Greetings, delicious friends.

I began playing Sunless Sea a few months after it came out; I began playing Fallen London last spring.

I ground my way to PoSI status and am now enjoying saving up for various special items; a vehicle, club membership, etc. However, I'm finding myself more and more interested in experiencing the social aspects of the game. I sent some social invitations with notes to people who happened to be logged on when I badly needed help with menace reduction, but I'm not sure how you go about forming a relationship where you collaborate about mutual needs and exploit beneficial activities together. I'm also interested in conducting such business in-character.

I read all of the policies I could find, and it appears that spoilers, particularly of a Fate-locked nature, are of course off limits. However, I'm interested in expressing some of my theories about the game as theories of my character. For example, Gerald has never been killed in the Neath - he's not a coward, but he's obsessively cautious and solitary. He has heard rumors that a boat ride will mean never returning to the Surface, but he strongly suspects that he already can't go back, that nobody can.

Nobody but his Aunt ever contacted him down here, and he doesn't know what his daughter looks like anymore. He had friends up there who would've given anything for what he has now - why no letters seeking help? And people pay more for sunlight than gold in the Neath. That doesn't make sense, if any of us have access to the real thing. He doesn't urgently want to return - he had a terrible life on the Surface, but is doing much better in the Neath - but in between the revels, the salons and the prayers to St Joshua, he wonders if "Prisoner's Honey" in fact refers to everybody down here, including him. He doesn't talk about these concerns often - he mentioned them to a few people who were invariably confused, alarmed or offended. For now, he thinks he's everything he wanted to be on the Surface - self-reliant, upwardly mobile and a slave to no one. Or is he?

Ideally, I'd like to befriend people above, below and around my own level and spend some portions of my actions engaging in mutually beneficial actions - whether each side wants advantages, waves, CPs or just good old profit. If I could conduct such business in character, that would be ideal.

I've found that active players rarely return a message, but are reasonably likely to accept a solitary invitation. Is there a straightforward way to meet likeminded players?

There are no rules, really. Just keep doing what you think will work. If you want more Acquaintances, start with an invitation to something terribly intellectual or potentially dangerous or to Caligula's. Add a short role-playing message. If they respond, send your calling card. Keep doing that, but remember that there are players behind the characters, and often enough in front. Some just don't want to associate with low-"power" folks, others don't know roleplay from Fungal Crackers, still others are too busy or distracted or don't have a lot of opportunities to play Fallen London so they'd rather not spend Actions on social. But keep knocking on doors and a few will open eventually. You probably don't need numerous contacts because the game, regrettably, has few or no social actions for several people to participate at once, it's all tête-à-tête, and you would have to spend an inordinate number of Actions on social with a crowd.

Obviously choose addressees with more or less normal names, like mine or Estelle's here. They will probably be more inclined to roleplay than those whose characters are called after their e-mails. But exceptions are possible. Once you have a few Acquaintances, keep being nice to them - nurse their wounds, invite them, treat them to dinners... If you really want to roleplay, you should not hesitate to excuse yourself from Acquaintances who respond to your invitations, invite you back but don't speak in character. You might have to go through quite a lot of people before you form the company you desire. Of course, search the forums for role-players.

Von Prabik wrote:

Some just don't want to associate with low-"power" folks,

Frankly, I like making acquaintances with newer players. They're more likely to engage in social actions. A lot of end game players have goals they're trying to achieve and don't ant to waste an action on little old me.

http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/profile/piganddogarehappyfriends

Me, as loud as possible: "I'M ALWAYS A HARLOT-FRY FOR ROLEPLAY"