James Sinclair
Posts: 253
2/25/2017
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Overall I mostly enjoyed this ES. Mechanically, I thought it worked well, particularly the luck-based challenges in the first part when you're trying to get used to your new arm. This was to me the best part of the ES. The case investigations also worked well, as did the exploration of the creepy laboratory and the rumblings of discontent in the Clay Quarter. The inclusion of the Comtessa and the Clay Man story was a nice touch, as were the (I assume intentional) allusions to the 'going sharp' storylets in Anthe from Zubmariner.
My only real disappointment was that one of the two main choices in this ES was too vague and too limited in options. I wanted to end the doctor's horrific experiments, but I prevented the Theseusan from taking his revenge. I incorrectly assumed that I'd need the Scholar's help to switch the arms back, or at the very least that I'd be able to deal with the Scholar myself via persuasion or violence, but instead the ES seems to have interpreted that as 'let the Scholar go and continue his work'...which wasn't what I'd intended. It would be nice to have more ways of dealing with challenges at the climax of an ES, rather than a single, vague binary choice.
Oh, well. At least I can pretend that the other Clay Men dealt with him.
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James Sinclair
Curator of the Sanguine Ribbon Society 🗡
 A fully-fledged rêveur of The Night Circus.
Wines is red
Spices is yellow
But old Jack-of-Smiles
Is a murderous fellow
☠
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Anne Auclair
Posts: 2215
2/27/2017
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Did anyone tackle the Parliamentarian with Mr. Huffman? Or help him escape? I kept talking to the cat.
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http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Anne%20Auclair
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Diptych
Administrator
Posts: 3493
2/27/2017
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Esther buttonholed the Parliamentarian for Huffam - result's in her journal.
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Sir Frederick, the Libertarian Esotericist. Lord Hubris, the Bloody Baron.
Juniper Brown, the Ill-Fated Orphan. Esther Ellis-Hall, the Fashionable Fabian.
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Anne Auclair
Posts: 2215
2/27/2017
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Sir Frederick Tanah-Chook wrote:
Esther buttonholed the Parliamentarian for Huffam - result's in her journal.
Has it ever been answered why London even has a Parliament? The average Parliamentarian seems to fluctuate between a life of uselessness and abject terror.
Also thanks ^^
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http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Anne%20Auclair
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Mr. Secrets
Posts: 101
2/27/2017
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Anne Auclair wrote:
Sir Frederick Tanah-Chook wrote:
Esther buttonholed the Parliamentarian for Huffam - result's in her journal.
Has it ever been answered why London even has a Parliament? The average Parliamentarian seems to fluctuate between a life of uselessness and abject terror.
Also thanks ^^
Well you can't just get rid of parliament. They are around as mostly decorations, like the Senate after Rome was ruled by Emperors. Getting rid of them would just upset people, might as well give them something small to do in order to keep them out of the way. Meanwhile the functionaries can do the real work of keeping London moving.
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Mr. Secrets - We Are In Our Ascendance. There Will Be Ten And Then All Shall Be Well And All Shall Be Well And All Manner of Things Shall Be Well.
The Straveling Solider - The Straveling Soldier, The Straveling Soldier hates and hates the beings Solar.
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Felicity Anne Stratford
Posts: 63
2/27/2017
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I really enjoyed reading this story as I played it. The random chance actions at the start were not my favorite (I failed my first 5 attempts in a row), but I can understand them in this setting. (As an aside, has anyone ever considered allowing us to use the devilbone dice to reroll random chance actions? I have also failed 5 attempts on the Mercies in a row, which is very disheartening!)
My one suggestion for future stories of this sort - why not allow me the player to select whether the bad thing happened to me or to one of my companions? My character has never died in FL and I am really careful with her. So having this happen to her off screen is not a wonderful choice.
Still, even with that, I enjoyed the topic and the writing!
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Looking for a roleplay partner with potential for Simone and maybe for Felicity. All genders considered.
Felicity Anne Stratford is a Correspondent and delighted to visit Orphanages or Salons or be interviewed! Scientific correspondence greatly appreciated. Please no Seeking or Photographer.
Simone Beaufort is a Midnighter and pleased to visit Orphanages or Salons or be interviewed! No Seeking or Photographer.
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Anne Auclair
Posts: 2215
2/27/2017
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Anyone help the Parliamentarian escape?
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http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Anne%20Auclair
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Shadowcthuhlu
Posts: 1557
2/27/2017
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I did.
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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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Anne Auclair
Posts: 2215
2/28/2017
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Shadowcthuhlu wrote:
I did.
Your link doesn't work.
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http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Anne%20Auclair
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Shadowcthuhlu
Posts: 1557
2/28/2017
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Let's try it again
http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Dirae%20Erinyes?fromEchoId=11168460
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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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Anne Auclair
Posts: 2215
2/28/2017
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Shadowcthuhlu wrote:
Let's try it again
http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Dirae%20Erinyes?fromEchoId=11168460
Thanks ^^
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http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Anne%20Auclair
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SamNorrey
Posts: 41
2/28/2017
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I'm somewhat disappointed with this story. It wasn't bad, as such, it was just a bit too straightforward for my tastes. I suspect those who would be more inclined to keep a clay arm might get more out of it, but as it is, Sam's character made the few choices non-choices in the end.
[spoiler]I promised the Theseusian to swap back the arms, let him assault the Scholar, and kept my promise. As I learned from previous posts, not letting him at the Scholar means that I would have let the experiments continue? That's not really a straightforward consequence, I think.[/spoiler]
For a story with so few choices, it could have used clearer framing for them. For the positive things, I really enjoyed the start of the story, and exploring the lab. I got lucky with all morning preparation options on the first go, so I am one of those who laments missing out on the failure texts  On the other hand, I understand those who feel their character concept was violated with such a starting point, especially as there was no way of getting out of it once started. Of course, we are never told how it actually happened, so everyone's free to make up a backstory, like being kidnapped by clay men, drugged at a pub, etc. Part of the horror premise is, after all, not being willing subjects to it.
In conclusion, the writing was fine, the dynamics were not the best, but the main failing of the ES is that it came after the Season of Skies, so far my favourite season.
edited by SamNorrey on 2/28/2017
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http://fallenlondon.com/Profile/Sam~Norrey
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Anne Auclair
Posts: 2215
3/1/2017
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Tofan Bogdan wrote:
suinicide wrote:
That's the end. The second text is you interviewing the scholar's subjects. The first text is saying you haven't heard anything from the clayman with your arm, and describing what you do with a clay arm.
I though I killed the scholar.
I was under the impression that the Scholar is left alive, albeit rather damaged, with his leg flattened and stolen teeth knocked out. But there's no real mention of the scholar after you attack him... I can't help but feel that this ambiguity is deliberate, but why? Did the writers want to leave the Scholar's fate to your imagination? Or do they plan on bringing him back as a recurring villain and so let him escape the fate he so richly deserved (if he lived I presume it's because the Theseusian disapproved of finishing the job for whatever inscrutable reason)? I'm genuinely puzzled.
btw, [spoiler]we now know who is/was responsible for all those Clay Jacks with the rotting human hearts.[/spoiler]
edited by Anne Auclair on 3/1/2017
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http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Anne%20Auclair
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ochrasy
Posts: 169
3/9/2017
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I just finished.
[spoiler] the heiress part. NO NO NO NO DON'T TELL ME SHE WANTED IT THIS STORY HAS HAUNTED ME FOREVER[/spoiler]
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Ochrasy. Monster-Hunter. Dangerous and Watchful, favors the Constables.
Robitaille. Persuasive and Shadowy, fond of the Devils.
Herr Horst. Seeker of Revenge.
Open to all social actions on all accounts. Preferably, send any MW-providing actions to Ochrasy.
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ochrasy
Posts: 169
3/9/2017
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Anne Auclair wrote:
Anyone help the Parliamentarian escape?
is that the ending where you don't keep the arm?
now that I've calmed down a bit [spoiler] what a great story. the beginning was amazing. "well, I'll just start this story so I don't forget.... WAIT WHAT WHERE'S MY ARM
and what's this I hear about snakes? is parabola envolved? I don't recall that[/spoiler]
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Ochrasy. Monster-Hunter. Dangerous and Watchful, favors the Constables.
Robitaille. Persuasive and Shadowy, fond of the Devils.
Herr Horst. Seeker of Revenge.
Open to all social actions on all accounts. Preferably, send any MW-providing actions to Ochrasy.
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PSGarak
Posts: 834
3/9/2017
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ochrasy wrote:
Anne Auclair wrote:
Anyone help the Parliamentarian escape?
is that the ending where you don't keep the arm?
I believe this has to do with the scene that opened the Season, not with the Exceptional Story in particular.
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http://fallenlondon.com/Profile/PSGarak
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ValentinV
Posts: 15
3/9/2017
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@ochrasy [spoiler]regarding the heiress: I sincerely doubt Scholar can be considered a reliable source on this.[/spoiler]
edited by SleepingD on 3/9/2017
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Tofan Bogdan
Posts: 424
3/9/2017
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I helped the parliamentarian and also kept the arm.
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My profile http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Tofan%20Bogdan
I would love actions that increases making waves. I mean increases making waves. All other social outside of malus actions.
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Gul al-Ahlaam
Posts: 225
3/11/2017
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A great story! [spoiler]If it had been any other body part, my character would have been very keen on making friends with the Clay Scholar, but it so happens that that particular arm is extremely important to them. It's the only one with a hand on the end! This left them in the unusual position of rejecting a weird modification, possibly for the first time ever. But they weren't too keen on the scholar or his work anyhow, so they didn't feel too bad about it. They're not a fan of callousness, incompetence, or justice, and he seemed pretty suffused with all three. I was rather fond of the Theseusian. I hope to see him again in a future story! [/spoiler]
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The Uncanny Hierophant.
The Jewel-Eyed Prince.
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ginnyjenny
Posts: 13
3/15/2017
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Ohmygoodness. I've enjoyed all of the exceptional stories that I've been able to play--some more than others, some with more confusion with others. This is the first one where I'm just...kind of freaking out about it.
One of the things I'm enjoying so far in the Season of Stones is that I don't feel like there's lore that I'm missing. In the Season of Wrecks, there were a lot of bits of lore that I'd encountered, but not enough to really understand the minutiae of the stories. I still enjoyed them, but it was a bit frustrating at times. Season of Skies was less frustrating on that end, because it was opening up a whole new part of Fallen London.
The Clay Man's Arm just...well, I did my version of bingeing this story. I needed it all, right now.
Part of it might be the theme of this season...the groups on the fringes of Fallen London rising up and demanding to be heard. There's something very topical about this, which I appreciate, and I'm really looking forward to interacting with the other groups in the coming months.
So basically, even if the story had been kind of "meh" the whole idea of it would have had me hooked. I also loved that our introduction to this story was "do you side with the politician or the reporter, or do you continue talking with the cat?". Backing up the journalist and shaking down a politician was very cathartic for me.
The writing is just...I'm trying not to flail. Again, it might be a combination of the writing and the theme, with the fact that we're delving into the lives of the Clay Men, but this story feels so traditionally gothic. If Mary Shelley wrote for Failbetter, this is the story she would have written. There's just so much here! A scholar? A cult? What does it mean to be Clay? We(I?) tend to see the Clay Men as living undesirable lives, but the way they treat the flesh is fascinating!
Not to mention, Ginny Jenny operates on a philosophy best summed up as "okay, but why?" Having an option that said, "your curiosity won't be satisfied if you pick the other thing!!!" was kind of perfect for her. I'll admit I debated the final choice, but [spoiler]getting the Scholar's notes and having the opportunity to perform a surgery she is in no way qualified to perform just for funzies [/spoiler] won out in the end. I'm glad I chose it; it felt very in line with the whole Frankenstein feel.
All-in-all, I felt like this was a great story. there was a lot going on but it didn't feel scattered; I enjoyed the cult vs. mysticism, Clay Men having existential crises, a Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier vibe...though that might just be my Marvel Nerd showing through.
edited by ginnyjenny on 3/15/2017
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Ginny Jenny will accept all social interactions and welcomes any Bertolt Brecht references:http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/ginnyjenny
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