Largemouth Bass & Sons quest discussion

[Volonas]

This quest feels weirdly unfinished. As far as I can tell, the only outcomes are either letting the kids go or letting Occam's Gator take them back, but it really feels like there should be more.

There doesn't seem to be a way to convince them to come back on their own; the moxie check at the start of the conversation is set to always be higher than your current moxie, and none of the other dialogue options appear to make a difference.

There's an inkling of an option to convince the parents to change their minds by finding Cathy's letter in the Tracy quarters, but it quickly dead-ends when her father disregards it. Curiously, there's an article on a SoL wiki[loathing.wiki.gg] that suggests you can enter the Chapman quarters and find Tom's diary, but there's no indication in the article of how one would gain entry and I have no ideas.

I'm honestly not even sure how one would get Tom back but not Cathy in order to satisfy Chapman's side of the quest, since Occam's Gator seems to be the only way to return them and he takes them both.

Ultimately, the quest seems like it should have more branches but then feels like it railroads you. Has anyone had any success in achieving anything outside of those two outcomes?

[Karkat Vantas]

I don't remember how I got Tom Chapman's diary, but I have it.

It has a page 13 with useless info, and a page 33 with his plan to take the truck through the Gatorman Camp. It's not that helpful and doesn't change the mind of any character.

Remember that you can unlock any door with the cursed key, though that isn't how I got in, and I don't seem to be able to get back in now.

[Volonas]

Publicado originalmente por Karkat Vantas:

Remember that you can unlock any door with the cursed key, though that isn't how I got in, and I don't seem to be able to get back in now.

Tried bringing the cursed key to the doors, doesn't even offer a different prompt from normal.

[PearTree]

Publicado originalmente por Session10:

Publicado originalmente por Karkat Vantas:

Remember that you can unlock any door with the cursed key, though that isn't how I got in, and I don't seem to be able to get back in now.

Tried bringing the cursed key to the doors, doesn't even offer a different prompt from normal.

So which door is locked vs just lets you in seems to be determined by which family you talk to first. I agreed to help Tom's family first, and was able to enter the bunk room just fine. Then when I got the cursed key, I went through the kitchen to get access to the door for the bunk room in Cathy's family home before even considering decursing it. You probably specifically have to use the kitchen side door either way?

not really an answer to your question, but clarification on what I think is something happening to several people and confusing them. Hope it helps in some way

[Halfshell]

Diaries are in the rooms, think both in their bed. I did the left side 1st, I am fairly sure the key to the other side door was in a croc camp.

[Volonas]

So it looks like you do get access to the Chapman mess and bunk rooms if you accept his side of the quest but - as Karkat said - Tom's diary doesn't help to change the outcome at all, and there's nothing else particularly useful in the rooms.

The Tracy mess is always open regardless of who you choose to help, and you can get the key for the door between the mess and the bunk from the abandoned truck.

Also, turns out that despite the confusing wording that implies Chapman wants you to return Tom but not Cathy, returning them both does complete his side of the quest and earn his rewards. I guess when he says, "I don't want you looking for Cathy on Tracy's dime. It's Tom that needs saving, and he needs saving from her.", it's meant to convey that you can't accept the quest from Tracy if you accept it from him, but I know I'm not the only one who interpreted it as, "I don't want you to return Cathy, just Tom."