All he wants is a quiet life...
This article is written as a narrative and won't give you an in-depth insight into the gameplay of Lord of The Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar. It is, however, an indication of the profound effect Lord of the Rings Online has had on me during the recent beta phase. I’m not a Lord of The Rings fan-boy, in fact I haven’t even watched all of the films or read the books. I have, however, thrown myself totally into the Hobbit lifestyle and the alluring world of Middle- Earth since I began playing the game some time ago. To accompany this feature, I've recorded a short video preview where I give my opinions on the game. I’ll be writing a further preview relating specifically to the gameplay in due course, but for the time being I hope this narrative will give you a small insight into the Lord of The Rings experience from the viewpoint of a Hobbit. There are some references to quests I undertook and the experiences that are relayed are real, although there are a few exaggerations for creative purposes. Ultimately, I decided to write a narrative because the game has inspired me to do so, such is the charm and captivating qualities that the Shire exudes; I hope you like it.
Click for larger imageA day in the life of a Hobbit Minstrel
I suppose I better introduce myself. My name is Sancho Chubb-Baggins, son of Mungo Chubb Baggins and brother of Hambut, Fosco and Samwise Baggins. I live a quiet existence in The Shires - Bag End to be precise - and fill my days exploring the downs, hillsides and banks of the blossoming countryside, smoking pipe-weed, chasing rainbows, working in the fields of Hobbiton and carrying out chores in the community to fund my favourite past-time, eating of course. If I have the time or the inclination, you’ll often see me swimming in the unclouded river down at Bywater or grabbing a pint of frothy ale at The Green Dragon Inn, where I take great pleasure from sitting by the fireplace exchanging tales of adventure with fellow Hobbits. On occasions and when I’m feeling brave enough and not too full from munching on cheese, I’ll venture out into the bear-infested Greenlands to bag some fresh meat, using my skills as a minstrel to keep myself safe.
Click for larger imageWhat I’m about to relate to you is my experience of a typical day within the lush, greenery and tranquillity of the Shire. Part and parcel of being a Hobbit is the laid-back lifestyle that accompanies it and as you probably know us Hobbits love to eat, so it wasn’t a difficult decision when it came to choosing my lifelong career path. If you haven’t guessed already, I’m currently training to become a master cook; such is my love of pumpkin pie and mushroom soup. Life in the Shires is occasionally fraught with danger, especially if you venture to the outskirts such as The Greenfields or, God forbid, find yourself venturing into the Misty Mountains, but mostly it’s a casual lifestyle in which I’ve chosen to stick within the confines of the Shire helping out the community and visiting the likes of the Tooks, the Bagginses or the Brandybucks to help them with tasks. There’s no place like home and the Shire will always be my warm, woolly security blanket in a world where danger never seems to be too far around the corner. I could venture further a-field and I will, but at this precise moment I’m content with my harmonious and unruffled lifestyle.