The Importance of unlocking the Community Center
When you first enter Stardew Valley, you’re quickly left to your own devices. While there are some hints here and there, the game is a sandbox that allows you to do what you want, how you want to do it. On Day 5 of you first Spring however, the Mayor will introduce to you the Community Center.
This Community Center has clearly seen better days. It dilapidated both inside and out. The Mayor will give a bit of an explanation of the building, and mention that it seems that they have a bit of a rat problem before sending you in.
You go in and investigate. You catch your first glimpse of them.
These are no rats.
What were those? And what was that tablet or scroll they were standing near? You can’t read the language. It seems like a mystery that will go without answers.
Until the next day. You get a letter to meet the Wizard. He goes by M. Rasmodius, Seeker of Arcane Truths! Upon introducing yourself, you see he also has one of those curious creatures, but lets you know that they are nothing to fear. He seems to take interest in the fact that you’ve seen their writing, as he’s been unable to communicate with them so far.
He is able to decipher the note and let’s you know what it says:
“We the Junimo are happy to aid you. In return we ask for gifts of the valley. If you are one with forest magic, then you will see the true nature of this scroll.”
When you return to the Community Center after this, and enter back into the Craft Room, where you saw the earlier Junimo, you notice that you are now able to interact with the scroll. It sets you on your first of a long line of quests. As the note above makes mention, you’ll be asked to gather a series of bundles from a variety of places: crops, fish and other things that you’ll find and grow around Pelican Town.
Read about how to gather the various bundles at the links below:
The Crafts Room: Foraging Bundles
It will take time, it will take patience, and it will take commitment. These quests can take as little as one year (If you are amazing at crop and time management!) or can take as much time as you want. There is no wrong way to play, except to not play. Or to sell your soul to Joja Corp. Don’t sell your soul to Joja Corp.
I can’t overstate the importance of the Community Center. For both new and veteran players, the community center offers not only a great way to get started in the game and get your bearings, but also a set of self-paced quests that are highly rewarding.
Not only that, but there is a genuine sense of accomplishment that sees parts of Pelican Town coming back to life. We’ll go through the individual parts, but you’ll see – you’ll put people back to work, new areas will open up to you for exploration, and you’ll be able to travel the area a lot faster. Not only that, but you’ll get some great loot along the way.
