Tails by the Foxfire

Though life is busy and often overflowing with the various responsibilities demanding our time and attention, it’s important to set at least a sliver aside for the things most important to you, whether that’s writing, visual art, learning a skill, getting in shape, or some other marathon venture.

My husband and I have a farm in Stardew Valley that we’ve recently found the time to continue and, aside from being a fun way for us to relax while sharpening our teamwork, it’s also proven itself as something of a guru in its own right. Upgrading your tools, rotating your crops by season, caring for your animals, exploring the mines, and maintaining friendships around town are all key parts of the Stardew experience, and all of these stem from planting your very first seed or, in the case of the mines, breaking your very first stone.

The Slow Life in Stardew Valley

As tempting as it might be at times to rush everything head on, the reality is that you can’t tackle everything at once, even with a reliable partner at your side. Tasks are best prioritized and divided up, which I know may sound like a chore, but is actually much less overwhelming in the long run.

On our farm, we started out by having me planting and watering the crops, while my husband took care of the animals and explored the mine. Eventually I was able to add in fishing, and my husband chopped trees and decided which buildings to add or upgrade. We shifted our schedules as certain tasks became easier and less time consuming.

Before long, our farm was flourishing with crops of all kinds, multiples of every animal, a mill for our flour and rice, a completed greenhouse for our ancient seeds, and a wealth of kegs and preserves jars. We completed the Community Centre by Spring year 2, and in setting up for the second year, outfitted our farm with sprinklers and auto-feeders to make the farming process even easier.

I’ve since been able to join him in the mines, and he’s unlocked Skull Cavern. Our next projects are Willy’s Boat and the Movie Theatre, which will each open up content we’ve never seen before in our years of owning the game. 

A Lesson in Teamwork 

In the same way as Shion Miura’s novel The Slow Life in Kamusari, Stardew Valley has taught me some important lessons about taking things as they come and relying on others. It used to be that I thought I could do everything alone, like I thought suffering and shutting others out was some method of proving myself, or ensuring I did the job ‘right’. As it turns out, that’s not the case, and it’s not healthy either. 

Much like the protagonist in Shion Miura’s Kamusari series, I learned that there’s a very clear and distinctive line between relying too heavily on others or ‘showing weakness’ and allowing yourself to be part of a team, and my experience during my school days made me believe for the longest time that being part of a team was opening yourself up to ridicule, being talked down or shouted over, or being left out entirely. 

My advice to you, as learned from Stardew Valley and The Slow Life in Kamusari is to either choose the people you team with yourself, or to examine the people you’re teamed up with if it’s out of your control. Either way, consider:

• What are they good at? 
• What do they enjoy? 
• What are the things they don’t enjoy?
• What weak points or gaps in the team can you help sure up? 

Start by thinking about what you have in common, or using this as an icebreaker if you’re not sure. Doesn’t every relationship in Stardew Valley start with that first hello? As daunting as real life interactions can seem, especially when you’re thrust into group play or cooperation, the principle is very much the same. While at first it might sometimes seem like there’s no common ground, it’s a conversation worth having, and by finding easy common interests like music and TV, you can grow to understand each other more extensively without ‘I’m good at this task’ feeling like bragging or a point of criticism. More importantly, easy conversation will mean that when in doubt, you’ll feel comfortable asking questions! Get to know what aspects of the game or work they feel more and less confident with. This is a surefire way to divide the labour in a way each person can feel happy with, just like my husband and I with our farm. Soon enough, you’ll be planting your first seed and breaking your first stone, and seed by seed, you’ll eventually build a lasting farm (or project!) that will pay for itself and work as hard as you do, all while keeping morale high, and even building your confidence! Just remember to be patient, lay out your strategy point by point, and be brave enough to take that very first step.

Worth in the Work

It’s not all about how quickly you can get things done though; there’s worth in just investing the time and plugging away at something over the course of weeks, months, or years. Ask any artist: there’s worth in the hard work, and satisfaction in seeing a project to completion. Though Stardew Valley is a game that’s never truly ‘done’, you can definitely see how far you’ve come in your house renovations, in automating your crop growth with sprinklers, in marrying your favourite villager and having or adopting children, in attending each festival as the years roll by, and in becoming a beloved citizen of Pelican Town with everyone’s hearts at max. Though it’s fiction, it’s a great way to make a safe space for yourself outside the craziness of the real world, at least for a few hours at a time, and make something you can feel proud of. Even by the time the second year rolls around and it’s time for Grandpa’s verdict, you can look back at your accomplishments and think, ‘Wow, it was tough at times, but I did all that.’ You may not even have noticed your progress, but the game’s sure to draw your attention to it in the form of Grandpa’s glowing pride and approval.

Not up for Farming? 

Similarly, Spirittea from Cheesemaster Games and No More Robots sees you renovate an entire bathhouse to satisfy the spirits of the land, who have become ‘lost’ and live at odds with the humans who have forgotten them… until you come to the village and help them remember themselves. By cleaning the dust from the floors, repairing the facilities tub by tub, and learning to cook delicious feasts and mix soothing elixirs, you can eventually build a bustling bathhouse that rivals the vibrancy and life of Yubaba’s from Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away. As well, you can befriend your neighbouring villagers and even have them help you succeed!

Alternatively, Zeus: Master of Olympus sees you raise your city from a humble settlement of tents to a thriving metropolis squabbled over by the gods. Expand your food production and entertainment venues, learn to trade and place your markets strategically, and you could grow a city like nothing ancient Greece has ever seen! Just watch out for offended Olympians, malicious monsters, and armies of your rivals looking for a piece of what you’ve crafted, or just the satisfaction of tearing it down!

The Animal Crossing games are also a fantastic ‘one step at a time’ game, as with enough patience and dedication, you can turn a barren town, city, or island into a work of art. Let your imagination run wild while making new adorable friends with the animals themselves! It’s a heartwarming experience where you’re truly in control of how your land ends up looking. The only limitation is how much time you’re willing to spend! You can even invite your friends and neighbours over to see what you’ve been working on, or (in the case of New Horizons) offer them their very own house if you happen to share a console.

Take a break from pulse-pounding, world-saving adventures in Final Fantasy XIV with your very own customizable housing! Now, I know the housing market has a bit of a reputation, but I’ve apartments or a room in your Free Company housing can be just as satisfying for an adventurer on a budget. Accumulate or make your very own furniture, envision whatever theme your heart desires, and bring it to life, piece by piece! Who knows? Maybe you’ll earn your way up to having your own house someday! That’s something worth aspiring to! Much like the fashion in Final Fantasy XIV, collecting housing pieces can be an adventure all by itself, as there are plenty of rare ones spread out across the world. You’ll surely spend hours making sure your home looks right, and by the time you’re done, you’ll have something to be proud of. You can even invite your friends over to see, or impress your Free Company companions with a guided tour!

What are you working on these days? What are your long term goals? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below!

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