Sickness
Sickness is an in-game element introduced in Doubutsu no Mori e+ that can afflict villagers. Villagers can become sick, which causes them to shiver (and sometimes show the 'sadness' emotion) and stay in their houses. In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the affected villager sweats instead of showing the sadness emotion. When a villager is sick, they do not have normal conversations with the player, and they only talk about being sick. They often act delusional when sick, talking about fictional things as if they are real.
Appearances[edit]
Doubutsu no Mori e+ to New Leaf[edit]
While sick, villagers remain in their house and do not go outdoors, nor do they participate in events or ceremonies. The sickness dialogue overrides all other dialogue, so sick villagers cannot ask for favors, nor can any favors requiring the player to speak with them be performed. In Doubutsu no Mori e+, Animal Crossing: Wild World, and Animal Crossing: City Folk, a sick villager cannot be selected by the game to move out of the town. This is possible to occur in Animal Crossing: New Leaf, however, due to an oversight (see below).
In New Leaf, villagers may inform the player that another villager is sick. But in Doubutsu no Mori e+, Wild World, and City Folk, the only indication that a villager may be sick is that they do not appear outdoors.
While villagers are sick, they act accordingly and request medicine, which can be purchased from Tom Nook's or Timmy and Tommy's store once a day. Selecting the option to give medicine prompts a negative response if the player has no medicine in their pockets. Giving medicine prompts the villager to remark on how bad it tasted, or say that they are starting to feel better, and thank the player.
Villagers gradually recover from their illness, but they recover faster if they are given medicine. Sickness usually lasts for three days if medicine is given every day. Once the villager has recovered, they reward the player with an item the following day (either in person, or via letter) if the player helped nurse them through their illness.
New Leaf oversight[edit]
In New Leaf, it is possible for a sick villager to move out without warning. Due to an oversight, the game is able to select a sick villager to become a pending leaver, and as the villager remains indoors, there is no opportunity for them to alert the player outdoors about their intention to move. Because the player also has no opportunity to convince them to stay, they proceed to move out after 5 days. Because of this oversight, the sickness feature is removed in Animal Crossing: New Leaf - Welcome amiibo, and villagers can no longer become sick.
In Animal Crossing: New Horizons[edit]
In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, sick villagers wear pajamas and a nightcap. As in previous games, the sick villager remains indoors at all times for the duration of their illness, and their dialogue changes to reflect their condition. Villagers around town may inform the player that a specific villager hasn't been seen, signaling that they may be sick.
Unlike previous games, a sick villager is cured immediately after being given medicine, and they give the player a gift right away. However, if the player's pockets are full, the villager sends the gift to their mailbox the following day. The villager then goes into a state of convalescence; they remain indoors for the day wearing their pajamas, but they are able to ask the player for favors and engage in more regular conversation. A recuperating villager also expresses their gratitude to the player for receiving medicine.
While sick, the villager's house cannot be relocated or redecorated. If the player attempts to do so, Tom Nook declines the request and instructs the player to wait until the villager has recovered.
If a sick villager's amiibo is called in Happy Home Paradise, the player is informed that they are "not feeling their best today" and they do not appear. Additionally, if the affected villager is assigned to work at a facility, a random villager fill in for them, stating that the villager called into work sick.
Sickness during multiplayer[edit]
The games handle villager sickness during multiplayer differently. In Animal Crossing: Wild World, a sick villager is instantly healed when the player opens the town gate. In Animal Crossing: City Folk, Animal Crossing: New Leaf, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the villager locks their house when the town gate is open, leaving a sign notifying that they are ill and not receiving visitors.
In other games[edit]
In Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer and Happy Home Paradise, random sick villagers appear as patients in the hospital after the player designs the facility. They generally complain about their condition, or praise or criticize the staff for the level of care they are receiving.
Gallery[edit]
A sick, delirious Chief in Wild World
Cyrano expressing joy after being given medicine in Wild World
Butch receiving medicine in City Folk
Katt being sick in New Leaf
Tangy telling the player that a villager might be sick in New Leaf
Bones telling the player that someone already gave him medicine in New Leaf
Visiting a sick villager during multiplayer in New Horizons
Bubbles is sick in New Horizons
Bill is sick in New Horizons
Further details: Investigate technical mechanics of sickness:
- What determines when a villager is sick, and how they are selected for this?
- What happens with sick villagers during multiplayer in Doubutsu no Mori e+?
- Can sick villagers be kicked out when using e-cards or amiibo to move in new villagers in Doubutsu no Mori e+ and New Horizons?
Further details: Investigate technical mechanics of sickness:
- What determines when a villager is sick, and how they are selected for this?
- What happens with sick villagers during multiplayer in Doubutsu no Mori e+?
- Can sick villagers be kicked out when using e-cards or amiibo to move in new villagers in Doubutsu no Mori e+ and New Horizons?
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