I would think that most lone players would be correspondingly unaware of the rarest and hardest achievements. Knowing of the value given to or gained from these accomplishments would require either learning from other community members, putting them on the periphery of the larger groups, or playing for over a year without checking the playerbase’s accumulated knowledge.
I have a big problem. I went into the parlor and decided to check out the other option before getting my Noman tattoo. For some reason it locked me out of getting a private tattoo of the Noman. I don’t usually complain, but this has to be an oversight and if not, it absolutely needs a warning and I’d like to have my choice option restored.
That is what I fear for the isolated player.
Not the bragging rights but the "unfair" difficulty of it. That reachable goal, which was planned beforehand to be (just? barely?) reachable for the isolated player, is now further away and many of those isolated players loss the chance to achieve that high tier prize. They can read Wiki after all. I said before, I do not know how many non-forum players are out there, but I suspect they are the majority. And if that is so… it is problematic to chance the bar due to actions of the community (which is the loudest part of the players, sometimes falsely makes us believe it is the majority, because of that trait).
I have no answer how to balance the two, though I think some prizes SHOULD be exclusive and "community protected". (But I DO very much enjoy collaborating with the community and achieving those prizes). That is only my view of things, of course.
Cider and Heptagoats are protected as such, with a high echo price. Crude, but effective. Though not seasonal material.
Noman was also that, until some blessed souls (no cynicism) released a guide to help the community.
Like I always say - Fallen Londoners: always try to cheat the system. Cannot trust us with anything =)
edited by Gonen on 2/15/2016
Either unaware of the achievement, or unaware of how common it is. The lowest-level goat and cider are simple enough goals conceptually, since they are items freely for sale in the bazaar. In many ways, though, the lone player suffers a handicap to begin with, unless he uses the wiki and other resources without partaking of (or engaging in) forum activity. How many secrets are there that are not known in-game until a certain condition is met? For example, the option to buy a room at the Royal Beth with 50 Antique Mysteries and Nightmares of 5 only appears if the prerequisites are met. A lone player would have no inkling of this, and thus would have to acquire such a room with the default option. Now, this past Sackmas a whole battalion of players acquired 5-card lodgings because the procedure was well-discussed and understood in the forum. But one who does not participate in the forum wouldn’t know of the procedure at all. On the one hand, then, if FBG made the process more difficult (thus preserving the integrity of the 5-card lodging achievement. such as it is), it would only affect community-oriented players, because they are the only ones who would probably know about it. But it carries a hidden penalty to the lone player, who just had the requirements for something increased before he even knew the thing was possible to begin with. It seems kind of iffy to me, again from a philosophical standpoint. I feel like the devs want to preserve the cachet of the game while not completely considering the ramifications, which is perhaps condescending on my part, but nevertheless I think it a fruitful question for discussion.
– Mal
So was the special reward just the gant Noman tattoo? Does it have any effect or is it just a unique quality? (Whoever takes the option next, please make sure to add it and the new quality to the wiki!)
Actually I’m pretty sure this specific option is visible as a PoSI but without the 50 Mysteries.
edited by Optimatum on 2/15/2016
Toran: you can only have one ‘incident at Millicent’s’ per feast, so I’d guess that’s why you’re locked out. Maybe contact support since it’s a pretty exceptional situation?
Optimatum: The story also gives a rare item and ‘a living story will begin soon’, so we haven’t seen it all yet. So far the tattoo seems to be commemorative rather than functional, but who knows what the future holds? I’m on mobile at the minute but I took screenshots this morning. I’ve never edited a wiki before, but I’m happy to do it if you can provide some advice?
edited by Màiread on 2/15/2016
I’m not experienced enough in wiki editing to properly explain how to add options, but if you could PM me the screenshots I’d be happy to add the information.[li]
Also I got a living story message from the non-Noman Incident option so I’m assuming it’ll just clear the Incident at Millicent’s quality after the Feast ends.
edited by Optimatum on 2/15/2016
Just to say, my gant tattoo is on my mantlepiece. Thanks all for your help in this endeavour.
Well, I sent Support a message yesterday and am waiting on a response.
Success! Failbetter made it all fixed. They are the best.
Also, way to break my heart even when I’m getting a tattoo of you, Noman.
Could someone enlighten me on the prerequisites for the Gant version? I got the regular one, is it because it’s my first tattoo ever (refused to get any from previous years)? I’m guessing having two tattoos lets you play the "An Incident" option, and that’s where the Gant one is found?
And cheers everyone, we did it!
edited by xenopus on 2/16/2016
That did seem to be the requirement for the gant tattoo - already having two others. Basically ensuring you can always get one of your Noman, even if it’s just a memento. Which I think is superclassy of Failbetter.
Wait, so did I screw this up?
I got the noman tattoo, as my second tattoo. What is the gant option? Did I just miss it like a total fool, or …?[li]
Edit - Oops, I’m an idiot, I figured it out. :P I’ve got my gant tattoo up on my mantle now. [/li][li]
edited by LawrenceKeyworth on 2/17/2016
[quote=xenopus]Could someone enlighten me on the prerequisites for the Gant version? I got the regular one, is it because it’s my first tattoo ever (refused to get any from previous years)? I’m guessing having two tattoos lets you play the "An Incident" option, and that’s where the Gant one is found?
And cheers everyone, we did it!
edited by xenopus on 2/16/2016[/quote]
I think that needing two tattoos is the case, yes. Perhaps email support asking if that’s intentional?
[quote=Optimatum][quote=xenopus]Could someone enlighten me on the prerequisites for the Gant version? I got the regular one, is it because it’s my first tattoo ever (refused to get any from previous years)? I’m guessing having two tattoos lets you play the "An Incident" option, and that’s where the Gant one is found?
And cheers everyone, we did it!
edited by xenopus on 2/16/2016[/quote]
I think that needing two tattoos is the case, yes. Perhaps email support asking if that’s intentional?[/quote]
Think it might not be? I emailed, thanks for the suggestion.
I doubt Failbetter would intentionally limit the unique quality so only Noman grinders with a previous tattoo could receive it. Perhaps it was confused by the description referencing there being no room for a regular tattoo.
I decided to let one last Time the Healer come and risk Noman dissolution. I hope the Noman lives because I want him to have all the time he can.
Well, it was accidental, but I let my bo’sun melt. I did get my tattoo though. Also, congrats all! May your cats keep longer company than your Noman.
So yes, support replied that it was only possible to get the Gant tattoo if you already had at least one tattoo from previous years. So if The Face in the Snow was your second, you could get the Gant one immediatly after, but not for the very first one, as was my case. Ah well.