I’ve been purchasing residences and a few things I just wanted from the Bazaar, but mostly I’ve been letting some stuff accumulate and converting some stuff to Echos. Any advice as to what stuff I need or if I need to just let everything accumulate, or what makes sense in the game?
Also, I’m thinking about getting some Fate, but am I too low level to appreciate the stories and options it will unlock? What’s the best use of Fate? I’m not opposed to purchasing some from time to time - is it worth it to subscribe? I know the correct answers will depend on me, but I appreciate any insight anyone can offer.
Well, in practical terms get the best equipment you can for each attribute. (Don’t worry about negatives, as you can switch pieces out at will.) For Lodgings, once you’ve got a three-card Lodging there’s not a huge difference until you become a Person of Some Importance. Get things that interest you (though beware: you can’t currently get rid of Lodgings you don’t want, so don’t grab everything lest you be annoyed later by unwanted cards). The most useful in later-game terms is the Townhouse, though by that point you’ll also probably have upgraded to one of the three four-card Lodgings too.
Fate stories are built so that you can enjoy them at any character level. If you like the game enough to be interested in subscribing, then subscription’s a good deal. You get twice the actions, a few more cards in deck, and a good story every month. Plus, it helps keep the lights on at Failbetter. I highly recommend.
For other Fate purchases, I suggest things that give you something you can’t get otherwise. Theological Husbandry is generally looked on well, and Flute Street opens up a new area (though opinions are mixed). There are a number of topics about the best use of Fate, which you can dig up for further details; that said, the question usually brings plenty of opinions out of the woodwork every time it gets asked. edited by Siankan on 5/17/2019
In general, save items unless you actually need the Echoes. Converting items to echoes is easy, but the reverse is difficult. Similarly, I would convert items to other items only if there’s a specific need.
There are several posts on the forums about which items are best to sell and which are best to keep, it’s a common question. I wish there were a consolidated guide, but some searching should help.
There is a periodic survey on which Fate-locked stories people enjoy the most. The most recent one is at the link below. I think it’s just slightly to old to include “Cricket, Anyone?” which has since become everyone’s favorite.
As far as subscriptions, it gets you stories for cheaper than what it would cost in Fate to buy them after the fact, plus also more actions and a larger hand size. You can also save stories for later.
Most ES stories are play-able even with modest stats, say 25-50, although some of them have additional options if you are more advanced. Many of them also tie into background of Fallen London that you may not be aware of until your character is more advanced. Non-ES Fate-locked stories were generally written to be played earlier, and therefore don’t build upon other mysteries as much.
If you want any additional fate insight, I have a sub as well and it’s been very worth so far! In addition, once I have done everything I want to do in London proper, I plan on cashing out 100 fate on (in roughly this order of priority) building a Zubmarine on the cheap, unlocking Flute Street and Theological Husbandry, then after that I’m not so sure, either unlock A Trade in Faces or the Fate-locked story in the Decomissioned Steamer? Not sure which is more interesting there, they both intrigue me for different reasons, and the latter will leave me with Fate left over too…
You don’t really need to worry about your level when it comes to Exceptional Stories, unless you literally started playing the same day. They almost never have anything in them that requires high stats, and they don’t take you to areas that are locked at the start of the game. In fact, sometimes I wish they would do things like that, but then they’d have to put some sort of warning on them. Maybe they could make alternative routes for higher level characters without preventing lower level ones from playing. I don’t know, I’m just daydreaming, really. :)
If you run into one you want to use, then you can buy Fate for it then, or (most of the time) come back and pick it up when you’re ready. There’s not really any point in stocking up. It can be a little difficult to get info on where Fate’s worth spending, as FB’s policy is to ask we don’t share the goods on such things, but digging around on the forum you can find a number of topics on the comparative merits of, e.g. Theological Husbandry v. continuing the Aunt’s story.
