How do you keep track of quest and items needed?

[zifnow]

Hello, when you are on multiple quest/stories, how do you keep track of what you need for each of them? In the log it's not clear at all, I keep losing track of what I was doing.

It's yet a nightmare trying to remember which port sells what, I had to write down it on a paper, and still I have difficulties. Why on the log I cannot take notes of ports market (items available to buy/sell), quest request (muttersalt, strange catch, etc). It's not funny to try getting it back from the overloaded Journal, full of icons which sometimes are not easy to associate.

[Bobert]

Originally posted by zifnow:

Hello, when you are on multiple quest/stories, how do you keep track of what you need for each of them? In the log it's not clear at all, I keep losing track of what I was doing.

It's yet a nightmare trying to remember which port sells what, I had to write down it on a paper, and still I have difficulties. Why on the log I cannot take notes of ports market (items available to buy/sell), quest request (muttersalt, strange catch, etc). It's not funny to try getting it back from the overloaded Journal, full of icons which sometimes are not easy to associate.

A lot of people played this game a lot and already have it in there head that "oh this port sells this" or port Irlem sells a ton of stuff and even secrets too if you have the money for it.

But it all comes with pratice and playing this game a lot.

The log will give you hints about where to go and it is purely about reading what to do and how to do it too and for quest like building guns or engines depending on your officer.

Keep playing and soon it will all sink in and also do port runs where you go and do most of the events to get enough money to go exploring and trading and stuff like that.

Gives me about 500 echos each time I do it and even with a small one with the stuff that I found or got from "something awaits you" I can sell it and make profit and make back most of the fuel that I used for my adventures and or runs.

Hope this helps,

Cheers!

~Bobert

[zifnow]

Thanks Bobert, but i'm not going to try to keep in mind what's on the market of about 20 or more ports which sells/buy maybe a hundred of different items :D

[ShiwaTheDrink]

The game relies heavily on knowing what you can afer going somewhere or doing something. In short, keep a notepad or a notebook near you and keep a register of your quests objective and port. The journal keeps a register of some quests but it's better to have a little notebook with your objectives since you can take a look at it and set your priorities and routes for your session.

I used a notepad with port items and Irem has most of the stuff you'll need. If you don't want to ake your time and rush the hell out of the game, edit the save file and get yourself the items you need. There are guides that explain you how to do it but it's a shame to rush a game (more like an interactive novel) that offers such rich text, even if it's a pain to travel around getting the stuff.

[[SQ]Noname]

Honestly, I started a spreadsheet with the buy and sell prices at each port, and maybe more importantly the trades and events you can get at different ports. Apart from that, most quests show you what you need in the Journal if you know where you need to look. It's not very clear though I admit.

[Skinny Pete]

Originally posted by zifnow:

Hello, when you are on multiple quest/stories, how do you keep track of what you need for each of them? In the log it's not clear at all, I keep losing track of what I was doing.

It's yet a nightmare trying to remember which port sells what, I had to write down it on a paper, and still I have difficulties. Why on the log I cannot take notes of ports market (items available to buy/sell), quest request (muttersalt, strange catch, etc). It's not funny to try getting it back from the overloaded Journal, full of icons which sometimes are not easy to associate.

Look at your Journal/Objectives and deal with the fact that it's pretty obfuscated. You should be planning your buying/selling of goods based on what storylines you're pursuing rather than the other way around, because it is storylines that make you more money/resources in general, while trading only makes slight profit over just paying for your fuel/supplies.

[zifnow]

That's what I do, I don't try pure trade. I follow story lines, usually it's not clear what you need to bring (for example, the Fathom kingdom request on "your father bones", every object is let to guess, you don't know where to pick them or what they are. Same for The Sanatorium in Venderbright). Considering that travelling takes time and usually bring in more stories, you can get how confusing and tedious the game become after a while. And if you die, start all over.

That's why I never make over 2 captains, I got seriously bored even if the atmosphere is cool and the writing is lovely. It's like watching a movie you like a lot for too many times.

Originally posted by Skinny Pete:

Originally posted by zifnow:

Hello, when you are on multiple quest/stories, how do you keep track of what you need for each of them? In the log it's not clear at all, I keep losing track of what I was doing.

It's yet a nightmare trying to remember which port sells what, I had to write down it on a paper, and still I have difficulties. Why on the log I cannot take notes of ports market (items available to buy/sell), quest request (muttersalt, strange catch, etc). It's not funny to try getting it back from the overloaded Journal, full of icons which sometimes are not easy to associate.

Look at your Journal/Objectives and deal with the fact that it's pretty obfuscated. You should be planning your buying/selling of goods based on what storylines you're pursuing rather than the other way around, because it is storylines that make you more money/resources in general, while trading only makes slight profit over just paying for your fuel/supplies.

[Skinny Pete]

Originally posted by zifnow:

That's what I do, I don't try pure trade. I follow story lines, usually it's not clear what you need to bring (for example, the Fathom kingdom request on "your father bones", every object is let to guess, you don't know where to pick them or what they are. Same for The Sanatorium in Venderbright). Considering that travelling takes time and usually bring in more stories, you can get how confusing and tedious the game become after a while. And if you die, start all over.

All the Venderbight items (the best way to make lots of money in the early game by storylines) are a specific color, and you have them in a book called the Neathbow. They all have distinctive names and anything that color will do. They disappear as you return them to the Curator and get paid. When you get them all you get a big reward at the end.

[YetiChow]

Originally posted by zifnow:

I follow story lines, usually it's not clear what you need to bring (for example, the Fathom kingdom request on "your father bones", every object is let to guess, you don't know where to pick them or what they are. Same for The Sanatorium in Venderbright).

That's the, uh, "exploration" part of the game. Not the most elegant way to incentivise exploring the map, but the idea is that players who will bother to follow the complex story should also be prepared to do the leg-work to find out where to acquire necessary items.

Of course, the reality is that not everyone enjoys that part of the game... and if you don't, that's cool. There's a wiki https://sunlesssea.gamepedia.com/Official_Sunless_Sea_Wiki if you want the "cheat sheet", or you can take a more in-character approach and keep a personalised journal (although I agree with the sentiment that it would be much better if the in-game journal had a place to make notes... then the Correspondent legacy could pass those notes down from one captain to the next too, that would be very cool!)

[ShiwaTheDrink]

I towuld be great that there were "Legendary Captains of the Zee" like one for each stat to be known in the world because of some exploration achievements or whatever. then when you choose to get your notes from your journal you'd receive extra notes from one fo them (randomly):

You check the parcel full of envelopes. The notes from the journal of a captain lost at zee recovered by fishermen. But while eyeing through the notes you notice different paper and handwritting, it seems like one of the Legendary captains notes where included too. A coincidence? good fortune? or maybe destiny?

Then taking your notes plus one fo the notes from one of the 5 would be as attractive as any other of the legacies.

[quintusav]

Terrific idea! I wonder if we could induce the Devs to adding something like that into later iterations of the game. Recently started playing the Submariner edition and I'm impressed by a lot of the little details that seem improved from my earlier attempts at this game.

[Bobert]

Originally posted by quintusav:

Terrific idea! I wonder if we could induce the Devs to adding something like that into later iterations of the game. Recently started playing the Submariner edition and I'm impressed by a lot of the little details that seem improved from my earlier attempts at this game.

Maybe they might do that for sunless skies since that is their main focus right now if I remember right.

La Vie En Rose,

~Bobert