Game Mechanics (Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town)

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The following page contains information from the in-game "Farm Tips" about the various game mechanics in Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town.

The Tool Bag
Your tools can all be stored in the tool bag. When you need them, take them out to use them, and when you're done, you can store them back in there! Make the best use you can of this special tool storage!

Using Tools and Items
Press left or right on the directional pad to select an item in the item bar. You can use the highlighted item with Y.

Using the Axe
Using an axe while standing in front of a tree will allow you to chop it down. Chopping down trees will yield logs and other materials. If you upgrade the axe to higher levels at the tool shop, it'll become easier to cut down trees, and you can chop more trees at a time.

Using the Sickle
Use the sickle to cut wild grass on your farm. Cutting it will yield special grass-based materials. If you upgrade your sickle to higher levels at the tool shop, you'll be able to cut more at a time.

Using the Hammer
Use the hammer to smash stones on your farm and in the mine. Breaking stones will yield ore-type materials. If you upgrade your hammer to higher levels at the tool shop, you'll be able to break larger stones with ease, and you can break more stones at a time.

Special Uses for the Hammer
The hammer can be used to level out tilled land or empty ponds. It can also level out areas occupied by seeds, seedlings, and young trees. Nguyen's tip: If you hammer soil containing seeds that haven't yet sprouted, you can get those seeds back!

Using the Bucket
If you find puddles on your farm, clear them away with the bucket! You can obtain materials like clay by scooping up water. You may also use the bucket to drain a pond of its water. If you drain a pond entirely, you may find a treasure chest at the bottom! Reina can appraise any treasures you find.

Using the Fishing Rod
You can cast out your fishing rod as long as you're facing a body of water. Once you've got a fish on the line, reel it in and begin the battle with your catch!

Reeling in Fish
Hold Y to reel in a fish. As you're reeling in a fish, your fishing rod's durability will gradually decrease. If the gauge falls to 0, the fish will get away. When a fish is white, it will be reeled in slowly. When a fish turns red, it's angry and will take a toll on your rod's durability if you try to reel it in, so let go of Y if you see red! When a fish is blue, that means it's tired out and easier to reel in.

Using the Hoe and Watering Can
Use the hoe to till fields. Once the fields are tilled, seeds can be sown. They'll steadily grow into harvestable crops when watered daily. If your watering can runs out of water, you can take it to a well to refill it.

Using the Camera
Photos can be taken with the camera. You'll be able to move around while in camera mode as well. A blue outline will be displayed on wild animals whose photos you can donate to the museum.

Using the Leash
Using the leash on one of your pets will allow you to take walks with it. When you're ready to end the walk, simply use the leash on it again.

The Bag
Items you find will be placed in your bag. Press X to open your notebook and view your inventory.

Losing Items
Items you leave on the ground will disappear the next day. Keep your important items safe, and don't drop anything you wouldn't want to lose!

Stamina
Using tools will deplete your stamina. If you run out of stamina, you'll pass out and wake up in your house the next day.

Eating
Choose a meal from the item bar with Y to eat it. Eating meals will recover stamina.

The Weather
On rainy days, crops are automatically watered, but animals won't be able to go out to pasture. Stamina decreases rapidly in blizzards and typhoons, so try not to overexert yourself in poor weather.

Seasons
The seasons will change in the order of: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter. Wild animals and crops that appear on the farm will vary by season. Crops that can't survive will wither away on the first day of the new season, so be aware as time goes by!

Your Fields
If you sow seeds in your fields, you'll be able to grow crops! Try planting some seeds after Mayor Victor's taught you a little more about raising crops!

Wild Crops
If you discover crops you've never seen before while clearing your land, harvest and ship them as soon as you can! If you do, those crops' seeds will become available for purchase at the Olive General Store. The crops themselves will also become available for purchase at Norman's Groceries.

Skills
As you get used to farm work, you'll find yourself leveling up various skills along the way. When these skills level up, you'll gain special traits and learn new crafts.

Area Sowing
Once you've reached a high enough Fieldwork skill level, you can use the area sow skill, which will allow you to sow up to 9 seeds at once! Hold Y to charge up and sow in a 3x3 square in front of you.

Learning New Recipes
Once you've reached a high enough Cooking skill level, you can learn recipes after a meal! After eating at the café or the bistro, you might come up with a recipe for something tasty! Now’s your chance to learn from Misaki and Sally’s cooking!

Shipping Items
Items you place in the shipping bin will be exchanged for money the next day. The items will remain in the shipping bin until you go to sleep and can thus be returned to your bag up until that point, if need be.

Farm Obstacles
As you repair (or remove) obstacles, you'll gain more farmland to work with. You have the option to clear obstacles using materials or using money.

Mushroom Logs
If you plant spores on a mushroom log, tiny mushrooms will sprout! After a few days, your spores will be fully-grown, harvestable mushrooms.

Beehives
Setting a flower by a beehive will draw bees to it. After a few days, you’ll be able to harvest the honey-covered hives.

Repairing Facilities
Several dilapidated structures exist on the farm. Once you've repaired a structure, like a barn or a coop, you can tame and raise the respective livestock!

Coops
Chickens can be raised in coops. By giving them fodder or letting them graze outside, they'll lay eggs in the coop for you to gather the next day.

Barns
A variety of animals can be raised in barns. Animals that are properly fed or taken out to pasture will produce milk and other byproducts some days later.

Big Barns
A big barn allows you to own even more cows, sheep, and other livestock than ever before! If you use the breeding services at the animal shop, your family is bound to grow even bigger!

Breeding Livestock
Once you've reached a high enough Animal Care skill level, you gain the ability to apply breeding kits, which will allow animals to give birth. If you’d like to apply a breeding kit to your livestock, speak with Patricia at the animal shop.

Feeding Your Animals
Place fodder in you animals' feed bins. They'll eat the fodder from the bins every day. Animals who have been fed will produce byproducts the next day.

Grazing
If you ring the bell in front of a barn or coop, the animals will go out to pasture. If you leave them out, they'll happily eat the grass on the farm and enjoy the fresh air.

Horses
Horses are low-maintenance, so you won’t have to feed them or pet them, but be sure to give them a proper thank-you whenever you ride them somewhere! Horses allow for much faster movement and can take you wherever you need to go! To dismount your horse, press B.

What You Can Do in The Mines
Ore-type items can be obtained in the mines. Dig as deep as you can, but be sure to keep an eye on your stamina! If you need to exit, you can use the ladders to climb back up.

Ore Veins and Sparkling Locations
If you spot an ore vein in the mine walls, smash it with your hammer to get lots of ore! Keep an eye out for sparkling locations, too—if you dig there with your hoe, you might find something rare...

Baddies
Beware of baddies! They'll pop out of the ground to get in your way. If you touch them, you'll lose stamina, so hit them with your hammer to teach them a lesson. They might even drop items if you do!

Pitfalls
Tread carefully if you find any pitfalls on the ground. If you happen to fall into one, you’ll lose a large amount of stamina and drop several floors down from your current location.

The Radio
You can listen to the weather forecast on the radio. It's important for farmers to know what the weather will be! You'll be able to listen to the forecast for today and the next two days, so be sure to tune in!

Sleeping
Sleeping in your bed will recover your stamina. Your game progress will automatically be saved the next morning.

Viewing Farm Tips
Examining a book or bookshelf in your house allows you to view tutorial tips you've seen thus far.

Expanding Your Home
You can request house expansions at Nigel's Handiworks. Once you've expanded your house, you can cook, own pets, and live your best farm life!

Cooking
Stand in front of a kitchen to get cooking! With the right ingredients in hand, you can whip up whatever meals you like! You can cook one meal at a time, and each meal takes 30 min to make.

Owning Pets
With the first home expansion (Log Cabin), you can now own dogs, cats, and other furry friends as pets. Check out the animal shop to see if there's a pet that's right for you!

Interior Decoration
Furnishings can be placed on walls, on the floor, or on countertops. Some furnishings can be crafted, while others can be bought from the general store, carpenter's workshop, and flower shop.

Taking a Bath
Baths will restore a small amount of stamina. If you're tired and need a break from work, jump into a soothing bath for half an hour and relax! A squeaky-clean farmer is a happy farmer!

The Fridge
The fridge allows you to store cooked dishes and ingredients. When cooking, you'll be able to choose from items in your bag as well as the fridge. You'll gain more fridge space as you expand your house.

Crafting
You can make items from the crafting menu in your notebook. As your skill levels increase, more crafting recipes will become available to you.

Using Item Boxes
Item boxes can se set anywhere on your farm. Open then with A to store and remove items. The more boxes you have placed, the more storage space you'll have, so place as many as you need.

The Sprinkler
You've unlocked the recipe for the sprinkler! When placed in the fields, the sprinkler will automatically water all crops in the 8 squares surrounding it each morning.

Using Nets
Nets can be left overnight on shallow, rocky shores. If you set them and pick them up the next day, you can collect the fish caught inside.

The Suction Pump
If you set a suction pump by a pond or lake, it'll automatically suck up water each day that would take a while to drain with a bucket. In order to properly function, suction pumps must be fueled with coal.

The Automatic Feeder
The automatic feeder will distribute fodder to your animals’ feed bins each morning.

Makers
Makers are special farm facilities that can process various types of raw materials. After crafting a maker, it can be placed anywhere on your farm. Insert an item into the maker, wait for the processing time to elapse, and boom! The freshly-processed items are yours to use.

The Textile Maker
By processing threads into cloth, you can use them as materials to make fashionable outfits!

The Seed Maker
With the seed maker, you can process your crops back into seeds of equal quality.

The Jewel Maker
By processing your raw gems, you can sell them for a much higher price.

The Honey Maker
It can process your honey hives into pure honey, which can be shipped out or used as a cooking ingredient!

Olive Hall
Requests from the townsfolk are posted up on the bulletin board in the back of Olive Hall. Submit the requested items and you'll be rewarded for your efforts!

Town Requests
Check out the bulletin board in Olive Hall! When you've received special requests from Mayor Victor, they'll be posted as "Town Requests."

Daily Requests
Requests from the townsfolk will be posted on the bulletin board daily, and will change every day. If you submit the requested items, you'll be given a reward as thanks for your trouble.

Getting Title Rewards
Whenever you've fulfilled certain conditions and obtain new titles, come to Olive Hall! You'll receive rewards based on the titles you've gained.

Olive Museum
The museum accepts a wide variety of donations, such as treasures you find on the farm, photos of wild animals, and fish.
 * Hours of Operation: 9:00AM - 6:00PM
 * Closed: Thursdays

Appraisals and the Museum Shop
After making a new donation, Beth will create and sell faux decor you can place in your home. If you happen upon any mysterious or timeworn objects, you can hand them over to Reina for appraisal.

Olive General Store
The general store sells seeds, seedlings, and various other products. Their lineup changes each season, so check back often to see what's in stock.
 * Hours of Operation: 8:00AM - 6:00PM
 * Closed: Tuesdays

Norman's Groceries
Norman sells various cooking ingredients at his store. His lineup will change each season, so check back often to see what's in stock. Why not experiment with some of his fresh, seasonal ingredients next time you cook?
 * Hours of Operation: 10:00AM - 6:00PM
 * Closed: Mondays

Nguyen's Flowers
Nguyen sells a variety of flowers, flower seeds, and furniture at his shop. His lineup will change each season, so check back often to see what's in stock. You can also request to make perfumes and bouquets.
 * Hours of Operation: 8:00AM - 6:00PM
 * Closed: Mondays

The Hoof House Animal Shop
The animal shop sells livestock and pets. If you tame wild animals on your farm, a larger variety of animals will be available for purchase there.
 * Hours of Operation: 8:00AM - 6:00PM
 * Closed: Tuesdays

The Capeside Bistro
If you're hungry or low on stamina, why not have a meal at the bistro? Misaki's comforting entrées will greatly replenish your stamina, so you can get back to work feeling refreshed!
 * Hours of Operation: 12:00PM - 10:00PM
 * Closed: Open every day!

The Gull's Rest Hotel and Café
If you're not terribly hungry but need a light meal after work, stop by Sally's café! It's a great place to take a break every once in a while.
 * Hours of Operation: 8:00AM - 6:00PM
 * Closed: Tuesdays

Nigel's Handiworks
You may purchase farm facilities and upgrades at Nigel's workshop. Once you've repaired a dilapidated farm facility for the first time, Nigel will begin to sell them. You may also commission him to expand your home.
 * Hours of Operation: 8:00AM - 6:00PM
 * Closed: Wednesdays

Worker's Base Tool Shop
The tool shop will upgrade your precious tools for you. You may also commission bag expansions there if you'd like to carry more items at a time.
 * Hours of Operation: 8:00AM - 6:00PM
 * Closed: Tuesdays

Lovett's House: Gourmet Palace
Lovett leaves requests in his mansion for those who wish to test their cooking skills. If you're up to the challenge, submit one of his requested dishes to find out if your cooking is enough to satisfy the bon vivant!

Salon Ailes D'ange
The beauty salon will help you look your best! With the right materials and money, you can place an order for clothes, which will be crafted and ready for you the next day. You can also get your hair done whenever you feel like changing your style.
 * Hours of Operation: 10:00AM - 6:00PM
 * Closed: Thursdays

Registering for Trips
When you register for a trip, your avatar will visit other players' towns all over the world. If you leave communication features turned on, farmers from all over the world can visit your town as tourists.

Sending Postcards
By sending out a postcard, you can share a photo you’ve taken with farmers all over the world. If you leave communication features turned on, photos taken by other farmers will be displayed on your loading screen.

Communicating with the Townsfolk
Increase friendship with the townsfolk by talking to them and giving them gifts.

Confessing Your Feelings
Buy a Confession Pendant from the general store and give it as a gift to tell your special someone how you feel!

Requirements for Confessing
To confess to the guy or girl you're interested in:
 * They must have 6 hearts in your notebook
 * You must see 5 of their special encounters (heart events)

Proposing
Ready to propose to your beloved partner? By presenting them with a Blue Feather, you’ll give them the memory of a lifetime! Blue Feathers are sold at the general store.

Requirements for Proposing
To propose to your partner:
 * They must have 10 hearts in your notebook
 * You must see 9 of their special encounters (heart events)
 * Your house must be a log cabin or larger

The Egg Hunt
The Egg Hunt is a local festival where everyone in town searches for eggs that are said to bring happiness to those who find them. If you're close with someone, you can ask them to look for eggs together with you! If you'd prefer to hunt alone, that's okay too! Just talk to Victor to get things started.

The Pet Derby
At the Pet Derby, pets and their owners compete in a race to see which team will reign supreme! Talk to Georg if you'd like to enter. If you don't have a pet, don't worry! Georg will let you enter the race with a rental pet if you request it. The Race: Cheer on your pet as they race for 1st place! While your pet is sparkling, press the button on display to give them a short burst of speed!

The Summer Jamboree
The Summer Jamboree’s main event is all about testing your strength in the Hammer Strike. Speak with Manuela if you’d like to compete. The Hammer Strike: Press Y to let the barrels fly! If you stop the moving gauge on the red mark, you’ll get a ton of points! 3 barrels are given per round. The barrel with the highest score in each round will be added to your total.

The Fireworks Display
The Fireworks Display is a boisterous and beloved summer festival in Olive Town. If you’re close with someone, you can ask them to watch the fireworks together with you. If you’d prefer to watch them by yourself, you’re more than welcome to! Just talk to Nigel and he’ll get the show on the road.

The Mushroom Hunt
In the Mushroom Hunt, residents compete over who can find the most toy mushrooms in town. Speak with Dosetsu if you’re interested in participating! The Hunt: Collect mushrooms around town! You’ll get more points by finding larger mushrooms. You can only pick up a certain number of them at once, so keep an eye on your time and total to get the best score you can!

The Spirit Festival
The Sprit Festival is a solemn event where residents of Olive Town give thanks to nature by lighting special lanterns. If you’re close with someone, you can ask them to send off lanterns together with you. If you’d like to send off a lantern by yourself, talk to Simon to get started.

The Fishing Tournament
At the Fishing Tournament, everyone competes to see who can land the largest fish! Speak with Norman if you’d like to enter. The Tournament: At the Fishing Tournament, local anglers come together to see who can catch the biggest fish. Try to fish in several locations to cover more water and reel in the big ones!

Mysterious Creatures
You might notice some odd little creatures hopping around on your farm while you're pioneering or working the farm. Maybe something good will happen if you find a lot of them...

Follower Sprites
Have you seen any odd little creatures pop out of nowhere while pioneering or working the farm? Those are actually Follower Sprites!

Earth Sprite Management
When assigned to an Earth Sprite Leader, Follower Sprites will hurry off to work! After their work is done, the Sprites will happily split their spoils with you the next day.

The Sprite Shop
Along with spoils from their work, the Earth Sprites will also give you Sprite Coins. If you talk to Boss Sprite by the large tree at the Earth Sprite Village, you can exchange your coins for various items.

Navi-sprite
Navi-sprite will take you back to the farm when you're ready to head out. Speak with him whenever you'd like to go to the Earth Sprite Village or other special areas.

Lava Caves
Lava Caves is a special location. Here, the intense heat never lets up, and you'll find yourself working up a sweat in no time flat. The unique-looking Magma Sprite will play mini-games with you here.

Mining Frenzy
Gain points by smashing stones! Rare stones are worth extra points, so be sure to crush them! Keep an eye on your stamina: running out of it before time's up will subtract from your total score.

Beanstalk Island
Beanstalk Island is a special, sky-high location buried in a sea of clouds. The bright-colored Sky Sprite will play mini-games with you here.

Digging For Sprites
Dig up Gold Sprites! The more you find, the more points you'll get! Don't dig up any beanstalks-they'll subtract from your time limit. Try to remember where they were planted to avoid them!

Ancient Lake
A mysterious special location where the shapes of etched carvings fade in and out… It’s a big task, but if you’re up for the challenge, draining the water in the lake may uncover the secrets hidden within.