1.4/1.5 vanilla or SV Expanded?

[granada777]

I haven't played SV since 1.3.

I also found out there's a very well-regarded overhaul mod called SV Expanded.

For anyone who's played SVE, which do you recommend I play?

[estehmanis]

I have different save for both, personally.

But I gotta say vanilla. SVE has more story-wise content, but mechanically talking, Vanilla has more content. Although I haven't got all the new content from 1.5 so can't be too sure.
The new items are awesome and the challenges are fun.

And Leo is a sweetheart, I wish there's more story content for him.

[Ratigan]

Originally posted by estehmanis:

I have different save for both, personally.

But I gotta say vanilla. SVE has more story-wise content, but mechanically talking, Vanilla has more content. Although I haven't got all the new content from 1.5 so can't be too sure.
The new items are awesome and the challenges are fun.

And Leo is a sweetheart, I wish there's more story content for him.

SVE still has everything vanilla has lol. Not sure what you're talking about a lack of content

[granada777]

Originally posted by Ratigan:

SVE still has everything vanilla has lol. Not sure what you're talking about a lack of content

I thought since it was an overhaul, that some vanilla things would be missing.

So the ultimate new experience for me would be 1.5 + SVE? No downsides?

[estehmanis]

Originally posted by granada777:

Originally posted by Ratigan:

SVE still has everything vanilla has lol. Not sure what you're talking about a lack of content

So the ultimate new experience for me would be 1.5 + SVE? No downsides?

true that.

[estehmanis]

Originally posted by Ratigan:

SVE still has everything vanilla has lol. Not sure what you're talking about a lack of content

lol yeah I forgot you could have both. But still if I had to choose one or the other, it's Vanilla.

[Natasha]

No mods remove anything from the vanilla game, there's no reason not to play with them.

[Elaisren2020]

Playing the Vanilla game is fine and perfectly playable if you're not a 100% completionist and happy to play at your own pace without stressing over every little thing, but I find it more stressful (fishing, obtaining specific quest items early on - RNG for CC bundles, although you can select 1st year complete option from settings to guarantee a red cabbage) than the mods (Item spawner is a life/time saver in every sense especially if you have one of the better time/energy mods in sync). You can select which mods you want to use and are easy to use and optional, you're not locked in.

The only downside to mods is if use a bad mod (badly made or not from a trusted source) or don't update them/ensure you're using all the relevant mods needed for your chosen mods to work in game. There are plenty of great threads/youtube videos and wiki guides out there to help you if you decide to go down the mod route. The SV/SVE mods on Nexus are on the whole awesome and free/safe to use.

In summary, buy the genuine SV game from steam or official retailer, then do your research on the mods which appeal to you and use nexus to download them free & perhaps donate a little to the brilliant modders of SVE and other great mods to help support their work.

[MalXenos]

as much as I liked what SVE added which is a ton, i prefer playing with out (but i do have other mods like better ranching).

[pcdeltalink]

I highly recommend SVE as I loved every second of it even if I didn't get past Fall Year One on that playthrough. The new locations and new NPC's just make the game feel so much more full than it previously was. I personally recommend a mod that lets you slow time a little bit as having that much more map to explore could mean you can't cover much ground in the normal vanilla time for a day.

Haven't played 1.5 yet as I'm waiting for the patches to stop because I'm not spending hours downloading and installing my 60ish mods just to re-download them when another patch drops and they have to be updated again.

[MonkehMaster]

obv late replies but since people are still commenting...

OP, if you havent played in awhile (you said since 1.3), then i would recommend playing vanilla first, then when your done or seen all the new content, then add mods afterwards.

[ImedgeQc]

For me SVE added too much. There was trees everywhere. Bugs with npcs (they were stuck in their house and the adventurer's guild was always close.) The tree part was just too much, like uncutable bushes right in front of my house or in the middle of a path and it made ginger island unplayable because half the golden walnut vanished.

Maybe if they fixed the bugs I would say it's worth it.

[Toyota BaBka]

Hai

[xAlphaStarOmegax]

I have played SDV with and without the SDV Expanded mod... having said that, I prefer it WITH the mod. The mod adds SO much more, you got more lands to traverse, more characters to meet / romance, it just fully fleshes out SDV to me. The mod also pairs well with the Grandpas Farm add on, I love it!

Let me add this though, even though I HIGHLY recommend the mod, I also recommend playing SDV first before giving the mod a go so you can see the differences etc.

[Elaisren2020]

Originally posted by xAlphaStarOmegax:

I have played SDV with and without the SDV Expanded mod... having said that, I prefer it WITH the mod. The mod adds SO much more, you got more lands to traverse, more characters to meet / romance, it just fully fleshes out SDV to me. The mod also pairs well with the Grandpas Farm add on, I love it!

Let me add this though, even though I HIGHLY recommend the mod, I also recommend playing SDV first before giving the mod a go so you can see the differences etc.

Amen to that - As stressful as I find the Vanilla SDV (compared to SDVE & Mods) I also recommend playing through SDV 1.5+ (Latest update) first especially if your new to SDV, because it helps get you used to the game in general and gives you a better idea of your own "Ideal Version/Play through" of the game, for if/when you play with mods SDVE & compatible mods. Although a quick heads up - for those who want to date/marry an NPC who are not normally available (Linus, Robin, Demetrius, Caroline, Krobus, Jodi etc.) while there are mods which allow you to do this to an extent most are not fully compatible (yet) with either SDV or SDVE especially if you are already using (or wish to use) other mods as well such as mods which alter key locations or character portraits/sprites/dialogue (you may have the odd bug/glitch - invisible NPC's, look for a shadow oval on ground to find them, loss of access to events like the "Egg Hunt", "Flower Dance" & "Luao" and so on.) Most bugs/glitches are minor and don't have a huge effect on the game in general but it can grate if the NPC you are trying to find for a quest or romance is invisible/off map (for the NPC location mods). So if you choose to go down this route I'd recommend checking the community wiki first for Mod help/support. I'll include links below for Key mod info on Getting started/ compatibility/Troubleshooting.

https://stardewcommunitywiki.com/Modding:Player_Guide/Getting_Started

https://stardewcommunitywiki.com/Modding:Player_Guide/Troubleshooting

https://stardewcommunitywiki.com/Modding:Mod_compatibility

You can get mods from various sites, but IMO/E the best/easiest/safest to use is Nexus:

https://www.nexusmods.com/stardewvalley?tab=popular+%28all+time%29