Editing Artistry in the Empress' Court (Guide)

{{GuideNeedsWork|Stats for using the Augmented Electrostatic Machine need updating in light of the 8 Mar 2024 patch. The link to the Google Sheet is missing.}}{{GuideFor|Concept = Concept:Carving out a Reputation at Court}}{{Audience|LateMYN}}[[File:Empresscourt.png|right]]
{{ActivitySummary
|Activity=Artistry in the Empress' Court
|Length=Limited
|Starting Actions=1
|Progress Actions=5+/9
|Ending Actions=1
|Progress Details=Gain {{IL|Inspired...}} to 17 (153 CP) or 24 (300 CP).
|Output Items=*{{IL|Moon-Pearl}}
*{{IL|Nevercold Brass Sliver}}
*{{IL|Foxfire Candle Stub}}
*{{IL|Piece of Rostygold}}
*{{IL|Lump of Lamplighter Beeswax}}
*{{IL|Nodule of Deep Amber}}
*{{IL|Jade Fragment}}
*{{IL|Shard of Glim}}
*{{IL|Copy of your Ode to the Elder Continent|Appearance=Copy of your Poem}}
*{{IL|Copy of your Bazaarine Tale|Appearance=Copy of your Novel}}
|Boost Items=*''{{IL|Prismatic Squidling}}''
*''{{IL|Renown: Bohemians}} 5''
*{{IL|Favours: Bohemians}}
*{{IL|Favours: Society}}
*{{IL|Favours: Revolutionaries}}
*{{IL|Favours: Hell}}
*{{IL|Favours: The Church}}
*{{IL|Jade Fragment}}
*{{IL|Drop of Prisoner's Honey}}
|Raw EPA = 1.5
}}
''It will no doubt be magnificent. Let us hope the dour old thing will appreciate it.''

This is a guide to creating great works of art at {{IL|The Empress' Court}}, primarily needed for [[Making Your Name (Guide)#Carving Out a Reputation at Court|Making Your Name]] (early- to mid-game) and achieving the {{IL|A Poet-Laureate|Appearance=Poet-Laureate}} quality (mid- to late-game).

'''Note:''' The relevant quality used to be called Shaping a Masterpiece for the Empress.

==A Name Signed with a Flourish==
Upon entering {{IL|The Empress' Court}} (and having completed any other creative works-in-progress, e.g. [[Literary Ambitions|short stories]]), you can begin {{IL|Carving out a Reputation at Court}} on the storylet [[A slow day]].

This segment of the storyline is part of the {{IL|Persuasive}} branch of [[Making Your Name (Guide)|Making Your Name]]. The object is to raise your Reputation at Court until you are called on to create a masterpiece for the Empress, which ultimately results in being [[Banished from the Court -|Banished]]. 

=== Start Carving out a Reputation===
After playing [[A slow day]], giving you {{IL|Carving out a Reputation at Court|Appearance=Reputation}} 1, the storylet [[What's your next work? (Pre-Banishment)|What's your next work?]] allows you to choose a work to complete. You can choose a minor or a major work. In either case, you will need to raise {{IL|Inspired...}} to the target level in order to finish the piece.

*'''Minor works''' (plays, songs, symphonies, and ballets) require Inspired 17 (153 CP), and grant +1 CP of Reputation.
*'''Major works''' (epic poems and novels) require Inspired 24 (300 CP), and grant +1 Reputation.

Once you are {{IL|Working on...}} a piece, a variety of options for increasing Inspired are available at Court; these are discussed in more detail below. Most are {{IL|Persuasive}} ~100 skill checks.

Upon reaching the target level of Inspired, a storylet will appear announcing that "Your [work] is complete". This grants a variety of rewards, depending on the work, and raises your Reputation at Court. You can then pick a new piece to work on, and start again.

===Complete an opera===
With Reputation 4, your options depend on whether you have finished your courtly romance, {{IL|A Name Signed with a Flourish}} 6:

* If so, you will be [[Called to the Office]], incressing your Reputation to 5;
* If not, you can have [[A Word with the Counsellor]], which sets your Reputation back to 3, allowing you to continue creating works.

[[A weighty decision]] (choose [[Oblige him]]) raises Reputation to 6, and [[Why are you doing this?]] allows you to begin work on your masterpiece, an opera.

'''Note for {{Il|Ambition: Heart's Desire!}} players:''' One of the options for completing the opera is to write [[Tristram Bagley's unfinished masterpiece]]. This requires you to have [[Ambition: Heart's Desire - the Topsy King|Hearts Desire: The Topsy King]] 22–23 (see [[Ambition: Heart's Desire (Guide)|Guide]]) and {{Il|A Scholar of the Correspondence}} ≥1 (gained by completing [[Making Your Name (Guide)#The Tomb of the Seven|an expedition to The Tomb of the Seven]]). This option can be used to bypass [[Heart's Desire – Tapping the Baton|Tapping the Baton]], {saving you a {{Il|Night on the Town}}, a {{Il|Bejewelled Lens}}, and a {{Il|Comprehensive Bribe}},} and sets Topsy King to 24.

===Banished from the Court===
Finishing the opera results in your being {{Il|Banished from the Court -|Appearance=Banished from the Court}} and sent to (temporary) {{Il|Disgraced exile in the Tomb-Colonies}}. It sets {{IL|A Name Signed with a Flourish}} to 7, completing this branch of Making Your Name.

The banishment quality is necessary to proceed to {{Il|The Foreign Office}} and [[Port Carnelian (Guide)|Port Carnelian]], once you are {{IL|A Person of Some Importance -|Appearance=A Person of Some Importance}}. (It is also part of one of the options for [[Sufficient Importance|proceeding towards PoSI status]]; see the [[A Person of Some Importance (Guide)|PoSI Guide]] for more information).

=== Restored to the Court of Her Enduring Majesty===
{{HasGuide|GuidePage=Port Carnelian (Guide)}}
Once banished from the Court, you can start working on being let back in. 

First you need to [[Successful Terms as Governor -|serve as governor of Port Carnelian]]. Once you complete one term, the Veteran Privy Counsellor [[Returning to Court?|tells you]] that you need to serve a few more so that you can [[Host a State Dinner|host a state dinner for the Captivating Princess]], who then [[Restored to Her Enduring Majesty's Court|restores you back to the Court]].

Once restored, you'll be able to create all the old works of art, as well as new ones, including new types: an Opera and a Film (both major works, requiring Inspired 24) or an innovation of fashion (minor work, Inspired 17).

Unlike before your Banishment, you'll find that creating works no longer raises {{IL|Carving out a Reputation at Court}}, but a new quality called {{IL|A Fine Piece}}. Spend these on your (long) journey to become London's [[A Laureate Among Poets|Poet-Laureate]].

==Inspired... Progress==
[[File:Lantern.png|right|frameless]]
All challenges are [[Broad difficulty|broad]] {{IL|Persuasive}} challenges unless specified otherwise.

All quality gains and losses are in [[Beginner's Guide#Change Points|Change Points]] unless specified, and CP gains to {{IL|Persuasive}} based on the challenge itself are not listed.

The common qualities have been compressed to just images in the tables:

*{{IL|Persuasive}},  {{IL|Inspired...}}
*Menaces: {{IL|Scandal}},  {{IL|Suspicion}},  {{IL|Wounds}}
*Quirks: {{IL|Melancholy}},  {{IL|Hedonist}},  {{IL|Austere}}
*Favours: {{IL|Favours: Bohemians|Appearance=Bohemians}}, {{IL|Favours: The Church|Appearance=the Church}}, {{IL|Favours: Revolutionaries|Appearance=Revolutionaries}},  {{IL|Favours: Hell|Appearance=Hell}}, {{IL|Favours: Society|Appearance=Society}}
*Renown: {{IL|Renown: Bohemians|Appearance=Bohemians}}, {{IL|Renown: Tomb-Colonies|Appearance=Tomb-Colonies}}<br />
===Simple Skill Challenges===
Straight up grinding here.

{{:Carving out a Reputation at Court (Guide)/Simple Skill Challenges}}

===Complex Skill Challenges===
These challenges also cost Favours or items, change Quirks, give additional Menaces, and/or provide additional rewards.
{{:Carving out a Reputation at Court (Guide)/Complex Skill Challenges}}

===Luck Challenges===

{{:Carving out a Reputation at Court (Guide)/Luck Challenges}}

==Minor Works==
Minor works include '''plays''', '''songs''', '''symphonies''', '''ballets''' and '''fashion'''.

These options require raising {{IL|Inspired...}} to level 17, and provide materials worth {{e}}17. Note that there is no benefit from achieving more than the needed level of {{IL|Inspired...}}.

Level 17 requires 153 CP of {{IL|Inspired...}} which, depending on your mix of +15CP and +20CP challenges, will take between 8 (153/20=7.65) and 11 (153/15=10.2) actions. Adding 2 actions for starting and stopping the carousel, that works out to between a 1.3 EPA ({{e}}17/13) and a 1.7 EPA ({{e}}17/10).

Note, though, that the usual +20CP action of [[Composition: the high path|The High Path]] costs {{IL|Drop of Prisoner's Honey|25 x|Appearance=Honey}}, so the profitability of the +20CP challenge is going to depend heavily on your source of Honey. The High Path saves 3 actions, so you'll need to acquire {{IL|Drop of Prisoner's Honey|200 x|Appearance=Honey}} in only 1 or 2 actions for it to be worthwhile. (Hint: the University Lab -- see [[Nostalgia_Grinding_(Guide)#Drop_of_Prisoner's_Honey|this guide]] for details.)

Before being Banished from Court, these provide {{IL|Carving out a Reputation at Court|+1 CP}}.<br />
After being Restored to Court, they provide instead {{IL|A Fine Piece|2 x}}.

{{:Carving out a Reputation at Court (Guide)/Minor Works}}

==Major Works==
Major works include  '''poems''', '''novels''', '''operas''' and '''films'''.

These options require raising {{IL|Inspired...}} to level 24, and provide materials worth {{e}}30. Note that there is no benefit from achieving more than the needed level of {{IL|Inspired...}}.

Before being Banished from Court, these provide {{IL|Carving out a Reputation at Court|+1}}.<br />
After being Restored to Court, they provide instead {{IL|A Fine Piece|3 x}}.

{{:Carving_out_a_Reputation_at_Court_(Guide)/Major_Works}}

==Is it worth it?==

=== Uses for your works ===
A {{IL|Copy of your Tale of the Future}} can come in handy when [[Designing your Zubmarine]] if you don't have {{IL|A Scholar of the Correspondence}} 3. 

'''Any of the other eleven poems or novels''' saves you {{IL|Foxfire Candle Stub|2000 x}} and two Favours when Making Friends Among {{Il|Membership of God's Editors|Appearance=God's Editors}} on the [[Making the Good Book Better]] golden opportunity card. 

A {{IL|Copy of your Patriotic Adventure}} can be used for increasing {{IL|Connected: The Masters of the Bazaar}} on the 6th day of [[12 Days of Mr Sacks (Guide)|Mr Sacks]], with [[Mr Sacks! Take this exalted hymn to patriotism!]], but unlike the previously mentioned uses you lose your copy. It is possible [[Mr Sacks! Take these tales of joy and woe!|to give this Sacks 10 touching love stories]] instead for the same reward.

You may {{IL|Offer an Ode to the Elder Continent}} when you are [[Offering Tribute to the Court of the Wakeful Eye]], donating your copy of the work for 5 [[Tribute]]. An alternative to directly grinding 1-2 tribute per {{IL|A Carnelian work}} ballads, although grinding tribute through the ballads has no cap, whereas donating your Ode caps at the usual 260 Tribute limit. Stocking up on Odes (and other items) before heading to the Court of the Wakeful Eye for the first time is a possible strategy.

Keep in mind however that you cannot create Elder Continent Odes or Ballads unless you have completed at least {{IL|Successful Terms as Governor -|5 x}}, so make sure that you do 5 terms before you leave Port Carnelian for the first time!

After [[Complete your library|completing a library]] in Jericho Locks, you can [[Visit your Library|lend out]] several of your books, depending on {{IL|Airs of Jericho Locks}}, none of which consumes the book in question.  All of these grant 2–3 CP of {{IL|Making Waves}} and cycle Airs. Additionally:

* {{IL|Copy of your Tale of the Future|Appearance=Tale of the Future}} gets you {{IL|Nevercold Brass Sliver|Appearance=Nevercold Brass}} (particularly useful, since it's used when Airs is less than 25, and can therefore help you cycle Airs to [[Net whatever is in the river|get a Deep-Zee Catch]])
* {{IL|Copy of your Zeefaring Epic|Appearance=Zeefaring Epic}} gets you {{IL|Piece of Rostygold|Appearance=Rostygold}}
* {{IL|Copy of your Tale for the People|Appearance=Tale for the People}} lets you trade {{IL|Proscribed Material}} for {{IL|Nightsoil of the Bazaar}}

=== Echoes per action ===
Whatever you create, it will basically give you a bit more than one Echo per action worth of the various {{e}}0.01 items. This is assuming you pass the challenges at 100%. Investing favours or items increases {{IL|Inspired...}} but, well, you pay for it. 

The optimal choice to get complete works the fastest while {{IL|Persuasive}} is below 148 is [[The Decency Evaluator]], which will complete a minor work in 11 actions, cost {{IL|Foxfire Candle Stub|550 x}}, gain an average of {{IL|Secluded Address|6.6 x}}, and gain an average of {{IL|Suspicion}} +7.7 CP, which works out to (17 - 5.5 + 6.6 * 0.50) / (11 + 0.25 * 7.7 + 2) = '''0.99 EPA.'''

Once you have {{IL|Persuasive}} 148, [[The lead]] becomes the better option on works other than poems and novels. At {{IL|Persuasive}} 167, there is no chance of failure and you can rack up the needed Inspired with 11 actions, netting a whopping 17 / (11 + 2) = '''1.31 EPA.'''

A much more profitable, albeit much slower method involves using the {{IL|Augmented Electrostatic Machine}} from Estival in combination with [[The pleasures of the Neath]] to generate large amounts of Hedonist, and then turn that into {{IL|Ivory Femur}} via [[Fertilise the tree with the twin powers of electricity and hedonism]] and [[Convince her to produce an elaborate forgery]]. The EPA of this is more difficult to calculate (a full breakdown can be found in <ABBR Title="Link missing">this Google Spreadsheet</ABBR>) but ranges between <ABBR Title="Values need updating following patch of 8 Mar 2024">3.48 and 4.11</ABBR> depending on many variables.

=== A Poet-Laureate ===
{{IL|A Poet-Laureate}} is an achievement in the court requiring being [[#Restored to the Court of Her Enduring Majesty|restored there]]. It uses substantial amounts of {{IL|A Fine Piece}} you get from completing minor and major works. It's rather poor grind EPA-wise and it doesn't have much uses, but notably it's required for [[Statues at the GHR Stations (Guide)#Ealing Gardens|statue of yourself in Ealing Gardens]].

In total you will need {{IL|A Fine Piece|290 x}} to reach Poet-Laureate 20, requiring 145 minor works. (Major works cost almost twice as much Inspired CP, for only 50% more A Fine Piece.) It's increased with [[Submit your work for consideration]], each level requiring {{IL|A Fine Piece|(5 + {{Use|Type=Math|A Poet-Laureate}}) x}}.

'''Suggestions for grinding'''

[[Composition: the high path]] gives '''1.46 EPA''' for minor works, if you have a [[University Laboratory (Guide)|University Laboratory]] and a [[Send him out for a little more honey|Struggling Artist]] for {{IL|Drop of Prisoner's Honey|Appearance=Honey}}-grinding—but this is a lower EPA than simply grinding Honey alone. However, it ''is'' useful for pursuing {{IL|A Poet-Laureate}}.

* '''Basic version:''' Spend 8 actions per 5 minor works to grind {{IL|Drop of Prisoner's Honey|200 x|Appearance=Honey}} per minor work, and 8 actions on [[Composition: the high path]], to reach {{IL|Inspired...}} 17. At 11.6 actions total per minor work (including starting and cashing out), this is 1.4 actions quicker than using [[The lead]].
* '''More efficient:''' Sell {{e}}8 of the {{e}}17 earned from each work to buy the honey for the next at Merrigan's Exchange. This takes 10 actions per work (8 for [[Composition: the high path]], plus 2 actions starting and cashing out). At this rate, it will take '''1,450 actions''' to go from Poet-Laureate 0 to 20 (not counting any actions spent getting Honey for the first work). At 140 actions per day, this would take about '''11 days.''' The reward profit is {{e}}1,305 ('''0.9 EPA,''' not counting rare successes).
** If you do all [[A Carnelian work|Carnelian ballets]] and have {{IL|Associating with Radical Academics|Appearance=Academics}} 15, you will also earn {{IL|Tribute|145-290 x}}. Importantly, this option can overcap the 260 Tribute limit. So if you fill up tribute before grinding for Poet-Laureate, you get up to 290 Tribute (though this is very unlikely) without needing to pay for any additional ship voyages. On average, you get a (rounded up) 220 tribute. If you have [[The Minister of Culture]], at 1 action to earn the {{IL|Night-Whisper}} and the 3 actions to open the [[The Rat Market (Guide)|Rat Market]], that adds 14 actions and {{e}}907,5 at full markup. That works out to '''1.55 EPA.'''
** If you have a [[Prismatic Squidling]] which gives 15 CP of {{IL|Inspired...}} without consumables, the cycle can be optimized a bit further. Just use the squidling once and the rest with honey, as grinding only with the High Path gives a bit too much CP per work (yet consuming honey) which is wasted each time upon completion of the work. With this method, you require 25 less honey per minor work, totalling an echo gain of {{e}}145. This bumps the EPA to '''1.66'''.
* '''Most Profitable, But Much Longer:''' The {{IL|Augmented Electrostatic Machine}} method described above takes about twice as long, between '''<ABBR Title="Values need updating following patch of 8 Mar 2024">5000-5500</ABBR> actions''' in total, or '''<ABBR Title="Values need updating following patch of 8 Mar 2024">34</ABBR> days''', but represents a significant increase in profitability at '''between <ABBR Title="Values need updating following patch of 8 Mar 2024">3.48 and 4.10</ABBR> EPA.''' Thus, it's significantly more profitable but also represents a significant opportunity cost. As well, it requires a seasonal item and so may not be available to all players.

=== Other benefits ===
Should you fancy a trip to {{IL|Disgraced exile in the Tomb-Colonies|Appearance=the Tomb-Colonies}}, [[A work of barely clad decadence|a saucy ballet]] is the way to go. 

Once you max out your Poet-Laureate, you can [[Install a statue to the current Poet-Laureate|make a statue of yourself in Ealing Gardens]]. The statue [[Call in favours from Bohemians|allows you to]] trade {{IL|Favours: Bohemians|4 x}} for {{IL|Ivory Humerus|2 x}} and a little bonus. At a glance this seems very useful, but based on the analysis [[Statues at the GHR Stations (Guide)#Ealing Gardens|on the guide page]], this may be inferior to calling them in in {{IL|Jericho Locks}}.

Composing a few dozen [[Somewhat challenging music|somewhat-challenging symphonies]] is the cheapest non-Fate-locked way to reliably grind {{IL|A Scholar of the Correspondence}} to 10 through solo play. However, reading [[(Carefully) read a flame-proof missive|flame-proof missives]] from other players can get one to SotC 10 in as few as four actions, so the social action route is strongly recommended over symphonies.
[[Category:Guides]]