Topic

Grow a tree to full health needs to be rewritten.

"Nurture a tree's health level to its highest, healthiest state. You'll need a Watering Can to do this. And your firmest Petting hand."

This is confusing, and if a player is confused (even 1) then that's a fault in the game not a means of discovery.

I was told to pet and water multiple trees so, the statement "Nature a tree's health" should be changed to "Nature trees to their fullest health" 

I didn't spend $38,000 in a Game Design Program for nothing.

Posted 15 months ago by Walla Walla Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

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  • I think you need to pet and water multiple trees to find one tree that's one petting &/or watering away from full health.
    Posted 15 months ago by Aleph Zero Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Plant a tree at your house and raise it to the mature state from a seedling.
    Posted 15 months ago by anacronismo Subscriber! | Permalink
  • It says "a tree", the part that's confusing to me is "healthiest state".
    Posted 15 months ago by Natalia Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Yeah, I'm still confused...
    Posted 15 months ago by Buffy Subscriber! | Permalink
  • i'll admit to confusion myself.
    Posted 15 months ago by Unimehe Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Add me to the list of the ones confused by this task - the way it's worded it does seem like a normal tree, water and petting it.  Doesn't mention actually having to plant it.
    Posted 15 months ago by cyre Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Here's the way I see it.

    Trees get bigger and fruitier and healthier. To complete this quest, you have to water/pet a tree and make it as big and as healthy as it can be. You can do this two ways: by randomly petting and watering as many big trees as you can until you happen across one that is on the verge of maximum health... or you can grow a tree in your garden and keep it growing until it hits max.

    The problem is that it's hard to know when a tree is on the verge of full health... we can't *see* tree health levels -- we can see trees.

    I agree the language is open to interpretation and could be tightened up. But then my English degree didn't cost me anything, so YMMV :)
    Posted 15 months ago by wurzel Subscriber! | Permalink
  • The trees have 5 stages of growth after sapling if I recall correctly.

    The designers of this game have been doing testing and development for over 2 years - it's had literally thousands of alpha and beta testers, many of whom were senior game designers - and probably wrote some of the material in your courses. Different teachers often have different theories of game design. Your course work only represented only one model of such design practices and do not necessarily reflect general industry doctrine.
    Posted 15 months ago by Fokian Fool Subscriber! | Permalink
  • The thing is, you can only pet and water a tree once. All that's left is harvest so how can someone possible grow a public tree to full health if you can only water and pet it once.....

    (PS: Ive been doing this for an hour now and nothing....)
    Posted 15 months ago by Walla Walla Subscriber! | Permalink
  • You don't have to grow the tree to full health yourself... you just have to be the one who takes it from almost-full health to full health.

    I've still not completed it yet... I figure it's best to just water and pet stuff you see as you go about your business (or use a private tree).

    A few of the quests were a lot easier when there were fewer players -- this one, for example, would probably have been completed in a few minutes during beta. The mechanics change when there are so many more people in the game, which means the quest will probably need tweaking. It's not a big deal.
    Posted 15 months ago by wurzel Subscriber! | Permalink
  • If game designers were the ones to beta test this and THIS is the best they could do.... well... I'm speechless. If it were me, I'd catch on to these flaws WAY sooner...
    Posted 15 months ago by Walla Walla Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I've given up on this quest, I just figure maybe some day i'll chance upon The Tree, but perhaps it will never happen. If there was a way of knowing whether a tree is at full health or not...but there isn't.
    Posted 15 months ago by Cefeida Subscriber! | Permalink
  • For someone speechless about this, you're making a lot of noise :)

    Anyhow, the Devs here tend to be great at looking at the players feedback, so I'm sure they'll take your opinions into consideration. That's what I find great about this place, they actually listen. Which, having played many other online games, is highly unusual, but in a good way :)
    Posted 15 months ago by Ebil Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I completed this by planting a few trees in my own house and making sure I pet and watered them as often as possible. I got the badge while one of the trees (fruit tree I think) was still young. Before that, though, I ran around petting and watering trees of all sorts without any luck.
    Posted 15 months ago by Quoise Subscriber! | Permalink
  • It wasn't much of an issue in beta... You could just go to the firebog, find a sickly tree and pet and water it back to health. Trees in the firebog seem to be doing a lot better these days, though.
    Posted 15 months ago by Blitz Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I was confused too.  I really had no idea just what this meant but one day when I petted a fruit tree I was successful.  My best advice is, don't try to understand it just DO it!
    Posted 15 months ago by Brib Annie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • By speechless i mean i didn't know what to say in disgust.
    Posted 15 months ago by Walla Walla Subscriber! | Permalink
  • It seems all you've been doing so far is parading your game design degree and implying you can do better. Show us- make your own game, then.
    Posted 15 months ago by Zurin Subscriber! | Permalink
  • What's so confusing? Pet and Water a tree if you see one. If it happens to just need one more pet/water to be perfect, hooray :) 

    Like Blitz said, it wasn't much of an issue in beta. and like Brib Annie said, just DO it. If you try to understand everything in this game, like reason it all out, you're going to end up hurting yourself. The only thing you need to understand is that a lot of the quests in Glitch aren't like other games. You don't drop everything and grind until you complete the quest. A lot of Glitch quests are more like, hey if you happen to be here, why don't try doing this? (like the ghost quest or any planting quest) Glitch is for relaxing and having fun. 
    Posted 15 months ago by Piratice Subscriber! | Permalink
  • ...which is coming across as "Yeah, I could have done that better" which comes across as unnecessary back seat driving.

    Like I said, it's not a big deal, and you're misunderstanding the order of magnitude more players that have entered the game in the past few days, and the fact that it has changed a lot of the mechanics and complete-ability of some of these previously fire-and-forget quests. 

    Just pointing a problem out on the forums is enough to bring it to people's attention... no need to swing it around that you've dropped cash to learn the basics or trying to school anyone.
    Posted 15 months ago by wurzel Subscriber! | Permalink
  • tsk tsk all you guys, didn't your mammy teach you not to feed the trolls?
    Posted 15 months ago by La_La Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I don't think anyone who's a bit rude should be called a troll. There are different rules of engagement in different places, and it's worth pointing out.
    Posted 15 months ago by wurzel Subscriber! | Permalink
  • this thread cracks me up.

    I thought this quest was pretty obvious.  The goal was to nurture a tree to its healthiest state.

    I assumed it meant that I, directly, should cause a tree to go from a state other than its healthiest to its healthiest.

    Turns out what it meant is that I, directly, should cause a tree to go from a state other than its healthiest to its healthiest.

    Go figure.  I didn't save $37,000 by not joining Game Design Program and buying some books instead for nothing.
    Posted 15 months ago by Btaylor Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Put that degree back in your pants and stop trying to flap it around like it makes you more important or more creditable than anyone else.

    It's good to point out that it may be a potential problem for incoming players and why you might think it is; it's stupid to be arrogant about it.
    Posted 15 months ago by Little Miss Giggles Subscriber! | Permalink
  • You can pet/water a tree more than once. There is a delay before you can do it again. It's probably about 5 minutes. There are also special powders and such that will accelerate the growth of the trees in an area. Your claim is based on a very brief and cursory examination of the situation. I have over 30 years of gaming and programming experience. $37,000? How long was your course? Maybe I'm in the wrong business :p
    Posted 15 months ago by Fokian Fool Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Walla Walla

    I was confused about that one too. I'm happy to have it cleared up. Thanks for bringing it up!
    Posted 15 months ago by Ferond Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Yeah, I agree it could definitely be clearer, Ferond... but I wonder if a part of it is that some people take questing more seriously than others. I don't have any problem letting a quest drop down my to-do list until either I understand it better or can complete it more easily.

    Maybe if you haven't completed a quest after a bit, the Rock could remind you that it's not really that important. "Hey, I've noticed you still haven't completed quest X -- don't worry, there's plenty of other stuff to do... we can come back to it later on".

    (in fact, I remember maybe this did happen at some point in the past -- haven't seen it for a while) 
    Posted 15 months ago by wurzel Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm not complaining, wurzel. I wasn't worrying about it. I'm just glad to know now what to do about it.
    Posted 15 months ago by Ferond Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Before i rant, I'd like to say that i greatly appreciate and support this game as it is a local industry from where i live. It is a good and fun game. On the other hand...

    No that's exactly it. I am better then the average 13 year old who wouldent know a good game if it slapped him in the face. (I would notice flaws that he wouldn't) And for everyone else with your "Game Design Degree" your all full of ****. It's a Diploma because its two years. Degrees are what, 4 years of study. Anyways.

    To the one telling me to make my own game, fine, give me a team of 60 people and ill happily do it.

    Lastly, the first rule of game design (mostly for board games) is the player is right. If he or she says something is too hard or confusing, you don't argue, you change it. Now to be fair, seeing as the guys from Flicker made this, it's really good/and fun. They just kill the experience when stupid stuff like this happens.

    I know everyone is in tilted to their own opinion. Frankly mine is that this quest description needs to be changed.
    Posted 15 months ago by Walla Walla Subscriber! | Permalink
  • This is seriously a joke, right?  If not, go bury yourself.  Future civilizations will be impressed by the simplicity of the tools of our era.
    Posted 15 months ago by FlirtyvonSexenhaven Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Grow your own tree = sure-fire-way

    Use that Ferti-dust powder stuff... lite or full = it brings a tree up to it's next level.

    You can also tell by the size of the tree and how full it is w/it's fruit. I will grow when it gets what it needs (T.W.S.S!)
    Posted 15 months ago by Dorko Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Ah, but if you want to be a game designer, you need to pull together your own team and funding, jjust like these guys have.  THEN you get to make whatever game you like.  Until then, your credibility is non-existent.

    For a start, draw up a business plan for your game and get venture capital, then you can hire those 60 other  people.   If they can do it, you can do it, right?  You're so much better than they are.  And venture capitalists will be so very impressed with your expensive degree. 
    Posted 15 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Your an idiot.

    A company hires you. You JOIN a team within the company and make a game.

    Don't talk if you have no idea what your talking about.

    Now can we stay on topic about the description of the quest.
    Posted 15 months ago by Walla Walla Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm sure your point will be considered, but the inexplicable aggro vibe is not helpful.  We've already got enough of that around here.

    To everyone else, he did point out something he considered to be a problem and he proposed a solution, so it's probably best not to keep poking this one with a stick.  He's already got a wolverine or something down his pants, he doesn't need higher blood pressure.
    Posted 15 months ago by Biff Beefbat Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Yep. The text might have been better written in hindsight. But he made a statement that a tree may be only watered/petted once. That quest comes with the learning of a specific skill. If a person has played the game for any appreciable length they know that trees can be petted and watered several times by players in a game day.  The animals require the start of another day to be petted again, but that is not true of the trees.

    I didn't have any difficulty with the quest, but I do admit I have over 30 years under my belt and I may have forgotten what a complete beginner might have to go through.

    @Biff Beefbat - The OP made a remark that seemed quite arrogant though at the end of the OT, and that upset a lot of people. It may have been frustration on his part that even after that substantial sum, he was not able to readily understand the game mechanic. Naturally not. Those courses teach a model of game design, but not game play. But the assumption that they are equivalent skills is a common and natural error.
    Posted 15 months ago by Fokian Fool Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Truth be told, I was also initially confused by this quest, since a tree's health is vaguely illustrated at best, but I was just going to plant a tree at my place and then eventually get this one that way since I assumed that's how it had to be done. Now that I've read this thread, I know better. :-P

    Also, I hate to do it, but...

    "Your an idiot."

    The irony, it's so delicious.
    Posted 15 months ago by Alex The Gingerlion Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Oh sorry. "You're an idiot."
    Posted 15 months ago by Walla Walla Subscriber! | Permalink
  • It's easiest to tell an egg plant's health. Does it have an egg on top? No? Water and pet that thing. There ya go.

    Every tree has an illustration that indicates how grown and healthy it is. Just be observant.

    You were confused by the explanation given by other players. The description of the quest is correct. You only need one tree. 

    This has nothing to do with game design and everything to do with comprehension and willingness to experiment with your environment rather than ask other players how to do something. Why are you playing the game if you're not willing to figure things out for yourself? Otherwise, you're just letting other people backseat drive your entire play experience.

    BTW, anyone know where to get salt?

    Edited to fix stuff like punctuation. I should be asleep.
    Posted 15 months ago by Quirk Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Quirk, You use your spice grinder to make it. :D
    Posted 15 months ago by jumpuphigh Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Quirk : WhereCanIGetSalt.com :)
    Posted 15 months ago by balatik Subscriber! | Permalink
  • A company  hires you?  Not in my world.  In my world entrepreneurs are highly regarded and are the people who get to decide what products are made and what their attributes are.

    If you sit around waiting to be hired, you're going to have trouble getting paid back for that pricey degree. To say nothing of the fact that the entrepreneurs that hire you are going to be your boss. 
    Posted 15 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I too found this quest to be very unclear and (sniping aside) this post seem to back that up as people have clearly interpreted it several different ways. Personally, I assumed it to mean that I needed to find a tree that was just below the highest state of health that it could currently attain (I have no idea whether trees have the same amount of health or whether, for example, their health reserves increase as they mature or vary between species) and restore it to full health with just the one round of watering and petting. For me, the frustration lay in not being able to determine how healthy a tree is. I ended up mostly ignoring this quest and assumed that eventually, if I continued to pet and water most trees I passed, it would get completed anyway.

    It was disconcerting to have such a vague quest though because usually I find them to be commendably clear and unambiguous. Also, I assume that one of the objectives of each quest is to keep players engaged in and with the game and, for me, this one failed to do so because I couldn't track my progress towards completing it.
    Posted 15 months ago by martian-b Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Walla Walla -- Not everything is supposed to be obvious. Imagination, thought, reason and logic are needed.

    Being rather snotty about your game designer education - when many here are coders, designers, etc tends to negate any validity to your points. People stop listening when others spout their *expertise* and *wisdom* as if their way is the only right and appropriate way.
    Posted 15 months ago by g33kgurrl Subscriber! | Permalink
  • The quest may specifically be a bit unclear. This game is about discovering what you want to do in the world, rather then following a set list of quests, and specific things to do. If you don't want to plant a tree, and spend the time to grow it, then don't. That quest will just stick there in your quest log. If you are having trouble figuring out what to do, and don't want to spend time figuring out how you want to play the game, glitch-strategy.com/wiki/Glitch_Wiki will give you a good hand holding through the beginning, until you start to work out how you want to play.

    But for anyone who actually wants to know what that quest means, they're basically talking about planting a tree, which comes from a seasoned bean. You can either make them with the right skill, and a bean seasoner, or you can buy them from gardening goods vendors. 

    The reason you have to grow one, is that most of the trees in the world are already fully grown, but if you do find one that isn't there yet, you got your tree without having to buy a bean. Does that clear it up at all?
    Posted 15 months ago by Kai Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Uh...guys? Companies hire you. Or you make your own company. Or you get a company to give you money. Or you get a windfall and use that to go independent. Or maybe you saved up, or worked hard and now have your own capital. Or maybe you can organise a team that will toil for free, out of sheer passion. And sometimes you do what you're told, and sometimes you create your own thing. And, gee, wow, this world is so diverse, did you know that???

    Arguing about who is smarter and knows the industry rules better when you've never met each other, have seen no examples of each other's works, and are part of an industry that makes and breaks rules all the time makes all of you look like idiots. ;) 

    (If I tell you how much I spent on my Master's Degree in Animation, will that automatically make my praise of the way Glitches move more credible? It was 0$, by the way, education is free here.)
    Posted 15 months ago by Cefeida Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I completed this quest without planting a tree.
    Posted 15 months ago by martian-b Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Asking where I can get salt was a joke....
    Posted 15 months ago by Quirk Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I completed this quest shortly after getting it, and the tree was a wood tree. The point of the quest as I see it is to encourage the player to pet/water the trees. The quests as most people are aware are not MUST DO NOW, and you can easily complete most just by going about your daily business.
    Posted 15 months ago by Max Output Subscriber! | Permalink
  • in case anyone was still looking for a tree to complete the quest with - i just found a small bean tree in Clamber Crag. First one here gets to complete it!
    Posted 15 months ago by matrix Subscriber! | Permalink
  • The idea here is what others have mentioned - tend to many trees as you walk through the world, and eventually you'll stumble across one that's one pet away from a level 10. Or, you could stake out a fledgling tree to make sure yours is the hand that pets it into maturity. But, thanks for these observations! We do review quests periodically to make sure the wording is clear, and I'll keep this feedback in mind. 
    Posted 15 months ago by Blanky Subscriber! | Permalink
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