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Arthadan wrote:Enchanting something is transfering part of the maker's own spirit to his craft. Feänor could not make more Silmarills, nor Sauron more like The One Ring. It appears to be a link between the happy days and the best toy-making, as if the maker needs to be in a special mood to create such works (Dwarves are grim by definition, so this lasting happiness state was indeed something rare). Maybe the art was lost not only because the lack of tools and knowledge...

Good point. Here I agree with You.

Arthadan wrote:Good find, but Bilbo's clock is never mentioned as "magic". In fact magic items were rare and renowed in The Shire:

This ruins the whole idea about mechanic toys as one of the mentioned "magic toys" in Dale's toy market =(
Even if hobbits didn't made any complicated mechanisms, because they didn't liked them, as mantioned in LoTR: Concerning hobbits:

They do not and did not understand or like machines more complicated than a forge-bellows, a water-mill, or a hand-loom, though they were skilful with tools.

such a mechanisms wasn't even something special for them... Stupid mantleclock! =(

Maybe such a clock was rare, as a Bilbo was from prosperous family, and for some people it could look strange, and I could speculate on this... But now the whole idea about marvelous mechanical toys looks suspiciously wrong... Ehhh
Of course one thing is to create simple clock, and other complicated and beautiful mechanical toy... but still my main idea are destroyed.

Thank you guys for a lot of good notes and comments. Now I will have even more work to do and think about =)
It is so easy to create adventure for any other RPG world, but not for Middle-Earth.

Otaku-sempai wrote:Personally, I've thought that the mantle clock was probably Dwarvish, but that it might have come from Erebor. It was likely a present purchased by Bungo Baggins for his bride Belladonna.

I agree and also think that it is dwarvish - only they traveled throw the Shire after falling of the Arnor.

Don't take me wrong! I also think Bilbo's clock was Dwarven-made. Dwarven travellers were not unheard of in the Shire, as the Blue Mountains were close and some trade between hobbits and Dwarves would be perfectly normal. I also think that mechanical toys are not out of the question, I only suggest that magical ones would be superior.

I think your premise is perfectly valid with a slight modification, Dwarves wanting to improve their mechanical toys and recovering/vastly improving the art of crafting magical ones.

Arthadan wrote: It appears to be a link between the happy days and the best toy-making, as if the maker needs to be in a special mood to create such works (Dwarves are grim by definition, so this lasting happiness state was indeed something rare). Maybe the art was lost not only because the lack of tools and knowledge...

I love the idea that the best toys will only be made by happy dwarves. I think that could be a tiny, exceptionally effective thematic echo of the much larger Middle-earth dwarven themes of a wandering, dispossessed people struggling to regain their legacy.

What fellowship of adventurers would not be swayed to help bring back the happy times when dwarves could make wondrous toys again?

Jon Hodgson wrote:

Arthadan wrote: It appears to be a link between the happy days and the best toy-making, as if the maker needs to be in a special mood to create such works (Dwarves are grim by definition, so this lasting happiness state was indeed something rare). Maybe the art was lost not only because the lack of tools and knowledge...

I love the idea that the best toys will only be made by happy dwarves. I think that could be a tiny, exceptionally effective thematic echo of the much larger Middle-earth dwarven themes of a wandering, dispossessed people struggling to regain their legacy.

What fellowship of adventurers would not be swayed to help bring back the happy times when dwarves could make wondrous toys again?

Thematicly that makes a lot of sense. If an enchanted object is part of whoever makes it (this was implied heavily in several place, mostly about the One Ring) it reflects one's state and intentions while making it. Hence creating really powerful objects is difficult not just because that will drain a lot of strength out of the maker, but also because of the focus and singleness of purpose.

Arthadan wrote:Don't take me wrong! I also think Bilbo's clock was Dwarven-made. Dwarven travellers were not unheard of in the Shire, as the Blue Mountains were close and some trade between hobbits and Dwarves would be perfectly normal. I also think that mechanical toys are not out of the question, I only suggest that magical ones would be superior.

I think your premise is perfectly valid with a slight modification, Dwarves wanting to improve their mechanical toys and recovering/vastly improving the art of crafting magical ones.

Agree.

Dwarves made mechanical, magical and both mechanically-magical toys. And the best of them they could make only in prosperous and happy years, when they could put in it part of their love and soul.

I don't want leave people of Dale without their part in toy "industry". I think as everyone else they also could make some regular toys from wood, clay and metal - animals, dragons, soldiers etc. and also sell them on the toy market.

I also thinking about some quests about toy collectors who would like to get toy made by Woodmen of Wilderland, Beornings and other. I think that everyone have their own technics making toys for their kind.