Congrats on the Salon. If you need a Crooked Cross to visit your Salon, feel free to invite me.

In other news, I finally traded in 3 Marks of Credit for a Iron Republic Safe Conduct (Time to save 5 for the Violin...). I will be heading there shortly for a fun vacation. Without spoiling anything, is there anything that I should bring? I don't want to be roadblocked away from the end, but want the trip to be relatively blind otherwise.

I've wondered if it is possible to get a 100% chance fighting Feducci, or if it is capped at 90% or some such. It's not something I want to try anytime soon.

-- Mal

And a secondary question of mechanics, can one Be Seen with more than one player at the same time? Or is being Seen With tantamount to Going Steady or even Engagement?

th8827 wrote:

Any noteworthy use for Moon Pearls as a POSI? I have a lot of them, and I am considering selling some, unless I need them. I don't want a repeat of the problem that I had for selling Rosygold...

The only moon pearl use I can think of is in Mahogany Hall, or with the Widow card. in both cases it's not really needed for anything important. Just trading into other things.

Anatasia: Ok, will send on my alt! I kept keying your name in as "Anastasia" for the longest time. ._.
edited by Sestina Valdis on 12/22/2015

shapjul wrote:

malthaussen wrote:

@Hepzibah: just curious, I see you're living in a Cottage by the Observatory. Do you not have a Townhouse? If not, I recommend getting one, because it has special uses for PoSI.

-- Mal

Thanks for this advice. I will endeavor to move immediately. I knew I was not in the right neighborhood. Life as a POSI is looking up.

H.

http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Hepzibah~Gordon~

Once I save my pennies (or romantic notions) that is. Just looked at the price. Egad!

You can solve the case at the Uni without being kicked out? I thought it was a necessary consequence.

-- Mal

On an unrelated note, I've finally managed to get myself enough Uses of Villains to assemble a Gang of Hoodlums, but need more favours: criminals. I thought there was an easy way to get more at the Carnival but can't find this option; any advice?
edited by Blitherington Smythe on 12/10/2015

I do think that weirdest thing about Doubt Street is that you absolutely need to leave it: i used to progress straight through and get absolutely nowhere. It's unlike most of the other carousel in the game.

do i understand right -its (20 - BDR) + 4N = amount of Making Waves needed to raise Notability by one?

On the good advice of the kind people who posted before I've been trying my best to get hold of some more BDR items. I have a lot of golden story cards for these in the Bazaar side streets now. All at various degrees of completion.

The final options to get the BDR equipment in these story-lets (the ones I have been able to make my way through to the end of anyway) need items bought from the Bazaar side streets to complete. Gosh! A lot of those are expensive! ( It also appears they can be gained by playing Tournament of Lilies and the like, but that looks a long way off for me, and maybe a little RND reliant?)

My question is do you have any tips on 'grinds' for getting the minor items needed to make things such as Strong-Back labour and Personal recommendations, etc, etc? The two I'm personally closest to are the Stag Club membership and the Gang of Hoodlums. Use of Villains in particular seem like hen teeth.

Maybe this is a case of being patient and working slowly? Perhaps these are suppose to take a long time to get hold of? But maybe you all know that there is one item that is much easier to get at than the others? I would love to be able to push up my notability easier. Thank-you for your help

Thank you for all the soup. I'll send some Suspicion to you once I recover some action points.

Here is a brief writeup, for people who have not went to Zee yet, and are curious. Please correct me if I am wrong.

The Zee is not as complicated as I expected. It's basically like an easy expedition, but you get a deck with infinite draws of undiscardable cards and a 3 slot hand. You want your progress to hit 10 before Troubled Waters does, or your easier actions start being blocked off. Once you get 10 progress, your trip ends and you can pick your destination. This includes London, even if you just left there. Mutton Island, at least, was basically a University-style carousel with neat lore. I assume that other islands are, too.

Plated Seal hunting is a pinned storylet and unlocks at 10 Troubled Waters. Using it costs one action and brings you to another option that lets you do a Dangerous check for a chance to catch it. Or, if you are a Monster Hunter, you get a 100% chance catch.

Several islands are locked until you start a Voyage of scientific discovery. That happens after you finish the University storyline. You access the Scientific Discovery islands the same way that you access regular islands. Two are in the regular area, and one is in the Sea of Voices, which needs the Screaming Map. Once you reach the sea of voices, you need to bring progress to 10 a second time to pick a destination from there. The purpose of the three Scientific islands are to grind research notes in order to... research, I guess. The university may be impressed by it, no matter what your reputation is. The noes also unlock some interesting choices, including the final Neathymon.

In addition to the normal and Scientific destinations, there are several other islands, which unlock with other items, namely the Screaming Map, and the Iron Republic Safe Conduct. They both are located in London.

The trip should take one action candle, each carousel should take another candle, and the return trip (or trip to another island), should take an action candle. So, a trip, one carousel, and the trip back should take about 8-10 hours worth of actions. Since you probably start this with a full candle, you should finish in 5-7 hours. Faster if you can 100% the checks.

The downside? You can't do social actions. And menace penalties don't take effect until you return to London, meaning that if you are careless, you may have to do all 4 menace zones before returning to normal (although you really have to be trying for that to happen). If heavily wounded or deranged, a trip to Hunter's Keep may be beneficial for you.
edited by th8827 on 1/14/2016

• Plan a more ambitious route allows you to pre-pay for more advancement using (for new PoSI players at least) costly Puzzling Maps (not to be confused with Screaming Maps we'll mention later) and Zee stories. You can buy this Approaching Journey's End all the way to 7. A map sets you up to 6 (and bumps your troubled waters to 5) so best to use 1 map and Zee Stories all the way to 7 if you planned on using both (you rich PoSI you.) This option exists on every port to make your journey faster should you need to arrive or return quickly.
• If going to Polythreme (and you must have a Screaming Map as noted,) the first Approaching Journey's End only needs to go to 7 to reach the Across the Sea of Voices. Approaching Journey's End and Troubled Waters reset at this point. Then you need to raise Approaching Journey's End to 10 to reach Polythreme.
• Should you have high menaces, Hunter's keep has an autofire reset for those with Wounds or Nightmares over 8. It comes at the cost of progressing the carousel, but one can easily go there and spend a few turns to reset one (or both) of these per. The only non-London options for Suspicion and Scandal is the Iron Republic, and that's a whole complicated mess explaining what changes to what there. Short of selling or converting your souls on hand before leaving, there really isn't any preparation you can do in a land of no sense and no rules. To go there however, you need to procure Safe Conduct gotten from Marques of Credit from Counting the Days' Secrets and Spending. But at least you don't have to return to London with an autofire Menace zone or zones.

I am correct in deducing that there are three ways to increase Dramatic Tension? Assuming 100% success, do they all take the same number of actions?

-- Mal
edited by malthaussen on 12/31/2015

Perplexed new PoSI? That's me!!

Some burning questions I have:

Is it possible to get connected:benthic without having uncovered the tomb of the seven?
Has anyone calculated the net profit from assembling a collection of curiosities and selling it to the tobm colonists? Is it worthwhile?
Can anyone summarize the pros and cons of each ship model, apart from BDR?

A tangential question: if one becomes specialized, and then the relevant stat is reduced below 200 base, does he lose his specialization? Since I understand there is no way currently to change specializations, I'd say "no," although it would allow for the curious possibility of someone who had wrecked a stat to a) still teach another player, even one whose stat is higher than one's own, and b) receive training from other players again, even perhaps a former protege. This is all theoretical, of course, and I won't be testing it any time soon, as I barely have a stat at 200 with equipment!
-- Mal

Sorry for the confusion, I'll try to clarify what I mean by those things. Influence is a quality you gain when you make acquaintances with others, as well as when you invite others to be your protege (and when a protege accepts a patron). Influence has a hard limit of 100, after which you can not make new acquaintances or invite others for the protege/patron relationship until it is below 100 again. You can track your influence in the side bar to the left at the very bottom. You can also put in on your scrapbook too. Each protege/patron takes up 7 influence points from the 100 you have. Each calling card takes up 1 influence, so you need 8 total for both parts. If you have 94, you can not take on more more proteges but you may send more calling cards, until is 100. I hope this help to clarify it, and if not, I or someone else can help to make more sense of it.

Tier 2 POSI is the way to describe someone with a specialization (An Extraordinary Mind, An Invisible Eminence, A Shattering Force, and A Legendary Charisma, possibly A Paramount Presence, but that has yet to be discovered in any public way). Tier 1 POSI are those without a specialization yet, such as myself at this moment. What I meant inviting a Tier 2 POSI is inviting someone specialized to be a protege, which I think can occur, or at least your tests show it to be true.

Also, thanks for the insight that one of your proteges has two same specialization patrons. I recently learned from another of the idea of having different patrons with different specializations at the same time. Having different patrons with the same specialization can help to understand the dynamics further.
edited by Ridagoth on 1/31/2016

I've opened my orphanage, although I'm not sure Ralph approves. Looks like a real money-sink.

My newfound delicious friends, I have quite the issue that has been pressuring me. Since I finally have the echos to buy the stat boosting items that I want, is it wise to go ahead and buy a set of items for each attribute? It is quite the drag on my wallet to afford the high end gear.

My newfound delicious friends, I have quite the issue that has been pressuring me. Since I finally have the echos to buy the stat boosting items that I want, is it wise to go ahead and buy a set of items for each attribute? It is quite the drag on my wallet to afford the high end gear.

Nope, it's just luck based. I've had it disappear on me before, and I draw all my cards in the Labyrinth of Tigers so it definitely wasn't due to a change in location.

The labyrinth of tigers has no special opportunity cards so it's better to draw there if you want a specific card.

Anyhow, I have another question. Does it matter what route I take to get into a profession? I've had my Church connections high enough to get Campaigner for a bit now, but I simply do not seem to be able to draw the card. (Damn RNG, I mean, WTH, seriously?!?!!!) Anyhow, I do have a Revolutionaries card in my hand at the moment, and while my character really isn't a revolutionary I'm just a few points of connection away from getting Campaigner off that card. I could fairly easily grind it out with public lectures in the Forgotten Quarter, which is my current plan.

However I'm worried that there might be a difference in the profession dependent on where I got it from. So, will I be okay taking Campaigner off of the Revolutionaries card, or should I keep waiting in the vain hope that the RNG will finally grace me with a card for the Church.

Well that's the only other use I currently can think of since I was toying with the idea of some more expeditions but that has been blown out of the water by the sudden changes to the tankard and the docks as a whole. Seriously is there any detailed response somewhere about why It happened ive checked the forums and the wikis but no definitive answer. Was it purely to nerf an easy source of expedition supplies, if so it feels a it extreme especially with no notice.

@TeslaWalker: I'll confirm what Sara has said. The 60-echo works at Court take 34 Inspired to complete, the 30-echo ones take 24. The latter have the better EPA return, if you're concerned with that.

-- Mal

That's what I was hoping for confirmation on, that the opera was the dangerous thing and I'd be safe working on novels.

Thanks Parelle, I'll try to remember to send you some rats for your wedding.

I managed to find a skull, and did the expedition. Now, I need to get a Cinder somehow...

For reference, I have 4.40 Echos, and 0 Revolutionary connections.

Hmm... None of the choices seem particularly appealing.

If Connections is not the way to go, what is the fastest reliable money grind?

My stats, with best equipment, are...

Watchful 170 + 36 = 206 (Most relevant end game grinds seem to require Watchful...)

Shadowy 121 + 53 = 174

Dangerous 133 + 38 = 171

Persuasive 147 + 29 = 176

I've opened my orphanage, although I'm not sure Ralph approves. Looks like a real money-sink.

Any advice for Polythreme? I have been here about a day and a half and, even if I pick only my desired quality cards, I seem to fall short by 2 or 3 levels quite often.

I've just hit Shadowy 200 and am an Invisible Eminence. Why is it that I can invite other POSIs to be my protege? They are all available in my drop down list - 8, Kittenpox, Gonen, and even my former Persuasive patron. Can anyone explain this?

The four card lodgings not only last forever, give a very bankable card slot, and have useful cards for scraps and WV, but this is the time of year you can upgrade to their 5 card form (another bankable slot) for really really cheap.

edited by the truthseeker on 12/26/2015

I'm at 45 Antique Mysteries! The end is in sight!

Is there any way, besides drawing the "The Visit" card to increase Acquaintance: Regretful Soldier?
edited by th8827 on 12/30/2015

The first question: I believe as long as you're welcomed at the university you can donate your treasures from any expedition (including the thieves cache) for university connections.

:peeking in... looking around... poking back out:

Well... I guess I'm not meeting the Reluctant Forger anytime soon, since I'm working on getting Connected: Hell to 50 (currently at 48). I plan on using the Nadir location to get the item needed to upgrade the Brass Embassy suite, once I grind enough souls and brandy to get the room. Then, I'll get and upgrade the Bazaar room next Neathmas, using Lacre.

Is there a reliable way to reduce Scandal that does not rely on other players? The choice at your Lodging is a gamble, and it can increase it instead... I have 7 levels and 7 CP of Scandal, trying to farm Candles.

Also, is there an alternative way to farm Foxfire Candles besides Admirer in the Clergy in Veilgarden? Preferable using something besides Persuasive.

@Malthaussen: Yes, I understood that much and I already visited Dante's Grill.

According to this formula: (20 - BDR) + 4N = amount of Making Waves needed to raise Notability by one, if I have 8 BDR, I need 16 MW (I'm just at 9 right now), right?

If I reach that point, will I get an opportunity card to get the 1 Notability or will it be automatic?

I'm happy to give out Notability - just send a calling card. That said, looking at your character currently, you've 8 points (God's editors, zub, frock coat, sedan) but you should easily have a point in Companion assuming you've a faction connected pet and quite likely a weapon point if you've either finished with the Lapidary or the Numismatic. And, I think you figured this out, but as a reminder, the Brass Ring's Baroque isn't a BDR stat.

Vendrick is definitely dead as yesterday's news after you kill him. Although I believe his duel is linked to the Drownie you meet at the start of the story, yet letting her live does not change his insistence on fighting to the death.

-- Mal
edited by malthaussen on 1/2/2016

Not I. I have played very little Fate-locked content.

-- Mal

Someone mentioned somewhere that a PoSI could adopt the Author profession without using the Bohemians card (and thus avoiding a 60 quid opportunity cost!). Is that another of those gold card options?

-- Mal

A separate question, in reference to BDR. One assumes there are three values for a reason. Is it considered best to have as nearly equal quantities of B, D, and R as possible? Does a greater quantity of one open a door or unlock an opportunity than would an equal amount spread out? Or does it not matter much in the end? It is of some consequence when getting things such as transport... which reminds me, can one have both a sedan chair and a landau?

Without being too spoiler-y, I'd appreciate advice on how much Casing a gent with 117 Shadowy and a boatload of Shadowy Second Chances should pile up to gank the offices at Concord Square. I read somewhere that Inside Information is better than an Escape Route, the question then becomes how much I.I. I should buy. I don't want to overprepare too much, but I also don't want to blow it.

-- Mal

Thank-you both! Looks like I'm going to need to go and spend some time reading the wikis. I have a couple low level BDR's already, so hopefully they'll be a little useful.

Thank-you both! I will hope someone (else) starts trying to kill me.

- Is getting Strong Back Labour from Clay street a good option? - I remember seeing something about that last time I was down there.

You're welcome. =)

I did that once, but it increases Ruthless and drops Magnanimous. Not sure if that is ideal for RP purposes.

I also find it troublesome to gather all the components... Rather pay Echoes, to be honest. ._. Or get Labour from laborious grinds.
edited by Sestina Valdis on 11/30/2015