BlakeTheDrake
Posts: 237
3/31/2015
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So, the Cave of the Nadir expedition just unlocked for me... and I've got high enough Watchful to attempt it, barely. Well, I honestly don't plan to do so until I'm done seeing all that the University has to offer first, but on something like this, I feel it is worth planning ahead.
I know that at the end, I'll need a Ray-Drenched Cinder, and there are several ways to obtain one. I won't buy one, though - 400 Echoes is too rich for my blood, and I tend to be quite the pack-rat when it comes to accumulating (rather than selling) materials. I don't feel particularly inclined to throw Fate at the problem, either.
That leaves two roads - Connection: Revolutionaries to 100, or Eyeless Skulls to 5.
At the moment, I have exactly zero Eyeless Skulls, and I'm not likely to get any without pursuing them deliberately. (I do, however, have a friend I could borrow one from, just to start the expedition, if it comes to that...) My Connected: Revolutionaries, meanwhile, is at 26 - and could be raised gradually just by taking advantage of various Opportunity-cards likely to appear in my deck regardless. Still, it's a loooong way to 100...
Thus, the question is - which path would be most efficient? And if it's the Skulls, is 'Seeking curios' the best way to get them? Expeditions to the Shine of the Blue Heavens obviously take much longer, but if the odds are significantly greater there...
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One of these days, I will remember to record interesting things in my journal...
http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/BlakeTheDrake
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BlakeTheDrake
Posts: 237
3/31/2015
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Huh... I guess moneymaking really DOES get much easier once you're PoSI, huh? Still, I'll probably go for the skulls. If only because just plain buying it feels... I dunno, a bit like a cheat? Maybe not as much so as buying it with FATE, but still...
"To open the gate to this ancient, forgotten cave of mystery and treasure, a rare and amazing object is required - the mythical Ray-Drenched Cinder! No doubt, a great quest will be required to obtain it..."
"Oh, that thing? Here."
"Good god! 'tis the Ray-Drenched Cinder! How on Earth or Below did you obtain such a rarity?"
"Oh, I picked it up at the Bazaar. 400 bucks. Tad steep, but hey, I make that much in a couple of days."
...yeah, I just don't like it. "I traded five mysterious, Eyeless Skulls dug up from the twisting passages of the Forgotten Quarters to a faction of anarchistic revolutionaries for it" just... feels a bit more RIGHT, somehow. >_>
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One of these days, I will remember to record interesting things in my journal...
http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/BlakeTheDrake
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A B Nile
Posts: 414
4/1/2015
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I did the 5-Skull grind twice - once to get the Cinder I needed to access the Cave for the first time, and once to have one for my collection. Took about 3 days the first time, and about 6 the second.
Quite annoying, particularly since I was stat-capped and mostly content-boundaried the second time round and so didn't benefit as much from the peripheral perks of Seeking Curios. Still, there's something satisfying about having done it the hard way. Twice. I definitely get where you're coming from re not wanting to pay the 400 Echoes, even if it is technically the most efficient.
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My profile: A B Nile
My alt: Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate
(seeking Acquaintances and accepting all social actions)
Item conversion table - finally complete with all rare successes!
Bloody, bold and resolute
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Passionario
Posts: 777
4/1/2015
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Pay Fate. Sell the Cinder. Repeat. Buy an Overgoat in one day.
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Passionario: Profile, Story, Ending
Passion: Profile, Appearance
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xKiv
Posts: 846
4/2/2015
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Gillsing wrote:
I guess for someone who's story-capped, and who doesn't draw enough cards to take full advantage of collections of curiosities (which applies to me now), unfinished business might be the best option for money?
No way.
Getting drama points and cashing for collected research in wilmot's end is consistent 147 ppa.
Affair of the box on the correct side is consistent 143 ppa.
Baseborn&Fowlingpiece heists in flit (the ones that go to different area) were around or just under 200 ppa in TLSs and searing enigmas for me (over about 100 attempts, accounting for turns spent removing suspicion and echoes spent buing the absolutin solutions for that, and even a few completely bombed attempts where I had to evade constables and got nothing). Requires 5-card lodging and not being RNG's monkey.
Archaeological expeditions should be in the vicinity of 170 ppa too, according to my calculations (using unfinished business for rostygold, lyme for glim, pewter tankard for docks, buying supplies by spending docker connection, and 100%-ing buccanneering approach, with only occasional "A sign"s and a conservative estimate of always getting only 1 point of progress at the start).
Revolutionary connection is worth far more when cashed in in flit for favours, anyway. If your opportunity cost is 200 ppa (and it probably isn't that high), a single CP is worth 22.33 pences, so getting 3700 is "worth" 826 echoes - way more than the cinder.
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https://www.fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/xKiv - a witchful, percussive, dangermous and shadowry scholar of coexplodence, hopsidirean, and walker of fallen kitties.
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Sara Hysaro
Moderator
Posts: 4514
3/31/2015
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Technically you're not buying it personally. You're giving the Secular Missionary money to make the proper arrangements with someone she knows has one.
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edited by Sara Hysaro on 3/31/2015
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http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Sara%20Hysaro
Please do not send SMEN, cat boxes, or Affluent Reporter requests. All other social actions are welcome.
Are you a Scarlet Saint? Send a message my way to be added to the list.
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Blaine Davidson
Posts: 388
4/1/2015
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Note that if you want a Ray Drenched Cinder in the future as a collectable I'm certain the only way is to trade 5 Eyeless Skulls. Sure it was a bit of a grind constantly plagued by nightmares when searching for Curios and scrounging enough materials to go on expeditions. But it's a nice thing to have.
Plus, sometimes you get Searing Enigmas. I hear that you need an exorbitant amount in the Seeking Mr. Eaten's Name storyline so I've begun stockpiling them for when it returns.
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Blaine Davidson, a reserved and sensible woman with a fondness of collecting rarities.
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Sara Hysaro
Moderator
Posts: 4514
3/31/2015
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I think Seeking Curios is the best way to get Eyeless Skulls. You'll earn other resources as you're trying to collect them, and if it takes you 2-3 weeks due to poor luck you can just sell what you've collected to buy the Ray-Drenched Cinder you need.
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http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Sara%20Hysaro
Please do not send SMEN, cat boxes, or Affluent Reporter requests. All other social actions are welcome.
Are you a Scarlet Saint? Send a message my way to be added to the list.
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lady ciel
Posts: 2548
3/31/2015
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And Seeking Curios will boost your watchful ... and other stats. As you collect the Skulls you might need to go somewhere that clears your deck - pickpocket's promenade; heist or menace area for example.
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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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Owen Wulf
Posts: 715
3/31/2015
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What I did on my Lukas Uller (who has 7 Cinders) was the following.
1. Seek Curios (small chance to acquire skull).
2. Accumulate Whispered Secrets while seeking Curios (you will get many).
3. Use the whispered Secrets to fund the 20 supply expedition (the 10 supply does not give skulls).
4. When you have no more secrets, go back to hunting curios.
5. Unless you have a massive stockpile of tinctures and laudanum you're probably better off just going insane with Nightmares and getting sent to the Mirror Marches. The return trip is sometimes quicker than going through bottles of medicine. The hit to your "Is someone coming?" Dream stat is nothing to fret over.
This method ensures that you are profiting from constant Expeditions while you try to get a Cinder. Granted, I believe that the 400 Echoes is far more economical, especially for Persons of Some Importance, but to each their own. When seeking Curios, be sure to check on the wiki to know which actions have a chance to give you a skull and which do not.
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edited by Owen Wulf on 3/31/2015
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 Owen Wulf's Profile  Lanzo Hoffman’s Profile  Lukas Uller’s Profile
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