# Getting Started in *Fields of Mistria*: Key Advice for New Players
Last week, I began playing *Fields of Mistria*, a game my friends have been buzzing about for ages during its early access phase, but which has only just launched fully at 1.0. And wow, my friends were spot on. This game is fantastic. It feels like *Stardew Valley* but with numerous quality-of-life enhancements and some fresh features influenced by both *Animal Crossing* and *Harvest Moon* on GameCube. I’m thoroughly enjoying it.
However, being a new game, there are aspects that differ from what I’m accustomed to in other titles of this genre, so I found myself a bit lost and bewildered during those initial days. I want to prevent you from experiencing the same confusion I did. Here are some tips based on the excessive hours I poured into this game over the weekend, ensuring your journey in Mistria begins seamlessly.
### For the Love of All That is Good, Upgrade Your Bag
Indeed, your bag space is woefully inadequate. You will encounter this issue in no time at all. I strongly urge you to spend your first 1000 gold on a Basic Pouch at the general store to gain ten additional spaces. That extra space will resolve many issues for quite a while, just take my word for it. There’s another bag upgrade that opens up later, but that first one is significantly more critical. It may seem pricey early on, but please **trust me** and avoid enduring hours in *Fields of Mistria* without sufficient bag space.
### Leave Items on the Ground
If your inventory is full and you spot an interesting bug or item, go ahead and capture it anyway. It will remain on the ground until you are able to retrieve it later. Letting it slip away will mean you miss out, but capturing it ensures you won’t lose anything. A short while into the game, you will also unlock a Lost and Found feature that collects everything you’ve left scattered around town and places it in a handy box for you.
### Converse with Everyone
And I mean everyone, every time you encounter them! Most simulation games like *Fields of Mistria* allow you to increase your affection with characters only a tiny bit, once a day, with NPCs delivering single, repetitive lines. However, the residents of *Mistria* have plenty to share. Whenever you see a speech bubble above someone, it indicates they have something new to discuss, and talking to them often will boost their affection for you more quickly than you might think. Being chatty pays off.
### You Can Leap
Yes, indeed, you can. Check your settings to find out which button this is assigned to in your controls, but don’t forget that jumping is an option! Jumping is beneficial as it helps you traverse obstacles and is also useful in combat for jump attacks. It’s easy to overlook that you can jump, but it proves to be quite handy in tight situations. You can also jump into the water, which is perfectly fine because…
### You Can Float
It might not be immediately clear when you start playing *Fields of Mistria*, but you can swim right from the beginning! Simply walk up to a body of water and use your jump button to dive in, then press it again to get back out. Swimming is enjoyable as it opens up areas that would otherwise be inaccessible. Additionally, there are dive spots marked by small bubbles in the water that you can swim to and interact with to discover treasures. Swimming does not consume energy, and the only downside is that you might scare away fish if you approach them too closely.
### Savor the Free Soup
You can visit the Inn once daily to enjoy a bowl of complimentary soup. Just interact with the pot over the fire in the main room’s back area. You’ll regain a bit of health and stamina each time. While it’s not a significant amount, it can be a lifesaver on days when you inadvertently push yourself too hard.
### Review Item Descriptions
If you’re keen on filling the museum (and you absolutely should be), there’s no need to run back and forth to the museum each time you want to confirm whether an item you possess is eligible for donation. When examining an item’s description, if it can be donated, there will be a small museum-shaped icon near the top. Adjacent to that icon is a tiny box. If you have already donated that item, a green checkmark will appear in the box. If not, it will remain empty, and you ought to keep that item for
