| “ | Forty leagues it stretched from the Far Downs to the Brandywine Bridge, and fifty from the northern moors to the marshes in the south. The Hobbits named it the Shire [...] and there in that pleasant corner of the world they plied their well ordered business of living [...]. | ” |
–The Fellowship of The Ring, Prologue | ||
The Shire is the region where all players spawn when they enter Middle-earth. It is the homeland of the Hobbits, and contains many structures. No evil spawns here except that which you bring yourself as well as the presence of some bandits.
The Shire offers by far the most food to loot to the player since almost every structure contains generous amounts of food, as it is normal for Hobbits. It is also full of rich farmland and many animals, which is part of what makes food so abundant.
The biome consists mostly of plains and is sparsely forested. It has lush grass and the occasional tree. Hobbits spawn all over the Shire either outside, in smials, at picnic benches, in taverns or in one of the various other structures.
Its LotR-biome ID is 3, and thus it was not the first biome to be added to the Mod though many believe this; the first biome to be added to the Mod was in fact river, while the first interesting biome to be added to the Mod was Rohan.
Upon entering Middle-earth you gain the achievement "First Steps". In the majority of normal cases this achievement is earned when entering the Shire, since most players will enter through the Ring Portal.
Contents
Sub-biomes[edit | edit source]
The Shire consists of the following sub-biomes, some of which are randomly generated within the main body of the Shire.
Shire Woodlands[edit | edit source]
The Shire woodlands are heavily forested. Pines dominate these woods and birch trees are more abundant than elsewhere in the Shire. No Hobbit buildings can be found here and wild boars rule the forest floors instead of their domesticated cousins, pigs. Heather also grows here. The forest soil partially consists of podzol and grassless dirt.
In Renewed, foxes spawn more commonly in the Shire Woodlands, alongside sweet berry bushes.
Glflegolas did a regional spotlight on the Shire Woodlands, which may be found here. If you plan on visiting, make sure to check that out.
Shire Moors[edit | edit source]
The Moors with a farm in the distance.
The Shire moors are a sub-biome in the north of the Shire, bordering the North-downs of Eriador and the lands around lake Evendim. The moors stretch along the entire north border of the Shire. It is a mountainous landscape, dotted with many stone boulders. The hills are home to many large old oak and chestnut trees. The hardy Hobbits that live here hold windmills, taverns, pastures and small farms. As in the marshes, bandits can ruin the average Hobbit's outdoor adventure here.
Shire Marshes[edit | edit source]
These are swampy regions. Three main marsh areas are distinguished: one south of Needlehole, one north-east of Frogmorton and one south-east of Deephollow. The ground here doesn't support many Hobbit structures; but they can be found here mostly in the upland variant, along with ruined houses. Surprisingly, the land also attracts Hobbits, who may risk the walk along the many quagmire ponds to reach the numerous interesting fishing spots. Apart from that, they are apparently also willing to risk a thrashing, as bandits dare to penetrate the peaceful realm of the Hobbits here.
White Downs[edit | edit source]
The white downs are low hills West of the Shire and feature chalk prominently near their surface. Shire structures spawn less commonly here.
Variants[edit | edit source]
Shire[edit | edit source]
- Standard - Normal Shire biome.
- Flowers - The fields and the undergrowth of tree clusters teem with flowers in this biome. Flowery vegetation from both vanilla Minecraft (poppies, dandelions) and the LotR Mod (thistles and wheat grass) is abundantly present here.
- Forest - Forest-covered lands.
- Light Forest - Lightly forested lands.
- Hills - A hilly landscape with a higher average elevation.
- Forested Hills - A landscape with forest-covered hills.
- Aspen Forest - A forest dominated with aspen trees.
- Birch Forest - A forest dominated with birch trees.
- Plum Orchard - An orchard containing plum trees.
Next to the above, the Shire is also home to an exclusive orchard variant: the Shire orchard, where Hobbit orcharders systematically plant and cherish their apple, pear and cherry trees. The orcharders are exclusive to this biome. They will trade with players, selling fruit and purchasing axes and other farming equipment. Shire orchards are usually rather small compared to those of other biomes but make up for it with their abundance of fruit trees.
Shire Woodlands[edit | edit source]
- Standard - Normal Shire woodlands forest.
- Flowers - The fields and the undergrowth of tree clusters teem with flowers in this biome. Flowery vegetation from both vanilla Minecraft (poppies, dandelions) and the LotR Mod (thistles and wheat grass) is abundantly present here.
- Hills - Woodlands with very high hills and low valleys.
Shire Moors[edit | edit source]
- Standard - Normal Shire moors.
- Forest - Forest-covered lands.
- Light Forest - Lightly forested lands.
Shire Marshes[edit | edit source]
This sub-biome comes in two varieties:
- Swamp lowlands - The standard swamp variant that is more or less flat. The land is a patchwork of fens, pools and slow-flowing brooks. Many ponds of quagmire make this a very treacherous landscape.
- Swamp uplands - Elevated areas with fewer pools of water and many more trees.
White Downs[edit | edit source]
- Flowers - a range of flowers can be found more commonly here.
- Light forest - More tree-covered than the rest of the region.
Structures[edit | edit source]
The following structures spawn in the Shire biome alongside stone ruins made of Arnor bricks and stone bricks.
- Hobbit holes - Houses of the Hobbits. They contain a study, a main hall, a bedroom, a foyer, a pantry, and a dining room. A Hobbit couple spawns here, occasionally with children.
- Hobbit burrows - Smaller Hobbit holes with only a single room for a couple of Hobbits and some very basic amenities.
- Hobbit houses - Small houses for a few Hobbits, situated above ground.
- Hobbit picnic benches - Picnic benches with plates of food and Hobbits.
- Hobbit taverns - An inn containing Hobbits, a shirriff and a bartender. It has a fireplace, tables, barrels, and more.
- Hobbit windmills - Windmills with an upstairs living space.
- Hobbit farms - Farms where farmers grow crops and raise animals and where the player can get hire-able farmhands.
- Ruined houses - These ruined structures of cobble and rotten wood may contain a furnace and a chest with a few items left from former inhabitants.
Note: Hobbit buildings will only spawn in the main Shire biome, not in its sub-biomes (with the exception of the moors, in which Hobbit windmills, taverns and farms can spawn; the marshes, where picnic benches rarely spawn; and the white downs, where they all spawn albeit less commonly).
Fixed Structures[edit | edit source]
Bag-Hill is the only fixed structure that spawns in the Shire. It can be found north of the "Hobbiton" waypoint. Read here for more information on fixed mountains and hills .
Mobs[edit | edit source]
The following mobs spawn in the Shire:
- Hobbits - Small creatures also known as Halflings to Men, who love eating and smoking. They can be male or female, child or adult. Adult Hobbits can be married by someone with +100 Hobbit alignment with Hobbit rings.
- Hobbit Bounders - Bounders are the law enforcement of the Shire. Bounders attack evildoers with pebbles and slings or iron daggers. They have feathers in their hats and can be hired from Hobbit Shirriffs.
- Hobbit Shirriffs - Leaders of the Bounders. You can hire bounders and mounted bounders from them for silver coins.
- Shire ponies - Small horses that can be ridden (although they are slow) and can have chests on them.
- Hobbit Bartenders - Traders that spawn behind the counters in taverns. They will sometimes buy four leaf clovers for large sums of money.
- Hobbit Orcharders - Traders that spawn in orchards and sell the fruits of the orchard.
- Hobbit Farmers - NPCs from which farmhands can be hired. You can also trade with them.
- Hobbit Farmhands - Hireable NPCs that help with farming and are the good equivalent of the slaves of Nurn.
Conquest[edit | edit source]
The Shire can be conquered by the Hobbits, Gundabad, Angmar, and Isengard. The conquest rate is 0.2.
Vegetation[edit | edit source]
The following plants only grow in the Shire:
- Shire Pine
- Shire Heather
- Pipe-weed (Since Public Beta 29 it also rarely grows in Gondor)
- Four-leaf clover (Ordinary clover also grows in other biomes. In the renewed version only, four-leaved variants may rarely spawn in other biomes as well.)
Gallery[edit | edit source]
A Guide To The Shire - Lord of the Rings Mod
Trivia[edit | edit source]
- As of Public Beta 28 the rows of trees in the orchards are divided by rows of fences.
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The Tolkien Gateway has an article on:
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The Shire
Marshes •
Moors •
Woodlands
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