Now I’m sure I don’t need to go into detail about how amazing every single story in London is, but sadly due to fate-ish reasons I am stuck in a small dilemma. I have just bought Flint and am left with 40 fate while considering buying another one of the other 4 stories left that are on sale. Considering that I can only buy one, I am curious to which one you guys would tell me to get? I’ve seen a lot of good word about ‘‘Lost in Reflections’’ and that’s about it. But let’s please vote, and also leave some reviews if you’ve played them. Only 1 and a half hour left after all until the sale ends, after all!
Thanks in advance, delicious friends!
They are all good stories, but they are all markedly different. I think if you help us understand what your favorite aspects of FL are, we can help steer you. Otherwise, my favorite may not necessarily be your favorite.
Well sadly that’s exactly why I also ask for opinion, not just the simple poll I included. I have no idea! My idea of entertainment really is a little twisted, but perhaps a small hint at what the stories are like would help me understand the situation more and consider which one I’d fancy getting at a good price! I really am lost for words when naming anything specific which would be kind of made for me…
They’re all good! I’ll lay out some basic summaries.
[spoiler]Hojotoho! is the lightest of the bunch - it’s a fun romp with a group of heroic urchins who get caught up in the affairs of the powerful. It’s heartwarming!
Lost in Reflections is more tragic - it’s all about the revolutionaries, and the sacrifices they make for their cause. There’s lots of the Bazaar and the Masters and other unworldly beings in it, as well as glimpses of the Surface, and even some hints of swashbuckling adventure.
The Gift is half a character study of the Empress’ family, and half horror story. There’s gore, there’s depravity, it’s fun for the whole family!
The Empress’ Shadow is more royals, unsurprisingly, but this time it’s more about Surface intrigue, power plays, the role of women in the grand game of politics, stuff like that.[/spoiler]
[quote=Sir Frederick]They’re all good! I’ll lay out some basic summaries.
[spoiler]Hojotoho! is the lightest of the bunch - it’s a fun romp with a group of heroic urchins who get caught up in the affairs of the powerful. It’s heartwarming!
Lost in Reflections is more tragic - it’s all about the revolutionaries, and the sacrifices they make for their cause. There’s lots of the Bazaar and the Masters and other unworldly beings in it, as well as glimpses of the Surface, and even some hints of swashbuckling adventure.
The Gift is half a character study of the Empress’ family, and half horror story. There’s gore, there’s depravity, it’s fun for the whole family!
The Empress’ Shadow is more royals, unsurprisingly, but this time it’s more about Surface intrigue, power plays, the role of women in the grand game of politics, stuff like that.[/spoiler][/quote]
This is certainly rather interesting, and I ought to say that the summary of ‘‘Lost in Reflections’’ definitely kind of pulls me again towards it, while the horror part of the Gift is certainly very charming as well. I suppose one thing to add which would help with a final decision is also which of these stories give nice later rewards? Not just for finishing them, but for instance the Trade of Souls, which I own, allows you to gain a different gift from the Capering Relicker, apart from Shrieks and Visions of the Surface. So any examples of that?
All of the stories have some form of later reward, though of different magnitudes. From greatest to least:
- The Empress’ Shadow permanently unlocks Sinning Jenny’s Finishing School, a carousel that refreshes your cards and can give various Favours. The carousel has a ton of content to read, including cards for every (iirc) seasonal festival, and tie-ins to various other Fate stories. Most of the story is spent in the school, so the permanent unlock isn’t as much bonus content as it may sound, but it’s still well worth the price.[/li][li]The Gift gives one of two unique Affiliations, each of which has a special card. Both also unlock an option in the Finishing School.[/li][li]Depending on your ending, Hojotoho! unlocks an option either on the Urchins card or in the Foreign Office carousel. I can’t speak to the latter, but the former option is very nice mechanically.[/li][li]Again depending on ending, Lost in Reflections may give a unique quality that might—but probably won’t—have a future use. It also unlocks another option in the Finishing School.
I’ve only played Hojotoho! and The Empress’ Shadow, I thoroughly enjoyed the former (I’ve got a weakness for Urchins and I particularly enjoyed the character building, as well as the fact that my character got to keep in touch with the characters afterwards through the unlocked option on the urchins card). The latter I purchased because I was told it was worth it for the sinning jenny finishing school carousel alone, which is an assessment I agree with. The story itself was just a nice side bonus, which it did a perfectly fine job at
Jenny’s Finishing School is a big bonus, since it refreshes cards. I use it also for favours.
On Hojotoho! the option on the Urchin card is easier to access than the result of the other ending – I’ve played both, but how often does a body want to spend time in the F.O. given their proclivities!
I have also played The Gift more than once but never managed to make the decisions that open up the second ending – clearly it runs too much against the grain of my character!
And I’m still dithering about the final decision on Lost in Reflections – it’s been months now! Not only a tricky decision, it also means closing off access to alternate history.