A Scholar of the Correspondence (Guide)

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A Scholar of the Correspondence quality represents your knowledge in the otherworldly language of the Correspondence and the ability to call on this exotic power. Its levels reach a maximum at 21. The CP needed to raise a single level is the same as the level it's reaching, as with most qualities. In short, it is referred to as SotC.

Raising A Scholar of the Correspondence[edit]

Unlocking the first level - Guest Lecturer[edit]

Correspondencestone.png

To gain the first level the Expedition to the Tomb of Seven must be completed, in The Forgotten Quarter. This is naturally part of the progression of the Watchful Making Your Name story-line, A Name in Seven Secret Alphabets. This gains a Set of Correspondence Stones which, when researched a bit, rewards with the first level of SotC and progresses the Making your Name story. This is the only way to start gaining SotC, without the first level you cannot progress.

Onwards from level 1 - Smouldering Academic[edit]

Gaining A Scholar of the Correspondence - Table of Full Details
  • Max
 Storylet Req. Check Pass
  • Rare
  • Pass
 Fail
  • Rare
  • Fail
1-3 What's that? 2x  84 
  • +1CP 
  • +2 
  • < -2 
  • < -2 
  • +1CP 
1-3 Look for more evidence of the Correspondence in the ruins
  • 81-100 
 88 
  • +1CP 
  • +15 
  • +1CP 
1-7
  • < 5 
  • 8-11 
 87  +44 
  • +1CP 
  • +44 
 +2CP 
1-10
  • < 5 
  • 12 
  • 15 
 50% 
  • +1CP 
  • +1 
  • -30CP 
  • -50CP 
  • -1 
1-10
  • 24 
 N/A
  • +1CP 
  • +3000 
  • +8CP 
  • +1CP 
1-10
N/A
  • +1CP 
  • +20 
  • +1CP 
1-10
  • 1x 
  • 1x 
 50% 
  • +5CP 
  • +10 
  • -1 
  • -1 
  • +5CP 
  • +10 
  • +1 
  • -1 
  • -1 
  • -1 
  • -1 
  • +4CP 
3-10
  • 5 Actions
  • +1CP 
  • +50CP 
  • +1 
  • +1CP 
10-13
  • 40-60 
  • 180 
  • 5 
  • +1CP 
  • +410 
  • +200 
  • +2CP 
10-13
  • 70-100 
  • 180 
  • 11 
  • +1CP 
  • +410 
  • +1 
  • +200 
10-15
  • 6 
  • +1CP 
  • +10CP }
  • +3 If <6 
  • -1 
  • -1 
  • +1CP 
10-15
  • 15 
  • +2-14CP 
  • +60CP 
  • +1-20CP 
  • +10CP 
  • +10CP 
  • -1 
  • +3CP 
  • -1 
  • +3CP 
1-21
N/A
  • +?CP 
  • +*CP [1]
  • +*CP [1]
  • +1-9CP 
5-21
  • 100+10x  
  • x  
  • 1x 
  • 1x 
  • 150 
  • +1CP 
  • +10 
  • +1CP 
  • -x  
  • -1 
  • -1 
  • +1-5CP 
  • +3CP 
  • +3CP 
  • -x  
  • -1 
  • -1 
  • +1-4CP 
  • +1-5CP 
  • -1-10CP 
10-21
  • 50+10x  
  • (3+ /2) 
  • 1x 
  • 1x 
  • 150 
  • +1CP 
  • +10 
  • +1CP 
  • -(3+ /2) 
  • -1 
  • -1 
  • +1-5CP 
  • +3CP 
  • +3CP 
  • -(3+ /2) 
  • -1 
  • -1 
  • +1-4CP 
  • +1-5CP 
  • -1-10CP 
10-21
  • 150 
  • 6 
 +* [2]
  • +1CP 
  • +* [2]
  • +2-3CP 
  • +* [2]
  • +1CP 
  • +1CP 
  • +* [2]
  • +1CP 
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 This value is based on how much Mired in Mail you currently have.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Research varies based on AotRS

The recommended way is to raise to level 7 using Look for more evidence of the Correspondence in the ruins, then write Correspondence symphonies at The Empress' Court. (This requires exactly 27 symphonies! On the bright side it also gives 810 Echoes worth of Moon-Pearls.)

Alternatively asking other players with the Correspondent profession for help can speed the process up greatly, as the letters they can send can give more CP the less you have (it's a random range, you can still get only 1 at times), making reaching level 10 quite fast. When short on Academic friends, The Fallen London subreddit [1], and the official forums [2] are both great places to find helpful people.

You can also use the The University Method (detailed below) from level 5, but due to its expensiveness, the above options are recommended for reaching level 10.

Going beyond level 10 - The Searing Road[edit]

Scrawl2.png

The only reliable ways to push SotC further after level 10 are burning plaques at the University, acquiring it during research if you're a Correspondent yourself or by reading letters from other Correspondents. The University plaque option gives +1 CP at a time (with the option having a rare success to give +3 (the rare success chance is assumed around 2%)), the research is always +1 CP, while the letters give a random amount, between 1 CP and an upper limit which is determined by how much SotC you already have. They always provide at least 1 CP, and possible more, but the range deteriorates to only 1 at higher levels (around level 15).

The University plaque method and the letters require increasing amounts of Watchful, peaking at 300 (modified) for the University (250 modified for a Correspondent), and 200 (base) for the letters to reach the final, 21st level.

CP needed for Specific whole SotC levels
Current SotC 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
CP to 21 216 210 203 195 186 176 165 153 140 126 111 95 78 60 41 21
CP to 20 195 189 182 174 165 155 144 132 119 105 90 74 57 39 20
CP to 19 175 169 162 154 145 135 124 112 99 85 70 54 37 19
CP to 18 156 150 143 135 126 116 105 93 80 66 51 35 18
CP to 17 138 132 125 117 108 98 87 75 62 48 33 17
CP to 16 121 115 108 100 91 81 70 58 45 31 16
CP to 15 105 99 92 84 75 65 54 42 29 15
CP to 14 90 84 77 69 60 50 39 27 14
CP to 13 76 70 63 55 46 36 25 13
CP to 12 63 57 50 42 33 23 12
CP to 11 51 45 38 30 21 11
CP to 10 40 34 27 19 10

(Remember that this table (and the ones below) work with whole levels. You could be at level 7 but have 3 CP already towards the next level. In that case, if you aim for 21, you only need 203-3=200 CP.)

Before continuing, take a look at what higher levels are actually used for and then make sure you have the determination needed and your goals set before attempting!

The Letter Method - Excellent Combination[edit]

Receiving a Flame-proof Missive from other players with the Correspondent profession is an easy and cheap way of raising SotC, and even allows you to slip out of getting 300 Watchful that the plaque method requires. They take a single action to read, but also gives 4 CP Wounds on average (1-7 CP). You can use them to get the last level or two, if you can't reach 300 Watchful. (Also, while not set in stone, it is considered polite to somehow repay the helping Correspondents if they require it.)

These letters are meant to have a chance of giving more CP the less you have, helping to reach level 10 quicker with help. You always gain CP on a range of 1 to an upper limit, said limit is determined only by your current SotC level. (Exact deterioration rate is currently unknown.) This upper limit is gradually reduced to 1 at around level 15, meaning you always gain only 1 CP/letter afterwards.

This method also require increasing amount of Watchful but here it's a base stat requirement. You need 200 base Watchful to reach 21 SotC. The formula is your current SotC level * 10 is the amount of Base Watchful needed to get any CP from a letter.

The SotC gain here doesn't suffer from Mired in Mail scaling, meaning no matter how many letters you've read this week, they will always give SotC CP if the base Watchful requirement is met. The accompanying Watchful and Dangerous gains do, sadly, scale down as normal.

When short on Academic friends, The Fallen London subreddit [3], the official Discord server [4], and the official forums [5] are all great places to find helpful people.

A Flame-proof Missive requires from the sender:

Only the receiving end benefits from SotC gain. (But the sender gains a good amount of Corresponding... for their work and, possibly, your grateful gifts for their help!)

Since the bonus CP disappears around level 15, getting to 21 by only using these letter would require a lot of corresponding. For this reason, it is advised to use the The University Method until the final levels. Of course, if you have the means and friends necessary to receive an extraordinary amount of letters there's no one to stop you!

The Lab Research Method - Profession Pays[edit]

If you're a Correspondent by profession, you can pursue truths through the Red Science when doing research in the Laboratory, which has a 22% chance of raising SotC by 1 CP, in both success and failure. Specifically, it allows you to draw the infrequent (80% as common) specific card during your projects, which has the mentioned option. It gives Wounds on a failure, but always generates at least a bit of Laboratory Research.

If you are researching with the sole purpose of raising your SotC, there are a couple of techniques that can be used to maximise your gain.

  • Always clear your hand if you can to refresh and attempt to get the card.
  • Always play the least frequent card where possible, or cards that when played remove themselves from your deck until a condition is met once more, (eg Refresh your Consumables).
  • When you reach your research goal, make sure to draw that last card and play it if it is Read the Books that Others Cannot. Repeat until you don't have that card.
  • If you are training students, never graduate that student until you have them and/or Directing your Team in your hand to clear their card.

The University Plaques Method - Reliable Grinding[edit]

Use Correspondence Plaques to expand your knowledge of the Correspondence at Shadowy Dealings at the University. Gives 1 CP/action, and 3 CP Wounds on average (1-5 CP), with a rare success giving +3 CP.

Requires both increasing Watchful and tons of resources, specifically Aeolian Screams, Extraordinary Implications and Correspondence Plaques.

Watchful needed at specific whole SotC levels for the University
SotC 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Watchful 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 300
Watchful (if Correspondent) 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250

(Needed to push beyond that level, for example to push beyond level 14 and reach level 15, you need 240)

This is available after reaching level 5, but is unadvised to use before level 10 due to its expensiveness. The other options to reach 10 are cheaper, this is mainly for getting higher than 10.

Correspondence Plaques and the other goodies[edit]

The resources. Each single CP requires:

This means you need increasing amounts of Correspondence Plaques. You will need as much Screams and Implications as CP. As for plaques:

Note: None of the calculations below rely on the rare success. Numbers in parentheses are the cost for Correspondents.

Correspondence Plaque requirements for specific whole SotC levels
Current SotC 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Plaques to 21 3040
(2116) 		3010
(2086) 		2968
(2044) 		2912
(1996) 		2840
(1933) 		2750
(1863) 		2640
(1775) 		2508
(1679) 		2352
(1562) 		2170
(1436) 		1960
(1286) 		1720
(1126) 		1448
(939) 		1142
(741) 		800
(513) 		420
(273)
Plaques to 20 2620
(1843) 		2590
(1813) 		2548
(1771) 		2492
(1723) 		2420
(1660) 		2330
(1590) 		2220
(1502) 		2088
(1406) 		1932
(1289) 		1750
(1163) 		1540
(1013) 		1300
(853) 		1028
(666) 		722
(468) 		380
(240)
Plaques to 19 2240
(1603) 		2210
(1573) 		2168
(1531) 		2112
(1483) 		2040
(1420) 		1950
(1350) 		1840
(1262) 		1708
(1166) 		1552
(1049) 		1370
(923) 		1160
(773) 		920
(613) 		648
(426) 		342
(228)
Plaques to 18 1898
(1375) 		1868
(1345) 		1826
(1303) 		1770
(1255) 		1698
(1192) 		1608
(1122) 		1498
(1034) 		1366
(938) 		1210
(821) 		1028
(695) 		818
(545) 		578
(385) 		306
(198)
Plaques to 17 1592
(1177) 		1562
(1147) 		1520
(1105) 		1464
(1057) 		1392
(994) 		1302
(924) 		1192
(836) 		1060
(740) 		904
(623) 		722
(497) 		512
(347) 		272
(187)
Plaques to 16 1320
(990) 		1290
(960) 		1248
(918) 		1192
(870) 		1120
(807) 		1030
(737) 		920
(649) 		788
(553) 		632
(436) 		450
(310) 		240
(160)
Plaques to 15 1080
(830) 		1050
(800) 		1008
(758) 		952
(710) 		880
(647) 		790
(577) 		680
(489) 		548
(393) 		392
(276) 		210
(150)
Plaques to 14 870
(680) 		840
(650) 		798
(608) 		742
(560) 		670
(497) 		580
(427) 		470
(339) 		338
(243) 		182
(126)
Plaques to 13 688
(554) 		658
(524) 		616
(482) 		560
(434) 		488
(371) 		398
(301) 		288
(213) 		156
(117)
Plaques to 12 532
(437) 		502
(407) 		460
(365) 		404
(317) 		332
(254) 		242
(184) 		132
(96)
Plaques to 11 400
(341) 		370
(311) 		328
(269) 		272
(221) 		200
(158) 		110
(88)
Plaques to 10 290
(253) 		260
(223) 		218
(181) 		162
(133) 		90
(70)

All of the 3 resources needed can be acquired from Journals of Infamy:

50 x Journal of Infamy + 5 CP Connected: Benthic ▸ 10 x Extraordinary Implication (1 Action)

50 x Journal of Infamy ▸ 51 x Correspondence Plaque (1 Action)

50 x Correspondence Plaque ▸ 10 x Aeolian Scream (2 Actions)

You can accrue large amounts of Maniac's Prayers, which can be upconverted to correspondence plaques, at the Rat Market. Simply selling anything will give you rat-shillings, which can be exchanged 1 to 1 with Maniac's Prayers (see Guide).

Grinding Plaques[edit]

There are three main grinds for collecting Correspondence Plaques:

Detailed calculations for these can be found here: A Scholar of the Correspondence (Guide)/Calculations

300 Watchful[edit]

As mentioned, raising SotC this way requires more (modified) Watchful each time a new SotC level is reached, capping at a whopping 300 to reach the final, 21st level. This is quite the challenge in itself, likely requiring the use of more than one Mood card due to the sheer amount of actions. Take a look at Watchful Items and perhaps even Raising Attribute Caps (Guide) to figure out how you could achieve this, but some tips are shown below. (The Mood no longer counts as a hat, and is now a Boon-slot item, which does not even exclude other Boons, if you have them.) Good news is, this is simply the requirement and the challenge itself always stays the same, at Broad 150.

And if you're absolutely certain you cannot reach 300 Watchful even with a Mood, and lack the patience to either get the needed items or raise your Watchful cap, there is still a way. Consider becoming a correspondent and lowering your requirement to 250 instead. Also take a look at The Letter Method.

It is possible to reach 300 without having the Overgoat, spending Fate, completing an Ambition, relying on Seasonal items or having a Watchful Destiny. However this requires:

  • Base Watchful of 214 -- i.e. needing to have reached Station VIII on the Railway. However, remember that this is only for the above-mentioned conditions! The base Watchful limit be lowered if you have the Overgoat, Seasonal or Fate-locked items, or a Watchful Destiny. Only 2 more points will reduce the needed base Watchful to 212, a cap which is doable with just the Watchful Gains from the Laboratory and removing the requirement to reach Station VIII (or even open the first station!).
  • Having 25 Renown: Revolutionaries for the item, Language of Laces
  • Having 40 Renown: The Great Game for the item, The Great Game
  • Access to The Court of the Wakeful Eye for The Minister of State Affairs
  • CASH MONEY TO BUY the MOST DAZZLING GARMENTS AND MITTS AVAILABLE TO any RESPECTABLE AND WELL-TO-DO CITIZEN of the BAZAAR'S FIFTH CITY!
    • NOW WITH the FANCIEST ADORNMENTS to DRESS UP even the MOST SUMPTUOUS OUTFITS!

Gaining 300 without the Mood is also possible with the right combination of Destinies, Seasonal items, and Fate locked goodies, all without specific completed Ambition items!

Requirements -Goat -Seasonal -Ambition
-Occupation -Fate 		-Goat -Seasonal -Ambition
-Occupation 		-Mood -Ambition -Occupation
Min base Watchful 214 213 219
Boon Preternaturally Intent (+22) Preternaturally Intent (+22) -
Hat Tub of Gloam-Foam / Snuffer's Face /
Extraordinary Hat (+8) 		Tub of Gloam-Foam / Snuffer's Face /
Extraordinary Hat (+8) 		Tub of Gloam-Foam / Snuffer's Face /
Extraordinary Hat (+8)
Clothing Reliable Labcoat (+11) Reliable Labcoat (+11) Reliable Labcoat (+11)
Adornment Semiotic Monocle (+8) Semiotic Monocle (+8) Semiotic Monocle (+8)
Gloves Insatiable Glove (+8) Insatiable Glove (+8) Insatiable Glove (+8)
Weapon Infernal Vinification Apparatus (+10) Infernal Vinification Apparatus (+10) Infernal Vinification Apparatus (+10)
Boots Language of Laces (+7) Language of Laces (+7) Language of Laces (+7)
Companion The Minister of State Affairs (+10) The Minister of State Affairs (+10) Overgoat (+20)
Affiliation The Great Game (+5) The Great Game (+5) The Great Game (+5)
Transport - - Weasel-Infested Velocipede
FATE CHRISTMAS (+5)
Home Comfort Neathoscope (+7) Cloud-filled Sphere SUMMER /
Diatomist's Array CHRISTMAS (+8) 		Cloud-filled Sphere SUMMER /
Diatomist's Array CHRISTMAS (+8)
Sum +96 +97 +81
Efficient Moods[edit]

In the likely event that you can't reach 300 Watchful without a Mood there's another inconvenience encountered near the end. Wounds gain and action costs. Just going from 20 to 21 takes 21 actions while also hurting a lot (3 CP on average). This means that even when starting from perfect health, you'll likely be dead after only gaining 12 CP SotC. Mood cards are Rare and only last for an hour, so needing to wait for more is not exactly pleasant when being so close to greatness! You'll need to count your actions and effectively take care of your Wounds to maximise each Mood. Be sure to wait for all your actions to regenerate before activating the Mood, and you gain an additional 5-6 actions while the Mood itself lasts. Take a look at Wounds Loss to figure out your healing options, some of the best are picked out here, and also some tips for maxing actions:

Maximising Wounds Loss[edit]
Maximising Actions[edit]

Using A Scholar of the Correspondence[edit]

Correspondence paperweight.png

(Ambition uses are not included)

Most notable uses[edit]

All Uses[edit]

Specific levels required[edit]

(Naturally, higher levels permit the ones requiring lower than them.)

Challenges based on[edit]

Some challenges simply cannot be done with 100% success, as SotC 25 is unreachable. This is to be accepted!

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