phryne
Posts: 1347
2/14/2015
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I'd like to start by saying that I've more or less read this whole forum, at least everything that's related to How To Play The Game.
Theoretically, I know what I should be doing. Practically, I have this very serious problem:
EVERYTHING'S OUT TO KILL ME!
So far, 6 captains have given their lives more or less pointlessly, without achieving anything. I haven't explored even half of the map, and I've been nowhere near affording a Mansion, meaning I have to start all over again every time.
Why?
Because when I'm not busy getting killed, I'm busy hiding from something/someone that wants to kill me. I've been killed by pirates, jellyfish, bats, ever-spawning crabs, GIANT crabs, GIANTER sharks... everything. And no, I'm not looking for combat, I'm trying to run away from it! Only it's not working! (example: "Phew, glad I've managed to outrun these pirates. Now, let's get on with exploring-- oh, no, a monster-crab! Turn the other way, quickly--- waaah, a Bound-Shark!" - Dead.)
It's very frustrating reading some posts on this forum about how EASY this game is and how there are no really dangerous enemies... WHAT? Are we playing the same game?
Also, playing on Merciful mode doesn't really help me because saving only really makes sense once you're out of danger and I rarely am. And continuous manual saving breaks my world-immersion anyway...
edited by phryne on 5/29/2015
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Accounts: Bag a Legend • Light Fingers • Heart's Desire • Nemesis • no ambition
Exceptional Stories, sorted by Season and by writer ― Favours & Renown Guide
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phryne
Posts: 1347
2/15/2015
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@MightyPP: Thank you so much! That's exactly the Beginner's Guide I was looking for! 
lady ciel wrote:
You have got the current version - the number for Steam is different for some reason which has been answered elsewhere in the forum.
There had to be a difference though - I now played the Steam version and one of my biggest problems, the Mutton Island Crab Infestation, is gone!
I did it! I managed to get around the Unfinished Pirates! And I got lucky: I witnessed the destruction of Hunter's Keep (well, that was actually very sad, and I'd like to know what happened to the poor sisters), and looting the place afterward gave me so many Outlandish Artefacts! I sold them all to this funny scholar at the university, bought the Reproach weapon and torpedo nets. I didn't dare go looking for the Salt Lions directly, so I sailed to Port Carnelian, bought as much Darkdrop Coffee as I could, sold that back in London for 6 Echoes profit per sack, did it again, managed to pick up an Extraordinary Implication somewhere, and now I have a Townhouse and a Will for the very first time!!! 
I think I'm finally getting the hang of this! 
One more question though: What's that golden glowing ship keeping watch by the Dawn Machine? Are they dangerous? Is it possible to get on friendly terms with them?
edited by phryne on 2/15/2015
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Accounts: Bag a Legend • Light Fingers • Heart's Desire • Nemesis • no ambition
Exceptional Stories, sorted by Season and by writer ― Favours & Renown Guide
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imyril
Posts: 51
2/14/2015
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phryne wrote:
But don't the jellyfish and the crabs need to be close to inflict damage?
They do, but they get confused when you're right alongside (NB I've not exploited this, so I'm not entirely sure whether for zeebeasties you need to snuggle them from a particular angle - i.e. out of the way of the claws! I have noted that if you go alongside a pirate as if for a boarding action you can broadside them to death without them thinking to return the damage).
Certain backgrounds make a huge difference, especially if you're struggling with beasties: but I'd second the recommendation to embrace the Urchin past and go with avoiding enemies until you get the hang of things. AND turn the lights off - the combination of that with Veils should be enough to put most beasties off your scent.
To your point on never feeling safe - I'm not sure you ever do at zee  So it is a choice to save as often as you feel you can without losing your immersion rather than waiting for a point where it feels like you'd hate to lose what you've got. Saving does let you try things out without losing your progress - I think this is what got me to a tipping point where I stopped dying ALL THE TIME (whilst reading other Early Access players boast about their frigates and dreadnoughts - just fantasies for my poor captains!) and into a place where I could quite confidently go exploring. And when I say quite confidently, I was still pretty sure I was about to die
From an immersion perspective, I don't think I've ever played a game where dying was part of the learning curve before. I'm still a bit weird about the fact that going all out to explore the edge tiles (because they're the ones that don't shuffle) and not caring if you die once you know what's there is a valid strategy rather than a cheat. But embracing it does help... so I guess that's my other recommendation: explore up and down the coast and cut back to London diagonally (once you start going along the northern/southern edges) to get a glimpse of what's out at zee - you learn more that is useful for you in the future. And there are other ports where fuel/food is affordable in the far north and far south.
edited by imyril on 2/14/2015
edited by imyril on 2/14/2015
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SporksAreGoodForYou
Posts: 291
2/18/2015
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For terror reduction by port, I just threw this together:
The best ones are those at the edges. The random tiles are less reliable.
edit: good lord - someone needs to edit the width/height parameters on youtube embeds.
edited by SporksAreGoodForYou on 2/18/2015
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Fretling
Posts: 529
2/14/2015
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If they keep spawning infinite numbers, that's a glitch. Do not kill any if you see an unusual number of them in one place, because that triggers more spawning.
To offset the effect of everyday damage, make sure you have lots of Favour with the Admiralty; those repairs are most reliable and affordable if you have lots of Favour.
It took me a while to get really comfortable with the controls, and I *still* crash into things on a semi-regular basis -- I can't play most platformers, that's how bad my reflexes are -- so have hope!
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Dr. Hieronymous Alloy
Posts: 228
2/14/2015
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Ok yeah if you're getting constantly spawning enemies every time you leave port you have a bugged game. Report it to the bug report email and attach your output log and system info.
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http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Doctor~Hieronymous
Please, no photographers.
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MightyPP
Posts: 1
2/15/2015
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Didn't read everything others mentioned but I recently wrote a huge beginner's guide. The first part is very detailed to give you an overall good start. You can also learn how to solve any money problems you have, but I recommend just reading the very first part and then discover on your own. You can always come back, but your own discoveries will be the best.
Here's the link to the guide: https://www.reddit.com/r/sunlesssea/comments/2voa3x/guide_beginners_guide_to_a_safe_start_and_tons_of/
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lady ciel
Posts: 2548
2/15/2015
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Fretling wrote:
Not at the moment, though all bets are off the table for the future.
Your legacy is chosen *after* you die.
When you die (or retire or end the game in any way) you are given a choice of taking half a stat - Iron also lets you take a weapon; Veils and Mirrors give you half your echoes; Hearts lets you take an officer and Pages lets you keep your map. But if you have a scion you can choose two.
If you have a townhouse or mansion and a will you keep those along with any heirlooms you might have made. Be sure to remember to write a new will before heading out to Zee though
Also if you die, (not retire or take one of the other end game options), you open up another area in Fallen London.
Then there are legacy items that can be picked up here and there in game which give you +25 to a stat for your next and future characters.
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ciel
Sorry RL means I am not a very active player at the moment. No social actions unless you are prepared to wait and definitely no sparring or other mult-action things.
No Calling Cards or boxed cats please. Will take dupes on the affluent photographers. Other social invitations welcome. Parabolan Kittens usually available, send me an in-game social action saying you want one and I will get one to you as soon as possible.
storynexus name - reveurciel
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lady ciel
Posts: 2548
2/17/2015
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Given where you are I would play through Visage to get -10 Terror and you could just hang around and wait for SAY to turn up as often as necessary to get you to safety.
Not knowing what else is close on your map I can't help with other nearby locations.
But having tea with the factor at Demeaux gives a small terror decrease; talking to the squatters at Frostfound reduces by 10; taking coffee to Irem gives either 10 or 20; certain options at Varchas also reduce terror; there is an option at the Mangrove college; giving hunting trophies to the sisters at Abbey Rock. The ones where you give echoes include The Chelonate; Polythreme; Whither; Venderbight; Shepherd Isles and Port Carnelian.
I'm sure that isn't all of them but good luck and I hope you survive.
edited by reveurciel on 2/17/2015
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ciel
Sorry RL means I am not a very active player at the moment. No social actions unless you are prepared to wait and definitely no sparring or other mult-action things.
No Calling Cards or boxed cats please. Will take dupes on the affluent photographers. Other social invitations welcome. Parabolan Kittens usually available, send me an in-game social action saying you want one and I will get one to you as soon as possible.
storynexus name - reveurciel
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WormApotheote
Posts: 725
2/14/2015
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Use F/Full Power
I thiiiiink exploding is percent damage to your hull and it's not super common, just if you see something tough, kill your lights, and use F to rush past it; unless you're running straight at a zee beast, charge isn't likely to connect with full power on even with the starting ship, and one shot from a ship shouldn't kill you.
If you started as an urchin that should be enough to avoid pretty much any unwanted combat, which early on will be most of it.
Also if you side with the rats in pigmote they'll heal your ship when you visit which can help with lighter damage (heavier damage just call in admiralty favours)
(You can also break monster ai by running your ship right up next to them, and snuggle them to death, which is probably part of why people are saying monsters are too easy.)
edited by WormApotheote on 2/14/2015
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No, I don't pull the Eater of Names.
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