Dinjoralo
Posts: 9
12/31/2015
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So, the Heart's Blood season started with the Flint two-parter? Well, I picked a perfect time to get back into Fallen London! And I love gallows humor, so it's doubly perfect!
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Dinjoralo, a secretive gentleman who does whatever he fancies. Particularly loves the warmth of Hell's finest. Finds entertainment in watching flawed people live their banal, meaningless lives, while bizarre things happen around them.
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Emain Ablach
Posts: 348
12/31/2015
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I just finished the story, which took me a lot of actions because one optional luck-based challenge kept failing, hahaha ^.^
I really liked this story. The topic is interesting, developped in a surprising way, and we learn a nice bit of lore.
[spoiler]The twists, once you're below, are funny and I didn't expect them. I especially liked the gentleman with the trap, just imagining what happens made me laugh. The text in Watchmaker Hill, with the Eradicators, was very nice as well !
I'd liked to have something more complexe about the "aesthetics"... acts, maybe something like the Black Ribbon, but I get that it would be too similar.[/spoiler]
To sum up : very nice story, thank you very much ! These monthly stories are a very good idea and add just what diversity is needed ! =)
edited by Emain Ablach on 12/31/2015
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Went NORTH. Got salted. Never came back. We won't remember him.
https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/Emain%20Ablach
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+2
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JimmyTMalice
Posts: 237
12/31/2015
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Well, what we saw of the story was certainly interesting, but it seemed a little... underdeveloped.
[spoiler]I would have liked to explore more of this murder society instead of simply seeing a few set-pieces and then everything dissolving into chaos. The ending felt awfully abrupt - I was expecting the chase with the Snuffer to be the beginning of a wider story instead of simply being the end.
The 'Topic of Conversation' quality that kept popping up made me think that there would be a more in-depth conversation like the ones with the Bishop in Flint, and it was very disappointing to not really get to talk to the Snuffer much.[/spoiler]
It certainly has its merits, but it has to be the weakest Exceptional Story I've played (the others being Flint and Discernment).
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 Gideon Stormstrider, the Esoteric Gadgeteer
 Jimmy T. Malice, gone.
A Tale of Two Suns - Meeting Your Maker - A Squid in the Polls
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Manu Traveler
Posts: 29
12/31/2015
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I have to agree with what other have said: this story stars well, with some really fun (in a gallows humour sort of way) moments and great atmosphere. But the ending feels rushed and underwhelming. It is an ending that makes sense within the story, but there are things which could be explored and developed further.
Not a bad story at all, but it feels like it could have been even better.
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Manu Traveler, the inquisitive professor
Red Christine, the conflicted revolutionary
Tyler Glen, God's mad disciple - GONE NORTH
A Morel, the unrepentant heartbreaker
Omphale the Magnificent, the titanic crossdresser
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Frensus
Posts: 102
12/31/2015
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A fun and exciting story, wonderful words! The investigation had an initially confusing metric for tracking progress, I feel it was a nice way of going about it in the end. I especially liked having the opportunity to explore every option there. Your twist in the contest's nature had a thrilling bite to it for the player, and then was twisted again, but on the entire audience! I must agree though that the item payouts were a bit disappointing. It's a once-per-character experience, and while I certainly don't want to have massive piles of rare and/or unique items thrown at me, seeing "Extraordinary Implications hasn't increased because it's already at 29" as part of my final payout felt unpleasant.
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http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Frensus
Currently targeting: NiteBrite's Fabulous Diamond Diversion (1/50), Breath of the Void (3184/3200)
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Kamin the Son
Posts: 12
12/31/2015
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Out of curiosity, do any of the ending decisions [spoiler] add to "A Bringer of Death" quality? [/spoiler] I already made my choice, but would be interested to know.
This story seemed exceptional, insofar as it was exceptionally short. Although I enjoyed it, I expected far more content (I personally don't concern myself with material rewards, so that's not a complaint I have).
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Never speak of the Devil, unless you wish him to arrive.
http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Kamin%20the%20Son
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Frensus
Posts: 102
12/31/2015
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Neither I nor my friend got CP/levels for that Kamin, and between us we chose the two options that would.
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http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Frensus
Currently targeting: NiteBrite's Fabulous Diamond Diversion (1/50), Breath of the Void (3184/3200)
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Ruddertail
Posts: 36
12/31/2015
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I quite enjoyed this one. In fact, I think it might be my favorite exceptional story so far.
Why? While it was a little short, it felt like not a single word was wasted, and your choice of actions was constantly interesting. Plus it was a lot more "actiony" than the others, which I also appreciated for a change.
Not to mention the fourth choice for the ending.
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http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Ruddertail
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Shadowcthuhlu
Posts: 1557
12/31/2015
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Kamin the Son wrote:
Out of curiosity, do any of the ending decisions [spoiler] add to "A Bringer of Death" quality? [/spoiler] I already made my choice, but would be interested to know.
This story seemed exceptional, insofar as it was exceptionally short. Although I enjoyed it, I expected far more content (I personally don't concern myself with material rewards, so that's not a complaint I have).
To Kamin the Son
[spoiler] I can at least tell you that giving her first place does not.[/spoiler]
Also, with all this lore about cousins from the Flint and now The Heart's Blood, I wonder if it's ever going to come up that I'm married to a woman of. . .certain needs. I'm sure she might have an opinion on all of this; maybe have even wanted to meet the Bishop.
edited by Shadowcthuhlu on 12/31/2015
edited by Shadowcthuhlu on 12/31/2015
Edit: Trying to fix spoiler brackets and clarified my message
edited by Shadowcthuhlu on 12/31/2015
edited by Shadowcthuhlu on 12/31/2015
Edit 2: I must throw myself upon the mercy of the mods in this case. I have been trying for over half an hour, but I cannot get the spoiler code to properly format. I checked the forum guidelines and copied the code from there (and made sure to remove the first space as instructed). I am not sure what mistake I've made.
edited by Shadowcthuhlu on 12/31/2015
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https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/Dirae%20Erinyes. Closed to calling cards, but open for all other social action. I also love to roleplay.
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Kade Carrion (an_ocelot)
Posts: 1372
12/31/2015
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Echoes start here.
I really enjoyed the writing--dark as it was, it had just the right leavening of humor, and the central character was really fascinating. But I had a few quibbles about mechanics, which follow under the spoiler cut, along with musings about the final choice.
[spoiler]During the investigation, I found clues in Spite, Watchmaker's Hill, and my lodgings, but I had to repeat one of them to get "a breakthrough" and advance, which was not obvious and suboptimal.
I liked the "Red Temptations" -- losing control of yourself as you go -- but only naming them at the end was a little weird.
I was really stumped on what to do--I was very tempted to award her first place because the macabre humor of it appealed. But I'd chosen to descend to stop the murders (my Ambition is Nemesis, so it seemed fitting), and I'd come to pity her, so I chose to let her go because I thought she was finished killing. Also if the Thief-of-Faces does come . . . [/spoiler]
There are four possible endings.
Text for #1 (inspired).
Text for #2 (ceremony-less).
Text and rewards for #3 (go).
Text for #4 (award).
edited by an_ocelot on 1/3/2016
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Social Actions: send them to Kade Carrion (she/her; no Tournament of Lilies, please). an_ocelot has gone NORTH and cannot benefit from social actions!
Possibly-Useful Things: Spreadsheets and hints and link collections, oh my.
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Sir Joseph Marlen
Posts: 575
12/31/2015
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Are there any changes to the game depending on what your intentions are before entering the contest?
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Sir Joseph Marlen - The Romantic Sophist
Alexus Harven - The Defiant Fatalist
Rose Reinhelm - The Respectful Revolutionary
Cappuccino - The Perfidious Spycraft
Available for any and all social actions.
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Kade Carrion (an_ocelot)
Posts: 1372
12/31/2015
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Sir Joseph Marlen wrote:
Are there any changes to the game depending on what your intentions are before entering the contest?
Not that I noticed being signaled to the player. I think it's to adjust your state of mind rather than the game's mechanics.
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Social Actions: send them to Kade Carrion (she/her; no Tournament of Lilies, please). an_ocelot has gone NORTH and cannot benefit from social actions!
Possibly-Useful Things: Spreadsheets and hints and link collections, oh my.
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Catherine Raymond
Posts: 2518
12/31/2015
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I thought this story was very elegant, in the sense that it was concisely told and sparely plotted. Still, I also felt that it was a bit short for an Exceptional Story.
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Cathy Raymond
http://fallenlondon.com/Profile/cathyr19355
Catherine Raymond aka Mrs. Rykar Malkus http://fallenlondon.com/Profile/Catherine%20Raymond (Gone NORTH)
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Catherine Raymond
Posts: 2518
12/31/2015
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JimmyTMalice wrote:
Well, what we saw of the story was certainly interesting, but it seemed a little... underdeveloped.
[spoiler]I would have liked to explore more of this murder society instead of simply seeing a few set-pieces and then everything dissolving into chaos. The ending felt awfully abrupt - I was expecting the chase with the Snuffer to be the beginning of a wider story instead of simply being the end.
The 'Topic of Conversation' quality that kept popping up made me think that there would be a more in-depth conversation like the ones with the Bishop in Flint, and it was very disappointing to not really get to talk to the Snuffer much.[/spoiler]
It certainly has its merits, but it has to be the weakest Exceptional Story I've played (the others being Flint and Discernment).
Flint (the two parts together), is probably the best of the Exceptional Stories, ever, so it may be unfair to compare "Art of Murder" to it. On the other hand, I thought Discernment was weak. It's hard to compare Exceptional Stories because people's tastes vary widely.
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Cathy Raymond
http://fallenlondon.com/Profile/cathyr19355
Catherine Raymond aka Mrs. Rykar Malkus http://fallenlondon.com/Profile/Catherine%20Raymond (Gone NORTH)
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Estelle Knoht
Posts: 1751
12/31/2015
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I really liked this! But then again, I liked Neighborhood Necromancer.
It is very concise, save for the odd bit in the investigation phase where you had to repeat once. On the other hand, it does give me the odd feeling that it is supposed to come before Flint.
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Estelle Knoht, a juvenile, unreliable and respectable lady.
I currently do not accept any catbox, cider, suppers, calling cards or proteges.
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Jarvind
Posts: 18
12/31/2015
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I didn't love this one, to be honest. I'm not sure if it's because it was so short or because Flint was so great, but something about it just fell flat for me.
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Guest
12/31/2015
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Yeah, for me, I think it's a case of... Flint being phenomenal and tainting my perspective, haha. Compared to other typical Exceptional Stories like the Last Dog Society, this one is coolio enough. I did find the mechanics a tad obscure (ie, I didn't understand why "last topic of conversation" was pertinent during the chase, and I had a rather confused relationship with the Red Tempations, haha), but that's just me. I very much enjoyed the writing of course and I'm keen to see where the overarching story ends.
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metasynthie
Posts: 645
12/31/2015
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I liked this bloody little amuse bouche quite a bit, actually -- especially the twist in how the topics of conversation were overlaid onto the physical space of the chase through the tunnels; that really gave the feel of being trapped in a looping action scene, the opponent yelling various plot points at you.
However, I want to make one recommendation for anyone who hasn't played it yet:
This exceptional story should be played while listening to fast, dissonant cello music. Maybe a Shostakovich cello concerto. Or this solo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0_gw2Lillg
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Positively antique
http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/metasynthie
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Trodgmey
Posts: 164
12/31/2015
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As an Exceptional Story I don't have any qualms about the length. However...
[spoiler]
I'm at the end and I'm rather annoyed at my options. Compared to most Londoners, my character is a bit fusty, and despite the gifts of Stone is rather appalled by the whimsical treatment of death in the Neath, and both fights it and avoids it studiously. I've actually lost access to a number of stories because in the "resets" I reset things back a bit far, and the new arrangements are making my character go and kill for Mr. Inch in order to progress back into things like the Labyrinth, something he just won't do.
So my gameplay is stuck with four options. Two are outright unacceptable -- Trodgmey came underground to stop this nonsense, not to perpetuate it. One solves the problem of a particularly warped Cousin, but requires death. One follows Trodgmey's morals, but lets the Cousin go.
What Trodgmey really wants to do is apprehend this twisted freak and hand her over to his dear associate Sophia and her partner Soap. (AHEM FAILBETTER FOLKS MORE SOPHIA CONTENT PLEASE KTHXBYE) I suppose I'll have him let her go, but I'm not happy about it.
[/spoiler]
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Trodgmey -- an otherwise pleasant chap with a peculiar obsession with the first four cities.
http://www.fallenlondon.com/Profile/Trodgmey
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RandomWalker
Posts: 948
12/31/2015
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an_ocelot wrote:
Echoes start here.
I really enjoyed the writing--dark as it was, it had just the right leavening of humor, and the central character was really fascinating. But I had a few quibbles about mechanics, which follow under the spoiler cut, along with musings about the final choice.
[spoiler]During the investigation, I found clues in Spite, Watchmaker's Hill, and my lodgings, but I had to repeat one of them to get &quota breakthrough&quot and advance, which was not obvious and suboptimal.
I liked the &quotRed Temptations&quot -- losing control of yourself as you go -- but only naming them at the end was a little weird.
I was really stumped on what to do--I was very tempted to award her first place because the macabre humor of it appealed. But I'd chosen to descend to stop the murders (my Ambition is Nemesis, so it seemed fitting), and I'd come to pity her, so I chose to let her go because I thought she was finished killing. Also if the Thief-of-Faces does come . . . [/spoiler]
There are four possible endings.
I'm inferring that this is the text for #1.
If I'm correct about the above, then I haven't seen anyone echo #2 yet.
Here is the text and rewards for #3.
And this looks like the text for #4.
edited by an_ocelot on 12/31/2015
Number 2 was chosen by Stroller.
edited by RandomWalker on 12/31/2015
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