# January Exceptional Story: A Newt By Any Other Name **URL:** \ **Category:** Fallen London\ **Tags:** Gameplay\ **Created:** [December 28, 2023, 12:00pm UTC](https://community.failbettergames.com/t/january-exceptional-story-a-newt-by-any-other-name/22076 "2023-12-28T12:00:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lukefbg](https://community.failbettergames.com/user_avatar/community.failbettergames.com/lukefbg/32/436_2.png) [@lukefbg](https://community.failbettergames.com/u/lukefbg)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 12:00pm UTC](https://community.failbettergames.com/t/january-exceptional-story-a-newt-by-any-other-name/22076/1 "2023-12-28T12:00:35Z")
**Exceptional Story for January: A Newt By Any Other Name** ![lordppromo](https://community.failbettergames.com/uploads/default/original/3X/e/1/e10b09dfbb44a671fec2c352d769c9cb1dbe1f1f.jpeg) _This can’t be happening! Lord P\_\_\_\_\_\_ is the most scandalous man in London, and his diamond newt has found its way into your hands! Do you know what he does with this newt? Even the mildest rumours could destroy your reputation by association!_ _But you have a plan to save your good name. You’ll have to recruit a few criminal accomplices, break into Lord P\_\_\_\_\_\_'s townhouse, and put the newt back where it belongs – without anyone learning you ever touched it. Prepare to embark on a heist like none other._ - Writing: [Chandler Groover](https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2384067) - Editing: [James Chew](https://twitter.com/JamesStAnthony) - QA: [Luke van den Barselaar](https://twitter.com/thebarse) - Art: [Erion Makuo](https://twitter.com/erionmakuo?lang=en) EXCEPTIONAL FRIENDSHIP All Exceptional Friends receive: - A new Exceptional Story every month - Memories of a Tale from each story to spend on exclusive companions and items - A second candle (up to 40 actions at once) - An expanded opportunity deck: ten cards instead of six - Three additional outfit slots - Access to the House of Chimes, including monthly gameplay perks Enhanced Exceptional Friends receive all of the above, plus: - A past story, or two resets of stories you’ve played from a monthly menu - Memories of a Tale from every past story or reset - Extra monthly perks in the House of Chimes - Three seven-action refreshes per month ---
**Author:** ![skinnyman](https://community.failbettergames.com/user_avatar/community.failbettergames.com/skinnyman/32/372_2.png) [@skinnyman](https://community.failbettergames.com/u/skinnyman)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 3:15pm UTC](https://community.failbettergames.com/t/january-exceptional-story-a-newt-by-any-other-name/22076/2 "2023-12-28T15:15:07Z")
I bet ~~New~~ Current Year’s eve may have something to do with the newt’s _arrival_ in our hands! EDIT: Now this ES has some [interesting tie-ins](https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_Newt_by_Any_Other_Name)! Not on wiki yet, but, as a reward, you can pick from Newt identity (Companion - Shadowy +4, increases nightmare and decreases scandal buildup or Diamond Newt (home comfort - increases scandal buildup, Bizarre +2, Respectable -2). ---
**Author:** ![captainbloodstorm](https://community.failbettergames.com/user_avatar/community.failbettergames.com/captainbloodstorm/32/118_2.png) [@captainbloodstorm](https://community.failbettergames.com/u/captainbloodstorm)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 3:51pm UTC](https://community.failbettergames.com/t/january-exceptional-story-a-newt-by-any-other-name/22076/3 "2023-12-28T15:51:17Z")
So far there are many reasons to recommend the challenge-focused structure of this story, but by far the most important one is that you can potentially set a cat to fight a crocodile. And see the cat win. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Schmit](https://community.failbettergames.com/user_avatar/community.failbettergames.com/john_schmit/32/16625_2.png) [@John\_Schmit](https://community.failbettergames.com/u/John_Schmit)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 3:57pm UTC](https://community.failbettergames.com/t/january-exceptional-story-a-newt-by-any-other-name/22076/4 "2023-12-28T15:57:11Z")
I think you mean Newt Years Eve. ---
**Author:** ![Nolongeranidiot](https://community.failbettergames.com/user_avatar/community.failbettergames.com/nolongeranidiot/32/18332_2.png) [@Nolongeranidiot](https://community.failbettergames.com/u/Nolongeranidiot)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 3:58pm UTC](https://community.failbettergames.com/t/january-exceptional-story-a-newt-by-any-other-name/22076/5 "2023-12-28T15:58:51Z")
_groans and gives you my like_ ---
**Author:** ![Atlas\_J](https://community.failbettergames.com/user_avatar/community.failbettergames.com/atlas_j/32/16933_2.png) [@Atlas\_J](https://community.failbettergames.com/u/Atlas_J)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 5:20pm UTC](https://community.failbettergames.com/t/january-exceptional-story-a-newt-by-any-other-name/22076/6 "2023-12-28T17:20:53Z")
I’ll definitely come back here to discuss once I finish the story but for now I’ll just say that art is absolutely _gorgeous_ ---
**Author:** ![annalibertas](https://community.failbettergames.com/user_avatar/community.failbettergames.com/annalibertas/32/30_2.png) [@annalibertas](https://community.failbettergames.com/u/annalibertas)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2023, 7:47pm UTC](https://community.failbettergames.com/t/january-exceptional-story-a-newt-by-any-other-name/22076/7 "2023-12-28T19:47:16Z")
I do love a good reverse heist, but I’m struggling a bit with the idea that my character wouldn’t immediately respond to acquiring the most scandalous newt in London by going “ooooohhhh fun time to wear this _everywhere_” ---
**Author:** ![HexBeloved](https://community.failbettergames.com/user_avatar/community.failbettergames.com/hexbeloved/32/17610_2.png) [@HexBeloved](https://community.failbettergames.com/u/HexBeloved)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 1:22am UTC](https://community.failbettergames.com/t/january-exceptional-story-a-newt-by-any-other-name/22076/8 "2023-12-29T01:22:46Z")
Very fun story so far but I’m realizing I was FAR too ambitious and am going to fail :') Oh well, I can always reset when that option becomes available. ---
**Author:** ![luminenwalker](https://community.failbettergames.com/user_avatar/community.failbettergames.com/luminenwalker/32/17539_2.png) [@luminenwalker](https://community.failbettergames.com/u/luminenwalker)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 10:06am UTC](https://community.failbettergames.com/t/january-exceptional-story-a-newt-by-any-other-name/22076/9 "2023-12-29T10:06:32Z")
I feel like this whole story was a dream and I have no idea why the newt was so awful, how I got it, or what the thing I got from this was. Discordance, right? That’s the only way I can rationalise this. ---
**Author:** ![phryne](https://community.failbettergames.com/user_avatar/community.failbettergames.com/phryne/32/16023_2.png) [@phryne](https://community.failbettergames.com/u/phryne)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2024, 2:27am UTC](https://community.failbettergames.com/t/january-exceptional-story-a-newt-by-any-other-name/22076/10 "2024-01-01T02:27:36Z")
Short review: another absolute masterpiece by Chandler Groover. How does he do it? ---
**Author:** ![meowgarita](https://community.failbettergames.com/user_avatar/community.failbettergames.com/meowgarita/32/17642_2.png) [@meowgarita](https://community.failbettergames.com/u/meowgarita)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 6:51pm UTC](https://community.failbettergames.com/t/january-exceptional-story-a-newt-by-any-other-name/22076/11 "2024-01-08T18:51:21Z")
This and The Bloody Wallpaper have been pure gold. Intriguing and fast moving, mechanically engaging, felt like no time at all to complete. Some of the best ESs I’ve done so far had really really difficult choices to make - my desire to spare my accomplices leading to losing out on the unique treasures on offer was almost a physically painful decision to make. I’d be angry if I weren’t so pleased about the feeling of tangible consequences for my actions in an ES. Overall a great story. ---
**Author:** ![Atlas\_J](https://community.failbettergames.com/user_avatar/community.failbettergames.com/atlas_j/32/16933_2.png) [@Atlas\_J](https://community.failbettergames.com/u/Atlas_J)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2024, 7:34pm UTC](https://community.failbettergames.com/t/january-exceptional-story-a-newt-by-any-other-name/22076/12 "2024-01-16T19:34:46Z")
I think I can safely say Lord P\_\_\_ is one bizarre dude. Even though he has very little actual presence, his house (namely, his excessive amount of poisons and very fucked up furniture) speaks volumes about how weirdly menacing this guy is. I loved this funky anti-heist caper and enjoyed that abrupt POV switch with the ending I chose (giving up that damned newt and keeping the Newt, with the POV switching from the Newt to me, at my desk, writing the story I think??) ---
**Author:** ![elwinhauntry](https://community.failbettergames.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/8dc957/32.png) [@elwinhauntry](https://community.failbettergames.com/u/elwinhauntry)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2024, 12:36am UTC](https://community.failbettergames.com/t/january-exceptional-story-a-newt-by-any-other-name/22076/13 "2024-01-25T00:36:05Z")
I stopped in mid-story to do other things, and don’t know how to pick up the story again. I have A Newt by Any Other Name 80, Newt-Like Tread 1, and Newtish Credulity 7. I’ve been bopping around London looking for an appropriate storylet but I can’t figure out where to go. Any ideas?.. ---
**Author:** ![HexBeloved](https://community.failbettergames.com/user_avatar/community.failbettergames.com/hexbeloved/32/17610_2.png) [@HexBeloved](https://community.failbettergames.com/u/HexBeloved)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2024, 1:24am UTC](https://community.failbettergames.com/t/january-exceptional-story-a-newt-by-any-other-name/22076/14 "2024-01-25T01:24:10Z")
Try your lodgings iirc! ---
**Author:** ![elwinhauntry](https://community.failbettergames.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/8dc957/32.png) [@elwinhauntry](https://community.failbettergames.com/u/elwinhauntry)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2024, 1:35am UTC](https://community.failbettergames.com/t/january-exceptional-story-a-newt-by-any-other-name/22076/15 "2024-01-25T01:35:45Z")
Oh, it is totally there! It just has a really generic looking image and my eye slid right past it. ---
**Author:** ![skinnyman](https://community.failbettergames.com/user_avatar/community.failbettergames.com/skinnyman/32/372_2.png) [@skinnyman](https://community.failbettergames.com/u/skinnyman)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2024, 10:31am UTC](https://community.failbettergames.com/t/january-exceptional-story-a-newt-by-any-other-name/22076/16 "2024-01-25T10:31:55Z")
Don’t forget to play the free prologue while it’s still available!