Role Play vs. Making Money

[PookieDoodle]

Somebody in another thread brought up a good point about role playing. I think it's so easy to forget who and what your farmers all about when you get caught up in just making money. This hadn't really dawned on me until now. Take my farmer for instance. She's from ZuZu City, recently went through a divorce and because of her alimony was able to retire to a farm. So she doesn't need money, she needs a lifestyle change. There I was, first Fall season, planting all the cash crops instead of concentrating on her being an artisan. Starting out we're all in the same boat. We need money, timber, rocks, etc. But if you've created a farmer that has a background, it's important not to lose site of who he or she is.

 

[lilan castel]

Somebody in another thread brought up a good point about role playing. I think it's so easy to forget who and what your farmers all about when you get caught up in just making money. This hadn't really dawned on me until now. Take my farmer for instance. She's from ZuZu City, recently went through a divorce and because of her alimony was able to retire to a farm. So she doesn't need money, she needs a lifestyle change. There I was, first Fall season, planting all the cash crops instead of concentrating on her being an artisan. Starting out we're all in the same boat. We need money, timber, rocks, etc. But if you've created a farmer that has a background, it's important not to lose site of who he or she is.

My farmer is an anti joja rebel. She has a criminal record because of her rebellious nature (she was in jail). But she is also caring about others and she worked in joja in order to let many other people live freely. Her movement to the town was illegal so with some help of her friends and Lewis they violated the law and helped her move. She doesn't care about money.

 

[ShneekeyTheLost]

I wrote up a fic about my character. Basically, he was a Joja Corp cubicle worker who got outsourced and laid off. Traded off his compensation package for a franchisee license as a supplier. His goal? Put himself in a financially secure enough position to never have to worry about losing a job ever again. Mellows out when he finds an actual life in town, but his goal is, literally, to make money.

 

[PookieDoodle]

Wow, some great backstories! I'm really enjoying having a storyline behind my farmer. It's my third playthrough and it's easy to just go through mundane farming. Not that that's mundane, just to get stuck in doing the same thing without a purpose. And having a backstory is making me think like the character I invented. For instance, tonight I leveled her gathering to 10. Usually I'd choose tracker because in the past it helped me to find so many Museum items I would of missed. But I chose botanist because she's all about quality items. So even though I'm making it much harder on myself, I'm staying in character. It's a way of challenging myself and making a game I've played before brand new to me.

 

[MissDandy]

Wow, I really like this thread. It brings up some things to think about! I never really made a backstory for my farmer because I always though she was supposed to be more like me. I guess I could make a backstory off that, though. It kind of goes like this then I guess:
After living in the big city (Zuzu City in this case I suppose) my farmer came to hate every single thing about it. The small amount of space, the noise, and the continual mundane routine. All she wanted was to go off and support herself, settle and have a big house and yard. The city was also too lonely, and she figured that if she stayed there she might end up alone for the rest of her life. When she found out she inherited her grandfather's old farm (who she never really liked, unfortunately) she left immediately and didn't look back. Now that she had her independence, she could build herself the home and family that she always wanted without being held back by employment. Now, she takes care of her crops (and plants for sake of aesthetics, not money), her family, and the dog too. It's the perfect life.

I'll put the boring part at the end so you don't have to read it if you don't want:
I tried to make my farmer mirror myself so that I could imagine what it would be like if I was as happy as I ever could be. If I lived in the game, I would never have a sad day again. I guess that's why I made her mirror myself in my main game. I do have some save files with farmers whom I have created individual personalities and stories for, but they're not super far along yet. On my main file, I chose the bachelor that I thought I would most likely end up with in real life. I decorated my house as I would want to if I ever could buy my own place. I chose the dog who most looked like my real dog (who has since passed away, Rest In Peace) but I now have a new dog who is a mirror image of my SDV dog. (It's almost creepy.) I guess at this point it's a comfort thing, where the game is like my second life. It's the one place I can go where there aren't a ton of problems waiting for me. It's also why, as this thread is discussing, I don't always choose the most profitable route I can take. I like to enjoy the little things, like planting flower arrangements and decorating sheds unnecessarily. Sure, I have my profitable items like wines and honey, but at the end of the day, it's not why I play.

Thank you for reading my novelette.

 

[Rhiannon]

Interesting subject line which is what got my attention. I've never written or imagined a backstory for my character but I do, as in all RPGs that I play, consider my character to be me. My avatar looks as much like me as possible. The pic I used for this forum was a first try at that but I got better when I started the game over my second of only two saves. She has her gray hair in a bun and wears glasses.

When I chose to marry Harvey, I did so because he looked older and a more appropriate age for ME. I agreed to having kids because I'm family oriented myself.

Obviously I can't/won't completely mirror myself or my life. I kill plants in RL. I've been nick named "the plants murderer" by my family. So when I told my mom about this game, she laughed and said "You? A farmer?" So there are some differences. In a game like this, I am NOT the plant murderer. I'm actually a very successful wealthy farmer. With a big house, a happy family and am best friends with the entire town.

But I'm role playing ME. A slightly different version of me, but still me.

 

[PookieDoodle]

Wow, I really like this thread. It brings up some things to think about! I never really made a backstory for my farmer because I always though she was supposed to be more like me. I guess I could make a backstory off that, though. It kind of goes like this then I guess:
After living in the big city (Zuzu City in this case I suppose) my farmer came to hate every single thing about it. The small amount of space, the noise, and the continual mundane routine. All she wanted was to go off and support herself, settle and have a big house and yard. The city was also too lonely, and she figured that if she stayed there she might end up alone for the rest of her life. When she found out she inherited her grandfather's old farm (who she never really liked, unfortunately) she left immediately and didn't look back. Now that she had her independence, she could build herself the home and family that she always wanted without being held back by employment. Now, she takes care of her crops (and plants for sake of aesthetics, not money), her family, and the dog too. It's the perfect life.

I'll put the boring part at the end so you don't have to read it if you don't want:
I tried to make my farmer mirror myself so that I could imagine what it would be like if I was as happy as I ever could be. If I lived in the game, I would never have a sad day again. I guess that's why I made her mirror myself in my main game. I do have some save files with farmers whom I have created individual personalities and stories for, but they're not super far along yet. On my main file, I chose the bachelor that I thought I would most likely end up with in real life. I decorated my house as I would want to if I ever could buy my own place. I chose the dog who most looked like my real dog (who has since passed away, Rest In Peace) but I now have a new dog who is a mirror image of my SDV dog. (It's almost creepy.) I guess at this point it's a comfort thing, where the game is like my second life. It's the one place I can go where there aren't a ton of problems waiting for me. It's also why, as this thread is discussing, I don't always choose the most profitable route I can take. I like to enjoy the little things, like planting flower arrangements and decorating sheds unnecessarily. Sure, I have my profitable items like wines and honey, but at the end of the day, it's not why I play.

Thank you for reading my novelette.

Your backstory and mine are very similar. Like I said in the previous post, I made her financially secure to challenge myself. I'm making an effort to think like her in all aspects. Take fishing for instance. There's good money in fishing, but that's too bad because my big city farmer girl doesn't like to fish. lol

 

[PookieDoodle]

Interesting subject line which is what got my attention. I've never written or imagined a backstory for my character but I do, as in all RPGs that I play, consider my character to be me. My avatar looks as much like me as possible. The pic I used for this forum was a first try at that but I got better when I started the game over my second of only two saves. She has her gray hair in a bun and wears glasses.

When I chose to marry Harvey, I did so because he looked older and a more appropriate age for ME. I agreed to having kids because I'm family oriented myself.

Obviously I can't/won't completely mirror myself or my life. I kill plants in RL. I've been nick named "the plants murderer" by my family. So when I told my mom about this game, she laughed and said "You? A farmer?" So there are some differences. In a game like this, I am NOT the plant murderer. I'm actually a very successful wealthy farmer. With a big house, a happy family and am best friends with the entire town.

But I'm role playing ME. A slightly different version of me, but still me.

I tend to do the same thing. Most of my characters, whatever game I'm playing do look like me. ....maybe a slightly younger me, but still, it's me. So it was really hard for me to create a character that I have nothing in common with. And to some degree, I made her that way on purpose. Every time I got to a certain point in this game I'd rinse and repeat. Some people work so hard to get 100% completion, but I give myself excuses to start another character because if I completely finished I'd be like, "ok, now what am I supposed to do?" And I agree with you about picking someone who you'd marry. I've done that every other time. So this time, it will be tough choosing someone I wouldn't marry, but that my farmer would. You have to constantly remind yourself, it's her life, not yours.

 

[Giant Octopodes]

Yep that's a big thing for me in certain playthroughs. My Maple Syrup farmer definitely was not optimal in terms of raking in the cash XD Still fun though. Interacting with Sandy has made me want to make a Flower Farmer, spreading the joys of the flowers of the valley to everyone. Between Flowers, Honey, and Oil (from Sunflowers or Sunflower Seeds) you can get liked gifts at minimum for everyone. My next farmer will probably go that route, probably while supporting Joja. Why Joja? Because then I'll never be compelled to get barns or coops, or fruit or vegetables, I can be all about flower power from start to end. Plus, if I'm playing a character all about flowers and spreading happiness and joy, that's probably the time I'll feel least guilty about supporting Joja XD. Themed farms based on RP characteristics and backstories are fun!

For my current character, while I have a backstory, and Roleplay that character at every opportunity in cutscenes (even when not optimal for friendship), it doesn't meaningfully interact with the choices for money making. Being a vampire, trying to seduce everyone (getting all marriage candidates to 10 hearts), living with Krobus, plotting to create a world of perpetual darkness (via endless rain totems), these are all things which don't really impact my money-making strategies at all, other than eventually meaning I'll need to get a huge stockpile of truffle oil (since ironically you can't gather the ingredients to make rain totems if you're using them). So going with the "standard" large scale starfruit and ancient fruit wine processing for his income wins out by default, because I enjoy it, it's effective, and there's no better options which Would further the character from a roleplay standpoint.

 

[Lew Zealand]

I've been mentally roleplaying in almost every game I play for many decades now, even FPSs. I remember peer-pressuring myself to do things while playing Ultima IV when it came out. Turns out that strategy works well in that game.

Farmer Bobbi's backstory was mentioned in another thread about backstories a few months ago and I expanded it in the writing forum here, but the short story is that she was an unlikable 2-job lifer who was going nowhere and meant nothing to anybody, and clearly needed a change. Getting to the Valley was that needed change but what she does with that opportunity is still a story to be told.

 

[hexnessie]

I love this thread! I always roleplay in farming/settling games (that includes Skyrim btw). I want to build a happy, well-stocked, safe cozy house for my character. I don't play as mini-me, for some reason my characters are almost always guys (I'm a woman), and I guess they are a way for me to experience all the things I can't in real life: growing things, fending off dangers on my own, making my own cheese, rearing animals, making poisons, exploring, having a successful and well-designed homestead...

In SDV, my questing is now done and I can focus on the roleplay. I plant lots and lots of crops, because my farm is going to need to stock up on wheat, corn, rice, sugar, oil, cabbage, kale, potatoes, yams, peppers, tomatoes, milk and eggs, fish products... I process the foods, because of course I need to preserve my kale, it would spoil before next year, and milk needs to be made into cheese to survive the winter. I'm cooking foods I don't need just because they would be great to make in real life (all the spicy foods I can't eat in RL, all the cakes, desserts, puddings and so on...) I make beer, ale, wine of different kinds, juices, jellies and preserves, not just for my own pantry, but because they should sell well -- tourists are always going to want to buy beer even if they aren't so sure about kale!

My greenhouse is full of beautiful fruit trees and bushes of ancient fruit, and is the prettiest place on the farm, a place to warm up and relax on a cold winter evening.

I'm growing my own coffee and tea, and brewing espresso everyday. I grow flowers for my bees, and collect maple syrup for my breakfast. I go foraging for mushrooms and berries (something I love IRL but can't do anymore), and clean up weeds and trash from the community grounds just because it's a decent and right thing to do.

My farmer guy's backstory isn't a very involved one, he's just a slightly reclusive, burnt-out ex-corporate drone whose only choice was either to completely turn his life around or die in a life he hated. He's trying to be nice to his neighbors even when they aren't nice to him, he loves giving people gifts but is always very worried they are going to hate it, he's not going to marry - he's so happy with the absolute quiet and detachment of his little farm.

 

[hexnessie]

Also, important! I always, ALWAYS fill my cats bowl even though I know I don't "have to" - but she's my cat, and she's going to have a full bowl and a warm home no matter what.

 

[CryogenCrystals]

I love this thread too!

I just get a case of the zoomies some days on my horse, and that's why I forage and chase artifact spots when I have zero need to. It's fun!

I spent so many years being a workaholic, practical, accomplishment person, but there's a unique magic to just being and doing stuff randomly for the fun of it. It's almost a bit of a recharge.

 

[PookieDoodle]

Yep that's a big thing for me in certain playthroughs. My Maple Syrup farmer definitely was not optimal in terms of raking in the cash XD Still fun though. Interacting with Sandy has made me want to make a Flower Farmer, spreading the joys of the flowers of the valley to everyone. Between Flowers, Honey, and Oil (from Sunflowers or Sunflower Seeds) you can get liked gifts at minimum for everyone. My next farmer will probably go that route, probably while supporting Joja. Why Joja? Because then I'll never be compelled to get barns or coops, or fruit or vegetables, I can be all about flower power from start to end. Plus, if I'm playing a character all about flowers and spreading happiness and joy, that's probably the time I'll feel least guilty about supporting Joja XD. Themed farms based on RP characteristics and backstories are fun!

For my current character, while I have a backstory, and Roleplay that character at every opportunity in cutscenes (even when not optimal for friendship), it doesn't meaningfully interact with the choices for money making. Being a vampire, trying to seduce everyone (getting all marriage candidates to 10 hearts), living with Krobus, plotting to create a world of perpetual darkness (via endless rain totems), these are all things which don't really impact my money-making strategies at all, other than eventually meaning I'll need to get a huge stockpile of truffle oil (since ironically you can't gather the ingredients to make rain totems if you're using them). So going with the "standard" large scale starfruit and ancient fruit wine processing for his income wins out by default, because I enjoy it, it's effective, and there's no better options which Would further the character from a roleplay standpoint.

I LOVE your Flower Farmer idea! That's why I started this thread, for those of us who've played this game before and decided, no this time I'm not about seeing the numbers roll at the end of the day. I'm on board with you about giving out just liked gifts. In the past, getting NPC's hearts up was a priority. Now, I'm just letting it happen and I'm getting new dialogue from some of them. Take Pam, for instance. This time around she initiated friendship with me. That's never happened to me before. So so far, it seems to be one side or the other. Either you play for pay or fun and creativity.

 

[PookieDoodle]

Also, important! I always, ALWAYS fill my cats bowl even though I know I don't "have to" - but she's my cat, and she's going to have a full bowl and a warm home no matter what.

I do too. Also, sometimes, I just stand there and wait for my cat to do that little jump and attack nothing thing. lol The catness in this game is spot on.

 

[PookieDoodle]

I love this thread too!

I just get a case of the zoomies some days on my horse, and that's why I forage and chase artifact spots when I have zero need to. It's fun!

I spent so many years being a workaholic, practical, accomplishment person, but there's a unique magic to just being and doing stuff randomly for the fun of it. It's almost a bit of a recharge.

I do the same thing. Sometimes, sure I'm in productive mode. But then there's those nights when I can't sleep. So I tell myself, 'well, you can ride around on Butterscotch for a while.' I get up, log on with the intention of not doing a darn thing but appreciating the beauty of the game and maybe picking some berries. It calms my mind so I can sleep.

 

[Dr. eeL]

My farmer in the valley retains fragments of my personality, but really is undergoing a much different life (like twins separated at birth). In the Fan Works story, Middlewalk, I would be so delighted to trade places and live in the valley as my farmer.

 

[PookieDoodle]

My farmer in the valley retains fragments of my personality, but really is undergoing a much different life (like twins separated at birth). In the Fan Works story, Middlewalk, I would be so delighted to trade places and live in the valley as my farmer.

Like you, there are some aspects of my character that mirror my life. I moved from Jacksonville, Florida to a small agricultural town in Montana. The town I live in is abundant with wildlife, berries and wildlife. Plus, for the first time in my life I get to experience all four seasons just like the game. I remember in the past, playing games like this one when it was close to 100 degrees outside and part of my role play was just having a character wearing a jacket in the snow. lol