Building Rules

Small projects

Small projects, such as a single house or anything of the sort, can be built anywhere in the wilderness and at least 100 blocks away from a: the edge of someone else's region and b: any other build that isn't regioned.

Materials may be obtained at /warp galleria for Yeomen and Mavens.

Large projects

Large projects (requiring a region of a 300 block radius or more) must get the approval of a staff member. You may ask in-game or by posting or messaging on the forums. The project must be at least 300 blocks away from neighboring builds or regions, unless you've been given approval by the builder or region owner. Please be sure to check and double check. Staff will be happy to help you find an area suited for your needs. Once your project is approved, staff will be able to assist you with setting up the region and terraforming. Large projects that are abandoned (left unfinished for 6 months or longer) will be deleted and the region removed. If you will be taking a long break and plan to return to your project, please be sure to notify us via the forums or a /mail in-game.

Originality

We expect all projects on The Shire to be the original work of the creator(s) and not be replicas of pre-existing projects. To help avoid such conflicts, please - somewhere in your build - clearly state when you started your project.

Infrastructure

Railroads and highways are standardized- if you're not an engineer and plan on building a stretch of road, please make sure they are up to code with our current systems. Always ask an engineer (nebbers or Andy) if you want to integrate your project into The Shire's infrastructure.

The Shire Transit Authority will maintain all rail lines and highways connecting between cities. Please do not build any rail lines or highways without their consent or supervision. Specific standards have to be met and the STA is the only team qualified to do so. Contact STA Director Andy if you have questions or wish to set up an appointment with your local STA representative.

Exempt from our infrastructure regulations is Tyro (/warp Tyro), railroads and roadways within specified city limits, and Tweber's "Friday Fun Land". This does NOT mean that because your town is next to another and you build something it is within one city. The STA will still come and inspect. All infrastructure constructed by non-STA members will be subject to inspection and possible removal/modifications.

Furthermore, roads, either within your project or outside of it must not be built out of wool. Rule of Thumb on the Shire: Wool is wool. It is not asphalt - black wool and a yellow wool median is strictly prohibited. Consider stones, gravels, or a boardwalk for your roads/paths. Also, a word of advice: Wool as a building material should be treated as wool: exterior walls and roofs made of wool don't make much sense (and not very leak resistant!)

Vehicles

To provide a sense of consistency throughout the Shire, planes and automobiles are not allowed. Imagine, if you will, a world that never progressed past a steampunk level of technology. Airships are the preferred mode of air transport. See "/warp pangea" for some outstanding airship examples.

Modern projects

Modern-styled projects (i.e. metal & glass skyscrapers) are restricted as single-structure projects outside of designated areas. These areas are Equos and New Vashon. If you plan on building a modern/futuristic city, the area you choose for your project must be away from any town or city that is not of the same era. This is to ensure fluidity of aesthetics and era from region to region.

Common sense

Please use common sense when building; for example, skyscrapers in the middle of nowhere do not make sense.

Pixel art/Macro structures

Pixel art (See example pic.) What is Macro? Anything blown up to an extreme, unrealistic size. A coffee pot that is 200 blocks wide. A skyscraper that spells out your name. A 200 block tall Red Solo cup. NO. Any Macro or Pixel Art projects that do exist are required to be buried/hidden from view/secret; the two Pixel Arts in ChocoloateMilk2's office are a great example of this. Any project breaking this rule is subject to being removed at the discretion of an administrator.

Floating builds

If you build islands in the ocean, please try to make them from the seafloor up - floating just on top of the ocean doesnt look right.

Spacing between projects

Projects should be built at least 100 blocks away from each other, unless you have consent from the project owner(s) and server staff.