What used to be the best day, then the worst, now meh | Game: Stardew Valley

[thistlechaser]

Last year I made sure not to go shopping today (or November 1st). The day after Easter. The day after Halloween. Half-off candy day.

To be honest, I actually forgot about it this year. Thus I walked right face-first into displays of it when I had to go to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription. Sigh. All my favorite candies, 50% off. Easter baskets. Hallow chocolate bunnies! I almost lost it. I almost grabbed a basket and filled it up and to hell with any later issues. (I've not had a chocolate or sweet in 19 months, not a single bite, yet this reaction was so strong I stopped walking and stared at it all.)

Luckily I only had to be strong enough to get out of the store. I told myself that, even though I'm supposed to not spend money, and even though I've not lost weight in more than a month and thus have to eat good, that I'd stop for lunch if I just left without buying candy. Surprisingly, once I was driving away from the store, I found I really didn't want the chocolate anymore. I was hungry, yes, but I wanted food, not chocolate. I miss... the feeling of it. Of being able to buy a whole entire shopping basket of chocolate because it's my money and I'm an adult and I can buy a whole shopping basket of chocolate if I damn well want to. Of owning that much "good" food. Of it being MINE. Of having a pile of it at home, that I could look at and eat whenever I want and as much as I wanted. That I do miss. But I don't miss the chocolate itself.

Brains are odd.

---

Because teaandfailure was too kind and totally did not listen to me when I told her not to get it for me, I now have Stardew Valley to play. It's sort of a cross between Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon -- you make a farm, tend it, and if you like, get married to someone once you've built up enough of a relationship with them.

The graphics are very simple, but the colors and music are very attractive. I love the colors of the grass and land, so soothing somehow.



I'm on my 12th day now, though multiple times I was tempted to start over because I made some mistakes. A couple minor mistakes, but also two big ones, and one I thought was going to be a deal-breaker...



I found these cool statue things scattered around. I'm sure they do something, but I don't know what yet.



There are lots of other mysteries, like some kind of odd stomach gurgling-ish noise that doesn't seem to do with anything, but is kind of worrying...

I'm totally going to marry this guy:



...marry him after my farm is done. And I have animals. And a ton of other stuff I want to do before dealing with the relationship stuff.



...well okay then.

I'm not going to marry Pam. She lives in a trailer and her trash is full of beer cans. :/



Then a happy day came! A happy happy day! A stray cat showed up on my farm! I named it after a certain someone's cat...



And then my lowest point of the game. I mean a serious stomach-dropping, lips parting in dismay moment. You see, I'm not at all used to the key controls. I've never ever ever used WASD keys in any other game before, I always use the arrows or the mouse. In the game, left and right clicking do different things, and I always, always click the wrong way. So, I was holding my axe when the cat showed up, and I TOTALLY MEANT TO CLICK ON IT TO INTERACT WITH IT, BUT I HIT IT WITH MY AXE. And it changed from sitting up with a heart over its head to this:



I swear to god, I thought I killed the cat. I've 'killed' my crops endlessly by clicking wrong, so I thought I did the same thing to the poor cat. Ugh!

Luckily the cat was fine and doesn't seem to mind getting hit with the axe...

My other big, big mistakes were related: I'm always out of space in my bag, so I thought I could put things on the ground and pick them up later (like you can in Animal Crossing), but apparently you cannot. They're gone the next day. SIGH. I lost my sword and other stuff that I could have made money on!

Then THEN! I was so close to the bigger bag. I needed 40 more (game dollars). 40! So I went into the cave to look for geodes to break open and sell. And two TINY CUTE slime things turned out to not be friendly tiny cute slime things. And I had no sword.

Death is pretty serious in this game. :( Suddenly I had a whole lot less money, plus you lose stuff out of you inventory. So now I'm not even close to getting the bigger bag.

There are other less frustrating issues, like I can't find enough wood so that I can get a barn so I can keep animals. I'm trying not to stress over that kind of thing though, since I'm still early on in the game.

Life in game was much, much easier once I discovered there's a map. :P



All in all, it's a very satisfying game! It gives me that 'accomplished' feeling to get all my game-tasks done for the day.

Now I have an egg festival to attend in-game. :)

Edit: BOOO the game glitched somehow. I woke up at 1 AM gametime, left my house, and the game said I was exhausted and sent me back home, charged me 150 game-dollars (ARG) and I missed the egg fest. ;; Hopefully it wasn't too important... I suppose there's always next game-year. :(

Edit 2: Got a fishing quest, noticed my fishing pole is gone. Guess I lost it when the slime monsters killed me. I had been wondering what else was missing from my bag after I died...

Comments

[gonzostar.livejournal.com]

That is EXACTLY the feelings I get. So
Much.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Doesn't help that I had a conversation with someone at work today, she told me I was (quote) "nearly dead" before I started losing weight. I mean, I know it was very unhealthy, but... thanks? Heck, I'm out sick more NOW (with my toe issues) than I was then! So I was already in a challenging place mentally when I ran right into the display of dirt cheap chocolate.

Oh well! Next time I go shopping, it'll be all gone.

Good luck resisting it!

[gonzostar.livejournal.com]

I'm just like you - haven't had ONE since I started the pre-surgery diet. And it's that fact that has kept me from caving in. If it wasn't for keeping that streak alive, I might have tried "just a bit" of the Easter cookies I made with my little sister and started on a bad spiral. My only two "bad" foods I now struggle with are tortilla chips and gluten free crackers. Because i know I can eat them and not be sick. Doesn't mean I should, though!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yep, agreed: The only way I can keep avoiding them is by saying nope, none, never, not one bite. I cannot do "okay, just one piece". It also helps that I haven't dumped yet (as far as I know -- my surgeon said I'd know it when it happened...). I'm really worried about that happening, so that makes it even easier to avoid sugar.

I'm with you on the other bad options too. Chips don't make me sick, and nachos have protein! :P Bread I'm somewhat better about avoiding, but chips/crackers are such doom to me.

[kelen.livejournal.com]

I love Stardew Valley. :) Never had the chance to play Harvest Moon, or Farmville, so this was my first chance.

The egg festival offers a chance to buy strawberries, which isn't critical.

Just a couple hints to help:

Buy a silo before your coop. Really. Wait on the coop. The quest isn't timed.

Forage! Turn in bundles at the community center as soon as you can. They give nice gifts and perks. :)

I'm on year three, so know quite a bit if you need help, but really everything is on the wiki.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I think I played a few minutes of Harvest Moon, but for some reason I didn't stick with it. I recall liking the idea of the game though...

I really want animals though! Knowing they can't die, no matter if I hit them with my axe by mistake, is a big draw. :P

Oooh, I need to go back to the community center and get things going there! I haven't been inside more than once or twice.

Thanks! <3

[kelen.livejournal.com]

Having animals is a big investment of time and money, neither of which you can afford to start. Especially since you are having such troubles.

Oh! You can kill things with your axe too.

I really suggest you skip animals for a season or two, and concentrate on making money via farming and foraging. Upgrade your backpacks, and collecting materials like wood and stone.

Spring: Cauliflower! Lots of it.
Summer: Blueberries. You can harvest them multiple times.
Fall: Cranberries. Like Blueberries.
Winter: Mine and forage!

But don't forget your bundles either.

Suggestions: When you do finally build the barn and coop, don't do it right near your house. There are a TON of machines you'll be using, and I found I had space troubles for putting the coop and barn right near the house, especially once I got the horse. Fighting the animals to get near your horse is damn annoying!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

You know, after thinking I killed my cat with my axe, I should have tried using it on the slime things. :P

I'm going to take your advice and skip over the animals for now. I'm going to start over today for multiple reasons (the mistakes I've made so far are only a small part of it -- I don't like my hair, and I want to change my name and animal too). It should go much smoother this time!

Thanks! :)

[kelen.livejournal.com]

I started over too, and for much the same reason. Just made too many mistakes. :)

The best money you can make? Kegs. So put taps in trees. You can make those really early on, and it'll be a use for those trees you can't cut down yet. Maple syrup, Pine resin, and one other thing I'm spacing on the name of. You'll need all three to craft 'machines' later.

I still have like a dozen trees tapped, in a corner on the lot.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Oooh thanks! I hadn't heard of kegs yet. Belatedly I discovered chests -- would have been useful instead of putting things on the ground and thus losing them!

I'm actually excited about starting over. I like my new name/theme idea better (I had a DK character in WoW who loved farming, going to use his name and make the farm Northrend) and while I know I'll make all sorts of new mistakes, I'll feel better about not having to deal with these ones I already made.

[kelen.livejournal.com]

Hee! Yeah, I named mine after a loved rp char too. :)

Kegs basically turn fruits into wine (Or hops and wheat into beer). It triples the money you get. I didn't sell any of my cranberries that first yield and had nearly a million gold by the time year two rolled around. Kegs are totes worth it. Cranberries earn you the best money to start.

I've a greenhouse filled with ancient fruit, which I'm so pleased with. :)

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I can't wait to get more advanced in the game! It's fun learning the game early on, but it's more fun being efficient. :D

And yeah, I started my game with my default character name (Thistle), which is just basically like using my RL name at this point -- no special emotional connection. I think I'm going to enjoy Haken's Northrend farm better full of all sorts of good animals. :P

[kelen.livejournal.com]

Woo! :) Enjoy the game!

[teaandfailure.livejournal.com]

Brains are REALLY WEIRD. I had the same experience a couple of times with the candy this year. I used to love the Russell Stover eggs, and I would get a whole basket of them once an Easter season and just EAT THEM ALL IN ONE SITTING BECAUSE I COULD AND I'M AN ADULT. I haven't wanted to do that since that time I did the Whole 30, one or two is fine. This year I didn't even want any because the new flavors weren't anything I wanted, but I was still disappointed and kind of sad that I... didn't want any? Because yeah, it's really fun to get all those candy eggs the day after Easter and have a stash. Stupid brain. Stupid stupid brain.

I AM ALSO MAYBE TOTALLY GOING TO MARRY SEBASTIAN, I like his emo face and fancy hair. But GAAAAHD finding him out of his room to give him presents is SO FREAKING HARD. He only comes out of the basement like, late at night to go smoke (SEBASTIAN ARE YOU A SMOKER DUDE NO CAN WE TALK THAT IS SO BAD FOR YOU) and otherwise stays in the basement on the computer all the time, so it is no wonder we are both like HE WILL BE MINE. Although I might also marry Penny, because Pam is her mom and I'm like NOOO PENNY LET ME TAKE YOU AWAY FROM ALL THIS. Not Penny the cat. There is a Penny in the valley. I will go with whoever likes me best first.

FUN FACT IT WILL PROBABLY BE PENNY because before I had figured out the controls, I ran into Sebastian on a rainy day because he goes out to stand in the rain on rainy days because OF COURSE HE DOES THAT EMO FUCK, and I was carrying a flower around and accidentally gave it to him, and he hated it because he is dark and spooky and I was like FUCK SHIT DAMN IT.

Speaking of which, awww, you named your kitty Penny. <3 I felt so bad for you that you thought you killed your cat! I actually thought I had starved mine to death by not figuring out how to feed her, but NO THEY ARE JUST LAZY AND LIE LIKE THAT SOMETIMES. The thing with the tools is really annoying, I haven't figured out if there is any way to de-equip whatever you have in your hand, and sometimes I don't remember to clear a slot so I'm empty handed. I accidentally chopped down my strawberries that way, SO NEITHER OF US SHALL HAVE STRAWBERRIES THE FIRST YEAR I GUESS.

I didn't go into the cave until it was like halfway through summer, I think some dude gave me a sword at some point? I don't even remember. That sucks about the fishing pole though. I learned the hard way that it only saves when you go to bed, so if you turn it off without finishing a day, you lose what you already did that day. BOOOO.

Also a secret: building the little farm makes me think of Haken and his farm with bees. There is a bee house you can make and it is currently my obsession to make said bee house.

Also ditto that person who said build a silo before the coop, the game tells you to do a coop first, but then you have to buy chicken food from the ranch lady, whereas with a silo you can cut your grass and get it free.

Also I AM SUPER GLAD YOU ARE ENJOYING IT AND IT IS FUN TO SEE SOMEONE ELSE TALKING ABOUT IT YAY (my real motives are revealed, and when Orangerful comes back from vacation SHE HAS IT TOO).

Edit: ACK, I saw you got the sword but put it on the ground. I learned you lost things that way the hard way also. :( Maybe you can kill things in the cave with the scythe? You can totally cut down grass with the sword. Then once you get in the adventurer's guild the dude will sell you a better sword. IT IS THE WOODEN ONE. FROM ZELDA. The fishing dude will totally sell you another pole.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I used to love the Russell Stover eggs, and I would get a whole basket of them once an Easter season and just EAT THEM ALL IN ONE SITTING BECAUSE I COULD AND I'M AN ADULT.

Aw man, yes. I loved those so much! Especially the raspberry one, which was odd since I don't usually like the flavor much otherwise. It just worked really, really well with their chocolate though.

I finally found out how to give gifts, so next time I see him, I shall give him things! I have flowers saved to give away, as much as I'd rather sell the for money.

and I was carrying a flower around and accidentally gave it to him, and he hated it because he is dark and spooky and I was like FUCK SHIT DAMN IT.

... Hahaha well then! I'm trying to avoiding looking things up (GLOWING BOX ON THE FLOOR IN THE COMMUNITY CENTER, I SHALL FIGURE YOU OUT! WHAT'S THIS ALIEN LANGUAGE THAT POPS UP WHEN I TRY TO GIVE YOU THINGS?), but maybe I'll check out what he likes best, so I don't make him hate me with flowers.

I laughed when I saw the person-Penny! Oops.

actually thought I had starved mine to death by not figuring out how to feed her

... Oh. We have to feed the cat? SORRY FICTIONAL-PENNY! I SHALL FEED YOU TONIGHT! Man, I've hit my cat with an axe and not fed her for more than a week. NO ONE IS EVER GOING TO LET ME BUY A FARM ANIMAL! (Oh oops, rereading, I see that I misunderstood your comment. I'm going to leave this paragraph anyway, because FICTIONAL PET OWNER GUILT is amusing.)

The thing with the tools is really annoying, I haven't figured out if there is any way to de-equip whatever you have in your hand

I was thinking about that this morning. I know you can sometimes hold items instead. Maybe I can walk around with ore in my hand or something...

I'm going to have to buy a new fishing pole and sword. :/ At least I finally got the bigger bag (first upgrade), so that helps a lot! Rocks in the cave seem to regenerate daily, so I can just go to the first couple levels and run if I see any APPARENTLY NOT FRIENDLY cute slime monsters.

Also a secret: building the little farm makes me think of Haken and his farm with bees. There is a bee house you can make and it is currently my obsession to make said bee house.

That make me grin so much! And oh god now I really want to start over and rename my guy Haken and make the farm Northrend or something... Maybe I should. It's only been one RL day of playing, and I don't much like the hair color I picked out... Plus I can make up for my mistakes, and it'd be faster since I could skip the cutscenes, and THIS TIME I WOULD NOT SELL MY WOOD. Hm. I would have to pick a dog instead of cat though, because CATS ARE NOT GOOD ANIMALS.

(my real motives are revealed, and when Orangerful comes back from vacation SHE HAS IT TOO)

You are an evil evil person very good friend! :D I can't wait to see her posts, too!

Apparently the scythe is nearly as good as the sword, THOUGH IT FAILED TO KILL THOSE NOT-FRIENDLY CUTE LITTLE SLIME MONSTERS.

I think I'm starting over tonight for sure. Eeee!