When Sparks Fly in Vaughn's Heart Events in Sunshine Island

Although Will captured my heart the moment I first encountered him, I still find Vaughn very attractive. Remembering the huge outpouring of female romantic interest in Vaughn when Island of Happiness was released, I felt I owed it to the devoted fans of Vaughn to share some of his new Events in Sunshine Islands. This video explores his Blue and Green Heart Events:

Move Over, Vaughn!

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As much as I responded to Vaughn's physical appearance in Island of Happiness, I really rather detested his surly disposition and lack of good manners. One is sympathetic to the difficult, rather lonely life he led in his childhood, but orphans and those whom fortune has not favoured have been known to behave far better in the face of social deprivation.
Nonetheless, as I always had a weakness for young men with long silver hair, I courted Vaughn in Island of Happiness with single-minded determination (even though I went through the Courtship and Marriage moves with every bachelor, never saving the results afterwards).

Now, however, I have to declare that I have met some one who embodies all of my fantasies and dreams. With aristocratic bearing (and a string of names to equal his lineage), a love of animals, a chivalrous disposition, impeccable manners AND the 'peaches and cream' 6th form sort of wildly attractive looks that captures my heart instantly, I cannot find a single flaw in this Eligible Bachelor. He is a REAL Prince Charming but I cannot say anything else about him at this point in time...

Just to let you know that upcoming Harvest Moon games have some wonderful romantic surprises in store for players... Nor have male players been shorted here. There is an exquisite new Eligible Girl for them and they ALWAYS had the Witch Princess, who is one of my favourite characters, although I really could not bear to slaughter animals even for her.

Vaughn's Secret Heartbreak

One morning after marriage, Vaughn's dialogue changed. It was not a matter of a change in Affection as he had been at maximum at the time of our marriage. I was pregnant with his child, but had been for some time.

I gave him a piece of chocolate as usual and he turned to me and remarked, almost offhandedly, 'I don't have any good memories of my childhood. I don't want my kid to feel the same way.'

His confession broke my heart. No wonder I fell in love with him. Like Skye, there are deep undercurrents of sorrow that made him an outsider, some one with a heart of gold but who had been hurt early in life to the point where he had to develop defences against intimacy. The fact that both Skye and Vaughn CAN lower their defences and show their innate nobility of spirit is what makes them irresistable. He may be taciturn and slow to smile but once he opens his heart to you, Vaughn is a true gentleman and a thoughtful, considerate husband and father.

It is going to be almost impossible for me to allow Sabrina to marry him in my next game, but I need to do that if I ever am to experience their Rival Marriage and meet their child.

N.B. Actually, his dialogue changed precisely 10 days after the announcement of my pregnancy. It changed once more before the baby was born, when he began to use my nickname and assure me that I would be a good mother.

Having a Child truly a Matter of Choice in IoH

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In many Harvest Moon games, if you have your spouse at maximum heart level for a specific period of time, a blessed event will be announced and you WILL have a child.
Island of Happiness is different in this respect.

You can marry with a Large House and a Big Bed, but you never will have a child if you do not order the Extra-Large House. Even then, you will not have a child if you do not buy the Child's Bed.

The 'Kid's Bed' will be available at Chen's Market a full season after marriage, provided you have an Extra-Large House. You have to BUY it if you wish to experience the pregnancy event.

This makes having a child a matter of choice. Furthermore, you can engineer the birthday of your child by putting off the purchase.

The morning after the purchase, you will experience the Pregnancy Event, entitled:
'The Big News'.

If any one wonders about Vaughn's suitability as a husband, this Event proves it. He SHINES here. When Trent asks him if MY decision to have the baby on the island is acceptable, Vaughn responds that it is only my opinion that matters! What a sweetheart! The taciturn Vaughn demonstrates a complete lack of obnoxious machismo, deferring to the person who actually will have to go through labour.

The Event is interesting for a number of reasons. There is a point where you may believe that you have a choice as to where to have the baby, that you may be able to visit the Clinic at Mineral Town or Hardy's Clinic in the Valley perhaps...

The matter is taken out of your hands, though, when your character declares the intention of having the child on the Island instead of the 'hospital' recommended by Dr. Trent.

Incidentally, Trent will be available for this Event whatever the season. He happens to be 'on the island' gathering medicinal herbs whenever you become pregnant, even if ordinarily he would be back in Mineral Town.

Note that the pregnancy event can occur as early as one season after marriage.

The Big News

At 6.00 a.m.
Me: (with black cloud)
Vaughn: (?) What’s wrong? You’ve looked under the weather for a while now… Especially today.
I’ll go find a doctor. Sit tight, okay?

I nod.
He walks out.

Now Trent is here with Vaughn.

Vaughn: A Doctor was on the island picking medicinal plants.
So, how’s Freya?

Trent: Hmm…
Me: (…)
Trent: (…)
Trent: A-ha! Precisely. There’s nothing to worry about. You haven’t fallen ill…

Vaughn and I both: (?)

Trent: You’re pregnant!

Vaughn and I both: (!)

Trent; Congratulations, both of you!

Me (with big red heart)

Vaughn: Really?! I’m gonna be a dad?
Never thought the day would come, me as a parent.
Great, eh, Tesora?

Trent: Now, where would you like to deliver the baby?

Vaughn and I both: (?)

Trent: I’m glad I was here to assist you with the diagnosis.
You should stay in a hospital in a town for the delivery.
I shake my head negatively.
Me: (…)
Trent: Oh, you’d like to deliver the baby here on the island?

I nod with vigour.

Trent: Is that all right with you, Vaughn?

Vaughn: Sure. It’s only Tesora’s choice that matters here.

I display another big red heart.

Trent: If that’s what you wish, I’d be happy to assist.
When you go into labour, make sure to call me. I’ll rush over immediately.

Vaughn: That’d help us a lot.
Thanks again. We’ll be seeing you.

Trent: it’s no trouble. Se sure not to strain yourself. Now, I should get going.

Birthdays in and out of Harvest Moon

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As it is my birthday in this world, I thought that a worthy goal in IoH would be to move forward to my birthday there and see how my husband Vaughn will celebrate it.

Unfortunately, I am a slow player, but I am determined to reach 4 Autumn in my game, and I will report the results if I manage it. I really would like to see how the taciturn Vaughn responds to the occasion...

Well, too much of my real and Harvest Moon birthday was spent caring for livestock and building a new pen for my Chickens, but in the end, I was able to make it to 4 Fall in time to experience my Harvest Moon birthday rather late at night on my real birthday.

Sad to say, as in previous (unmarried) years, NO ONE on the Island acknowledged the fact that it was my birthday. I'll have to choose a different birthday in the next game to see if this makes a difference. IoH is the first Harvest Moon game where another character shares my birthday. It is Nathan whose birthday falls on 4 Fall.

I don't think it makes a difference though. If other players have been wished a Happy Birthday by random villagers in IoH, please let me know.

Even my husband, Vaughn, ignored the occasion completely in the morning when I spoke to him and gave him his usual gift.

After 6.00 p.m., however, I was able to trigger a birthday event as follows:

A Special Occasion

Vaughn: You’re home.
You finish work for the day?

I’m finished.
I’m not finished.

Vaughn: What’s today?
This one’s easy.

Our Anniversary
My Birthday

My Birthday

Vaughn displays a big red heart.

Vaughn: That’s right.
Happy birthday!

Vaughn: Take the day off.
Let’s celebrate.
I got a cake.
Let’s eat.

My thoughts: That was so sweet.
What a great birthday!

End of Event.

I don't wish to sound spoiled, but it occurred all too quickly. I barely had time to look at the table before the event was over... I'll have to trigger it again to enjoy it more fully. Actually, I need to experience it again and this time give the incorrect response to see how he reacts if I tell him I think it's our Anniversary!
That always is fun in Harvest Moon.

Incidentally, the birthday celebrations in ToT are sumptuous occasions. Actually, the table setting for any holiday celebration in ToT once you are married is absolutely wonderful!

(How many players recall the error in FoMT where you had to answer incorrectly when married to one of the girls or risk her wrath? Apparently the programming had gone awry. I'd have to refer to my game journals to be certain, but I think it occurred when you were married to Elli and had a child.)

Later:

I reloaded and gave the wrong answer, telling Vaughn that it was 'Our Anniversary' to see how he'd respond. He was really sweet about it, actually. He told me that I must be exhausted in order to forget my own birthday. Of course, this prompted him to tell me to go straight to bed, not being allowed to eat the food on the table. (Two pieces of white cake, two red drinks)

It was only when I reloaded yet again, to play it through properly for the final time that I noticed a detail I had missed the first time. When I gave the incorrect response, my Fullness was down. I awakened the next morning with my Fullness diminished... When I replayed it for the final time, giving the correct answer, my Fullness was down but when I awakened after sharing the cake and drink with Vaughn, my Stamina and Fullness bars both were filled completely. Like many of the food festivals in IoH, therefore, the Birthday Celebratrion fully fills both Stamina and Fullness. I love the little details like this in Harvest Moon. So much care goes into the programming.

Where is Vaughn after Marriage?

This is not important information by any means, but I had wondered about it when I decided to marry Vaughn. I suspected he would remain at your farmhouse after marriage, day and night, as do many of the Spouses who do not have a regular place of business in Harvest Moon games.

In fact, he is at home most of the time, on every day apart from Wednesday and Thursday, from rising until he climbs into his own Husband Bed above my bed.

What is very interesting, however, is that he disappears completely from the Map on Wednesdays. I suppose that makes sense, as he DOES transport animals from Island to Island and Wednesdays and Thursdays always were his working days. He must visit another Island now on Wednesdays.

On Thursday, he leaves the house before I rise to frequent Mirabelle's Animal Shop as he did as a bachelor. If I visit him there, he says: 'What? You wanna watch me work? Okay...'

On Thursday, he returns home at noon, however, rather than visiting the Forest as he did when he was a bachelor. He then remains at home constantly until Wednesday. On Wednesday, once again, he is long gone when I arise at 6.00 a.m.

Rejecting your Gifts at Red Heart Level in IoH

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In Island of Happiness, the heart levels of characters will continue to increase, even if you never speak to them or give them any more gifts, if you wear the Friendship Pendant and if you continue to make advances in the game (such as bringing new residents to the Island, winning contests and such). What is different in Island of Happiness is the requirement that you speak to an individual regularly if you wish to have ANY gifts accepted by him/her.

For example, with all the bachelors at orange or red heart level now in the game, they will REJECT my gifts if I fail to speak to them regularly. Even a Thanksgiving Gift will be rejected...

Heart levels do not appear to decrease at all when a gift is refused. Once an individual begins to reject your gifts, you need to speak to that individual EVERY DAY for five days in order to lift the 'social curse'. This applies to all individuals and not only eligible bachelors/girls.

Notwithstanding this situation, any bachelor or eligible girl at orange/red heart level WILL accept an invitation to a romantic Festival or Event even at a point when he/she would reject a gift. I have tested this thoroughly now.

The Harvest Goddess Festival is approaching again in my IoH game. Sad to say, the guy I really wish to invite is NOT on the Island once again. Vaughn so far NEVER has been on the Island on 7 Spring, the day on which one makes the invitations to the Harvest Goddess Festival. If I live single long enough, one year the 7th of Spring will fall on a Wednesday or Thursday but at this point, it has not occurred.

I experienced the Harvest Goddess Festival event with all the 'easy' bachelors first: Denny, Elliot and Pierre. This year, I could invite either Mark or Shea, but not Vaughn, only because Vaughn is nowhere to be found.

Rather to my surprise, I discovered that Shea completely ignored this Festival, even at maximum 10 hearts, full red heart level. He continues to speak of his primary concerns: hunting and eating, no matter where we meet! I expect that dancing for the Harvest Goddess may be an 'alien' ritual to him. He certainly did not attend last year, and I daresay he won't be in attendance this year either.

I bowed to the inevitable and asked Mark to go with me. I fancy him in any case, although my heart still is pulled more by Vaughn for some reason. What is infuriating is that Vaughn WILL be at the festival always, and he will squire Sabrina, my RIVAL to it! Somehow, she manages to get to him with her invitation on a day when he is not on the Island... She must have his address and be able to send a trained carrier pigeon to him, as no ships are sailing today.

Tomorrow, therefore, on 8 Spring, however much I enjoy Mark's attentions, my heart will be soured a little by the sight of Vaughn dancing attendance on my Rival, even though she is a friend of mine. The worst moment always is when the bachelors and my Rivals display large red hearts for one another in the course of the dance. I suppose I shouldn't be greedy, though. It is rather exciting to be the 'belle of the ball' on the Island, with all the bachelors in love with me, but ultimately it is far better to allow the Rival Couples to marry.

Spring Thanksgiving with Mark, Vaughn and Elliot

As in many Harvest Moon games, the Spring Thanksgiving is the occasion on which boys give Cookies to girls they like. It actually is the 'second' of the Thanksgiving Festivals, oddly enough. The first is the 'Winter Thanksgiving' on 14 Winter, on which girls give Chocolate or Chocolate Cake to boys they like. The Spring Thanksgiving gift is considered to be a gift 'in return'. Many characters actually will refer to the original Winter Thanksgiving gift when they give the girl Cookies or Chocolate Cookies. It appeared to me that the bachelors with the highest Heart Levels gave Chocolate Cookies while the others gave Cookies. If this is the case, then it is a good strategy to have bachelors at different heart levels, as you then will be able to obtain a larger selection of items.

(In HM Boy & Girl, this certainly was the case. One could receive either Chocolate or the appropriate baked item. Ironically, Chocolate, the gift given at lowest heart levels, was the more difficult item to obtain in THAT game so one actually benefited if one did not have all eligible characters at the highest heart levels at the time of the Thanksgiving Festival.)

I received both Cookies and Chocolate Cookies in 'Island of Happiness' and the bachelors adhered to a regular schedule of visits as in 'More Friends of Mineral Town' and 'Harvest Moon Cute DS'. I had to re-enter my house each time to experience the visit, so could not wander far from home throughout the day on 14 Spring. It was worth the sacrifice, however, as I received gifts from ALL the bachelors.

I have to admit that I am torn between Vaughn and Mark for my final choice of Spouse.
Vaughn is difficult to court mainly because he visits the island only for a couple of days each week and is absent in the first year on the day of many of the Romantic Festivals. Very frustrating! I would have loved to have spent the Starry Night Festival with him, but he was absent on the day when the invitation would have had to have been made. I was thrilled when he came to my house bearing a gift on 14 Spring... it was not one of the days when he was scheduled to be on the Island!

In this post, I have included screenshots of the Thanksgiving visits of Elliot, Vaughn and Mark. Note the lovely 'picturebook' title on the upper screen. Every Event in IoH has its own screen title and many have their own signature music. The Romantic Heart Events title screen is particularly lovely.