No Connection Possible between Rune Factory and Rune Factory 2

Some one asked if any connection could be made between Rune Factory and Rune Factory 2. Although I had a vague recollection to the effect that no connection could be made, I promised the player that I would confirm this.

I now have done so, using two DS systems with Rune Factory in one and Rune Factory 2 in the other. Neither when connecting DS to DS nor through the Nintendo Wi-Fi Centre will either system be recognised by the other. If I insert the same game in both systems, whether it is the original Rune Factory or Rune Factory 2, the other system will be recognised. Thus, there is no connectivity between the two games in the series.

As previously stated, I was fairly certain even without testing it that this was the case, but now I can state it to be so from personal experience.

Seasonal Farming in Harvest Moon and Rune Factory

Crops tend to be season-specific both in Harvest Moon and in Rune Factory. Those of us who have been playing Harvest Moon games for a number of years became accustomed to a specific correspondence between Crops and their seasons.

Whether motivated by a sense of mischief or simply by a desire to 'mix things up' to make the games more challenging, some of the seasonal correspondences for traditional Crops were altered in more than one recent Harvest Moon and Rune Factory game.

For example, in Rune Factory 2, Turnips, always designated as a Spring Crop, became a Winter Crop. Pink Turnips instead were designated as the Spring Crop. Onions, traditionally a Summer Crop, became a Spring Crop. Potatoes, always associated in Harvest Moon with Spring, became an Autumn Crop. Confusing? Most definitely.

I believe that Pumpkins, traditionally a Summer Crop in most Harvest Moon/Rune Factory games, were moved to Autumn in Tree of Tranquility. (That makes more sense in terms of an Autumn Pumpkin Festival in a way but I believe that Pumpkins will continue to be classified as a Summer Crop in most games.)

When I wrote a post about Crops in Island of Happiness, and described a field in error as containing 'Tomatoes, Corn and Turnips', it probably was due partly to the many changes I have experienced as a Farmer in Harvest Moon and Rune Factory. Of course, the third Crop in the field consisted of Onions, not Turnips. (In my defence, I wrote the post after a virtually sleepless night, battling a rather nasty infection that caused high fever, terrible headaches, earache and sore throat.)

Another fact that has complicated my Farming expertise somewhat is the ability to grow Crops from ALL seasons simulaneously on Whale Island in Rune Factory Frontier, making it quite possible to have Corn, Tomatoes and Turnips on the same field... Nonetheless, it is embarrassing to make a mistake like that in a published post, and I am glad that some one caught it quickly!

One can become so accustomed to our Harvest Moon universe, certain fundamental rules relating to farming, mining, fishing and even social interactions that appear to be writ in stone... the unverse therefore is intensely real and one sometimes expects that these rules, like the 'laws of Nature' are unchanging. Making ANY assumption in a new game that is based on past games is a mistake unless proven by actual experience because the creators of any game are like Gods who can, in a single act, reverse any or ALL of the laws. The worlds of Harvest Moon and Rune Factory are detailed and complex, with characters who appear in more than one game and items, such as lithographs, Pirate Treasure, Fossils of Fish and Wonderfuls that acquire their own reality due to Harvest Moon, irrespective of any separate identity they may or my not possess in the 'real world'.

It is important for any Harvest Moon or Rune Factory player, myself included, ALWAYS to read the description of any item in any new game. Any bag of seeds that you purchase comes with a detailed description, including its Seasonal correspondence.
I never made the mistake of actually planting Turnips in Summer in Island of Happiness... but I did make the mistake of planting Turnips in Spring once in Rune Factory 2. Force of habit... and that can be a liability as well as an asset for a veteran player.

1st Day Walkthrough for Perfect Game in RF2

First of all, for a real Harvest Moon or Rune Factory fanatic, time and energy spent within the game is all that matters. THE REAL CLOCK IS IRRELEVANT! You therefore always try to cheat the clock in the game to maximise your progress there, even if it means that you spend extra time in the real world to do so.

Ironically, as there are no time limits in Rune Factory 2 or indeed most Harvest Moon games, it really is not necessary to do this, but dedicated players usually feel that it is preferable to make the most progress at the earliest opportunity.

You can start by clearing your entire field as soon as you arrive at your new home. DO NOT SPEAK TO MANA OR TO DOUGLAS until you have cleared your entire field. Note that branches need not be chopped with an Axe in Rune Factory 2. As soon as you place them in the woodpile, they become Lumber for building projects. You therefore should collect all branches and throw them into the woodpile that is in the northwest corner of the field.

Ship all Weeds, Wild Grasses and all other items, saving only the following:

18 Medicinal Herbs
9 Antidotal Herbs
9 Bamboo Shoots

If you wish, you can save 9 of each of the coloured Wild Grasses as well. You will have an opportunity to make at least 9000G in the first day by completing Requests so money won't be a problem even today.

When your field is clear of all but the large stumps and boulders and you have thrown all items either into the woodpile or the shipping container, speak both to Douglas and Mana.

She will offer you a Watering Can and Hoe for 100G. If any one wonders what happens if you choose not to buy the tools, the result is similar to that in Harvest Moon games where some one offers you a Horse. You will experience the offer again and again until you finally accept.

Buy the Watering Can and Hoe, then speak to Mana to learn about farming. It is when you ask about planting seeds that she will give you a bag of PINK TURNIP SEEDS.
Time will not begin to run until you name your farm. It will be 8.30 a.m. when you reach the Farmhouse and will remain 8.30 a.m. until you have spoken to Mana. That is why you should clear your field completely BEFORE you speak to her. You need all the time you can save here in order to perform as many Requests as possible on the first day.

There is no point in leaving the farm until 9.00 a.m. when the shops open so go ahead and till your field and plant the PINK TURNIP SEEDS. I would recommend tilling at least 6 plots. If you 'charge' the Hoe by holding down the B Button, you can till an entire plot of 3 x 3 squares in a single use. That means that tilling 6 plots will require that you swing your Hoe only 6 times. If you fail to charge the tool, you will be forced to swing the Hoe 9 times in order to till ONE plot on the field.

This is an important point to note in Rune Factory 2. The initial Tools that you obtain in the 1st Generation WILL accept a charge. Charging your Tools will allow you to perform advanced actions such as watering an entire plot in a single use of the Watering Can and tilling 9 squares with a single swing of the Hoe. It will allow you to chop large stumps with your Axe and demolish boulders with your Hammer, once you receive them.

Before you leave your farm, however, you should enter the Farmhouse to save your game and explore the bookcase to find a Magic Spell in the form of FIREBALL.
From 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. today, your time should be spent in accepting and completing Requests.

The first step is to go to the Bulletin Board in the Square and press 'A' in front of it to initiate an Event with Mana. She will explain the purpose of the Bulletin Board. When the Event ends, you will be able to find her 1st Request on the Board. Accept it and go to the Pumpkin General Store in the East End of Alvarna immediately to initiate the Request.

When you enter any building for the first time today, you will experience a little Event with one or more characters who live or work there. Do not assume that these Events constitute a proper introduction to all the characters who are involved in them. You MUST introduce yourself properly to every character before any Requests from them will appear on the Bulletin Board.

This is another important point to note. The appearance of Requests are based on Heart/Friendship Levels. The 1st Request appears when the Heart/Friendship Level with each individual remains at zero but it will not appear if you never introduced yourself to that character. You then need to increase Heart/Friendship Levels in order to unlock the 2nd Request.

Speaking to an individual daily is sufficient to increase Heart/Friendship Levels slowly but the points gained through dialogue are less than those for a Most Favourite Gift. A Birthday Gift is worth even more, but in Rune Factory 2, there is only one item that each individual will acknowledge as a Birthday Gift.

Many of the designated Birthday Gift items are Cooked Dishes but you will not be able to cook until you reach the 2nd Generation. All Birthday Gift Items are sold by Yue, the travelling merchant, however. On the 1st day of the game, she will be found in the Sainte-Coquille Square to the southwest of the Bulletin Board. 2 Spring is Douglas’ Birthday. If you wish to increase his Friendship by a full level, give him Fried Rice today.

After experiencing the initial Event at the Pumpkin General Store, Mana will give you an Emery Flower to deliver to Rosalind, promising you a reward of 100G. At this point, you will not have met any characters apart from Mana and Douglas.

On the 1st day of the game, characters will be found in locations that may be different from their usual schedule. Furthermore, most of them will remain in that location until 6.00 p.m. This will make it easier to complete their Requests.
With the Emery Flower in your Rucksack, go east. The first building you encounter will be the Bathhouse, closed on Monday.

As you continue east past the Bathhouse, you will encounter two of the Eligible Girls, Julia and Rosalind. Speak to Julia to introduce yourself to her, then speak to Rosalind. After the introduction, you can give Rosalind the Emery Flower. She will tell you to return to Mana in order to complete the Request. Do not do so yet, however. Instead, go further east and enter the Sharper Edge Blacksmith to experience an Event.

Afterwards, introduce yourself to Tanya and Roy. Tanya will give you your first Skill Seal. Skill Seals are the equivalent of ‘Special Attacks’ for specific types of weapons. The one given by Tanya is for shortswords.

You now need to go west again. Your path will take you past the Pumpkin General Store where you can speak to Mana again to complete her Request. After she pays you, you will have a total of 150G. As you will earn far more by completing other Requests, you may wish to wait before you buy anything with the money.

Your goals now for today are to obtain as many Tools and as much money as possible by completing Requests. Your final goal for the day is to place an order for a Monster Barn with Mayor Byron. For that, you will need 50 Lumber and 5000G. With only 150G to your name at present, you may doubt that you will be able to accomplish this but performing a few Requests will place both adequate money and Lumber at your disposal before 6.00 p.m.

As you need to meet the individuals before they will make any Requests, you now should walk west, entering each building along the way to experience Events and introduce yourself to characters afterwards.

To the left of the General Store is the Alvarna Clinic. Here you will experience an Event with the doctor of Alvarna, Natalie, her daughter Alicia, her son Ray and a young patient named Cammy. Cammy will leave the Clinic before the end of the Event but you will have a chance to introduce yourself to Natalie, Ray and Alicia. Alicia is another Eligible Girl.

Afterwards, continue west through the De Sainte-Coquille Park, passing the Bulletin Board and introducing yourself to the travelling merchant, Yue, in the southwest. Do not take any Requests at this point.

Instead, continue west into the West End of Alvarna. The first building you enter is the De Sainte-Coquille Manor, a huge mansion owned by the richest family in Alvarna.

Here you will experience an Event that involve the entire Sainte-Coquille Family and their maid Cecilia. Herman is the head of the family and Max and Rosalind are his children. Alicia will enter the Mansion in the middle of the Event. When the Event ends, you will need to introduce yourself properly to Max, Herman and Cecilia. Cecilia is another Eligible Girl. The Rewards for completing the 1st Request by Herman and Max are large sums of money so it is vital that you introduce yourself to them now.

It is easier to continue west to explore all of Alvarna rather than returning to the Bulletin Board to take another Request. You will be less likely to ignore an introduction to a character if you do it this way.

Continue west therefore to the Eagle Inn. Here you will experience an Event with Egan, the elvish owner of the Inn, his son Jake and Celicia. Jake and Cecilia both will leave before you have a chance to speak to them. This is a case where you must not assume that the Event you experienced ‘counted’ as an Introduction where Jake is concerned. In order to introduce yourself to him, you will have to return to the Smithy where he works. For now, however, introduce yourself to Egan and then continue west.

The next stop is the Church, where you will experience an Event with Gordon, the minister of the Alvarna Chapel and Barrett, son of the Mayor. Gordon’s oldest daughter, Dorothy, another Eligible Girl, will enter to speak to Barrett before he leaves. Introduce yourself both to Gordon and Dorothy after the Event ends, then go through the door at the back of the church on the west side. This is where the bedrooms are located. You will find Cammy, the little girl who was weeping at the Clinic, in the middle bedroom. Introduce yourself to her, then leave the Church, continuing west to the Mayor’s house, the last building in the West End.

Here you will experience an Event between Barrett and his father, Mayor Byron. Once again, Barrett will walk out before the Event ends, making it impossible for you to meet him properly.

Introduce yourself to Byron, then leave the building. You now have met every one apart from Jake and Barrett. They both are rivals for the affection of Eligible Girls in the game but as both have a Tool to offer as a Reward for completing their initial Requests, the sooner you can meet them, the better.

To the right of the Church is a pathway that ascends northward. Take it and you will find yourself in Cherry Blossom Square. This was where the game began in the little alcove in the southwest with the Cherry Tree.

In the northwest corner of this screen, you will find Barrett in front of a bench. Speak to him now for a proper introduction. He will be neither friendly nor courteous but you now will be able to find his Request on the Bulletin Board.
After your introduction to Barrett, take the stairway to the south again and continue east past the Inn and Mansion to the Bulletin Board in the De Sainte-Coquille Park.

Instead of going all the way to the Smithy now to introduce yourself to Jake, however, as that would require a trip to the farthest eastern end of Alvarna, accept Rosalind’s Request as the Mansion is close and the Reward is good. She offers a Reward of 2000G to bring her a LAMP GRASS from Trieste Forest.

By now, it should be about 10.30 a.m. Return first to your Farmhouse to save your game. I always recommend frequent saves, especially at the start of any game with a large map. If you become lost, you can reload and try again.

It is fairly easy to find the first Dungeon in the form of Trieste Forest, ruled by Spring. From your farmhouse, take the little stairway in the west that leads north to Alvarna North Square. Here you will see a narrow pathway leading further north. Take it and you will find yourself at the Falling Star Path, a crossroads that leads to three out of the four seasonal dungeons in Alvarna.

When you reach the Crossroads, you will experience a little Event with Mana, warning you of the dangers in the dungeons and giving you directions to each of the three.

Go right and save at the purple crystal Save Point at the entrance to Trieste Forest. Go north through the entrance. Immediately you will see a little mound or hill in the centre of the Spring Clearing. Go to the right of it and you will find the LAMP GRASS. Collect it and leave, returning to the Mansion. The quickest path of return is to go west to the Crossroads, then walk directly south until you reach the fountain (and Bulletin Board) in the centre of De Sainte-Coquille Park. Now go west to the Mansion. You will receive 2000G.

You need 5000G to order a Monster Barn. As the De Sainte-Coquille family is the richest family in Alvarna, their Requests tend to yield good monetary Rewards. With money in your pocket now, you can accept Herman’s Request.

This time, you can cheat a little by going to the Pumpkin General Store even before you accept Herman’s Request. Buy one bowl of Rice there. If this is your first experience at the General Store with purchasing items, you need to be aware of the fact that many of the itmes are sold in stacks of 9. Separate 1 portion of Rice from its stack BEFORE you buy it. One bowl of Rice costs 270G.

Return to the Bulletin Board and accept Herman’s Request, then go further west to the Mansion. When you speak to Herman, he will request Rice. Without being obliged to make another trip, you can give him the bowl of Rice in your Rucksack. He will give you 3000G and a MILKER.

The MILKER will serve to remind you of the fact that you need to order a Monster Barn. You almost have enough money for one but you still need Lumber. If you accept Max’s Request next, however, you will have money both for the Monster Barn and for some Seeds for your farm. You could spare the funds for a portion of Fried Rice from Yue to give to Douglas for his birthday if you wish to raise his Friendship early in the game.

You may have to introduce yourself to Jake before Max’s Request even appears on the board. Run all the way east to the Smithy and do so now, then race back to the Bulletin Board.

The Bulletin Board now will be packed with Requests from villagers and Requests both from Jake and from Max should have been added. Accept Max’s Request and go west to the Mansion again to speak to him.

Here is a list of all the initial Requests that appear on the Board:

Douglas: Request for Bull Horn (Trieste Forest); Reward: 100G
Alicia: Request for Fortune (Mansion); Reward: -100G
Ray: Request for Medicinal Herb (Clinic): Reward: 50G
Natalie: Request to find Stethoscope (Mansion, upper floor): Reward: EMPTY BOTTLE and 200G
Cecilia: Request for Ruby (Trieste Forest): Reward: Pet Glove and 100 Lumber
Egan: Request to Taste Dish (Inn): Reward: Clippers
Rosalind: Request for Lamp Grass (Trieste Forest): Reward: 2000G
Herman: Request for Rice (General Store): Reward: 3000G and MILKER
Yue: Request for Honey (Trieste Forest): Reward: Daikon Radish Seeds
Cammy: Request for Class (Church); Reward: Toyherb Seed
Gordeon: Request for Amethyst (Blessia Island): Reward: HAMMER and 400G
Roy: Request for Cheap Cloth (Trieste Forest): Reward: STEAMED BREAD
Tanya: Request to defeat 5 Orcs: Reward: Axe and 500G
Barrett: Request for Book (Church): Reward: Fishing Pole
Byron: Request to find Barrett (Cherry Blossom Square): Reward: Empty Bottle
Dorothy: Request for Amulet (Docks): Reward: 100G
Jake: Request for Pendant (Trieste Forest): Reward: Sickle
Max: Request to deliver Spinach (Smithy): Reward: 4000G

Max will give you a portion of spinach to deliver to Jake. Return to Max for a generous Reward of 4000G.

If you did not purchase Fried Rice from Yue for 3780G as a Birthday Gift for Douglas, you will have considerably more money but even if you did, you should have 5100G now.

Now you need 50 Lumber before you can order a Monster Barn but there is another requirement as well. Without a Pet Glove, you will be unable to tame any Monsters. The option to order a Monster Barn will not appear, therefore, until you have a Pet Glove.

Fortunately, Cecilia’s 1st Request will yield both 100 Lumber and a Pet Glove, so accept that next.

Cecilia will be found in the Mansion as well, so return there to speak to her. She will tell you to bring her a Ruby from Trieste Forest without hurting any Monsters.
This will be your second trip to Trieste Forest. Go to the Crossroads and then go east. Go north then into the Forest and go through the first screen to the second. The Ruby will be located in the southeastern corner of Aegis Falls. To reach it, you must go north first to the point where the path branches off into two directions. Go southeast and you will see the Ruby on the ground next to two Rocks. Collect it and race back to the Mansion to give it to Cecilia.

Cecilia will give you a Pet Glove as a reward and instruct you on how to use it. She then will tell you that you will not be able to tame Monsters until you have a Barn. She will advise you to speak to Byron to order a Monster Barn. Finally, she will give you 100 Lumber to help you achieve this goal.

Now you can go directly to Byron to order a Monster Barn, but if you wish to kill two birds with one stone, accept Byron's Request from the Bulletin Board first.

When you speak to Byron now, you will see two options:
I want to talk to you.
I want to build a barn.
Choose the second option and he will give you the price for a Barn: 5000G and 50 Lumber. You will have to choose the option again if you actually wish to order one. Do so, and after that business is completed, choose to speak to him. When you do, the Request dialogue will be initiated and he will ask you to find Barrett for him.

If you recall, Barrett last was seen by the park bench in the Square but if it is after 1.00 p.m., he now will be found at the pier at the East End of Alvarna. Speak to him there, then return to the Mayor for your reward in the form of an EMPTY BOTTLE.

You may feel that your day’s work consists of nothing more than rushing back and forth down the main road of Alvarna and in fact, this is the case to some extent. By performing these errands, you should become familiar with the location of the various businesses and homes in Alvarna as well as the relationships between some of the characters.

Having ordered a Monster Barn and completed Byron’s Request, you now should concentrate on acquiring a full set of Tools. Accept Barrett’s Request now and go all the way back to the Pier at the East End to speak to him.

Barrett will tell you that he lost a Book and suggest that you search in the General Store and the Church. In fact, the Book will be found in the central aisle of the Church, so simply go there to fetch it. When you give it to Barrett, he will reward you with a Fishing Pole.

It probably will be at least 3.00 p.m. when you complete this Request. You still lack an Axe and a Hammer. When you complete Tanya’s 1st Request, you will obtain an Axe, but when you complete Gordon’s Request, you will obtain both a Hammer and 400G from him. As you may wish to buy some Seeds before the end of the day, it probably is more important to complete Gordon’s Request now.

Accept the Request on the Bulletin Board and then go back to the Church to speak to Gordon. He will ask you to find an Amethyst on Blessia Island and give you a Hammer to perform the task. Note that, should you fail to complete this Request now, you still can keep the Hammer, but you will not receive 400G.

Blessia Island can be reached only by ship. Go south from the position of the bulletin Board and then continue along the pier until you find a boat at the end. Mana now will appear to speak to you about Blessia Island.

When you reach Blessia Island, you will find a Save Point to the left of the entrance. Always save your game BEFORE you enter any dungeon. The items found by smashing Rocks with a Hammer always are random. If you fail to find an Amethyst when you smash the Rocks in the dungeon, you can reload your game to try again.
You will find two Rocks to your right as soon as you enter Blessia Island dungeon. Although you can use your hammer or Hoe as a Weapon, it is quicker to avoid combat at this point. Smash the Rocks. If you find an Amethyst, take it and leave.
Return to the Church now to give the Amethyst to Gordon. He will give you 400G and will not ask for the return of the Hammer.

It should be about 4.30 p.m. now. If you wish to buy a Recovery Potion at the Clinic or Seeds from the General Store, you should do so now.

The Empty Bottle given to you by Byron is needed to create a Recovery Potion. You need 3 Medicinal Herbs and 300G as well. You can eat Medicinal Herbs raw to recover your Energy at this point in time, however. Until you begin to explore the Caves in earnest, you may wish to spend your cash on Seeds and a simple Weapon instead.
If you buy no other Seeds today, you at least should purchase one bag of Grass Seeds. Monster Feed is prohibitively expensive. You will have a Monster Barn tomorrow and be able to tame your first Monsters if you can afford to feed them.
A Monster needs one portion of Feed per day. One portion of Feed costs 400G. One bag of Grass Seeds costs 300G. As Grass will take 9 days to mature, it would be best to plant some immediately.

As you pass the Bulletin Board on your way east to the General Store, you can accept one more Request before the end of the working day at 6.00 p.m.

Accepting Tanya’s Request will result in the acquisition of an Axe, but you really should have a Weapon before you try to defeat 5 Orcs. A Broadsword will cost 1200G and it is a necessary purchase. If you did not buy Fried Rice for Douglas’ Birthday today, you still should have sufficient funds to purchase a Broadsword. If not, although you probably could use a Hoe or Hammer on the Orcs in a pinch, you may wish to wait until tomorrow to accept Tanya’s Request.

Rune Factory 2 Bestiary Guide

I am going to take a very brief break from Rune Factory Frontier in order to continue the Bestiary Video Tutorials for Rune Factory 2. I never had a chance to complete the series.

If any player is interested in advising me on this, please do so as quickly as possible. One question: should the videos organise the Monsters by type or by Dungeon/Cave? There is one other possibility, an 'A to Z' Bestiary... If I don't receive any feedback, I'll simply do it by type.

It appears that the visual tutorials I make for YouTube actually are quite popular and helpful, even though I always will give priority to my written guides.

Anonymous Credit

Some one posted an Anonymous comment to the effect that I should have given him/her credit for a point in my Rune Factory 2 Guide about Scrap Iron because he/she had commented that my guides were incomplete at some stage.

First of all, it really takes about six months to complete any Harvest Moon or Rune Factory Guide. I try to publish quickly so that players will have as much help as possible while I still am in the process of writing the Guides. Information changes and I discover more as I play the games exhaustively. I therefore urge players always to look for the latest updates on any Guide when I still am working on the game.

I do recall some one mentioning the virtues of Scrap Iron/Metal in Rune Factory 2 long ago, but can't remember who it was. If that individual wishes to email me with his/her name, I'd be happy to give him/her credit when I next have a chance to update my Rune Factory 2 Guide.

Please note, however, that in general, a player who makes a comment about information that has not been added to the guide yet may not be telling me anything new... I often simply have not had the time yet to add the information to the guides. If it is information that a player read in the Official Strategy Guide, it is not right for that player to ask for credit for it, but where it is something discovered in personal gameplay, credit would be appropriate. Finally, if it is information of which I genuinely am ignorant, I am happy to credit the player.

I have covered many, many games now and have written many guides and continue to work on new guides. I don't have time sometimes simply to dig up my files simply in order to add some one's name to the credit section when I am working on a different game, so it is best to remind me by email in such a case and then be patient. Thank you.

Rune Factory and the Rich World of the Imagination

Every one loves Woolies. How can one not love those gentle, delightful little Monsters? In Rune Factory 2, they are paid tribute in the form of the Wooly OUtfit that your character will receive in the 2nd Generation if he is a boy. I have to say that, although Rune Factory 2 may be my favourite game of all time, Rune Factory Frontier has wonderful Wooly Monsters and their behaviour is both charming and endearing.

They can cause damage when untamed, but even so, their combat behaviour is amusing to watch (from a distance). They roll about on the ground and cry out, 'Wee wee! Wee wee!' Their attack can cause confusion, however, so it is best not to allow them to damage you or your Monster Ally, although it is a temporary effect.

It is when you have tamed a Wooly (or one of his cousins) and have sufficient Friendship with one to obtain Wool that his behaviour is most endearing. The little Wooly will look up at you, paws clasped almost as if in prayer and when you shear him with the Harvester, he will sneeze!

Incidentally, another wonderful addition to Monster behaviour in the Rune Factory universe in Rune Factory Frontier is the ability to 'harvest' Seeds and Ores/Gems from specific Monster types. The 'plant' Monsters of prior Rune Factory games now, when tamed, give Seeds as a Product. The 'Mimics' and their cousins give Ores and Gems. The 'Grim Reapers' such as Necros and Ghosts actually can use their sickles to mow your Grass and create Fodder.

Thinking of all of this, I once more realised how real these 'virtual' worlds become to those who explore them regularly. Those who never play these games are missing so much! I am infinitely grateful to Marvelous Interactive, Natsume and XSeed for creating Harvest Moon and Rune Factory games and making them available to an English-speaking audience.

One more point should be made about Rune Factory: all three Rune Factory games are worth playing. It would be a mistake to choose one over another. Those players who choose Rune Factory Frontier without ever playing the original Rune Factory will miss an important chapter in the story. Vital events in the history of Norad are experienced in the original Rune Factory. Characters from Kardia actually reappear in Trampoli in Rune Factory Frontier. In the same way that Harvest Moon DS and Cute DS combine threads and characters from A/Another Wonderful Life and Friends/More Friends of Mineral Town, all Rune Factory games are connected.

Rune Factory 2 has its roots in the original Rune Factory. Some of the characters from Kardia are included in the game as well. Although you may find the same or similar Monsters in all three Rune Factory games, each offers its own unique experiences and challenges.

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.

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.

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!

The Monster Contest in the 2nd Generation

In Rune Factory 2, there is a Contest that involves a test of your ability to tame a Monster and another Contest that tests the strength of your Tame Monsters. In the
2nd Generation, your character can obtain a new outfit in the form of a Monster Outfit by winning the Monster Taming Contest. If your character is a boy, it will be a Wooly outfit. If she is a girl, it will be a Chipsqueek costume. He/she will win Handsome Armour on the day of the Monster Contest.

The Monster Contest in the 2nd Generation is one of the most perplexing events I have encountered. Unlike the Monster Taming Event, which is very straightforward, the rules by which the strength of Tame Monsters is judged are beyond my comprehension.

In the 1st Generation, I had no trouble whatsoever winning the Monster Contest by submitting my Silver Wolf as the entry. Hermann waxed enthusiastic about the strength of the monster and proclaimed me a Winner far beyond all other winners...
I therefore was rather surprised when, in the 2nd Generation, my Hunter Wolf, a companion in almost every battle, failed to win even 2nd Place in the Contest. Hermann proclaimed my Hunter Wolf 'too friendly!' and gave me a lowly Honourable Mention simply for participating. In fact, Herman was quite dismissive with respect to my Hunter Wolf, declaring that: 'This is a kind monster who doesn’t like to fight.' Herman, of course, never has engaged in any activity more strenuous than feasting. Any one who actually had faced a Hunter Wolf in combat in the Padova Mountains would beg to differ with his ridiculous assessment of THAT Monster!

What is interesting here is that the Handsome Armour appeared in my wardrobe at 6.00 a.m. on the morning of the Contest, and thus had no connection with the contest results whatsoever. Furthermore, the 'prize' in each case, whether I won 1st place, 2nd place or simply 3rd place always was the same: a MENTAL SUPPLEMENT.

I trotted out Monster after Monster to log their strength ratings to see if there were any rhyme or reason to the system. I discovered that ALL creatures who could be categorised either as spirits or as creatures of 'darkness' had a strength rating of zero. Thus, the fierce Demon and Arch Demon, Aerian, Tundra, Ignis and all Ghosts and their cousins had strength ratings of zero.

My Claw Dragon had a strength rating of 136 but LOST. A Slime with a strength rating of 116 won 1st Prize. My Hunter Wolf had a rating of 98, making him lower than the Slime or Dark Slime but how could the Claw Dragon and King Minotauros, both at 136 not win???

Each time I entered a Slime or Dark Slime, I won. I finally resigned myself to a sorry situation where a Slime would have to be chosen to represent my farm instead of the glorious golden Hunter Wolf who was my constant companion. As previously stated, however, the prize never varied in any of the test results, whether I won
1st place, 2nd place or simply a mention for participation.

Is the result random each time or is there some iron rule of measure here? It does not matter at all in practical terms, but one would like to know what constitutes strength in terms of the Monster Contest.

Here's a little video I made that shows the strength ratings for a fair number of Monsters. Each of these Monsters is at maximum Friendship Level of 10 Hearts.

The last 'secret' Accessory upgrade in Rune Factory 2

My own stubborn character and the belief that there had to be one final 'secret' trade upgrade for an Accessory in Rune Factory 2 created considerable labour for me as I made Accessory after Accessory at my Workbench and upgraded each to Level 10 before trading it to discover whether or not it would be transformed. I rather suspected that the Accessory I needed was the CHAMPION BELT but that was one of the Accessories with the highest Skill Requirements in the game, so I doggedly continued to upgrade other Accessories to Level 10, knowing that each upgrade would increase my own Skill Levels even if it proved ineffectual in terms of a trade transformation.

It always is rather satisfying when a guess is proven correct. The moment when I saw the prompt to the effect that my item had been upgraded, I felt all the work I had done was worth the effort. A more sane player probably would have requested the name of the last Accessory from the makers of the game... but I'm glad I did it my way.

Here is a brief video that shows the complete list of Accessories that can be obtained as trade upgrades as well as one of the very best Accessories in the game.

The Twins in Rune Factory 2: One Birthday Gift or Two?

I was surprised when more than one player asked whether one Birthday Gift should be given to BOTH Twins or whether each should have her own gift. MARMALADE is their special Birthday Gift item and their birthday occurs on 29 Autumn. I had suspected that one Gift would suffice as their heart levels increase together, and they even share the same Mock Wedding Event with your character. I recently tested the result of giving each a gift on her Birthday, however, to make certain. Here is the little 'Event'.

False Perceptions.... the Bestiary in Rune Factory 2

This is not the first time I have omitted a Monster type simply because there was so much to cover and so many screens in a Cave/Dungeon. I would have thought that I had the Bestiary complete by now for Rune Factory 2 until I went to BF3 Room 8 of the Palermo Shrine this morning to collect some Platinum for yet another Heavy Shield. I am trying to boost my Ring Shield to Level 10. It is one of the more labour-intensive forging projects as the main ingredient for the upgrade is a Heavy Shield.

Actually, the process is interesting because it represents one of the few crossovers between the Forge and the Accessory Workbench. The Ring Shield is a Ring with the power of a Shield. To upgrade it, you need a Heavy Shield. You therefore need to move to the Forge to create the Heavy Shield, then move back to the Accessory Workbench to perform the upgrade.

A player might well ask why I am bothering to upgrade this difficult Accessory to Level 10. It is because Level 10 items are the only ones that can achieve transformation in a Trade. I believe there is one more Accessory that will transform in the course of a Trade at Level 10 and I am trying to find it. The only Accessories that are candidates at this point for any transformation are the Ring Shield, the Champion Belt and the Happy Ring. I believe I have traded every other Accessory and witnessed all other transformations. I suspect that the final Accessory with the power of transformation may be the Champion Belt, actually, but I will be thorough and trade all of them. I found the ART OF ATTACK, ART OF DEFENCE and ART OF MAGIC through transformation of Level 10 Accessories as well as PROOF OF WISDOM. (These scrolls can be created independently at the Workbench as well.)

This is another issue entirely, however. What occurred when I went to harvest PLATINUM from the chamber of Palermo Shrine was that, upon defeating the Monster there, I obtained a GIANT'S GLOVE. I realised instantly that my identification of the Monster in my Guide as a Minotauros patently was incorrect. I had not paid sufficient attention when writing the screen-by-screen walkthrough. I looked at the size of the Monster, saw the swinging Hammer and thought: Minotauros! The Monster actually doesn't even look like a Minotauros. It obviously is a member of the Troll family... In fact, it is a Monster I had neglected to catalogue. Its name is Gigantus.

Does it matter? It actually CAN matter. If you need a GIANT'S GLOVE in the middle of the night and do not wish to go through all 10 Levels of the Tropical Underground Shrine to obtain one, you can go directly to Room 8 on the 3rd Floor of Palermo Shrine. My erroneous classification of the Monster as a Minotauros would have meant that it would have provided a HAMMER PIECE as a War Trophy instead.

In any event, the omission has been corrected in my Guides and on the article on this site that lists the complete Bestiary. Finding errors of this sort is one of the reasons I feel any truly good Harvest Moon game guide takes about six months to complete.

I am making a little series of videos that will provide a visual Bestiary for Rune Factory 2. So far, only the Ranch Monster video, Part I of the Series, has been published. Part II will consist of 'Farmhand' Monsters. Part III will be Monsters who are useful only as Allies in Combat.

New Recipe sections in Rune Factory 2 Guides

When I first created the Recipe Cookbook Guide for Rune Factory 2, I found the Lessons at the School so interesting that I felt they needed to be included in the Guide. I therefore copied the text of each Lesson meticulously. Recipes that were not offered in Lessons were given simply with a list of ingredients.

I then added sections to the Cookbook Guide that lists the Recipes in the Default Order in which they appeared in the Workshop areas with their Skill Level requirements.

What this means in effect is that my Rune Factory 2 Cookbook Recipe Guide essentially has been complete for some time. I was not happy with it, however, in terms of using it as a quick reference guide for ingredients.

I decided to create another section that would list each item with its Skill Level requirements and ingredients instead of simply giving Skill Level requirements.

I now have completed that section for all Weapons and am working on the Accessories. It really does make it easier to find a list of ingredients for any item almost instantly. On Monday, these new sections will be placed at the top of the Recipe Cookbook Guide. The actual text of each of the Lessons given at the School will be placed at the end of the Guide in the same manner in which I usually place the actual text of Events at the end of my Guides.

The new sections listing ingredients for each item with Skill Level Requirements will be added to the General Guide as well.

I have made almost every Weapon and Accessory now and have added the descriptions of each to my Items List Guide and General Guide. It is much faster to harvest War Trophies from the four Underground Shrines than it is to wait for the right time of day or night and then use time fighting Monsters in a regular Cave/Dungeon in the hope of obtaining a War Trophy. By going through the Underground Shrines, I have been able to obtain many ingredients in a single trip.

Rune Factory 2 Trivia Quiz

Here are two Trivia Questions for those aspiring blacksmiths out there who have been raising their Skill Levels at the Forge in Rune Factory 2.

Question 1: What is the name of the weekly periodical devoted to fine Axes?

Question 2: What are the two Weapons whose descriptions mention this trade publication by name?

Part I of Visual Bestiary Guide: Ranch and Transport Monsters

A number of players asked me for a video that would show details about the various Monster types in Rune Factory 2. While my Bestiary and Caves Guide contains detailed information about every Monster in the game, I decided to create a little series of videos that would be a visual Bestiary Guide.

Here is Part I, consisting of all the Monsters who provide Ranch Products and Transport as well as the two most likely to be kept as 'pets' simply because of their cuteness:

Chasing Monsters for War Trophies

I intended to add a section about this to my Guides long ago, but it was only when I forgot to follow my own advice today that I remembered this point.

In the 2nd Generation, once you have defeated Fiersome and obtained access to the four Underground Shrines in each of the four original Seasonal Caves/Dungeons on the Map, you no longer will be restricted to the usual locations or time of day when searching for a specific War Trophy. If you remember the types of Monsters that you face in each of the Underground Shrines, you can fight the Monsters there for War Trophies that you need irrespective of the time of day or night. Almost every War Trophy is to be found in one of the four Underground Shrines. Time does NOT pass while fighting there and instead of being forced to wait until day or night arrives in order to chase down the Monster type that you need, you can go to the Underground Shrine instead.
Fighting Monsters in the Underground Shrines will increase your Levels as well. Energy Levels are restored at one of the two little altars on either side of each entrance. You therefore have a 50/50 chance each time you enter a new chamber of having all of your HP and RP restored.