Chef

Overview
This minigame is featured with Airt's path because it's the vocation he chooses when he joins Follyville 45. The value it brings to the game is that it helps explore the other characters by learning about what food they enjoy.

The experience
The player directs Airt to the restaurant and has him don an apron, starting the minigame. Airt stands behind the cooking station, and waits for the first patron to enter the restaurant. As the layout of the kitchen is open plan, the patron sits at a bar with the cooking station in between the patron and Airt.

Airt greets the patron and asks what they would like. They respond in a way that suits both their personality and mood. The patron's request varies from very vague to very specific. They might be explicit with one or more aspects of the dish, but leave the rest open to interpretation. This gives the player an opportunity for creativity.

Here are some examples of what a patron might say: "I'd like a steak, with potatoes, but I don't mind how they're seasoned."

"Could you make me a coddock stir fry, and make it spicy, please?"

"I want a churkey stew with onions, potatoes, and passata stock. Oh yeah, could you make sure it has plenty of paprika and garlic?"

"A stir fry with beansprouts would be great, and can you make sure they've got some crunch?"

"I'd love anything sweet and savoury just now."

"Ugh, I'm not really sure what I want. Could you just make something up please?"

"I... sort of just came here for a chat. Throw whatever on for me." The player controls Airt while he prepares the dish. He starts out by selecting the food structure, and then the ingredients that will be added. The ingredients are then added in real time, and they begin to cook. Different ingredients take different lengths of time to cook through. The temperature of the stove can be controlled too. This shortens or lengthens cooking times, but more or less stirring will be needed. If ingredients are not stirred frequently, they can burn before they otherwise would.

It's always a bad idea to go against a patron's request. It's also bad to burn food or serve it raw. But anything the patron leaves open to interpretation can only generate bonus points. A patron's likes and dislikes are hopefully picked up gradually by the player, by remembering what currently undefined aspects of the dish the patron asked for previously. If Airt creates a "perfect" dish for a patron, there will be a surge in fondness, and this will contribute to a milestone in the relationship.

In addition to timing the ingredients and keeping the dish stirred, the patrons will chat with Airt while he works. If Airt doesn't engage with the patron, the player will miss out on bonus points, and the experience of any "perfect" dish will be marred such that it won't count towards relationship milestones. This may also happen if the player has Airt respond inappropriately.

If the player creates a dish that the patron likes and engages amicably with the patron, they'll thank Airt and give him a tip, which the player can have Airt spend on various things. If the player creates a dish the patron dislikes, Airt will receive less money. The relationship values may be affected by the outcome of the meal as well. The patron will leave after saying goodbye to Airt, in so many words depending on the patron's experience.