Things getting intense

[HouseOfTheRat]

On my way to the next seal, I encountered and accepted the Commenda Contract world event - win in under 9 years, having earned 150 amber from trade routes. I knew I could win in that time frame, and I while I wasn't sure how much I earn from trade in a typical trade-focused settlement, I knew it had to be over 100 amber. The combination of the two conditions might be a challenge. I also had the Wanderer's Curse on me (8 villagers die at the start of year 8)

I deleted over a page of text I had written (and I wasn't finished), and decided to go with the "short" version:

Things turned bad before I managed to regain control. At the start of year 6 I was rearranging my villagers back to production after resolving a food crisis, my reputation was under the half mark, and I had traded for under 40 amber. I really thought I was going to fail the event.

But: This led me to take more risks. I expanded aggressively, focusing only on what could help me win: getting reputation from any event I could, and having an abundance of provision packs in order to be able to take advantage of any trading opportunity I could. Fortunately I had now an overabundance of food.

My villagers weren't super happy, but they were content enough to not leave. Although the production of food and provision packs were secured, the rest of my production wasn't too great, and I had to micromanage a lot in order to be able to have the goods I needed to trade and complete events. All the amber from trading helped, and I was not shy to spend it all at every trader's visit (called them in early a couple of times, too).

I won the challenge at the end of year 7, with two spare orders ready to turn in and a handful of reputation events that I could still do. In fact I had to be careful to not gain any reputation from resolve before the trading requirement was done.

Taking a risk is a risk, but taking several risks often hedges your bets and gives you the means to achieve a much better outcome. There will be some cuts and bruises along the way, but this is Against The Storm, not Happy Little Farm Town. There are always many options and many different ways to do things; if you get too used to settling for the easiest, most direct one, it is easy to overlook the rest and believe that you are in a dead end. You almost always aren't.

This is a game about perseverance and survival. Playing it safe isn't the way to win - because you aren't safe. Taking on challenges is the way forward. Don't sit and wait in the storm, hoping to survive for one more day. Go against it.

[Samseng Yik]

The higher difficulty you play.
You will learn more about "abundance of things" = your bad management and prioritization.
Juggle the manpower to do what you need.
And every action must be contribute toward either sustaining or victory.
There is no moral right or wrong as long as you win.
In successful people eye, result is the only thing worth discuss.
I also see a lot people having personal OCD and force it into the settlement. Which is an act of unprofessionalism of viceroy