KOL Journal (03/03/2015)

My thought today was if Ed was worth it to do over and over for karma.

The positives:

Ed can skip a lot of the quests, like the pyramid and desert, Whitey's Grove, and the entire Tower.
Ed has access to both +combat and -combat.
Ed can flyer, insult and get cursed multiple times in one fight.

The negatives:

Ed is really fiddly because you have to manage Ka and the 3 times combat thing.
Because of the above, it takes longer to play.
I have no idea how Ed plays in hardcore, even with all the skills.

Judgment:

Anything that removes the tower is A++++ in my book. It means I don't need keys, sources of initiative, elemental damage, stat gainers, the beehive, or the electric boning knife.
Anything that reduces flyering/insulting turns is good.
I don't have to be perfect to get three day ascensions in softcore since I usually have tons of adventures left over on day 3.

For now, I'll stick with doing Ed in softcore until I have 10 starting points.

KOL Journal (02/26/2015)

Here's my log of day 1 for Ed.

This is my 5th run.

My Ka usage
Alternate Spleen and haunches
Liver, then stomach
Legs and More Legs
Elemental Wards x3

This log was created by the Ascension Log Visualizer 3.7.2.
The basic idea and the format of this parser have been borrowed from the AFH MafiaLog Parser by VladimirPootin and QuantumNightmare.

===Day 1===

[0] Ascension Start [0,0,0]
#> Turn [0] pulled 1 Greaves of the Murk Lord
#> Turn [0] pulled 1 Helm of the Scream Emperor
#> Turn [0] pulled 1 Gauntlets of the Blood Moon
-> Turn [0] none

I pull three parts of the gameinform dungeon items. The gauntlets are mainly for the HP boost.

[1-5] The Sleazy Back Alley [10,18,11]
#> Turn [5] pulled 3 Shore Inc. Ship Trip Scrip
=> Level 2 (Turn 5)! (3/5/3)

Because I don't want to spend turns or meat on the shore, I pull 3 scrip to open up the island. Also, since I'm super weak I adventure in the alley for a bit.


[6-12] Hippy Camp [28,98,25]
#> Turn [11] pulled 1 warbear warscarf
=> Level 3 (Turn 8)! (5/8/4)

I pull a warscarf once my mysticality is high enough. And I adventure in the hippy camp because the stat gains are better.


[13-150] The Secret Government Laboratory [3416,8270,3432]
#> Turn [70] pulled 1 C.A.R.N.I.V.O.R.E. button
=> Level 4 (Turn 13)! (8/13/7)
=> Level 5 (Turn 18)! (12/20/13)
=> Level 6 (Turn 26)! (18/29/19)
=> Level 7 (Turn 40)! (26/40/26)
=> Level 8 (Turn 62)! (34/53/34)
=> Level 9 (Turn 91)! (43/68/43)
=> Level 10 (Turn 132)! (54/85/54)

Since by this point I have roar of the lion, I use that and thoth and seshat to Ka farm and stat gain. I use priest + purr of the feline buff to get it to level 14 as fast as possible.

[151-168] The Spooky Forest [57,205,59]
+> [156] Got mosquito larva
+> [158] Got tree-holed coin
+> [159] Got spooky sapling
+> [165] Got Spooky Temple map
+> [168] Got Spooky-Gro fertilizer
o> Drank 1 Lucky Lindy (4 adventures gained) [0,0,0]

I missed the first semi-rare while Ka farming so I decided to do all the spooky forest stuff together, since I was able to get shelter of shed by this point.


[169-172] The Dark Neck of the Woods [12,18,8]
+> [172] Got dodecagram

with shelter of shed, I blew past the friars quest

[173-177] The Dark Heart of the Woods [22,39,10]
+> [177] Got box of birthday candles
[178-185] The Dark Elbow of the Woods [49,98,43]
+> [185] Got eldritch butterknife
[186-192] Pandamonium [40,147,67]
+> [188] Got ruby W, wussiness potion

I was getting another hot wing here.


[193] The Penultimate Fantasy Airship [8,40,8]
[194-204] The Secret Government Laboratory [309,682,274]
o> Ate 1 Knob sausage chow mein (25 adventures gained) [72,0,0]
#> Turn [204] pulled 1 Knob sausage chow mein

I forget why I was here. I think I was farming Ka again to buy other upgrades.


[205-229] The Penultimate Fantasy Airship [209,564,215]
+> [208] Got titanium assault umbrella
+> [209] Got Tissue Paper Immateria
+> [211] Got Mohawk wig
+> [213] Got metallic A, photoprotoneutron torpedo
+> [215] Got Tin Foil Immateria
+> [218] Got amulet of extreme plot significance
+> [221] Got Gauze Immateria
+> [227] Got Plastic Wrap Immateria
+> [229] Got S.O.C.K.

I got all the items required for the basement/top floor using some item drop talismans.


[230] The Castle in the Clouds in the Sky (Basement) [0,0,0]

I immediately got the non-combat.


[231-237] The Haunted Kitchen [44,113,41]
+> [236] Got leftovers of indeterminate origin
+> [237] Got Spookyraven billiards room key
o> Drank 1 Bee's Knees (8 adventures gained) [10,18,10]
[238-247] The Castle in the Clouds in the Sky (Ground Floor) [118,326,124]
o> Drank 1 astral pilsner (10 adventures gained) [13,2,17]
[248] The Castle in the Clouds in the Sky (Top Floor) [0,0,0]

Finished level 10 quest


[250-252] The Haunted Billiards Room [10,53,16]
+> [250] Got pool cue
[254-257] The Obligatory Pirate's Cove [0,0,30]
+> [254] Got eyepatch
+> [255] Got stuffed shoulder parrot
o> Drank 1 Ye Olde Meade (14 adventures gained) [28,24,22]
#> Turn [257] pulled 1 swashbuckling pants
#> Turn [257] pulled 1 Hairpiece On Fire
#> Turn [257] pulled 1 Boots of Twilight Whispers
#> Turn [257] pulled 1 smut orc keepsake box
#> Turn [257] pulled 3 chrome ore
#> Turn [257] pulled 1 head mirror
#> Turn [257] pulled 1 bloodied surgical dungarees
#> Turn [257] pulled 1 surgical mask
#> Turn [257] pulled 1 bowling ball

Unlocking the pirates. I ran out of adventures and pulled some stuff for the level 11 quest because I'm almost level 11.

Turn rundown finished!

PULLS
----------
Pulled 3 chrome ore
Pulled 3 Shore Inc. Ship Trip Scrip
Pulled 1 Knob sausage chow mein
Pulled 1 surgical mask
Pulled 1 swashbuckling pants
Pulled 1 C.A.R.N.I.V.O.R.E. button
Pulled 1 Hairpiece On Fire
Pulled 1 Gauntlets of the Blood Moon
Pulled 1 warbear warscarf
Pulled 1 Greaves of the Murk Lord
Pulled 1 smut orc keepsake box
Pulled 1 head mirror
Pulled 1 bowling ball
Pulled 1 Helm of the Scream Emperor
Pulled 1 bloodied surgical dungarees
Pulled 1 Boots of Twilight Whispers

EATING AND DRINKING AND USING
----------
Adventures gained eating: 25
Adventures gained drinking: 36
Adventures gained using: 0
Adventures gained rollover: 196

Ate 1 Knob sausage chow mein (25 adventures gained) [72,0,0]

Drank 1 Bee's Knees (8 adventures gained) [10,18,10]
Drank 1 Lucky Lindy (4 adventures gained) [0,0,0]
Drank 1 Ye Olde Meade (14 adventures gained) [28,24,22]
Drank 1 astral pilsner (10 adventures gained) [13,2,17]

SKILLS
----------

Seshat
Thoth
Fist
Howl
Roar
Storm
Feline
Heka
Sobek
Serquet
Shed

Actually Ed the Undying/Avatar of Ed - SC run 2

So my second SC ascension, I modified what someone said on the forum. Now I just have knock out the quests and spread out my pulls and this should be nice and simple.

Requirement: Conspiracy Island access
I also had: lovebug pheromones (use as stun)
VIP Key

Basically, I spread out my adventures in three places.

1) Sleazy Back Alley
2) Hippy Camp (pull 3 scrip)
3) Secret Government Lab

The strategy is to farm up Ka/level up in the alley and the hippy camp until you have roar of the lion. Then turn up stats on the omega device and alternate buying up the spleen, liver, stomach, legs, elemental wards and haunches. I have 2 haunches set up for tomorrow's use. Next run I will get pilsners instead of the aeds.

I also had the frown exerciser for extra ML and the warscarf for MP regen.
And the ring of conflict, xiblaxian stealth cowl and trousers for -combat.

Skill Order:
seshat
thoth
evocations until you get to lash of the cobra

Today's Progress:
Level 10 (which is even faster than AoSP)
Level 2,4,5,6 Quests finished.

Plan for the next 2 days:

Level 8, 9, 10, pirates unlock, 3 then 7, spookyraven unlock

KOL Journal (02/16/2015)

What I know so far about Ed:

The in-path reward is +1 spleen (unknown whether it's only for that ascension, or if it's stackable. It does not appear to carry over though)

You do not need an enchanted bean, electric boning knife, beehive, any of the keys, or the wand of nagamar.

You can't get an organ of steel.

It looks likes the regular + 1 skill per SC/ +2 skill points per HC. I'm not sure.

If you use a talisman in a fight, then die, you don't get the effect of the talisman if you come back to the fight.

It seems optimal to farm Ka someplace and then using it to buy spleen/liver/stomach and the beef haunches. Since I have island access, that would be the government lab for me.

My progress so far as Ed:

In 3 days,
I'm almost done with the level 8 quest.
I unlocked the belowdecks (used the talisman here 3 times)
I unlocked the hidden temple and got 2 stone wool.

KOL Journal (02/14/2015)

Wow, totally wrong about the path.

Initial thoughts about Ed.

1) The path is mechanically interesting because:

You can't heal normally. The love bug pheromones which could be used for HP regen had a change in this path so that didn't happen. I think it's only the stuff from the underworld, going to the underworld, and something you can buy that help.

You basically only have spleen.

You can go to the underworld and spend soul money, I mean Ka, to get many different upgrades and items.

Dying isn't really that bad, since you get a free trip to the underworld.

2) The path is funny because:

You get cool mummified servants.

Being undead changes the council text in funny ways.

Your avatar falls apart as your HP gets lower.

3) It's going to be tough at first, then get easier, like any other avatar style path. I hope I can bank skill points...

4) I think some stuff still works (like spending 10 turns in the outskirts of cobb's knob. But other stuff might not.

5) I'm excited to find out what the reward does and what happens to the level 11 quest.

KOL Journal (02/08/2015)

I got the lovebug pheromones, not really for their utility, just because I thought they were cute and I don't have to think about using them, which is nice. Probably doesn't decrease turn count very much, but it'll be nice to have a mayfly bait replacement and three 0 MP skills. I got it using that Mr. A I never remember purchasing, so it's basically a freebie. It'll probably be more useful when I'm doing my slow HC runs. I have to look into a spleen familiar that's cheap.

Nothing new on the HC run front, though the Avatar of Susie, probably familiar related, is on the horizon. I'm getting faster a bit, because I have more of the recommended skills and my booze was better this last run.

Tangentially, this is also my 100th post.

KOL Journal (01/21/2015)

Anyway, so I'm still moving at a snail's pace for these runs since I don't have the mental capacity to spare right now to figure out a faster route. I managed to finish in 10 days for the seal clubber run so that was fine, I guess.

So for day 1 of this disco bandit run:

halfway to level 6
Level 2-4 quests done
found hidden temple
unlocked billiards room
got a boris key
died a bunch
had no meat
unlocked desert beach

My item drop is still so low, so I need to remember to skip the orchard because it is basically futile for me to try to get through that. It might be helpful to do the ducks, if I get a chaos butterfly.

Mostly this is just 100% boring, but I'll just calculate when to stop so I'm in aftercore when the new avatar challenge path comes out.

Eventually, I'll finish hardcore perming all the skills I want. I could probably go back to AoSP HC again after I finish all these ones. I'll have to look into acquiring a spleen familiar that's relatively cheap for use in oxy runs. Or Bad Moon? I don't know.

KOL Journal (01/13/2015)

So, I'm continuing on with my schedule. If I take 11 days for each run, then this should suffice for a month. Then I can do the new challenge path, which should be fairly content heavy since it would be an avatar path. I haven't heard any rumblings about what that is going to be.

Also, I wonder when the new yearly familiars are coming out. We haven't heard much recently.

Oh yeah, I forgot to make a report about Crimbo. I made more meat this time since I didn't do the event really until the last day. I made about 10-12 million meat net, and I have a Mr. A (which I've stuffed in my display case so I don't spend it until I'm sure.) This is really the time I make the meat for the following year.

I was considering again my solo dungeon idea, but I'd probably use my multi for it and I don't need skull capacitors any more, so... it's a low priority. I think it would be funny to solo a 6/6/6 instance myself, though.

KOL Journal (01/07/2015)

Pretty weird couple of days.

This first run is pretty boring so far, since I have no idea how to do hardcore at all. I permed a lot of skills, but I chose that based on what I like to have available. I think the page on the wiki is OK for this still, at least for minimal food/booze considerations. The rest of it is out of date to various degrees due to the revamps.

I haven't updated my guide yet for the tower since I haven't done it yet. The wiki at least currently has a rough guide on how Level 13 works. I think I just have to add the stuff you can get earlier plus how the tower works now.

For example:

Stuff you need before
6 keys
Wand of Nagamar

Speed up factors:

Registration Desk
elemental damage
muscle/moxie/myst
combat initiative

Hedge Maze (shortcut)
elemental resistance

Tower
meat drop

Tower Levels

Level 1: beehive from noncombat. Blackberry patch -> buzzing sound -> survive
Level 2: high meat drop
Level 3: electric boning knife from Home on the Free Range noncombat in Castle's ground floor. Choose "investigate the noisy drawer."
Level 4: gaze unless you like your bosses to have more HP
Level 5: the regular shadow

Anyway, in other news:

I got a Talisman of Baio while adventuring to get some spooky mushrooms in the spooky forest. I'll probably just put it in the display case.

I have a Mr. Accessory, which I think I got from a Crimbo present. I don't know. I can't find anything in my mafia sessions.

KOL Journal (01/02/2015)

Plans for next runs

Standard
1. HC AT
2. HC SC
3. HC DB
4. HC TT
4.5 HC AOSP - current
5. HC P
6. HC S
7. SC SC
8. SC TT
9. SC AT
10. SC DB
11. SC P
12. SC S

Depending on the next challenge path, I might take a break to do one or two.

Unrestricted (to get stainless steel equipment)

13. HC AT
14. HC SC
15. HC DB
16. HC TT
17. HC P
18. HC S

And then:

19. oxy AT
20. oxy SC
21. oxy DB
22. oxy TT
23. oxy P
24. oxy S

And then: (hopefully by this point bad moon is an option as a challenge path or something, or I'll reverse this and unlock BM with run 18 and do BM runs after.)
It should be easier to not use clovers in run... since the skeleton key clover use went away, I think.

25. BM AT
26. BM SC
27. BM DB
28. BM TT
29. BM P
30. BM S