Entangle the player in the ecosystem:
- How is the player vulnerable to nature?
- How is nature vulnerable to the player?
- What things can/can't you change?
Is the ecosystem:
- A fascinating and capricious partner?
- An obstacle to be overcome?
(this is a spectrum: where do you fall?)
The details of the work are a whole thing in their own right: do you want to represent this in your game? Player skills? Character skills?
Radish Harvesting
One year I saw a catalog describe three different varieties as "our darkest red romaine".
How do you learn to farm?
- Books?
- “Experts?”
- Pushy locals?
Are mentors/resources reliable?
Is this a difficulty modifier?
Who wants to farm?
- Retired professionals
- Gardening enthusiasts
- Disillusioned/idealistic young people
- (or not so young ones)
- Kids from multigenerational farms
Where do you sell?
- Self-serve farm stand
- Farmers' markets/flea markets
- CSA or pre-orders
- Health food stores, food co-ops
- Country store, grocery chains
- Restaurants, B&Bs
- Wholesalers
| How | $ | work | #customers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-serve | $$ | low | few |
| CSA | $$ | medium | few |
| Restaurants | $$$/$ | medium | some |
| Co-ops | $$ | low | quite a few |
| Farmers' market | $$$ | high | many |
| Grocery | $ | low | many |
| Wholesalers | $ | low | MANY |
Thank you!
Twitter @joshuaigrams
Mastodon @joshgrams@icosahedron.website