Thoughts on Meadowlands Farm map

[ChrillBill]

Curious to know what everyones thoughts on the new farm map is.

I get that people most likely haven't been able to progress very long into their new playthroughs, but if you take a screenshot in game through the menu, you can get a good impression of the farm both when it comes to functionality and also design.

But just in case, here is an image from the official Stardew Valley wiki:
Meadowlands Farm[stardewvalleywiki.com]

My first impression: A bit underwhelmed, but I also set my expectations a bit high so that's mostly my own fault. Obviously (or at least from my perspective) this map is meant for someone who enjoys livestock - which I do, so that's good! Designwise, well... That is where I felt underwhelmed I guess. It is pretty, and it also feels like a blend of the standard, forest and a tiny bit of riverland farm for me.

Which is fine. I do wish it was bigger though, lol.

All in all, a nice addition to the rest of the vanilla farm maps for sure.

[maestro]

As a person who never prioritized filling every tillable tile with crops, and actually keeping the fields modest, this map is nice. I love how you start out with a coop and 2 chickens which is about 6,000G advantage, all at the cost of 15 parsnip seeds (you start out with hay instead).

It's a nice leg up on early-game, as it only takes 3 days for those chickens to grow up and start giving you eggs. 200g per day might not sound like much, but it's passive income and once you find a couple earth crystals, you'll be making way more with mayo.

Also, petting the chickens every day gives farming XP which lets you level up farming a little faster by getting a head start on that. Even some of my best starts, I didn't have a coop and chickens until 2nd or 3rd week of Spring and that's with using the automatic fishing mod. Without it, it's like... near the end of spring to get a coop up with chickens.

[King Baldwin IV]

I like the option of starting out with livestock-- that's about all that I can say so far

[ChrillBill]

Originally posted by maestro:

As a person who never prioritized filling every tillable tile with crops, and actually keeping the fields modest, this map is nice. I love how you start out with a coop and 2 chickens which is about 6,000G advantage, all at the cost of 15 parsnip seeds (you start out with hay instead).

Same here, I have never cared much for filling every single tile there is to fill with crops. And I do like that this map puts more focus on animals because that is something I like having lots of on my farms. This is also why I wish it was a bit bigger, lol.

Originally posted by maestro:

It's a nice leg up on early-game, as it only takes 3 days for those chickens to grow up and start giving you eggs. 200g per day might not sound like much, but it's passive income and once you find a couple earth crystals, you'll be making way more with mayo.

Also, petting the chickens every day gives farming XP which lets you level up farming a little faster by getting a head start on that. Even some of my best starts, I didn't have a coop and chickens until 2nd or 3rd week of Spring and that's with using the automatic fishing mod. Without it, it's like... near the end of spring to get a coop up with chickens.

It's indeed a nice start I think. I guess my point in the opening post was that it's probably not a farm map I would recommend for someone who likes to rely only or mostly on crops. The space for crops is limited but I also feel it is generous enough. I like when a map puts focus on different things, forcing the player to utilize other aspects of the game and perhaps also step out of their comfortzone a little. This map is good for that purpose I think.

[agmdaniel]

I found it a very interesting start. I'm used to starting with my 15 parsnips so not having that made me wonder "but how will I make money?" Yes, I know I have 500g but I was curious to see if i could manage without running to Pierre on Day 1. As luck would have it, I came across some mixed seeds, so I planted two of those. Between those and the eggs, it should be a good start.

[annie4294]

Does anyone know where the cave is on this map?

[OgtheDim]

The aesthetic is quite nice if you accept that its not an industrial farm.

Its an early game focused map as against a "must be as efficient as possible" sort of farm.

I too was never into farming every last bit of non-green space - so ranching & honey (eventually) is better for me.

I like the little enlarged bits in behind the house.

I like the meandering river and find the water access via the chicken ranch useful for refills.

I can conceive of creating a forested tap area planting seasonal flowers between with random beehives - that area might actually look like a forest farm as against the straight line forestry mines that we mostly see in the "look at me" screenshots.

Also thinking of a shed among the wild.

There's enough non-green soil south of the farmhouse to do a decent little plot of 120 or so which isn't going to get you perfection quick but...that's quick isn't my idea of perfection.

Yeh, this map isn't for everybody but its calling to me.

[ZakValentine]

Originally posted by annie4294:

Does anyone know where the cave is on this map?

Bottom right of the farm

[Včelí medvídek]

Overall its good for new game with non standard approach - like rancher itself is less common path, at least for me. Having locations like cave or shrine moved on map is refreshing too.. And blue grass make me want to date Emily...

[Triforce]

Someone else with the problem the "Getting Started" Quest is not registering harvesting an egg? Doesn't trigger on my new game.

[matt11mz]

As someone who loves turning the item id exploit into its own farm, I love meadow. You should get enough gold from the "getting started" quest and selling 1 chicken to get the 800 to buy another on Wednesday. Even though you have less space, I found that I struggle to get past 12 coops in a day, so there should be plenty room.

For a normal farmer, it has a very pretty plot, and enough room for basic farming. I like it.

[Včelí medvídek]

Originally posted by TRANSWARPKANAL:

Someone else with the problem the "Getting Started" Quest is not registering harvesting an egg? Doesn't trigger on my new game.

Seems this happent o people not playing in english from beginning,

[ChrillBill]

The forest farm map was always my favourite vanilla map, so I am happy that it has the same feeling as that one. A bit secluded, and there is certainly more space on meadows to work with than on forest. Unless my eyes are playing tricks on me *.*

[xAlphaStarOmegax]

I'm loving it. :)

[Yggdrasil Burnes]

There's a single plank bridge just past the greenhouse. I assume that's where Grandfather's shrine is, but mine is blocked by a hardwood trunk.

[Campaigner]

My only complaint is that all of the grass isn't blue. Only patches. That and I can't fish at the waterfall. Gotta aim lower.