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Aug-6-2008 10:21

I have just lost my map for the cargo hold because I stumbled onto guard dogs 3 time...sigh Too bad I didn't side with the Tigers. I guess their influence extends to the ship's cargo hold. Are the Steepers asleep at the wheel?? Can't they find something to neutralize these dogs!! Darn it wait till I get back to Shangri La you useless Steepers grrrr.

Aug-7-2008 12:38

- and still most of the boards says that it's better to join with the Steepers, because you need that Hostage Negotiation more often... ;-)
- if you are going on AVH, or if you are entering into TH... - so why then complain when those who joined with the Tigers get something good as well? Why not say: "Thank you Ben, for making it more fair for those who join the Tigers as well!" ? ;-)

Aug-7-2008 12:53

Can anybody confirm that Trap detection does in fact work in the cargo hold?

Even if it does, I would still go with the Tea Steepers basically because I like to VH and don't like the fact that I will lose cases. Trap detection would be nice but is not a must, I have made it thorugh the pyramids many times for the secret plans and 8 times to get a palace gate key and a pair of shoes.

If Ben gave us the option to switch I would just stay put where I'm at, but thats just me. I do know of many that would reaher have the detection know that it is more useful.

Aug-7-2008 14:35

Trap detection works in the cargo hold..

Aug-7-2008 15:53

ah... I'm sure it's more gutting for a Tigerite on AVH's that a Steeperite getting shoes... this hasn't changed my mine.

STEEPERS 4 EVA

Aug-7-2008 15:56

mine-e+d=mind (thanks Evy ;)

Aug-8-2008 03:28

Can we have both? :D

Aug-8-2008 05:04

Maybe that can be a new super skill costing +++ skill points ... enough charm to suck up to both sides! :D That would be cool

Aug-8-2008 07:04

"and still most of the boards says that it's better to join with the Steepers, because you need that Hostage Negotiation more often"

With the new easier to avoid pirates and another venue for trap detection, I'm not sure the boards are giving sound advice.

Consider: As recommended, I keep very detailed maps - with pace counts and pattern seeking and comparisons to all my old maps (which I keep) - but I'm still at less than 40% success in the catacombs - 60% failure. Does anyone encounter pirates 60% of the time when they travel? No, the encounter rate is much much lower than that. Raw numbers? I’ve done two VHs and countless multi city treasure hunts since I got access to Cairo and encountered pirates three times. I’ve failed in the pyramids 16 out of 26 attempts.

Forgetting the discrepancy in frequency, the reset cost is what frustrates me the most. “Oh, I’ve encountered pirates! Now I must click on the “Travel to Shanghai” link one more time! Maybe twice!” vs “I trapped out of the pyramids! Now I must work enough cases to gain more skill points, return to Cairo, travel somewhere else, work more cases, return to Cairo again, and map my way through the catacombs from scratch!” Repeating these missions has cost me far more cases lost due to travel than I would have given up to the pirates. Unlike with the new, friendlier pirates, travel costs are non-refundable.

Aug-8-2008 07:04

I take credit for my decision to side with the Steepers �" I’m the one that made it after all. At the time it was an informed decision. I had visited numerous sleuth websites. I had read the boards, which do indeed recommend the Steepers more frequently (mostly for the skill, although the other small perk played a part for at least a few sleuths). With the benefits of Hostage Negotiation recently diluted by the change in pirate behavior and the addition of the cargo holds, I feel obligated to make some noise on the boards. The game has changed, but the “STEEPERS STEEPERS STEEPERS!!” threads remain in archives. It’s not such a clear choice anymore.

On consideration, I will thank Ben for the cargo holds �" not because it makes things more fair for Tigers fans �" I clearly don’t believe that. But because it make things fairer for those sleuths who haven’t chosen yet. Before this new addition, one had to side with the tigers based wholly on reputation and recommendation (or just at random), since the Shangri La choice had to be made long before one could ever set foot in the pyramids and form a first hand decision on the merits of Trap Detection. That may play a part in why the Steepers started off and remained so popular �" nearly everyone experiences a traumatic piracy in their formative stages of Sleuthing. Now the trap experience is available too.

Undecided Sleuths!!! Ride the Sleuthetania; try the cargo holds �" several times. Travel the world and get pirated �" several times. Know that one of these frustrations can be eliminated, while the other one will continue to trouble you for the duration of your career. Take the boards into account, but make the decision base on YOUR experience.

Aug-8-2008 07:12

All that being said Jesse, if I had to make the decision today based on the two of them, knowing what I know now, I would still side with the Steepers ans still recommened them over the Tigers to the other players.