Tips for hard Niya?

[HeathenSW]

I'm struggling a bit. With only 4 max trait cost I can't seem to find a decent starting deck. "Children+hunter+scav" with With Granny pantry, Adv Equp and Father's Tools to boot leaves me with constant need of running away, starving and is still the best I can muster.

[Gilmoy]

I had to try this. Reinstall, New Profile, 5 God Points, no mods at all.
+ Nyia, Hard (200%)
+ Hunter (2/4 trait points)
+ Scavenger (1/4 trait points)
+ Children (1/4 trait points)
+ Granny's Pantry
+ Advanced Equipment [-1/5 God Point]
+ Advanced Gathering Tools [-3/5 God Point]

A new profile can't unlock both Father's Tools [-5 GP] and Advanced Equipment [-1 GP].
So I took Advanced Gathering Tools instead.
That makes my start slightly weaker(?) than yours
Anyways, I craft my own crafting tools ASAP.

child #1 = apprentice warrior (kid-w), grows up on T046
child #2 = apprentice huntress (kid-C), grows up on T045, I designate as Chosen
Islands, Large -- I love Large maps

I love Chosen children, too, for the -1 Cosmic Seed maturation option.

~~~~

Advanced Equipment gave me:
+ { T3 Elven Bow x1.6, T2 Bone Heavy Armour 22.6 } => hunter
+ T3 Fur Robes 10.6 => scavenger

Advanced Gathering Tools gave me:
+ Dark Gathering Tool 121% => scavenger, his Gather 7.4 => 8.9.

Scavenger starts with an L1 Boar pet. Yours probably has the same.

~~~~

I shall follow my usual 200% start strategy: No ring, no village.
Avoid fights, gather food, craft tools, craft light armor, fight red-4s.
In that order. It's slow and methodical, but it works with every deity and any start.

I show a terse log of my actual playthrough, through all of 1st Winter (T037).
Yes, this is terse

For each turn, I summarize my camp work assignments, production, and events.
Then I'll conclude with my fuel, food, APs, craftings, and number of camps and combats.

~~~~

T001: (-1 AP) Food.Vegetarian Choice
T001: Camp #01 at { Vegetables 35 * 30% = 10/90 (kids), Wood }, Rolada 51/50 (men)

I have enough Wood for 5 turns, so it's not turn-1 critical.
I also have enough food, but I want to cease eating raw ingredients ASAP.

The basic idea is to spend about 20 of the first 30 turns sitting still.
Gather wood + food and cook recipes so you never starve.
Your 1st 2 AP are recipe, recipe. Cook until you have 10+ cooked foods, for Morale.

Craft 4(-1) gathering tools, 4 crafting tools, and 4(-3) leather armor.
Then roam, explore starting islands, fight red-4s, and do the quests.

T002: Combat #01 (red-2) 3 L1 Giant Crow, autoresolve = Perfect Victory (5.PV) +5 Eggs
T002: all 4 heroes L2
T002: +12 Rolada, uncheck [_] Use raw food. I never eat raw again.
Wood 92 * 70% = 64/100 (scav), Vegetables 10+12/90 (hun), Rolada 1+37/50 (kids).

Each season lasts 36 turns. In winter, my starting 10 Wood lasts only 5 turns.
I can gather 2*6 = 12 Wood every 3 turns, which makes a profit in Wood.
That means every 6 turns in winter, I spend about 40% of my labor-turns on Wood, 50% on food, and 10% walking.

T003: Wood 64+64/100, Vegetables 22+12/90, Rolada 38+16/50 (kid-C)
{ 5 Eggs 3 Fruit } = Fruity Custard 21/50 (kid-w)

T004: +6 Wood = 10, +12 Rolada = 14.
Vegetables 34+40/90, Wood 28+0/100, Fruity Custard 21+37/50 (kids).

T005: +12(-1) Fruity Custard, +19 Nut Tincture from Theodore.
Vegetables 74+18/90 (hun, kid-w), Wood 28+83/100 (scav, kid-C).

T006: +10 Vegetables, +6 Wood = 12, break camp #01, walk 2 hexes.
T006: Camp #02 { Meat, Fruit, Grain, Wood, Wood }.
Meat 133 * 70% = 93/135 (adults), { 5 Vegetables 3 Seaweed } = Pickles 37/50 (kids).

T007: Meat 93+64/135 (scav), Wood 29/100 (hun), Pickles 37+16/50 (kid-C),
{ 5 Seaweed 3 Vegetables } = Green Soup 21/50 (kid-w).

T008: +10 Meat = 14, +12 Pickles = 10d food, Morale 24 +4/turn.
Grain 93 * 30% (ugh) = 28/180 (scav), Wood 29+29/100 (hun).
Green Soup 16+37/50 (kid-C), Rolada 21/50 (kid-W).

I'm not thrilled at gathering Grain in winter, but the math still works for me.
My 2 adults combine for 40 Gather, which takes 4.5 turns to finish 1 tranche of Grain.
Add 1.5 turns in Wood, and this completes a 6-turn camp cycle.
The kids can cook 3 recipes in 6 turns, for a slow profit in Food and Morale.

T009: 28+28/180 Grain, 58+29/100 Wood, 37+16/50 Green Soup, 21+21/50 Rolada
T010: +12 Green Soup = 11d food, Morale 33+5/turn.
56+44/180 Grain (adults), 22+20/135 Meat (kid-C), 87+15/100 Wood (kid-w).

T011: +6 Wood = 8, 100+44/180 Grain, 2+35/100 Wood.
T012: 144+37/180 Grain (scav, kid-w), 37+51/100 Wood (hun, kid-C)

T013: Event, Combat #02 (red-2) Rats = Victory with injuries (4.V/i), manual = no injuries.
+7 Meat = 16, +3 Bone, +2 L1 Boar pets, +2 T1 Wands.
T013: +2 RP = 9/8 = +1 AP, (-1 AP) Food.Traditional Menu
+3.0 XP, Scavenger L3 = Lucky Sod 2
+20(-1) Grain, Wood 88+71/100 (scav), Rolada 42+18/50 (kid-C).
{ 5 Grain 3 Fruit } = Fruit Pie 54/50 (hun, kid-w)

Both children get L1 Boar pets for +1 = 6.0 MP.
I don't urgently need MPs yet because -- I'm not moving around

T014: +6 Wood = 8, +12 Rolada = 17, +12 Fruit Pie = 14d food, Morale 54 +6/turn
Wood 59+71/100 (scav), Rolada 10+41/50 (kids)

T015: +6 Wood = 12, +12 Rolada = 29, 16d food, Morale 60 +6/turn
T015: break camp #02, walk 5 hexes. Camp #03 at { Wood, Meat }.
Wood 103/100 (adults), { 5 Grain 3 Meat } = Pierogi 41/50 (kids)

T016: begin Snowstorm, +6 Wood = 16
Wood 1+103/100, Pierogi 41+18/50 (kid-C), kid-w idle

T017: end Snowstorm, +6 Wood = 20, +12 Pierogi, Morale 60 +7/turn
T017: break camp #03, walk 1 hex, camp #04 { Wood 103/100, Vegetables }

T018: +6 Wood = 24, break camp #04, Quest (Theodore) abandoned house
T018: Concept #01 (yellow-2-concept) = 4.V/i (pass) +8 herbs
T018: Camp #05 { Meat, Wood }.
Meat 91/135 (scav, kid-C), { 5 Meat 3 Herbs } = Grilled Meat 54/50 (hun, kid-w)

T019: Quest (Theodore) Slavyans
{ Hunter, Chosen } L3 = Craftsman 1, kid-w L3 = Good Luck 1
+12 Grilled Meat, Morale 62 +7/turn
Meat 91+47/135 (hun, kid-C), { 5 Grain 3 Herbs } = Bimber 54/50 (kid-C alone)

T020: +10 Meat = 13, +12 Bimber, 20d food, Morale 69 + 8/turn
T020: break camp #05, Encounter: ruins of a town +6 Sandstone
T020: Concept #02 (purple-2-concept) = Victory with serious injuries (3.V/s) = pass
T020: Quest (Lightbringers), Concept #03 (yellow-2-concept) = 3.V/s (pass) +13 Diamond
T020: Camp #06 { Seaweed } 149 * 75% = 112/45 (adults), Rolada 54/50 (kid-C)

T021: 2/10 RP, +1 AP -- saving this for Food.Meaty Meals (-2 AP)
Scavenger L4: +2 Myst = 7, +5 Seaweed, +12 Rolada, Morale 77 +8/turn
Seaweed 33+94/45 (scav, kid-w), Rolada 4+70/50
{ 5 Seaweed 3 Meat } = Sushi 54/50 (kid-C)

T022: +10 Seaweed, +12 Rolada, +12 Sushi, Morale 85 +9/turn
T022: break camp #06, T022: Quest (Theodore)
T022: Concept #03 (yellow-2-concept) = 4.V/i (pass) +3 RP = 5/10, +3 XP, +4 = 4 Slavyan
T022: Camp #07 { Wood 112/100 (adults) }
{ 5 Seaweed 3 Fruit } = Seaweed Salad 54/50 (kid-C)

T023: break camp #07, lair: cemetery, camp #08 { Fruit 51/90 (adults), Vegetables }
{ 5 Mushrooms 3 Seaweed } = Mushroom Bake 54/50 (kid-C)
{ 5 Seaweed 3 Mushrooms } = Green Soup 25/50 (kid-w)

T024: +12 Mushroom Bake, Morale 100 +10/turn
Fruit 51+51/90 (adults), Green Soup 25+25/50 (kid-w)
{ 5 Vegetables 3 Fruit } = Leczo 54/50 (kid-C)

I finally go for some tools. Which one first? Whichever one I can gather.
+ Crafting tools require gem/metal/stone, I see only T1 Sandstone, need 27(-6).
+ Gathering tools require gem/leather/wood, I see only T1 Wood, need 27.

T025: +10 Fruit = 14, +12 Green Soup, +12 Leczo, Morale +11/turn, break camp #08
T025: Combat #03 (red-1) Rats' Nest: clear = 5.PV +6 Meat, +3 Bone = 6
+3 RP = 10/10, +2.0 XP
T025: Camp #09 { Sandstone, Bone, Wood }, Lair: cemetery +2.0 XP
Wood 119/100 (adults), Sandstone 16/144 (kid-w)
{ 5 Mushroom 3 Meat } = Mushroom Gulash 55/50 (kid-C)

T026: Event: Combat #04 (purple-2) = 3.V/s, manual = 0 damage +3 RP = 15/12 +4.0 XP
T026: 3/12 RP, (-2 AP) Food.Meaty Meals
Scavenger L5 = Gathering 2, Hunter L5 = Craftsman 2, kid-W L5 = Battle Orders 1 (sigh)
+6 Wood = 26, +12 Mushroom Gulash, Morale +12/turn
Wood 9+100/100 (scav), Sandstone 16+59/144 (hun, kid-w)
{ 5 Seaweed 3 Meat } = Sushi 55/50 (kid-C)

T027: Event: hammock +2 RP = 5/12 +3.0 XP, Chosen L5 = Outmanoeuvre 2
+6 Wood = 30, +12 Sushi
Wood 9+98/100 (scav), Sandstone 75+45/144 (kids)
T1 Wood/Wood Gatherer's Aid 95/74 = 3% mw, 10% tr

T028: Quest (Lightbringers): Concept #04 (yellow-3-concept) = 3.V/s (pass) +14 Mithril
+2 RP = 7/12 +5.0 XP, Scavenger L6: +2 Wits = 5.0
+6 Wood = 7, +1 T1 Wood/Wood Gatherer's Aid (2.0) => Hunter 6.2 => 8.6

14 Mithril 13 Diamonds enables a T3 crafting tool!
I think this is the most efficacious usage of early T3/T4 combat loot.
I've learned to not hoard early T3s. I prefer to put them into play ASAP.
Tools and jewellery give the greatest effect early, because they pay off every turn.

I have enough food, I can gather Wood here, it's worth 4 (more) turns of sitting.
My Hunter (craftsman) is at 10.5 Crafting already, so he will eventually benefit more from a 138% bonus than from a flat +4.0.

T028: Wood 7+100/100 (scav), Sandstone 120+35/144 (kid-w + Gatherer's Aid)
T3 { 11 Mithril, 10 Diamonds } Craftsman's Aid (138.0%) 165/638 = 3% mw, 9% tr

Hard (200%) disables Save Game, so I cannot save-scum

I actually love Thea 2's Trash Quality % mechanism. I think the game is indeed properly balanced with 5-10% of your crafted items being Trash. It gives you proper incentive to boost Crafting to lower that Trash%, and makes you really feel that you've earned your Masterwork Quality items. Eventually, you'll have 30% mw 1% tr, and 1/4 or more of your T4/T5 gear will be Masterwork. Some Trash items are still better than what they replace, and so you keep them for a while, like vanity trophies.

T029: begin Winds, +8 Sandstone = 14, +6 Wood = 11, kid-C Faith 7/8.4
Wood 7+100/100, Sandstone 11+35/144, Craftsman's Aid 165+165/638

T030: +6 Wood = 15, kid-C Faith 5/8.4. Winds can kill if it lasts 6-8 turns
Wood 7+98/100, Sandstone 46+33/144, Craftsman's Aid 330+150/638

T031: Event: beasts, Combat #05 (red-1) 3 L1 Young Boar = 5.PV
+8 Meat, +4 Bone = 10, +1 Leather = 4, +2.0 XP
T031: Event: skshack eating your supplies (-10 raw) +2 RP = 9/12 +3.0 XP
kid-w L6: +1 Strength = 4.0 (was: +2 Destiny)
T031: end Winds, +6 Wood = 19, Chosen Faith 6/8.4 -- whew
Wood 5+98/100, Sandstone 79+62/144 (kids), Craftsman's Aid 480+95/638 (hun)

T032: Event: elderly humans (-5 raw -39 cooked) kid-C +1 Int = 4.0
+2 RP = 11/12 +3.0 XP
T032: Quest (Lightbringers) eat with family, Scavenger +1 Int = 5.0
+2 RP = 13/12 +3.0 XP
T032: 1/13 RP, (-1 AP) Equipment.Armours I
Hunter L6: +2 Str = 6.0, kid-C L6: +2 Myst = 4.0, +6 Wood = 23
Wood 3+100/100, Sandstone 141+33/144, Craftsman's Aid 575+95/638 = 3% mw, 9% tr
{ 5 Meat 3 Vegetables } = Golabki 58/50 (kid-C)

T033: +6 Wood = 27, +8 Sandstone = 22, +12 Golabki, Morale +13/turn
T033: +1 Mithril/Diamond Craftsman's Aid (trash only 128%)

I win some, I lose some.

Scavenger L7: Lucky Sod 3
T033: break camp #09, Quest (Kurv Game): dola +2 RP = 3/13 +3.0 XP
T033: Camp #10 { Fruit, Wood 100/100 (scav) }
T1 Wood/Wood Gatherer's Aid 122/74 (hun) = 4% mw, 8% tr

T034: Quest (Lightbringers): toad +2 RP = 5/13 +3.0 XP
T034: +6 Wood = 4, +1 = 2 T1 Wood/Wood Gatherer's Aid (2.0), break camp #10
T034: task (Slavyan): vermin nest, Combat #06 (red-2) 6 L1 Rat = 5.PV
+36 Meat, +1 Bone = 11, +1 Clay/Sandstone Sword, +1 Dark Wood/Bone Shield
+2 RP = 7/13 +4.0 XP, Slavyan +4 = 10, Research Material: Rat

T034: Lair: ancient ruins +25 Wood = 29, +13 Amber, +2 RP = 9/13 +2.0 XP
T034: Event: spider atop child, Concept #05 (red-5-concept) = 1.Total Defeat
+2 RP = 11/13 +2.0 XP
T034: Camp #11 { Meat 156/135 (scav, hun + Gatherer's Aid), Wood }
{ 5 Meat, 3 Meat } = Pulpety 104/50 (kid-C + Craftsman's Aid, kid-w)

T035: Quest (Kurv Game): another way? +2 RP = 13/13 +3.0 XP
T035: 0/15 RP, (-1 AP) Equipment.Robes II
+10 Meat = 22, +24 Pulpety, Morale +13/turn
Scavenger L08: +1 Str = 5, Hunter L07: Outmanoeuvre 1
kid-w L07: Battle Orders 2, kid-C L07: Hunter's Mark 1
T035: break camp #11, Camp #12 { Meat 156/135, Wood }, Pulpety 104/50

T036: +10 Meat = 16, +24 Pulpety = 48
T036: Quest (Lightbringers): cmuch, take its curse away
T036: Concept #06 (purple-3-concept) = 1.TD, manual = wiped, all Faith -25%
+2 RP = 2/15 +2.0 XP
T036: break camp #12, Slavyan: trade, recycle, 1.help with = beehive
T036: Camp #13 { Fruit, Vegetables, Wood 132/100 (scav, kid-w) }
{ 5 Mushroom 3 Fruit } = Mushroom Salad 122/50 (hun)
{ 5 Meat 3 Mushroom } = Golabki 58/50 (kid-C)

~~~~~~~~~~~
Spring begins
~~~~~~~~~~~
T037: +6 Wood = 32, +12 Golabki, +24 Mushroom Salad, break camp #13
T037: Task (Slavyan): beehive, share
T037: Combat #07 (yellow-2) 4 L1 Blood Bee, 2 L1 Dragon Bee = 4.V/i, manual = perfect
+30 Iron = 35, +2 RP = 4/15 +1.5 XP, Slavyan +5 = 15, Stingers +6 = 6
T037: Camp #014 { Fruit 144/90 (scav), Vegetables 92/90 (kids) }
Grilled Meat 135/50 (hun)

I thrived in 1st winter, but this method always does. I'll summarize next.

[Gilmoy]

I end 1st Winter in good shape (but this is normal).
14 turns fuel
39 turns food, Morale +14/turn
Scavenger L8, Hunter L7, kid-C L7, kid-w L7

13 camps = 13 turns of break-move-camp, 24 turns didn't move (roughly a 1:2 ratio)
6 AP { -4 AP on food, -2 AP on Robes II }
7 Combats, max difficulty 2
6 Concept fights, max difficulty 3 (won), 5 (lost badly)
3 tools { 2 Wood/Wood Gatherer's Aid (normal), Mithril/Diamond Craftsman's Aid (trash) }

I didn't even notice my deity Nyia. Every deity can do this.
Whatever special ability Nyia has, I didn't use it, and got no benefit from it.
In that sense, I probably "failed" (so far) to learn what Nyia does differently.

+ I do gather in winter, for all of my wood and food needs. It does suffice, even on 200%.
+ I fought only the encounters I knew I could win, so I never had to retreat or run.
+ Children don't "slow you down" when you're not moving much anyways

Admittedly, this is a patient, non-confrontational early-game style.
It's math-heavy, like solving BIN-PACKING every turn. That can get a bit wearying.
It's light on early-game action and excitement. Gathering efficiently is the excitement.

Late-game, this approach scales up to red-13 kraken sea lairs and 4-Leshy groups.
In fact, its success rate at getting that far is ~100%, with any deity, any start, any difficulty, only 5 God Points, and no rerolls. I keep repeating it, and it keeps working. Thea 2 is a vast sitting duck, and is no match for a patient, fully prepared human mind.

After you get 10-30 God Points in a profile, you can buy a stronger start, and then shift to a more combat-heavy early-game blitz. That can be very fun, too. Thea 2 is broad enough to admit both ends of that spectrum of strategies.

~~~~

I fast-forward until my children grow up This will be terser.

T039: Cabbage Patch (Hunter, Scavenger): member #5 = Ratoslava, L1 child (kid-R, T075)
T039: crafted Iron/Iron Worker's Aid (trash 1.7, grumble)

T045: adulthood: (-1 Cosmic Seed) kid-C => L1 Zerca (Chosen)
My choices were young witch, bandit, zerca, or healer. I've done a Seeded Chosen Healer.
I was tempted to try Bandit, but Zerca is also a good test. She still lives, I don't "get" Nyia.

T046: adulthood: kid-w => L1 Warrior (only default choices Gatherer or Crafter)

T048: 5/16 RP, (-1 AP) Equipment.Robes III
T049: Quest (Kurv Game) end
T051: Quest (Divine path) = 2.Intellect
T051: Silver/Mithril Inventor's Aid (3.0, 125.5%, 1.7) -- finally a Normal Quality
T052: Quest (The Smith's Legacy) begin
T053: 1/18 RP, (-1 AP) [_] not yet, Leather/Monster Bone Robes (trash 5.8)

So my kids matured, I found a new child, and begin my armor-crafting pipeline.
Now I embark on the first grand walking tour to fully explore my starting island.

I can't judge whether I'm "early" or "late" to the various main quests.
It feels roughly similar to the pace from my other wins.
1st Winter is a survival infrastructure test, so 1st Spring is the natural start of the tour.

On a Large map, I've explored maybe 1/5 of my starting island
I expect to build the 1st Ship right around turn 220, so I still have 150+ turns of this.