The Importance of Curios !

[Answulf]

Here is some advice for new players that is strangely absent from most of the discussions around here:

Taking advantage of curios makes a pretty big difference in the game, but it's rarely discussed when giving new players tips. In fact, when I first started out I read somewhere that you shouldn't "waste money" on the different supply items - which it turns out is horrible advice!

Bringing along the correct supply item for a curio can be the difference between a big chunk of gold and getting a negative quirk. That can be a huge swing in fortune. You also get a ton of trinkets from curios.

My advice is to always buy one of each of the various supply items: shovel, antivenom, bandage, herbs, key and holy water. Learn which items go in which curios. If you want a spoiler list, you can find it here:

http://www.reddit.com/r/darkestdungeon/comments/2utmrd/spoilers_all_darkest_dungeon_curio_interactions/

As a small experiment, I kept track on my most recent mission. There are two curio spoilers below, so if you don't want to know exactly what an Alchemy Table and a Decorative Urn do, stop reading now:

I bought one of each: a shovel (250g), antivenom (150g), bandage (150g), herbs (200g), a key (200g) and holy water (150g). Total cost was 1100g.

The mission was a short 100% room combat that wound up ending really fast (like halfway through the rooms). I used:

* The herbs on a Alchemy Table and received 750g and an Onyx (500g). Without the herbs you have a 50% chance of a blight trap, a 25% chance of nothing and a 25% chance of a small treasure find. Or you can use a torch for 100% light.

* The holy water on a Decorative Urn and received 3x Onyx (500g) and a Jade (250g). Without the holy water you have a 44% chance of a small treasure find, a 33% chance of a trap and a 22% chance of nothing.

* I also used the shovel to clear a blocked path and prevent a lot of stress.

That's it - everything else was wasted - but for my 1100g investment, I received 3000g. I probably could have found one or two more curios to use if I wanted to keep exploring, but my guys were ready to leave.

Now obviously that is a tiny sample size and results will vary, but it gives you a good idea of what you are missing out on if you aren't taking advantage of the curios.

[dbemont]

My experience matches yours.

Oviously, there is some variety. Shorter dungeons, less opportunity for upside. Certain missions, fewer item slots available. Intention to beeline straight for the probable location of a boss.

But it well worth it to take a well qualified group on a longer mission, intending to profit in terms of portraits, deeds, and money... and for that, you want to take along the necessary supplies to maximize your haul.

[Hans]

Even on short missions curios will have you rolling in gold. One holy water to purify an urn of ashes tends to yield +1000 gold in gems.

In fact, I'd so as far as to say the loot from purifying curios needs to be nerfed if anything. I used to completely ignore curios and now I always bring the right type of inventory items for each dungeon. The change is easily thousands of gold and even more items for building upgrades.

If I'd have done it fromthe beginning instead of around week 40, I would have had maxed buildings/mercs way faster.

[Answulf]

I think there is also probably some strategy in bringing extras of certain supplies to certain dungeons where it is more likely they will be used, but I haven't kept track that closely.

I agree that curos probably need to be nerfed.

[Hans]

Well I have it mostly memorized :

For the ruins, you will never need bandages or anti-toxin for curios. Primarily Holy water, then medicinal herbs, and keys. Shovels can be used in place of keys for some parts, but it destroys some of the items within the locked cabinets/chests. Torches can be used on the alchemy labs, but medicinal herbs are better. Medicinal herbs also work on the iron maidens. Holy water also makes the angel statues give you better buffs and relieves 30 stress when used on the confession booths.

For Weald, you need the widest assortment of items to be able to safely search everything. Bandages for corpses and the tree covered in spider web, anti-toxin for the almost normal looking giant tree stump, shovels can dig up graves (for crap tons of loot, without a shovel it's 50% blight or 50% disease), keys/shovels for chests, and holy water to purify the eldritch totems (for a 150g positive quirk, woot!).

And for the warrens, having curios makes it an absolute cakewalk. Medicinal herbs and holy water are the items that will get used the most followed by bandages for the occasional blade rack. Medicinal herbs used on the corpse cart and food tables means you'll have more food than you know what to do with and when used on the alcohol kegs grants a +30% damage buff. Every warrens dungeon almost always has kegs all over the place.

In addition to the loot using the proper item on curios gives substantial buffs, heals, and stress reducing options (plus who doesn't like guaranteed free positive quirks from the shrines?).

Using curios every dungeon is a must. More loot + easier time in battle.

[zverozvero]

Its not like Curio loot must be nerfed but rather non-curio loot. In medium-long dungeons its easy to 'overloot' with nothing but food and torches so much that you may think of throwing away shovels to place 1 more stack of gems/gold.

Reward for good/lucky planing would be better than raw mob-grinding farm.

[Answulf]

I don't know - I think the average find off a curio with the right item is about 1000 gold. That seems pretty steep to me.

[Ragic]

short dungeons i pack 4 food, 4 torches, 1 shovel, 1 holy water, 1 herb, 1 key.
medium dungeons i pack 12 food, 8 torches, 3 shovels, 2 holy water, 2 herbs, 1 key.

i never pack antivenum or bandages. save your shovels for blockages and shallow graves, dont waste them breaking open cabinets.

[Answulf]

@ Ragic:

Antivenom and bandages can be used in a lot of curios as well - you are missing out.

[Cadogan]

Edit:

Please try to keep the discussion mainly focused on the various loadouts and overall use of Curios rather than their specifics and item combination effects (as in this already ongoing thread).

Thread unlocked.

Cheers

-C-

[Leviathanos]

Curios are awesome... if you know what you are doing or are using a guide. I generally follow the loadout advice in the guides but sometimes it feels like I am missing something but never remember what to modify future expeditions.
It does feel like curios drastically change the game's difficulty (on average). Especially the massive food drops. I can heal my whole party from mid-death sometimes!