Needs

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Needs

Needs are things that your boy requires. Needs can directly affect your Mood which in turn affects gameplay.

High needs will result in a happy boy, which will make learning skills and certain skill checks easier.

While there isn't death in Life as a Boy, not maintaining your needs well can make your boy very depressed! Low needs make performing well in class much harder, as well as making the failure rate for certain skill checks much higher. So make sure to take good care of your boy!

There are a total of 5 needs.

Energy

Energy shows how much energy your boy currently has, or in other words, how tired your boy is.

Throughout the day, your boy will lose various amounts of energy by doing activities such as studying, playing, doing chores, and various other physical activities. Every hour that passes also decreases your energy by 3 (2 if Need Decay set to Easy, 5 if set to Hard).

You can replenish energy by either napping or sleeping in your bedroom, napping in the school playground, or having a coffee in Café Le Chat Blanc.

Napping

   Napping in the bedroom takes 1 hour and replenishes 9 Energy.
   Napping in the school playground takes 30 minutes and replenishes 10 Energy, but beware of napping in the playground, as there are various events that can take place during your nap.
   Napping reduces stress levels by 1.

Sleeping

   You can only sleep between 1900H and 0400H.
   You can choose to sleep between 4 - 10 hours.
   For every hour slept, 9 Energy is replenished. (14 if Need Decay set to Hard)
   Sleeping resets stress levels back to 0.

Coffee

   Between 0600H and 1800H, you can head to the French cafe in the Food District to have a coffee.
   Drinking a coffee takes 15 minutes and costs $2. It also replenishes 25 energy and gives you the Caffeine Buzz Moodlet which lasts for 6 hours.
   Beware of drinking coffee, as that will cause you to have a caffeine crash later in the day! Once the Caffeine Buzz Moodlet times out, your boy will experience a caffeine crash which depletes 35 energy and gives you the Caffeine Crash Moodlet
   You will not be able to drink coffee again until both Caffeine Moodlets have worn off.

Different levels of energy will give you different moodlets.

   If Energy > 60, you will receive a Well-Rested Moodlet.
   If Energy < 45 and >25, you will receive a Tired Moodlet.
   If Energy < 25, you will receive a Dying of Exhausted Moodlet.

Be careful to not let your energy decrease to zero, as that will cause your boy to pass out!

   Passing out at home advances time by 2 hours and replenishes 25 energy. Your father will find you passed out and bring you to your bedroom.
   Passing out in school advances time by 1 hour and replenishes 25 energy. You will wake up in the infirmary with Dr. Bertram assuring you that you're alright.
   Passing out around town advances time by 1 hour and replenishes 18 energy. Upon waking up, you will realise that someone has stolen $5 of your money!

So make sure to keep him well-rested!