But even without them, Stardew Valley's vast world offers endless discoveries. Recently, a player's question revealed a hidden feature about quest tracking that many fans were unaware of.
In Stardew Valley, players undertake quests to aid their fellow villagers. These are posted on the bulletin board outside Pierre's shop and the community board near the beach path. Rewards range from money to relationship-building opportunities with villagers. The massive 1.6 Update introduced prize tickets, adding another layer to the rewards system.
Players earn these tickets through various activities, including festivals and quests. They can be redeemed for prizes like seeds and tools (such as the Fish Smoker) at a new machine in Mayor Lewis's house. However, the game doesn't explicitly explain this feature, leaving many players in the dark about an easy way to predict when the next prize ticket reward will be offered.
The 1.6 Update added a star tracker to the Help Wanted board, next to the quest details. Many players misinterpreted these stars (ranging from 1 to 3) as a difficulty rating. However, their true purpose is quite different.
What do the stars mean in the top left?
by u/FeintLight123 in StardewValley
The stars are not an indicator of difficulty or rarity; they are a tracking system. When the number of stars reaches 3, the next quest on the board will offer a prize ticket reward. This is a valuable tip for players aiming to maximize their prize ticket earnings.
Despite the 1.6 Update being available for some time (at least on PC), many players remain unaware of the stars' significance. One fan admitted to always skipping quests without prize tickets, highlighting a common misconception. Players must actively complete Help Wanted quests to unlock the ones that offer prize tickets.
The Community Board outside the mayor's house doesn't have this tracker, as its more challenging quests always offer a ticket. However, the Help Wanted board by Pierre's shop, with its easier quests, requires players to progress through quests to earn prize tickets redeemable at Mayor Lewis's house.
While this isn't the first time players have pondered the meaning of the stars, the recent discussion proves that many still don't know about the prize ticket reward tracker. Considering the 1.6 Update's late arrival on consoles (November 4th, 2024), it's understandable that fans are still discovering its features.
