I've played all the VV games from 1-4 twice over with different tribes and not one of them have I managed to get all the collectibles in.

I hoped VV3 would make it easier with the chief's ability to spot rare collectibles, but she keeps spotting the few rares I already have and there are uncommons I'm missing as well.

Does anyone have any advice for getting all the collectibles? Is there a trick to it I'm missing, or do you really just have to sit and stare at the screen for hours?

Alternatively, has anyone made a mod that makes the collectibles appear more frequently? I checked the mods section, but could only find colour changing mods.

Sometimes you'll hear a "ding" sound kinda like windchimes. That will alert you that there's a collectable or mushroom to pick up.

No, there's not a mod that will make collectables appear more frequently.

A mod that changes the frequency of collectable appearances would be a programming change, and that's not possible to do with our games. The mods that other players have created are merely image based, not programming based.

There really isn't an easy way around the collectibles. You do have to watch for them in order to collect them when they pop up. The color changing mods do help with the ones that blend in with the area and are hard to spot otherwise.
Sorry, I can relate as I have a couple in a couple of tribes missing collectibles also. I just need to spend more time with them.

Oh well thanks for the advice. It sucks that you can't make a mod where collectibles appear more often. I'm too used to playing the Sims where you can make a mod for just about anything.

What would be useful was if you could research a collectibles tech that once it was fully researched would make rares appear as often as commons. Would mean that rares were still hard to get at first, but once you'd finished all the puzzles and upgraded everything you wouldn't have to die of boredom waiting for rares. DX