Desert Festival & Salmonberry Season

[Roan]

Finally made it to year two in 1.6 and was incredibly disappointed to learn that the Desert Festival and Salmonberry Season overlap.

I really don't like having to choose between the two as there's just not enough time to get everything done in the morning and make a lap around the valley before the festival opens.

I'm sure other people have given feedback on this as well but... Just adding my thoughts on it as well. Has CA addressed this at all?

Hopefully in a future patch one of the two can be moved to different dates so that the events don't overlap.

In the meantime, guess I'll see if there's a mod that fixes this.

[jaketenno]

I'm still in winter year 1 and looking forward to desert festival in spring but I agree it would have been better if they didn't overlap. Sadly I don't check any updates on info like what you're looking for. Hopefully someone else has a better idea and post.

[Ryika]

What's so bad about the fact that they overlap?

[Roan]

Originally posted by Ryika:

What's so bad about the fact that they overlap?

Because it forces you to choose between two time-limited activities.

Salmonberries may not be particular useful or profitable by year two, but it's still a nice change up to my daily routine getting to ride around the valley harvesting bushes.

Is it absolutely game-breaking that the two overlap? Not at all. But it's still an unfortunate oversight.

[Ryika]

Originally posted by Valimure:

Because it forces you to choose between two time-limited activities.

And why is that a bad thing?

[Draconifors]

There was a thread about this exact same thing last week: https://steamcommunity.com/app/413150/discussions/0/6811212011866970873/

[Roan]

Originally posted by Ryika:

Originally posted by Valimure:

Because it forces you to choose between two time-limited activities.

And why is that a bad thing?

Because I don't like making decisions about what content to miss out on from year to year in my cozy life-sim.

You have to make decisions all the time about what to prioritize in the game; going to the mine vs fishing in a given day, for instance. But those are things you can do any day. This is the first time two time-sensitive events have overlapped, and each requires a large chunk of the day to "complete." For neurodivergent people like me, it's a huge stumbling block to hit something like that in a game where you're so used to feeling like you can do anything and everything.

Like I said, it's not the end of the world, just a slight inconvenience that could easily be remedied by moving the dates a bit. It might not matter at all to you, but it definitely had an impact on me and the way I normally feel when I play this game.

[Roan]

Originally posted by Draconifors:

There was a thread about this exact same thing last week: https://steamcommunity.com/app/413150/discussions/0/6811212011866970873/

Yeah, I did a bit of digging before posting to see if others felt the same. Glad it's not just me.

Some... Really unfortunate responses in there though. Granted the OP definitely came across as a bit demanding, but still concerning seeing people telling someone to "get gud" in Stardew Valley of all games.

I think in my case I'm just such a min-maxer that the inability to completely do two tasks in the same day is just a brick wall that I ran face-first into. Hopefully I'll figure out a way around it. Might have to leave the farm unattended for a couple days to make sure I can do my lap around the valley before 10 am hits 🥴

[Ryika]

Originally posted by Valimure:

Because I don't like making decisions about what content to miss out on from year to year in my cozy life-sim.

You have to make decisions all the time about what to prioritize in the game; going to the mine vs fishing in a given day, for instance. But those are things you can do any day. This is the first time two time-sensitive events have overlapped, and each requires a large chunk of the day to "complete." For neurodivergent people like me, it's a huge stumbling block to hit something like that in a game where you're so used to feeling like you can do anything and everything.

Like I said, it's not the end of the world, just a slight inconvenience that could easily be remedied by moving the dates a bit. It might not matter at all to you, but it definitely had an impact on me and the way I normally feel when I play this game.

I don't know, to me it just seems like a chance to grow.

Like, if I understood you correctly, then you do seem to acknowledge that the "feeling" that you're experiencing is inappropriate (unreasonable?) in at least some way, but your approach is still to demand a change. To me the proper reaction would be to instead go looking inwards to figure out what's causing that reaction.

It's a non-issue in Stardew, but that "knowledge" is probably useful in many other situations.

[Roan]

Originally posted by Ryika:

Originally posted by Valimure:

Because I don't like making decisions about what content to miss out on from year to year in my cozy life-sim.

You have to make decisions all the time about what to prioritize in the game; going to the mine vs fishing in a given day, for instance. But those are things you can do any day. This is the first time two time-sensitive events have overlapped, and each requires a large chunk of the day to "complete." For neurodivergent people like me, it's a huge stumbling block to hit something like that in a game where you're so used to feeling like you can do anything and everything.

Like I said, it's not the end of the world, just a slight inconvenience that could easily be remedied by moving the dates a bit. It might not matter at all to you, but it definitely had an impact on me and the way I normally feel when I play this game.

I don't know, to me it just seems like a chance to grow.

Like, if I understood you correctly, then you do seem to acknowledge that the "feeling" that you're experiencing is inappropriate (unreasonable?) in at least some way, but your approach is still to demand a change. To me the proper reaction would be to instead go looking inwards to figure out what's causing that reaction.

It's a non-issue in Stardew, but that "knowledge" is probably useful in many other situations.

Don't think I'm demanding anything, just giving feedback of "hey this doesn't feel particularly great to me" in the hopes that maybe it can be changed someday. I've found ways to deal with it already, but if something can easily be made better...why not change it?

May I ask what the dates overlapping adds to the game for you?

[Ryika]

Originally posted by Valimure:

Don't think I'm demanding anything, just giving feedback of "hey this doesn't feel particularly great to me" in the hopes that maybe it can be changed someday. I've found ways to deal with it already, but if something can easily be made better...why not change it?

Because I don't think it's objectively "better". In my opinion, having to make some meaningful choices, even in a cozy life-sim, is a good thing. This one in particular, as we seem to agree, isn't even all that impactful.

Originally posted by Valimure:

May I ask what the dates overlapping adds to the game for you?

I like having to make some choices over being able to do everything. The professions are a good example of this, too. Although in this case you can of course cram in most of both events if you plan ahead.

It also keeps the year as a whole a bit less busy as it keeps the number of "special" days lower.

[Roan]

Originally posted by Ryika:

Originally posted by Valimure:

Don't think I'm demanding anything, just giving feedback of "hey this doesn't feel particularly great to me" in the hopes that maybe it can be changed someday. I've found ways to deal with it already, but if something can easily be made better...why not change it?

Because I don't think it's objectively "better". In my opinion, having to make some meaningful choices, even in a cozy life-sim, is a good thing. This one in particular, as we seem to agree, isn't even all that impactful.

Originally posted by Valimure:

May I ask what the dates overlapping adds to the game for you?

I like having to make some choices over being able to do everything. The professions are a good example of this, too.

It also keeps the year as a whole a bit less busy as it keeps the number of "special" days lower.

Hmm, we are definitely two very different types of players for sure. I also love meaningful choices, but I don't want them to impact gameplay or the content available to me. I love the profession skill tree because the choices you make just impact the way you play the game rather than the content available to you.

It's funny as well because the special days are what keep me *less* busy and take my mind off the daily grind. It's a good mix up to my regular routine!

[Sunny]

Originally posted by Ryika:

It also keeps the year as a whole a bit less busy as it keeps the number of "special" days lower.

This is why I prefer they overlap, as well. I was having trouble figuring out how to articulate it, but this is it. I would rather have fewer holiday/special days that take me out of choosing what I will be working on, not more. If I have to "waste" a day on a minor festival, I'd prefer it be combined. Leave me alone, I want to dig in the dirt some more.

Not to say the opposite preference isn't valid! It totally is, and I do understand it.

[Calico Witch]

On those overlap days I'll collect salmon berries in a different area of the map each day until about 10am then I'll wisk over to the desert and do the Scholar's quiz and the critter races. The races are fun but could be a wee bit quicker, but I'm not actually complaining nor do they need to get 'fixed'. But it would be nice to get a couple more races in before the end of the day. I collect all the remainder of the salmon berries on the last day after the desert festival ends.

[Endora]

Also, depending of your choices on leveling the foraging skill, you can get up 3 berries instead of one, so there'll be plenty to use until the blackberries season on Fall.

[Best Fox Ever]

I also think it is annoying that the Salmonberries only spawn when the Desert Festival is on. Also the 3rd day of the Desert festival overlaps with St. Patrick's Day but that is just a minor event in the game. You can find a Leprechaun Hat and Pot of Gold near the Hat Mouse.