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So I stupidly picking tough/charming.
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Ginny Weasley
Ginny Weasley

Aug-16-2007 17:29

I really, really don't want to go make a new character, because I've invested a lot of time in it. I've looked at the high scores list and seen that you CAN succeed with this archetype, so my question is this: what can I do, without rerolling, to succeed? Should I buy smarts gear? Should I focus on smarts-based skills?

These are the skills I have:
Intermediate Sweet Talking
Judge of Character
Lock Picking
Interrogation
Intimidation
Hair Analysis

Which skills do I, as a tough/charming detective, need to buy next?

Replies

Ginny Weasley
Ginny Weasley

Aug-16-2007 22:54

Yeah, I'm just wondering because I've been buying tough and charm skills/equipment because it's my archetype.

Breitkat
Breitkat
Pinball Amateur

Aug-17-2007 12:59

The reason why veterans (like me ;-) tend to tell newer players to stick with one side of the skill hierarchy (pick either tough or charming), is that as a player who's building up experience and skills, the skill points you accumulate come at a much faster rate than they do for ol' timers like me. By the time you hit the 100k exp. mark, you should have enough skill points to get all of the regular (ie. non-faction) smart skills AND the interviewing skills for one side of the hierarchy (ie. the tough skills, incl. pugilism, or the charming skills, incl. flirting). If you try and go for both sets of interview skills, you won't have enough points to acquire both sets when you reach the 100k mark, and things start getting tougher for you in acquiring skill points and working cases. It doesn't mean it can't be done; it just means that things tend to be more difficult, and waiting to build up the second set of interview points until a little later often makes things a bit easier. ;-)

Breitkat
Breitkat
Pinball Amateur

Aug-17-2007 13:08

Since you've already gone with one advanced skill already (Intermediate Sweet-Talking), I'd suggest you might want to keep going with the charming skills. You do, however, have both basic levels of the tough skills (Interrogation and Intimidation), so that's a plus for the tough side.

Right now, Ginny, you're really looking at a six-of-one, half-a-dozen decision. Whichever side you choose, it shouldn't take you very long to even things out. ;-)

Ginny Weasley
Ginny Weasley

Aug-17-2007 23:48

Yeah, I'm wondering if tough might make more sense? Because if I buy intermediate interrogation, I'll have better tough than charming - and I can always use the charming as a fallback if Judge of Character says tough isn't going to work. I don't think it's TOO much of a loss, really, since Interrogation and Sweet Talking came with the original skillset, so all I really did badly was up the sweet talking.

Okay, so after I buy intermediate interrogation, I'll have this:

Intermediate Sweet Talking
Judge of Character
Lock Picking
Intermediate Interrogation
Intimidation
Hair Analysis
Thread Analysis

What would you recommend my next skill be after that? Something from Smarts? Stress Detection?

Breitkat
Breitkat
Pinball Amateur

Aug-18-2007 00:04

One skill that comes in handy for most people is Research. It eliminates one suspect with a false alibi completely from your list (there's no way they could have killed your victim, cause they were off doing something else. The Hall of Records tells you what.) You might think about getting that, or keep building up your tough skills.

Lookin' good! ;-)

yoyofoshow
yoyofoshow
Old Shoe

Aug-18-2007 00:13

I think I should call Treschaude to tell you about all the amazing benefits of being tough/charming.

Treschaude
Treschaude
Washed Up Punter

Aug-18-2007 17:28

Got a call saying maybe I should pop on by. Sorry I'm late.

I feel like a broken record sometimes and I know there are certain people who disagree with me, but here we go again...

I am tough and charming and think it is the best archetype in the game. You get your discount on the two most important skill sets. Solving cases is based on getting people to talk to you. As tough and charming you have an advantage here. It is NOT more difficult that any other combination. In fact, it's kinda fun.

When your detective was created, you were given Judge of Character. That was not an accident or a mistake or something to be ignored. It was a gift that only tough and charming detectives get on start up. Take advantage of it!

You asked for help on skills. Here's my take on your situation:

1. Flirting first. It's dirt cheap and gives you a +20 with everyone of the opposite sex. Next time you do JoC with a male townie/suspect, do the math and see what a big difference that can make. When you have it and try to build your suspect list, you can start with the men and fill your list faster, more questions before clamming, etc. Batting those eyelashes of yours can go a long way. :)
2. Rule Bending. You need to be able to talk to townies in both ways. Again, combined with flirting, you will have less clamming. Without it, tough had better work or you've got nothing. And who wants that when you don't have to?
3. Research. It's one of those costly smart skills but will make your life a lot easier and worth the wait.

Treschaude
Treschaude
Washed Up Punter

Aug-18-2007 17:43

After that, sit back and re-group. Hopefully you have your PE contact in your home city, so you know which advanced smart skill will come last. Think about what you wished would be a little easier and go for that. I alternated between picking up a more advanced tough/charm and an advanced smart skill. I was in a Green Hand city so I worked myself up with them to get Pugilism, which gives a +10 tough on everyone. Just go back and forth with it. But always take a tough/charm skill if you feel like your hurting over a smart skill.

If you want some tips on solving with no smarts, just PM me and I can help with this.

The only other suggestion I would make is with your gear. You are a lucky detective in that you are subbed and in an agency with a locker. At the moment I'm writing this, I see you are at +6 smart. Smart gear will only help you if you have the advanced smart skills. You don't have those yet. So get yourself a charming hat to go with that bracelet and stow the old hat in your locker for later. Even when you do start to get the smart skills, ONLY wear smart gear when you check crime scenes or travel for THs. Even when you travel, you really don't need any more than 3-4 smarts pts. in your gear to get by.

You're gear is good, I see you trying for that balance. You just need to drop the hat, and continue to look for better and better gear as you do your cases. It doesn't matter what it looks like now. There will be plenty of time for fashion decisions later. Right now you need the points. As soon as you get offered a tough accessory with more pts than that blade in your pocket - trade it out. If people have left better gear in the locker for others to wear, ask if you can use it.

Lady Jas
Lady Jas
The Chosen One

Aug-18-2007 18:12

Tresch, I'm the same archtype, and I LOVE it too :D

Breitkat
Breitkat
Pinball Amateur

Aug-18-2007 18:41

Like I said earlier, doing both at the same time isn't impossible, and Tres and Jas are two of the best examples out there. Just be prepared for the fact that when you hit about 100k exp., your skill points are going to start coming much, much less frequently than you've been used to, so making strategic decisions now is key, whichever road you choose to take. ;-)

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