Why do we need patrons?
ArdaCraft is an entirely volunteer-run and free to play experience, and has been since its founding in 2014; so why do we need patrons? Firstly, maintaining our current setup is expensive: we need to pay for the server, website, forums and wiki every month. This is the baseline that we need to keep our server running and accessible to all, admins and guests alike. Secondly, we also spend money on one off purchases that benefit the server in the long run. This includes extra Google Drive storage, website domain names and server backups to ensure our server remains in the case of an emergency. Finally, ArdaCraft also pays for new features or terrain. For example, we commission developers to implement new features, such as our custom models of Orcs and Geese, and fund landscaping tools used by triple-A games studios to create mountain ranges, such as the Misty Mountains, and sand dunes, such as those in Harad.
Why should you become a patron?
Recently, we have revamped our Patreon, in order to both encourage more donations and to give long overdue benefits to those who have enabled our project to thrive. Whilst previously patrons have only enjoyed a rank on our Discord which grants access to locked channels, they now have access to a quarterly newsletter with project updates, builder spotlights and exclusive articles about how we build Middle-earth, a wall of names to commemorate everyone who has helped make this project a reality and miniature statues at spawn to honour our highest donors without compromising the accuracy of our world. Additionally, all patrons will be granted a special in game rank, which allows them to access the building server, where the work of building Middle-earth actually happens, as opposed to the static exploration server.
How do you become a patron?
Becoming a patron of ArdaCraft is simple; just click this link and choose whichever tier you would like; the lowest is just $2 per month, with options to donate more if you feel you want to; donating at higher tiers unlocks more benefits, which can be seen on the Patreon page. If you just want to make a one time donation to ArdaCraft, you can support us on Ko-fi, though you will be unable to access any of the perks. So, if you want to support the largest piece of fanart ever created, want to help make Tolkien’s work accessible to as many people as possible or maybe just want a larger plot, become a patron of ArdaCraft!
