The Big Farm Theory

[leilani]

I'm not really sure what's going on today, but I can't seem to gift anyone. I only have one player showing up on the screen that let's me send gifts and I keep getting the message that the player can't accept more collection gifts today. I thought I sent my gifts out early yesterday, so I have no idea what's going on. If there is anything specific that anyone needs or wants, I can see if it will let me gift it from the request screen.

[judyreno]

I think it takes 24 hours before you can regift, Leilani. I don't have anyone showing up at this point either.

[judyreno]

The game is getting more expensive. I've got permission to buy the 3rd expansion, but I'll need $75,000. Just got a goal to have $50,000 and 350 Food. That means I'll have to use time or gold to add energy. I don't think the $50k or food will be taken away though.

Kech, are you on vacation for real or just from Gizmonauts?

[kechibam]

Hi Judy, I'll be gone for a month or so...boarding a flight to Asia in a couple of hours. I'm not bringing my iPhone along so I won't be playing any games for the duration of the trip. Please save your gems/crystals for someone else who will be playing.

I know you're always searching for that new challenge...here are some games that are similar to The Big Farm Theory that you might also like: Oregon Settler, The Tribez, Jack of All Tribes. Have fun and pace yourself .

Catch you guys on the flip side!

Ciao!

[Snibull]

Have a safe trip Kech!


Sni

[judyreno]

I guess it's too late to wish Kech Bon Voyage. Can't believe he's not taking his phone!

Good news. The goal for $50K and 350 food has been met, and the stuff did not disappear. I'm working my way up to $75K for the expansion.

When you delete a Decor piece, you "Comfort" rating gets set back. I just sold one of my Donkey carts for $900 and dropped from level 8 to 7. Then, I remembered I had one in the warehouse, so replaced it. Complicated game.

[Amstel Bear Hugs]

Nov 19, 2012 18:44:13 GMT -5 kechibam said:

Hi Judy, I'll be gone for a month or so...boarding a flight to Asia in a couple of hours. I'm not bringing my iPhone along so I won't be playing any games for the duration of the trip.

Have a great trip Kech. You will be missed. Not bringing your iPhone. I would go through withdrawals.

Have fun!!

[judyreno]

More thoughts on game play:

Purchasing gold

I was playing at the rate of 500 gold a day. Can't keep this up for long. The last few days, I was able to limit to 200, which lets me do quite a lot. I think I am going to buy the $100 stash and try to keep to the 200 a day limit, thus almost 2 weeks, as $100 buys over 2300 gold.

Spending gold

When I don't have 100 feed, I spend 10 gold to get 30 energy. I'm learning to run my energy down to 0 before feeding the cat which gives the max energy back. My other favorite purchases are Synthetic Fertilizer, large pack on page 3. When I apply the fertilizer, I get feed. And, I get to harvest very soon. Next is the Friends energy at 15 gold for 50 energy. I get feed for everything I do on your farms or Nicolas's. If I am running out of regular energy and have close to 100 feed for 40 "free" energy, I bop over to a farm and earn more feed.

The area I am most tempted to spend large chunks of gold is Study. When you choose to spend the gold indicated, the study is completed immediately, and none of your other resources are used up.

Stop Signs

If you have called for several actions and see you are running out of energy, you can stop with a sign that shows up on the upper right of the screen. When using the Fertilizers, there is also a stop token you must use to get out of the mode, even when there are no more crops to fertilize.

Animals

I was keeping about 5 of each type but decided they take more energy than I want to spend.

Goals

I am not striving to complete goals for their sakes at this point. When the wedding challenges start, I will likely go back to focusing on them. Most planting and harvesting goals will take care of themselves as I work to get the materials I need for work in the labs.

Expansions

Since getting the 3rd one, I have been free to plant large forests again. It is necessary to chop down trees and rocks to keep materials you need in for creating in the labs.

A major disappointment is spending for an expansion only to find a new challenge that takes time and resources before you can get into the new area. Expansions 1 and 2 require a bridge to be built. Expansion 3 requires dynamite to blast out the logs. Some dynamite comes from chopping right after buying Expansion 3.

Labs

It was fairly easy to get the 2nd lab and very expensive to get the 3rd. I am getting better at managing them. I'll scroll through one to see what crops I need to plant to keep things going.

Money

Game money is used up fast when you are building or expanding. Right now, I am in a lull and have lots of game money. So, I've been spending on Decor. I'm finding that the little bushes that look like hay bales to me give good value for the money spent and don't take up much room.

Workshop

I am still mostly creating weapons for use when chopping trees or stones. The monsters have been coming frequently.

Decor workshop

I've started making some of the tiles now that I realize where a tile is, an unplanned tree or stone will not appear. Also, tiles give comfort points. With my Decor spending and tile-making, I am ahead of game requirements for comfort level.

Future

I'm wondering when the Wedding challenges start. Also, I've learned from Nicolas's farm that the gateway to Expansion 4 is a Teleport gate. I'm wondering where that leads.

Leilani, I'm impressed that you are moving right along using your iPhone. My daughter was impressed with the game graphics when I showed her my iPad yesterday.

407Mom, are you using an iPad? Do you mind if I chop down your trees and/or stones?

I appreciate the gifts you both give, especially as Kech is on vacation. It's also fun to see your progress.

[leilani]

Thanks Judy, it is quite a challenge playing on that small screen. I'm pretty much selecting things by color since it's so small. I was wondering, on the gifts screen it gave me the option to accept or thank. I gave thank a try and was wondering if you got anything from it or if it was more of a "thanks, but no thanks" button. I know what you mean about the expansion tasks. I was so excited to unlock the expansion only to find out I need bolts. Had I known that I would have waited until I had all the materials before buying the expansion. I've been buying, raising and selling the animals as a way to build up cash. I'm storing most of my crops right now because it seems like as soon as I sell something, I find I could use it.

[judyreno]

Hi Leilani,

I don't keep track of what gifts you have given me, but I am getting gifts from you. Not sure what your "thanks" resulted in.

Yes, save your crops until you start creating hybrids other than Volcano Strawberry and Artillery Cucumber. The other hybrids can be sold for good profit until you have certain goals later on.

I usually buy bolts 10 at a time, as I don't earn them very often. I'll try to remember to gift you.

[407mom]

Judy, I am using an ipad and feel free to chop down whatever you want as I am having a bit of trouble getting anywhere in the game. I seem to be stuck in the lab on glue. I go back and forth in this game deciding i like it and then changing my mind. The monsters seem to be a pain. I will probably keep plugging away at it. Your place looks great by the way!!

[judyreno]

Thanks, 407Mom. The game will get better for you. I remember being stuck on Glue a lot until I upgraded the studies to make more glue at a time.

[judyreno]

Congratulations on your expansion, Leilani! I've had fun chopping.

[judyreno]

Level 33

So far, I'm allowed to buy horses and build a barn. I elected the smaller barn for game dollars rather than gold. There were 15 build steps each calling for 40 wood and 20 food as well as 1 energy. After that, there were some commodities to get to finish it. It will be interesting to see if I can get by with the medium sized woods, as I've taken over pasture for the barn and horses. Still, it has been fun and I have spent 2 days rations of gold today.

[leilani]

Thanks for all the help Judy. I broke down last night and spent $10 for gold since I got a quickie 2 for 1 offer. Hopefully that's all I bought, since I had an issue logging into my iTunes account.

407Mom, if you can keep plugging away at it the game does get more interesting. I felt the same way until a few days ago. Judy has given great advice on how to get things done. Don't hesitate to request specific gifts if given the option. Also, don't forget to click on the daily prize that shows up on the right side of the screen. Just don't make the same mistake I did the first time I played it. You get 1 pick the first day, 2 the second, etc. I was on the 5th day when I realized I had more than one pick a day so that first week I lost out on several freebies.

[judyreno]

Free Feathers

I just discovered that the feather that is needed for Cream Tomatoes and Disco-Turkeys is free. Click on the "Buy" button, and you can "buy" what is needed for 0 gold.

Edit: Feathers now cost. I wonder if the freebies were a Thanksgiving special.

[judyreno]

Level 34

It looks like a long haul to the next expansion. First, I had to get "newspapers" which could be asked for and/or earned on the farm. Now, I have to raise 10 Tiger Cows and put them in storage. I'm still enjoying the game.

I made a decision yesterday and phoned my vet this morning. We will be putting Ladybug down tomorrow at 12:30 pm pacific time. My friends and family agree it's time. She can barely see and is not processing her food. Having had her for 13+ of her 16+ years, I am feeling mighty sad!

[leilani]

Judy, so sorry to hear about Ladybug. It's never an easy decision, but as a good pet mom you know when the time has come. Remember the good times you had with her and take comfort that you have given her a good life.

[Snibull]

Judy - Leilani expressed the same thoughts I had when I read of Lady Bug. I'm very sorry to hear about you losing her.


Sni

[judyreno]

Thanks, friends. I'll be OK and so will she. She was eager to eat today. Nothing much more than sleep though. My daughter called and she and my granddaughter are going with me tomorrow.