Topic

Herb v. Crops: An idea for a third path

So, at the moment, we have herbs in bogs, and crops everywhere else.
Unless, or until, we have "variable" plots, this will essentially create a bifurcated body of suppliers, wherein crop growers will -- likely -- vastly outnumber herb growers.
My proposal here is to come up with a "third climate" and a "third class" of crops that can only be grown in certain regions.

What would this look like?

At first blush, one could posit mushrooms (and broaden the number of kinds of mushrooms):  There might be some exclusive to alpine areas (ala Rasana), and others might be exclusive to forested areas (Groddle).  Others might be exclusive to Uralia, and only be able to be harvested from patches (they would spring up, much like rocks do).

Another approach, might be  -- if we had desert like areas -- cacti, again with various properties.
Or, if we had beach like areas -- seaweed.

Alternately, we could simply expand the type and number of herbs that can be grown and pay close attention to microclimate. Some herbs would be swamp only, others would be alpine, others dry-grassland climates (Aranna).

In this last scheme, it would force the behavior of what you can cultivate depends on where you live, and then drive profit-motivated Glitchen to live where the best upside for their harvest can be found.  Which could help spread more folks into different kinds of housing, ala Muufo, and other (air-quote) less desirable (/airquote) areas.  Right now, and I only know this anecdotally, but it feels like folks are concentrated in the bogs, or in near-Groddle areas.

I'm in favor of all of what I propose here, but I think attention to microclimate-based planting has the most potential to stimulate new player behaviors, with, one hopes, the least amount of development work.

Posted 12 months ago by CrashTestPilot Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

  • FEESH!

    Beachy areas have been repeatedly requested, and have all sorts of fun possibilities. A new sort of growing would be a bonus!

    A ready supply of salmon other than the vendors. Oysters, and pearls for the bonus drops. Seashells to gather. Varieties of seaweed. Mermaid quests! Boat races! Swimming! Alternate source of salt?
    Posted 12 months ago by Jennyanydots Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Just to clarify, what I'm thinking specifically about is what to do with backyard plots, by defining microclimates that affect what can be grown in them.
    So, for instance, in real life it's a bit hard to grow tomatoes in alpine areas.
    Therefore, Rasana homes might not be able to sustain tomato growth.
    Parsnips, OTOH, might grow quite well there.
    Clearly this idea needs more good brains behind it to flesh it out.
    Hence this thread.
    Posted 12 months ago by CrashTestPilot Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Perhaps different climate regions could cause buffs and debuffs in crop yield and/or growth rate. So that tomatoes might grow faster in some areas, corn faster in others, etc.
    Posted 12 months ago by Parrow Gnolle Subscriber! | Permalink