Cookie Wonderland Strategy

The only tricky thing I could spot in this event is that the event crop, all of it, is only needed in L4, and to get there you must have already gotten 550 event drops, almost all of the required total. So, the key thing is event drop rate performance while calmly growing the event crop.

As Suzee says, it shouldn't be a huge problem. But I noticed in my lower level farms, where I used crops in the 9/11 hs base growth time range, that event drops have been pretty poor. They'll most probably have a hard(ish) time to get to the 100/day avg.

So, since this is tricky and many may get deceived by poorer event drop rate than hoped -I mean, those compelled to use overnight crops that are not much longer than the event crop itself-, when they'll find they have all the event's crops but still are far from the 550 required to donate them (the event's seeds), some may feel prone to despair. I wouldn't if I were any of you (or if I find myself then, the moment of truth, in any of the lower level farms). I think the best is to do the event crops, monitor event's drop rate and, once done with the event's crop, switch to the longest possible crops you may have at hand, ideally in 1x1s, carefully avoiding to use pens/workshops, except in Baha -this last suggestion only for those having really serious event's drop problems by then-. Anyone should be able to get enough event's drops doing so.

Another thing to consider is that I've noticed that, consistently, Baha does yield higher events' drops (on a per plot/hr basis), at least from crops, taking into account that its crops are generally shorter (the longest, ginger, 10 hs base growth time). So, do keep Baha busy. I wouldn't use the event crop there though, not in this occasion, because there's no real sound need to do so.

I suppose that by taking into account these additional few tips, practically everyone should be able to finish this event in its entirety, provided it's possible for you to keep both farm and Baha busy most of the time, with little to no idle time.

Finally, Arielh (and anyone thinking of skipping all of this event): you can do the first 3 levels without needing a single event crop, just by using things you may already have in barn and mill 1150 flour units; it may be possible for you to get 550 event drops if you just fill your lands with trees and use CFs with other crops. It's worth the bet: the Cookie Hamster item is among the top EP-yielders you may have in a park and there's a pretty strong supply there of machinery, PF and both EPs and B-EPs. I would give it a go.

 

An event that seems geared to lower level players should not ask for many event drops, especially for the couple of steps that they can actually participate in. At level 39 (needed for the last step) for example the longest growing crop available is Malt. Someone mentioned at some point that from hop upwards the drop rate becomes better. I do not know if that is the case indeed, but if so, making players grow vast amounts of mostly wheat, oats and sorghum would be counterproductive.

Thank you Aluntino for pointing out that the farm has to be kept busy to get the drops. So if I were a lower level player, I would have to be on the game pretty much constantly... considering my longest growing crop might only be malt and that I would have to plant 1x1's to get a better rate and that I might not have all the spaces open yet. That seems like a lot of work in the busy Christmas season.

 

Drop rate doesn't improve with the higher level crops, it gets easier because you can grow longer crops. Less labor intensive. And more practical for adding water. For drops, if the event crop is the longest growing crop, best plant it for drops. And a more relaxed day. If you don't have enough of the regular crops needed for the milled product, then you would need to grow them. Yes, the farm is more labor intensive for lower level farmers. It get easier when you can plant longer growing crops and water them. And buy the lower level crops.

 

Thanks to villager99 for the summary! I have been referring to it often.

If you don' t see these items in the market, you can still use them if you win them or get them through gifts. you can at least get 2 CAC and 2 zucchini from the advent calender... worth it even if you have to buy it with BB.

CAC gives you 2+ PER plot. that is, you get 2 extra whether it is a 2x2, 1x2 or 1x1 That is why its suggested you go to 1X1, to maximize your return and to also increase chance of event items (that last is debated, but seems to help). You activate it by going into your barn (the redish barn on your main and green meadows fields, plus Baha) and clicking on "pantry". You will then see a display of the ones you have. Hover over each with your cursor and it will show you what they will do. Carrot Apple Chutney gives you 2+. Pear Apple Jam gives you 1+ per plot. Zucchini bread gives you extra EP. BE SURE TO ACTIVATE THE CAC & EP BOOSTERS BEFORE HARVESTING, but activate the HARVEST TIME SHRINKERS BEFORE PLANTING (or feeding).

To ACTIVATE... click on the item, it will then ask "are you sure" Say "yes". You will then see a sheild on your fields, click on it to see what buffs (the generic term for these items) you have active.

I think the fact that those under 39 can earn the cloud row, but not the EP giver is a bigger problem. But then, I suppose those that low will have trouble completing the event anyway.

 

Thanks villager for the summary of the requirements, just wish I had read them earlier

Aunty Scrooge here got carried away when I saw Sorghum selling for 100-125 CC a piece. Sold almost all of my 30K stock before realizing that 10K is needed in the Mill

Well even if I have to stock up on Sorghum I don't think it will be a problem getting the Event crop, and the drops seems to be plentiful, 129 so far. I'm liking this Event.

Best of luck everyone!

 

Just planted my 10 free seeds in the glade on 2x2s with water. Planted sorghum on 2x2s for the rest of the fields. Unfortunately I only got 47 drops from my overnight harvest but with a few harvests during the day I can still reach the 100 per day total. Being in Australia I unluckily was in bed a mere few hours before the event started, but since time isn't a concern regarding the event crop this time it should be ok. I'll convert to 1x1s with CAC for the event crop once I can fill the fields. I'll do this more so for drops than for making the crop total. I'd like to knock this one out of the park before Christmas.

 

I always like being able to plant event crops in Bahamarama for the big EP. Woot!!

 

I grow Anise on main farm, green meadow and mag. glade only. On Bahamarama- I grow ginger to donate into FSQ and to help me with the drops. Thanks to those who bought my oats and wheat. Got around 3 M from selling oats and wheat.
I saw someone selling 9999 oats at 0.10 each last night but someone quickly scoop the sale before me

 

I'm curious to know which place NOT to grow event crops. It will be either glade or b'rama. Should I leave animals on or go for high crops or possibly trees. I usually grow event crops everywhere and hope for the drops, but this time I don't think event crops will be a problem and I would like to have an easier time next week!

 

djh99:
Personally I think the glade is the best place to grow crops whilst bahamarama is the worst (so I would avoid it if possible, but don't tend to). This is all due to water (which I am slightly obsessed with!) Water is free on the glade which is a few CCs saved. If you grew only on the main field and the meadow, you would need to do more harvests, therefore using more water and spending more CCs (unless you choose to wait out the full 8 hours, which I don't). Conversely, water is more expensive on bahamarama and you can't use water towers to get free water, so you have to pay for every single unit of water, and it's double the price of the main farm.

Update from me: unfortunately I didn't quite make the 100 drops per day target, but missed by only a few, getting 97. Hopefully this will increase once I convert to 1x1s - since I haven't yet grown enough event crops to fill all 1x1s, I figured it was a waste of time and CAC to grow on them, so have used 2x2s all day with water

 

djh99 - you can plant Anise (the event crops) on all your lands, including Baharama island.
But you have to notice that time mature is 8 hours.

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EDIT :

Already use 1x1s on all lands (including islands) and the drop items are so far so good 191 pastry bags. Then there are already 2000 holiday flours and 2384 anises in my barn (excluding the growing plants).

5616 anises to go..

 

djh99, If you care about (B)EP the best thing to not grow event crops on bahamarama, they give less BEP. If you want to have pens/tress out, you get extra EP (5% for trees, 10% for stables) if you put them in the magical glade.

 

I only plant it during work and sleep, but since I don't have high level crops in Baha (I think pineapple is my highest right now, saving to open the 4th section), this is a big boost for me!!

Also, I'm finding very low drop rates, even though I'm planting on 1x1... Anybody else having this issue? I haven't even gotten enough to complete the first level yet.

 

Baha has all trees for me...all the rare trees that are rumored to be in the permanent quest coming in January (?) plus normal trees I need for feed and spa. I activate all pets first and then use PAC on Baha, delete it, then activate CAC. I still needed to mill some crops for the flour but will be done with that this morning. I am well ahead of the daily avg for drops and with family coming in today and staying through tomorrow, an 8 hr crop is perfect.

 

Thanks for all your suggestions, the only result for me is that you all have your special way of organising your fields, trees, crops,etc. I think I will just try out different ways until I find my special plan. Many thanks again and a happy Christmas/wintertime festival to you all.

 

Looks like I will be able to finish level 1, hopefully level 2. Milling is not an issue, need the bags. I was worried about getting level 4 and not 5, but it does not look as though I will complete level 4, never mind level 5, anyway.

Drop items are the hold up. I have enough BP to buy the 50 pack of pastry bags, but am wondering if its worth it?

Any suggestions?

 

I'm not getting hardly any drops today... and I've been harvesting a lot... I'm just waiting on the darn bags... Grrrr... I mean BAAAAAhhhhhhhh......

 

memawn and KenL56 - you may need to read and to write in SOS Cookie Wonderland event. I am sure many people will help you.

 

Since my initial harvest yesterday I've gotten roughly 200 drops. I have more than half the drops needed to finish the event. Should have them all tomorrow.

Deciding whether or not to spend BB to buy event drops is personal. I would wait until the last day if it were me. Try to get as many as possible first. A lot depends on your resources... RL time, real money, etc. Maybe spend some CC on tree fruit and upgrade the crop trophy... Proper trophy management being the most important aspect of drops.

I'm using the Main, Meadow and Glade to grow event crops. At this point in my farming "career" I plant mainly for convenience. We didn't used to get BEP for event crops. So I never really use Baha to grow event crops unless we need a mountain of them and/or my schedule is tight. I used to decide what to plant on Baha based on the best BEP/hr depending on my schedule. I have a 9h crop there now. I don't remember the math for that nor do I have the numbers handy. Trees are a good choice for low level players, usually. Less so for mid-level players. Currently my Baha is almost half camels and pandas, the rest comfort fields w/ watered 7h crops for CCs and... because I'm lazy.

It's not about how frequently one harvests. It's about NOT letting the farm sit idle. Harvest the crops as soon as they are "ripe", no lag time. If you plant an 8h crop and let it sit for 13h, you will get the same number of drops as if you plant an 8h crop w/ water and harvest at 6:26h. Meanwhile you've wasted the time when you could have gotten a second harvest and, roughly, on average, twice the drops as one harvest.

 

Unfortunately my drops were abysmal this morning, and so in total I have a mere 141. However, that was with 2x2s and I wasn't moving the trophies around. I've now converted to 1x1s and will move the trophies around so hopefully that will raise the drops. I cashed out every last BB to complete the drops in November and have been working my way back up to 104 via the cinema since then. I refuse to cash out any more, so I'm not donating anything until I know I have enough of everything. Hopefully by using 1x1s and CAC I should be able to finish the event crop a few days in advance, so will be able to continue to plant the crops needed for the flour. I have enough wheat, but would like to keep planting more so my stocks aren't lower than 2000 when I use it to make the flour. The other crops I am still trying to get up to the required total, so I will be needing a few days at the end to make that total.