Solo and Pet routes for the Marriage/Roommate Stardrop

[Nocturnal]

I want to suggest an alternative way to get the Stardrop currently tied to marriage and roommates. Achieving true perfection without waivers requires marrying an NPC or moving Krobus in, which feels a bit punishing for players who prefer to play as solo farmers.
The common advice is to marry an NPC, get the Stardrop, and immediately divorce them. I really don't want to break their hearts (even Krobus! ) or pull them out of their normal lives just for an item. On the other hand, buying Perfection Waivers feels like admitting defeat. It subtly implies that a single lifestyle isn't considered "complete" or "perfect". It would be great if max energy wasn't tied strictly to domestic partnerships.
Here are two alternative routes I'd love to see for this specific Stardrop:

The Pet Route: If we reach max hearts with our pet, they could dig up this Stardrop as a special gift. Speaking of pets, it would be amazing to see more actual interactions with them. We have items like the cat tree and dog house, but they are currently just decorations. Letting pets actually play with them or sleep inside during Winter would add so much warmth to the farm!

The Best Friend Route: Let us give a "Best Friend Bracelet" to a max heart NPC. It establishes a lifelong platonic bond without them moving into our house, and they gift the Stardrop to celebrate the friendship.

 

[Contented-Slime]

I want to suggest an alternative way to get the Stardrop currently tied to marriage and roommates. Achieving true perfection without waivers requires marrying an NPC or moving Krobus in, which feels a bit punishing for players who prefer to play as solo farmers.
The common advice is to marry an NPC, get the Stardrop, and immediately divorce them. I really don't want to break their hearts (even Krobus! ) or pull them out of their normal lives just for an item. On the other hand, buying Perfection Waivers feels like admitting defeat. It subtly implies that a single lifestyle isn't considered "complete" or "perfect". It would be great if max energy wasn't tied strictly to domestic partnerships.
Here are two alternative routes I'd love to see for this specific Stardrop:

The Pet Route: If we reach max hearts with our pet, they could dig up this Stardrop as a special gift. Speaking of pets, it would be amazing to see more actual interactions with them. We have items like the cat tree and dog house, but they are currently just decorations. Letting pets actually play with them or sleep inside during Winter would add so much warmth to the farm!

The Best Friend Route: Let us give a "Best Friend Bracelet" to a max heart NPC. It establishes a lifelong platonic bond without them moving into our house, and they gift the Stardrop to celebrate the friendship.

I love this idea, because I've ran into so many people that just want to play without marrying! I think it would be great!

 

[Cuddlebug]

The Best Friend Route: Let us give a "Best Friend Bracelet" to a max heart NPC. It establishes a lifelong platonic bond without them moving into our house, and they gift the Stardrop to celebrate the friendship.

Oh, I would like that, too. It's a bit annoying sometimes to always have to give a bouquet to get ten hearts, even without romantic interest. Feels a bit like cheating somehow.

 

[dragonflySky]

I hate sharing my house with an NPC. I marry them just for the stardrop then divorce them as soon as I get it and I take a trip to the shrine of forgetting so it's like it never happened. It would be cool if you could give a special item to your pet, e.g. a pet toy. That increases the stars with the pet in a similar way to the NPC romance then it drops the stardrop when it reaches the new "pet best friend" level. Maybe even get a further benefit from the pet when it's best friends like it gives you better gifts or even banishes crows.

 

[BeenASon]

I hate sharing my house with an NPC. I marry them just for the stardrop then divorce them as soon as I get it and I take a trip to the shrine of forgetting so it's like it never happened. It would be cool if you could give a special item to your pet, e.g. a pet toy. That increases the stars with the pet in a similar way to the NPC romance then it drops the stardrop when it reaches the new "pet best friend" level. Maybe even get a further benefit from the pet when it's best friends like it gives you better gifts or even banishes crows.

That would be awesome. Pet gifts aren't that useful IMO. More hearts should mean better gifts.

 

[BeenASon]

Oh, I would like that, too. It's a bit annoying sometimes to always have to give a bouquet to get ten hearts, even without romantic interest. Feels a bit like cheating somehow.

Same. Platonic relationships are impossible in Stardew lol. Why can't I become best friends with Penny without cheating on my spouse????