Lagumbay.com Reflections on Love, Rage, and Fear

Here’s a brief recap from Season One of “The Garden” Real-Time-Strategy game:

After gathering what I deemed were ample resources, I decided to venture forth and proceeded to grow basil.  Initially, I had relatively good success, harvesting leaves for health and gaining XP through watering and pruning the plant.  Unfortunately, a neighboring clan of aphids raided my basil and cast “inedible leaf” which greatly stunted my harvest.  I tried to counter by concocting a high-level potion to repel the invading clan.  Unfortunately, I had not leveled up enough and did not pass the necessary INT check to create a proper potion.  While the resulting potion was incredibly effective against the aphid rush, it had the unwanted effect of poisoning the basil plant.  Though I made several attempts to cast “Revive,” basil ultimately suffered death.

When basil looked promising, I also planted tomato and bell pepper.  Though both grew relatively well, adding to my XP, I never was able to harvest anything that replenished hitpoints.  I cast level one “maple leaf mulch” for protection but Gaia pwn3d them both with frostwind spells.  Severely beaten by the end of season one, they barely survive to season two.

During the end of season one, with basil dead and both tomato and bell pepper in horrible shape, I was quite disheartened.  Sensing my weakness, Gaia invaded The Garden and claimed it for herself with an army of dandelions, crab grass, and three-leaf-clovers.  Thus ends Season One.  I gained a bit of XP but not enough to level up.  I gained some HP, but not enough to earn any bonus stat points.  Things looked pretty grim for The Garden, which seemed to be the perfect setup for Season Two.