Cooking in Animal Parade

In my own first game, I had no trouble purchasing any Cooking Utensil from the General Store in the first week of Spring, and yet other players have emailed me asking why they are unable to buy Cooking Utensils. The option is 'locked' in their games.

In many Harvest Moon games, cooking or shipping Cooked Dishes can unlock some new options or bring rewards. As soon as Bo repaired the Garmon Mines District Bridge in my first game (Wednesday in the first week of Spring), I bought the Matches and began to use them rather lavishly. I bought Sardines from Ozzie as well as catching my own fish and grilled all of them, saving most of the Grilled Sardines for use as Recovery Items and shipping the rest.

I was not certain why one should purchase Recipes when you can experiment in your Kitchen to add the same Recipe to your Cookbook without paying anything at all, but to be on the safe siad, in case there was some hidden virtue to the actual purchases, I bought the inexpensive Herbal Tea Recipe from Irene, the Grilled Sardines Recipe from Ozzie and a Boiled Egg Recipe from Hanna in Flute Fields.

Furthermore, in the first week, I went from house to house, collecting all the Recipes from the various kitchens.

It is possible that any one who is unable to buy items that should be available at Level 1 at any of the Shops has failed to perform one of the above. I can't imagine what else could prevent the purchase.

Althought there is a link between the FORGES and the Red Bell, there was no impediment to me either with respect to purchasing or using any Kitchen Utensil before I completed the Red Bell Quest. That rather surprised me, I confess, as I initially assumed I'd only be able to use the Matches and Cutting Board before the power of Fire was restored, but that was not the case at all.

Incidentally, for those who may be interested, I will try to have a preliminary Animal Parade Cookbook Recipes Guide on IGN later today. If there is no real virtue to purchasing the Recipes from shops, then a Recipes Guide will be of significant benefit to players who haven't the time or inclination to experiment intensively in their kitchens.

The Delight of Trivial Dialogue in Harvest Moon

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When I have my (very brief) moments of weariness and experience a crisis of faith in any Harvest Moon game, wondering how long it will take to collect enough income for the prized Greenhouse or when I will be able to reach the lowest floor in any Mine, something always restores my energy. Often it is an unexpected Event... or even a little piece of dialogue.

In Sunshine Islands, for example, Freya found Popuri at the Diner on a snowy Saturday afternoon in Winter. When she spoke to her, Popuri confided: 'Just between you and me, Karen's a terrible cook.'

That is no secret, by the way, to any veteran player of Harvest Moon. In FoMT and MFoMT, Karen invariably entered some utterly destroyed 'Burnt Dish' in the Cooking Contest year after year. We have followed her Cooking disasters from game to game... It did bring a smile to my face, however, hearing Popuri confess this little fact to me in Sunshine Islands. After all, how many years has Karen beeen striving unsuccessfully in the kitchen? Blessed with beauty, intelligence, humour and boundless energy, able to hold her own at the bar or in the workplace against any man, it is only fitting that Karen should have one flaw. She cannot cook.

Players who complain about 'too much dialogue' in any Harvest Moon or Rune Factory game are missing the point entirely. They shouldn't be playing these games if they cannot immerse themselves in these two wildly diverting, complex universes where characters are three-dimensional and have histories that carry over from game to game and village to village. Harvest Moon and Rune Factory truly are interactive novels where we, the players, are privileged to be allowed to enter into the universe and interact freely, actually changing the destinies of other characters as well as creating a marvelous life for ourselves.

You cannot expect to plumb the depths of Island of Happiness or Sunshine Islands in a year or two. Furthermore, there is a philosophical lesson to be learned in any Harvest Moon or Rune Factory game. Impatience is the root of unhappiness and dissatisfaction with life and your world. If you learn patience and have an attention to detail, you will be rewarded with every possible benefit that these worlds offer. If you begin to count the days until you will earn enough money for a specific upgrade, you will be unhappy with yourself and your life until you achieve that goal and furthermore, probably neglect other details and aspects of life in the process. You must tread gently and carefully in Harvest Moon and Rune Factory, paying attention to other people as well as other living creatures, whether plants or animals. Every life has its own worth. Neglect one and you have made your own universe a smaller place.

Tips for Raising Item Levels in Cooking in RFF

Tip for Raising Item Levels in Cooking


In Rune Factory Frontier, the Level of an edible item can determine its effects when consumed. HP will not vary but RP and the length of time that any temporary effect endures will be boosted by a higher level.

There are a number of Recipes that require a single Ingredient. Bread is one of these, requiring nothing more than a bag of Flour and an Oven. When you make Bread, you can stop the gauge in the green to create Level 2 Bread from a Level 1 bag of Flour.
You then can increase the Level again by making Toast. Toast requires nothing more than Bread to create. Place the Bread in the Oven and stop the gauge again in the green to make the Level 2 Bread into Level 3 Toast.
Level 1 Toast has the following stats:
Toast, Lv 1: 190G; HP 50, RP 100, FX Time 120 sec, Max HP +40, Earth Resistance +20
Level 3 Toast has these stats:
Toast, Lv 3: 266G; HP 50, RP 150, FX Time 180 sec, Max HP +40, Earth Resistance +20
It is only in combat situations that the difference can become critical. Having an item that raises your Maximum HP by 40 points for 3 minutes instead of 2 minutes can mean the difference between victory and defeat. Even having an item that boosts your Maximum HP by 40 points for 2 minutes may bring critical aid at a point when your character is approaching zero HP! Food supplies can be critical during battle. Remember that any food items your character consumes will benefit both your own character and that of any Monster Ally who accompanies you.
There are a number of Dishes that can be boosted in Level twice in the same way that a Level 1 bag of Flour can become Level 3 Toast. Rice can be made into a Rice Ball using no utensils at all. Hit the gauge in the green and make it into a Level 2 Rice Ball. Place it in the oven and hit the gauge in the green again to create a Level 3 Hot Rice Ball.
Rice Ball, Level 1 has the following stats:
Rice Ball, Lv. 1: 160G; HP 45, RP 75; FX Time 120 sec. Max HP +45
Hot Rice Ball, Level 3 has the following stats:
Hot Rice Ball, Lv. 3: 266G; HP 55, RP 150; FX Time 180 sec. Max HP +50, Earth Resistance +10
Both Rice and Flour can be found inside Caves/Dungeons in Treasure Chests, Crates and Urns. If you use the 2nd Beanstalk on any Holiday to access the Whale’s Fin, you can obtain a fine quantity of Rice, Chocolate, Flour and other items, including Crystals, Gems, Energy Drinks and Ores, simply by climbing the Beanstalk again and again… If you prefer to use your time in a different manner, you can purchase both Flour and Rice always at the Tavern at night.

Where forging items is concerned, the level of the item may increase its power as well in certain aspects. In a number of cases, there will be two separate Recipes for the same item. For example, if you wish to create a Wing Ring, you can choose between the following Recipes:

Wing Ring, Skill Level 30: Silver Ring, Wind Crystal, Glue
Wing Ring, Skill Level 30: Silver Ring, Giant Cockscomb

If you have all the ingredients needed to create the Wing Ring using either of these, which is the best Recipe to follow?

Your decision may rest upon a couple of factors. One may be that of choosing the Recipe for which ingredients are most easily obtained. Another may be that of choosing the Recipe with the ingredients of the highest level.

The ultimate Level of any item created in the Kitchen, Forge, Craft Bench or Pharmacy is based on the LOWEST level of ingredient in Rune Factory Frontier. In other words, if you have three ingredients at Level 3 and one ingredient at Level 1, the item created will be Level 1, unless you create it 'perfectly' by hitting the green section of the gauge, in which case its level will be raised to Level 2. In other words, it is not the average of all ingredients but the ingredient that is the lowest level that will determine the level of the new item.

A Silver Ring created using Level 1 ingredients can be made as a Level 2 item by hitting the green gauge at the Craft Bench. You then will have a Level 2 Silver Ring.

If you have only Level 1 Glue or Level 1 Wind Crystal, it would be better to use a Level 2 Cockscomb instead to create your Wing Ring using the Level 2 Silver Ring previously fashioned. By hitting the green in the process, you can create a Level 3 Wing Ring, which will give you more defence than either Level 1 or Level 2.

Level 1 Wing Ring: 750G, ATK 10, DEF 30, MAG 40, FX Wind Attack +12, Wind Resistance +8
Level 3 Wing Ring: 1050G, ATK 10, DEF 38, MAG 40, FX Wind Attack +12, Wind Resistance +8

As you can see, only the Defence is raised when a higher level of Wing Ring is created, but Defence can be critical while your character remains at fairly low experience levels. When you compare the 8 points of defence obtained by creating a Level 3 Wing Ring and remember that the initial Item available from Danny in the form of the Pendant had only 8 Defence total, you will see that it is in your best interests to attempt to hit the Green on the gauge. Furthermore, only energy is used in any failed attempt at the Forge or Crafting Bench. This was the case in other Rune Factory games as well. It is only in Cooking that ingredients will be wasted if you fail to achieve a successful Dish, as your ingredients in such a situation will be USED to create a Flop instead of the Dish in the Recipe.

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...

When Ingredients are not Wasted in Rune Factory 2

Players who have spent some time in the Workshop slaving away over a hot forge or stove, wondering if the ingredients they have worked long and hard to collect will be wasted or not in an unsuccessful attempt to create a new item may or may not have noted the conditions under which your ingredients are returned to your Rucksack.

First, any unsuccessful attempt to create ANY item at the Forge or Workbench will not waste any ingredients. Your ingredients ALWAYS will be returned intact to your Rucksack if your attempt to create an item fails. The reason for this is because nothing is created in a failed attempt. Furthermore, the raw ingredients can sustain ‘damage’ and still be used again. A lump of ore that has been heated at the forge and yet has failed to become the desired item remains a lump of ore that can be used in another experiment.

In the Kitchen, however, a different set of rules prevails. There are two situations, each of which is subject to its own unique rule:

First, if you follow any recipe and it does not succeed because you have less than 100% chance of creating the dish, your ingredients will be lost as you will create a FAILED DISH. A FAILED DISH is an item and thus, the ingredients were used to create it. That is why they will not be returned to your Rucksack.

The other situation is when you use ingredients to create a dish that does not exist. In other words, when you use the WRONG ingredients in the Kitchen, your ingredients will NOT result in the creation of any item. In this situation, your ingredients will be returned to your rucksack intact.

An example of this would be when you sling a Yam into the Mixer by accident. You will see the 'FAILURE!' prompt and the Yam will reappear in your Rucksack. As there is no Recipe for pureed Yam, the Mixer will not accept the Yam. Do not forget, however, that ANY work conducted in the Workshop, however impossible it may be in terms of achieving a result, WILL USE ENERGY!

Finally, the more difficult the Recipe in terms of Skill Levels, the more experience it will bring, even if the result is unsuccessful. In other words, attempting a Recipe that has only 1% chance of success, whether in the Kitchen, the Forge, Workbench or Pharmacy will give you more experience towards the next Level of Skill than a Recipe that has 100% chance of success.

I do suggest that players attempt the easiest Recipes again and again when they first obtain their Workshop and fittings but once you have reached a decent level of Skill, you may wish to attempt very difficult Recipes with little chance of success in order to increase your Skill Levels more quickly with the most difficult Recipes in view. There are Recipes designated for maximum 99 Skill Levels.

Bear in mind the fact that the Skill Level assigned to any Recipe is the Level that guarantees a successful result, not the Level required to create the item successfully.

Easy Lesson for Cooking in Rune Factory 2

Having vowed to myself that I would not spend any more time on videos, I somehow persuaded myself that a little tutorial to help players obtain all the upgrades necessary for Cooking and Forging as well as a brief lesson in completing a successful dish might be useful. Here is Freyashawk'e Easy Cooking tutorial:



Much has been added to my Rune Factory 2 General Guide in terms of 2nd Generration information. The updated version should be published shortly.