Modded vs Vanilla for Returning Player

[SpacerZ]

I haven't committed to playing a full playthrough since ~2017. Recently, I learned that Stardew has gotten updates since its release, but I don't know any of the new content other than you can pick different farms now.

I also found out about the "Extended" modpack recently, lots of people praising it and apparently adding tons of content.

With a new update coming up, which route should I choose? Should I complete a playthrough with the vanilla content first to see what's new, or dive right into modded for a long-term playthrough?

Edit:
I've tried a quick game of both and found I've fallen in love with the beach farm, but I'm also excited about the massive farm from the SV:Extended modpack. Although, I felt overwhelmed by modded. I'll give vanilla a good 1 - 2 year run to prepare myself for modded. Gives me an excuse to play even more, anyway.

[NBOX21]

The vanilla game has received a ton of new content since 2017. The special orders board and Ginger Island were both added in the 1.5 update which by themselves provide loads of extra content that can keep you busy for a very long time.

If it's been a very long time since you've played it, you may find it worthwhile to return to the vanilla game first to see what you've missed the whole time. It's also a good way to refresh your memory on how everything works in case you forgot.

[Maya-Neko]

There's no right and wrong. The Expanded Mod pack just adds on top of the existing game, so you don't loose anything by adding it, but it obviously comes with more complexity, so if you're regularly looking up stuff in wikis, then you'll need to look through 2 (or more, depending on how many big content mod packs you're adding on top of that)

But if you say, that you only play it once completely through and then won't touch it for another 5 years, then i would say playing a modded version might be a good idea

[Nakos]

A lot of people like the Stardew Valley Extended mod. But do be aware, it was written by someone else, so ... the tone and character of the writing is noticeably different.

If you haven't played since 2017, I'd suggest playing a vanilla game first.

But if you're not likely to play again for another 6 years after this ... I dunno what to tell you. Mods add to the game, but they also change it. If you play a lot, then mods can offer an interesting change of pace. But personally, I'm much more likely to avoid them if I only play occasionally.

[Maya-Neko]

Originally posted by Nakos:

A lot of people like the Stardew Valley Extended mod. But do be aware, it was written by someone else, so ... the tone and character of the writing is noticeably different.

Though the new characters have more depth, especially the Joja-route and -characters. I wouldn't say, that this isn't a bad change^^ And the art style is still kept very close to the original, so players who don't know the vanilla game that well might've a hard time telling mod and unmodded stuff apart.

[Nakos]

Originally posted by Maya-Neko:

Originally posted by Nakos:

A lot of people like the Stardew Valley Extended mod. But do be aware, it was written by someone else, so ... the tone and character of the writing is noticeably different.

Though the new characters have more depth, especially the Joja-route and -characters. I wouldn't say, that this isn't a bad change^^ And the art style is still kept very close to the original, so players who don't know the vanilla game that well might've a hard time telling mod and unmodded stuff apart.

Meaning no disrespect, I disagree. I find the tonal change to be both glaring and jarring.

I won't speak to the depth of the writing, I haven't delved that deeply into it.

The sizing is radically different as well, with some added areas being huge (out of scale with the rest of SDV) and some being tiny (again, out of scale with the rest of SDV).

[Maya-Neko]

Depends on how you define "out of scale" though. After doing some playthroughs on vanilla, playing SVE expanded made me think, that vanilla is out of scale as well for some things, most notably the very low amount of trees, which is especially annoying for multiplayer.

Also most stuff is placed around the vanilla game, so there is most of the time no need to dive into the vastness of the mod, unless you want to, with the exception of the mines.

And the worst scaling issue is the Joja-route, which is just pathetic compared to the community center and i would always recommend to play through it on SVE to get, what you would expect from the vanilla game and even more.

But obviously, everyone needs to decide, what they want from it in the end

[Radiosity]

While going vanilla and checking out all the new stuff is a good plan, I would certainly suggest you check out a few QoL mods, such as UI Info Suite and Automation. Makes the game a lot more pleasant.

[TJgalon]

Mostly as a returning player my self, as I come and go on this, I have enjoy the Qol mods. Nothing that truly changes the core game, but makes a few thing easier, so I do not have to fully remember. Like where people are, or the menu of items to see if it useful in anything.
I think the only core change i added, was giving me one more slot of backpack space, where I set it as a 300k itemto buy

[Amberbaum]

Originally posted by Radiosity:

While going vanilla and checking out all the new stuff is a good plan, I would certainly suggest you check out a few QoL mods, such as UI Info Suite and Automation. Makes the game a lot more pleasant.

Yeah, you don't have to add content mods if you don't want to. Content creep is a thing. But there are some really good and I say essential QoL mods. I will not play this game without these mods.