Mods on first playthrough?

[Kariion]

Should i use em?

[c1c12]

Hi can you tell me how to play this app thank you

[am84r1n0]

in my opinion yes and no. i started the game with no mods to experience the game fully but at a certain point when ive basically done all heart events and stuff i added mods so it was so boring after a while.

[Maki]

as someone who loved using mods in my first save, I think you should first enjoy the vanilla (original) version so you can fully appreciate and understand the original gameplay. some mods in stardew valley, like the expanded version, can be overwhelming. however, if the mods make minimal changes or just add aesthetic features, then go for it!

I still haven't reached perfection in my first save, but I created another account to play without mods. My mods were too overwhelming in my first save. Now, I'm enjoying the vanilla version again. hope this helps! 🎀

[Darren]

mmmhh, maybe use mods if you like them yes, but start with some just optical things maybe and try the game first vanilla in mechanics etc. So you have installed everything and its ready for mods but dont will have any impact of the expierience..i dont know

[Mharr]

Ideally just things you need for accessibility reasons like mouse movement, time rate and fishing assists. Just having the default SMAPI install gives you save backups and emergency debug commands, other things you can add and remove as you progress through the years.

Be very wary of Automate. It is too powerful.

[wondering.witch]

i think it depends on the mod.
gameplay mods that affect story? no, at least wait until you're a few years in and have explored much the game has to offer (that you want to explore, at least. i'm probably never going to bother with some of qi's quests).
if it's a mod that makes game play easier, like having the calendar in your inventory, i wouldn't download most of them if you're JUST starting out. but, as someone with ADHD, the to-dew mod is a lifesaver and i wish i had gotten it earlier.
if you're just starting out and looking to download a portrait mod, i'd say that's fine, i guess? i mean, i feel like it's a little odd. what's wrong with the portraits :(
of course, all of this goes out the window if it's for accessibility reasons, like my example with the in-game list mod, to-dew. i could never get anything done until i installed it. even if i was writing in a notebook, because i'd forget in the time it took me to look away and pick up my pen. so, you know, perspective.
sorry to give you a five-paragraph essay in response!

[Vaati]

If you want lol

[ChrillBill]

I did pure vanilla on my first playthrough. Mostly because I wanted to get a good sense and feel about the game and how it works without changing it. So it is something I recommend to others for their first playthrough. If you ask me, no mods for first playthrough.

But only you can decide how you want your first playthrough to be.

[Marokra]

do what you want forever, but personally i think its good not to. if you want to mod your first playthrough, id recommend mods that have simple aesthetic changes or quality of life mods (like lookup anything, that mod's a lifesaver) though.

all in all, do whatever you want. its your game, dont let people police you on how you choose to play it

[V-Fib]

I'm a firm believer that you should experience the vanilla game first, to know what you want changed.

[NevermindVortex]

I started without mods, but as i went along i downloaded some.
Dont follow rules, its a game, make it fun for you!

[Deviant]

im playing it vanilla right now and have very minimal issues with it. i know mods can be convenient/time saving but for me i like that some stuff takes time. ive been trying to enjoy it at a slower pace and really take it in. but i imagine ill try mods eventually.

i also am a newer pc user so i dont fully understand the world of mods yet, i havent taken the time to start looking into that yet

[Cheato1]

I would say use mods, specifically Ui Info Suite and potentially (although a tad op) automate. Both make the game so much more manageable in terms of remembering what needs done.

[Mharr]

Automate could be necessary if the task juggling is overwhelming, but it really does *napalm* the game's balance. When you get into the 1.6 additions it gains the ability to make teleport connections between machines anywhere in the world. I'd consider using time mods and just playing the game out slowly as an alternative.

All of which is the greatest thing about Stardew. You bought it, you own it and can play almost any way you can imagine.

[Cheato1]

Originally posted by Mharr:

Automate could be necessary if the task juggling is overwhelming, but it really does *napalm* the game's balance. When you get into the 1.6 additions it gains the ability to make teleport connections between machines anywhere in the world. I'd consider using time mods and just playing the game out slowly as an alternative.

All of which is the greatest thing about Stardew. You bought it, you own it and can play almost any way you can imagine.

I feel like best practice for automate is to lock it behind krobus and his paths, have each machine have its own chest and avoid using the linked methods to essentially ignore entire mechanics. Its one of those mods i always use but i make a point of avoiding the obvious abuse cases and instead like it for simply keeping machines going rather than me having to manually add everything every time.
Other mods i can think of are visible fish, dynamic reflections and passable crops, all make the game more accessible imo.