***PREFACE: In an attempt to remove fuel from the hands of flamers and to dismantle the platform on which ignorance could possibly flaunt, I have unwillingly decided to add this preface to my post. I really just need to say that this is NOT A LEGITIMATE SUGGESTION. This is only intended to be a satirical comedy of what an extreme realist might suggest on the idea of adding more drugs to the game. Furthermore, this is not intended to bash any individual who has suggested more drugs, or any post about adding more drugs. I reiterate, this post is purely for purposes of entertainment; however, I would almost bet that someone will post a reply based on the title or what they think they have read because they decided to skip the preface. To those of you who did read this, thank you, and enjoy.***
I would like to make a suggestion that I believe will thoroughly improve the game in every possible way. This drastic improvement is made by a very simple, but expansive, addition to a pre-existing element of the game: drugs. We currently have several selections of drugs in Haven and Hearth including tobacco, poppy, and hemp-based items, but we should not stop there. The drug aspect of the game is extremely open ended and it would be unwise of the developers to not capitalize on such a simple way to add content for those particular update-starved individuals. I can already hear people asking me how adding more drugs would fit in a game that is based on myth and legend, and my answer is simple. Drugs have been a major part of many myths, legends, and fairy tales throughout history. You may take, for example, Snow White. How uninteresting would it have been if the jealous old queen would not have sent that drugged apple to Mrs. White? And in Jack in the Beanstalk, since we know that "magic beans" are fictional, we can only assume that it was modern street talk of the day referring to a drug similar to crack and did not actually grow into a beanstalk, but the chemicals in the drug were washed into the ground by the rain and stimulated an unnatural growth of the surrounding vegetation.
I will now offer some ideas that could coincide with the addition of more drugs; however, for the sake of time and having you to read more in a forum post about a video game that you have ever read outside of school in your life, I will only scratch the surface with some of the major, and in my opinion the most important, aspects. Firstly, this would require the addition of several new plants to the game. While we have tobacco, poppy and hemp, we are still limited horticulturally as to the drugs we can produce. The plants that could be added are very numerous, so I will leave the developers to do the research as to which plants will best satisfy their needs. Secondly, we would be able to add new skills. Ethnobotany would enable the play to mix breeds of cannibus or derive new potencies of existing chemically saturated plants through techniques such as hydroponics or genetic engineering. Another, and preferably a black skill, would be Drug Trafficking. This would have to be turned on in order for the user to interact with drugs in any way, either in production or to use or carry. Carrying or producing drugs would leave an area-wide scent which would not be used to track and kill the dropper of the scent, but rather to find a supplier that may better be able to satisfy your desires. Thirdly, in order for any of the previous suggestions to be applicable, we would need new items to make. Some of the most basics are closets, heating lamps, and rolling papers, but could range to things such as coffee filters and chemist sets, for those who wish to produce harder drugs. Finally, and the suggestions that you have all so eagerly waited for, the drugs themselves. Obviously, weed would need to be implemented, which, upon smoking, gives the temporary buff "high" which sets your happiness at 100% while lowering your travel weariness. Cocaine could be made and the buff "white nose" could give a boost to psyche. Speed would, obviously, give a boost to agility. Crack would give a buff "itchy" that lowers your charisma, but it would also lower your travel weariness. Meth amphetamine would give the buff "shot up" which temporarily boosts all skills and attributes, but you also have a 50% chance of contracting a hidden buff "HIV" which permanently lowers all skills and attributes by a fixed number or percent, and if the drug is over used, "shot up", much like "a glass with a friend" can be built to the next wine buff, will increase to a permanent buff "addict" which will require you to continue taking it until you visit a rehabilitation center that really only has a 75% chance of removing your buff, and if further abused will instantly kill your character and your reincarnation will be permanently scarred with "birth defects".
These additions could boost trading and the economy in the game, open doors to implement criminal justice systems, and provide side activities for players who wish to take a break from their usual grind of life. I'm actually shocked that we don't have drugs like this implemented already. It's not like gangs will begin to form, people will raid villages in hopes to find meth so that they can satisfy their "addict" cravings, populations of reincarnates will be plagued with various disadvantages and resources will be quickly sapped throughout the world so that enough drugs can be produced to meet the supply. These already happen without the presence of drugs, and should be viewed as regular life. So as you can see, drugs would be a win-win addition that would greatly impact the game in a positive way.