Separate setting to disable seed price decrease

[FranklyJustNess]

Update 1.5 added the option to scale profit margin to 75%, 50% or 25%. I at first was not sure if it's something I'd do, but after thinking about it for some time I actually really liked the idea. Each of the settings presents a unique gameplay difference, because the return margin on farming investments for default quality crops is about 45%-ish:

• 75% is just a slower progress if you feel unlocking stuff happens too quickly,
• 50% presents the possibility of making a loss on harvests, so you need to level up farming, use fertilizers and rely on other income sources before harvests pay for themselves well,
• 25% just means farming isn't really an option and it's important to look into other income sources like animals, foraging, fishing, mining before there is enough infrastructure to boost crop prices (kegs, cellar, high quality).

...at least in theory. It turns out seed prices are also adjusted, so parsnip seeds on 25% profit margin just cost 5g instead of 20g, which makes every setting here result in the same effect - slower game progress with no changes to actual gameplay. I actually really looked forward into 25/50 settings, but with this additional effect they aren't really interesting anymore. I get the point, but wish there was an additional setting on whether I actually want costs to be balanced too and not just profit margin.

 

[imnvs]

Point of order: 1.5 made it possible to set profit margins for a game started solo. Profit margins existed since MP existed in 1.3.

And profit margins affecting seed prices is necessary so that ANY profit can be had. Slower progress really appears to be the entire point, in that cash is less plentiful so you are slower to get the things requiring cash... but that you can still get cash from the things requiring an investment in cash. I mean, if you leave seed price at full and reduce profits to 25%, you can literally never make a profit from farming.

I mean, I'm not against folks wanting to hamstring themselves having the option to do so, but I think this is an ill-advised request. There are plenty of ways to self-impose restrictions in order to increase the difficulty. Some folks play vegan games (so no animal products ever), and others do games where they are not allowed to buy seeds. Others do simpler limiters like not planting ancient fruit.

 

[FranklyJustNess]

Point of order: 1.5 made it possible to set profit margins for a game started solo. Profit margins existed since MP existed in 1.3.

And profit margins affecting seed prices is necessary so that ANY profit can be had. Slower progress really appears to be the entire point, in that cash is less plentiful so you are slower to get the things requiring cash... but that you can still get cash from the things requiring an investment in cash. I mean, if you leave seed price at full and reduce profits to 25%, you can literally never make a profit from farming.

I mean, I'm not against folks wanting to hamstring themselves having the option to do so, but I think this is an ill-advised request. There are plenty of ways to self-impose restrictions in order to increase the difficulty. Some folks play vegan games (so no animal products ever), and others do games where they are not allowed to buy seeds. Others do simpler limiters like not planting ancient fruit.

Taking Parsnip as an example, the cost of seeds is 20g. To make profit on different levels you need:

• for 75% it is always profitable; basic parsnip is 35g times 0.75 is 26.25g
• for 50% you need silver quality ones; that's 43g*0.5 = 21.5g
• for 25% that requires processing it, juice is 109g*0.25 = 27.25g and pickles are 168g*0.25=42 (both provided player has Artisan profession, without it pickled is 120 which breaks even)

So it's not impossible. To be fair with 75% and 50% it's actually easy. I don't see why not have it as an advanced option flagged for experienced players. Of course it's not a great idea to require level 10 farming and infrastructure for profit from initial crop, but it can be an option.

 

[Ellajoy]

Taking Parsnip as an example, the cost of seeds is 20g. To make profit on different levels you need:

• for 75% it is always profitable; basic parsnip is 35g times 0.75 is 26.25g
• for 50% you need silver quality ones; that's 43g*0.5 = 21.5g
• for 25% that requires processing it, juice is 109g*0.25 = 27.25g and pickles are 168g*0.25=42 (both provided player has Artisan profession, without it pickled is 120 which breaks even)

So it's not impossible. To be fair with 75% and 50% it's actually easy. I don't see why not have it as an advanced option flagged for experienced players. Of course it's not a great idea to require level 10 farming and infrastructure for profit from initial crop, but it can be an option.

Yes! I would so like to try to get a advanced farm at 25% or 50%