Crop Growth in Rune Factory Frontier

In many of the more recent Harvest Moon and Rune Factory games, Crop Growth has a basic required time but various factors including Sunlight and Water as well as farm aids in the form of products such as Formulae A,B and C as well as Greenifier can affect this.

In Tree of Tranquility, one can grow Crops out of season but their growth will slow immensely. In Island of Happiness, Sunlight and Water Requirements determine not only the length of time for maturity but actually may cause a Crop to wither or vanish in its own proper season.

In the Rune Factory universe, one can purchase farm aids in the form of Formulae A, B and C, each of which will speed the growth of crops by a specified number of days. Formula C is the most potent of the three. Greenifier when used on Crops will increase their Level...


Runey Distribution and Crop Growth

An entire bookcase in the Rune Archives Library is devoted to books about Runes and Runeys.
Runes are fundamental to your character in terms of the RP they provide as well as having the power in specific instances to unlock new options. As in other Rune Factory games, there are situations where you must grow and maintain a specific type of Crop in a tillable plot(s) in order to experience an Event. In Rune Factory Frontier, the first instance of this is the 3 x 3 plot in front of the Tower of Rest where you must grow Moondrop Flowers in order to experience a proper Introduction to Iris. Whenever a stipulation of this sort exists, you must allow the Crop to remain on the field even when it is fully matured. It is the power contained in the Rune that is generated that ‘unlocks’ any new option in the game.
Runeys, however, are as vital in Rune Factory Frontier as Runes and indeed, will determine your success or failure in farming.
The first consideration with respect to the presence of Runeys in any District is Balance. There is a natural ‘food chain’ where Runeys are concerned, as one Element dominates another. Without an equal number of each type of Runey, you may find that one type of Runey will consume others, exhausting the supply completely. When this occurs, the District will become a ‘dead’ area.
You can use your own Homestead as a breeding District for Runeys. By stocking your Homestead with a large number of each type of Runey in perfect Balance, you will achieve a state known as ‘Prosperity’.
When your Homestead is in a state of Prosperity, crop growth will be accelerated. This can be extremely useful in terms of slow-growing Crops, allowing you to obtain more multiple harvests in any season. For example, in the Summer Season, if you have achieved a state of Prosperity, you may be able to obtain more than two harvests from your Pineapple Crop.
If your Homestead is in a state of inbalance with respect to your Runey Population, you actually may discover that your Crops will wither and die or will take far longer to mature than they should. Ignore the Runey Distribution in Rune Factory Frontier at your own peril.
The number of days by which Crop growth is accelerated when your Homestead achieves Prosperity may vary from Crop to Crop. 45 or 50 Runeys of each type definitely will have a dramatic effect, however.
For example, I planted a plot of Onions on 30 Spring. The official description of Onion Seeds is as follows:
Onion Seed: Summer crop. Harvest in 8 days. One of the easier crops to grow.
On the morning of 5 Summer, having used no farm aids whatsoever, I was able to harvest the entire Crop.
I have kept my field in perfect balance for the most part and beyond that, since the end of Spring, had a large population of each type, fluctuating between 48 and 51 of each variety.
Another detail with respect to the Runeys themselves should be noted. Even when in balance, if they are in small numbers, such as 10 to 20 of each variety in any particular area, the icons are small and the 'feet' or bottom of each Runey icon type is flat, as though forced to the ground. When there are large quantities of each type in any district, the Runey icons are large and the 'feet' or bottom of each appears to fly or float upward... This is a general description, of course, as each Runey type is different. In the case of the Water Runeys, their 'arms' are raise high when in high numbers. When in small numbers, the Water Runeys' 'arms' hang down. As for the Rock Runeys, when in high numbers, their 'feet' are lifted high, as though leaping into the air. When in small numbers, they have a flat platform instead, as though their feet are glued to the ground. The Tree Runeys when in large quantities appear to be leaping or on tiptoe as well, light as feathers. When in small numbers, their feet are flat on the ground. Finally, where the Grass Runeys are concerned, in large quantities, their 'feet' are turned up as though floating. In small quantities, their 'feet' are small and pointed towards the ground. Note that these descriptions pertain to the Runey icons displayed on the bottom of the Runey Distribution Map when you access any District. Their faces change as well.
It is clear that Runey Distribution can accelerate Crop growth, making it possible to harvest Crops on your field before the official 'required' number of days has passed. This is important information especially where slow-growing crops are concerned .
It is not only in a positive fashion that Runey Distribution can affect your Crops, however. Players who fin that their Crops do not grow or actually wither or vanish in their Field must take notice of the Runey Distribution Map. If the Field is in a state of serious inbalance, it can result in the death of all Crops.
As Farming is at the centre of any Harvest Moon/Rune Factory game, it is vital to understand the principles that determine success or failure in any specific game. In Rune Factory Frontier, it is Runey Distribution that governs Crops.

Initially, I had not realised that there is another factor that determines the time it takes for a Crop to mature, although I should have recognised it. The number of Runeys in your field as well as their state in terms of balance can cause your Crops to mature more quickly. Books in the Rune Archives contain information about this, and although I always advise players to use every resource the game has to offer, I had not paid sufficient attention to the books myself at the start!

For example, I planted a plot of Onions on 30 Spring. The official description of Onion Seeds is as follows:

Onion Seed: Summer crop. Harvest in 8 days. One of the easier crops to grow.

On the morning of 5 Summer, having used no farm aids whatsoever, I was able to harvest the entire Crop.

I have kept my field in perfect balance for the most part and beyond that, since the end of Spring, had a large population of each type, fluctuating between 48 and 51 of each variety.

I noticed another detail with respect to the Runeys themselves. Even when in balance, if they are in small numbers, such as 10 to 20 of each variety in any particular area, the icons are small and the 'feet' or bottom of each Runey icon type is flat, as though forced to the ground. When there are large quantities of each type in any district, the Runey icons are large and the 'feet' or bottom of each appears to fly or float upward... This is a general description, of course, as each Runey type is different. In the case of the Water Runeys, their 'arms' are raise high when in high numbers. When in small numbers, the Water Runeys' 'arms' hang down. As for the Rock Runeys, when in high numbers, their 'feet' are lifted high, as though leaping into the air. When in small numbers, they have a flat platform instead, as though their feet are glued to the ground. The Tree Runeys when in large quantities appear to be leaping or on tiptoe as well, light as feathers. When in small numbers, their feet are flat on the ground. Finally, where the Grass Runeys are concerned, in large quantities, their 'feet' are turned up as though floating. In small quantities, their 'feet' are small and pointed towards the ground. Note that these descriptions pertain to the Runey icons displayed on the bottom of the Runey Distribution Map when you access any District. Their faces change as well, but I am not going to bother to describe THAT in detail! I will add a photogragh showing the changes when time permits.

Runey Distribution can accelerate Crop growth, making it possible to harvest Crops on your field before the official 'required' number of days has passed. This is important information especially where slow-growing crops are concerned as it will make it possible to plant Crops such as Pineapples or Pumpkins later in the season and allow you to obtain more than one harvest from a slow-growing Crop.

Inbalance in Runey Distribution moreover can have very negative effects on farming. I have received a number of emails from players who wonder why their Crops fail to grow or actually wither or vanish from their Field. The reason is an inbalance in Runey Distribution.

Here is a video tutorial on Runeys:

Birthdays and Most Favs for Eligible Girls in Rune Factory Frontier

Note on 4 May: I have created a Rune Factory Frontier Characters Guide now and am in the process of creating a Courtship and Marriage Guide. All birthdays for Eligible Girls and some information about Most Favourites are included in the Characters Guide:


Mist:

Birthday: 1 Autumn
Most Favourite Gift: Emery Flower
Easiest Favourite Gift: Turnips
Other Favourite Items: Turnips, Radish, 4 leaf Clover, Croquette, Baked Apple, Fried Udon, Seafood Gratin, Sweet Potato, Cake, Steamed Bread, Cheese Bread, Pound Cake
Most Detested Gift: Pickled Turnip
Actual Dialogue:
Mist: I’ll be looking forward to those turnips.
Me: … Does this mean I have to give her some turnips later…?
Official Description: The girl next door. A bit aloof and random but is very nice. Likes Turnips.

Rosetta

Birthday: 21 Autumn
Most Favourite Gift: Cherry Pie
Easiest Favourite Gifts: Strawberry, Hot Milk
Other Favourite Items: Roasted Yam, Strawberry, Corn, Cherry Grass, Hot Milk, Hot Chocolate, French Fries, Ear of Corn, Hot Chocolate, Omelet
Most Detested Gift: Milk
Rosetta: Let me tell you a little secret, Freyr.
Freyr: What is it?
Rosetta: My birthday is on the 21st of Autumn. I’ll be waiting for a present.
For Roasted Yam on her birthday:
Rosetta: (Thank you!) Thanks! You’re really considerate for getting me Roasted Yam for my birthday.
Rosetta: One of the things I like is ‘Roasted Yam’ (Baked Sweet Potato). I love how sweet it is. I also like strawberries and Hot Milk. I guess I really like sweets.
For Hot Chocolate or Strawberry: Thank you! But how did you know what I liked? Don’t tell me you like me. … No way. But thanks anyway.
Rosetta: Oh, by the way, I never liked drinking milk. I know I shouldn’t be picky about food, but I just can’t drink it.
Official Description: The girl at the grocery store. Her words may sting at times, but she is always hard at work.
Background history:
Rosetta: Did I tell you that my family runs a general store? My father does most of the work, but I used to help out. What I learned there is helping me do what I do now.
N.B. This refers to her life in Kardia in the original Rune Factory.

Lara

Birthday: 1 Winter
Most Favourite Gift: Chocolate Cake
Other Favourite Items: Strawberry, Berry Jam, Grape Jam, Orange Jam, Apple Jam, Lamp Squid Sashimi, French Toast, Donut, Pancake
Most Detested Gift: Vegetable Juice
Actual Responses:
For Strawberry or Berry Jam(with music): Why, thank you. How did you know what I liked?
Lara: I actually like sweets. Like chocolate cake and jam… I know it’s bad for my health to eat too much of it, but I just can’t help myself…
Official Description: The nurse/sister at the church. Nice to every one but tends to worry a bit too much.
Cinnamon: In this season, it’s all about the Cross. Out of all the constellations, it’s thought to be the most mystical.
Freyr:: Oh, there must be a lot of stories behind it, then.
Cinnamon: I’ll tell you about it when you find it. You can see the Cross a bit late at night. Go find it.
The Cross Constellation is associated with Lara and can be viewed after 8.00 p.m.

Melody

Birthday: 11 Spring
Most Favourite Gift: Relax Tea
Easiest Favourite Gifts: Wild Grasses (any colour)
Other Favourites: Charm Blue, Medicinal Herb, Black Grass, Orange Grass, Yellow Grass, Red Grass
Most Detested Gift: Mayonnaise
Melody: I love Relax Tea. I drink it while I’m in the bath to relax even more.
For Relax Tea: This is Relax Tea! It’s for me?! Thanks! I love you!
For Medicinal Herb: For me? Thanks! I’ll take anything you want to give me.
Melody: My birthday is on the 11th of spring. I’ll be waiting for a present!
Melody: Is there anything you don’t like to eat, Freyr? I hate mayonnaise. Just looking at it sends a shiver down my spine, so don’t ever give it to me!
Official Description: The always lively bathhouse owner. Always in search for the perfect bath.
It is Melody who will give you a Hammer when you reach the source of the Spring in the Cave Depths at Whale Island.
She will make a number of Requests for different wild Coloured Grasses by letter. As always when completing a letter Request, give the required item to Anette to deliver to Melody.

Bianca

Birthday: 8 Summer
Most Favourite Gift: She has None but will accept some items with less rudeness than others
Note that in terms of advancing your Courtship, Bianca will be affected more by conversation than gifts of any ordinary items. Your best strategy is simply to speak to her daily during the Summer season.
Response to ordinary Gifts:
For Amethyst, Aquamarine (Lv. 7), Orange Marmalade, Energy Drink, Berry Juice, Udon, etc: What is this? Is it for me? I suppose I’ll take it off your hands.
For any accessory that qualifies as ‘jewelry’, even if it is a simple Pendant or Wing Ring, she will tell you:
Bianca: Your tastes haven’t changed it seems… I guess I’ll put it on, since you tried…
Response to accessory items she scorns:
For Hand-Knit Hat: You should be ashamed by your lack of taste.
For edible items she detests:
For Hot Rice Ball: (with cross hurt and thunder): You’ve got some nerve.
Bianca: There is a food called ‘Bavarois’. Id’ like to try it once. Bring it to me if you find it, but I won’t hold my breath.
Bianca: Once I get bored of Trampoli, I may move to another summer home. You’ll have to entertain me so that doesn’t happen.
Official Description: The young miss of the opulent Viviash household. Seems selfish but has a tender heart.
A ‘Treasure Hunt’ is connected with Bianca. You will experience an Event with her wherein you find the beginning of a poem on a piece of paper. Go to the Conservatory to find the next hint, then to the little island to the right of the Beanstalk Island at Lake Poli to find the final verse with a Diamond. When you next visit Bianca, you will find a Wedding Ring in front of her house, triggering the last Event in this series with Bianca.

Tabatha

Birthday: 12 Autumn
Most Favourite Gift: Porridge
Easiest Favourite Gifts: Flour
Other Favoured Gifts: Apple, Mixed Juice, Mixed Ole
Most Detested Gift: Sashimi
Tabatha: I really like rice porridges. Am I strange for liking it? I think the cooking method of porridge is actually one of the most elaborate. (with hearts) You can feed it to the sick so I think it is a very gentle food.
For Porridge or Flour: Thank you very much. I can see that you purposely selected something I liked.
Official Description: The elven maid under Bianca. Gentle and perfect in all her work.

Eunice

Birthday: 17 Autumn
Most Favourite Gift: Mont Blanc
Easiest Favourite Gifts: Moondrop Flower, Toy Herb, Pink Cat, Charm Blue
Other Favoured Gifts: Cake, Chocolate Cake, Cheese Cake, Emery Flower
Most Detested Gift: Any Fish
For Moondrop or Toy Herb: (with music): Wow, thank you! I’ll be sure to cherish this flower!
Actual Dialogue:
Eunice: Did I tell you my birthday, Freyr? My birthday is on the 17th of Autumn. It’s the season when everything tastes good.
Eunice: I love sweets!
Note that any gift of sweets is against her own interests. As she herself will tell you:
Eunice: I love sweet stuff. But because of that, I have a little problem… I mean, nothing. I was just talking to myself.
For any gift of Fish: I’m sorry… I don’t like… fish…
Eunice: I just don’t like fish. I know it’s bad to be picky about food, but I just can’t eat it.
Official Description: The innkeeper’s daughter. Loves housework but suffers from her father’s genes.
N.B. Although Eunice personally hates fish, she will Request a Fish in a Letter. Give the Fish to Anette to deliver rather than giving it to Eunice herself!
Note that, at 4 Hearts, you will experience an Event with Eunice that gives you the option to persuade her to go on a slimming programme. If you tell her that you like slim girls, she will vow to become slim herself. From this point forward, she will declare that: ‘Sweets are the enemy!’
She even will reject her former Most Favourite gift, Mont Blanc, declaring that:
For Mont Blanc: N-no! I can’t eat cake while I’m on a diet!
Give her flowers instead!

Cinnamon

Birthday: 26 Spring
Most Favourite Gift: Magic Crystal
Easiest Favourite Gifts: Chub, Sardine, and other Fish
Most Detested Gift: Any Dish made from a dead creature, such as prepared Fish
For Chub or Sardine: … Thank you. I like this.
For any ‘prepared’ or ‘cooked’ Fish, she will tell you: …Thank you, but I’m not very happy.
Official Description: Magician girl living in the Clock Tower. Does not like talking. Likes fishing.
Cinnamon will give you her used Fishing Pole and will teach you about seasonal Constellations in the night skies. She believes in ‘catch and release’ where fishing is concerned, and therefore will prefer the gift of a whole Fish to one that has been prepared in your Kitchen.
You can obtain a boost in Heart Level by finding the Constellations she describes to you.
Actual Dialogue:
Cin: Pike is in season now. Do you like Pike, Freyr?
My choices:
I like them.
I actually hate them.
Whichever answer you give:
Cinnamon: … Oh.
Cinnamon: You get Fall Fish in Autumn, but I don’t know where you can catch them. Find out about it.
Cinnamon: Black Fish is good in autumn. You can make it into sashimi or just roast it with salt. I really like it.
Note that, despite her dialogue with respect to Black Fish, she only appreciates the living Fish as a gift!

Anette

Birthday: 4 Winter
Most Favourite Gifts: Pumpkin Tart, Croquette
Easiest Favoured Gifts: any Fruit; Strawberry
Other Favoured Gifts: Boiled Egg
Detests: Eggplants
Actual Dialogue:
Anette: There! Now I’m done with the deliveries for today. I’m feeling a bit hungry now. Today is a great day for ‘Pumpkin Tart!’
Anette: I just love to have some Croquette after a hard day’s work!
Anette: I love fruit! You don’t even need to add sugar because it’s already sweet.
For Strawberry (with music): Huh? It’s for me? Thanks!
Anette: It’s kind of embarrassing to admit, but I hate eggplants. What’s with that creepy colour?
Official Description: The ever-energetic mail delivery girl. Has a problem of being chased by monsters.

Selphy

Birthday: 3 Autumn
Most Favourite Gifts: Rice Ball, Sandwiches
Most Detested Items: Gems
Actual Dialogue:
Selphy: Oh! I like sandwiches and rice balls. Things that I can eat with only one hand.
Selphy: The heroine in the book I’m reading right now was born on the 3rd of Autumn. Apparently it has some deep meaning. I’m feeling a really strong affinity towards her. That’s because my birthday is also on the 3rd of Autumn.’
For Rice Ball: Wow, thanks! I love rice balls!
Selphy: You know what? I really hate jewels.
Freyr: What?! That’s really rare. I thought most women like jewels.
Selphy: Probably. But just don’t ask me why, okay? It’s elementary, my dear Watson!
Freyr (with tear): (Who’s Watson?)
Official Descriptions: Loves books. So much so that she often forgets to eat, which worries Lara.
At 4 Hearts, you will experience the following exchange:
Selphy: I got buried under the books when they fell the other day and Lara had to save me.
Freyr: Didn’t the books fall before?
Selphy: Haha, you got me there! Lara told me that it’s dangerous so I have to clean up the library.
My choices now:
I think you should, too.
I think it’s fine the way it is.
Freyr: Well, I think you should, too. It’s dangerous if the books fall again.
Selphy (with thunder and cross hurt): Ugh… You’re saying that, too?

Uzuki

Birthday: 15 Summer
Most Favourite Gift: Golden Hairpin
Easiest Favourite Gifts: Black Sashimi, Char Sashimi
Other Favourite Gifts: Gold, Magic Crystal, Turtle Shell
Most Detested Gifts: any Vegetables
Actual Responses:
For Char Sashimi or Black Sashimi: Is that for me?! You knew that I am partial to fish… I must thank you.
For Char Sashimi on her birthday: Char Sashimi! This makes me doubly happy because today is my birthday. Thank you, Freyr.
Polite response to ordinary gifts:
For Red Grill Sashimi, Hot Milk: For me? Why, you have my thanks.
Note that, although she will tell you she is ‘partial to fish’, it is only certain varieties that truly please her.
Official Description: Comes from a distant land of the East. Loves to learn about cultures.

Iris

Birthday: 23 Winter
Most Favourite Gifts: Tomato Juice
Easiest Favoured Gifts: Moondrop Flower or any other Flower
Most Detested Gift: Garlic
Official Description: A wondrous girl. Sleeps during the day to stay out of the sun. Loves flowers.
Iris is an artist who seeks to capture the atmosphere of the floating island in her pen and ink drawings. She actually is an ancient member of a Vampyre Tribe and thus will recoil from Garlic. Experience a special Event by attempting to give her Garlic.
Actual Dialogue:
Iris: Don’t you just feel like drinking tomato juice impulsively sometimes? You don’t? I guess it’s just me…
Iris: I’m enjoying the flower patch that you grew. I really love flowers.
For Tomato Juice: Is this for me? Thank you! I love tomato juice!
For Moondrop Flower: Thank you! It’s a very pretty flower… I’ll be sure to cherish it!
Freyr: Do you draw, Iris?
Iris: Yes. I draw with ink and charcoal. Unfortunately, I’m terrible at it. I hope you’ll come see this drawing after I finish it!
For Garlic:
Iris: Thank you. But… what is this? Is this… garlic…? My vision is turning… dark…
Darkness, then the sound of a heavy thump.
Freyr: Iris! Iris!
Iris: (What happened?) What happened to me? I thought I saw you come to me and…
Lose both Love and Friendship Points for playing a trick like this on a member of an ancient Vampyre Tribe!
Iris will request that you act as her model for a drawing. The result will be less than perfect in her first attempt, but she will continue to perfect her skills.
Iris: I drew another picture. Would you like to see it?
Me (with enthusiasm): Of course!
Iris: I drew a flower patch this time. What do you think?
Me: … (A flower patch…? It looks like a Fluffy exploded…)
Freyr: You’re very good. I think you’ve gotten much better, Iris.
Iris: Really?! I’ll be sure to draw many more piectures then!


Iris (Noire)

Birthday: 23 Winter
Most Favourite Gift: Tomato Juice
For Tomato Juice: Is this for me? Thank you! I love Tomato Juice!
Official Description: The other half of Iris. A liveliness returned to her upon meeting Freyr.
Iris Noire is the other half of Iris, who split in two because of her intense loneliness centuries ago. Her portrait will not appear in the Relations page until you have defeated her on the 3rd Floor of the Snow Ruins.
When she has been reunited with Blanche, she will offer to tell your fortune when you visit her.
Note that although her likes and dislikes are the same as Blanche, she has her own Love and Friendship levels, unlike the ‘twins’ in the 2nd Generation of Rune Factory 2 who were not identical twins but who were treated as a single individual for the purposes of Heart Levels and Events. Make certain to give both girls a gift when you see them.

Procession of Bathing Beauties in Rune Factory Frontier

As is traditionally the case in almost every Harvest Moon and Rune Factory game, the official 'Beach Opening' occurs on the 1st day of Summer. Each game celebrates this in a different fashion. In the old Gameboy Friends of Mineral Town/More Friends of Mineral Town, you would enter your dog in a flying saucer/frisbee Contest. In Magical Melody, there was a swimming contest. In Tree of Tranquility, a stone-skipping Mini-Game at the Beach could be unlocked. In a number of Harvest Moon games, the 1st day of Summer was the day when Kai opened his 'Beach Shack' or its equivalent for business for the Summer season. These are only a few examples of Beach Festival Contests.

Often, there are characters who only appear in a specific Season. There were many such characters in Magical Melody. In Island of Happiness, the Mineral Town visitors appear in specific Seasons. In Rune Factory Frontier, it is Bianca and Tabatha from Kardia who arrive on the 1st Day of Summer...

The Beach Festival in Rune Factory Frontier features a 'Melon Pinata' game with some of the eligible girls. Your character is blindfolded and the girls then guide him verbally as he attempts to smash a Watermelon with a Hammer. One girl is designated as a 'liar' to give false directions to make the game more difficult.

The 'Melon Pinata' game is not have as interesting, however, as an optional Event that can be experienced before the Festival begins at 10.00 a.m.

If your character goes to the Beach before 10.00 a.m., it will be quite deserted but, if he attempts to use the changing room, he will suprise one of the Eligible Girls in the act of changing into her bathing costume. Your character, after making his apologies and receiving a warning, can try to enter again, and then will experience a similar event with another girl. Each girl has her own unique responses to your character's actions.

Here is a little video of the Events experienced on the Beach Festival day at the Changing Room:



By the way, for those players who miss the Beach Festival Changing Room Event, it is possible to experience a similar Event on ANY Summer day when the weather is fine by attempting to use the Changing Room between noon and 1.00 p.m.

You may find a different group of girls from those who were in the Changing Room on the day of the Beach Festival as well! On other summer days, there may be as few as three girls in the Changing Room Event as opposed to five. Although Candy will exit the Changing Room a little after 1.00 p.m. with the other girls, she will not be one of the girls that you 'surprise', probably because she remains a child and the implications would be rather ambivalent. Strangely enough, however, if you speak to Candy at the beach on any Summer day, she may randomly turn to you and cry: 'Pervert!' Perhaps it is a reference to the fact that you may have surprised other girls while they were changing on some previous occasion.

Early Equipment Choices in Rune Factory Frontier

In any RPG and Rune Factory most definitely is an RPG in this respect, your character’s choices of Weapons and Equipment can mean the difference between victory and defeat. There are many players who approach Rune Factory with experience in Harvest Moon but little knowledge of combat games and RPGs. They will obtain a weapon to fight monsters without bothering with equipment that can protect them from damage. They then wonder why their character is defeated again and again when attempting to confront Monsters either for the purpose of sending them back to the Forest or taming them for the Monster Barn.

Defence is as vital as Attack in any RPG. By equipping your character with items that protect, you can confront more powerful enemies in the dungeon and still remain undefeated. Furthermore, you can boost your total HP with equipment, giving you more energy in any given situation where you need to use tools, weapons or sustain damage of any kind.

It is fun to reach advanced stages in any Harvest Moon or Rune Factory game and some of my happiest moments in Rune Factory 2 were those where I finally 'arrived' in terms of Weapons and Equipment. With Gravios in hand, a Rune Shield, Knight Boots and a Happy Ring, I knew I could win any Battle readily. Of course, having earned the necessary experience was an essential step as well. You can transfer your high-level Weapons and Equipment to another character through trade in Rune Factory or Rune Factory 2, but you cannot transfer your Skills! Note that Skills and Experience are 'inherited' by your own Child in Rune Factory 2, but that is quite a different matter.

All the advanced options and secrets are part of the fun in any Harvest Moon, Rune Factory or other traditional RPG, but it is the beginner who most NEEDS some information or help sometimes in terms of taking the first steps on the road to success. I therefore am showing my own character's initial Weapons and Equipment choices in Rune Factory Frontier.

These are 'initial' choices but they do require a small Forge and Workbench. Without a Forge of your own, you will be restricted to the Broadsword and Cheap Band until Rosetta opens the Materia Store. You then can purchase a Neck Towel from her.

Purchasing any Weapon or Equipment is far more expensive than making it yourself. Furthermore, you need to increase your own Skill Levels at the Kitchen, Forge, Workbench and Pharmacy by practicing again and again. I therefore would urge every player to obtain a Handy Kitchen and Forge at the earliest possible opportunity and to buy the requisite Recipe Books from Selphy.

At the start of the 3rd week in Spring, my character had the following Weapon and Equipment:

Windsword: ATK 13, SP ATK 1, RP USE 6, FX Wind Attack +5, Wind Resistance +10, made from a Broadsword and a Wind Crystal.

A Broadsword can be purchased from Ganesha or made from a Knife Piece and a piece of Iron, both found in the Whale Island Cave. A Wind Crystal can be purchased from Ganesha for an exorbitant price of 2500G or obtained as a War Trophy in the Whale Island Cave early in the game. I saved mine until I had the Forge, then transformed my original Broadsword into a Windsword, earning Forge Experience and a better blade in the process. I'm afraid I always prefer a one-handed blade to any two-handed weapon. I like them because, in many games, including Rune Factory and Rune Factory 2, they allow a defensive Shield to be equipped in the other hand. Even if you do not have a Shield, a single-handed blade is fast, light and has more movement choices than heavier, two-handed swords. They may have less power but they are easier to wield and use less energy.

If you do not have a Forge, a Broadsword will give you the following:

Broadsword: ATK 5,SP ATK 0, RP USE 6

Hand-knit Hat: Head EQ, ATK 0 DEF 20, MAG 25, made at the Workbench using a Wool and a Yarn. Wool can be obtained from a tame Wooly or purchased from Erik. Yarn must be made from Wool using a Yarn Maker. You can buy that from Lute.

Neck Towel: Neck EQ, ATK 0, DEF 10, MAG 5, MAX HP +15, made a tthe Workbench using a Cheap Cloth and Wool. Cheap Cloth can be found both at the Whale Island Cave or at Green Ruins. Wool can be obtained from a tame Wooly or purchased from Erik.

Leather Belt: Torso EQ, ATK 1, DEF 5, MAG 1, FX MAX HP +15, made at the Workbench using a Monster Hide and Iron, both of which can be found in Green Ruins

Fe Bracelet: Arms EQ, ATK, 0, DEF 18, MAG 0, made at the Workbench using Iron and a Warrior Medal, both of which are easily found in Whale Island Cave or in the Green Ruins

When I did not have a Workbench, I bought a Cheap Band and Pendant from Danny and equipped those.

Cheap Band, ARMS EQ. ATK 1, DEF 6, MAG 6

Pendant, ATK 0, DEF 8, MAG 7

Both can be purchased from Danny and when Rosetta opens the Materia Store, she will sell them there as well as other items of equipment that include the Neck Towel and Wappen. By the time she opens the Materia Store in the middle of Spring, however, you should have your own Kitchen, Forge, Workbench and Pharmacy and the necessary books and experience levels to make your own Food, Weapons and Equipment.

The Hand-Knit Hat may not be the most dashing choice in terms of fashion, but it offers a lot of protection and may be the first piece of Head Equipment that you can create.

Innocent Life Railway Information

I need to add this detail to my Innocent Life General Guide but I'm afraid I don't have the original file with my codes as I have gone through three different laptops since I first wrote the guide... If there are delays in ever updating old guides, that is one of the reasons. I think I need a computer secretary or personal assistant!

That having been said, here is some information on the Railway Basket system to augment the section in the Guide.

You need to set up the rails next to the Shipping Bin rather than attempting to end the line AT the Shipping container. In other words, create your Railway system as an infinite looping circle that connects at all points. Then set your Baskets on it and fill them or allow your 'helpers' to fill them. As the Basket passes the Shipping Container, it will operate as a hoover to suck the Crops into the Shipping Container.

Another use of the Railway system is as a mode of transport for your own character who can hop onto the platform and 'ride the rails'. This is simply fun and has no real practical application but I always enjoyed it.

Thanks to a player named Stephanie who asked me about this some months ago and worked on her own system. Apologies to her for not having updated the actual guide yet!

Fruit Trees in Rune Factory Frontier

In Rune Factory Frontier, books in the local library offer information as well as hints. New books are 'unlocked' as you make progress in the game.

To me, one of the irresistable charms of any Harvest Moon or Rune Factory game is the often unexpected and unique methods by which items are won. Players may guess the method they need to use to bring fruit down from the fruit trees, but reading the stories in the library adds depth to the plot.

By the way, harvesting fruit from trees is a very good way to augment your income in the first season of the game.

The memoirs of an adventurer named John Arthur provide tantalising hints about the game, including information about fruit trees and the 'Green Ruins'.

Here is one of the first books by this mysterious character from the past:

The Cornucopia Tree
The Adventures of John Arthur
Sec. 1, Ch. 9, pt. 4, P.S.
‘Cornucopia Tree’
At the very moment I was about to draw my last breath, I saw trees upon trees, so laden with fruit, it looked as though the branches would break.
I tried everything to get my eager hands on the fruits, from climbing to throwing rocks. My desperation gave me strength.
However, not a single fruit would budge, not even once.
Alas! If only I had a hammer with me, I could have eaten one! I would have been abel to survive long enough to see the next fruit bearing season…
END of BOOK

Fruit Trees are found on the Mountain Road and on the shores of Lake Poli. In Spring, the Trees bear Cherries. Another hint about this is found in Erik's Menu, where Cherries will be on sale...

You will not be able to harvest fruit until you have a Hammer. As soon as you obtain the Hammer from Melody, take a trip to the Mountains to collect some Cherries. There are cautions to the effect that you should take only as much as you need from the Orchard at Lake Poli. Remember that the amount of fruit that remains on any tree will affect Runey distribution.

With a Harvester from Candy, you will be able to gather Runeys for re-distribution to effect the fertility of the land. Runeys can be used to create Miracles and Rune Stones as well. The introduction of the concept of Runeys in Rune Factory Frontier is one of the unique aspects of this game.

Lake Poli is a very good fishing location as well as being the site of the Orchard and a place where romantic events can occur. The acquisition of a Fishing Rod often is delayed by at least a week in Harvest Moon games and Rune Factory Frontier is no exception. I believe there is a 'guiding' principle to this, forcing a player to focus on farming at the start rather than allowing the Field to remain fallow and untilled while he/she goes off to fish instead. Fish always provides both income and energy but is a time-consuming occupation. Furthermore, it usually is not one that unlocks progress in terms of the plot. It is farming primarily that is centre of your character's life.

In Rune Factory Frontier, it is only on 7 Spring that Kanno will arrive to take possession of the old Clock Tower. He is his granddaughter Cinnamon, not Kanno himself who will give you a Fishing Pole. The date of the arrival of Kanno's granddaughters is determined by your own social interactions with Kanno. Usually, it takes a couple of days to generate the pivotal dialogue that will be followed by their arrival.

Cooking is another aspect of Harvest Moon and Rune Factory that requires some action on the part of your character. In some games, your House will have a Kitchen but in most, it must be ordered or purchased. In Rune Factory Frontier, you must purchase your Kitchens from Lute. You need not expand your House first, however. The Handy Kitchen, Forge and Lab can be purchased as soon as you have the funds.

Your first two Recipe books are gifts from other characters. Others can be purchased from Selphy at the Rune Archives Library.

Here is a little video tutorial that deals with Fruit, Fishing and Cooking...



By the way, if you purchase the basic Pot Recipe Book as well as the Handy Pot from Lute and practice a little in your Kitchen, you can transform any Cherry you gather into Cherry Jam. Cherry Jam has a shipping value only slightly greater than a raw Cherry but in energy restoration terms, it is far superior, providing 10 HP and 100 RP as opposed to the 0 HP and 60 RP that a raw Cherry gives when eaten. Cooked Dishes almost always are superior to raw items in terms of energy values and the only way to increase your Skill Level in Cooking or in any other area of life is by practicing again and again...

Introduction Tutorial to Rune Factory Frontier

New ToT Options

If any one is having trouble with any aspect of Courtship and Marriage with Calvin while playing as a girl in ToT, there is a new version of the game for those who are interested.

Initial Walkthrough for 1st Week in Rune Factory Frontier

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I have begun a preliminary Guide which I hope will be uploaded before the end of the day, but it may be useful to write a brief post here for players who are embarking upon a life in Rune Factory Frontier. Please note that the Guide is very much a 'work in progress' but it does provide essential information as to the method by which you obtain each of your Tools as well as Shop Menus with prices. I always feel that knowing where to find an item and how much it will cost you is extremely useful information in any Harvest Moon/Rune Factory game.

As always in any Harvest Moon or Rune Factory game, your character will have very little money in the first week and many potential expenses.

You should have obtained two free bags of Turnip Seeds, one from Mist and the other from Erik. The Turnip Seeds from Erik will be given only if you listen to his farming tutorial. Turnip Seeds are marvelously inexpensive at 10G per bag, however, so even if you pay for them, you will find them affordable.

Be aware that any Crops produced in your own Field will not generate Rune Points in this game. They produce Runeys instead. Runeys are vital to the success and ultimate survival of your community but they will not restore your character’s Energy.

Only Crops grown in Caves/Dungeons will produce Rune Points when ready for harvest. You therefore need to create the Beanstalk to the Sky as quickly as possible in order to plant some Turnips in the Cave at Whale Island.

The 'weird plant' that will grow into a giant beanstalk reaching to the Sky is next to the Clock Tower in the Church District.

The simple act of watering the plant next to the Clock Tower gives you access to Whale Island. Do this during your first day on the farm, even if you must wait until the next morning to access the shops in Tromboli. You can experience the Event with the Whale Spirit at least and pave the way for a visit to the Cave/Dungeon the next day.

Make certain that you begin to clear and till your field instantly. Weeds ship for 10G each so even if you cannot make a fortune by shipping the items you remove from your field on the first day, you can make enough money to purchase a few necessities. Furthermore, every use of a Tool raises experience. With low HP totals and few resources, you will have to till the field in easy stages. Tilling at least 40 squares, however, is the key to obtaining a couple of vital Farm Tools.

Although you have three save slots, there is no option to save one game in more than one slot. You therefore cannot save a game at different points in different slots.
There are no time limits here, in terms of the goals that I set for the first week, but the sooner you can accomplish them, the sooner you will have a comfortable life and be able to afford the upgrades that will allow you to cook and forge items.

In order to be able to access the first available shops, you need to meet the owners. A Request Event from Stella, asking that you deliver a 'Bamboo Shoot' to Turner will set a chain of introductions in motion. By performing all requested actions as you receive the requests, you will be able to meet the owners of the Inn and Tavern, the Blacksmith, Danny at the General Store and Erik, purveyor of Seeds.

You can race through any hostile territory, avoiding Monsters rather than confronting them, but it is best if you enter the Cave at Whale Island with a Weapon and at least one Defensive Accessory. I would recommend the following:

Broadsword
Cheap Band

I always prefer one-handed weapons myself but even if you are a player who prefers a heavy powerful two-handed weapon, the cost for each use in terms of RP is too expensive at this early stage.

The Broadsword can be purchased from Ganesha for 500G. The Cheap Band is one of four items available at Danny’s Grocery Store.

Having obtained some basic equipment for combat, the Hammer and Axe should be next on your list of acquisitions. All you need to do in order to obtain an Axe from Stella is to till at least 40 squares in your Field. You need not plant Crops in every square. Simply speak to her afterwards and you will be given an opportunity to inform her of your lack of an Axe. She then will give you her old Axe.

With respect to the Hammer, you must descend to the 2nd level of the Cave/Mine at Whale Island in order to experience the Event that will end in your acquisition of the tool. Melody will be there, searching for the source of a new Hot Spring. She will give you the Hammer, asking that you smash a large boulder for her.

Experiencing this Event has two immediate positive results. You will have a Hammer and Melody will open her Bathhouse in Trampoli the next day.

At the Bathhouse, you will be able to restore all HP and RP once each day for the very modest sum of 10G.

On your first visit to the Cave, you should plant one or two plots of Turnips as a future source of RP. Turnips grow quickly and the seeds are 'dirt cheap'. If you have energy for the job, you should defeat a few Monsters to obtain War Trophies to ship. The first War Trophies that are available have fairly low shipping values between 40G and 60G but every piece of Gold counts at this stage.

You can obtain the 'Pet Glove' almost instantly from Kross but you will not be able to tame any Monsters until you have a Monster Barn. A basic Monster Barn requires only 10 pieces of Lumber and 1000G. You can opt to order it instead of purchasing a Weapon and Accessory but I would buy the Broadsword and Cheap Band first. After all, Monsters must be fed. although you can purchase Monster Feed, it is better to cut grass for fodder. In Rune Factory 2, one could have a Monster Barn on the 2nd day of gameplay, but the price of Feed was prohibitive. Owning Monsters before Grass became fully ripened definitely was a luxury. Plant Grass therefore as soon as possible in anticipation of the needs of tame Monsters.

Rune Factory Frontier, like Magical Melody, Island of Happiness and Tree of Tranquility is one of those games where Characters appear gradually either according to a set schedule or based on your character's actions. You will ruin any enjoyment of the game if you are too anxious about the appearance of any single character. If you follow the traditional rules of any Harvest Moon game, you WILL meet all characters at their appointed hour and indeed will meet conditional characters at the very earliest opportunity.

The fundamental rules of any Harvest Moon game are:
1. Do not neglect your farm. Tilling the soil and growing Crops is one of the primary duties of your character;
2. Do not ignore any opportunity for social interaction. Visit all characters daily if possible and speak to them more than once to discover any new dialogue or options that exist;
3. Perform any and all favours that any individual requires of your character. Even the smallest favour can produce important rewards;
4. Use your Tools regularly to increase experience Levels. Total energy levels increase ordinarily with Experience.
5. Never become a victim of 'tunnel vision'. If you become obsessed with one aspect of the game or one character, you will run a great risk of loss in other areas of the game. All things are connected in Harvest Moon and Rune Factory.
6. Exercise patience. Although I write my guides on the basis of unlocking new options and events at the earliest possible opportunity, it is NOT necessary to conduct your life in this fashion. In Harvest Moon and/or Rune Factory, there are players who achieve all goals in a single year or two and others who achieve the same goals in half a decade or more. This is not a race. It is intended to be LIFE as it would be lived in a farming community.
7. Finally, always remember that people are more important than money. Friendship is the most important prize to be won.

Introduction to 'Covenant of the Plume', Valkyrie Profile

As a player, I generally am more attracted to Harvest Moon games now than combat role-playing games as I crave the therapeutic almost Zen-like quality of most traditional aspects of any Harvest Moon game. On the other hand, as a lifelong follower of martial arts and collector and lover of edged weapons, the combat and forging aspects of Rune Factory appeal to me tremendously.

The Northern European myth cycles are another love of mine. I therefore found the series of games known as Valkyrie Profile compelling, as they embraced the old tales of Yggdrasil, Odin, Freya and the Valkyrie and dealt with concepts of honour, duty and the conflicts and ultimate destiny both of humans and gods. The incredible beauty of the graphics, like those of Rune Factory, swept me into other realms and universes of which I never tire. There is poetry both in the concept and in the execution of games such as Rune Factory and Valkyrie Profile.

Here is the introduction to the newest Valkyrie Profile game for the DS system: 'Covenant of the Plume'.

If any one is wondering if I have finished with Rune Factory 2, that question would be answered in the negative. In my current game, I still need to win the BIG KNIFE before I will be satisfied...

First Look at Rune Factory Frontier for the Wii

I thought I would share some screenshots of Rune Factory Frontier for the Wii, a new Rune Factory game released this week.

All games in the Rune Factory series are exceedingly beautiful but Rune Factory Frontier has a watercolour quality that distinguishes it from the DS games. I definitely would not declare that it is more beautiful by any means, as I never encountered any game to rival the exquisite quality of Rune Factory 2 in visual terms. Rune Factory Frontier certainly has its own unique breathtaking loveliness, however, and the concept of the Whale Island that floats in the sky makes it very different from any other Rune Factory game.

The basic premise of the game is similar to that of the others in that your character, named Raguna once again as in the original, must restore a dilapidated farm to prosperity. Some of the characters will be familiar to players of the original Rune Factory. Mist, Rosetta, Bianca, Melody, Tabatha and Lara all resemble their counterparts in the original. Other characters are entirely new.

Rune Factory Frontier is not simply a remake of Rune Factory DS. It has its own distinct character as a game. It appears to be far more of a traditional Harvest Moon game than an RPG than the two RF games for the DS.

Finally, a note to players, and especially beginners, not to disregard the in-game tutorials in ANY Harvest Moon/Rune Factory game. I have included a screenshot here of a page from one of the tutorial books in Rune Factory Frontier.

Effects of 'Edible' Items in Rune Factory and Rune Factory 2

In a recent comment, a player asked about the uses of YOUTH GRASS and INDIGO GRASS in Rune Factory 2. There are many items both in the original Rune Factory and its sequel that have minor effects that may pass unnoticed by a player unless his/her character has very low stats. Many of these items are ingredients in Recipes, making them useful throughout the game. Others are most useful only at the start, when your character has not been able to raise his stats yet.

Some items have a permanent effect on your character. Others produce nothing more than a temporary effect. YOUTH GRASS is an item that has nothing more than a temporary effect.

YOUTH GRASS raises Magic Attack and Intelligence both by 2 points for 30 seconds. In the original Rune Factory, it gave 5% Protection against Poison, Seal and Paralysis for the same amount of time. I expect it does the same in RF2, although it would be difficult to SEE that! Only the change in Stats actually is displayed in the game. The duration of the effect is represented by the little red apple icon. When the apple icon disappears, the effect dissipates.

MENTAL SUPPLEMENT, on the other hand, is an item that has a permanent effect on your character's stats, increasing Magic Attack and Intelligence each by 1 point.

INDIGO GRASS, an item found both in the wilds and at the Clinic, has an effect on your HP. It gives a five point boost to your health. This is not reflected as 5 full points of HP but it does increase your HP.

Most food items in fact will effect HP and RP to some extent and may affect other Stats temporarily, as long as the little red apple icon remains visible.

For example, FRIED EGGS, an item that can be purchased from the Pumpkin General Store in the 1st and 2nd Generations or made in your own kitchen in the 2nd, has the following effects:
HP +10, RP +10
Raises STR temporarily by 9 points.

In other words, the effect in terms of HP and RP is permanent only in the sense that these increases will last until your character uses HP or RP points, but the increase in Strength will vanish when the little red apple icon disappears.

Incidentally, Orland's special Birthday Gift Item, Fried Sunsquid, packs a real punch, giving +20 HP, +5 RP, + 15 ATK, +15 STR.

I had suspected that the items Douglas gives for lunch would be particularly efficacious, but in fact their effects are extremely varied. For example, CHEESE BREAD appears to give 0 HP and 0 RP. I could see no effects on any Stats either.

OMELET, a simple recipe that requires nothing more than MILK and EGG, gives:
+10 HP +15 RP, +12 ATK, +12 STR.

In the 2nd Generation, edible items that provide the highest increase in HP are not as important as those providing high increases in RP for only one reason: your character can use RP to restore HP using the Cure Spell. In the 1st Generation, when your character cannot perform restorative magic, high HP increase is as important as high RP increases in edible items. In other words, the OMELET is to be preferred over FRIED EGGS even more in the 2nd Generation than in the 1st. Furthermore, the need for restoration of RP in order to be able to use the Inquisitive Waltz is another reason to choose edible items with high RP increase values in the 2nd Generation.

Here's a little video I made about items and their effects on your character's Energy and Stats:

Preview of Rune Factory Frontier

I am going to write guides for Rune Factory Frontier but, from what I have read, a player of Rune Factory 2 will not have much trouble with Frontier.

There are some differences between the two games, of course, both positive and negative.

Positive changes:

You can breed your Tame Monsters!
Your child will go through three different stages from infant to toddler to adolescent.
Weather can be predicted to some extent when you gaze at the sky.
You will receive letters from villagers.
There is a gallery similar to some extent to the one in 'Princess Debut' consisting of 'Memories', meaning that you must play the game repeatedly, marrying all eligible girls, inter alia, in order to complete it. Memories consist of film clips, much like those in Valkyrie Profile Lenneth.
Each item slot can accommodate 99 items rather than 9.
There are interesting new entities named Runeys, not to be confused with Rune Points. These have earth fertility powers of various kinds. There are four types of Runeys: Tree, Grass, Water and Rock Runeys. There is a new piece of equipment called a harvester that is used to suck up Runeys from the earth. You then can release them in areas where they will do the greatest good, give them to Candy to create miracles known as Rune Wonders or to be made into Rune Stones.
There are three save slots instead of two.
There is only one Ranch tool, freeing slots in your Rucksack. The Harvester is used to harvest Runeys, Wool, Honey, Milk and Eggs as well as Ores/Gems and Seeds obtained from Tame Monsters.
Yes, this is another new addition: There are varieties of tame Monsters who will yield Seeds and Ores or Gems!
Monsters of the 'Grim Reaper' variety can be set to the task of mowing grass for Fodder.
There are Constellations in the heavens to be 'traced'. These each have their own stories as well as a correspondence to one of the Eligible Girls.

Negative changes:

You cannot play as your own child in the 2nd Generation, making it impossible to play this game as a girl.

You cannot sell items to merchants or shops. The menu at any shop only allows you to buy items. This effectively restricts your income to anything earned through shipping at 5.00 p.m.

Wii games are FAR more expensive than DS games and can be played only in locations where you can set up the system and a screen.

Changes that may be positive or negative, depending on your point of view:

As in Magical Melody and Island of Happiness, characters can be 'persuaded' both to arrive and depart, depending on your own actions.

There apparently is no trading option in this game.
There are no Winter Crops either.

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In all honesty, my favourite game system is the DS. The fact that Rune Factory Frontier has been made for the Wii makes it less attractive to me than Rune Factory and Rune Factory 2... even so, I can't bear to ignore any Harvest Moon or Rune Factory title...

Speaking of series with individual games on different platforms, the latest Valkryie Profile title has been made for my favourite system but from all accounts, is not quite as compelling as previous Valkyrie Profile games. For a start, you do not play as a Valkyrie! That is rather disappointing, as I had hoped to find a game with Hrist as the main character. As with Rune Factory Frontier, I will be able to judge better when I actually have the game.

Beginner's Guide to Easy Forging Projects in Rune Factory 2

I made this little video tutorial strictly for players who are embarking upon the earliest adventures in the 2nd Generation of Rune Factory 2. I had intended to make a video featuring the most advanced Weapons and Equipment but decided this would be more useful.

Husbanding your Resources in Rune Factory 2

One of the challenges in Rune Factory 2, long after you have completed the 'story' is to complete your Shipping List. Although your character can have two Refrigerators and two Shelves, the fact that items can be anything from Level 1 to Level 10 make it almost impossible to store everything you need to forge all weapons and accessories and make Cooked Dishes and Medicines. The random quality of mining and Inquisitive Waltz treasure hunts almost guarantees that you will fill your Rucksack far too quickly with items of the same type but different quality levels.

I therefore began to designate some of the items by use in order to be able to clear out my Rucksack quickly without wasting any potentially useful ingredients.

For example, in the early days of the 2nd Generation, I found that I always needed more Silver as many low-level forging and accessory projects require Silver. Now, later in the game, I find that I collect too much Silver and never enough Gold.
I therefore began to hunt for uses for the Silver...

A quick study of Recipe Lists reminded me that upgrades for all Elemental Rings and Pendants use Silver. It is better to use the Silver to upgrade all Elemental Rings and Pendants to Level 10 than to ship the Silver or give it to my father. It is not for profit's sake but for the sake of increasing Skill Levels.

Although a few projects require Scrap Iron, for the most part it IS a fairly useless valueless item and therefore I give all Scrap Iron to my father, who often reciprocates with a gift of ICE CREAM. A Level 1 ICE CREAM has a shipping value of 6780G. Although you need to give him two gifts to obtain one after the very first exchange, it is well worth the effort. ICE CREAM may be the most valuable gift he gives, but the others certainly are worth more than SCRAP IRON.

This little gift-giving option in Rune Factory 2 reminds me of an essential point in the philosophy of Harvest Moon, to the effect that no item in this universe truly is useless. In how many Harvest Moon games has a common WEED been an essential ingredient in a Recipe? The fabled ELLI LEAVES are made from Failed Dishes/Burnt Dishes...

Time in two Worlds... Harvest Moon Realities

Harvest Moon can be so real to me that often I begin to operate on a Harvest Moon schedule for a moment or two without realising it. For example, when I looked at the clock a few moments ago, the time was 11.50 a.m. I thought to myself, 'Almost time to fetch my packed lunch from Douglas!' Fortunately, I realised my error immediately. The day I need to be sectioned will be the day that I actually leave the house to begin to go to the School to look for Douglas...

Instead of being upset by these little lapses in consciousness of reality, I find them rather intriguing. I always wished to believe it to be possible that there is more than one reality in our universe. There are cases of collective hallucinations where many individuals experience a vision at the same time. I wonder if, by virtue of intense concentration and repeated actions, players of Harvest Moon actually have created a Harvest Moon universe somewhere... Wishful thinking of course, but there are those who claim that wishes create reality.

Sometimes Reality is as Fabulous as any Game...

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On Saturday, I saw this magnificent diadem in a special exhibit entitled 'Beyond Babylon' at a Museum. It was an Exhibit I really wanted to see and I am very happy that I managed it.

I always have been devoted to Beauty in any form. Games like Rune Factory and Rune Factory 2 enchant me not only because of the various aspects of gameplay but because of the extraordinary beauty of the landscapes. Even so, once in awhile, something in our real world can transport me and inspire me emotionally and spiritually.

This truly is a fairytale 'crown'. The original owner is unknown but it probably was a 'princess' rather than a ruler. It dates from the 18th dynasty but shows influences that definitely are not Egyptian. It is a wonderful, magical piece. It has nothing whatsoever to do with Harvest Moon except that, like Harvest Moon, it stirs the imagination. Perhaps other players of Harvest Moon will appreciate it as much as I do.

Theft of Rune Factory 2 Bestiary Guide

A site that calls itself 'runefactory2power' has copied my Bestiary and Caves Guide word for word without giving me any credit for my work and without ever obtaining permission from me to post the guide on the site.

I think this is despicable, especially as there is full free access to my guides on IGN.

It is a pity that there are players of Harvest Moon who are entirely without ANY sense of honour or decency. Could there be any other reason to post one of my guides without crediting me for the work I have done?

I have made IGN aware of the breach but I really would hope that the person who stole my guide either would remove it or name me as the creator of it.

Making Fried Love Snapper for Herman

I receive quite a few emails still about Herman's Fried Love Snapper Request in the second generation of Rune Factory 2. I decided it would make a good focus for a tutorial about raising Skill Levels in Rune Factory 2 and how to obtain and fry the elusive fish.



I realise I made an error when I was writing the text. Mixed Juice is Leonel's Special Birthday Gift item. Fried Sunsquid is Orland's Birthday Gift. Sorry!

New Information in Rune Factory 2 Items List Guide

I have been working on completing the descriptions of Cooked Dishes in my Rune Factory 2 Guides. While searching in vain for another Onion in one of my Refrigerators in order to make a Cooked Dish, I realised that a Quick Reference Guide giving all the methods by which any Crop item could be obtained would be useful. I actually HAVE created an Items List Guide and that would be the logical choice for any additional cross-referencing. Having thought of it, I decided to implement it and here is the result. This information has been added both to my General Guide for Rune Factory 2 and my Items List Guide. Sadly, I was unable to add many of the descriptions for the Cooked Dishes I had made because this new project took all afternoon to complete and organise. Even so, it was worth doing. I for one will find it useful to be able to go unerringly to a specific screen to use the Inquisitive Waltz to find an ingredient for a Cooked Dish.

Furthermore, having all the information organised like this allows a player to conceive an organised strategy for farming in the 2nd Generation. In the 1st Generation, your farming goals of necessity are different from those in the 2nd Generation, although I do advise players to plan even from the start of the game for the 2nd Generation and to store single harvest Crops instead of multiple harvest Crops as well as being aware of ingredients that will be required for cooking and forging in large quantities in the 2nd Generation.

When you actually enter the 2nd Generation and gain the Inquisitive Waltz Spell, it will allow a radical change in your game strategy. You no longer need to worry about growing those Crop items that can be obtained by using the Inquisitive Waltz Spell for a start. You therefore will grow Crops in the Caves for one of the following purposes:

1. Multiple harvest Crops that will supply Rune Points indefinitely;
2. Single Harvest Crops that cannot be obtained through use of the Inquistive Waltz that are needed in quantity for Recipes;
3. A few rare, extremely valuable Crops that cannot be obtained through the Inquisitive Waltz and are grown either for financial gain or for use in Recipes.

If any Crop does not receive water daily, it may disappear at some point. In other words, in a plot of nine squares, you may lose the crop growing in a single square even if you do not experience a severe storm but fail to guarantee the Crop water on a daily basis. It therefore is not financially beneficial to keep an extremely valuable and slow-growing Crop in any field simply in order to take Rune Points from it daily. It is far better to use cheap, fast-growing Single Harvest or Multiple Harvest Crops for this purpose. Knowing which Crops can be obtained through the Inquisitive Waltz instead will give you a better idea of the Crops to choose to grow even for Rune Point harvests.

For example, Tomatoes and Corn both can be obtained in large quantities in the Refreshing Summer Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine using the Inquisitive Waltz. Why then would you grow either in a field in Blessia Island when Eggplant, another fairly fast-growing multiple Harvest Summer Crop cannot be obtained through use of the Inquisitive Waltz? It is far better to plant Eggplant and Pineapples on Blessia Island for use as Rune Point harvest crops as well as maintaining a steady supply of ingredients for Cooked Dishes. Cucumber is another Crop that can be obtained in the Refreshing Summer Garden using the Inquisitive Waltz, although it appears to be less common than either Corn or Tomatoes.

In terms of Autumn Crops, Spinach and Carrots both are single harvest Crops but Carrots can be obtained in two separate locations using the Inquisitive Waltz while Spinach has to be grown in a field. It is better then to grow Spinach than Carrots.

These are not vital choices that have to be made, but having a knowledge of the items that can be obtained through the Inquisitive Waltz and knowing where you need to go on the map for them will make your life easier if you are the sort of player who wishes to complete his/her Shipping List. If you don't care about that aspect of the game, then all of this information becomes fairly irrelevant.


Crops



Spring Crops


CABBAGE: 390G
Growth: 11 Days
A well-balanced vegetable that tastes good raw, fried, or boiled. Eating this is great after a big meal.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in your own field in Spring, in Trieste Forest or in Palermo Shrine in any field, apart from the Summer, Autumn or Winter seasonal Gardens on the 5th Floor.
Use Inquisitive Waltz in Wooded Paradise in Trieste Forest to obtain or in the Gentle Spring Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.

PINK TURNIP: 210G
Growth: 4 Days
A beautiful pink turnip. The result of one girl’s tireless efforts to expand beyond white turnips.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in your own field in Spring, in Trieste Forest or in Palermo Shrine in any field, apart from the Summer, Autumn or Winter seasonal Gardens on the 5th Floor.
Use Inquisitive Waltz in Gentle Spring Garden on 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine for Level 4 Pink Turnips.

PINK MELON: 2500G
Growth: 20 Days
A pink melon brimming with cuteness. Its flavour is a favourite among young girls.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in your own field in Spring, in Trieste Forest or in Palermo Shrine in any field, apart from the Summer, Autumn or Winter seasonal Gardens on the 5th Floor.
Use the Inquisitive Waltz in Sun-Dappled Spot or Gentle Spring Garden on 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine. In Palermo Shrine, you will obtain Level 4 Pink Melon.

ONION: 220G
Growth: 7 Days
A vegetable that’s crips when raw, but mellow after being fried. Causes tears when chopped.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in your own field in Spring, in Trieste Forest or in Palermo Shrine in any field, apart from the Summer, Autumn or Winter seasonal Gardens on the 5th Floor.
Use Inquisitive Waltz in Gentle Spring Garden on 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.

CHERRY GRASS: 3400G
Growth: 60 Days
Plants with pink flowers. Seeing them is like seeing a bard sing brilliantly of the wonders of Spring.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in Trieste Forest or in Palermo Shrine in any field, apart from the Summer, Autumn or Winter seasonal Gardens on the 5th Floor.
Use the Inquisitive Waltz in the Reflecting Water or Mushroom Patch areas of Trieste Forest to obtain.

LAMP GRASS: 8700G
Growth: 90 Days
The petals of this flower are filled with a sparkling powder that is said to be able to cure insomnia.
N.B. Players of Magical Melody may recall the ‘Firefly Flower’. I believe the Lamp Grass is similar in nature.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in Trieste Forest or in Palermo Shrine in any field, apart from the Summer, Autumn or Winter seasonal Gardens on the 5th Floor.

BLUE CRYSTAL FLOWER: 10900G
Growth: 100 Days
A flower created by rune crystals underground. Each season produces a different colour – blue in Spring.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in Trieste Forest or in Palermo Shrine in any field, apart from the Summer, Autumn or Winter seasonal Gardens on the 5th Floor.
Use the Inquisitive Waltz in the Grassy Path to obtain.

EMERY FLOWER: 15400G
Growth: 120 Days
A completely gold flower. Very hard to grow, making it a rare and special sight.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in Trieste Forest or in Palermo Shrine in any field, apart from the Summer, Autumn or Winter seasonal Gardens on the 5th Floor.

GOLD CABBAGE: 1580G
Growth: 14 Days
A rare golden vegetable. With its new colour, its taste is improved a hundred fold.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in your own field in Spring, in Trieste Forest or in Palermo Shrine in any field, apart from the Summer, Autumn or Winter seasonal Gardens on the 5th Floor.


Summer Crops


PUMPKIN: 620G
Growth: 12 Days
A popular type of squash. Can be transformed into a spooky lantern when hollowed out.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in your Field in Summer or in any field on Blessia Island as well as in the Refreshing Summer Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.

CUCUMBER: 220G
Growth: 10 Days
Give your teeth a workout! Packed with water, you’ll be just as cool as one if you eat it!
Grown as a multiple harvest Crop in your Field in Summer or in any field on Blessia Island as well as in the Refreshing Summer Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.
Use Inquisitive Waltz to obtain in Refreshing Summer Garden on 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.

CORN: 170G
Growth: 14 Days
Said to grow as high as a Buffamoo’s eye. Joins wheat and rice as one of the ‘big three’ grain crops.
Grown as a multiple harvest Crop in your Field in Summer or in any field on Blessia Island as well as in the Refreshing Summer Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.
Use Inquisitive Waltz to obtain in Refreshing Summer Garden on 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.

TOMATO: 210G
Growth: 10 Days
Shiny and red, like the summer sun. Packed with nutrition and highly versatile.
Grown as a multiple harvest Crop in your Field in Summer or in any field on Blessia Island as well as in the Refreshing Summer Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.
Use Inquisitive Waltz to obtain in Refreshing Summer Garden on 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.

EGGPLANT: 190G
Growth: 9 Days
This purple vegetable actually has nothing to do with eggs. Its curved stalk is strangely appealing.
Grown as a multiple harvest Crop in your Field in Summer or in any field on Blessia Island as well as in the Refreshing Summer Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.

IRONLEAF: 3200G
Growth: 40 Days
A spiky plant. It gets its shape from the iron in the soil. Gentle, despite its appearance.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in any field on Blessia Island as well as in the Refreshing Summer Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.
Use Inquisitive Waltz in Centre or Dense Overgrowth areas of Blessia Island to obtain.

4-LEAF CLOVER: 2400G
Growth: 60 Days
A lucky, lucky item. Just carrying it makes you happy, and giving it as a gift makes you doubly so.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in any field on Blessia Island as well as in the Refreshing Summer Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.

FIREFLOWER: 4300G
Growth: 90 Days
A uniquely-shaped flower. Often called ‘the fireworks of the wild’. Pay attention, and you might hear them pop.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in any field on Blessia Island as well as in the Refreshing Summer Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.
Use Inquisitive Waltz in Southeast Beach on Blessia Island to obtain.

GREEN CRYSTAL FLOWER: 9800G
Growth: 100 Days
A flower created by rune crystals underground. Each season produces a different colour – green in Summer.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in any field on Blessia Island as well as in the Refreshing Summer Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.

GOLD PUMPKIN: 1620G
Growth: 15 Days
A rare golden vegetable. When carved into a lantern, it makes even the heartiest of men cower in fear.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in your Field in Summer or in any field on Blessia Island as well as in the Refreshing Summer Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.
Use Inquisitive Waltz in Refreshing Summer Garden on 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine to obtain.


Autumn Crops


YAM: 140G
Growth: 6 Days
Packed with fibre, this vegetable will give your insides a thorough cleaning out.
Grown as a multiple harvest Crop in your field in Autumn or in any field in Messhina Valley or in the Sorrowful Autumn Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.
Use the Inquisitive Waltz to obtain at Withered Road in Messhina Valley or in Sorrowful Autumn Garden on 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.

POTATO: 240G
Growth: 7 Days
A widely-loved vegetable that can be anything from a food staple to a hors d’oeuvre.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in your field in Autumn, in any field in Messhina Valley or in the Sorrowful Autumn Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.
Use the Inquisitive Waltz to obtain at Serene Garden in Messhina Valley.

CARROT: 420G
Growth: 9 Days
A long, orange vegetable. Said to increase motivation if dangled just in front of the eyes.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in your field in Autumn, in any field in Messhina Valley or in the Sorrowful Autumn Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.
Use the Inquisitive Waltz to obtain at Serene Garden in Messhina Valley or in Sorrowful Autumn Garden on 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.

GREEN PEPPER: 140G
Growth: 10 Days
Often disliked because of its bitter taste. It is easily depressed because of this.
Grown as a multiple harvest Crop in your field in Autumn or in any field in Messhina Valley or in the Sorrowful Autumn Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.
Use the Inquisitive Waltz to obtain in Sorrowful Autumn Garden on 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.

SPINACH: 300G
Growth: 5 Days
Dark green and highly nutritious. Tinned spinach has been known to provide super-strength.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in your field in Autumn or in any field in Messhina Valley or in the Sorrowful Autumn Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.

POM-POM GRASS: 5500G
Growth: 90 Days
Has a white, cotton ball-like flower, which takes to the air when the Spring winds blow.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in any field in Messhina Valley or in the Sorrowful Autumn Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.
Use the Inquisitive Waltz to obtain at Giant Boulder or Cave – Small Room areas in Messhina Valley.

RED CRYSTAL FLOWER: 11250G
Growth: 100 Days
A flower created by rune crystals underground. Each season produces a different colour – red in Fall.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in any field in Messhina Valley or in the Sorrowful Autumn Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.

AUTUMN GRASS: 3900G
Growth: 60 Days
Bright and vividly coloured. Its name comes from its colour, which is like that of the leaves in Fall.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in any field in Messhina Valley or in the Sorrowful Autumn Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.

GOLD POTATO: 1390G
Growth: 11 Days
A rare golden vegetable. Easy to spot, as light shines up from the ground even while still buried.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in your own Field in Autumn, in any field in Messhina Valley or in the Sorrowful Autumn Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.
Use the Inquisitive Waltz to obtain in the Sorrowful Autumn Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.


Winter Crops


TURNIP: 190G
Growth: 4 Days
A king among farm crops. Lovingly raised across the entire world to this very day.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in any field in Padova Mountains or in the Frigid Winter Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.

DAIKON RADISH: 1100G
Growth: 14 Days
The radish’s long, white cousin. Its accommodating taste allows it to be used in a multitude of ways.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in any field in Padova Mountains or in the Frigid Winter Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.

LEEK: 520G
Growth: 6 Days
A staple of winter hot-pots. Has also been used as a way to identify allies during battles.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in any field in Padova Mountains or in the Frigid Winter Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.
Use the Inquisitive Waltz to obtain in the Frigid Winter Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.

WHITE CABBAGE: 960G
Growth: 11 Days
Harvested in winter. The colder the weather gets, the tastier it will be when harvested.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in any field in Padova Mountains or in the Frigid Winter Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.
Use the Inquisitive Waltz to obtain in the Frigid Winter Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.

HOT-HOT FRUIT: 2900G
Growth: 20 Days
Covered in thick fuzz. It is said that when it is placed in water, it will help the water boil faster.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in any field in Padova Mountains or in the Frigid Winter Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.
Use the Inquisitive Waltz to obtain in the Frigid Winter Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.

NOEL GRASS: 3970G
Growth: 40 Days
A grass that is shaped, for some reason, like a tree. A really big tree if you happen to be a dwarf.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in any field in Padova Mountains or in the Frigid Winter Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.
Use the Inquisitive Waltz to obtain in the Tomb in Padova Mountains.

WHITE CRYSTAL FLOWER: 12000G
Growth: 100 Days
A flower created by rune crystals underground. Each season produces a different colour – white in Winter.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in any field in Padova Mountains or in the Frigid Winter Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.
Use the Inquisitive Waltz to obtain in the Icy Path area of Padova Mountains.
N.B. You only can obtain the White Crystal Flower initially through the Inquisitive Waltz.

GOLD TURNIP: 980G
Growth: 8 Days
A rare golden vegetable. Created to accommodate requests for turnips that match a girl’s hair.
Grown as a single harvest Crop in any field in Padova Mountains or in the Frigid Winter Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.
Use the Inquisitive Waltz to obtain in the Frigid Winter Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.



FRUITS


STRAWBERRY: 180G
Growth: 8 Days
Red and petite. Its sweet, tangy taste and bite-size shape just beg to be devoured.
Grown as a multiple harvest Crop in your own Field in Spring, in Trieste Forest or in any Field in Palermo Shrine apart from the Summer, Autumn and Winter Gardens on the 5th Floor.
Use Inquisitive Waltz in Reflecting Water of Trieste Forest to obtain.
N.B. Strawberry and Pineapple are the only fruits that are grown as crops. All others must be found in the wilds.

PINEAPPLE: 750G
Growth: 20 Days
Spiky on the outside, sweet on the inside. Just smelling it is enough to invoke the feeling of summer.
Grown in Summer as a multiple harvest crop in your own Field, in any field in Blessia Island or in Summer Garden on 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.
GRAPE: 290G
A small, purple round fruit. Eating a bunch of them at once is like having a carnival in your mouth.
Found in Messhina Valley on wild vines in the Riverbank and Giant Boulder screens.

APPLE: 60G
A little bundle of love from the Trieste Forest. So good for you, it may put your doctor out of a job.
Found on trees in Trieste Forest in the Grassy Path and Green Garden screens and as War Trophies from Pomme-Pomme Monsters.

ORANGE: 270G
Has succeeded in skillfully balancing the taste of both sweet and sour more than any other fruit.
Found on four trees on Blessia Island in the Altar/Old Ship, Dense Overgrowth, West Beach screens.


FLOWERS:

All Flowers in Rune Factory 2 are grown as crops.

TOYHERB: 510G
Growth: 12 Days
A medical herb said to be good for your health. Can be tricky to grow.
Grown in Spring as a single harvest crop in your own Field, in Trieste Forest or in any field in Palermo Shrine apart from the Summer, Autumn or Winter Seasonal Gardens on the 5th Floor.
Use the Inquisitive Waltz in the Spring Clearing of Trieste Forest to obtain.

MOONDROP: 180G
Growth: 6 Days
A mysterious flower that grows by moonlight. Shines as though it fell from the moon.
Grown in Spring as a single harvest crop in your own Field, in Trieste Forest or in any field in Palermo Shrine apart from the Summer, Autumn and Winter Seasonal Gardens on the 5th Floor.
Use the Inquisitive Waltz in the Grassy Path area of Trieste Forest to obtain.

PINK CAT: 180G
Growth: 6 Days
A bright pink flower, its small, cute petals have earned it its endearing name.
Grown in Summer as a single harvest crop in your own field, in any field on Blessia Island or in the Summer Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.
Use the Inquisitive Waltz to obtain at the Dense Overgrowth, West Beach and Sandy Path areas on Blessia Island.

CHARM BLUE: 760G
Growth: 12 Days
A dark blue flower. Its large petals and striking colour could mesmerise one forever.
Grown in Autumn as a single harvest Crop in your own Field, in any Field in Messhina Valley or in the Sorrowful Autumn Garden on the 5th Floor of Palermo Shrine.
Use the Inquisitive Waltz to obtain on the Withered Road in Messhina Valley.