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Farmville Tips and Tricks: Become a Master Farmer!

March 22, 2010
Farmville Tips and Tricks: Become a Master Farmer!

Farmville: A Facebook Phenomenon

Farmville stands as one of the most prominent applications available on Facebook, potentially even the most popular. Current estimates suggest the game boasts over 82 million active users.

To put this into perspective, the player base of Farmville surpasses that of World of Warcraft by a factor of six. World of Warcraft is widely recognized as a defining title in the online role-playing genre.

The Scale of Farmville's Popularity

The sheer size of Farmville’s community on Facebook is undeniable. Given the likelihood that many of your connections are already engaged with the game, achieving a leading position among your friends is a compelling goal.

By implementing the Farmville tips and strategies detailed in this guide, significant progress towards mastery can be made.

Strategies for Farmville Success

Becoming a proficient Farmville player involves understanding key mechanics and employing effective techniques. Consistent application of these methods will contribute to improved rankings.

This guide aims to provide a comprehensive overview of essential Farmville strategies, enabling players to optimize their gameplay and surpass their peers.

Key Areas for Improvement

  • Efficient crop management is crucial for maximizing income.
  • Strategic use of farm animals can accelerate production.
  • Regular interaction with neighbors fosters mutual benefit.

Mastering these elements will significantly enhance a player’s ability to thrive within the Farmville ecosystem.

Cultivating Crops

Within Farmville, crops represent a fundamental element for progress and revenue generation. They serve as the primary source of income for players. Each crop variety possesses unique attributes and statistical values. These include differing seed costs, growth durations, and experience point yields – typically ranging from 1 to 3 XP.

Harvest Timing: A Key Consideration

The time required for a crop to mature is a crucial factor to evaluate. Strawberries, for instance, necessitate a 4-hour growth period following planting. Players are granted a window of up to twice the growth time for harvesting. Therefore, a 4-hour crop allows for an 8-hour harvesting period from the moment of planting.

Failure to harvest within this timeframe results in crop wilting and renders it unusable. Strategic planning is essential; avoid planting crops with shorter harvest times if consistent access isn't guaranteed.

Optimizing Crop Experience Gains

Selecting crops should align with your anticipated playtime. Crops with extended growth cycles, often a day or longer, generally provide a minimum of 2 experience points.

Shorter-duration crops may yield only 1 XP, but frequent availability allows for rapid replanting and continuous progression. For players who prefer a hands-off approach, longer-maturing crops are ideal. Conversely, those who engage with Facebook multiple times daily should prioritize fast-growing crops for consistent turnover.

Understanding Return on Investment (ROI)

Maximizing both earnings and experience within a limited timeframe requires careful consideration of seed costs and subsequent returns. Soybeans, an early-access crop, cost 15 coins to plant but yield 63 coins upon sale – a fourfold return on investment.

However, soybeans have a longer growth period compared to other options, potentially diminishing their overall efficiency when time is factored in.

The ROI calculation is as follows: ((Sale Price - (Seed Cost + 15)) / Time). The "15" represents the cost of plowing the field for each plant. Consider strawberries: seeds cost 10 coins, harvest yields 35 coins, and growth takes 4 hours. The equation becomes ((35 - (10 + 15)) / 4), resulting in 2.5 coins per hour.

Soybeans, in comparison, yield 1.434 coins per hour, making strawberries a more profitable choice, provided consistent 4-hour harvesting is possible. Crop selection should balance play frequency and desired outcomes – maximizing profit or experience gain.

Currently, the most lucrative crops for generating income, when harvested promptly, are: Peas, Asparagus, Onion, Grapes, and Sugar Cane.

For experience point accumulation, the most effective crops include various berries (black, blue, strawberry, and raspberry), followed by Aloe Vera, Ghost Chili, Pumpkin, and Tomatoes.

Cultivating Connections: The Importance of Neighbors

A substantial network of neighbors within Farmville is instrumental in facilitating farm expansion and unlocking increased earning potential. Expanding your neighbor list directly correlates to the size of your farm. A larger farm allows for greater crop yields and more extensive customization options.

Furthermore, assisting your neighbors with tasks like weed removal or plant fertilization provides valuable experience points and additional income.

Tip #4 - Expanding Your Social Circle

One of the most straightforward methods for acquiring neighbors is to invite your personal friends to join the game. Even infrequent players can contribute to your neighbor count, providing ongoing benefits. It’s likely a significant portion of your existing friends are already engaged with Farmville.

You can easily identify friends who are already playing by navigating to the "My Neighbors" section on your farm page.

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Tip #5 - Utilizing the FarmVille Forums

Should you have exhausted your friend list or prefer not to solicit them, the Farmville Forums offer an alternative avenue for finding new neighbors. Access the forum through the "Forum" link located at the bottom of the Facebook game page.

Within the forum, a dedicated "Finding Neighbors" section connects players seeking to expand their networks.

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Exercise caution when adding neighbors from the forums, as some accounts may be automated spam. Review the profile of any potential neighbor; if it appears inauthentic, consider removing them to prevent unwanted posts on your Facebook wall.

The forums also serve as a valuable community hub for discussing the game, seeking assistance, and discovering other popular titles.

Growing Up

Tip #6 - Farm Expansion Strategies

As your network of neighbors grows, contemplating farm expansion becomes a viable option. Initially, gameplay begins with a 12x12 plot, a comparatively limited space. Utilizing neighborly assistance and accumulated coins, upgrades to 14x14, 20x20, and larger dimensions are achievable.

A larger farm is instrumental in achieving mastery within Farmville and maximizing virtual earnings. However, careful consideration is crucial before expanding your land.

Numerous players have prematurely expanded, only to find themselves lacking the funds to effectively utilize the additional acreage. Therefore, assess the financial commitment required not only for the expansion itself, but also for populating it with crops, livestock, structures, or other desired elements.

For instance, if an expansion costs 10,000 coins and your current balance is only 12,000, delaying the purchase is advisable. Aim to accumulate at least 20,000-25,000 coins before proceeding with the investment.

Tip #7 - Leveraging Hay Bales for Rapid Experience Gains

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After several weeks of gameplay and substantial coin accumulation, a straightforward method for accelerating experience point (XP) acquisition becomes available. This involves purchasing Hay Bales, subsequently selling them, and repeating the process.

While prioritizing experience-efficient crops is always recommended, the Hay Bale strategy presents an excellent alternative when fields are fully planted. Hay Bales represent the most cost-effective means of gaining experience.

Each Hay Bale, costing 100 coins, yields 5 experience points and can be resold for 5 coins. This effectively allows you to acquire 5 XP for a net cost of 95 coins. A 50,000 coin reserve, if unallocated, could translate into over 2500 experience points.

Conclusion

As demonstrated, Farmville, despite its apparent simplicity, incorporates elements of strategy and financial management for successful gameplay. Played responsibly, the game can even serve as a beneficial tool for teaching budgeting principles to younger players.

For more seasoned players, it offers a pleasant diversion and a platform for friendly competition with acquaintances. While aspects like animal husbandry and tree cultivation warrant further discussion, mastering crop harvesting and experience gain forms the foundation for overall success.

Have these strategies proven useful in your Farmville experience? We invite you to share any additional tips or insights you may have in the comments section below.

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