Mirthwood News

Hi Folks, Daron here from Bad Ridge Games. Today, we’re taking a look at how the world around you functions in Mirthwood.





[h2]Seasons of Change[/h2]
In Mirthwood, you will experience the distinct beauty and challenges of the seasons - Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter - with each bringing its own crops, colors, and events. With Mirthwood being an open-world, this has been no small task. The game features seven large main regions, each with unique aesthetics and sub-biomes. This means each change of season offers a myriad of new visuals depending on where you travel.

Transitioning into Winter will have the most impact on gameplay. With no crops to be grown, you’ll need to shift your focus to other tasks like mining, upgrades, or other adventures. For the inhabitants of the world, potential shortages of food can be deadly.




[h2]Raising the Stakes[/h2]
Most NPCs in Mirthwood are mortal and can pass away, whether from starvation, illness, or if they find themselves the victim of a bandit or animal attack.

This gives NPCs real and tangible goals to work towards. Mortality also paves the way for organic stories to develop. Characters that die will be known to you, possibly even close friends. While there may be opportunities for you to intervene, not every life can be saved. Those who die are buried, and in time, replaced by a new immigrant from the Continent.




[h2]The Storyteller[/h2]
Mirthwood’s storyteller will generate Events of varying intensity to keep things interesting. Some Events are seasonal - you might encounter a Heatwave in Summer or a Blizzard in Winter. Other Events can happen year round, like a Full Moon (...enjoy). Not all Events present challenges. You’ll be notified if a Traveling Merchant is nearby, or if the Trade Ship has arrived and docked at the coast, bringing rare items from the Continent.





[h2]Survival & Crafting[/h2]
Mirthwood will feature survival-lite gameplay. You’ll need to pay attention to your core vitals - Health, Stamina, and Hunger. If you decide to set out and travel across the map, be sure to have a plan for food. Many herbs and berries can be foraged, but cooked meals offer the most benefit. Herbs will also help you craft elixirs and medicines vital to curing illnesses.



You’ll discover campsites and settlements across the map that serve as respites, places to cook, sleep, and save your progress. Some of these campsites can be upgraded and turned into strategic homes-away-from-home for your character. Here you'll be able to access your stash, cook, and craft gear provided you have the materials.





Hopefully that gives you some insight into world experience in Mirthwood. Let us know what questions you have!

[h2]Foundations[/h2]
During the opening chapter of Mirthwood, you'll create your own character. Here, you will get a chance to create a unique backstory and customize your appearance, choosing between different body types, skin tones, eye, brow, hair and beard styles.





[h2]Dress for Success[/h2]
The manner in which you dress can affect the way different social classes or individuals view you. Posh clothing will attract members of the Nobility, while unassuming, workman-like gear will fit in with the Peasant class. As a supplement to your character's leveled skills, apparel can serve a purpose beyond mere looks.



[h2]Equipping Your Character[/h2]
Your character will have 5 slots for gear: Head, Torso, Legs, Weapon, and Trinket. You can mix and match gear in these slots to your preference. Most are self-explanatory, but trinkets represent a type of wild card slot, allowing you to equip a variety of items with diverse affects. From a Rabbit's Foot to a rare Ruby Ring, this slot will give you some flexibility on top of your standard gear. Let's take a look at the anatomy of an item:







[h3]Item Preview[/h3]
Each item in Mirthwood features its own card. Cards are color coded according to rarity, featuring flavor text and hand-painted art that matches the in game item.

[h3]Stats[/h3]
All equipable items will have gold value and an armor or damage value. Crops, food, and other items will have different stats related to hunger, energy, and/or health.

[h3]Affiliations & Traits[/h3]
This is where gear gets a bit more fun. Affiliations will attract different factions or groups to you - whether it be Royalty, Nobility, Peasanty, Criminals and more. Traits often provide a stat buff, but can also help you perform actions more effectively, like playing an instrument.



[h2]Your Character Card[/h2]
You'll be able to see changes to your character on your character card. View your equipped gear, current stats, and your character's "title", which directly reflects your standing in the world. Your Morality and Renown will shift based on your actions throughout the game. Completing quests and other activities will raise your Renown, while making difficult choices, stealing, or killing can impact your Morality.




We're currently adding a wealth of new gear to the game, including outfits, weapons, trinkets, and more. What medieval stylings would you like to see? Share your suggestions in the comments!

And thanks for reading, you've gained 10 Renown!

It's very common for farm sims to cite Stardew Valley as inspiration, which Mirthwood definitely does, but it's less common to see them name drop Fable, The Sims, and RimWorld. This upcoming sandbox-y farm sim RPG is definitely trying to tick a lot of boxes to give us farmlife sim lovers as much freedom as possible, and its new trailer shows off more farm customization, processing goods, and the demands of the winter season...
Read more.

[h2]100,000 Wishlists[/h2]
Mirthwood has reached an exciting milestone, surpassing 100,000 wishlists! We couldn't have gotten here without your incredible support. We're grateful for this community—your enthusiasm and engagement inspire the work we're doing. Please continue to share your feedback and questions!



[h3]And in case you missed it, check out our most recent trailer:[/h3]
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Hi Folks, Daron here from Bad Ridge Games. Today, we want to talk a bit about what to expect from the farming side of Mirthwood.

Your homestead is your haven; a place of respite after your sojourns in the wider world. While there will be other, scattered locations for rest and (minor) customization, your home can serve as a portrait of your progress and productivity.



[h3]Crops[/h3]
We’ll start with the cornerstone of sustainable farming. You can grow more than 15 different crops, including wheat, barley, flax, and other medieval staples. Changing seasons will dictate the types of crops that will grow, keeping things fresh as the calendar turns. Your harvested crops can be used in cooking or placed in refiners to create more exciting goods. Be wary, you might encounter droughts, dust storms, and other hardships you’ll need to contend with.


[h3]Refiners[/h3]
Refiners are the lifeblood of a productive farm. Here, you can take your raw resources and turn them into a variety of artisan goods. These goods can be given as gifts or used in other crafting recipes. You might take your harvested grapes and ferment them. Make some wine with those fermented grapes, or take things a step further and place that wine in a cask, creating a richly aged wine or brandy. With more than 10 different refiners to use, you’ll be able to craft a wide variety of items.




[h3]Animals[/h3]
Farm animals in Mirthwood come in a variety of breeds and coats. Purchase and raise cows, bulls, goats, pigs, chickens, horses, and birds. In order to produce, your animals will need to be taken care of. There are multiple options for shelter and feed, giving you some flexibility in the housing of your animals and the layout of your farm. Goods from your animals can also be used in refiners. You can butcher your animals if you're in a pinch - or after some rarer meats.





[h3]Structures[/h3]
You can build several types of structures on your farm. Many of these will house your animals, while others will supplement your productivity; helping you mill grains or draw water.




[h3]Customization[/h3]
One of our favorite features in Mirthwood is the grid-less placement and pathing system. This will allow you to build up and layout your farm organically; creating curved paths and fence lines with ease. Inside your home, you can place items freely on walls and floors. There are a variety of themed decor goods for you to purchase in town. You’ll also be able to change the materials used inside or outside of your home.





Mirthwood aims to give you a blank canvas, along with the tools and assets to build an aesthetically pleasing and productive farm. We’re excited to see your designs come to life!