As of late, I have been trying to become a Scholar of the correspondence, but I cannot manage to raise my archaeologist level above one. I tried going on a expedition to find a thieves’ cache, but it didn’t work(Though it did get me some diamonds of excellent quality). The original option for a thousand hints is gone.
Also, what method do you use to aquire supplies? I am not sure which is best. Right now, I really wish there was a moon-pearl option.
edited by GamerGallade on 1/18/2016
It’s my impression getting porters from the docks is the most cost efficient option. It gets you a reliable x3 supplies as opposed to the unreliable x1-x2 from rumours of treasure, or the overly expensive burly guards and porters x4.
You can, at least, buy the silver tankard by cashing moon-pearls, and then use it to keep Connected: Docks high enough to get supplies from that. If worst came to worst, you could buy the glim to fill the Tankard, too, the extra cost should be trivial by that point in your career.
Another way is to Seek Curios in the FQ, which will net you enough Hints or Secrets to buy supplies (and may turn up the odd Eyeless Skull, which can be sold for a nice bit of cash). Strong-Backed labor is a very expensive method, even if you can get it for “free” at Wilmot’s End.
– Mal
Good idea with the tankard. Is it reusable? I’ve never used one of those items.
It is reusable as long as you just use it to gain Connected: Docks :)
Only remember not to spend so much Connected Docks getting supplies that it drops bellow 10 before you have all you need, or else you can’t use the Tankard to raise it back up anymore. If that happens it is likely best to go to the Carnival and raise it back up to 10 again by spending tickets in the Sideshows :)
Thanks for the advice. My dangerous is actually at the perfect level for this, giving me an opportunity to earn both glim and the docks (only unlocks with 66-80). SoTC ten is kind of getting ahead of myself, as I am still trying to get SoTC one! That 80 symphonies sounds like a horrible grind though.
+1 to all of these answers
Can I just say, "The Scandal!!?"
With high enough persuasive, it’s only wounds. Strangely, no one will gossip about you driving everyone in the theatre mad; they’ll just brutally maul you once and then let you do it again.
I’m at 21 out of the required 27 symphonies to get to 10 SotC, currently. Got to 7 in the forgotten quarter first, as mentioned, and then it’s 8 + 9 + 10 cp to get to 10. Don’t feel like getting my university plotline further than it is and thus can’t use correspondence plaques to raise it more cheaply.
The Whispered Hints option is the best in terms of actions if you already have the items, giving 1.5 supplies per action. The docks method takes a little under four actions for three supplies but including grinding the items makes it much more efficient. For the Gallery of Serpents fate expedition the straight cash option is actually the best for EPA, lowering profits less than it saves actions, but it does mean less profit per fate point.
GamerGallade, I believe that Thieves’ Cache expeditions give one CP of Archaeologist, which increases just like any other quality but doesn’t show progress towards the next level. All other expeditions give two CP aside from the one-off Tomb of Seven and Heart’s Desire expeditions.
Yes, don’t underestimate the amount of materials using the docks can take: I’ve gone on a ton of expeditions and am now using whispered hints because I actually ran out of both Glim and Rostygold at one point. But you may accidently build up a hoard of hints: they’re expensive in terms of actions used, but free for not having to replenish them. And since I play on my iPhone, not having to click between the Story and Myself tabs is a plus too.
From some rough estimating, using the best grinds available makes the docks option take just under six actions for three supplies. Just doing other content often gives Hints in abundance so without a more pressing use supplies are a good choice. Also after finding the Tiger Keeper during the Labyrinth of Tigers storyline, talking to him allows trading in 1000 Rostygold, Jade, or Amber for 1100 Hints.
Like I said, with all materials on hand Whispered Hints give 1.5 supplies per action while Connected: Docks gives 0.75; if grinding for the items the Docks option is superior with a far lower item cost relative to rate of grinding.
You can get SotC 1-3 with a certain ride at the Carnival. So 49 Symphonies will raise it to 10 from there. But if your Persuasive isn’t boostable to 167, you run the risk of failing checks, and thus scandal. After 167 Persuasive, though, it becomes a nice 1.36 EPA grind, 22 actions per symphony (plus an occasional extra when you meet with the Privy Counselor about getting kicked out).
If you happen to have a lot of honey around, and can breeze a 108 Persuasive Challenge, you can finish a symphony even quicker, but it isn’t worth it in terms of actions to collect the honey if you don’t already have it.
– Mal
edited by malthaussen on 1/19/2016
There are plenty of ways to raise your Scholar of the Correspondence without performing symphonies. I only performed 2 or 3 symphonies on the Correspondence and my SotC is up to 9, although since I reached 7 I’ve been using the opportunity card from the Bifurcated Owl (which is Fate-locked, requiring 45 Fate for two separate stories, Flute Street and Empyrean Redolence, to create one).
It’s almost certainly faster to get to SotC 7 through the Forgotten Quarter option under Seeking Curios, though it can mean a lot of nightmare gain.
But not the Ocelot’s, well, Corresponding card?
edited by Optimatum on 1/19/2016
@Optimatum: More than likely, although since the FQ is a random shot, it could run past the amount of time it would take to compose symphonies. And if your Persuasive isn’t high enough to 100% the challenges, it will surely take many more actions to write music. If you can pass the checks, though, the extra pearls might be nice to have, and the amount of time only slightly more. No chance of an Eyeless Skull, though.
– Mal
The Forgotten Quarter option is open 20% of the time and only requires watchful 145 for a guaranteed success. As such on average it would take 110 actions to raise SotC from 3 to 7 with a guaranteed chance of success and hanging around changing the airs can provide Eyeless Skulls for a good chunk of cash.
On the topic of eyeless skulls, is there any reason to sell them to the bazaar? The radical factotum offers so much more.