by GuyBronson » Sat Jul 14, 2018 8:27 am
An idea for a novel new area that requires the use of some underused/redundant features to make the most of.
The Lightless Caverns
Entrance Location: The Docks (Gate hidden behind waterfall, use a Slime Key while looking at the waterfall to open)
Crops/livestock:
-Heart Beet
-Carrot/Odd Onion
-Stony Hen/Roostro
-Tomanado (see below)
Native slimes:
-Rock Slime
-Tabby Slime
-Crystal Slime (somewhat rare)
-Pink Slime
-Vanta Slime (see below)
Slimepedia entry:
-The lightless caverns are a network of caves deep beneath the Dry Reef. As the name implies, the caves are completely pitch-black, and impossible to navigate without a flashlight. Due to its nature, it is the only place where wild Vanta Slimes can be found. Rock slimes, and more rarely, Crystal Slimes, live alongside the Vanta Slimes, while Pink Slimes tend to wander in looking for friends, and Tabby Slimes hide in the corners and stare at passers-by for no apparent reason.
Tomanado
Type: Fruit
Favored by: Vanta Slime
Slimepedia entry:
Tomanadoes are deep-black, geometric fruits that grow only in the darkest of places. Although they don't look tasty at all, a curious and/or brave rancher who tries one will find that they taste similar to black truffles. They were named after carbonado, or "black diamond," because the rancher who discovered them believed them to be black diamonds at first. Said rancher was soon met with crushing, albeit delicious, disappointment.
On the Ranch:
Tomanadoes can only be grown in low-light areas. Garden replicators outside the Grotto will not accept them.
Vanta Slime
Friendly living shadows.
Favored food: Tomanado
Slimepedia entry:
Vanta Slimes can only be found in one place: the deepest, darkest recesses of the Lightless Caverns. They absorb any and all light, giving them the appearance of smiling, slime-shaped holes in reality itself. However, if they are exposed to any amount of light greater than a flashlight beam, their bodies will overheat and evaporate.
Rancher Risks:
Vanta Slimes, although harmless, can be a challenge and an investment to raise due to their extreme aversion to light. They will vanish nearly instantly if not protected by a Solar Shield, grotto or no grotto. In addition, certain Vanta Largos exhibit odd, oftentimes undesirable behavior.
Plortonomics:
Vanta Plorts are used to manufacture the darkest black dye known to man, darker even than the man-made dye the slimes themselves were named after. It is used to manufacture tiny solar panels that, despite being small enough to hold in one hand, generate several times the amount of power as conventional, large-scale panels, even at night.
Special behaviors (not listed in Slimepedia):
-Vanta Slimes will despawn similar to Phosphor Slimes, albeit more quickly, if they find themselves in any area other than a Solar Shielded corral or the Lightless Caverns.
-Vanta/Phosphor largos will despawn 5 seconds after creation no matter what.
-Vanta/Boom largos will vanish after their first explosion.
-Vanta/Hunter largos can turn entirely invisible.
-Vanta/Rad largos will not emit an aura.
-Vanta/Mosaic largos will always behave as if agitated.