On March 25, fantasy-loving gamers will finally get to set hairy foot in the beloved Shire. Coming soon—though never soon enough—Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Gamehas the potential to be one of the biggest games of next year, given the popularity of its mother franchise and the huge cozy games that came before it.
WhileTales of the Shire’s mechanics are mysterious in large part, there are a few things that seem to be present in the trailer fans were privy to upon its announcement on Hobbit Day this year. That is, based on its basic life-sim mechanics and the presence of several stands,Tales of the Shiremight be presenting a potentially huge trading system.
The Trade System Might Make or Break Tales of the Shire
The Socialization Potential of Hobbit Trade Can’t be Overlooked
Firstly, there’s a glaring missed opportunity in thatTales of the Shirethat lacks multiplayer. This is despite the fact that it’s already been readily compared toAnimal Crossing, which can attribute part of its success to having co-op support. That said, there’s an opportunity to make NPCs the stars of the Hobbit show, and that starts with trading.
Since many beloved elements ofcozy life-simscan tie into trade, the bigger, the better with this mechanic. After all, the trailer says players can “forage friendships,” soTales of the Shireshould require not just basic NPC interaction but being an actively good neighbor to fellow Hobbit folk.
Perhaps it comes down to a trader sending a player off to find a certain item, but it could also be that a neighbor wants a certain recipe. That then snowballs into giving players achievements and unique items, not unlikemechanics found inStardew Valley, another popular game that precedesTales of the Shirein its appeal to peace-loving sim game audiences.
When a trading system requires such a foundation of socialization, it might even be the core mechanic for quest-giving beyond daily Hobbit life. Through quests, games can establish powerful characterization and emotional connection. Given the rural,community-based life of the Shire—and that the player is tasked with building up Bywater—it makes sense that quests would come through establishing trade.
A Decent Trading System Can Set Up Crafting Mechanics
With a robust trading network, there must be equally elaborate crafting systems to account for it. This is sure to be part ofTales of the Shire, givencooking and decoration are key featuresof the whole game, both of which are fan-favorites of cozy sims.
There’s endless potential in these homely and aesthetic crafts, meaning a large variety of items are likely to make an appearance. This is especially true if developers are looking to hint at thesocieties outside of the Shirein subtle ways, such as recipes reminiscent of Elvish cuisine or Dwarf-made armchairs. Only through a trading system can those items realistically come into the game, and players will likely be able to get them by trading their goods from their abundant foraging, fishing, and gardening.
The very existence of trade implies a larger world, and even though the routine, no-nonsense Hobbit lifestyle keeps to itself,Tales of the Shirecannot neglect its best opportunity to hint at the existence ofa familiar and beloved Middle-earth.
A well-thought-out trading mechanic could be fundamental toTales of the Shire. The ultimate goal of similar games is for players to establish themselves as part of a peaceful community—and there is perhaps nothing that defines a Hobbit better than camaraderie at home.
