Golden Age of Nova Guide

A guide to achieve coronation by the most positive means possible. All major players remain alive and Nova gains hospitals, the printing press, new alliances, and a Lumen Queen.

Introduction

This playthrough came about as the result of an attempt to hit a bunch of skill checks while getting the Angel of Music achievement. I've called it the Golden Age walkthrough because as noted in the summary, all named characters survive, Nova becomes a center of trade and knowledge, and gains new alliances with Shanjia - in short, Elodie's done things as morally as possible and Nova's future looks bright. It was fun to figure out the exact skills needed to achieve this, so I decided to post it as a guide in case anyone else is interested.

Unfortunately, there's very little room for experimentation within this guide, as pretty much all directions must be followed exactly up until about Week 30. There are a lot of points where skill checks rely on using the correct outfit to scrape over the check threshold, so please note the Outfit: listing at the top of the week. Mood and skill level figures are also given so that you can check that your stats match those of the guide.

Achievements and Epilogues

The achievements that can be gained through this walkthrough are:

• Illuminate!
  
• A Gathering of Light
  
• A Little Backup
  
• A Dangerous Juggler
  
• Better Left Unsaid
  
• Long Live The Queen
  
• Angel of Music
  
• Shared Power Increased

This guide has two possible endings branching from the meeting with Togami. For Angel of Music and peace with Shanjia, choose to [Sing To Him]; for Shared Power Increased and Nova-wide acceptance of Lumens, choose to [Accept His Terms]. It's up to you which ending you prefer, though I like to think that after peacefully resolving things with Shanjia, Elodie is then able to campaign for public Lumen approval.

The possible romance options in Week 38 are:

• Talarist
  
• Banion
  
• Linley (if you danced with him)
  
• Kevan
  
• Adair
  
• Anciet

The epilogue windows gained through singing are:

• 03. Wedding (most marriage options)
  
• 04. Wistful Dad
  
• 09. Questionable Romance (Kevan or Anciet)
  
• 18. Religion
  
• 19. Angel Elodie
  
• 22. Printing Press
  
• 23. Hospital
  
• 24. Queen

And finally, the epilogue windows gained through dueling are:

• 01. Lumen Crystal
  
• 03. Wedding (most marriage options)
  
• 04. Wistful Dad
  
• 09. Questionable Romance (Kevan or Anciet)
  
• 13. Happy Peasants
  
• 14. Sailor Briony
  
• 20. Threat of War
  
• 22. Printing Press
  
• 23. Hospital
  
• 24. Queen
  
  Have fun!

Week 01 - Week 10

=== Week 01 ===

Outfit: Boarding Uniform
Mood: Depressed (-2,-4, 0, 0)

• Study: Trade (10.00)
  
• Study: Trade (20.00)

Event: Elodie's family from Merva arrives. +1 Cheerful.
Weekend: Play with toys. +1 Cheerful, +1 Yielding, +1 Lonely.

=== Week 02 ===

Outfit: Boarding Uniform
Mood: Afraid (-2,-2,-1,-1)

• Study: Public Speaking (10.00)
  
• Study: Battlefield Medicine (10.10)

Event: Julianna arrives. [Arrest Her]. A little counter to the play-style, but we'll free her later. +1 Angry.
Weekend: Play with toys.+1 Cheerful, +1 Yielding, +1 Lonely.

=== Week 03 ===

Outfit: Boarding Uniform
Mood: Yielding (-1,-1,-2,-2)

• Study: Elegance (15.05)
  
• Study: Elegance (30.10)

Event: Snake attack. Fail the check so that you discover Charlotte's magic. +1 Afraid.
Weekend: Play with toys. +1 Cheerful, +1 Yielding, +1 Lonely.

=== Week 04 ===

Outfit: Boarding Uniform
Mood: Yielding (-2, 0,-3,-3)

• Study: Presence (16.71)
  
• Study: Presence (33.41)

Event: Elodie's family return to Merva. No change.
Weekend: Visit dungeons. [Hear Her Out] and [Free Her]. +1 Pressured.

=== Week 05 ===

Outfit: Boarding Uniform
Mood: Yielding (-2, 0,-3,-2)

• Study: Composure (18.54)
  
• Study: Composure (37.09) [Coronet Unlocked!]

Event: Receive a letter from Talarist. +1 Cheerful.
Weekend: Attend services. -1 Afraid.

=== Week 06 ===

Outfit: Coronet
Mood: Yielding (-1,+1,-3,-2)

• Study: Presence (53.99)
  
• Study: Presence (74.58)

Event: Reminder from Priestess Selene to visit Julianna. No change.
Weekend: Visit Julianna. No change.

=== Week 07 ===

Outfit: Coronet
Mood: Yielding (-1,+1,-3,-2)

• Study: Trade (31.15)
  
• Study: Production (11.15)

Event: Maid crash avoided. No change.
Weekend: Talk to Father. +1 Willful.

=== Week 08 ===

Outfit: Coronet
Mood: Yielding (-1,+1,-2,-2)

• Study: Production (23.53)
  
• Study: Battlefield Medicine (20.87)

Event: Request for printing press funding. [Invest]
Weekend: Sneak out. +2 Willful, +1 Lonely.

=== Week 09 ===

Outfit: Coronet
Mood: Lonely (-1,+1,0,-3)

• Study: Court Manners (16.26)
  
• Study: Flattery (16.26)

Event: Banion calls for aid against Ixion and asks about Talarist's necklace. . +1 Yielding, +1 Willful.
Weekend: Talk to Julianna. [I'll Try to Find a Way]. +1 Willful.

=== Week 10 ===

Outfit: Coronet
Mood: Lonely (-1,+1,+1,-3)

• Study: Flattery (34.31)
  
• Study: Court Manners (34.31)

Event: Ixion representatives arrive. [Bluff / Intimidate] and [Threaten to Attack]. +1 Cheerful.
Weekend: Visit treasury. Get the Queen's crystal. +1 Willful.

Week 11 - Week 20

=== Week 11 ===

Outfit: Coronet
Mood: Lonely (-1,+2,+2,-3)

• Study: Public Speaking (30.03) [Tea Dress Unlocked!]
  
• Study: Court Manners (54.34)

Event: Keythong report. +1 Depressed.
Weekend: Visit tomb. +1 Afraid, +1 Depressed.

=== Week 12 ===

Outfit: Tea Dress
Mood: Lonely (-2,0,+2,-3)

• Study: Herbs (16.42)
  
• Study: Herbs (32.84)

Event: Talarist arrives. [Politely Decline]. No change.
Weekend: Visit Julianna. [Do It]. Become a Lumen. +2 Cheerful, +1 Willful.

=== Week 13 ===

Outfit: Tea Dress
Mood: Willful (-2,+2,+3,-3)

• Study: Internal Affairs (15.54)
  
• Study: Internal Affairs (31.08)

Event: Trial of a murderess. [Ask the Earl of Io About her Story]. +1 Cheerful.
Weekend: Attend service. -1 Cheerful.

=== Week 14 ===

Outfit: Tea Dress
Mood: Willful (-2,+2,+3,-3)

• Study: Wield Magic (15.00)
  
• Study: Wield Magic (30.00)

Event: An owl flies in daylight and request for hospital funding. [Invest].
Weekend: Attend service. -1 Afraid.

=== Week 15 ===

Outfit: Tea Dress
Mood: Willful (-1,+2,+3,-3)

• Study: Resist Magic (16.65)
  
• Study: Resist Magic (33.30)

Event: Information about parade, first printing and letter from Briony. [Pro-Lumen propaganda]. +1 Willful.
Weekend: Attend court. +1 Depressed, +2 Yielding, +1 Pressured.

=== Week 16 ===

Outfit: Tea Dress
Mood: Willful (-1,+1,+2,-2)

• Study: Sense Magic (18.48)
  
• Study: Sense Magic (36.96) [Magical Girl Unlocked!]

Event: Festival of the Good Lady parade. [Lead the Parade]. +1 Cheerful, +1 Willful, +1 Pressured.
Weekend: Attend service. -1 Cheerful.

=== Week 17 ===

Outfit: Magical Girl
Mood: Willful (-1,+1,+3,-1)

• Study: Sense Magic (57.48)
  
• Study: Sense Magic (77.99)

Event: Grand Ball. Choose who you like except for someone scandalous. Choosing someone about your age will unlock Linley as a marriage option later. [Talk to Your Aunt] and [Offer Her a Court Position]. No mood change.
Weekend: Attend service. -1 Afraid.

=== Week 18 ===

Outfit: Coronet
Mood: Willful (0,+1,+3,-1)

• Study: Ciphering (17.25)
  
• Study: Composure (45.48)

Event: Sirin visits and Elodie's agents receive orders. [Greet Her Politely], [Assassins] and [More Guards]. +1 Afraid.
Weekend: Attend service. -1 Afraid.

=== Week 19 ===

Outfit: Coronet
Mood: Willful (0,+1,+3,-1)

• Study: Ciphering (35.45)
  
• Study: Resist Magic (56.07)

Event: Adjusting the budget. [Lower Taxes].
Weekend: Attend court. +1 Depressed, +2 Yielding, +1 Pressured.

=== Week 20 ===

Outfit: Coronet
Mood: Willful (0, 0,+1, 0)

• Study: Foreign Intelligence (19.20)
  
• Study: Foreign Intelligence (38.40) [Catsuit Unlocked!]

Event: Trial of a wife-killer. [Summon Julianna] and [Wait for Julianna].
Weekend: Attend court. +1 Depressed, +2 Yielding, +1 Pressured.

Week 21 - Week 30

=== Week 21 ===

Outfit: Coronet
Mood: Depressed (0,-1,-1,+1)

• Study: Instrument (16.34)
  
• Study: Instrument (32.69)

Event: Receive a squid poem. [That's Terrible!] and [Ignore It]. +1 Angry.
Weekend: Visit dungeons. +1 Yielding, +1 Afraid.

=== Week 22 ===

Outfit: Coronet
Mood: Yielding (0,-1,-2,+1)

• Study: Meditation (15.82)
  
• Study: Meditation (31.64)

Event: Receive news about Fabian's death. [Leave Him With Arisse].
Weekend: Sneak out. +2 Willful, +1 Lonely.

=== Week 23 ===

Outfit: Coronet
Mood: Depressed (0,-1, 0, 0)

• Study: Voice (18.14)
  
• Study: Voice (36.28)

Event: Sabine arrives. [Test Her for Secret Skills].
Weekend: Walk in the gardens. +1 Cheerful, +1 Lonely

=== Week 24 ===

Outfit: Coronet
Mood: Lonely (0, 0, 0,-1)

• Study: Flattery (56.93)
  
• Study: Public Speaking (52.66)

Event: Receive a letter from Adair. No change.
Weekend: Visit tomb. +1 Afraid, +1 Depressed.

=== Week 25 ===

Outfit: Coronet
Mood: Afraid (-1,-1, 0,-1)

• Study: Divination (17.56)
  
• Study: Divination (35.12)

Event: See a falling star. +1 Cheerful.
Weekend: Visit tomb. +1 Afraid, +1 Depressed.

=== Week 26 ===

Outfit: Coronet
Mood: Afraid (-2,-1, 0,-1)

• Study: Lore (19.49)
  
• Study: Lore (38.98) [Priestess Robe Unlocked!]

Event: A beautiful day. +1 Cheerful.
Weekend: Attend service. -1 Afraid.

=== Week 27 ===

Outfit: Coronet
Mood: Afraid (-1, 0, 0,-1)

• Study: Lore (60.62)
  
• Study: Decoration (15.36)

Event: Letters from Briony and Gwenelle. [Go to Sudbury for Gwenelle's Party]. +1 Cheerful.
Weekend: Sneak out. +2 Willful, +1 Lonely.

=== Week 28 ===

Outfit: Tea Dress
Mood: Willful (-1,+1,+2,-2)

• Study: Internal Affairs (52.40)
  
• Study: Internal Affairs (73.71)

Event: Arrive at Sudbury for Gwenelle's party. [Flatter Them Both] and [Offer to Help]. +1 Willful, -1 Lonely.
Weekend: Visit tomb. +1 Afraid, +1 Depressed.

=== Week 29 ===

Outfit: Tea Dress
Mood: Willful (-2, 0,+3,-1)

• Study: Internal Affairs (97.37)
  
• Study: Foreign Intelligence (62.06)

Event: Discuss the Old Forest with Briony. [Ask About Briony's Parents] +1 Angry.
Weekend: Attend court. +1 Depressed, +2 Yielding, +1 Pressured.

=== Week 30 ===

Outfit: Priestess Robe
Mood: Afraid (-1,-1,+1, 0)

• Study: Decoration (31.57) [Toga Unlocked!]
  
• Study: Instrument (48.90)

Event: Corisande arrives and Briony goes home. +1 Cheerful.
Weekend: Visit Julianna. [Order Her to Explain] +1 Angry.

Week 31 - Week 40

=== Week 31 ===

Outfit: Priestess Robe
Mood: Willful (0, 0,+1, 0)

• Study: Instrument (66.89)
  
• Study: Voice (54.28)

Event: The wind blows out the candles and a coded letter from Briony arrives. +1 Afraid.
Weekend: Visit Julianna. +1 Pressured.

=== Week 32 ===

Outfit: Toga
Mood: Afraid (-1, 0,+1,+1)

• Study: Instrument (86.86)
  
• Study: Voice (74.25)

Event: Decide to hold a tournament. [Employment]. No change.
Weekend: Attend service. -1 Afraid.

=== Week 33 ===

Outfit: Toga
Mood: Willful (0, 0,+1,+1)

• Study: Voice (96.41)
  
• Study: Foreign Intelligence (88.32)

Event: The day of the tournament. [Music]
Weekend: Talk to Sabine. [Accept] +1 Cheerful.

=== Week 34 ===

Outfit: Toga
Mood: Cheerful (0,+1,+1,+1)

• Study: Public Speaking (78.50)
  
• Study: Foreign Intelligence (100)

Event: Learn about Shanjian warships. [Don't] and [Stay In the Capital]. +1 Afraid.
Weekend: Visit treasury. +1 Willful.

If you want the Angel of Music ending, then you can study what you like from this week onwards. Your highest skill-group will affect the flavor text you get in the epilogue, so try boosting different stats to see different end text.

=== Week 35 ===

Outfit: Magical Girl
Mood: Willful (-1,+1,+3,+2)

• Study: Wield Magic (54.66)
  
• Study: Wield Magic (79.32)

Event: Result of the naval battle. No change.
Weekend: Attend service. -1 Afraid.

=== Week 36 ===

Outfit: Magical Girl
Mood: Willful (0,+1,+2,+1)

• Study: Decoration (55.09
  
• Study: Decoration (78.61)

Event: Togami arrives. [Sing to Him]. No mood change.
OR Togami arrives. [Accept His Terms] and [Dazzle Him].
Weekend: Attend service. -1 Cheerful

=== Week 37 ===

Outfit: Coronet
Mood: Willful (0, 0,+2,+1)

• Study: Sense Magic (100)
  
• Study: Resist Magic (

Event: The Shanjians retreat and the commoners rejoice. +1 Cheerful.
OR The Shanjians retreat and loot. No change.
Weekend: Play with toys. +1 Cheerful, +1 Yielding, +1 Lonely.

=== Week 38 ===

Outfit: Coronet
Mood: Cheerful (0,+2,+1, 0)

• Study: Court Manners (81.60)
  
• Study: Public Speaking (100)

Event: Charlotte and family arrive, and a feast is held. [An Extravagant Feast]. No change.
Weekend: Visit Charlotte. +1 Cheerful.

=== Week 39 ===

Outfit: Coronet
Mood: Cheerful (0,+3,+1,0)

• Study: Court Manners (100)
  
• Study: Flattery (86.87)

Event: The coronation and wedding are planned. Choose who you like. +1 Willful if no-one.
Weekend: Attend service. -1 Cheerful.

=== Week 40 ===

Outfit: Coronet
Mood: Cheerful (0,+2,+2,0)

• Study: Flattery (100)
  
• Study: Elegance (50.87)

Event: Elodie is coronated!

[Big Smooth Brain]

How long did this take you lol ive been struggling

[Scarlet/r]

This is a great guide, but in week 9 the author forgot to include the correct choice. The correct choice is to say that you're not actually interested.

[X Æ A-12]

On week 21, the dungeons do nothing

[Anime-rwk]

Thank you for the extremely helpful guide

[LadyLancel]

Amazing guide, thanks! I'm just a bit sad that Joslyn remained a widow.

[rridd]

Good guide, except no yuri. In my mind Elodie must marry either Brin or Briony.

[ashembie]

absolutely amazing guide, thank you so much!!

[ann]

A great tutorial! Thank you sooo much!

[Errapel]

No problem, I really enjoyed the guide, happiest possible endings!

[Airyn]

@Errapel - Fixed now! Thanks for letting me know :)