Crop Mechanics

[ikabod-kee]

Description

Putting this here so it can be discussed!

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The following describes a generic crop.

Growth:

• The crop has many stages of growth. It has a random chance to grow every minute (chance is dependent on soil)
• It has a chance of sucking moisture from the soil it's planted on every minute (chance is dependent on crop)
• The crop will only grow during the day and needs sunlight.
• The crop can grow under glass (so greenhouses can exist!)

Soil Mechanics:

• The crop can be planted on any soil type.
• The crop can still suck moisture after maturing.
• You cannot replace the soil without breaking the crop.

Soil Types:

• Mud: Most efficient soil. Transforms into Soil.
• Soil: Medium efficiency soil. Transforms into Dirt.
• Dirt. Low efficiency soil. Allows crops to wither.
• Clay: Medium efficiency soil. Allows crops to wither. It will wither faster due to its efficiency.
• Aerosoil: Low efficiency soil. Allows growth without sunlight. Allows crops to wither.
• Permafrost: Very low efficiency. Allows crops to wither.

Withering Mechanics:

• If a mature crop is on a soil block that allows withering, the next time it grows, it will begin to visibly wilt.
• There are multiple stages of wilting. Only the final few stages will prevent a successful harvest.

Harvesting:

• Crops can be harvested slowly by hand, or efficiently by sickle. (Or you can break the block under it by shover)
• Mature crops will yield 2-3 crops and 0-2 seeds.

[tillpp]

related: #2585

[IntegratedQuantum]

Hmm, I think with these kinds of things simpler is better, we are not vintage story after all.

[ikabod-kee]

What do you mean? This is simple! Vintage story has you watering crops and stuff and checking on values. This system would be purely visual and easily understandable to the player.

[ikabod-kee]

Also the way it's designed is to make sure players actually tend to their farms. Gameplay.

[ikabod-kee]

Plus, all crops don't have to work this way. This is just an example of one crop.

[IntegratedQuantum]

I think the chance-based whithering is what makes it too complicated in my opinion. I think it would be best if crops just don't do anything when on dry soil, would also safe them if you go on a long trip and can't water them.

[ikabod-kee]

I put it in there to keep the system from being "mindlessly plant crops here and then go away."

I think we should still have withering, but I can propose a different way of having them wither.

[Wunka]

What about volcanic soil?

[ikabod-kee]

What to test:

• The proposed mechanics as is
• The proposed mechanics without withering

The goal:

• Find out which system is more engaging for the player