Building Rules
Small projects
If you want to build something small, like a house for example, you're on your own. You'll have to go mining and gather stone, wood or whatever else you need.
Large projects
If you have a large community project in mind, you must post your project on the forum, with blueprints, a sketch or a exhaustive description of what you want to build. If it's approved, you can start build it and we will help you with some materials.
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: If you insist on building modern skyscrapers, please do so in designated areas: Equos and New Vashon. Note: Most other modern builds (fast food restaurants, ice rink, tennis courts, elevated rails, suspension bridges, fusion reactors, are fine. The rule ordinarily applies to futuristic/modern skyscrapers and similar builds). The #1 biggest issue with skyscrapers is their non-organic nature in how they are built by most players. A skyscraper in a large city stands a better chance of being allowed than a skyscraper in the middle of nowhere.
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.