J.R.R. tolkien himself, or from maps that have been discovered after his death and published by his son.
Anyhoom, the map represents the second age of arda, before Rings were even forged.
That is why, Valinor (the westernmost continent) Is still visible in the world.
The easternmost continent is the Walls of the Sun, which is pretty much just put their by the Valar (Or powers of the World) as a Kinda of barrier to the East, or thta is what I have gleaned from the information given to us by My Tolkien.

As to the map, Technically Middle Earth and Harad *The central Continent and the Africa like continent attacthed to it* Need to be more towards the center and prehaps a little horizontally stretched to make room for all the detail I want.:P
{Edit}
To tell the truth there are quite a few different interpretations of Tolkiens maps.

I used one interpretation in my earlier map, and another interpretation in this one, just because I preferred the way this one looked.

So I will probably remake the map, longer, bigger, more detailed.

Technically, by the time the Second Age is over (quite a while before that, even), Numenor was sunk and the earth was made round, eliminating Valinor.

So, if Numenor is still there, why do you have X wrapping?
(Why do you have Y wrapping, too?)

Well, the 1st age ends with the defeat of Morgoth and the Founding of Numenor, the 2nd age ends with the first defeat of Sauron, with the Battle of the Last Alliance, and the Third age ends when the Ring Bearers pass over the sea to Valinor.
According to the Appendices of the Lord of the Rings, which were released in later versions by J.R.R. there are 3287 years of the Second age during which Numenor exists, with a total 3441 years in the Second age.
So yeah, Numenor is pretty much in there. ;)


As to the X+Y Mapping, well spotted, as I put them on for some reason when I was making the map, and forgot to turn them off
Until the larger version of the map is turned off, everyone feel free to just change it themselves.

It's a good map but I do have some suggestions. You could redo the course of the great river, right now it is going through Fangorn, Lorien, and Mirkwood. Also you might want to include Erebor. Otherwise good :goodjob:

The Encyclopedia of Arda (www.glyphweb.com/arda/default.htm) should help you out. :)
edit: fixed link

Holy cow. This map is spectacular. It's perfect for Middle-earth mods.

Good job!

I've wanted a map like this for so long, and finally it appears.

I don't want to complain . . .

But for a slight critique, Valinor is pretty close to Middle-earth and the Eastern continent is a little to big. To fix this, just shrink the eastern continent to a bit smaller than Valinor, and scoot Middle-earth over a tad.

Or not. The map as it stands is perfectly fine.

Hey, thanks guys :)

Anyhow, I am a little snowed under with college work, so dont expect new versions until I have C3 Conquests and the LOTM middle earth mod :)

At which point I shall convert and upgrade this one :)

Here! Updated for LOTM!

Ok, I would love to try this map out but I have never added one to a mod/game before.

I have looked for a tutorial, but they all have to do with creating a map, not simply adding one. If anyone gets a chance, I would love a bit of detail as to how to accomplish this, as opposed to "simply put it in this folder". It just never seems that "simple" to me :)

1) Put the map .biq file in your "scenarios" folder.

2) Open the map in the Civ3Conquests Editor.

3) Select "Import" from the "Files" dropdown menu.

4) Click "Yes" to proceed.

5) Select "Rules" from the options presented to you next (you don't want Map info or Player info imported to your map, unless the mod/scenario has custom player information -- I don't think LotM does).

6) Then select the Lord of the Mods main biq file to be the source for your imported rules.

7) Save the changes to the biq, once the import has been successful. Now the map will have all the rules of your mod!

8) You may want to reassign all the player starting locations so that Mordor starts in Mordor, Gondor in Gondor, etc. Find each player starting location on the map (assuming that the mapmaker put them there, otherwise put them there yourself as an 'overlay'), and right click on them. Select "Reassign" and then select the nationality you want to start there.

And then away you go!

Actually the updated version already has LotM rules imported, so all you have to do is stick it in your Scenarios folder and play. But Mithadan's instructions do apply in other cases (denoted by "map only" in the LotM thread)

Sorry for threadjacking.