Talk:Gemcorns

Is Darkness necessary?
Do they grow slower or faster in light? 24.11.78.52 03:57, 17 May 2020 (UTC)


 * No, light has no effect, I removed those 2 sentences (WorldGen.TryGrowingTreeByType just always gets called when a gemcorn is updated and a 1/5 chance occurs in WorldGen.UpdateWorld_UndergroundTile - this also explains why they only grow below the surface layer: WorldGen.UpdateWorld_OvergroundTile doesn't do anything when updating gemcorns). 95.91.222.39 10:22, 22 May 2020 (UTC)

Actually, I tested this because I wanted to know for sure. I set up two gemcorn farms, one that was VERY well-lit, and the other that was in total darkness. The well-lit one didn't grow at all, but the one in total darkness grows great. So, I think light does have an effect. Other websites I was reading said the same thing as well.

Just wanted to fill you guys in on that.

Smaboi (talk) 17:51, 29 May 2020 (UTC)


 * The 1.4.0.4 game code does not check for light levels when attempting to grow gemcorns. Your results are due to luck. I have personally had gemcorns take forever (hours IRL) to grow in complete darkness, and then when I lit up the same gemcorns temporarily to harvest them, a handful of them grew within the span of a minute or so. This was also due to luck. - Fistsh (talk) 20:24, 29 May 2020 (UTC)

Info
If you know anything about these, please add the info!

--Divinemaster1 (talk) 19:25, 16 May 2020 (UTC)

Drops
How should the drops be described? It's true that in the vast majority of cases, you'll get between 0 and 5 gems, however if you are extremely lucky, it isn't impossible for you to get 20+ out of a single tree - Can I remove the approximate part and just leave the chances there?
 * Data is wonderful and can be revealing/informative, especially if it's taken in plentiful to build statistics for loot tables/probabilities so I think a good approach is to use a table commonly found on chests, such as the Sandstone Chest--LaDestitute (talk) 06:34, 27 May 2020 (UTC)

Amber Gemcorns
I have yet to test them in the cave layer but they won't grow underground or in the underground desert. Perhaps they only grow in the cave layer desert?
 * I checked the game code, and all gem trees will grow if planted (on stone or mossy stone) in the Underground layer (or below, meaning Caverns included), regardless of biome (or light level). They need the usual Tree growth requirements, as explained on that page. Patience!

Does depth matter?
Does growth happen faster in the Caverns than underground? --MentalMouse42 (talk) 11:38, 31 May 2020 (UTC)
 * Nope. Growth does not speed up or slow down depending on depth. (Other than the fact that Gemcorns need to be planted in the Underground layer or below in order to grow at all.) - Fistsh (talk) 04:53, 1 June 2020 (UTC)

Height requirements
The Wiki states that a Gemcorn Tree can reach a height of 15. Is that number taken from the game's code? Using smart cursor allows planting gemcorns if they have 13 or more empty blocks above. So im wondering about the optimal farm layout.

Edit 1: The Gemcorns do indeed grow with 13 empty spaces above. Edit 2: Gemcorns placed without smart cursor and with less than 13 empty spaces above still grow. IyfBrainBug (talk) 18:56, 16 June 2020 (UTC)


 * Are the trees you're growing penetrating into the blocks above, or are they "stunted" -- perhaps with fewer leaf blocks? Because in my farm, the trees definitely have leaf blocks up to the 17th space above the stone they're growing on.  Per the mechanics discussion, it's the leaf blocks that produce new Gemcorns.
 * --MentalMouse42 (talk) 12:53, 17 June 2020 (UTC)

From the few examples i've seen, the trees looked rather stunted. I am still unsure about leaves in the treetops counting as individual leaf blocks though, as you cannot cut them down seperately. You can however cut down individual branches, on the sides of the trunk. --IyfBrainBug (talk) 06:15, 18 June 2020 (UTC)

According to the 1.4.0.5 game code: - Fistsh (talk) 08:07, 18 June 2020 (UTC)
 * The game requires that between 11 and 16 tiles of space be available above the saplings. Thus, Gemcorns cannot grow with less than 11 total tiles of vertical space above the saplings.
 * The saplings will grow the fastest with at least 16 tiles of room above the saplings. They will still grow with 11-15 tiles of room, but they will grow more slowly (on average).
 * Specifically: Each time the game attempts to grow a Gemcorn sapling, it rolls a random tree height, and checks for that many tiles of free vertical space. Thus, if less than 16 (but at least 11) tiles of vertical clearance is available, some growth checks will fail - because they will roll a height greater than the available space. However, growth can still occur - just less frequently, because not only do you need to wait for a growth check to happen, but you need to wait for one to roll a shorter height.