Summary
Amid a resurgence inLord of the Ringsgames, the latest title set in Middle-Earth,Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game, takes a surprising approach to Tolkien’s legendary world. Rather than having players embark on an epic adventure or reclaim a lost world,Tales of the Shireis a slice-of-life farming sim game similar to titles likeStardew ValleyandAnimal Crossing, set within the home of Middle-Earth’s Hobbits.Tales of the Shiredefinitely wears itsStardew Valleyinspiration on its sleeve, and the game already has the perfectLord of the Ringscharacter to fill the role of one ofStardew Valley’s most iconic inhabitants.
The recenttrailer forTales of the Shirecouldn’t have come at a better time, asStardew Valley’s 1.6 update has brought a resurgence in the farming sim genre that has seemingly become oversaturated in recent years. RecentLord of the Ringsgames have been hit or miss, withThe Lord of the Rings: Return to Moriareceiving middling reviews, andThe Lord of the Rings: Gollumbeing critically panned, butTales from the Shireis in a great position to hit that sweet spot between Middle-Earth’s epic fantasy setting and the cozy, casual fun of a life sim. One way the game can achieve success is by having its own version ofStardew Valley’s Wizard in Gandalf.
Gandalf Could Be Tales of the Shire’s Version of Stardew Valley’s Wizard
Stardew Valleyfans are likely well-acquainted with the game’s resident Wizard, a reclusive sorcerer by the name of M. Rasmodius who makes his home in theWizard’s Towerfar to the west of Pelican Town. Initially, this location is inaccessible toStardew Valleyplayers, and they need to first receive an invitation to enter the home of the Wizard. However, this invitation is worth the wait, since the Wizard offersStardew Valleyplayers some of the most interesting quests in the game, and is a great character to befriend.
The Lord of the Ringsseries has its own iconic wizard, Gandalf, who would be the ideal candidate to play a similar role inTales of the Shire. Gandalf already has a history of visiting the Shire, given that he is friends with Bilbo and Frodo Baggins and often joins them for a meal at their home atBag End. As such, it seems like a no-brainer forTales of the Shireto feature Gandalf as an NPC in the game, potentially functioning similarly toStardew Valley’s Wizard.
How Gandalf Might Fit into Tales of the Shire
The main function of the Wizard inStardew Valleyis to provide players with the ability to communicate with the Junimos, the forest spirits that act as guardians of the Community Center. Aside from this role, the Wizard is also an important NPC in severalStardew Valleyquestlines, including the Dark Talisman questline and theGoblin Problemquestline. Gandalf could similarly be a source of quests inTales of the Shire, giving players various tasks to do in exchange for knowledge of the world outside the Shire, potentially helping them translate things like Elven texts.
Gandalf is also known for attending the parties thrown by the Hobbits of the Shire, often bringing fireworks to impress the young Hobbits in attendance. Perhaps Gandalf could appear inTales of the Shireas a merchant who sells the player magical items such as fireworks, only appearing on certain days or during festivals. Given how iconicGandalf is inThe Lord of the Ringsseries, and his longtime friendship with the Hobbits, it only makes sense for this wizard to appear inTales of the Shirein some capacity.
