Chestnut Festival Strategy

Thank you

 

Thank you, Aluntino, Mir, farmer_broke, and Mooby. Your discussion has helped quite a lot, I think I understand now. Thank you especially for giving the examples, such as sea grape vs. banana palm (aluntino), and the comparisons of how many tree fruit equals another (mooby and farmer_broke), and the reasoning on why you would grow one over the other, depending on the particular goal. I see also what you are saying about sale or production of a high CCs to EV item, is not necessarily always the best to produce as it also must be compared with yield for the time and space available against other things that could be grown there...if going for best efficiency. I think doing a few rounds on the farm using some simple examples of this on my own will be the best place for me to see if I "get it" (I think I do).
Thank you all so much for humoring me and taking the time and attention to spell it out so clearly! Much obliged, truly. I have been a casual and at times, reluctant market buyer and seller. My level of interest had reached historic lows, so now seems only able to go up from where it is. In particular with the breeding animals required to complete this (and recent) event(s), I realize going forward if I don't want to bankrupt the farm buying Powerfeed, I must participate in a more attentive and interested way to these matters.
I use both sticky notes and spreadsheets, depending on the mood that strikes me. So I have no fear I can accomplish this.

Also, worth noting I suppose - I am not buying anything at all now for this event. Although I will take this with me into the coming year and see what I can make of it.

 

My Strategy Disclosure Continued

Tree fruit preparedness has been given considerable attention due to the resources required to compete. Holding tree fruit was not the only way I prepared. I prepared as best I could before the event in the following categories:

• Tree fruit
• Breeding animals
• Crops
• Animals
• Tools
• Animal feed
• Products

Important note on products: I used a buy rate based on market value / exchange value. Right or wrong I used the rate as I did for tree fruit. Look at them as I did tree fruit and the following will surface as worthy to routinely consider: eggs, cow milk, honey, parrot feathers, peanut butter and bikini. How prepared do you get? Mooboy might be able to give us a number. I am ready to donate 120,000 eggs with a click or 50,000 ............

The race is on already for next year. People are broke, there dumping them in large quantities as they were not needed for this event this year, and guess who the people are who are buying them.

• Craft products

BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG Problem for me. Why? I shut down my crafts long ago. I leveled up to at most level 3 by producing only the basic products which ARE NOT saleable. So they sit.

Craft products have never been called for before. But they can be and I expect them to be (in some event)! Keep in mind several of my crafts are open but all are shut down for a solid reason and the reason is to collect the drop items. And they keep building up and I'm NOT open to make anything to sell.

There is a slight difference in terminology in the game which results in confusion and signal there are changes on the way. But I prepared and here is what I know:

Exchange value we discussed and a call can be made for craft products using exchange value to tally. BUT ********** Look in your barn and you will find that the only craft products with an exchange value are basic craft products AND THESE CANNOT BE BOUGHT BUT MUST BE MADE. No way to buy them. I hold a few and was totally prepared to make hundreds of thousand worth using exchange value at a moments notice.

Suggested Market Value is used for others. No call has ever been made on the basis of suggested market value. I buy them because many are cheaper to buy than make. Look at suggested market value of White Innocence and Pink Jelly for example versus their current market value on your market and you find huge differences. Here is one that is very common: CAC! Or look at Pinkie Pie Pie! I play the market and gathered millions in suggested market value of select items.

Few among us even try to understand exchange value and congratulations to those now beginning to get it.

There are even fewer who even notice the words Suggested Market Value much less understand them or can use them.

Preparing in this area seemed remote but what if they had called for crafts. Just like breeding animals! Too many good people in the EN Forum for me not to be prepared and know it. So I included being prepared here as part of my strategy.

-----I'm going to ask the MODs for some help. I need help in understanding. Watch their help thread. -------------

On a side note, this is where knowledge of the game is used. Without a doubt, anyone sharing valid information in our EN Forum in any specific area, definitely including each of our MODs, is saving us time and has paid a price to get that information, analyze it, and finally share it.

The event is winding down. The final part of my strategy will be openly disclosed. #11 at last glance.

 

I have just finished the event. Oh, that was so tough giving up my precious breeding animals!

As I was off work for the whole of the event, I was able to plan in advance what I was going to donate - so tell me why at the very last minute, I just chucked in a lot of my lower value breeders trying to avoid giving up my Sultan Camel, then panicked cos I thought I would leave myself in limbo without enough lower levels to complete without using my Sultan Camel and then over-donating!

Eventually managed to work it out and had to let Humpty go.

Took a little of the edge of finishing the event but a nice cup of tea will sort me out!

Good luck to all those still working on the event and a very big "Come on, you can do it!" to all those going for the top 1000.

I couldn't do it - though I am playing with the idea of buying cheap fruit throughout the year so I might dabble ... I don't get so attached to fruit!

 

heidels,

I think you've got it (send me an IGM if you think I can help you to refine your understanding).

But, even though I'm a sort of evangelist of efficiency, don't think I only do the utterly most efficient thing to do all the time. What I do is to be aware of best choices and act accordingly. An extreme example: probably the worst space/time wasters, by any measuring you choose -CCs, ExV, EPs, drops-yielding, whatever-, are jumbo pens, of any colour; so, I know I must never put them out, and I don't. But there are grey areas: for example, I must have had my 3 org rodeo ranches collecting dust in barn for at least 18 months; I used to buy riding lessons by numbers at generally below 1200 CCs each; but, suddenly, upon Soup quest dawn, they became impossibly expensive -and I need them a lot, for nFHOs-; so, org rodeo ranches saw the light again. Are them the best items in space/time usage and CCs output terms? Probably not. But they are not bad for the time being, they're profitable, so I put them out. I see as more important to keep my riding lessons stock level from diving too much.

And one final remark: so far, the TopX00X have never asked for products. So, if I were you, knowing that you're not mkt savvy, for TopX00X preparation purposes, I'd concentrate on increasing the most possible the profits I can make from what I produce, start to get the most from mkt and placing high ExV-yielding trees in both Island and Farm (see my response in post #111 in this thread).

(I said I would not prepare a spreadsheet but yesterday recalled I once tried to "valuate" my farm both in ExV and CCs terms -it was something suggested by this awesome player and person, Ovid1, that I miss a lot-. So, the spreadsheet was already there. I only have to update it -it is from early 2013: it's amazing how many crops/trees/animals/products have been introduced since; I had to add lots and lots of new rows-).

 

I feel I must input a comment here. While I am at level 81, I have only been playing since March. Unlike many of you giving fine input, I still have a multitude of FSQs to complete, Bahamarama space and statues to open and TofW runes to unlock. In order for me to not spend excessive amounts of RM, I set my Jumbo pens out as a way to save 2 PF. I consider the time involved to be worth the PF savings. I did however stop using my Turbo Jumbo tree.

 

Well, Calichrome, the point I must make is jumbo pens seem to save 2 PFs but they don't: they only waste your space.

If you used that space for the same time the jumbo pen occupies it with a plain rabbit hutch -or the animal that fits your schedule- and a longer one, let's say a horse stable, during the night/s the jumbo pen takes, you'll get enough animals that, if sold in mkt, will allow you to buy not less than 2 or 3 of the bred animals the jumbo pens produce, even considering the cost of the feed for those pens. So, in fact, by using the jumbo pen, you are missing to have 1 or 2 additional bred animals of the same kind. That, as I see it, is indirectly losing PF, not saving it.

 

Hmm, I do buy those animals when price and CCs allow. (Now is not the time, )

I will revise my strategy, thanks!

 

Well, Calichrome, crops, then, if you wish, even some workshops.

My eternal example is using oats -but you can think of many many other options-: that single 2x2 plot, planted with oats, that typically sell at 20 CCs each, would yield 4 net oats every 45 min (with no water). Do it 10 times, 7 hours and a half in total, and you get 40 net oats, equivalent to 800 CCs, typically enough to buy, for instance, one brown pig (not these days, that are the exception, not the norm). No feed involved, just planting, harvesting and selling the net output of 40 oats (add 1 time more if you want to also consider the 10% sales tax subtracted from your offer). This means at least 3 brown pigs in the same time and the same space that jumbo pen takes if watered and without even taking into account the cost of feed.

Of course, needless to say, the former example is equivalent to doing the same thing with 10/11 plots at once, simultaneously, for only 45 min. See?

Any player must try to see the available space/time within the game as the most valuable resource if s/he wants to boost performance. My mention of my original post is typical of me, because I always try to optimize everything and get the most from the least. In Tony Soprano's words: "God don't make land no more"... LOL.

Seriously, the point is you can think of loads of other things you can use that space for, that, when sold in mkt, will provide you with the purchasing power you need to be able to apply it to buying whatever is pertinent or convenient to your goals. Exactly as in real life.

 

Final Parts of My Strategy

• always ask for help

I asked anyone and everyone for their opinions. More importantly, I remained open enough to listen and was willing to revise my strategy as time passed. CaliChrome demonstrates that above. I asked for drops, not because I would need them but because of a desire to have the En Forum Family a vital part.

• present my crude strategy be it one that wins or one that looses
• share with those faced with the same decision I was nearly a year ago
• have a strategy which is defensible and presentable to the novice player and to the most experienced player
• emphasize that proper use of spreadsheets will make the journey so much easier and certainly more efficient

Look at that mess of data I presented above. Lots of good information there and harder to use. I wrote more there than ever during this preparation. Feel free to use it as well as sort through it.

• remember those who ventured down this path before I do

The few had far less information than I did.

• to always try and maintain funding

The market was always used.

• to play along the way

The Tick Tag game at about 995 was fun to me oddly enough; it was different. Then to play Leap Frog after having been tagged out of the 1000 and jump to number 7 was easy.

• know when to stop

After dropping to number 11 yesterday, I decided to pack my marbles and go back to the farm. Presently this farm is 13th. I will not be enticed to play Tick Tag with the Top 10 of the Top 1000. I am content to drop all the way to number 500. I will not play with the lower 500 and can easily double my present donation to prevent it. I'm thinking of sending a baby farm named mud_pie_man to play with that bunch next year.

• return to the farm flat broke with exactly -0- ccs

I will fail. I am selling to farmers spending wildly.

• not forget where the farm began

Periodically began new farms to assist others and remember the days when lettuce and chickens were all there was.

• to sincerely say thank you and mean it and understand why I would say thank you

Thank You

• to summarize the strategy in two words rather than 10,000

Be Prepared

 

Thank you to all for all this valuable advice!!! It's a lot for me to absorb...but I have a year....and will do my best to build up reserves for next year's Top list!!! I can only imagine the prize will get better!!!

Aluntino - I agree the Jumbo stables and trees are a waste of space for normal farming. However, during Mega EP events...they can be useful for EP. I have timed it right and received 10,000 EP for the Jumbo XXL trees!!! Since I have a few of these(gathering dust)...it's fun to drag them out and make 60k and then put them back for the next one.
Also when we have the 5X animal pens events the Jumbo Horse orange base is 875ep and with buffs works well for this special event!!!

farmer_broke - I really like your post above.....The best, for me, is Ask questions....and Be Prepared!!!!
Our farmer community is(as I've said before) always willing to help other farmers...either with drops, products and great advice! The main thing I always try to do on my farm is your last statement(be prepared). I keep minimums of everything! So now with the release of this new quest(the wolf)....I have everything in abundance, except for the wolves. This gives me the opportunity to do the quest up to wolves, and make back some of the cc's I spent recently.

 

Brooke,

I only said the jumbo pens.

The jumbo trees are an altogether different matter. I always have them out, all the 5 XXLs and the 4 XLs I have of the turbo-mulch/Suzy-spray kinds. They are awesome EP-givers in plot-hr terms (among the best in game, when both turbo-mulched and Suzy-sprayed, especially the XXLs) and provide me with resources that are essential for nuking initial events' seeds and for all time use on those rare trees of which I only have one or two units. Besides, they are self sufficient: the number I have produce enough for themselves and the 3/4 rare trees I need to boost at a time, so much so that my turbo-mulch/Suzy-spray stocks never dwindle. Since they're self sufficient they are not a burden, on the contrary.

I highly recommend to put all jumbo trees out all the time, even during events. They're invaluable. And, for MegaEP or Happy Tree Days it's a must that all of them, with no exception, are out.

(The only ones I rarely put out are my 2 jumbo XL SG trees: it's because I don't need SG so much -you already know that- and I need the space. But I do, sometimes).

(It's weird that they devised such an awesome thing with jumbo trees and such a gargantuan -LOL- flop with jumbo pens).

 

Hi Farmers.....I wonder if any of you can find me in the Top 1000....Like I said I am a Dark Horse LOL.... I will keep Track of it as i will donate some more into Top 1000 to play it more safer that i stay within the Top 1000, As Long it is within Top 1000 I would truely Appreciate The Rewards. As I have more In Reserve

As you are Talking about Jumbo Trees.....They do have some usefulness.....Like Aluntino they are best for Mega EP Day...But it is evening Better During Happy Tree Day can Make Loads of EP...they also reward you with Super Grow...Suzy Super Grow and Super Mulch

I hardly use them during Normal Events in the past....But if you see FAQ saying huge number of Drop Items are required...These are Excellent to Boost reaping your Drop Item Rate of Drop Items....Any Super Grow and Suzy Super Grow Gained can be used to Nuke your New Event Crops to give you a Head Start on Growing Event Crops....

In the Past have been growing long timed Crops such as Carnations,Rye,Barley etc...Since i have over 20K each of these. As they are not really needed for anything....At the moment they are not best Crop to Grow to Sell in the Market to Make CC...As I am always working on Crop Refinements

Crop Refinements

• Boost More Ep for your Refined Crop
• Boost Certain Drop Items for Refined Crop
• Make Manure More Effective on Refined Crop
• Make Water More Effective on Refined Crop
• Make Super Grow More Effective on Refined Crop
• Reduce Growing Time on Refined Crop

I have refined quiet a few refined crops, they certainly does help you in many ways to hoard these crops using CAC, plus other Buffs which are more Productive Because you are reaping these crops, more Frequently during activation of your Buffs...the effective is boosted even more by using Pinkie Pie Pie by another 30% !!!

Crafting

Crafting use to be Brilliant to Make lots of CC make many farmers Rich quickly as when CAC first came out they were selling for 250,000 CC each EM for over 200,000 but they have plummetered in price, along with many other crafts. Some Crafts are not productive to make at all....As many Crafts can be bought from the Markets that is cheaper than to Craft them !!!

They only a few Crafts Left that is still worth Crafting to use or to sell to the markets to Make CC....

CaliChrome...you can Earn PF from completing Farmer Society Quests, Unlocking Runes. Completing Events....Farmerama Wheel...and Bonus Codes and From Gifts From Neighbours...

 

@Mooboy

You know I found ya. Now here you go playing Hide and Seek with us. I am so happy to see your name.

Oh I am so proud of you.

 

Thanks Mooboy for your insight! So... you're using crops which are already refined in the greenhouse to refine them again? Okay, newbie here.... is this possible? Nice

One correction on the above quote: You can NOT gift power feed, if I've read the FAQ correctly, but when you buy powerfeed, your neighbors will be rewarded with 2 powerfeed as well. At least, that's how understand it from the FAQ's. Is your experience different? If so the FAQ should be updated

 

Yes, but the most beneficial crops are not available to lower level farmers and it does take time and large numbers of crops (relatively speaking) to actually research the refinements to get the ones you want.

I am aware of these options but rarely do the FSQs reward more PF than it takes to breed the animals required to earn them. The wheel isn't a given for rewarding PF. Bonus Codes are rare and are not usually for PF. One has to have generous neighbors that actually invest real money during the mini events where PF are given as gifts (and only the last time was it more than 2 PF). I even limit my breeding to BBDs, have the Mill Sub and mill PF almost constantly and I still consider PF to be precious.

 

At 1 minute before the end, the bottom of the Top1000 list was at 138,5M ExV. escalonilla was at a mid-table position, 430, at that same moment, with 170,5M. (It closed at 144 at the bottom, escalonilla in position 481 with same amount; he dropped 51 positions in that 10 min update....).

So, it seems for next year's edition, if it's kept at 1000 the total membership of the Hall of Fame, way more than 1M maple saps, worth 170M ExV will be needed to be a serious contestant. For those thinking of getting prepared, hard work lies ahead.

[Using the spreadsheet I had prepared almost 2 yrs ago and I updated now, I valuated my farm: I discovered it's worth 250M in ExV terms -without considering tools or artisan basics and products-, 230M in stuff defined for donations to TopX00X; in my mkt prices terms, 395M CCs -and 375M CCs if I limit it to TopX00X stuff-; it was an interesting exercise that makes me aware of where I'm standing and shows the cumulative value resulting of almost 3 years of activity; I'll try to make a routine of updating it once a month, to see how it develops; as I expected, the CCs/ExV ratios for the whole of each category tells everything about where to put the effort for increasing its total ExV: not surprisingly, fruit; these ratios are -today's photo-:
* Crops --> 1,236
* Fruit --> 0,272
* Animals --> 3,011
* Bred Anim. --> 2,548
In other words, the lowest cost for each ExV is for fruit; the highest, for animals. (It's not that I hadn't already known fruit was the best bet: but it's telling to see what the differences are: they show a single path: fruit, which simplifies everything)].

Calichrome,

I agree: after available space/time, PF is the most precious resource in this game. It cannot be emphasized enough. However, the way to indirectly benefit from the misuse of PF other players make is mkt. There you can get with CCs made from all your activity in farm (and, if you are willing to, also from pure profit making via buying rather cheap and selling when it's convenient, whatever it is -all mkts, not only bred animals'-) the final products for which PF is used. I know mkt is not for everyone, but, to assess when it's convenient to sell or buy a bred animal, long ago I assigned 500 CCs as the virtual cost of each PF (nowadays, I would assign a higher figure, maybe 750 or 1000). Thus, for example, assuming no skips to stand in the worst possible case, the cost of getting one roaster would be: 2 PFs (1000*2) + 4 chicken (4*180) = 2720, whereas you cannot get one now in my mkt at less than 3,5K. I don't take into account the cost of Pink Jelly because the Cuckoo events guarantee an endless supply at very low cost; it's different if you also use pheromones: consider 100 CCs each. The next level -silkies- can be calculated by the cost of buying 4 roasters and breeding them: 2 PFs (1000*2) + 3,5K*4 = 16K, whereas I can get them from my mkt at only 8K. This shows how -unless people selling at 8000 each had bought them before at, I don't know, 5/6K CCs and are grabbing the profit- people burn PF. Mkt is the means to maximize the effect of every single PF you have. (I used to have a spreadsheet for these calculations but I haven't updated it in the last year and a half: I don't use it any more).

 

Wanna do it?

Simply begin and do it your way.

No guaranteed right way.

Simply begin and do it your way.

 

Huge Congrats to the Winners!!!!!!

 

Congrats to the all winners