You’ve seen it. It’s that wooden plank sitting right outside Pierre’s General Store, usually ignored in the mad dash to buy more Blueberry seeds or catch the bus to the Desert. Most players treat the Stardew Valley bulletin board as a background prop, or maybe a place to grab a quick 100g for delivering a Copper Ore to Clint. But honestly? If you’re just looking at it as a source of pocket change, you’re missing the actual soul of Pelican Town.
It’s easy to get caught up in the industrialization of your farm. You want the Iridium Sprinklers. You want the Ancient Fruit wine empire. Yet, the bulletin board is where the game actually forces you to behave like a neighbor instead of a profit-driven hermit. It’s the bridge between "I’m a farmer" and "I’m part of this community."
The Two Faces of the Board
There isn't just one "board," which is where many new players get tripped up. There are actually two distinct systems at play here. First, you have the daily "Help Wanted" posters outside Pierre's. These are randomized, short-term tasks. Then, there’s the Special Orders board that shows up in front of Mayor Lewis’s manor later in the game.
The daily requests are small. They’re "Help! I need a Joja Cola" or "Bring me a Sunfish." They expire in two days. They’re fine for a little extra cash, but the real reason to do them is the friendship points. Each completed quest nets you 150 friendship points with the requester. For context, a "liked" gift only gives you 45 points. You do the math.
Then you have the Special Orders. These are the heavy hitters. Added in the 1.5 update, these quests take a week or more and usually involve massive resource dumps. This is where you unlock the good stuff—the recipes and items that actually change how you play the game.
Why the "Help Wanted" Quests Feel Like a Chore (And Why You Should Do Them Anyway)
Let's be real. It’s annoying when George asks for a Hot Pepper in the middle of Winter. You can't do it. The RNG (random number generation) for the Stardew Valley bulletin board can be a bit of a jerk sometimes. It doesn’t check your inventory or the season before it posts a request.
But here’s the thing: completing these is the fastest way to get people to stop being rude to you. Shane won't tell you to go away as often if you've delivered a few items to him via the board. Plus, there is an achievement involved. The "Gofer" achievement requires 10 of these, and "A Big Help" requires 40.
Most people stop after 40. Don't.
👉 See also: Nancy Drew Games for Mac: Why Everyone Thinks They're Broken (and How to Fix It)
If you keep an eye on it, you’ll occasionally get "Slay Monsters" requests. These are great because they pay significantly better than the item deliveries. Plus, you’re probably heading to the Mines anyway. It’s literally free money for doing what you were already planning to do.
The Special Orders Board: The Real Game Changer
Once you hit the second year or so, you’ll notice a second, much larger board appear south of the town square. This is the Special Orders board. It doesn't just give you gold; it gives you power.
These quests are massive.
Take "Gus’s Famous Omelet." He wants 24 eggs in a week. That sounds like a lot until you realize the reward isn't just gold. It’s a cutscene and the Mini-Fridge. The Mini-Fridge is an essential item for anyone who takes cooking seriously in Stardew, allowing you to store ingredients that the kitchen pulls from automatically. You cannot buy this from Pierre. You have to earn it through the board.
Or look at Caroline’s "Island Ingredients" quest. She wants 100 Pineapples or Ginger. It’s a grind. But the reward is the Solar Panel recipe. If you want to generate Battery Packs without waiting for a thunderstorm, this is your only path.
The Difference Between Community Center Quests and the Board
A lot of people confuse the Bulletin Board "Bundle" in the Community Center with the physical bulletin board in town. They are related in spirit, but very different in execution.
The Community Center bundle is a one-time thing. You turn in a bunch of items (Chef’s Bundle, Dye Bundle, etc.) and everyone in town gets a friendship boost. It’s a massive "thank you" to the player. But once it’s done, it’s done.
✨ Don't miss: Magic Thread: What Most People Get Wrong in Fisch
The physical Stardew Valley bulletin board at Pierre’s and the Special Orders board at Lewis’s keep the game alive in the "end-game." Without them, you’re just sleeping and harvesting. These boards provide the "why" for your farm’s "how."
Strategies for Conquering the Board
You shouldn't just check the board and hope for the best. You need to be prepared. Expert players keep a "Quest Chest" near their shipping bin.
- Keep one of everything. Seriously. One Gold Bar, one Diamond, one Cauliflower, one Fire Quartz.
- Stockpile "Common" Likes. Keep a stack of Sashimi or Sweet Peas. Many requests ask for things that are technically "trash" or common forage.
- Check the board every Monday. Special Orders refresh on Monday mornings. If you check on Wednesday, you’ve already lost two days of a seven-day timer.
- Don't take "Gather" quests if you already have the items. This is a common trap. If a quest says "Gather 100 Stone," you actually have to mine it after accepting the quest. Pulling 100 Stone out of a chest won't count for the "Gather" portion, though it will count for the "Deliver" portion.
The Social Engineering of Pelican Town
There is a subtle narrative layer to the Stardew Valley bulletin board. It tells you who is struggling and who is eccentric.
Pam is always asking for beer or juice, which fits her character, but sometimes she asks for something healthy for Penny. It’s a small touch, but it adds depth. Evelyn will ask for flowers for the gravesite. Clint will ask for ores because he's too "busy" (or lazy) to go into the mines himself.
By engaging with these quests, you aren't just a laborer. You're the person who keeps the town's micro-economy moving. Without your deliveries, Pierre is just standing in an empty store, and Gus is making omelets with half-rotten eggs.
Technical Details: The Math of Friendship
If you really want to optimize your play, you need to understand the friendship points.
Every heart in Stardew Valley is 250 points. A "Help Wanted" quest gives 150. That is more than half a heart for a single delivery. If you deliver the item on the person's birthday, it doesn't multiply like a gift does (which is a common misconception), but it still provides a massive chunk of progress.
🔗 Read more: Is the PlayStation 5 Slim Console Digital Edition Actually Worth It?
Also, completing these quests doesn't count as your "two gifts per week" limit. This is huge. You can give someone two gifts they love and complete a bulletin board quest in the same week, effectively gaining almost three hearts in seven days. This is how speedrunners max out social ties before the end of Year 1.
What Most People Get Wrong About Special Orders
People often fail Special Orders because they don't read the fine print.
For example, the "Luau" quest or the "Qi’s Crop" quest (later in the game) require massive amounts of dedication. If you fail a Special Order, your items usually end up in the "Lost and Found" box in Mayor Lewis’s house.
Don't panic if you fail. You can just go to Lewis’s, grab your 100 Hardwood back, and wait for the quest to cycle back around in a few weeks. You don't lose the items forever. This safety net is something many players don't realize exists, leading to unnecessary stress when they see the timer ticking down.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Playthrough
If you want to master the Stardew Valley bulletin board and reap the rewards, follow this protocol:
- Monday Morning Routine: Make it a habit. Wake up, check the weather, check your luck, then ride your horse straight to the Special Orders board.
- The "Help Wanted" Screen: Check Pierre's board whenever you go to buy seeds. If the request is for an item you have at home, accept it, do your shopping, and bring it back the next day.
- Diversify Your Chests: Keep a "Bulletin Board" chest. Put at least 5 of every forageable and 2 of every fish in there. Yes, even the "useless" ones like Largemouth Bass or Carp.
- Prioritize certain NPCs: If you’re trying to marry someone, prioritize their board quests. It’s the most efficient way to bypass the "gift limit" and reach those heart events faster.
- Watch for the Mini-Shipping Bin: This is a reward from Pierre’s "Prime Produce" special order. It allows you to place a shipping bin anywhere—on the beach, in the woods, or near the mines. It is arguably the most useful item in the game for inventory management.
The bulletin board isn't a side quest system. It’s the connective tissue of the game. It’s the difference between playing a farming simulator and living in a town. Next time you pass Pierre's, stop. Look at the yellow paper fluttering in the wind. Someone in town needs a favor, and you're the only one with a backpack big enough to help.
Don't let those friendship points go to waste just because you're busy with your pumpkins. Stop by the board, grab a request, and go be a neighbor. Your farm will still be there when you get back.