Hobbits are notoriously peaceful to a fault, and are known to actively avoid conflict as it can draw too much attention and excitement to their lives. At the same time, the Shire is filled with a variety of animals that can be expected to be found in the English countryside, such as rabbits, birds, badgers, mice, and other small and harmless creatures. While gathering ingredients for cooking elaborate meals is a core part of Tales of the Shire, befriending animals may also become a key component to a hobbit’s success in Bywater.
Disney Dreamlight Valley includes 11 different critters that inhabit the world. The player can befriend these critters by offering them appropriate treats, and eventually earn their trust to become a companion. As Tales of the Shire is set in the charming village of Bywater, which is inhabited by adorable animals such as rabbits, foxes, mice, and small birds, a similar system where the player character befriends a small animal to assist and accompany them on their daily tasks would be a great addition.
How Animals Could Change the Game in Tales of The Shire
Why Animal Taming Would Be a Meaningful Gameplay Mechanic for Tales of the Shire
Befriending animals in cozy games and other life sims such as The Sims 4: Cottage Living often comes with unexpected benefits. These benefits could include fulfilling friendships with the Shire’s local wildlife, and enlisting their help in the garden. Running a homestead can take a lot of work, especially for just one hobbit. Getting the help of animal friends in the garden can go a long way in improving skills and growing better quality fruits and vegetables, which also leads to better quality meals prepared in the kitchen.
Aside from the benefits of befriending the local wildlife, it would also be more in character for the peaceful hobbits to befriend small animals rather than hunting them. As Tales of the Shire is a part of The Lord of the Rings, to remain true to the vision of Tolkien, a balance with nature should be achieved.
Animals are a Part of the Natural Order in Tales of The Shire
Including an animal companionship system like Disney Dreamlight Valley could add an entirely new gameplay system to Tales of the Shire. Cooking and gathering ingredients in Tales of the Shire could go beyond hosting meals for guests and building friendships with other hobbits, and also be expanded to include building friendships with animal companions.
Different animal companions could assist hobbits with different aspects of homesteading, such as rabbits with gardening, birds with foraging, and foxes with fishing. While it could take some time and effort to build these relationships, especially if each animal only responds to one type of treat, including a reward system that makes these systems easier to navigate with higher quality yields could motivate players to pursue them.
A Stat Boost for Tales of the Shire
The player character could also choose one small animal to forge a special deep bond with, and have that animal become a companion that accompanies them. The presence of their animal companion could give the hobbit a small stat boost, could improve their relationships, or help them complete tasks faster. The different systems in Tales of the Shire and the animals available to hobbits have a world of potential, and it would be a pity to limit them to the cooking pot.
