Finding Herbs
If you're having a hard time finding any herbs, you're either not in an area with much plant life, or you're not paying enough attention. I find herbs everywhere I go - along roads, near schools/universities, and sometimes right at the chariots. I've gathered more than 10,000 deben myself. All it takes to find herbs is the willingness to spend a little time looking.
99% of the time, herbs will be mixed in with the other plants at oases. What's an oasis? It's a clump of trees and plants. They're found on all types of terrain and sometimes in water as well. When you first start looking for herbs, try visiting every oasis you see. Take a moment there to click on each tree and plant there to see if you get a 'Foraging' option for any of them. If you do, use my tips below to figure out which herb you've found and collect it. (Please note, though, that the linked pages below are not of my creation; they are the compilation of a lot of work by many people.)
Every so often, you'll find an herb that is off by itself with no other plants around it. What you're seeing is an oasis, and if it's in an area you travel often, you might want to note its existence and keep an eye on that area in the future.
How I Identify Herbs
This is my process of elimination. Follow the questions in order. When you've found the answer that best matches your herb, you'll probably find it at that link.
What is the stem/trunk of the herb like?
- no stem visible (NoStem)
- only one visible (SingleStem)
- a bulb (Bulbs)
- a clump of stems (skip to next question)
- more than one stem, but scattered (skip to next question)
What do the leaves look like?
- like a fern (MultiLeaf)
- no leaves - just fat, spiky-looking arms (NoStem)
- any other type (skip to next question)
What color are the tops of the leaves/flowers?
If there aren't any obvious leaves or flowers...NoStem.
If you still can't identify the herb, there are a few possibilities:
- You overlooked it in the identification pages. Check them again.
- You have a graphics card that doesn't show plants properly in game, and it's making it hard for you to identify herbs. You're SOL unless you change your card, I think.
- The herb has not yet been catalogued. Check the bottom of each of the herb pages to see if there's a picture that matches your herb and proceed accordingly. (Note: PLEASE be absolutely positive that the herb you've found is unidentified and unlisted before you try to edit the database pages, and be especially sure that it's not just your video card making an existing herb look wrong.)
- You're trying to harvest something that isn't an herb - don't laugh...It happens. =)
Some tips for matching your herb to the database images...
Okay, you've got the right category narrowed down, but you're having a hard time figuring out which picture is the right match for your herb...especially common in the broader categories. Some closer scrutiny is in order.
All examples can be found on the SingleLeafGreen page.
Size
- Check the size of your herb relative to a piece of straw. If you cannot for some reason, then use anything recognizeable in the image to gauge the size (often it'll be an avatar). Example: Wild Lettuce vs. Dwarf Wild Lettuce. They're nearly identical but for size.
- Check the spread of the plant (how wide it is). Example: Common Basil vs. Corsacia. Corsacia's spread is much wider.
Color
- Check the color of the leaves (top and bottom). Example: Peppermint vs. Patchouli. The undersides of the leaves are completely different colors.
- Check the color of the stem(s). Example: Cardamom vs. Sandalwood. The stems are completely different colors.
Angle
- Check the angle of the leaves. Example: Shrubby Basil vs. Corsacia. The leaves of Shrubby Basil point mostly down. Corsacia's leaves are level and/or pointing up.
Leaf Shape/Orientation
- If the leaves have a central fold, which way are they folding? Example: Prisnipari vs. Weeping Patala.
- Are the leaves curled, and if so, how much? Example: Ashoka vs. Curly Sage.
Stem Arrangement
- For multiple-stemmed herbs, are the stems scattered or bunched? Example: Peppermint vs. Patchouli. Peppermint's stems are very obviously scattered.
- For multiple-stemmed herbs whose stems are bunched...At the base, is each stem visible, or is it all one clump? Example: Ginseng Root vs. Patchouli. Ginseng root's stems almost look like they grow into one clump at the base, while Patchouli's stems are together but still clearly delineated at the base.
Markings
- Check the size/shape of any markings on the plant. Example: Dalchini vs. Fleabane. The size, shape, and color of the plants is fairly similar, but Dalchini has a very distinct pattern on its leaves.
A few more things that you probably already know...
- Some herbs are small enough to be completely concealed by the common oasis plants...Especially if the oasis has a large ground palm. Until you're *very* familiar with the shapes and colors of the common oasis plants, get very close to each oasis to see what's there. Even then, be aware that some herbs can't be easily identified from a distance, and that some (like Camelmint, Spinnea, Weeping Patala, and Cinnamon) can look like other more common plants until you get close. You may be passing up a great find.
- Check dense clumps of plants very carefully. Often an herb or two will be semi-concealed inside.
- Don't overlook water oases! That thing you think is a common lily plant may be something else entirely.
- Travel! Not only will you find new things, but you'll find many more herbs that way.
- When you have a good hunt in a particular area, be sure to note where it is and revisit it...Some areas just seem to produce better than others.
Sneaky Herbs
- Cinnamon, Mandrake Root, and Spinnea (as well as several other spike-style herbs) look a lot like some of the bramble-style trees. Pay attention to anything that looks like a bramble...Spinnea especially is very hard to tell apart until you're within click range.
- Camelmint and Weeping Patala are very easy to overlook because they are the same color as the most common oasis plants.
- Soapwort looks a bit like one of the more common short palm trees, and it looks like it has only one stem if you don't see it moving (it has multiple).
- Sugar Cane - and many of the simpler green herbs - can blend in with oasis plants very well and be easily overlooked.
- Lemon Basil is nearly identical to Common Basil. The color difference can be very subtle.
- Sweetflower and Pale Ochoa are very similar. Look at the stem color and plant size.
- Wild Onion and Wild Garlic can be tough to tell apart. Look at the relative number of shoots at the top and the color of the bulb.