Traits? Do they matter exponentially?

Ryukaze · Post Posted: Jun 30, 2016 1:56 pm

So in the beginning I just chose whatever trait I thought was useful. I've always hated losing the first animal festival in my previous games so I chose the "Animal Loving" trait. Reading through this thread, it seems many have chosen the popularity trait. It makes sense since villagers are also a huge part in the game. Does it really matter though?

What did you guys choose and Why?

KonekoChan · Post Posted: Jun 30, 2016 1:59 pm

it's just personal preference. i chose the popular trait because i like having everyone love me and it's a nice head start :p i guess it matters, if it matters to you or you end up regretting not picking something else but-- it's not like it has any other effect on the game besides the initial FP boost/money/one more stamina heart etc.

Ryukaze · Post Posted: Jun 30, 2016 2:03 pm

You're right, I should start over. I still didn't pass the tutorial yet so I'll restart with popularity trait. It does make more sense to have everyone love you because there's more villagers and benefits considering there's 3 towns and an extra stamina heart? That seals the deal.

By the way, is there a need to run through the tutorial for farming? I'm at the part where they let me choose, but considering I'm not at all that fluent in Japanese yet it'll take me a long time to decipher the meanings. Are the mechanics identical or similar to previous installments?

KonekoChan · Post Posted: Jun 30, 2016 2:09 pm

extra stamina heart is for the sports trait i believe! i wish it came with the people one though

as for the farming, you should be fine skipping it. the only thing that's really changed is the tool upgrade system, everything else farming wise is the same old same plant crops water and harvest.

Ryukaze · Post Posted: Jun 30, 2016 2:35 pm

Oh! Right. I forgot there were a sports trait too. In my head I wondered if there will be sport festivals when I read that. It makes more sense now, I knew it was too much of an advantage if it came with the popularity trait. Thank you! It was informational.

RopeMaidenKirie · Post Posted: Jun 30, 2016 5:00 pm

Another perk of the choosing the popular trait in the beginning is that you're able to eat with people during meals and replenish your stamina. According to the wiki you need at least 1/2 heart for villagers and 1 heart for marriage candidates, which is what the trait does for you.

Runey39 · Post Posted: Jun 30, 2016 5:00 pm

I originally picked animal lover and then I switched to sportsman. Sometimes I wished I would have picked popular, but I really like my extra stamina heart. I generally use all my stamina up every day.

Ryukaze · Post Posted: Jun 30, 2016 5:57 pm

@RopeMaidenKirie

Oh, that's nice to know! Glad I switched and didn't get that far in yet. I knew these traits would be of important early or late.

@Runey39

I hear if you eat with villagers or marriage candidates, you'll replenish stamina as well. Is that one extra heart really efficient compared to popularity?

RopeMaidenKirie · Post Posted: Jun 30, 2016 6:02 pm

I'm sure you could increase the villager/candidate FP rather quickly since there's only one town right off the bat, but I like personally not worrying about that at the beginning and getting my farm all nice and set up with less time talking to the villagers until I'm all sorted out.

I think maybe later on the extra stamina heart might be more of a boon, but I guess it really comes down to opinion on that. By the 2nd house upgrade you have a kitchen to make food from recipes, plus you can eat with people, go to the restaurants, better tools, etc so I don't personally find the need for that extra stamina, but others definitely may if they are hardcore farmers.

Edit: disclaimer, I'm playing on novice (might do veteran on my new file) so keep that in mind too when deciding!

Ryukaze · Post Posted: Jun 30, 2016 6:29 pm

No worries! I'm also doing it on novice because as much as I want to do veteran, I simply have no time to go through the hard grind. I'm also not an expert when it comes to this series. I play for the peaceful simulation and also because it's my childhood!

Thank you for the information, really glad I asked.

Arcy · Post Posted: Jun 30, 2016 6:44 pm

I think the Rich Person trait is the most beneficial over time, since Festivals and Part-Time Jobs seem to be a decent source of free relationship gains. Only in the sense of "You have to spend money to make money.", though, I don't really think there is a wrong choice, as all of them provide a good boost at the start.

This kind of choice is implemented about perfect for me; it is hard to make the decision at the start, and yet it will diminish in usefulness after the first few seasons are over.

RopeMaidenKirie · Post Posted: Jun 30, 2016 6:57 pm

Ryukaze wrote:No worries! I'm also doing it on novice because as much as I want to do veteran, I simply have no time to go through the hard grind. I'm also not an expert when it comes to this series. I play for the peaceful simulation and also because it's my childhood!

Thank you for the information, really glad I asked.

You're welcome <3 Glad to help! You can easily win the first animal festival btw, just take care of your cow daily and give it treats and it'll be no problem :D

The only reason I'd disagree with money trait being more beneficial is only because it's been so easy to make money in the game imo (at least on novice), even early on. In the beginning of the game I feel like they give you plenty for everything you need, but like you said there's really no right one to pick, just depends on what you want for your character. Pretty much everything becomes negligible anyways.

KonekoChan · Post Posted: Jun 30, 2016 7:01 pm

yeah all of them become pointless after probably summer or fall-- they're just useful in the beginning. i'd say the money one does actually fall of fastest because it is WAY easy to make money, especially with the mines. just get your hammer upgraded a decent amount and you can easily make a ton in a day. even foraging around makes quite a bit in the beginning.

RopeMaidenKirie · Post Posted: Jun 30, 2016 7:47 pm

Okay, so starting on veteran I can see a bit more appeal for the money in the beginning, since you won't be making as much money with crops because of the stamina draining much more quickly.

The stamina is way more brutal than I thought it would be though, so I'm still glad I went with popular, because I could only till about 3 spots and put in 3 bags of seeds before I was almost out of stamina. I went and ate with people and was at least able to water my crops for the day, lol.

Lyndis · Post Posted: Jun 30, 2016 8:59 pm

RopeMaidenKirie wrote:The stamina is way more brutal than I thought it would be though, so I'm still glad I went with popular, because I could only till about 3 spots and put in 3 bags of seeds before I was almost out of stamina. I went and ate with people and was at least able to water my crops for the day, lol.

In terms of routine farm work, tilling is by faaaar the biggest drain on stamina, but fortunately it seems like you only have to do it once for a given plot of land.