Prep for 2016 Hoedown Top 1000: The Beginning

LOL! I'm with Woody here and I think FB has always really been this way. Buy up in bulk at good (enough) prices and everything comes round for a turn at being an investment of some kind whether it be for the Harvest Hoedown or for a new breeding animal. It took me a while but I now have to control my instant impulse to buy anything offered in a large number!

I used to be very careful about what I bought, never wanting to pay higher than the average price on the first page or two. But I have learned that I am actually happy to pay more for a large number of animals/fruit/products for the time it saves me to produce these myself.

I am aiming to get to a point where both my farms are full of trees, once I reach my personal targets for animals and products. That way, if I can ever get round to calculating how many I "might" need to be in with a chance, I can work out if I have any chance at all!

 

Oh Illy, I have been wondering about growing all of the tree fruit and I see you are thinking about it too.

Are you trying to figure out:

1. How much tree fruit this endeavor might take OR
2. How many years it would take to grow it all.

I am absolutely certain we are not the only farmers thinking about it either. Some I know have trees planted in the rain forest full time especially for this event. (BAHA trees have a high exchange value when considering them vs. mainland trees.)

Each person must develop their own strategy that suits them.

 

The reason for my intended strategy: I don't always have full harvester functions and when there is a half price sale of harvester functions, I usually spend as many BBs as I have to get the harvester only. If I had trees on all fields, then I wouldn't need anything else, I would be getting EP and accumulating fruit which I know will come in handy at some time. It would also free up a lot of time for other farm projects and, dare I say it, RL! Both Baha fields on this farm and one Baha field on Chevrefeuille are all trees. The rest of the fields are full of animals/products (when profitable) with trees on the borders.

The only time I would need to do differently is during events ... which I must attempt and complete if it is at all possible. I cannot contemplate not trying, it's just not in my strategy!

The only reason I have not actually fulfilled this project is that I have to have a good enough stock of all other items: my aim is at least 1000 animals and 500 products. This way, I have enough for event requirements (I hope!) and can sell some to keep my CC balance healthy.

Also, I have started to buy animal pens in bulk as events require them so that I can replenish my animals quickly and revert back to the trees more speedily!

I haven't really started on crops yet but I will probably buy those as and when I have CCs available or grow a few at either end of my CAC during events requiring event crops. I think at least 10,000 of each crop is achievable. If I use any animals/products/crops for events or animal feed, I will restock by buying from the market.
Long term goals for me these days ... and of course, tomorrow I may just change my mind completely!

Edit: I forgot to answer your question, FB. I probably need to know how much fruit (in EV) I need to have to have any chance of getting into a Top anything!
Then I need to look at what I've got and do the maths!

 

You write: "I probably need to know how much fruit (in EV) I need to have to have any chance of getting into a Top anything!"

You want to build your barn (crops, animals, products), plant trees sometimes, build your farm infrastructure (acquire animal pens in bulk), complete all of the events, complete other farm projects, of course maintain your RL, and ... and then it seems you might just want to play around with the HH TOP 1000 when you get around to it. Of course, you're in charge!

Producing tree fruit: BAHA trees have the greatest EV and also the greatest cost. Eventually they pay for themselves, eventually. While you're producing tree fruit perhaps it should be stashed for later contribution and that same space cannot be used to grow/produce other items to sell at the same time. The space is lost as well as the income. The highest EV trees should be grown on the mainland if one intends to use the tree fruit to donate (trees yielding a low EV should not be used if trees are used at all). Once it's sold it's gone so some discipline is required. So it should be stashed away too. The mud_pie_man farm did it for a while and I really got tired of just seeing trees. Some specific crops can be grown for the HH TOP 1000 and this often is disadvantageous but your strategy.

Building farm infrastructure: I believe in it and practice it. Any farm I start will acquire 128 chicken pens ASAP and on and on. The broke farm has over 3,300 animal/productions pens with very few yellow pens (it finished 19th one year) but the mud_pie_man farm has about 700 (it finished 14th). Nearly all feed used is milled (so it takes advantage of the ccs saved from buying feed). That little savings went toward buying items for the competition. (Every little bit adds up.) The more sound the infrastructure, the easier it is to prepare.

Animal production often provides very good profits. The profits can many time be much better than growing crops. Therefor, produicing the right animal, selling at the appropriate time and then buying tree fruit for instance will enable one to have more EV than producing the trees themselves or the crops.

Event completion: One consciously preparing for the HH TOP 1000 is actually ALWAYS working the event up until the final donation. One is really making contributions a little at a time. How is this possible? The item that one thinks will be needed are set aside and not available for sale or other events. Of course there will be a few exceptions made and one will only have to make up for that exception.

I watch as some complain about giving away a few million (EV) with the current event. Imagine those making it this year giving away over 200 million (EV). I will figure a more accurate amount needed in a few months but for now just know it will be over 250 million just to make it! This is quite possible and know that no RL funds whatsoever were ever put into the farm finishing 14th or 19th. The investment of RL funds in ones farm will clearly benefit the farm. I am certain you can do it if you choose.

Other events are great as they provide a nice break from what can turn into a nice and sometimes a very boring routine in preparation. My strategy was to do parts of many events but to complete very very few events. Why? I judged I simply could not donate to everything and be successful at the one which was my priority. Also, event crops and animals can be grown/produced. That same spaced used for a specific event also is a revenue generating space for the HH competition. Each individual must decide their own specific strategy which works for them. One will judge for themselves the appropriateness of their strategy.

A rough estimate of what your farm has to donate: One may go to their barn and multiply their quantities held times the EV listed for each of the following

1. Tree fruit (make no exception)
2. Bahamarama tree fruit (make no exceptions)
3. Products -- use only: eggs, honey, and parrot feathers
4. Crops -- use only rose and carnation
5. Two times ones ccs

Add them up and this total will provide a rough estimate. Caution: Do not automatically assume these items are the only items, if indeed any of them, will be determined by game developers as eligible for contribution next year. Also, this computation is for donation estimation only. One cannot assume one will automatically be able to complete the preliminary portion of the event. Game developers DO indeed want players to participate in and do purposely structure them in a manner that players will be able to complete any specific event.

Expense: In terms of ccs, this event historically has been very expensive. Quite simply, the longer one takes to begin formal preparation and/or the less organized that preparation is and/or the less one knows about the game, the more expensive the final competition will become. And this has held true regardless of level or experience!

Although ep and ccs may be included in one's strategy, the primary determinant is EV.

Enjoy the preparation as all cannot experience it or even care to. No matter how well one has thought their strategy through at this point, one will adjust it and one will make all sorts of errors.

 

Thanks FB! You have given me a taste and I will definitely have at the back of my mind all the strategy you have so kindly explained. I am a little tired for the moment but one thing that both my farms have always done is animals and products over crops. I only ever really do crops these days when I need them for an event or to use up excess CAC after/before an event.

As said, I am moving towards trees for ease of harvest as and when I have all the animals/products I feel I need to have in the barn. This doesn't mean I stop acquiring animals/products, I just stop placing them in my fields. I check the market for any bulk offers or bargains. I want as many of everything as possible!

I have only recently even contemplated buying animal feed and that is only because I couldn't keep up with my farm's demands - so many animals and now this wretched mill only lets you have completed lots of animal feed!

So, I think, I am on the right track to be a competitor next year or the year after - I think I am starting my preparation early enough for 2017, aren't I?

When it all comes down to it, as you say, it all depends what the particular HH requirements are - both the preliminary and main event. So, if I have enough stock to go for it next year, I will but if not, I can wait!

 

This weekend has been tiring. I'm preparing for finals, so that is taking a lot of my time. I was however able to double my total barn value through selling of high priced crops and feeds, while purchasing more stock and breeding. The only mistake I made is that I didn't sell any of my fish or donkey breeds while they were a hot commodity, meaning I lost out on a lot of liquid CC.

CC tends to fluctuate a lot more when there is an event such as this breeding event where certain items get inflated and are in high demand. I figure the hardest part in the future will be to manage my liquid CC so that I don't end up missing out on any really good deals.

***Update***

Seems like my market it getting a little warmer and I've been able to sell some of my breeds. My last barn inventory showed a total of just over 76 million. As I mentioned before, this came from selling crops and feeds which were in high demand, while purchasing high trade items and doing some breeding. I was also able to unload some select products while they were inflated in price. It's important to note that when the game gives the average player a way of making more cc than a daily average, (such as a breeding event when animal prices rise) they tend to spend it on products and other things to finish their FSQ's.

Moving forward my plans are to:

• Restock my products
• Add to my crop stock
• Add animal stock
• Add cheap tree fruits
• Explore new/profitable feeds

I will continue to produce normal feed instead of PF for the time being as the profit for feeds is astronomical when compared to every other form of revenue.

What are your plans to move forward after this event?

 

I can't help but to think of what you are going through. Hope you did well on your exams; the game is a nice diversion from RL.

Breeding has changed with the addition of the new breeding platform. Breeding animals may serve as a nice source of revenue while at the same time the investment errors made and lack of patience can result in huge losses. We discussed the albino bat as a good donation item for any general breeding animal call. The albino bat price went up with the breeding platform. It also fell on this market.) Although one may wish to prepare in this area, as in other areas, what appears today to be the best donation item may change. Profits may appear and one needs them to continue. Care should be taken when selling the item because one must replace the item with an item and wind up with the same total EV. One may even sell what I held and purchase the same item again a while later. Sure, just what you need is something else to do. The buyback happens slowly just as the original purchases were made.

I agree, markets tend to be more active shortly after events and some make ccs and my strategy has turned into one of having goods ready on the market to get those ccs to fund my spending. However, while preparing farms for the TOP 1000, the degree of risk I was willing to take with an investment definitely decreased. The amount of risk taken turned virtually nonexistent as the event approached. There is time now.

The strategy of building your farm I am highly in favor of. Careful though, one may increase the barn value but may also have stock in the wrong places for this competition. With you maintaining records, which I wish I did and knew to do, you will see the areas much faster than you will be able to shift them into others areas.

Animal feed is very profitable, particularly rare animal feed. At the moment I have 14 different animal feeds on the market. One cannot go in all directions and maintain a degree of focus on this event. But the mill is easy to keep going. I find myself often times just not listing feed because I know some require small quantities and most a small number of listings. And feed can be extremely profitable. Reality sets in though and recall that one cannot sell any of it if one does not list some of it.

I am acquiring tree fruit on this farm too but not to compete in the TOP 1000. I will sell to those who do not prepare. Rarely will one ever find any tree fruit on this market below 50% of EV. And when I can't buy anymore at that rate then I will simply raise my buy rate across the board.

After this event this farm will continue to buy breeding animals and continue the shift in stock from one area to another. This farm is an ever present force in the crop, feed and product markets and just wanders in and out of the breeding animal and craft product markets. Next the farm moves into the breeding animal market as an ever present force but in an unusually creative manner. Funds are sunk just as those preparing specifically for this competition are sinking funds into several areas.

I have two baby farms I am thinking about preparing for the TOP 1000. One has a good chance while the other has a barn value of good items to donate of only 3 million. Realistically, I don't think the later stands a chance and it is level 31 and will only farm BAHA.

Roses tend to have a higher price (ratio to EV). The prices of roses and carnations fall during and shortly after an event where long time crops are grown for drops. As you know though, the good buys appear. You will get faster and faster going through the market as you will know it better.

Are you happy with where your farm stands now in regard to preparing for a TOP 1000 competition?

 

I've narrowed what you wrote to respond to these three things before I head out the door to go watch Star Wars.

My basic approach is to build every aspect of my farm. This means crops, animals, breeds, feeds, products, and consumables. As I play more, and dissect the information I gather from each new event, I am able to see more patterns. The advanced approach is to build up specific areas of my farm which will have the most impact on both raising my barn value and raising funds to be spent. Because I do not have large sums of cc which can be spent, it's not reasonable for me to build up animals to 5k or 10k yet. So I must set goals. 1-2k on commonly used animals, while also having cc available for barn builders such as cats. I mentioned crops specifically because they are drastically low as I found out during this event when I was left wishing I had more Oats, Hay, and other crops which spiked due to demand.

As for Roses and Carnations...I'm just waiting. When I say I'm collecting fruits at under 40%, I really mean I'm buying any crop at under 40%. This includes Roses, I just haven't seen any under that pricing for some time now, so my focus tends to be on tree fruit which is more common. You're definitely right about being faster with the market. Just a quick scan can show you if anything is drastically under priced as well. Meaning you can buy it and list it at average prices making a small profit.

I am happy with some parts of my farm and unhappy with other parts. Preparing for the top 1000 challenge is more that just farming and storing. Being able to have the right stock for the right events is the only way to maximize the potential of any farm. Right now I just don't have the expendable income to make sure that I'm fully stocked in every aspect for those events. Not to worry though, that comes with time and preparation. For now, I'm going to focus on the task list I had in my previous post.

What is the one thing you have learned while preparing multiple farms for the top 1000, that you wish you had learned a lot earlier?

 

Ummm,
I read along, and it seems you really have to have the basics down, that makes me think in order to get into the thinking of doing the HH one safe way is to challenge oneself.
To me, if I ever thought more than being a supplier I would have to be able drive myself into a hole and be able to get myself out in a set amount of time, in this I would know for a fact I can play at the level it takes to get 350 mill. in less then a year.

I am building the barn with the only thought being is to build it up while I finish getting LL done and two major goals, both are upgrades across the board, the MM will be the hardest that will be a lot of 1 time a month houses to grow for but I want it.
Sooo, I figured doing barn build up and be at set amounts across the board, and it hit me the rare animals will not be the same as basics no way to just buy stalls so I am going to have to play the market yes, I am that thick.

So the steps I see all are the same if one wants speed.
1. watch my market before and after monthly events, see the need and the slow down.
2. learn that whole ev % thing, think I been using one not made for that my numbers are not working.
3. find either a product or item for market that will put the CC's back as I spend them not slowly replace coin as I wait to buy more.
My way is to take 4 mill. to market buy items and then wait till I make it back with growing and selling one or two products.
It's way to slow to move forward and go faster, but it also worked to keep from buying animals/feed, I been buying crops but as I need for use not profit.
It's a little much to think of buying to sell to buy rare and just keep that circle going but playing the market seems the only way.
Again, not sure if I made any sense but I hope so. It sounds like it will work on this end.

 

@Decree
There is time and very few are even thinking of preparing just yet. Acquiring trees fruit across the board while working with your other plans should work well for you. You will begin to see which specific tree fruit is in barns because you will have more of it. Again, some tree fruit may even turn quite profitable. With your inventory you are able to draw a line if raising your buy rate proves necessary. Raising the rate too quickly or too aggressively will cause other changes.

Some do not care to go to the market and perhaps wish to grow/produce everything. That can be done and all that growing/producing will take more time than if using the market in combination with growing/producing.

The one thing: to apply the EV in multiple areas in multiple ways. The only limit in application is the limit of ones mind.

@mingling

You got it! Many are able to complete the basic event. Farms are destroyed by those who choose to enter the final of the event and do not prepare.

You mention the LL rune. Certainly it keeps from moving the trophies around and if maxed out then this aids in drops which are needed in many events anyway. So you wish to raise your barn stock. The more "what ifs" you can satisfactorily prepare for, the greater your barn size becomes. Again, if one is preparing for the final of the event, holding adequate amounts in the right places will allow one to make efficient donations.

Going or not going is not the end of the game. Challenge yourself if you wish. In the end, this is all up to you and whether you do and how you do .....YOU!

 

If so, I would strongly suggest getting premium so you can use auto-harvest to let the tree harvests accumulate.

and... I sell high, buy low. I am just not targeting the harvest hoedown, but more a general stock build-up at this point. And, though I know the broke family disagrees, but I am getting rid of (completing) all but the breeding FS quests and the ones with very high priced products. Cleaning out my Farmer Society pages.

 

That would be nice ...
I don't pay to play this game, no matter what I would gain from it. It is just not an option for me.

 

Each individual must decide whether to set placing in the TOP 1000 of HH as a goal .... and how to do it. To make an attempt at changing your goals is not my purpose here. My purpose here is to provide those who may attempt that portion of the event with information that I did not have available to me and thereby make it a little easier and more comforting to know that many experience the same encounters. At the same time, the discussions force me to question and adjust my strategy.

I have a little understanding of the desire to build stock and clear Farmer's Society pages. I keep quests in mind and have stock enough to clear most of them and have had it for sometime and it takes time to build it. I, as you, will decide when to give donations. (The fsq with farm equipment are still saved for when needed.) I used the building approach and I know it can work. However, the mud_pie_man farm operates quite differently and when finishing 14th, it only had stock in the right places. There were two different styles and the same objective was accomplished. (Both prepared!)

Goals will vary but the areas of preparation for this portion of the HH will get longer and longer the more one attempts to prepare and second guess the game developers. The barn building you are doing is safe. If you wish to participate in the TOP 1000 and do not prepare to donate in the right places then up to you.

@illy1996
The use of RL funds has not been essential to placing in the TOP 1000. Neither the farm finishing 19th or 14th did. I know places where it surely would have made it easier. Up to you Illy!

(Illy has the Illy Pom Pom Deco item that is priceless anyway.)

Many will help you if you wish. Just let people know you want/need help.

Enjoy!

 

Now seems to be a good time to give this an update. I've been able to gain a few levels, meaning I can now buy Carnations. I haven't been able to buy much, but there's still plenty of time.

As this was my goal, I'm happy to report that my barn value has passed 120 million and I've been able to acquire a lot more expendable CC. My spreadsheets are helping me plan and make good investments. I've also realized I need to have more than expected because I don't want to put so much effort into building up my barn and then lose the ability to rebuild it, or make it more difficult on myself to rebuild. Having a good amount of CC's stored up certainly makes it a lot easier to take advantage of the good deals and allows for a farm to be patient when selling.

 

Seems like you are on your way Decree. I cannot remind you enough that having expendable goods in the right places is a must in order to maintain your farm. The game can change quickly and what is expendable one day may turn into a very valuable item. A backup is always nice but that comfort requires ccs.

Events such as the current fishing event encourage tree fruit growth. Don't worry, farmers will sell it. They are growing it for you. These farmers eventually flood the markets with it so patience does pay off.

The more times one can play the what-if game and have a sound plan, the easier the event becomes.