Rupho Schartenhauer
Posts: 787
12/20/2011
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I once started the game looking for my Heart's Desire, but found myself becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the storyline (also, I found the prospect of staking my soul in the game a little bit strange regarding the fact that I sold my soul long ago and do not plan to get it back). When I hit the content boundary, I decided to drink Lethean Tea and started my hunt for the Vake -- and I have never regretted that decision.
What stroke me throughout the Bag a Legend storyline so far is the amount of information in there (especially about a certain lady of negotiable virtue) I would never have come upon would I be following a different Ambition -- and I'm pretty sure that it's just the same with Nemesis and Light Fingers.
So, this could be a place where followers of different Ambitions might satisfy their curiosity and exchange experiences (Comparative Ambitionology, if you would). Also, for anyone thinking about resetting their Ambition this would be a good place to decide whether it's worth 50 Fate to do that -- a weighty decision, as I know from experience!
edited by Rupho Schartenhauer on 3/24/2015
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Rupho Schartenhauer has killed a Master, well: most of it.
Cortez the Killer has killed a Master, definitely.
Deepdelver has become the progenitor of London's brightest star. It's... complicated.
Dr. Kvirkvelia, gone NORTH on 23/12/1894.
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Rupho Schartenhauer
Posts: 787
12/20/2011
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So, I might as well start by sharing my Vake-hunting experiences with those who are interested. You might read it all, or pick out the parts you find most tempting. It's up to you!
[spoiler]About the Vake itself:
The Vake is nearly 4,000 years old. It has leathery wings, its teeth possess independent motion and will break free to burrow into the hearts of those it bites, days later. Hieroglyphic tablets from the Second City mention that the Vake takes a special liking to royal blood. And it finds and eats anyone who boasts about hunting it. The best way to lure it to you (if you are so foolish) is a singing mandrake. That's right. You've probably thought the pub's name was just nonsense, but mandrakes can really be taught to sing. Quite beautifully, even.
The only way to kill the Vake, apparently, is a Sandalwood Club, topped with an original Vake-tooth (which, of course, is still as lively as it once was in the Vake's mouth). Most of this information was provided to me by a Scarred Naturalist, who later turned out to be a Snuffer working for the Vake. I'll come to that.
My acquaintance from Spite, the Sardonic Music-Hall Singer, taught the mandrake to sing. I got the Vake-tooth on a visit to New Newgate Prison, while the sandalwood came from an old sandalwood tree growing in the middle of a filthy slum in the far East of the City, "well past the Prickfinger Wastes". Clay tablets lying around the tree suggested that it's been around since the times of the Second City.
After that, the Scarred Naturalist sent me north to the Prickfinger Wastes to find something "rather valuable" that a certain sisterhood of gorgeous, fighting nuns (I'm not joking) had hidden there. That something turns out to be a tiny bottle of Black Wings Absinthe Nouveau. A single drop of this is enough and I am transported to the home of the Vake, the Abyssal Depths. There, in complete darkness, the Snuffer that was the Scarred Naturalist revealed that it was "grooming victims for the Vake since long before the Fall" and that "the club is useless, I'm afraid. The Vake wanted its tooth back, that's all. Oh, and I believe that it enjoys the smell of sandalwood."
I then killed the Snuffer and released my mandrake. At least that part was true: as soon as the mandrake started singing, the Vake was upon me; screaming, all the time, in its terrible voice (more about that in a moment). During the ensuing fight I barely managed to stay alive. In fact, I would have died then and there (and permanently, for all I know), but in the last moment that sisterhood of gorgeous, fighting nuns appeared and the Vake instantly took to flight. I got a glimpse of it then: "a furry leathery monstrosity, a black mouth crowded with bloody teeth that click like pincers, two eyes as hot and ancient as the stars." Then I blacked out.
About Black Wings Absinthe and Mr Wines' involvement:
Each bottle of B.W. Absinthe contains a single drop of Vake blood. Where Mr Wines gets it from, I don't know. While drinking, focus all your attention on the Vake, or you will simply wake up in a ditch at the centre of some difficult stories. The ensuing dreams/visions/whatever always consisted of me being the Vake, hunting. And of course, screaming. Here's an example of the latter:
night cool up here in the stalactites crumbling city below fold wings drop wind whips !glorious speed! there black speck among the tumbledown temples !prey! swoop silent to street level sandstorm in my wake closer jaws wide teeth primed she turns too late fall and feast and drink her down...
"The absinthe connection is a two way process, of course. Have you not felt the Vake crawling through your nightmares, these last few weeks, learning how you taste?" told me the Snuffer, teasingly. So, that is how the Vake learns of who wants to hunt it.
After being saved by the nuns (I'll come to them), I got involved with a guy named Jervaise who is apparently Mr Wines' left-and-right-hand-man. He told me that "Mr Wines has vested interests. It don't want to be associated with Vake-hunters. It has its reasons, don't it? But it's also authorised me to use my discretion to help them - if I think they deserve it. It's all a big game, you see? I'll introduce you to the right cove if you can do something for me in return." This Jervaise, by the way, is Mrs Plenty's husband.
So, after doing him a couple favours, he did introduce me to the "right cove". At the Parlour of Virtue.
About Sinning Jenny's involvement.[/spoiler]That is the current content boundary. I can't wait to go on...
edited by Rupho Schartenhauer on 7/28/2016
--
Rupho Schartenhauer has killed a Master, well: most of it.
Cortez the Killer has killed a Master, definitely.
Deepdelver has become the progenitor of London's brightest star. It's... complicated.
Dr. Kvirkvelia, gone NORTH on 23/12/1894.
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Nigel Overstreet
Posts: 1220
12/21/2011
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To those who are worried about their choice of Ambition, I suggest giving it a much longer time.
At first I wasn't satisfied with Heart's Desire, but as I discovered my character I realized that it was not only the best fit for me, but a far better story than the other three options.
There is a tendency towards buyers remorse, but don't be rash to judge your Ambition without seeing it and yourself to fruition.
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The Romantic Egotist: Most Hedonistic Man in All of Fallen London
Are you or someone you know Overgoated? Please, let me know!
Cider Club
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streetfelineblue
Posts: 1459
2/22/2012
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First of all: I realize I wrote a very long and very critical post here. The first thing I want to be clear is that I appreciate the work of EBZ writers and I like the game very much; but I wanted to express my opinions and impressions about the ambition I chose to pursue, and that has quite disappointed me. I don't know if there's any point in all this, but I felt like doing it. Please forgive the occasionally rash tones.
OK, I've come to level 18 in the Topsy King part of Heart's Desire ambition, and I have to say that, much to my chagrin, I have to agree with Wieland - I didn't find it very interesting  I like very much the basic idea - a bunch of diverse gentleman setting up an incredibly high stakes game - and the beginning seemed very promising, with the stark contrast between gentlemanly persuasion and gritty investigations - I loved the part in the Forgotten Quarter, both mysterious and bizarre, with the twist of the monkey being much more a key element than it seemed: it seemed like Edgar Allan Poe meeting the Monty Python  But then, the Bishop of St Fiacre part was just plain boring, although luckily quick; and while I was expecting much from the Topsy King and the Manager of the Royal Beth, till now I feel quite disappointed.
In part it's because I often feel that obstacles in this ambition are far from logical, only put there because you HAVE to put tests in an ambition. Let me explain - the other ambitions deal with people who actually work to hinder your progress, so it's just natural for you to try and overcome them. But Heart's Desire? It deals with people that have - or SHOULD have - a common goal; so you would expect them to be more collaborative, instead of requiring great deals of persuasion and/or bribery. I mean, was it really necessary for the Bishop to ask a bribe for the names of the other players he knew? If he really WAS interested in the game (and it's a potentially VERY rewarding game; the stakes are much higher than some Foxfire Candles) he should have been more eager to help, in my opinion. Or, at the opposite, if he had any reason not to tell (maybe to avoid that a dangerous contestant -you- could enter the game?), it shouldn't have been so easy to bribe him! And the same can be said for the Manager: I can't understand if they're actually interested in the Marvellous, sure they don't SHOW much interest.
I also find the exact dynamics of the game to be far from clear and logical. There's the problem of the seven players: no more, no less, and it seems they are even decided in advance, at the point that when one of them (the Topsy King) refuses to play he can't be substituted, he has to be persuaded at all costs! But at the same time, none of the players seem to be much surprised by the arrival of a new one -you- maybe there were just six players? How lucky! (and improbable). It would have been different if the players were already seven, so you had to carve your position in the game by forcing or convincing one to retire... Instead, here you are, spending most of the time finding a way to convince one of them, who ABSOLUTELY doesn't want to play, to play anyway. And his sister wants that too... He saw his brother losing his sanity at this game, and what's her solution? Make him play AGAIN (so he'll maybe lose something else?), and not just that: she enlists the help of you, one of the other players, to convince him, not considering that you'll be his adversary if the game takes place!
I don't really agree with the method to help the Topsy King to regain sanity. He had this ambition of producing an innovative opera, all played with glass instruments... It was probably his very own Heart's Desire. And you should stage it instead? I think at that point, his reaction would be "All right, I'm happy now - I don't need the Marvellous anymore. After all, it already cost me my sanity once". Am I wrong? Not to mention the fact that I find it very cruel to force him to play when he's so blatantly happy living in the Flit. I say, why not just leaving him there and finding another player?
But the thing I feel lacking the most is any kind of plot whatsoever. Until now, it seems that the only thing you have to do is to go talk to the various players and convince them to play - nothing more. There's no real revelation about any dark secret of Fallen London (like Gaoler's Honey for Nemesis, the Vake for Bag a Legend or the Orphanage for Light Fingers): despite touching such interesting matters like the Correspondence and the Forgotten Quarter, nothing of importance is revealed. I was hoping being the Topsy King a former Scholar of the Correspondence, to be treated to some unexpected revelation, but nope T.T And the Manager of the Royal Beth, while superficially looking creepy and mysterious, turns out to be just petty and obnoxious IMO. You go there asking for advice (and I wonder why you couldn't do that earlier; you already knew he was a Marveller too), and he practically answers "yeah, I already know everything. But I won't tell you, because my colleagues wouldn't approve if they were to know I gave you information for free". I mean, gee, do you want to play or not? Because if that's all your interest, maybe you shouldn't be a Marveller at all! I thought somebody eager to bet his own soul and sanity on a game would be a SLIGHTLY bit more involved T.T Just the same for the description of the fateful game in which the Topsy King lost his sanity: it would have been the chance to put an accurate description of the Marvellous, instead it's only barely detailed in its outcome, and that's all.
Currently I'm very challenged between waiting for further developments, or amassing Fate enough to change Ambition. I wouldn't like to change - my character has been tailored on his Persuasive/Watchful build - but if the future developments of this ambition kee pfollowing this line, I'm afraid it won't turn out better than plainly boring at best. What I really would like to see in it is some kind of twist, a plot, something actually happening; say, I don't know, someone trying to sabotage the game (for example, simultaneously stealing all the First City Coins from the Marvellers), forcing the players to find out who he is and how to regain control of the game. Maybe some murders? (For instance, i think that both the Bishop and Cora Bagley don't appear outside of the Ambition. If something should *cough* happen to them, it wouldn't disrupt much the Neath's equilibrium). Possibly, the chance to learn something about some mysteries of Fallen London... Something more than just going to all of the players to convince them to do something they already should be willing to do!
Again, please forgive me for this long rant. I didn't want to sound aggressive or offensive; only, in the little time I played, i came to like this game very much, and I wanted to give my opinion on a part of it that I think needs some serious calibration to become really entertaining. This without denying the skill of the EBZ team, that is constantly providing a solid, interesting game, always improving it.
edited by streetfelineblue on 2/22/2012
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Twitter: @streetfelineblu
Blue's LiveJournal
Blue's Echo Bazaar profile
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Link to Ocelot's Enigma Ambition hint page; PM for clarification. No direct solutions provided.
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Inky Petrel
Posts: 370
1/28/2014
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Just randomly jumping into this thread to say that, for my part, I've never regretted picking the Nemesis ambition. The story so far has been intriguing, and I'm looking forward to the endgame a great deal. (I've reached the content boundary for now. Polythreme was most enlightening :p) When I started the game Nemesis (the death of a brother) was the only ambition I even considered, it fit beautifully with the character I wanted to create, and it still does
When I reach the end of the story (whenever that might be) I might consider the tea, but not before then. *wanders off again*
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Re: Fallen London, please don't invite me to things or send me things, I'm only on occasionally, so you will waste your candle Thank you.
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John Savage
Posts: 198
1/16/2016
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Funny that this thread should return from the Tomb-Colonies, as I was debating whether to actually start an Ambition story. I still have to devote the time to the last few Exceptional Stories, so I may not have time with that, and the Feast upcoming.
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If at first you don't succeed, shoot it again.
http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/John~Savage
Scandal and suspicion! Suspicion and scandal! I miss the old days when only blood mattered.
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maleclypse
Posts: 259
1/16/2016
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Quick question, so I'm loving the Heart's Desire Ambition story. However, I am curious if the other ambitions give you you valuable items while pursuing them or if like the Heart's Desire are mostly made up of expensive actions to move forward?
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Maintaining a controlling interest in my soul requires a pretty constant negotiation between the various shareholder interests. Thankfully the Fingerkings 23% control makes a pretty good foil to unite the other factions enough to get to 51%.
http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Maleclypse
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Szadovar
Posts: 113
7/8/2015
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Re: E.C.H
[spoiler]Not really. The only differences between all of those options - aside from the requirements - are what the action will get you (all give items of the same worth, though some of them harder to acquire than the others) and a paragraph or two of text. The SMEN one isn't even particularly interesting.[/spoiler]
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https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/Szadovar
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Fairweather
Posts: 86
7/13/2015
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Is Light Fingers the only one still waiting for an update? I feel like we've been waiting aeons.
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P. Fairweather - One time wild child, turned Correspondence obsessive. Just don't ask her what the 'P' stands for.
Aurora Chasseresse - A little rough round the edges, but there's no one you'd want more in a hunting party... or zee shanty sing-a-long
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Sara Hysaro
Moderator
Posts: 4514
7/13/2015
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Yep, Light Fingers is still waiting for an update.
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http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Sara%20Hysaro
Please do not send SMEN, cat boxes, or Affluent Reporter requests. All other social actions are welcome.
Are you a Scarlet Saint? Send a message my way to be added to the list.
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MidnightVoyager
Posts: 858
1/11/2016
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ReneeRavensblood wrote:
I completed Ambition:Nemesis sometime ago. I take it resetting my ambition for 50 fate is the only way to play another Ambition?
What happens when I reset my Ambition? Do I lose anything?
You lose all the ambition stuff... also the ambitions aren't done yet, so you have not completed the ambition.
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Midnight Voyager - A blood-cousin to predators. Collector of beasts. Affably mad.
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Mordaine Barimen
Posts: 670
1/11/2016
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You've completed to the current content limit, but not the Ambition in full. And changing Ambitions removes all of the Ambition gear and qualities AFAIK
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I'm sorry, but due to policy clarifications, I will no longer be giving detailed mechanics advice on the forums.
If you still need help, try the IRC channel.
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Arthur_Pendlebrook
Posts: 53
1/28/2014
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OPG wrote:
I haven't ran through HD in a good while, but did it ever explicitly state that Topsy lost the Marvellous? I wouldn't be surprised if he actually won the game and he would up getting more than he bargained for.
[spoiler]It is implied that he lost when Tristam/Topsy says to the player that he should tell the Manager that he wouldn't fall for the same trick twice. In fact, it may be implied that the Manager won since he mentioned how he promised his beloved to not play the Marvelllous again, Tristam's reaction, and the King of a Hundred Hearts telling the player that he must ensure that the Manager loses the game as he can't stand the idea of the Manager winning something that would certainly be used towards him.[/spoiler]
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Arthur Pendlebrook's Profile
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T WO Chandler
Posts: 93
12/21/2011
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I picked up the Nemesis ambition myself.
The secrets it relates to, for the the folks on other ambitions, are:
- Red Prisoner's Honey (Gaoler's Honey), which features heavily in the early stages. You even get to sample some yourself.
- The Tomb Colony of Venderblight, and what happens to the really old Tomb Colonists.
- Someone will tell you some remarkable things about Feducci.
- The Iron Republic will supposedly feature in future content, and I suspect further involvement from Hell.
edited by T.W.O. Chandler on 12/21/2011
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For secrets are their own reward.
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KatarinaNavane
Posts: 462
2/25/2012
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Patrick Reding wrote:
It also seems to be the most popular, if the newspaper thread is any indication. That's probably a combination of having ovbious tie-ins with various storylets (the Manager's street-stalking, in particular) and the highly open-ended nature of the final reward. Two corpses and a giant gemstone pale when compared to "the one thing you most desire".
I have a different theory about its popularity. Basically, lots of videogames have stealth and almost all games have killing things, but very few make persuasiveness and watchfulness into major game mechanics. Because Persuasive and Watchful are the skills that set Echo Bazaar apart from the crowd, it is natural that its fans would favour those skills over those less neglected by the rest of the gaming world.
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Storynexus sn Katarina Navane.
My art page (much of which is dark, Victorian, and/or full of tentacles): http://www.facebook.com/demonkittydesigns
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Early
Posts: 196
12/21/2011
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mad scientist wrote:
That stupid monkey! Ticking it off gets expensive.
Cheaper by far to just commission burglaries for the coins.
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http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Early
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Magnus Asbjorn
Posts: 2
12/28/2011
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I quite enjoy the Heart's Desire story line right up the point where I had to 77 coins at which time my pursuit of it ground to a halt as I work towards getting the coins.
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streetfelineblue
Posts: 1459
12/28/2011
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Magnus Asbjorn wrote:
I quite enjoy the Heart's Desire story line right up the point where I had to 77 coins at which time my pursuit of it ground to a halt as I work towards getting the coins.
I know exactly how you feel T.T XD
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Twitter: @streetfelineblu
Blue's LiveJournal
Blue's Echo Bazaar profile
Blue's Night Circus diary
Link to Ocelot's Enigma Ambition hint page; PM for clarification. No direct solutions provided.
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Diptych
Administrator
Posts: 3493
12/31/2011
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Pursuing Light Fingers means cracking open the casket of the Bazaar's worst secrets and breathing heavily of the putrescence within. It carries a great deal of personal risk, with the barest prospect of reward. Well worth it.
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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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FogChicken1
Posts: 29
1/1/2012
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Nemesis will teach you all about what goes on in the Palace cellars that is not fit for polite conversation.
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Passionario
Posts: 777
1/7/2012
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Speaking of Ambitions, was "Enigma" always a choice at Mr. Chimes' doorstep, or is it a new teaser?
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Passionario: Profile, Story, Ending
Passion: Profile, Appearance
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Joe Freeland
Posts: 3
1/8/2012
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I have pursued light fingers from the beginning and have enjoyed it throughout. Exploring one of London's 7 Labyrinths, Finding where the Masters put their personal prisoners, and crossing Mr. Fire's path has all been quite fun. I just wonder what the hell Clarabell is pregnant with.
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Amalgamate
Posts: 435
1/9/2012
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Passionario wrote:
Speaking of Ambitions, was "Enigma" always a choice at Mr. Chimes' doorstep, or is it a new teaser?
Enigma was always a choice. I don't think anybody knows how to get to it though.
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http://www.fallenlondon.com/Profile/amalgamate
Social invitations of all kinds welcome, especially games of chess and deadly sparring!
Also happy to help with nightmares, send sips of Cider, and plant battle.
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Patrick Reding
Posts: 440
12/21/2011
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Early wrote:
Patrick Reding wrote:
If you can obtain a level of Connected: The Masters, you can also trade it in for a substantial quantity of coins. Opportunity-based stories to increase this connection unlock at level 45 in all qualities except Shadowy.
I assume you mean the Umpire of Knife-and-Candle, Mr. Wines's Revels, and Reliables List of Mr. Pages stories? Just curious that I didn't miss any, heh.
That is exactly what I meant. Presumably there is no Shadowy storyline because the Masters do not see consorting with thieves, smugglers, and revolutionaries to be a good quality in an assistant.
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http://echobazaar.failbettergames.com/Profile/Yana
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mad scientist
Posts: 3
12/21/2011
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Patrick Reding wrote:
streetfelineblue wrote:
That's a bit reassuring ^^"
Personally, for the moment I'm particularly fond of the grotesque, surreal feeling of this Ambition. It started as a fairly ordinary investigating/espionage venture, but took a quickly turn towards uncanny valley from the moment I went looking for a girl and [spoiler] found her monkey instead. Monkey that turned out to actually be one of the players O_o[/spoiler]. If Heart's Desire keeps being so strange, I'm definitely going to have a good time
edited by streetfelineblue on 12/21/2011
You will find her again. You may have already met someone close to her. Just remember to be kind to your monkey, and do not drive her to revenge.
That stupid monkey! Ticking it off gets expensive.
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Patrick Reding
Posts: 440
12/21/2011
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streetfelineblue wrote:
Seriously... Is there anyone who actually LIKED the Heart's Desire Ambition? T.T
I'm enjoying Hearts Desire myself. Yana has no use for wealth, glory, or revenge, but desires something a little more... personal.
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http://echobazaar.failbettergames.com/Profile/Yana
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MrChris
Posts: 28
12/21/2011
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The Nemesis storyline dragged in parts -- don't they all? -- but the trip to Venderblight was most intriguing, and the promise of more information about the Iron Republic certainly has my attention.
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@CdotPdotM
My Profile
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Patrick Reding
Posts: 440
12/21/2011
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streetfelineblue wrote:
That's a bit reassuring ^^"
Personally, for the moment I'm particularly fond of the grotesque, surreal feeling of this Ambition. It started as a fairly ordinary investigating/espionage venture, but took a quickly turn towards uncanny valley from the moment I went looking for a girl and [spoiler] found her monkey instead. Monkey that turned out to actually be one of the players O_o[/spoiler]. If Heart's Desire keeps being so strange, I'm definitely going to have a good time
edited by streetfelineblue on 12/21/2011
You will find her again. You may have already met someone close to her. Just remember to be kind to your monkey, and do not drive her to revenge.
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http://echobazaar.failbettergames.com/Profile/Yana
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KatarinaNavane
Posts: 462
12/21/2011
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I am quite enjoying Heart's Desire myself (I am at the current content boundary) and you do find out some interesting secrets about prominent Fallen London personalities and their histories.
I appreciate what Mr. Burandt has told us about the Bag a Legend ambition and hope that others will be willing to do similarly for other ambitions! I hear one of them gives us more information about the relation between the gaolers at NewNewgate and Prisoners' Honey and am quite curious to learn more.
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Storynexus sn Katarina Navane.
My art page (much of which is dark, Victorian, and/or full of tentacles): http://www.facebook.com/demonkittydesigns
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Andrey Shmarev
Posts: 35
12/21/2011
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I'm going with light fingers becaus i found it a bit more...sensible than the rest of them. In the end what is that makes a man ? i ask myself. Fame, glory ...that's all well and good but the only to be forever remembered in society is to have more riches than the rest of society combined.
But on a less roleplaying note , light fingers answers 1/4 of the mysteries in Fallen London and has it's own perks and faults just as the rest of the glory-seeking madness. I find it more suitable for me because of the many shadowy storylets.
edited by Andrey Shmarev Shmareva on 12/21/2011
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streetfelineblue
Posts: 1459
12/20/2011
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Wieland Burandt wrote:
I once started the game looking for my Heart's Desire, but found myself becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the storyline (also, I found the prospect of staking my soul in the game a little bit strange regarding the fact that I sold my soul long ago and do not plan to get it back). When I hit the content boundary, I decided to drink Lethean Tea and started my hunt for the Vake -- and I have never regretted that decision.
What stroke me throughout the Bag a Legend storyline so far is the amount of information in there (especially about a certain cat owner, or one well-known lady of negotiable virtue) I would never have come upon would I be following a different Ambition -- and I'm pretty sure that it's just the same with Nemesis and Light Fingers.
So, this could be a place where followers of different Ambitions might satisfy their curiosity and exchange experiences (Comparative Ambitionology, if you would). Also, for anyone thinking about resetting their Ambition this would be a good place to decide whether it's worth 50 Fate to do that -- a weighty decision, as I know from experience!
This worries me a little bit, as I'm perusing the Heart's Desire storyline myself. I'm still at the beginning, level 11, ad it seems interesting now... Hope it stays so :s
(The soul shouldn't be much of a problem, considering that you only ever need it at the very end of the quest - so, while the procedure to re-obtain it is far from easy or cheap, you'd probably have a chance to win it back in time for the game. Anyway, just in case I plan to stay very attached to my one ^^").
But if you say that the other Ambition provide more or more interesting background material, I guess I'll stay tuned here. As I said, I ca't be of much help regarding spoilers, as I'm quite green
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Twitter: @streetfelineblu
Blue's LiveJournal
Blue's Echo Bazaar profile
Blue's Night Circus diary
Link to Ocelot's Enigma Ambition hint page; PM for clarification. No direct solutions provided.
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sistermelanie
Posts: 11
12/20/2011
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I actually changed from Heart's Desire to Light Fingers midway through the ambition and haven't regretted it! Light Fingers has *tons* of interesting information about fallen London's mysteries, as do I'm sure the others. A good resource for reading up on the ambitions (I've read through some of the others) as well as everything echo bazaar is on the wiki: http://echobazaar.wikidot.com/
I'm not an editor but it is seriously the best place to go and look at what happens had you made a different choice. I try not to look on there much due to spoilers, but do enjoy reading about the other ambitions...
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twitter: @sistermelanie
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streetfelineblue
Posts: 1459
12/20/2011
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Seriously... Is there anyone who actually LIKED the Heart's Desire Ambition? T.T
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Twitter: @streetfelineblu
Blue's LiveJournal
Blue's Echo Bazaar profile
Blue's Night Circus diary
Link to Ocelot's Enigma Ambition hint page; PM for clarification. No direct solutions provided.
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Patrick Reding
Posts: 440
2/25/2012
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KatarinaNavane wrote:
I have a different theory about its popularity. Basically, lots of videogames have stealth and almost all games have killing things, but very few make persuasiveness and watchfulness into major game mechanics. Because Persuasive and Watchful are the skills that set Echo Bazaar apart from the crowd, it is natural that its fans would favour those skills over those less neglected by the rest of the gaming world.
Also a good point. It makes you wonder why they doubled-up on Watchful/Dangerous instead.
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http://echobazaar.failbettergames.com/Profile/Yana
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Nigel Overstreet
Posts: 1220
2/25/2012
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Heart's Desire is also likely the first Ambition you are going to see because your first few actions are likely to be spent increasing your Persuasive in order to obtain a room in an Attic rather than paying for a lodging house, and when you see a new thing you tend to click it right away.
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The Romantic Egotist: Most Hedonistic Man in All of Fallen London
Are you or someone you know Overgoated? Please, let me know!
Cider Club
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Little The
Posts: 700
2/25/2012
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I do have to admit a certain curiosity as to how FBG plans to deal with the other ambitions. Once ours is finished, will we never be able to start a new one until we cough up 50 Fate? Will we get a free cup of Lethean Tea? Or will the lock on other ambitions just disappear?
--
A gentleman of numerous descriptors that change far too often. Second chance and menace reduction invites are welcome.
My journey to Seek the Name is recorded for posterity here. I asked "Who is Salt?"
I am a member of the Temple Club. If you would like an invitation, feel free to request one!
Fallen London is a game of choices. When you make an important one, you can record your rationale here.
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Diptych
Administrator
Posts: 3493
3/17/2012
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RageBox Alice wrote:
I'm also curious about whether I'll be able to pursue other ambitions once I'm done with Light Fingers. Do you get the opportunity to attempt another one? I have Lethean Tea Leaves that were given to me at one point in this storyline, but I've refused to drink thus far. Would it be possible to do so after I've completed this Ambition, and thus attempt another? After all, if they're all ambitions, I can be quite ambitious!
I don't know the answer to that, but I can suggest this: hold onto those leaves as you continue Light Fingers. You may well find a use for them.
--
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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PlatypusNinja2
Posts: 2
3/22/2012
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...Hmf. I've got Heart's Desire, and the cost of doin' stuff seems a lot higher than the other ambitions.
(The coins: yikes! The monkey wanting a barrel of honey: double yikes!)
I was enjoying the plot okay until it came time to pay the Manager, and I can't.
I haven't got enough Fire dreams and they never spawn; I have no idea what this Key thing is and it looks like I can't get it until I buy a boat; and the brass option doesn't work.
So I've been stuck at the "pay the Manager" phase for over a month now, with no progress in sight. :-/
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Urthdigger
Posts: 939
3/22/2012
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PlatypusNinja2 wrote:
...Hmf. I've got Heart's Desire, and the cost of doin' stuff seems a lot higher than the other ambitions.
(The coins: yikes! The monkey wanting a barrel of honey: double yikes!)
I was enjoying the plot okay until it came time to pay the Manager, and I can't.
I haven't got enough Fire dreams and they never spawn; I have no idea what this Key thing is and it looks like I can't get it until I buy a boat; and the brass option doesn't work.
So I've been stuck at the "pay the Manager" phase for over a month now, with no progress in sight. :-/
Honestly? I'd say use the key. Keep in mind that ambitions are meant to stretch over your ENTIRE playthrough pretty much. The point where you need the key is pretty much the end... so don't be concerned too much about needing a boat.
--
Looking for second chances to maximize your loot output from those troublesome storylets? Check out our handy gang of volunteers in this thread, or even volunteer yourself!
@Urthdigger on twitter
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Ether
Posts: 34
4/11/2012
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Evening, I need a little help with my Ambition progress. I've chosen Nemesis and have progressed to the Forgotten Quarter which is where the trouble started.
I successfully advanced to Forgotten Quarter 3 and received "The Traces of Red Honey" but afterwards it took me straight to Forgotten Quarter 4, jumping over the "Junior Fellow" and "Brewing up Gaoler's Honey".
Now I am at the Shattered Palace 4 and both of the "Answer the Question" options are locked for me because I am unfortunately not in the possession of "One Who Has Indulged in Unknown Pleasures 1" or the "Uncanny Incanabula". My questions is, of course, how do I proceed and why did the Ambition jump over that small but terribly interesting section? (I would have loved to see the Chambers of the Heart). Any help would be greatly appreciated!
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travellersside
Posts: 288
4/11/2012
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Have you tried visiting other locations, such as the University?
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Ether
Posts: 34
4/11/2012
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I have just visited the University, thank you for that advice! Indeed, there are more options open for me now. I confess, I'm not a frequent visitor to the University as there is little to nothing for me to do, usually.
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"Many" Chin
Posts: 383
4/12/2012
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i like my vake-hunting ambition so far, though i find that it requires too much grinding sometimes.
i found it more enjoyable when i went away for hundreds of turns/actions away to pursue the dangerous options in wolfstack, and came back to it later. forgotten quarter is quite dull (until you find the stones), though it's much cheaper to buy access to. that in turn made me spend more time on shadowy options. spite is too overly focused on stealing things, but the flit sounds very intriguing. made me wish i went for light fingers.
in general, i think i enjoyed being a black ribboner (and pissing off jack of smiles) a lot more than running around looking for some mythical creature who sounds like a guy who dresses like a bat.
--
"My little China girl/You shouldn't mess with me/I'll ruin everything you are/I'll give you television/I'll give you eyes of blue/I'll give you man who wants to rule the world"
- The Goblin King.
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Catherine Raymond
Posts: 2518
5/11/2012
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streetfelineblue wrote:
I may stand corrected, but I've got the feeling that NONE of the Ambitions is free from high risks. The bright side is that for what is known, no kind of damage in the Neath is irreparable, though it may cost an abundant supply of time, Actions and/ or Echoes to recover ^^
I agree. I also think that, in the end, all of the Ambitions will give the player more than enough information about all of the key secrets of the Masters, the Bazaar, and Fallen London. I could be wrong about that, but the disclosures people have chosen to vouchsafe about the other Ambitions persuades me that I am not.
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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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beleester
Posts: 7
4/6/2013
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Word of advice to those of you doing the Light Fingers ambition: If you decide to do the storyline at the University, resist the temptation to be honest about what you find (you're a thief, it shouldn't be hard). My adventures overzees got totally derailed because Dr. Vaughn wouldn't help me if I was Unwelcome at the University. I lost over a day zailing back and forth, with nothing to show for it.
By the way, this is just one of a couple of frustrations the game sprang on me when it put the next step of the Ambition across the Unterzee. I had to spend an age grinding my stats to become a Person of Some Importance, an aeon gathering components for my Zubmarine, and now even more time on a Voyage of Scientific Discovery. This kills the pacing.
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Always in need of boxed cats, and always open to games of chess and other joint ventures.
http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/beleester
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Endy
Posts: 278
4/18/2013
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Ewan C. wrote:
Ewan C. wrote:
My son's character's Ambition appears to have been derailed rather: he's pursuing Light Fingers, and is at 18; followed the game's hints to get to 8 in Nightmares, but finds himself in the Mirror Marches rather than at the expected hotel. Any advice or commentary would be welcome :-).
Never mind. Poking around suffices indeed!
I never thought I'd see the day where someone would want to go there from the Marshes.
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sonantem aeternum ad terram
Through the darker shadows.
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"Many" Chin
Posts: 383
1/27/2014
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i'm almost going to completed the 49th part of Bag A Legend! Just missing 2X collection of curios. is this the end so far? any word on when the writers will finish up any of the ambitions at all? [spoiler]is the sisterhood really a bunch of egyptian(2nd-city) odd-jobbers who happen to think it's a good idea to disguise as nuns?!? will i ever get to train another Half-Wild Mandrake? (i'm sorry for feeding you to the nasty "batman", little manman!)[/spoiler]
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btw, hunter's keep is awesome even if you're not playing heart's desires. besides being a consistent way to earn items for echos, you won't lose your dreams if your nightmare reaches 8, and also a great place to reduce wounds while progressing the days there. but right now, i suspect the tales of terror has a much better payout(riskier) if you want to stay in london for professional awards and certain cards.
edited by Paya Danceswithporngroove Chin on 1/27/2014
edited by Paya Danceswithporngroove Chin on 1/27/2014
--
"My little China girl/You shouldn't mess with me/I'll ruin everything you are/I'll give you television/I'll give you eyes of blue/I'll give you man who wants to rule the world"
- The Goblin King.
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Mr. James Rayner
Posts: 12
12/23/2011
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For those interested in the Hearts Desire (And who would not be?)
- Becoming an Exceptional Friend can ease your way to the aquisition of First City coins, should The Lady be on your side in such matters.
- i would highly recommend you prepare yourself for a touch of frusteration - Dealing with some of the more unique characters of Fallen London can be both burden and a delight.
- Finally, I would expect though the state of your soul will come up, Think far more about the state of your nightmares - As it seems to be that those who will soon be involved in the game will require you to master your dreams as well as your waking moments.
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TheThirdPolice
Posts: 609
12/27/2011
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I highly recommend the Nemesis storyline - someone above me has already listed the secrets it's involved in. Though as someone who chose to pursue the murderer of my wife, I do find it irritating to keep drawing cards of people who want to seduce me.
--
Excessive Corpse & Tender to Irreal Ravens
Lover of Flawed Souls
And with especial pride, Worst Screwup of the Decade!
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streetfelineblue
Posts: 1459
2/25/2012
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Patrick Reding wrote:
At least the Manager seems like he might be intersting to look into, considering the speculation that he's really the King of the First City. But I agree that the story really needs a good villain. Perhaps whoever forced Cora into hiding might make themselves known. Even if I was interested in the other storylines, though, Yana could not switch, as they're after something no amount of money, glory, or blood can obtain.
edited by Patrick Reding on 2/24/2012
There's one thing that really sets me off about Heart's Desire: it sounds incredibly heartless compared to others. I mean, after all Nemesis is a quest of righteous justice for your beloved dead; and while Bag a Legend is mostly matter of pride in taking down a mythical beast, it remains a quest to rid the Neath from one of his most dangerous monsters. Light Fingers SEEMED the most self-serving Ambition, but going on it turned out it allowed you to perform a quantity of noble and altruistic deeds... Heart's Desire? You get to force a poor guy who lost his sanity on the Marvellous to play again T.T Especially disheartening if you consider that the Topsy King declared he's been happy in his "walksies" for more than ten years; now, the Marvellous usually happens only when a very specific planetary conjunction appears, and the Blind Astronomer says there's still five years to the next game unless you manage to make it start sooner; this means:
- either the Topsy King didn't play in the games played in the ten years he's been mad, so it means the Marvellous can be played without him, and I see no reason to pull the poor chap out of his happiness to play again (and hopefully LOSE, because of course the player hopes to win :s);
- or, the Topsy King is absolutely necessary to the game, and so for the last ten years no Marvellous was played. But this would mean the other players are EXTREMELY indifferent about what should be the most important game of their lives, passing like ten years without any chance to play it and apparently not giving a damn.
Either way, it's anticlimactic T.T
Anyway; on Twitter Nathan Attford and OScarletO seemed to like this Ambition quite a lot, and told me that the real charm of Heart's Desire lies in the subtle hints that gives regarding the other Ambitions and other secrets of Fallen London. So, it could just be that I'm too dumb to catch them, or maybe that I have to learn more of those mysteries from other actions and storylets (I'm not even at 50 Dangerous and Shadowy, I still miss a lot of content), so maybe I'll start liking the Ambition more in the future. But in my opinion this still doesn't make for the lack of an engrossing plot. It's a shame, because at the start it really hooked me up; I was expecting very much.
edited by streetfelineblue on 2/25/2012
--
Twitter: @streetfelineblu
Blue's LiveJournal
Blue's Echo Bazaar profile
Blue's Night Circus diary
Link to Ocelot's Enigma Ambition hint page; PM for clarification. No direct solutions provided.
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lady ciel
Posts: 2548
2/22/2015
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The Ambitions are being slowly updated - Bag a Legend and Nemesis had a bit more content added last year. I think Heart's Desire is due next though I am not sure when it will be released.
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ciel
Sorry RL means I am not a very active player at the moment. No social actions unless you are prepared to wait and definitely no sparring or other mult-action things.
No Calling Cards or boxed cats please. Will take dupes on the affluent photographers. Other social invitations welcome. Parabolan Kittens usually available, send me an in-game social action saying you want one and I will get one to you as soon as possible.
storynexus name - reveurciel
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genesis
Posts: 924
2/28/2015
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Am I right that we are 1.5 update cycles away from completing Ambitions? That is, that we have to way for Heart's Desire and Light fingers to be updated which takes all Ambitions to the penultimate stage and then the next round of updates after that will conclude each ambition. I recall seeing this somewhere but now not sure if I imagined that....
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http://fallenlondon.com/Profile/mikey_thinkin
Keeping track of incomplete content and loose ends in Fallen London
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Szadovar
Posts: 113
2/28/2015
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Both Nemesis and Bag a legend end with a note that
You have reached the end of the Ambition for now! The story will conclude in a future update
So it would seem the next update they receive will be the last one (it also make sense considering what happens during their latest stages).
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https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/Szadovar
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E.C.H
Posts: 16
7/8/2015
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[spoiler] I've reached a point in Heart's Desire where I've got an option to 'Blow up the Bazaar' (as if I were some revelutionary scum), to 'Aquire a Sixth City' which is intriguing but somewhat predictable, or 'Go North' with the warning that I won't return alone, which I desperately want to do, but which require's SMEN, which is currently in stasis. Do you reckon it's worth the time waiting for that content to re-open? [/spoiler]
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Rupho Schartenhauer
Posts: 787
1/11/2016
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Robin, none of the Ambitions have an "end" yet. Three of the four are in their penultimate chapter, Light Fingers is the one still waiting for that.
--
Rupho Schartenhauer has killed a Master, well: most of it.
Cortez the Killer has killed a Master, definitely.
Deepdelver has become the progenitor of London's brightest star. It's... complicated.
Dr. Kvirkvelia, gone NORTH on 23/12/1894.
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The Master
Posts: 804
2/17/2017
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Jolanda Swan wrote:
Hi there. I was at the content bountary for Heart's Desire. However, for some reason, I sold my first city coins. Suddenly, the storylet reappeared in my game. I still have Heart's Desire 200, Bishop of St Fiacre 4 and Topsy King 25 in my profile qualities though. Has that happened to anyone else?
That is normal, though the coins don't do anything right now you are always supposed to have at least 77 so the storylet appears if you lost them so that you can get them again.
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http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Lolwolfking
A very ruthless and daring doctor of the neath.
No more gift exchanges, im getting too many and I can barely hold these.
He has knowledge of a certain enigma, ask, you will get a clue.
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