Is anyone else getting really into the stairwell busts?

[Kara]

From early on in the game (I’m maybe midway? Mostly unlocking rooms around 10 requirement now) I’ve been obsessed with the busts in the stairwell.

I’ve successfully placed all of the barons (well, I haven’t found Thomas yet, but I know where he goes), but I’m picking my way through librarians. I’m starting to take notes, since a lot of the missing busts are named individuals, and I’m realizing that doing so will help me find out where the unknown busts go.

What I’m really enjoying is the depth of these puzzles. The Levinsen prefigures correspond to actual artwork. I’ve only been able to locate two so far, and unfortunately they didn’t give me any timeline information I didn’t already know, but it’s fun to have that little scavenger hunt.

I don’t really have any questions or want any advice, but I just wanted to highlight what I think is a really fun puzzle in a game that is absolutely full of puzzles.

[sadfence]

Haven’t found a slot to set ambrose westcott but ithe statue blocks the bookshelf. If you found the base for the 1st librarian pls let me know.

[somebodybond]

I am extremely into the stairwell completionism. So many lore tidbits scattered all over!

I'll note that, while you're past that point, anyone having trouble with figuring out which baron goes where should explore the opening/main menu of the game for clues. Unfortunately, those clues don't help much with the librarians...

[Kara]

I actually think I cracked it! I don’t have all the busts yet, but I have identified all librarians with a fair amount of certainty (though not 100%). You shouldn’t need all rooms unlocked, but you do need the Librarian’s Quarters for a crucial one. Other than that, I went back and looked through all the books I cataloged, and the room descriptions. I don’t think I needed the “reading” info you get while considering a book fully, and I don’t think there was too much information in individual objects other than books.

If you’re stuck for some of them, pronouns in the alcoves help a lot with ruling out certain librarians in certain places. Some knowledge of historical events is helpful for the later ones. The details about Illopoly, Strathcoyne, and the Great War helped me place the last few.

Lastly, there’s a hint in the Violet Chamber that’s very vague but helps narrow down a couple of last people.

[Kara]

Originally posted by sadfence_cn:

Haven’t found a slot to set ambrose westcott but ithe statue blocks the bookshelf. If you found the base for the 1st librarian pls let me know.

It’s there. The stairway is really weirdly laid out, with the alcoves kind of zig-zagging. You can move furniture, if that helps? If there was something in the way, I don’t remember; I moved it out of the way a while ago. Sorry, not really sure how to explain it.

[kazthefirst]

I've been keeping a running list as I figure them out. I'm almost certain nothing happens when they are all returned to their proper places, but I need to see it done.

[diolki]

I haven't been taking notes, but I have been enjoying putting the busts I find in their proper places. Besides what you can learn from the books, examining the busts often gives you some information to help know where to put them. Room descriptions and looking at the information in game for the various time periods of the House helps too.

The Librarian seems to know an awful lot about the history of Hush House.

[Graknorke]

Correctly ordering these busts is my personal victory point for this game. I WILL figure it out, eventually.

[Robin]

Do you get anything for it when you do?

[Darloth]

Originally posted by Kara:

Originally posted by sadfence_cn:

Haven’t found a slot to set ambrose westcott but ithe statue blocks the bookshelf. If you found the base for the 1st librarian pls let me know.

It’s there. The stairway is really weirdly laid out, with the alcoves kind of zig-zagging. You can move furniture, if that helps? If there was something in the way, I don’t remember; I moved it out of the way a while ago. Sorry, not really sure how to explain it.

It's not AS weird once you spot the pattern.

It doesn't follow the way someone would climb up the stairs, it goes from left to right in each room as the player views them, which must be weird for people in-world. But then, the concept of arranging all the statues for an outside observer looking into the library from an external perspective that somehow ignores all the walls in the way isn't exactly odd for this setting :)

[Ultralich]

Lmao, I'm obsessing with these busts too. I already assembled in correct order all barons and three or four librarians.

[szbnahl]

So glad I'm not the only one. Using consider on the busts generally helps.

[Mich]

I did it and it was very satisfying, I'm going to write the reward for it and how I figured it all out: Once you put all busts in place, you get a 'curate busts' button at the 13th librarian place. It takes 30 seconds and rewards you with 1 Wist and an achievement.

I figured it out by reading the room descriptions. Some explicitly say 'Nth librarian', others mention how librarians and barons relate to each other, (e.g.: "son", "daughter" or "followed by") or ties them into a certain period. Reading the inscriptions by clicking on the empty places also helps because they mention the librarian's gender. I'd prefer not to outright just tell you the order as the game is still very new but it's not a hard puzzle once you have most/all rooms unlocked.

Also wanted to mention that I did not use 'Consider' on the busts but I just tried it with a couple and they all explicitly told me where they go... Oof.

[АlphaWhelp]

I put PALE BUST for Librarian 12 (The Player)

I have no idea if it's accurate or not but I like the lore implications

[::Maethendias::]

meanwhile, me, who uses the stairwell for mark storage:

[Sigusin]

Also, you can get some clues by Using the "Consider" Verb with each bust but most of the time it tells you straight away which librarian is portrayed in the bust.