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Questions about AV hunts
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Lilly Day
Lilly Day
Well-Connected

Oct-14-2007 09:18

When exactly do you know when you are ready to start one? I have just started doing AI cases(although have had to quit some as everyone clamms up before I can get all alibis), belong to an agency, have a few contacts...should I have more?

Also was wondering if you purchase a skill from a fraction and for example it says 15 skill points does that mean they take away something that equals 15 points....it takes so long to build them up, I don't want to lose anything I have spent so long getting.

Any help would be appreciated before I start one.

Replies

SleuthTips.com
SleuthTips.com

Oct-14-2007 09:32

I would wait to get more contacts, especially your PE contacts. Also, be sure to build up some money before going on an AV Hunt. They can take a lot of money out of your wallet. Be sure to have at least 50,000 to spare.

When you purchase a skill from a faction, it takes however many skill points the skill costs (with subtractions, of course, for archetype if that applies). So if the faction says they want 15 skill points for you to learn it, you will see a deduction of 15 skill points in your unused points.

Hope that helps!


SleuthTips.com

Arabella Parker
Arabella Parker
Well-Connected

Oct-14-2007 11:06

Only you can decide if you are ready to hunt villains. AV hunts are all AI's all the time. And you can't have any help from your agency, so they are extra tough. I suggest having all your contacts in each city just to make it easier on yourself. Bribing at the AI level is $500 a pop and you might have to bribe 3-4 people, and only recoup $1000 by solving the case. This makes Arch Villain hunts a money loss most of the time. Not to mention the traveling expense. If you sell the prize you earn you can usually come out ahead though.

Any skill you purchase is yours forever. They all cost skill points. But you will not lose any skills you have already bought. Think of it like learning to ride a bike, just because you buy a car, does not mean you stop knowing how to ride that bicycle. The faction skills are bought and treated just like the other skills, they just require you to be in good standings with the faction and they are usually more expensive.

DuchessaDarling
DuchessaDarling
Lucky Stiff

Oct-14-2007 12:02

Well, I went on my first AV hunt this summer, and I had 2 contacts Delhi, 2 contacts in New York, and nobody in London or Shanghai.

It took me about a month, and I went completely bankrupt. I had to borrow lots of money along the way.

In the end, it was really rewarding as an experience. However, I would definitely caution against starting one too soon! I had been lucky with AIs right before my hunt, but I didn't know much about them or how to tackle them. I had to learn along the way, and it was hard. I quit about 8 out of 12 cases a day at first!

Things to keep in mind:

*Traveling is expensive. Bribing is death for your bank account.
*You will not be able to do favors for the duration of your hunt, so don't even think about getting new contacts along the way!
*You cannot put a villain hunt on hold. Once you start, you can't put it aside and come back when you're ready. Either you succeed, or you fail.

good luck with your decision!

Breitkat
Breitkat
Pinball Amateur

Oct-14-2007 13:46

Like I told another detective a few days ago, the ONLY one who can effectively answer that question is you. We can tell you what you'll need to do your best on the hunts, but the biggest question involves soul-searching on your part.

So...

ARE you ready to tackle an AV hunt yet??? :-.

http://noir.playsleuth.com/map/cityhall/post.spy?id=24081&first_record=205552


Judge Dredd
Judge Dredd
Well-Connected

Oct-16-2007 08:20

I'll agree with the consensus, I had only contacts in NY when I did my first one and another detective feeding me money about every day. And it was HARD.
But I just finished another one, with contacts in every city and I moved my agency along with me and it was still hard. I think they're supposed to be hard.
If you want to give it a crack, I say do it, just know it will be expensive and you may have to quit it if you don't have the skills or the money.
My other detective quit her first one because of those reasons, and she had over 500K exp. at the time. She just wasn't ready, mainly because, in my experience, charming detectives have it easier than tough, which is what she is. I guess you do catch more flies with honey.

Judge Dredd
Judge Dredd
Well-Connected

Oct-16-2007 08:24

As for bribes, if you dont' have a good chance at solving the case, don't bother. If that bribe is going to eliminate one suspect but you know you're going to have to try to get witness evidence for at least 5 more, don't waste your money.

Personally, if the bribe will narrow the field down to 3 or less, I'll do it, or if it will give an alibi for someone I already have PE for, otherwise, I quit and move on.
That's just one strategy, and I know it seems common sense, but until someone mentioned it to me it didn't dawn on me not to throw all of my money away on a case and get nothing in return.

Dave Von Wave
Dave Von Wave
Well-Connected

Oct-16-2007 09:52

Also, don't give up on a case just because you have no clue who might have done it.

I have solved several cases by guessing randomly at one person and checking witness evidence against them until I got it confirmed that they indeed did it.

As a matter of fact the only AV hunt I've ever been on was solved mostly through cases where I had no real clue who could have done it. Took me a week to catch him, but then I only had contacts in NY at the time so that could explain why it took so long.

Lady Emerald Devon
Lady Emerald Devon
Nomad

Oct-16-2007 10:20

Disclaimer:

''I have solved several cases by guessing randomly at one person and checking witness evidence against them until I got it CONFIRMED that they indeed did it.''


See kiddies, he is still following the formula of Fake/None + WE or WE + WE.

So he's not really guessing, right Dave? Dave??


Dave Von Wave
Dave Von Wave
Well-Connected

Oct-16-2007 14:01

Yes and no.
I make a guess and then I check it up. Following the above formula.

I would never accuse on a guess alone. That way lies Shady and he's not someone you want to meet at my level. When apartments are cheaper than false accusations you really need to be careful in double-checking your notes before accusing.

Mistakes are still made and I pay for them in cold hard cash. Never play while sleepwalking. It is a bad and evil thing!

Wherefore art thou my sweet green dough of yesterday? Gone to Shady all of it! sob T_T


Lilly Day
Lilly Day
Well-Connected

Oct-16-2007 18:55

Thank you all for the sound advice....I will wait till for awhile and keep building up to the day when I can start one.

I know what you mean about Shady...he has taken a lot of my money only because I don't like to quit at anything....learning though it is the best to do...The hard way of course...by paying.

Ponders for a moment...Things to do today...Quit while I am ahead and learn patience ....What is a girl to do?

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