Dreamscape: Game Development Chapter 26: 26-Social Dynamics - Relationships and Mining

Mainly, his fishing level was too low. Most of the ti fish would escape the hook, making him work for nothing.

So he mostly went to the northern mines instead.

Selling dropped gems, various ancient artifacts, and random junk yielded tons of cropper coins. As for the Museum, he'd deal with that later.

While organizing supplies, Rowan suddenly rembered sothing.

Today was Haley's birthday!

He'd almost forgotten!

Besides farming and mining, socializing was also an extrely important chanic in Stardew Valley.

Giving NPCs gifts they liked would increase friendship.

As Pelican Town's acknowledged beauty queen, though she had a bit of a temper and was sowhat vain, it didn't diminish Rowan's fondness for this beautiful girl one bit.

Ever since he'd accidentally passed by the riverside near Marnie's Ranch that first ti, seeing that golden-haired girl taking photos by the shore...

Rowan's heart had been struck hard.

From then on, whenever he had free ti, he'd run over to make his presence known.

Just sotis it was a thankless task, and she didn't like any gifts he sent.

Two weeks had passed, and his friendship hadn't even reached one heart...

Today, he had to seize the opportunity.

But he discovered Stardew Valley's shops didn't sell cake.

The kitchen crafting nu also had no cake recipe. Right now, he only knew Haley liked daffodils.

This gifting system was such a trap.

Lots of tis, if you gave NPCs gifts they disliked, friendship would actually decrease.

He hurriedly ran to 2 Willow Lane, Haley and Emily's ho.

Knocked and entered, discovering Emily answered the door.

"Emily, is Haley ho?"

"Oh, Rowan! Haley's not ho right now. Maybe you could check by the river or the park."

Emily blinked, looking at this new farr.

"Alright! Thanks!"

He first ran to the riverside south of Marnie's Ranch, no Haley. So he returned to town, passed through the town center to the park beside the Community Center.

An Haley was indeed here.

He hurried forward, presenting the prepared daffodil.

"Is this a birthday present for ?"

"Thank you, Rowan!"

Seeing Rowan's gift, Haley showed a happy smile.

Rowan imdiately checked his interface; Their friendship had jumped straight to two hearts.

'Nice!'

As expected, NPC birthdays had bonuses.

He rambled on beside Haley for a while. Though he felt Haley's attitude wasn't as cold as before...

She was still sowhat dismissive.

He could only guess what would happen when their friendship got higher.

He was a bit excited about it.

With his gift delivered and nothing pressing now, he left directly.

Next, he planned to continue mining.

Returning to the farm, Potter was still frantically chopping trees.

Rowan thought about it, figuring two people mining together was better.

Might even speed up progress.

He called Potter over, preparing the needed equipnt and supplies.

He'd now purchased the backpack upgrade, so his inventory had 24 slots, enough for mining for now.

They headed out directly and arrived mine floor 41.

Pelican Town's mines had copper before floor 40, and iron ore appeared after floor 40.

The environnt had now beco frozen levels. From the first forty floors' treasure chests, he'd obtained boots, a slingshot, and a sword with slightly better stats.

He tried the slingshot, andhtought it was pretty useless.

Right now, the mines spawned lots of dust sprites.

"So this is mine level 41? Feels like a completely different area!"

Potter was sowhat excited.

His progress was very lackluster, only at twenty-so floors. He spent most of his ti farming and fishing, or just wandering around.

"Yeah, be careful now. Your equipnt's still all starter gear. You could easily get knocked out!"

"Just follow and mine. I'll handle the monsters."

Rowan started dividing tasks between them. Having soone help find ladders would be much faster. Today, they tried to climb to floor 60.

The two proceeded thodically through their progress.

Stardew Valley's diversity made its target audience extrely broad.

Everyone could find suitable gaplay based on their own preferences.

Like Clara, for instance.

As a girl born disabled, she'd spent her entire life in a wheelchair since birth.

She had no social life of her own.

From birth, the people she knew were limited only to the manor's butler and maids.

No matter what conditions she proposed, these people would try to satisfy her. But she knew this was rely out of fear and pity.

This often made her feel lonely.

So the Dreamscape could be said to have beco her only spiritual solace.

In Stardew Valley, everyone else busied themselves farming, mining, and earning money.

Only she spent every day talking and chatting with the Pelican Town residents.

This let her hear many interesting things.

This day was another evening. She was about to head ho, walking the small path back to the farm.

Passing an intersection, she suddenly saw rustling in the bushes. Then Mayor Lewis and Marnie suddenly erged.

Clara covered her mouth, sowhat surprised.

"Mayor Lewis, Miss Marnie, what a coincidence! What are you doing here?"

She was sowhat puzzled. Why were they running out of the bushes?

"Ah..."

Lewis, seeing soone was actually there, panicked. Marnie's face also flushed slightly.

"Clara! ...Um, um... what a coincidence..."

Mayor Lewis scratched his head sowhat awkwardly.

"...Marnie said her farm's cat got lost. I'm helping to look for it!"

"Right, Clara, we're looking for my kitten."

The two seed a bit breathless talking, probably tired, Clara thought.

"So that's it. Did you find it? Let help you look!"

Marnie was startled...

"No need, Clara! I already spotted my cat just now. It already ran toward the ranch. It's so naughty, always running around everywhere!"

"Right, right! It's so late, Clara, you should hurry ho! Hahaha!"

Mayor Lewis hastily agreed, very awkwardly.

"I see, okay then!"

"Goodbye, Mayor Lewis, Miss Marnie!"

"Mm-hmm, good child, hurry back!"

Clara was slightly puzzled, but didn't think much of it, turning and skipping toward the farm.

The evening road was sowhat quiet. Many residents wouldn't co out once ho.

Passing Willow Lane, a man walked ho.

Getting closer, wasn't this Shane?

"Good evening, Shane!"

Shane turned his head...

"Don't you have work to do?"

Seed like he'd just finished drinking at the Stardrop Saloon. His expression was sowhat fierce.

Clara was speechless... What a jerk of a man.

All of Pelican Town's residents were very kind, except Shane.

But she wasn't angry. From the first day of eting this person, nothing good ever ca out of his mouth, so Clara was used to it.

She continued skipping toward the farm.