Little The
Posts: 700
12/21/2011
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(Note that there is some spoiler information for the Menace areas here; if you want to discover them on your own, you should probably avoid this thread!)
My most important piece of advice is: Don't worry too much about it. It's actually oftentimes more efficient to let the Menace hit 8 and reduce it in the Menace area, since you're lucky to even get a guaranteed 1-point reduction outside of them. However, if you aren't very Watchful, it is probably a good idea to avoid dying. (From the wiki, it seems like you can't play chess with Death until level 70? Correct me if I'm wrong.)
Wounds is simple. If you aren't sufficiently Watchful, you can just use the rest storylet to reduce it (it'll reduce Nightmares on a rare success, too). If you are, ignore that and just play chess with the Boatman when you do keel over.
For Suspicion, I would also recommend just ignoring it, since Suspicion is fairly difficult to reduce cheaply. The one free storylet in New Newgate only reduces Suspicion by 1 change point, though many of the cards are quite efficient. Some will even give you items! Experiment and see which ones work best. If you're feeling lucky, you can wait to get a Prison Shiv, Notes on the Dirigible Schedule, and a Rope of Knotted Rags, which will allow you to escape scot-free. Don't rely on it though, the cards can take a very long time to show up.
Scandal is more problematic, in my opinion. The Tomb-Colonies are difficult to get out of compared to the other areas (there's no free, repeatable storylet that reliably reduces Scandal). However, Scandal is the easiest Menace to get rid of; if you are sufficiently Admired, you can reduce it to 0 even if it's at 7. And you will be swimming in Admired points after a while on the Persuasive path. (It's not used for much else, so don't worry about using it up.)
Nightmares is complicated. The Royal Beth isn't that difficult to escape, but the problem arises from the fact that your dream progress is heavily damaged upon doing so. If you aren't pursuing those stories, then you needn't worry, but if you do, avoid it at all costs. You have three main options: ignoring the Cheery Gentleman when Nightmares hits 5, drinking Carnival wine, or laudanum. (Whatever you do, though, don't share your dreams with another player -- it gives them Nightmares too and costs both of you an action. In other words, it's grossly inefficient.) The first two are unreliable, since they are dependent on luck, and the third is expensive. One solution that worked for me is to buy a Winsome Depressed Orphan; he unlocks an opportunity card that will give you tons of laudanum for free.
As for Unaccountably Peckish -- don't worry about it. It isn't actually harmful, and is actually important in a certain storyline.
I hope this helps people. Feel free to discuss your own strategies for managing Menace!
edited by Little The on 12/21/2011
edited by Little The on 12/21/2011
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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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Malt Jones
Posts: 69
12/21/2011
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In relation to nightmares, if you are worried about forgetting your dreams, I recommend making sure that you always have a "memory of light" on hand. This way you will find yourself in the mirror marches when the nightmares become too much, instead of just being confused. This way only "is someone there" is decreased. While generally not easy to come by I have found that once it reaches a certain size, drinking the sticky yellow sap from your sprouting companion is a fairly reliable source, though it will stunt your plants growth. However, if anyone knows more, erm, dignified ways to obtain these I'd be very interested to know.
Also those who have yet to undergo much training in the art of persuasion should not fear exile to the tomb-colonies, as writing a letter to a trusted friend will reduce your scandal while provide much needed etiquette training at the same time. counterintuitively though, the object here is to fail the challenge as this will lover your scandal, up to a certain level of persuasion (about 70) you will be able to keep your charm in check and make the challenge almost impossible, this way you will fail the challenge almost everytime and should you win you will earn 5 points to persuasion (as well as increasing scandal 1 point), so basicly it's a win-win.
I have yet to hit the point where this method is no longer useful, but it seems to me that connections to Society and The Duchess are easily cultured in the palace, and you should therefore be able to decrease your scandal relatively fast if you trade in some favors (connections to The Duchess are not directly cashable to my knowlege, so this might be a good place to use it)
As a last thing it may be worth considering the perchause of clothing that actually increases scandal, in order to be spared the being in the colonies for too long at once, personally I favor spreading it around, goint to the colonies when I reach outrageous scandal levels (5) instead of unthinkable levels (8), having to redeem myself for only 15 points of scandal rather than 36 (which to me is an awefull long wait to get back to more juicy content).
Good initiative to create a thread on managing menaces so that people can share strategies. If anyone has any good advise on getting rid of suspicion I'm rather keen the hear it. It always seems to be the most troublesome for me, since I seem to gain it relatively quickly and the storylet in Newgate only grants 1 point reduction together with 1 point of watchful (rather than the 3 points persuasive per scandal point in the colonies), which seems rather ineffective. Maybe someone knows a quick way of getting to connected criminals 20?
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"I can resist everything except temptation"
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