How to Gather Food in the Tribal Phase of Spore

Once you reach the Tribal Phase, Food replaces DNA as the currency of the game. You need Food to build structures and to breed new tribe members. Food can be harvested in several ways, depending on whether your creatures are Carnivores, Herbivores or Omnivores.

Instructions

1. Harvest the trees and bushes. One of the easiest ways to gather food is to pick it from bushes and trees. This will work well for herbivores and omnivores. Note that the trees are not an infinite resource; once harvested, the plants will need some time to generate more fruit before they can be harvested again.

2. Go fishing. This is best for tribes that are fortunate enough to be located along a coastal area. Simply locate a patch of jumping fish and click on it to send your tribe to go fish. This is a great source of food for carnivores and omnivores. Note that fishing may be dangerous if there is an enemy tribe between your tribe and the coast. Fishing may also be dangerous if your tribe needs to travel a long way to the coast.

3. Hunt the local wildlife. There will invariably be packs of wild animals near your village. Sending your creatures out to hunt some of them will provide you with an excellent source of meat. Note that again, this is not an infinite resource. Eventually you will hunt the entire pack and will need to find another food source.

4. Domesticate some wild animals. This will cost you 15 Food each time you do it. By interacting socially with a wild animal, you offer it food. In turn, it will follow you back to your village. After a few minutes, it will begin to produce eggs, which your tribe and collect for food. This is one of the safest methods of food gathering, since it does not involve leaving the village. The eggs farmed are also good for feeding both carnivores and herbivores (and of course omnivores.)

5. Befriend another tribe. Befriending tribes will earn their respect and from time to time, a gift basket! Gift baskets always contain food and while this will not be enough to support your tribe for any great length of time, it will help to bolster your food supply.

6. Destroy another tribe. After a tribe is eliminated, whatever food they had is fair game. Assign one of your tribe members to farm food. When the eggs run out, they will raid a vanquished tribe's food stash.

Tips & Warnings

• Gathering (fruits, fish) can be enhanced with Fishing Spears and Gathering Staves. These upgrades can be purchased from their appropriate huts.

• Your tribe's clothing may aid in food gathering.