Video Tutorial about Mining in HoLV

Not as artistic as I would have liked perhaps, but I am having trouble with my laptop again.

In any case, it provides useful visual information about the Rock Configurations in the first three Chambers of the Mine as well as information about the Underground Lake.



Although this video really was created to show the Rock Configurations in the first three Chambers, a brief explanation of Mining may be in order.

First of all, you need to unlock Mining in general by working Part-Time for Rudolph five times before you will be able to unlock Mining for yourself. In order to experience some of the Story Quest Events that are linked to the Mine, you must satisfy requirements in terms of the total number of items that you have obtained from the Mine. Mineral Crystals do not count where these totals are concerned, as you can 'create' them yourself using the Transformer 1 Machine. In order to experience all possible Events in the Story Quests linked to the Mine, you need to have obtained at least 30 items from the Mine. This is a fairly low requirement, as are any of the Requirements in HoLV. It actually represents the bare minimum any player should be able to obtain if he/she visits the Mine a few times.

A new Chamber should be unlocked at the beginning of any new Season, BUT it is possible that there are minimum requirements that must be met here as well. Obviously, if you did not unlock mining yet, the Chambers will remain barred with fallen masonry. There may be some requirements in terms of the total number of items that players have obtained previously in the Mine as well. These totals would be fairly minimal, but Mineral Crystals would not be included in the count. The reason why Mineral Crystals are not counted is because you can create them yourself by placing Grass in the Transformer 1 Machine in the same manner in which you can create Special Fish Bait by placing Lumber in the Transformer 2 Machine.

If you have unlocked no new Chambers in the Mine NOR the Underground Lake, then I would assume it is a mining requirement rather than an additional fishing requirement.

In my game and those of players who were able to access the Underground Lake as soon as Ponta spoke of it, we had been mining on a regular basis since the start of the game, gaining access to the Mine as early as we could in Spring by working 5 times for Rudolph. We had been selling items from the Mine regularly to local merchants and had given gifts to Rudolph to raise his FP. We experienced two of his Friendship Events before Autumn... Rudolph's total FP is the only other variable that comes to mind.

Incidentally, the only Harvest Moon and Rune Factory games that I cover are the genuine authentic versions published by Natsume and XSeed. True fans of Harvest Moon and Rune Factory will obtain the genuine article, even if it involves some personal sacrifice, in the interest of helping to support the people who make these games available to us. If you are using bootlegs or illegal downloads, then you are NOT supporting the creators of these fabulous games. Illegal downloads and bootlegs tend to have all sorts of 'bugs' and problems, from an inability to save your game properly to corrupted data or options that do not work.

Collecting Items from the Mine and Forest in HoLV

A player asked how he might be able to collect Lumber in HoLV. The same question could apply to the items from the Mine.

Basically, when you start the game, you need to apply to Woody for a Part-Time Job in the Forest and to Rudolph for a Part-Time Job in the Dig Site/Mine. When you perform these 'Tutorials', which is what they are in effect, you move one step closer to 'unlocking' the Forest and the Mine. Whenever you perform the Part-Time Jobs, you will be given a 'bonus'. In the case of the Forest, you will be allowed to keep any Mushrooms or Truffles you find. In the case of the Mine, you are allowed to take home only the Mineral Crystals.

How, then, does one obtain the right to keep ALL the items from the Mine and to begin to collect Lumber for building projects?

Simply by contining to apply for the Part-Time Work offered in these locations... After you have done this a few times, proving in effect that you know what you are doing and will not be irresponsible or place yourself or the Valley in danger, you will be given carte blanche to operate...

That is how you unlock the initial right to chop Lumber and mine for Ores and Gems. Note that there are new areas that can be unlocked later...

Bear in mind the amount of Energy that is used whenever you swing your Axe to chop down a Tree... I have listed good Energy Recovery Items in another post.

AP Medicine is the best, restoring ALL your Energy, but it costs 1000G. The items I listed are less expensive.

By the way, those players who have played Friends of Mineral Town or More Friends of Mineral Town probably will recall the Medals that could be won at the Horse Races. In fact, those Medals could change your entire life if you collected sufficient numbers of them...

In Hero of Leaf Valley, you can win Medals at the Races as well and can purchase LUMBER with those Medals. So take heart... there are other ways to obtain Lumber apart from swinging an Axe.

As far as Mushrooms are concerned, there are a number of uses for these and other ways to obtain them apart from foraging in the Forest.

Mushrooms are a favourite Gift for the Harvest Sprites and they may give you Fish Bait in return. Make certain that you do not give them Truffles, however. They utterly detest them, strangely enough.

If you wish to grow Mushrooms, you must follow the procedure used in HM DS/Cute DS by placing Lumber in a damp area. In HoLV, you needn't build a special Mushroom Shed. The plank is behind the Storeroom, one of the buildings on your farm. You needn't plant seeds either. Simply water the Lumber until Mushrooms appear and continue to water them regularly. Only one Mushroom can be harvested from any piece of Lumber. You then must place another piece of Lumber on the plank.

Incidentally, once you have adopted and trained your Dog to 'Search' for items using the Ocarina, you first will be able to find 4 Power Berries and then will be able to find Mushrooms and Pontata Root on a daily basis if you take him out with you. Although it is possible for him to find other items before he finds the Power Berries, the odds are stacked in favour of the Power Berries as they are far more vital to your welfare. Each Power Berry increases your Total Stamina.

Pontata Root is the most effective Fatigue Resistance item in HoLV, so when you reach a Season where Red Herbs and Green Herbs no longer are plentiful, take your Dog out to find Pontata Roots.