The islander: suggestions welcome.

[nicodeux]

I plan to start a new farm with a specificity: as soon as my farmer sets foot up Ginger Island, he won't be able to come back to the valley. The objective is to develop the island farm with only what Ginger Island has to offer, thus experiencing what Professor Snail and Birdie did.

This raises many questions.

The first one is a role play question as I like to role play my SDV runs: for what reason would the farmer be stucked on Ginger Island? The answer is important, because it will dictates if the island resort is rebuilt and if it is used. For example, if the farmer is stucked because something happened to Willy (he is abducted by aliens, his boat sinks on the return ride...) the resort can be rebuilt, be can't be used. But if nothing happens to Willy, why would the farmer stay on Ginger Island? Was he transfered to some parallel world? So many questions.

Other more practical questions also raise.

What would the farmer set as objectives for himself while on Ginger Island? Obviously, farm animals, marriage, kids and most of other social behaviours are out of scope. Mines and Skull Caverns too, which greatly limits the number of Qi's quests that are doable.

What would be the minimum setup to bring to Ginger Island? Tools are mandatory of course. Because this is a role play run, I don't want to have my farmer waiting to have completed every possible tasks in the valley and maxed out every possible thing, nor to arrive with his inventory full of machines and materials. It should be played like a "normal" run and when Willy's boat is repaired, the farmer goes discovering Ginger Island with minimal surviving equipment (he is exploring an unknown island, after all). Then something goes wrong and the farmer has to start anew on Ginger Island.

I would be happy to read your remark or suggestions.

 

[Ereo]

You could still open the resort but Willy would refuse to take you ever again if he had a personal grudge against you.

Maybe you beat him in the fair or the fishing contest once too often. Maybe you didn’t have respect for the water and fished too many of his beloved catfish, so now the species is endangered in the valley. Or did you marry his buddy Elliott, and now he never hangs out with him any more?

Apart from something happening to Willy, something could also have happened in the valley. You could play it a bit like the sims apocalypse challenges and unlock the valley again with some predefined milestones. Maybe you need to ship 999 wood and stone to repair something broken, or even metals. Maybe 999 ginger are needed to cure a permanent nausea that affects anyone setting food in the valley.

Or the governor finally noticed that you never paid any taxes and you’ll get arrested as soon as you return (until you have at least 10 M G because there’s no tax evasion for that kind of money, is there? Rich people aren’t criminal ;) ). But since there’s no extradition treaty, villagers could still come to the island. This one could also give you a reason to bring some basic equipment, since you’re planning to run.


Otherwise, bringing a couple of tents might make sense for role play (planning a short trip for exploration), but you should be able to unlock the farm house fairly quickly if that is the first thing you do and there are some in the jungle. A bit of food for the same reason.

 

[Giant Octopodes]

I'd recommend this scenario:

"Joja ruins everything"

Upon arriving, don't talk to anyone. Don't participate in festivals, don't do job wanted quests (with one exception listed below), don't meaningfully participate in the town at all, just focus singlemindedly on profit. Go the Joja route, both to make it faster to get to where you can unlock ginger island, and for the theme to make sense.

The idea being, your farmer fled a life of working for Joja, started over in Stardew valley. Only to focus on corporate greed and advancing the interests of Joja - Again. Morris getting a big promotion and the celebration of the Joja corporation opened their eyes, they had thrown away the fresh start and opportunity presented to them and just repeated the mistakes of the past. So when Willy offered them what they saw as a chance for one last fresh start, they took it. It's not that they *can't* go back, it's that they *won't*, any more than they'll go back to where they were before they left for Stardew Valley in the first place. The town is too painful, a reminder of the mistakes they've made.

In this scenario, opening the resort is not only acceptable, it's key. The goal is to start with zero hearts and as close to zero friendship with everyone as possible, then open the resort, and then get max hearts with all villagers who you're able to interact with (Leo of course, as well as everyone who visits the island and goes to the resort). Between doing that, and getting all the golden walnuts and making the island everything it can be, you're making amends for the sins of the past and stopping your focus on profit or greed, instead focusing on the people and the relationships that really matter.

If you go this route, I'd definitely recommend choosing a level of upgrades for your tools and getting them all there before heading across. Iridium is overkill, agreed, but either Steel or Gold would be strongly recommended just so you're not struggling unduly and reducing your fun. I'd also recommend specifically doing the special order quest "Cave Patrol" so you get the Geode Crusher recipe, and thus don't lock yourself out of Geode contents needlessly. Finally, in this scenario, going to the Desert is absolutely permissible. After all, Stardew Valley is where the scars are, not the Desert. As such as long as you bring a warp totem: island to get back, using a warp totem: desert to go directly to it without touching the Valley is perfectly fine.

In general when you go there I'd recommend taking absolutely nothing but the tools you arrived in Stardew Valley with. Everything else is tainted, a result of your materialistic past, and is abandoned just as your belongings were the first time you fled your past with Joja. Learning the Warp Totem: Desert recipe before heading across would be ideal. After all the ingredients for Warp Totem: Desert can all be found on the island. But if you haven't learned it before heading there I'd also bring one Warp Totem: Desert, and just make sure whenever you go to the Desert you either bring 3 Omni Geodes as well as the Warp Totem: Island so you can keep the chain going, or the materials to buy the recipe (10 Iridium Bars).

The reason I like this scenario is because it's thematically appropriate, and ties to a common complaint folks have, about people leaving Joja only to do the same corporate materialistic path in the valley. It fits the portrayal of the character, and still leaves a lot of the game open to you (especially the desert) while having a clear objective to work towards. Hope this helps or at least provides some inspiration!

 

[Maher]

I would definitely rebuild the resort in this scenario, and just leave it closed. Why deny yourself the company of the pirates?

 

[FilthyGorilla]

The first one is a role play question as I like to role play my SDV runs: for what reason would the farmer be stucked on Ginger Island? The answer is important, because it will dictates if the island resort is rebuilt and if it is used. For example, if the farmer is stucked because something happened to Willy (he is abducted by aliens, his boat sinks on the return ride...) the resort can be rebuilt, be can't be used. But if nothing happens to Willy, why would the farmer stay on Ginger Island? Was he transfered to some parallel world? So many questions.

Maybe you were a suspected Joja cola smuggler and now you've run off to the mini tropic nations to escape conviction

What would the farmer set as objectives for himself while on Ginger Island? Obviously, farm animals, marriage, kids and most of other social behaviours are out of scope. Mines and Skull Caverns too, which greatly limits the number of Qi's quests that are doable.

What would be the minimum setup to bring to Ginger Island? Tools are mandatory of course. Because this is a role play run, I don't want to have my farmer waiting to have completed every possible tasks in the valley and maxed out every possible thing, nor to arrive with his inventory full of machines and materials. It should be played like a "normal" run and when Willy's boat is repaired, the farmer goes discovering Ginger Island with minimal surviving equipment (he is exploring an unknown island, after all). Then something goes wrong and the farmer has to start anew on Ginger Island.

I would be happy to read your remark or suggestions.

You can do a whole lot on the island. I'd definitely bring all the tools at iron level (with the powerful enchant they pick becomes the equivalent to gold and axe to iridium), a fishing rod, and a slongshot but otherwise you can get almost anything you want in terms of resources on the island.

One thing I may consider is bringing a few starter crops, if going with the escapee narrative it would make sense to bring some stuff seeing as you plan to live on the island, though you probably wouldn't be able to smuggle much over. On the flip side, in an alternate story you could be running for your life and couldn't bring a single thing, or even in another it was your plan all along to escape the confines of society and you brought a whole farms worth of equipment over with you.

 

[Benhimself]

The parrots need someone with opposable thumbs and preferable more problem-solving skills than a young child, so threaten to sink the boat if you ever return, until you get all their golden walnuts.

The plants of the jungle exude a rare spore that has utterly lethal withdrawal symptoms if you spend too long away from them, but fortunately you're able to warn Willy so everyone else stays on the beach when and if they arrive at the resort. (Children have a natural immunity, lucky for Leo)

You arrive on the island and go "Oh dang this place is paradise, and I am never leaving". And the ancient volcano spirits witness your oath and take it too literally!

 

[nicodeux]

Thanks all of you for your suggestions and ideas about the scenario for my farmer. There are many good ideas in them!

Or the governor finally noticed that you never paid any taxes and you’ll get arrested as soon as you return (until you have at least 10 M G because there’s no tax evasion for that kind of money, is there? Rich people aren’t criminal ;) ). But since there’s no extradition treaty, villagers could still come to the island. This one could also give you a reason to bring some basic equipment, since you’re planning to run.

You made my day with this one!!

FilthyGorilla[/B]]
You can do a whole lot on the island. I'd definitely bring all the tools at iron level (with the powerful enchant they pick becomes the equivalent to gold and axe to iridium), a fishing rod, and a slongshot but otherwise you can get almost anything you want in terms of resources on the island.

One thing I may consider is bringing a few starter crops, if going with the escapee narrative it would make sense to bring some stuff seeing as you plan to live on the island, though you probably wouldn't be able to smuggle much over. On the flip side, in an alternate story you could be running for your life and couldn't bring a single thing, or even in another it was your plan all along to escape the confines of society and you brought a whole farms worth of equipment over with you.

Thank you for the hints about the tools and starter crops. I also think of bringing oak, mapple or pine seeds, because it will be hard to craft devices without any syrups.

 

[nicodeux]

Here he is, the islander in becoming: Farmer Robinson. I read all your suggestions and the idea about the Joja road was interesting, though I chose to do it the opposite way by exacerbating the loath of Joja.

Farmer Robinson is an employee in Joja headquarters and his job is becoming more and more of a burden as days pass. He finally decides to open Grandpa's letter and discovers the wonderful gift that was left to him.

Farmer Robinson relocates to Stardew Valley and starts a new life, with new friends. He is very happy to work with his own hands and to be his own master. Yet, a shadow still lies above his head: there is a Joja Market in Pelican Town. Farmer Robinson does everything possible to stimulate the local economy and push Joja out of the town, once and for all. Thus, restoring the Community Center is a priority to him until Joja Market finally closes its doors in Pelican Town.

However, the high figures of money that Farmer Robinson makes and the fact that he pays no taxes on it, reminds him too much of Joja. Has he become the foe he had fled and fought?

Doubting of himself, Farmer Robinson receives a letter from his friend, Willy, a simple and true man who asks for help to repair his old father's boat. As a reward for Farmer Robinson's help, Willy promises to lead him to the mysterious and isolated Fern Island.

Farmer Robinson thinks of a book he read a month ago in Pelican Town library: "Friday, or, The Other Island" from Michel Tournier and he sees in Willy's request a way to really escape Joja and his inner demons. Farmer Robinson will seize the opportunity that Willy offers to him. He will travel to this Fern Island and he will settle there, never to return. And he will only bring basic survival tools and supplies, like seeds and a few materials to start a new life, honest and simple.

 

[Maher]

Farmer Robinson thinks of a book he read a month ago in Pelican Town library: "Friday, or, The Other Island" from Michel Tournier and he sees in Willy's request a way to really escape Joja and his inner demons.

Well that's going on my reading list!

 

[stardew_luv]

you could do a small farm first basic no animals (so you don’t need to sell them) and say no to pets cause you won’t want leave a sweet puppy or kitty behind. Don’t marry or have kids cause that would be just cruel, Oh if you are a perfectionist you have to do all that crap first. If not just make certain to get joja completed and paid for, all tools and fishing rods and all to iridium, and you’ll want the galaxy sword cause you can’t go back get it done later. If you want grandpas special tools from mastery gave you have to do that first too. Then take tools, machines, seeds, bait, crab pots, food, all recipes, etc and depart. You will certainly want the Poi recipe from Leo and sashimi recipe from Linus as you will be living off of it literally. There’s tons of food and ores, taro roots, ginger, pineapples, etc on Ginger. I’d friend Leo to 6 hearts cause you will want him to have friends elsewhere. He’ll be back to see you. If you want just a little extra fun and more access to more seeds mixed in plus another chance to see villagers and a festival once a year, you could make it where you allow yourself through warp totems to visit desert but not mainland, just be sure not to pass out ir get killed in skull cavern or you’ll wind up back on mainland. The desert would still feel away from mainland but that’s totally your call. I really like this idea. I’ve seen it done with mods avoiding mainland entirely and pirates forge tools instead of Clint lol, but never read anyone doing it without. Way cool!

 

[nicodeux]

you could do a small farm first basic no animals (so you don’t need to sell them) and say no to pets cause you won’t want leave a sweet puppy or kitty behind. Don’t marry or have kids cause that would be just cruel

Farmer Robinson will have animals because you need them for Community Center bundles. They will left to roam freely in the farm when he leaves because selling them has no purpose as money is not used on Ginger Island. Pets, I don't know yet. Farmer Robinson won't marry (and won't have kids) because marriage, when you know you will leave, is bad from a Role Play perspective, but also because it costs money: you need 5000 gold for the pendant.

Oh if you are a perfectionist you have to do all that crap first […] If you want grandpas special tools from mastery gave you have to do that first too.

The role play motivation of this run is to flee a world plagued by Joja (or Joja mindset) and to start a new life in an almost forsaken tropical island. Thus, Farmer Robinson won't run as a completionist before leaving to Ginger Island. He will leave when he has the chance, though he will nonetheless prepare his journey to prevent being bare hands.

You will certainly want the Poi recipe from Leo and sashimi recipe from Linus as you will be living off of it literally. […] The desert would still feel away from mainland but that’s totally your call. I really like this idea. I’ve seen it done with mods avoiding mainland entirely and pirates forge tools instead of Clint

Sashimi is one of the recipe that I think to be mandatory to learn in this run, Poi recipe will be easy to get because Leo lives on Ginger Island, so we'll be neighbours.

I never thought of Calico Desert as an exception to the rule of never going back to mainland. I have to think about this.

And yes, Clint ability to open geodes is one of my main concern: will farmer Robinson wait to get the recipe for Geode Crusher before leaving? And what about Golden Coconuts and Mystery Boxes? Those are not mandatory, but still very usefull nonetheless. I have to think about this too, while Farmer Robinson progresses with his new life in Stardew Valley.

Thank you very much for your ideas and remarks!

 

[nicodeux]

Yesterday, Farmer Robinson won the Egg Hunt and though Abigail was sad, he got a straw hat which will be very useful when he will be under the bright sun of Ginger Island... though Farmer Robinson doesn't know it, yet.

 

[nicodeux]

As Farmer Robinson slowly makes progress towards completing the Community Center, I prepare his luggages. What will he put in his inventory when leaving for Ginger Island?
Everything related to farm animals or fish ponds is out of scope, obviously. The objective is to start anew on Ginger Island, using what the island has to offer for crafting, foraging and farming. I had a quick overview of what resources are available on Ginger Island and that led to many questions.

Battery packs: they are used to craft useful items like iridum sprinklers and crystalariums. But also more cosmeting ones like mini-jukebox or lamp-posts. How to get battery packs on Ginger Island? Lightning rods are not possible as there is no storm on Ginger Island. Solar panel could work as they can be crafted on Ginger Island and require only sun... but I don't see how to get the recipe from Caroline special order without getting back to Pelican Town after setting on the island. I think Farmer Robinson might need to bring some battery packs with him.

Cereals: growing cereals would sound like a natural and good idea when settling on an isolated island. Books of shipwrecks rescapees always mention how crops of wheat or rice are almost vital for the island inhabitants. Cereals are basic ingredients of food in many if not all cultures. However, even if cereals can grow on Ginger Island, what would Farmer Robinson do of them? The mill is a farm building that is not available on Ginger Island... Wheat and unmilled riced can not be used as cooking ingredients without being processed by a mill first. The only possible usage of wheat would be to brew it.

Geodes/Golden coconuts/Mystery boxes: How to open them? Geode crusher can be crafted from materials found on Ginger Island, so geodes can be open, at least. But golden coconuts and mystery boxes require Clint. This means going back to Pelican Town. This means to find a valid reason for Farmer Robinson to come back from Ginger Island...

Seeds: my first idea was to get mixed seeds, grow them, select the interesting crops and replicate them with seed makers until I have full crops. But it appears that mixed seeds on Ginger Island can only be blueberries, melons, pineapples or rhubarb. This means that if I want different crops, I have to bring the seeds first. Thus, I must know before hand what seeds to bring. What would you think as must have seeds?

 

[Ereo]

Coffee is a vital crop for me. Potatoes are a good crop for survival that needs less processing.
Otherwise, what is their favourite food? Any crops to make this food would be good. Maybe they could also bring a large stack of cheese (which, when stored correctly is very durable).

As for going back to the valley, what about farm animals? Would the farmer sell them back to Marnie or do they accept their responsibility in buying them in the first place. If they do feel responsible, I think they should check in on the animals once a month, or at least on the guest day of winter to make sure they have food and heating.

Maybe the farmer could also notice after a while, that humans aren’t meant to live alone. There are some services they need from other people, and in return they provide services to them…

 

[nicodeux]

Thank you for your suggestions!

Coffee is a vital crop for me. Potatoes are a good crop for survival that needs less processing.
Otherwise, what is their favourite food? Any crops to make this food would be good. Maybe they could also bring a large stack of cheese (which, when stored correctly is very durable).

You are right, I was thinking of bringing a few coffee seeds and a few tea saplings. I will also bring a peach tree sapling... because this is Farmer Robinson favourite fruit and he will be able to eat peaches all year round in Ginger Island. As for the other seeds, I will follow your advice and see which seeds can be turn into useful food or food that Farmer Robinson likes.

As for going back to the valley, what about farm animals? Would the farmer sell them back to Marnie or do they accept their responsibility in buying them in the first place. If they do feel responsible, I think they should check in on the animals once a month, or at least on the guest day of winter to make sure they have food and heating.

Maybe the farmer could also notice after a while, that humans aren’t meant to live alone. There are some services they need from other people, and in return they provide services to them…

There are Birdie, Professor Snail, Pirates and Leo (for a while) on Ginger Island. And also, as I intend Farmer Robinson to open the resort, he will keep a social life with Pelican Town inhabitants as they come to visit.

Regarding farm animals, Farmer Robinson will discover the existence of Ginger Island when Willy opens the back room of his shop. This means that Farmer Robinson won't know that he will leave before completing the Community Center. He will then have farm animals (and this is more convenient for completing bundles than relying on the traveling cart!) Thus, I think that Farmer Robinson will have to sell his animals back to Marnie.

I still wonder if Farmer Robinson will sometimes come back to Pelican Town after moving to Ginger Island. But if so, I believe it must be for special occasions, like festival. Unfortunately, Clint is closed during festivals... with the exception of Calico Desert Festival and Night Market! And here came my idea: since there is the Meremaid show during Night Market and that the Meremaid is also in Ginger Island, I will pretend that Farmer Robinson is the one shipping the boat from Ginger Island to Night Market, so the Mermaid can do her show. This way, Farmer Robinson will be able to spend 3 days a year in Pelican town. He will have to use them wisely.

 

[nicodeux]

Here are some news of Farmer Robinson.

He is currently near the end of his first Autumn in the valley. Three rooms of the Community Center are done: Boiler Room, Vault and Pantry. Now that Farmer Robinson has reached level 100 in the Mines, the Fishing Tank will be done as soon as he catches a Lava Eel. The two other rooms are waiting for items out of season: Winter forages for the Craft Rooms, and Winter and Spring forages for the Bulletin Board (because this one was unlocked after Salmonberries season and those are required...)

As you can see, Farmer Robinson is still far from moving to Ginger Island. He is updating his tools to gold, completing as many cooking, recipes, achievements, museum and crafts as possible. Battery packs and Hardwood required for Willy's boat are already stocked up, but there is currently close to no iridium due to Skull Caverns being not yet unlocked (Mines level 100/120).

I'm also doing a list of things that Farmer Robinson will not be able to do if he settles in Ginger Island as soon as he can. This is to check if I can agree with all of these, and I must say that I'm uneasy with not doing the first Community Upgrade: Penny and Pam deserve a real house.

I plan to have Farmer Robinson coming back to Pelican Town once a year (from Winter 15 to Winter 17 as the driver of the Mermaid's ship, since she lives on/next to Ginger Island), but I'm not sure this will allow to complete any major milestones that would have been left aside when moving to Ginger Island.

I also have a first list of what he will bring with him to live on Ginger Island and I'll share it here with you, once it is almost complete.

 

[Maher]

Winter forage can often be obtained as monster drops on the iron levels of the mines

 

[nicodeux]

You are right, but this run has a Community Center with remixed bundles and not all Winter forages required for this remixed bundle are available as monsters drop.

 

[Zieria]

You are right, but this run has a Community Center with remixed bundles and not all Winter forages required for this remixed bundle are available as monsters drop.

It has taken me years, but I recently realised that you can buy the seasonal seeds from the desert trader and plant then in the greenhouse.

 

[nicodeux]

Thank you very much for this suggestion. Though I knew it, I had forgotten about foraging seeds being available from the desert trader. However, the remixed bundle includes holly that is only available in Winter through foraging.