New Middle-earth Network Radio Show Explores the Lands and Peoples of Middle-earth

If you, like millions of others from around the world, find yourself captivated by Tolkien's Middle-earth and the lands and peoples he created, then Middle-earth Network Radio's new show will catch your interest. Titled 'Beneath Your Feet', every "episode explores a region of Middle-earth and looks at it's geography, history, and peoples" says the shows host who goes by the name of Shipwreck. "I have been a Tolkien fan since the movies captivated me and the books spirited me away to parts unknown." he went on to explain when I asked him what had inspired him to host the show. "I've been a LOTRO player since 2008 and enjoy many other online games. I wanted to create a show that would be informative for general Lord of the Rings fans and LOTRO players as well to enhance their experience of Middle-earth."

The 'Beneath Your Feet' pilot airs tomorrow, August 21, at 2, 6, 10 AM EST and 2, 6, 10 PM EST so be sure to tune in and don't forget to check out the 'Beneath You Feet' official website.

Bilbo Baggins: A Character Synopsis

(R to L: Martin Freeman as younger Bilbo Baggins and Ian Holm as older Bilbo Baggins

Bilbo Baggins-

Bilbo Baggins is Uncle to Frodo Baggins (destroyer of The One Ring in The Lord of the Rings) and the resident of Bag End, located in the Shire. It is from Bilbo’s perspective that J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit was written. Bilbo is content with his solitary life having no spouse or children of his own. One morning Gandalf the wizard pays the Hobbit a visit and deliberately entangles Bilbo into a very unexpected adventure. From that moment on his life is thrown out of routine as fate sends Bilbo, Gandalf, and 13 Dwarves on a journey across Middle-earth to reclaim a lost treasure, guarded by the dragon Smaug.

Martin Freeman-

Martin Freeman, playing Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit films, was born on September 8th, 1971 in Aldershot, England. He is well known for his roles in Love Actually (John), The Office (Tim), Sean of the Dead (Declan), Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (Arthur Dent), Sherlock (Watson), and more. This past year Freeman won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Watson in the TV series Sherlock. Freeman is due back in New Zealand come October 2011 when filming for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again continues after a brief hiatus to allow Freeman to film Sherlock’s second season.

Ian Holm-
Ian Holm Cuthbert was born on September 12, 1931 in Goodmayes, England. It was seeing the play 'Les Miserables' that first inspired his interest in acting and in 1950 he graduated from the Royal Shakespeare Company. He has won 16 acting awards, nominated for 13, and was knighted for his acting career back in 1998. Some of his best known films include Chariots of Fire (Sam Mussabini), Hamlet (Polonius), Frankenstein (Baron Frankenstein), The Madness of King George (Dr. Willis), The Fifth Element (Father Vito Cornelius), The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Bilbo Baggins), and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Bilbo Baggins).

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is scheduled for release on December 14, 2012, and The Hobbit: There and Back Again on December 13, 2013.

Middle-earth Network’s Art Contest Has Been Extended

Since the announcement of our Middle-earth Network Art Contest, many fans have written in conveying their disappointment because they would be unable to participate due to summer vacations and previous plans. Our hope and wish is that this contest would be available for all artists, whether art is your profession or hobby, and we wouldn’t want a summer vacation to come between you and your chance to have Jef Murray and Ted Nasmith judge and critique your art, nor your chances at winning one of our Ringer’s dream prize packages slip by! Therefore, we have decided to extend the contest.

The new dates are as follows:

-From now until 12 PM EST Wednesday, August 10, 2011 we are taking submissions.
-On Monday, August 15, 2011 5 submissions (in both categories) that have been hand picked by our judges, Jef Murry and Ted Nasmith, will be posted on My Middle-earth for ALL members to vote on.
-Polls will close at 12 PM EST Friday, August 19, 2011.
-At 9:30 PM EST Friday, August 19, 2011 the winners will be announced LIVE on Middle-earth Network radio.

Submission Requirements:

The subject of the art will be a Middle-earth spin on Uncle Sam’s classic line, “I want you for the U.S. Army”. Submitted art should hold the text,  “Middle-earth wants you!” with the body of the art entirely up to each individual artist. However, submissions must not contain any nudity or pornographic material. Judges reserve the right to refuse any art submitted that they deem inappropriate. In order to submit your work, you must be a member of My Middle-earth Social Network and join the “My Middle-earth Art” group. Submissions can be entered under one of the two categories: amateur artist (i.e. I am not regularly paid for my work) and professional artist (i.e. I am a regularly paid artist).

To submit:

Post a photo of your entry onto “My Middle-earth Art” group’s wall with the following information by 12 PM EST Wednesday, August 10, 2011:

-Specify: “My Middle-earth Art Contest Submission”

-Name

-Specify amateur (not paid) or professional (paid)

-Title of submitted piece

-Brief description of your artwork (2-5 lines)

Table Top Role Play, Getting Started.

Table Top Role Playing does not cost the Earth to play. All you need is a Players Handbook a few figures two ten sided dice and an imaginative GM (Games Master). The players handbook contains all valid information for rules, character creation, races, skills, weapons etc.... Figures are needed but only a few to begin with. So with this one Book and a few figures and dice it is possible to start a game then you build your collection, Modules, Figures and other extras to make your game more realistic and enjoyable. Do not forget to invite some friends along.

I personally believe ICE (Iron Crown Enterprises) published the finest works with the second edition being the most well rounded and complete, unfortunately due to the Tolkien Estate revoking rights due to pay hike ICE decided to call it a day and went bankrupt and no longer publish, though Modules are easily found at Game Shops or Online sellers such as E-Bay. The source books are amazingly in-depth with Maps and Towns to further your sight into Tolkiens world, how deep you go and delve is entirely up to you.

The important thing to remember is the possibilities are endless, you can visit anywhere from Moria's Deep's to the beauty of Rivendell, from the Gray Haven's to the dark of Mirkwood. With there being lots of material available, Source Books, Maps, Treasures, Monsters, History all your unanswered questions are answered, how powerful was the Balrog ? How big was Smaug ? What powers did the One Ring hold ? Anything you can think of is included in MERP Lore.

The rules system of the game is a more user friendly version of ICE's generic fantasy RPG (Role Playing Game) Rolemaster. The Basis is stats of 0 - 100, two ten sided dice are used to determine a result these are added or taken from bonus skill ranks such as weapons or spells, the result is taken from the opponents Defense Bonus and a strike is counted on a Critical Table. The only tricky part is calculating experience although there is software in development to eradicate pen and paper (More Info To Follow). I hope this helps and if you have any queries don't hesitate to contact me.

Middleearthnews is Reaching Our 1,000th Twitter Follower -Time to Celebrate!

Since it’s January 12th debut into the world of Twitter, middleearthnews has grown and expanded in ways I never thought possible. In just five months I’ve gone from a “me” to a “we”, teaming up with with Middle-earth Network, becoming their News Director, and adding an entire team of news reporters to insure the most accurate and up to date news coverage on all things Middle-earth. And now it seems we are to reach another milestone with our 1,000th Twitter follower. To help celebrate, I’ve decided to give away something every Ringer would want: The Map of the Dwarves! This brilliant work of art was hand crafted by artist Daniel Govar specifically for Middle-earth Network Radio, and I will be giving the Map away to a randomly selected Twitter follower who retweets this link from now until Friday May 27th at 5 PM EST. Remember, you have to be a follower of middleearthnews.

At 17 x 22 on #60 Astroparche text in full color, this map looks just like the one Bilbo Baggins described during one of his most famousest of adventures. So, follow middleearthnews on Twitter and be sure to retweet the word to your family, friends, Hobbits, Dwarves, Elves...well, you get the idea.

Should you not be the chosen winner, but would still love to get your hands on one (or more) of these maps, don’t worry! The Map of the Dwarves is Middle-earth Network’s gift to anyone who donates to the Radio Station. You can find all the information you need here.

The Map of the Dwarves is an artistic recreation based on the works of J. R. R. Tolkien and is in no way affiliated with Middle-earth Enterprises, the Tolkien Estate, or New Line Cinema.

NOW AVAILABLE! The 2012 Jef Murray - ALEP2 Fantasy Calendar

Source: JefMurray.com

Press Release:

Signed copies of this brand new 2012 calendar are now available to US, Canadian, and UK residents shipped directly  from the illustrator Jef Murray. The calendar is loaded with Middle-earth inspired painting images from Jef's collection, and half of all proceeds go to directly support the ALEP2 gathering in Kentucky later this year.