Can you play non-optimally?

[chucklehead]

Hi folks
As the title really. I realise you may take longer to progress, but if, for example, I haven't planted 30 seeds by end of day 1, is it game ending?

[Redwood]

Unless you want to win a lot of points in the story, no, take all the time you want. The sun will keep rising, the rain will keep falling, the store will keep opening except on Wednesdays.

[BoopDeBoop]

The game doesn't really have a fail state so you can definitely play non-optimally. There are a bunch of examples online of people playing the game, for example, without every buying anything from the shops or without ever leaving their farm. It's entirely possible to play the game non-optimally and most people probably do, at least the first time they play

[Agarillobob]

there is no loosing state in the game

[Rexon]

the only loosing state is when u stop playing

[Redwood]

Originally posted by Rexon:

the only loosing state is when u stop playing

Or when you let the crows eat one of your crops.

[BahamaLlama]

As someone who only plants the first 15 parsnips on day 1, but ends up having 160 Strawberries, 20+ quality sprinklers and a good 40-50k by the end of Spring 28th, not doing something doesn't mean you will "fail".

You can play the game at your own pace, and do it however you want to do it. If you don't want to buy from the shop, you don't have too. Nothing will stop you from "progressing", because, there isn't really any progression. Progression is what you make of it.

[I Kinda Fail]

Nah. I will say, playing optimally DOES help, but it's not at all needed.

Just as an example.
If you unlock a certain building before Winter, it'll add extra income and XP you wouldn't normally get for an entire season.
If you need a fish for a Community Center bundle, and don't catch it by the end of the season, you may have to wait several seasons to catch it again.

[chisu]

Originally posted by Shortbolts:

As someone who only plants the first 15 parsnips on day 1, but ends up having 160 Strawberries, 20+ quality sprinklers and a good 40-50k by the end of Spring 28th, not doing something doesn't mean you will "fail".

You can play the game at your own pace, and do it however you want to do it. If you don't want to buy from the shop, you don't have too. Nothing will stop you from "progressing", because, there isn't really any progression. Progression is what you make of it.

how do you even get that far by spring 28 ToT omg

[BahamaLlama]

Originally posted by chisu:

Originally posted by Shortbolts:

As someone who only plants the first 15 parsnips on day 1, but ends up having 160 Strawberries, 20+ quality sprinklers and a good 40-50k by the end of Spring 28th, not doing something doesn't mean you will "fail".

You can play the game at your own pace, and do it however you want to do it. If you don't want to buy from the shop, you don't have too. Nothing will stop you from "progressing", because, there isn't really any progression. Progression is what you make of it.

how do you even get that far by spring 28 ToT omg

900+ hours of restarting a farm constantly because I come off for a bit then decide to start a new one lol.

I'll try to give you a quick run-down if possible.

Day 1 is spent planting the 15 parsnips, then foraging all day.
2-3 is spent fishing (Day 2 I try to hit level 3 fishing, day 3 I try hitting level 5). Day 3 I also fish in the river for catfish, since they sell for a lot.
Day 4 I spend clearing out a part of the farm ready for the planting.
Day 5 I try hitting level 20 of the mines to start getting more copper to upgrade my watering can first.
days 6-10/11 I do either fishing if it's raining at the river for catfish, or spend some more time in the mines to get down to the frozen levels at least. I also spend time foraging/cutting tree's down to try to hit level 4 foraging.
day 11/12 I spend fishing depending on if I don't have 18k+ (16k for the strawberries, 2k for anything else I need) I also start to set up the farm ready for the 160 strawberries.
Day 13 I spend the first part finishing setting up the farm, do the festival, then spend the night planting it all (can be done on day 14 as well, since you'll still get 2 harvests no matter what)
Day 14 I aim for foraging level 4 if I don't have it already. I also try to see if I have the 2k I need + the 5 copper bars for upgrading my pick to make mining easier.
Days 15-18 I gather berries. Foraging level 4 gives you 2 berries per bush instead of 1, doubling the amount of food you get.
Days 18-28 is spent in the mines getting myself down to floor 80 (Or 100 if I'm going quick enough for the stardrop) for all of the gold, iron and quartz I need for the 20+ quality sprinklers.

Fishing is one of the BEST ways to make money early game. If it's not raining, the mountain lake is the best place because of largemouth bass, if it is raining, the river in front of Jodi's house for catfish.

I'm very methodical about how I play the early game, because it ends up allowing me to get everything I want done. I usually get the CC done by the end of year 1, depending on my luck with the red cabbage and duck feather/rabbit foot, otherwise, it's done by spring year 2 as I plant a red cabbage in the greenhouse as soon as the shop sells them.

[Bobywan]

You can't fail.
Even if you somehow lose all your money and all your item, you will get back your tool and gifts in the mail.
It doesn't matter if you have a successful farm on year 1 or year 100.

[Redwood]

Originally posted by Shortbolts:

Originally posted by chisu:

how do you even get that far by spring 28 ToT omg

900+ hours of restarting a farm constantly because I come off for a bit then decide to start a new one lol.

I'm very methodical about how I play the early game, because it ends up allowing me to get everything I want done. I usually get the CC done by the end of year 1, depending on my luck with the red cabbage and duck feather/rabbit foot, otherwise, it's done by spring year 2 as I plant a red cabbage in the greenhouse as soon as the shop sells them.

I enjoyed your game hearing you tell about it. Gives me some ideas for when I play again some day.

[Nakos]

You can play as non-optimally as you want.

You might want to take a look at Snowy Sprout's Poverty Farm thread, where she intentionally plays in an extremely non-optimal way just to see how it goes.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/413150/discussions/0/3200365942087808894/

[KatherineMByrne]

Everyone plays Stardew differently. I grind farming and mines early (Quality Sprinklers!!) so I can make all the money I want. The person that posted above had a similar method except I HATE fishing and will instead farm extra and sell more crops. My daughter farms just barely enough to obtain needed items and spends all her time foraging and talking to villagers. My son spends all his time in the mines and sells gems and farms on bad luck days. (But he has plenty of metal for sprinkers!) Play it how you want. Play it for 100 game years. Play it to enjoy it! I've done a few speed-run-esque saves and it sucks all the joy out of it. So play non-optimally and stop and pick the flowers!!

[NBOX21]

Just take all the time you need to. Your farm does get assessed at the end of year 2, but you can keep playing after that as well as being able to put a diamond in the shrine to get your farm re-assessed later so even if you're a bit on the slow side of things, it doesn't really matter much. Play at your own pace in a way that's fun for you!

There's also no real need to make as much money as possible as quick as you can - even if you end up dirt poor, there are always plenty of ways to make more money whenever you need to.

[Sstavix]

I am in year 5 and still haven't set foot in the Skull Cavern. There is nothing wrong with taking your time. Keep your own pace, and have fun!