Lobster Expansion vs. Candy Machine

Will appreciate advice on my next purchase...either first lobster pool expansion or Candy Machine. I don't have coins for both. It takes a long time to make lobster soup being able to harvest only one lobster at a time. On the other hand, forum posters have talked about the LONG production time for candy products. I've already achieved Farm Tycoon III so that's not a factor in my decision. Thoughts?

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Originally Posted by Cindi5

Will appreciate advice on my next purchase...either first lobster pool expansion or Candy Machine. I don't have coins for both. It takes a long time to make lobster soup being able to harvest only one lobster at a time. On the other hand, forum posters have talked about the LONG production time for candy products. I've already achieved Farm Tycoon III so that's not a factor in my decision. Thoughts?

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Lobster expansion. We have been disappointed in the production times for candy. 20 hours for chocolate bar, and 1 day for jelly beans :( :( :(

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Originally Posted by PerkyCox

Lobster expansion. We have been disappointed in the production times for candy. 20 hours for chocolate bar, and 1 day for jelly beans :( :( :(

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Thanks, Perky! That's the way I was leaning too.

but the xp from candy machine items are insane! or so i been told... i myself am looking forward to candy machine in 1/3 level...

i upgraded the lobster twice... honestly i dont really see much need.... and the xp from lobster stuff, no matter what they said in the update, still sucks. i am still throwing away many truck orders asking for lobster soups and lobster that doesnt even cost over 300 xp.

if you are happy to level slowly, then go ahead and upgrade the lobster. i think 2 or 4 lobster pot is enough, anything more is overkill. i have 3 and its a real weird number. i will just upgrade once more after i buy my candy machine then prepare to save heaps for BRT.

getting tom to buy you loads of candies is a good plan if you are lazy to make.

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Originally Posted by mzmflo

but the xp from candy machine items are insane! or so i been told... i myself am looking forward to candy machine in 1/3 level...

i upgraded the lobster twice... honestly i dont really see much need.... and the xp from lobster stuff, no matter what they said in the update, still sucks. i am still throwing away many truck orders asking for lobster soups and lobster that doesnt even cost over 300 xp.

if you are happy to level slowly, then go ahead and upgrade the lobster. i think 2 or 4 lobster pot is enough, anything more is overkill. i have 3 and its a real weird number. i will just upgrade once more after i buy my candy machine then prepare to save heaps for BRT.

getting tom to buy you loads of candies is a good plan if you are lazy to make.

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Thanks for input, mzmflo. More fuel for thought!

Well, I'd include the link here, but I can't find it. The link is to the thread about not upgrading the lobster pool to its full capacity, and the responses from those who've upgraded fully were wonderful. I myself am going to have to hunt for it (I've gone through four pages so far with no luck, so perhaps a moderator could bump it up) because there are some serious lobster experts here who have fully upgraded their pools and not only have enough lobsters for themselves but enough to sell as well, plus as much fish as they can handle. I'm in the process of upgrading to the max capacity (I don't do things halfway as a rule anyway), so do give it some thought. It's expensive, but the thought of having as much lobster as I can handle and sell is the driving force here. Plus it makes going to the fishing area kind of exciting where I had thought it was a bit boring before.

I'll get the candy maker when I achieve that level, but I'm a believer now in getting the lobster pool and upgrading it all the way. If only I could find that thread for you... (it was posted by CMFF).

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Originally Posted by Shealie54

Well, I'd include the link here, but I can't find it. The link is to the thread about not upgrading the lobster pool to its full capacity, and the responses from those who've upgraded fully were wonderful. I myself am going to have to hunt for it (I've gone through four pages so far with no luck, so perhaps a moderator could bump it up) because there are some serious lobster experts here who have fully upgraded their pools and not only have enough lobsters for themselves but enough to sell as well, plus as much fish as they can handle. I'm in the process of upgrading to the max capacity (I don't do things halfway as a rule anyway), so do give it some thought. It's expensive, but the thought of having as much lobster as I can handle and sell is the driving force here. Plus it makes going to the fishing area kind of exciting where I had thought it was a bit boring before.

I'll get the candy maker when I achieve that level, but I'm a believer now in getting the lobster pool and upgrading it all the way. If only I could find that thread for you... (it was posted by CMFF).

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I upgraded to capacity and am glad I did. Sometimes I only have a couple of lobsters in there but then I harvest and add another couple to the pot. If I find them for sale I buy but do not sell mine as I use all I get.

I never sell on the board because I can better use them myself. I also dump all orders for dairy or sugar and just sell finished products. You end up with only a few on the board but they are the most useful orders

update: just went fishing and now have 5 lobsters cooking. Love the max upgrade

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Originally Posted by mzmflo

but the xp from candy machine items are insane! or so i been told... i myself am looking forward to candy machine in 1/3 level...

getting tom to buy you loads of candies is a good plan if you are lazy to make.

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Jelly beans do give eye-popping XP, but require 2 jams and a sugar to make, and take 24 hours production time. That means our machine is shut down for the other items that are more reasonable to make (the caramel apple and toffee).

If we could accumulate 15 diamonds I would get Tom for 1 day to bring nothing but jelly beans. Unfortunately for us, just when we get close to being able to afford tom we speed up something by mistake and lose the diamonds. So we have decided to wait for the diamond confirmation button before trying to save up for Tom

Cindi, I found the thread where some of the expert lobsterers here give their advice.

http://forum.supercell.net/showthrea...pgrade+lobster

Hope that helps!

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Originally Posted by PerkyCox

Lobster expansion. We have been disappointed in the production times for candy. 20 hours for chocolate bar, and 1 day for jelly beans :( :( :(

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I agree with PerkyCox - the good thing is that mastery of the candy machine is fairly quick once you have chocolate in there for 20 hours:)

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Originally Posted by Cindi5

Thanks, Perky! That's the way I was leaning too.

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Cindi what level can u buy the candy machine, I am almost at level 50!!! Yea!

The candy machine is available at level 51 I think.

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Originally Posted by mzmflo

but the xp from candy machine items are insane! or so i been told... i myself am looking forward to candy machine in 1/3 level...

i upgraded the lobster twice... honestly i dont really see much need.... and the xp from lobster stuff, no matter what they said in the update, still sucks. i am still throwing away many truck orders asking for lobster soups and lobster that doesnt even cost over 300 xp.

if you are happy to level slowly, then go ahead and upgrade the lobster. i think 2 or 4 lobster pot is enough, anything more is overkill. i have 3 and its a real weird number. i will just upgrade once more after i buy my candy machine then prepare to save heaps for BRT.

getting tom to buy you loads of candies is a good plan if you are lazy to make.

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Hi mzmflo....I'd just thought I'd pass along this bit of info, which sort of supports your mention of higher XP with candy orders. Since I had read this discussion earlier, I actually paid attention tonight when I had two candy inclusive orders post on my order board. This is what they were:

First order: 1 bread, 1 choc ice cream, 1 milk, 1 hot choc, and 1 (topic of discussion) Jelly Bean. That order provided 318 coins and 1,717 XP.

Second order: 2 coffee beans, 2 lollipop, 2 lavender, 2 sugar and 2 Popsicles. That order provided 528 coins and 1,407 XP.

As you can see, yes, good XP from MOST candy orders (jelly beans and/or chocolate bars provide the highest), so that's great if your striving to advance in the game. Occasionally the value of coins and XP are flip-flopped; I usually delete these from the order board since I do not desire the coins. However I'm sure that's a good option if someone needs extra funds.

Anyway, just thought I'd pass along what I discovered. Oh, and I never make jellybeans. As others have stated, too many valuable items and entirely too much time tying up the machine. Like others, I have Tom get them. All the other candy items are "fairly" reasonable with machine time usage.

Sorry Cydi- I know what I've mentioned doesn't really help with your decision, but perhaps it gives you a little more insight for whatever your ultimate goal is....
Happy Farming all!

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Originally Posted by PerkyCox

Jelly beans do give eye-popping XP, but require 2 jams and a sugar to make, and take 24 hours production time. That means our machine is shut down for the other items that are more reasonable to make (the caramel apple and toffee).

If we could accumulate 15 diamonds I would get Tom for 1 day to bring nothing but jelly beans. Unfortunately for us, just when we get close to being able to afford tom we speed up something by mistake and lose the diamonds. So we have decided to wait for the diamond confirmation button before trying to save up for Tom

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Yup. That is my plan. Expand barn few more times and get tom to buy nothing but jelly beans. Im balancing the diamonds right now, priority is to finish fencing up whole perimeter with the halloween fence before they take the deco away.

@bulldoglover, ty for the insight. It greatly helps. I been more than bored out of my mind since soup kitchen level (level 46) and am very excited to get candy machine soon. I like making stuff, the more machine and items to make the better. My thought for sustainbility for this game is that once i unlocked jellybeans, what can i look for personally? Im thinking if future updates for content appears to incld machines, if its something for higher level, i dont want to be like, arghh im not that level! And since coins arent an issue for me, i just want to grind through the levels faster.

Has anyone has a visitor ask for candy, especially during the visitor bonus event?

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Originally Posted by PerkyCox

Has anyone has a visitor ask for candy, especially during the visitor bonus event?

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Hi Perky,
No, at least for me the little people have never asked for any candy items. Many times my candy inventory levels dictate that if they're following their usual protocol (ie. asking for the highest and/or lowest inventory item), those products should have been a request- but never have been. Since candy apples and toffee do not take as long (fully mastered machine, 1hr 42min and 1hr 16min respectively), I keep low quantities of those since they can be made fairly quickly. Most of the time there are always chocolate bars cooking - but that could be because I have such a chocolate fetish! :rolleyes:

Candy gives better XP on boat orders it seems, and once you get to Level 60 you will see orders for 1500+ pretty regularly.

HOWEVER, if you are targeting XP, you are probably better off using Tom to get chocolate bars and Jelly beans instead of making them yourself. You don't need to buy the machine for Tom to fetch the item, you just have to be at the appropriate level.

The Lobster pool is expensive, and making those items is slow going. They increased the value of the tails and related items, but they still aren't worth selling, IMO. So again, their main value to me is in boat orders, and truck orders for XP. But it is a slow going process, and you have to spend some time managing between fish pieces and lobster tails.

Another point - with the lobster pool, the bottleneck is the net-maker. You can't make the nets (and by extension catch a lobster) any faster than once every 2 hours. So, your decision to upgrade the lobster pool should factor in how often you want to turn on the game and manage the "cycle" (moving the trap to the water, the lobster to the pool, the tail to the barn). If you are playing a lot during the day, then you don't need to expand the system. But when you DO, the main cost will be the diamonds needed to unlock more slots on the Net Maker.

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Originally Posted by PerkyCox

Has anyone has a visitor ask for candy, especially during the visitor bonus event?

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No, they won't. Candy - like EM's, metals, and jewlery - are off limits for the walk-ups.

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Originally Posted by mzmflo

Yup. That is my plan. Expand barn few more times and get tom to buy nothing but jelly beans. Im balancing the diamonds right now, priority is to finish fencing up whole perimeter with the halloween fence before they take the deco away.

@bulldoglover, ty for the insight. It greatly helps. I been more than bored out of my mind since soup kitchen level (level 46) and am very excited to get candy machine soon. I like making stuff, the more machine and items to make the better. My thought for sustainbility for this game is that once i unlocked jellybeans, what can i look for personally? Im thinking if future updates for content appears to incld machines, if its something for higher level, i dont want to be like, arghh im not that level! And since coins arent an issue for me, i just want to grind through the levels faster.

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Hi mzmflo,
I've had many days like you mention. Sometimes it's kind of a mundane: swipe, plant, rotate, stock, feed, water, rinse and repeat kinda day....well, let's not forget the more than occasional "holy ♥♥♥♥!!! The barns full again??!! WTH!!??" thrown in there too! Lol. But it always seems that right around the corner something will peak my interest again; maybe a special event or a new machine/product. That's why I usually like the events. Whatever it may be it's just something a little different. I guess we all have our own motivations for the game addiction...trick is finding what works best for an individual and then building on it. In my humble opinion anyway. :)

I would go for lobster pool first. Lobster soup sells at 612 coins at RSS and 303XP each on boat orders. You get coins back pretty quick to buy candy machine. Breads are all time best seller to earn coins.

As others said, Candies took a long time to make and are only good for board orders, really good indeed but you have more time to get there. Check this out: http://forum.supercell.net/showthrea...215#post828215


You guys are lucky, as soon as my stock is at 0, I got this:
http://i.imm.io/1jPV4.png

By the way, I think I figure out how to predict the price paid by those little people.

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Originally Posted by meonhoc

I would go for lobster pool first. Lobster soup sells at 612 coins at RSS and 303XP each on boat orders. You get coins back pretty quick to buy candy machine. Breads are all time best seller to earn coins.

As others said, Candies took a long time to make and are only good for board orders, really good indeed but you have more time to get there. Check this out: http://forum.supercell.net/showthrea...215#post828215


You guys are lucky, as soon as my stock is at 0, I got this:
http://i.imm.io/1jPV4.png

By the way, I think I figure out how to predict the price paid by those little people.

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This is my fear, right there -- we will have another visitor event, and because I have no jellybeans, that is all they'll want. And for zippo coins, compared to materials and time.

I need friends with jellybeans until SC gets that confirm button out there!! We are making 2 jellybeans now, and a chocolate bar afterwards. That's 68 hours for 3 products, but who's counting? HA

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Originally Posted by meonhoc

By the way, I think I figure out how to predict the price paid by those little people.

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What, take the max price the item can sell for in the roadside shop and divide by 12, then multiply by .5? ha ha ha

This is why we hold the little boogers hostage -- 5 XP is not worth the hassle of dealing with them

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Originally Posted by PerkyCox

What, take the max price the item can sell for in the roadside shop and divide by 12, then multiply by .5? ha ha ha

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Nope, price per unit from boat orders * 1.4 = price per unit by little people (give or take 1 coins).

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Originally Posted by Shealie54

Cindi, I found the thread where some of the expert lobsterers here give their advice.

http://forum.supercell.net/showthrea...pgrade+lobster

Hope that helps!

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Thanks, Shealie! There's so much to consider.

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Originally Posted by BulldogLover

Hi mzmflo....I'd just thought I'd pass along this bit of info, which sort of supports your mention of higher XP with candy orders. Since I had read this discussion earlier, I actually paid attention tonight when I had two candy inclusive orders post on my order board. This is what they were:

First order: 1 bread, 1 choc ice cream, 1 milk, 1 hot choc, and 1 (topic of discussion) Jelly Bean. That order provided 318 coins and 1,717 XP.

Second order: 2 coffee beans, 2 lollipop, 2 lavender, 2 sugar and 2 Popsicles. That order provided 528 coins and 1,407 XP.

As you can see, yes, good XP from MOST candy orders (jelly beans and/or chocolate bars provide the highest), so that's great if your striving to advance in the game. Occasionally the value of coins and XP are flip-flopped; I usually delete these from the order board since I do not desire the coins. However I'm sure that's a good option if someone needs extra funds.

Anyway, just thought I'd pass along what I discovered. Oh, and I never make jellybeans. As others have stated, too many valuable items and entirely too much time tying up the machine. Like others, I have Tom get them. All the other candy items are "fairly" reasonable with machine time usage.

Sorry Cydi- I know what I've mentioned doesn't really help with your decision, but perhaps it gives you a little more insight for whatever your ultimate goal is....
Happy Farming all!

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Appreciate your input, Bulldog, and your help with boat today! :D

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Originally Posted by Appleannie1965

Cindi what level can u buy the candy machine, I am almost at level 50!!! Yea!

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Sorry, but I don't remember, Appleannie. I'm at 56 and have had ability to purchase for some time. Just need lots of coins!

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Originally Posted by CheddarLimbo

Candy gives better XP on boat orders it seems, and once you get to Level 60 you will see orders for 1500+ pretty regularly.

HOWEVER, if you are targeting XP, you are probably better off using Tom to get chocolate bars and Jelly beans instead of making them yourself. You don't need to buy the machine for Tom to fetch the item, you just have to be at the appropriate level.

The Lobster pool is expensive, and making those items is slow going. They increased the value of the tails and related items, but they still aren't worth selling, IMO. So again, their main value to me is in boat orders, and truck orders for XP. But it is a slow going process, and you have to spend some time managing between fish pieces and lobster tails.

Another point - with the lobster pool, the bottleneck is the net-maker. You can't make the nets (and by extension catch a lobster) any faster than once every 2 hours. So, your decision to upgrade the lobster pool should factor in how often you want to turn on the game and manage the "cycle" (moving the trap to the water, the lobster to the pool, the tail to the barn). If you are playing a lot during the day, then you don't need to expand the system. But when you DO, the main cost will be the diamonds needed to unlock more slots on the Net Maker.



No, they won't. Candy - like EM's, metals, and jewlery - are off limits for the walk-ups.

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Thanks, Cheddar! Still undecided what decision to make. Maybe I'll just save coins for a while and see what strikes me. Also have to consider Christmas decorations coming soon. Yikes...off to sell, sell, sell!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by meonhoc

I would go for lobster pool first. Lobster soup sells at 612 coins at RSS and 303XP each on boat orders. You get coins back pretty quick to buy candy machine. Breads are all time best seller to earn coins.

As others said, Candies took a long time to make and are only good for board orders, really good indeed but you have more time to get there. Check this out: http://forum.supercell.net/showthrea...215#post828215


You guys are lucky, as soon as my stock is at 0, I got this:
http://i.imm.io/1jPV4.png

By the way, I think I figure out how to predict the price paid by those little people.

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Thanks, meonhoc! Value your opinion.

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Originally Posted by Cindi5

Appreciate your input, Bulldog, and your help with boat today! :D

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Actually, I need to thank you! When I sent my boat off this morning I was 1, 1 measly point away from Captain III!!! Ugh!!! Then I looked and my next order was for double goat cheese- nope, not gonna happen on this girls watch! So, with one point away I happened upon your place and helped with your boat. Bingo....now only two more achievements left to accomplish. Good thing I found your boat because after I sent off the goat cheese, the next one was for brown sugar! Water cannons aimed at the boat dock!! lol. Anyway, although I can't share the diamonds with you, how 'bout a lobster tail or jellybean??? Lol. Thanks again..

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Originally Posted by BulldogLover

Actually, I need to thank you! When I sent my boat off this morning I was 1, 1 measly point away from Captain III!!! Ugh!!! Then I looked and my next order was for double goat cheese- nope, not gonna happen on this girls watch! So, with one point away I happened upon your place and helped with your boat. Bingo....now only two more achievements left to accomplish. Good thing I found your boat because after I sent off the goat cheese, the next one was for brown sugar! Water cannons aimed at the boat dock!! lol. Anyway, although I can't share the diamonds with you, how 'bout a lobster tail or jellybean??? Lol. Thanks again..

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Congratulations on reaching Captain III! Isn't it funny while helping others how often we help ourselves? Many times my finger is poised over a neighbor's crate and I'm debating whether or not I can afford to fill a sugar, jam, dairy, or other hard-to-fill order for that neighbor. I know if I fill it, that's what I'll need for my very next boat order. Generally I fill the neighbor's order anyway. Many times I'm short, but that same neighbor will usually return my favor by filling my crate or another neighbor will fill my crate. Sometimes filling the neighbor's crate bumps me to the next level too. Lots of benefits. Paying it forward always seems to pay off, doesn't it? Anyway, I'm glad I opened that crate so you were able to achieve Captain III with just 1 more point. Thanks for your offer of a lobster tail or jellybean. I may take you up on it one day soon. ;) Congrats again!

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Originally Posted by Cindi5

Congratulations on reaching Captain III! Isn't it funny while helping others how often we help ourselves? Many times my finger is poised over a neighbor's crate and I'm debating whether or not I can afford to fill a sugar, jam, dairy, or other hard-to-fill order for that neighbor. I know if I fill it, that's what I'll need for my very next boat order. Generally I fill the neighbor's order anyway. Many times I'm short, but that same neighbor will usually return my favor by filling my crate or another neighbor will fill my crate. Sometimes filling the neighbor's crate bumps me to the next level too. Lots of benefits. Paying it forward always seems to pay off, doesn't it? Anyway, I'm glad I opened that crate so you were able to achieve Captain III with just 1 more point. Thanks for your offer of a lobster tail or jellybean. I may take you up on it one day soon. ;) Congrats again!

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Thanks, Cindi. It's nice having you as my new neighbor! :)