We finally reached a decision to launch the new site. We were trying to get it "perfect" before doing so, but the content is so vast

and we kept having to backup and synchronize with the old site, so we decided to just go ahead and

"pull the switch".

You can still get to the old site at:

http://old.merp.com

But the old site is "content frozen" meaning it will no longer accept any new postings or accounts.

The new site has a LONG list of new and improved features, so many it's impossible to list all of them here,

but a summary of note includes:

• New improved layout and color scheme based on everyone's feedback (hope you like it).
  
• Decent, WORKING forums (yay this was the number one complaint of the old site).
• Wiki pages the community can help fill out
• Lots of essays and original content (as in the old site, but even more)
• Live online chat easily accessible and working (Java-based)
• The catalogs of all Middle-earth related content (this is a work in progress and very much in need of volunteers to help finish it).
• Easy news posting by ANY registered member (you just "add item >> news" to your "my folder", then after submitting it, you
• then change it's status to "published"). Please don't abuse this, or we'll have to enable the "authorization process, but DO please use it.
• An easier to manage Links system (need volunteers to add to this)
• Events calendar (again, need volunteers to fill it up)
• Very easy to add new features with just a few clicks with the new version of the software.
• Great, easy to use GUI tools in the web page for editing and submitting content easily
  
• There's lots more, but that
  

We hope you enjoy. Of course we have a LOT of work to do, and we know there are some bugs, but it's such

a vast improvement over the old site, we figured it best to go ahead and launch "warts and all".

Welcome one and all!

-Merp.com Volunteer Team