I am quitting the LOTR Mod community, for a time. Here is why:

Basically, no teasers, no updates, nothing. Not even a notification on why this Great Silence is still going. More and more people are going into hibernation. I am now one of those increasing legions...

I have heard some people say that this is not the longest time Mevans has not released an update. Sure, but that time (I think before the Harad update) did not have a total silence. Us LOTR Mod users are used to long update times. It isn't anything new to us.

But...

First, total silence. Nothing. Zip. Zero. Nada. Love. Goose eggs. We have nothing. All theories are rumors, with no backing from anyone authorities. (I mostly believe that Mevans is just taking a break.)

'Gorthangthecruel, Mevans has been working on this mod longer than most people have been alive! He deserves a year-long break, if only that! Also, it isn't very uncommon for developers to go ghost for a time! Also, the Discord FAQ says that the mod isn't dead! You are just a impatient whiner, with no respect for the mod's achievements! How can you be anything else? You use the GOT submod, LOTR Reworked, and Genstructures! Also, sin of sins...you have read articles on the New Notion Club Archives!'

Fine. I will make no defense about the Russian knockoffs. Some of what Genstructures did was bad, although researching the whole story may give one a more neutral opinion on it. I will play them regardless. Also, I EDITED a page on the New Notion Club Archives! Muahahaha!

But...first, the probability of Mevans not having the actual ability to post something about the status of the mod is zero. Also, if Mevans just said that he was taking a break for a long and undermined amount of time...guess what? It could go something like this:

"Hey, I am going on break for a long and undetermined amount of time. Peace!'

There. Easy. And the community would be sated, (except for the few trolls that just want a update) and just go about their business knowing exactly what Mevans is doing. He could be getting married or raising kids, and we wouldn't know or care. It just is so...simple, I think.

(I must be carful not to make to many assumptions about how simple writing a Discord message would be. Mevans could be dead. Seriously. -_-)

(That was a joke. The staff have said multiple times that Mevans is not dead. That also insinuates that he communicated with them? Or...the staff are lying to dispel worry. That sure turned out well...)

Also, the port to Renewed is one of the most troublesome times in the mod's history. That removes a lot of the defense for ghosting the community, at least in my mind. (Mevans still has the right to a very long break, of course.)

At three months, I was expecting a update at any moment. At five, I was getting worried. At seven? Now I am very miffed.

I am awaking to what is happening. If a year goes by without anything, I will go into total deep hibernation. If the next April Fool's goes by without anything, (a historic requirement) I will consider the mod dead by default. If 2024 rolls around without anything, dead forever.

As for the Discord FAQ...really, does anyone even look at that? Also, it doesn't answer WHY there are no updates. The very simple break post would do that. (Of course, there would still be people whining about 'when iz mevanz gonna go off brek' but most fears would be put aside.)

The First Age submod is active. TepelStreeltje is currently working o implementing a structure generation system for FA Renewed, the screenshots look good. The Second Age submod will soon be upon us, as well. At this rate, the First Age submod will be done before the LOTR Renewed mod! (I asked Tepel about Mevans. No info on his part.)

It seems like every party is active on the LOTR Mod scene...except Mevans. The LOTR Reworked mod is updating. (The next update will add Black Numenorians and Wainriders, along with a whole bunch of other stuff) EVEN THE FREAKING GOT MOD IS STILL RECIEVING UPDATES! LIKE, ONE EVERY THREE TO FOUR MONTHS!

Also, at least SOME code is done for the next Renewed update. Why can't Mevans just release that, even if it would be the smallest Renewed update ever? We would at least get horse-riding Rohirrim, even if they are very buggy!

So, I cannot see any redeeming quality in the Great Silence as it stands. A Great Silence following a break notice would be completely fine. This? Nu-uh.

What will I do?

First, I will play the LOTR Mod as it is, along with the FA submod. I will remain active on the FA Discord, but I will completely ghost the LOTR Discord. I will play with Genstructures, along with the GOT mod without fear! Call me a traitor, a craven coward! Hound me to the ends of the earth! What have I to fear now?!

Of course, if the mod really is dead forever, (I think it is still unlikely) then all the submods will go with it. The FA Mod will endure for a time, but Tepel will fall at the last. The GOT Mod and the LOTR Reworked mod? They will last longer, (since they have stated that they don't ever really care about updating to a later Minecraft version) but they will vanish into dust and blood.

More and more people are going to get fed up with this, some for righteous reasons, others for petty ones. But oh so surely, (albeit very slowly) the mod will vanish. Of course, it will never 'die,' due to a constant flow of new players, but much of once was will be lost, and what should not have been forgotten will. The mod will perish, due to the slow decay of time without any hope.

'Faithless is he who departs when the road darkens.' Perhaps, but what about when the road itself can no longer be seen? Do we remember what we were fighting for? How long will it be before the Shadow lifts? Can we even know?

Goodbye...for now. Aurë entuluva! Day shall come again!