Tips for improving gems farm

[Pop Guy]

 

Hello!

Recently on my server I wanted to try to build a farm of red and blue gems exploiting a Varg: the farm is almost totally automatic, it only requires me to recharge an ice flingomatic during the autumn and summer to extinguish the fires of the red hounds.

The farm uses pigs to kill dogs, so about every two days (the amount of time it takes all pigs to die) the farm stops for about four days (time it takes the pigs to return from their homes).

Every "production cycle" the farm produces about 50 dog's teeth, a variable amount of meat and skin (depending on how much I can save) and about 10 gems. Although it is an interesting loot, considering that it is completely free and that the farm is totally safe (the hounds never go away from the Varg and just one pig alive because they ignore me completely while collecting the booty) I wondered if there were ways to make it more productive, without having those 4 days of "pause" between one cycle and another.

Unfortunately, lobsters can no longer bring them to the surface, and to build turrets seems to me too disjointed in terms of time and materials. I can not even use the dear Abigail, the heart of my spider and pigs farm, because it would also kill the Varg :'D

 

(Ps: In the picture Abigail does not attack the Varg because I use a mod that allows you to tell she to attack or remain peaceful.The point is that I can not tell she to attack only one target: either slaughter all enemies or completely ignore them)

 

[Maslak]

It's quite simple, use Bunnymen. They respawn 4 times faster than Pigmen do.

[ShadowDuelist]

That fence is modded though...  although I guess you could do something similar in a legit way with sculptures.

It now comes handy considering that winona will need lots of gems to power their stuff, so steadily getting free gems this cheap without having to constantly reset the ruins is cool.

[Pop Guy]

Yes, the wall is a mod (which allows you to build the decorations of the Gorgie) but I noticed that neither the Varg nor the dogs attack the wall, so one of base stone should work equally well (not wood or grass if no would take fire). In any case, there are statues (God bless them), so the problem does not arise.

Rather, the farm really does well. Of course, I have the mod that adds a mechanical Glommer that automatically collects the loot of the hounds (those things that should have done Winona :'D) that makes my life more comfortable, but I like to play like that, increasing dramatically the technological potential of my base.

6 hours ago, Maslak said:

It's quite simple, use Bunnymen. They respawn 4 times faster than Pigmen do.

 

I had not thought about it, in fact they are better than pigs from every point of view, thanks for the advice! One day, when I want to, I will replace all pig houses with giant carrots!

[Viktor234]

1 hour ago, ShadowDuelist said:

That fence is modded though...  although I guess you could do something similar in a legit way with sculptures.

It now comes handy considering that winona will need lots of gems to power their stuff, so steadily getting free gems this cheap without having to constantly reset the ruins is cool.

Walls you can use as alternative:

• Pine Cones: Same as Spider Queens, Vargs can't pass among 2 closely planted trees, that will keep them inside forever but Hounds, Pigs, Bunnymen, any giant will still be able to enter or exit the cage; first plant the trees, then lure the Varg inside and close the entrance with any structure (End Table for example)
  • If you burn the trees as soon as they reach any stage, they'll also become fireproof & won't be able turn into Tree Guards
• End Tables: Way more expensive than Trees but Hounds, Pigs, Bunnymen won't be able to enter or exit the cage
  • Burning them will make them fireproof
  • Warning: If they aren't placed close enough together, mobs won't be able to enter or exit alone, but if any mob pushes another mob from behind, they'll become able to pass among the wall
• Sculptures: Almost same as End Tables but different price; fireproof without burning; Equip any armor to drop the Sculpture right where you're standing
• Not recommended: Standard Walls: They can be destroyed by the Varg or Hounds

It looks like Hounds priorize to run for any meat on the ground if spawned via Varg, placing some Meat behind End Tables or Sculptures will stun them as long as they aren't attacked.

Since we have catapults now, you could also use only Pine Cones for the Varg and build a few catapults defended by End Tables a bit further, the Hounds won't run around the Walls to reach the catapults because they try to pass among the End Tables / Sculptures.

It might be wise to use Pine Cones for the Wall inside and any other walls for the Wall outside, that will keep the Varg safe.