i bought A trade in souls, because i'm interested in the whole topic. But the idea of actually having to participate in it has put me a little at odds I can't seem to make a roleplaying decision one way or ther other, on the subject. I'm rather fond of hell, and i'd like to continue good relations with them, so on that note the spirifier path seems like the best option

But on the other hand, tricking the weak and dying out of their souls just seems so underhanded, i'm not sure if i want to do that. And being able to help out the regretful soldier is an interesting motivator for picking shepard

But on the other other hand, i am acrtively pursuing a room at the brass embassy, and one of the reasons i wanted the soul trade was to investigate better methods of aquiring souls

I have three hands, i'm odd, i know. But lore and roleplay wise, i seem to be at an impasse here. I can't make a decision based upon that. I think my interest is more as a neutral observer, than a participant.
This is the point where i'd normally investigate the material and mechanical benefits of each path, and make my choice based on practicality.
But being a fatelocked story, that's not so easy to do. The wiki has no information at all.

I'm not sure how much information i'm allowed to ask of you lovely people, but i would appreciate any possible guidance in this matter, for right now chronic indecisiveness has gotten the better of me.
edited by Nanako on 1/23/2016

what about knowledge, and stories. i can't be certain, but it seems like the spirifier would have a closer observaarion of the process of abstraction, and perhaps the inner workings of the brass embassy, both of which intrigue me greatly

I don't know, I've never found being a Shepherd all that rewarding. Other than one person, you don't really get to help out anybody personally or see tangible proof of the good you're supposedly doing (if any), and there doesn't seem to be much in the way of in-game rewards for collecting souls and contracts and turning them in. If you're really dedicated, you'll be locked out of some Hell-related content that requires souls as payment (since if you're serious about your shepherdly duties, you wouldn't use souls in such a way) and limited in terms of items you can use (I can't even do anything with all my cool special souls I got from the advent calander, because the soul guy won't take them). Even selling them for cash seems in violation of the spirit of being a Sheperd.

Meanwhile Spirifers make lots of money performing their craft and don't seem to be locked out of anything or handicapped by the game in any way.

So, unless you're roleplaying someone who is very, VERY against taking people's souls (like me), I'd go with Spirifer.

Of course, I'm a fairly new player and might not have encountered all the supposed benefits of being a Shepherd or heard of all the drawbacks of being a Spirifer, so it's likely someone who's been here longer might have a different perspective. But this has been my experience so far.

did you ever entered in the house of chimes? there you'll find a story that will be "rewarding" (for the good that you're doing not for items IIRC) for sheperds

Honestly, trying to be a good person in this game is SUCH a thankless task. I know Fallen London is set in a nasty world and that most people want to play as a "magnificent bastard" type of character, so Failbetter is just giving them what they want, but man, sometimes it really rankles in me being punished over and over for not wanting to play as a jerk while the amoral and immoral characters get ALL the rewards. I wish it was more balanced sometimes.