Editing Hallowmas (Guide)/Historical Value

===Menace Gain===
Prior to the [[Menace-Affecting Items]] changes of the 6th of July <s>1899</s> (2023), it was possible to avoid going to menace zones even with menace levels of 8 or higher. This allowed for more infrequent menace turn-ins, and made riskier strategies involving actions giving random amounts of menaces safer. These strategies and their effectiveness are preserved below for historical interest.

====Nightmares====
[[File:Sidebarnightmares.png|alt=|right|frameless]]
=====The Pavilion of Butterflies=====
If you have the {{IL|The Moth|Appearance=Moth}} mask and are willing to spend {{IL|Bottle of Strangling Willow Absinthe|Appearance=Bottles of Strangling Willow Absinthe}}, then this masque will provide an average of 4.33 menace CP/action. If you have the mask and want to more-or-less break even on absinthe, it'll average ~3.26 menace CP/action. If you don't have the mask and are willing to spend {{IL|Partial Map}}s, {{IL|Scrap of Incendiary Gossip|Appearance=Scraps of Incendiary Gossip}} and absinthe, it'll average 2.33 menace CP/action - worse than the non-masque [[Listen to the silence]] even at {{IL|Steward of the Discordance}} 7.

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
! Circumstances
!Turn-in Level
!Average Masque Length
!{{IL|Spirit of Hallowmas|Appearance=SoH}}/action
|-
| rowspan="2" |Moth mask, willing to spend absinthe
|9
|13
|3.21
|-
|10
|15
|3.44
|-
| rowspan="2" |Moth mask, wanting to break even on absinthe
| 9
|16
|2.65
|-
|10
|19
|2.75
|-
|}
=====[[Listen to the silence]]=====
Failing the {{IL|Steward of the Discordance}} 9 check of [[Listen to the silence]] in the [[Underclay (Guide)|Underclay]] gives +5 CP. As you can freely leave and reenter the Underclay at no cost provided you don't cash out, this is a pretty good source.
{| class="wikitable"
!Turn-in level
!{{IL|Steward of the Discordance|Appearance=SotD}} 4 or less
!{{IL|Steward of the Discordance|Appearance=SotD}} 5
!{{IL|Steward of the Discordance|Appearance=SotD}} 6
!{{IL|Steward of the Discordance|Appearance=SotD}} 7
|-
|7
|3.65
|3.29
|2.93
|2.55
|-
|8
|3.64
|3.27
|2.90
|2.51
|-
|9
|4.09
|3.67
|3.25
|2.81
|-
|10
|4.16
|3.73
|3.29
|2.84
|}
=====[[Attend and speak of...terrible things.|Attend and speak of...terrible things]]=====
This option in {{IL|The Shuttered Palace}} gives +4 CP of {{IL|Nightmares}} and +1 CP{{IL|Scandal}}, making it very good in years when both of those menaces may be turned in.
{| class="wikitable"
!Turn-in level
!{{IL|Spirit of Hallowmas|Appearance=SoH}}/action
|-
|7
|4.24
|-
|8
|4.36
|-
|9
|4.24
|-
|10
|4.45
|}
=====[[Explore the woods]]=====
This option in {{IL|Balmoral}} gives +5 CP of {{IL|Nightmares}} and +1 {{IL|Extraordinary Implication}}. While this is significantly more profitable than all other options (especially if upconversion and selling to Rat Market is involved), the need to travel to London for each cash-in brings the Spirit gain down. To access this you need to have both unlocked Balmoral but not yet having met the Unyielding Highlander. Since each cash out basically takes 3 actions (though providing +2 {{IL|Rumour of the Upper River}}), achieving as high of an unmodified level as possible is significantly more important here. In case you're cashing out at level 8 or 11, putting on any item that [[Menace-affecting items#Nightmares|increases Nightmares]] then removing it at the start each loop will save you an action (difference in efficiency noted below):
{| class="wikitable"
!Turn-in level
!{{IL|Spirit of Hallowmas|Appearance=SoH}}/action
|-
|7
|3.11
|-
|8
|3.27-3.6
|-
|9
|3.75
|-
|10
|3.92
|-
|11
|3.88-4.12
|}

=====How to go from 0 to 7+ {{IL|Nightmares}} with only one action=====
The following process takes several card draws, but only one action. If you don't have the {{IL|Starveling Cat}} or other needed items / qualities, there are still some neat tricks you can use.
# Put on any item that [[Menace-affecting items#Nightmares|increases Nightmares]] then remove it. This will increase unmodified nightmares from 0 to 1. (This works for Suspicion and Scandal also.)
# Wait for the {{IL|Grubby Kitten}} card and [[Introduce her to the Starveling Cat]]. One action will add 10 CP to Nightmares AND Wounds. Your are now at 4 Nightmares (+ 1 CP).
# Put on two items that [[Menace-affecting items#Nightmares|increase Nightmares]]. You are now at 6 modified Nightmares (required for cards in next step).
# Assuming you have the correct level of Dreams, patiently wait for the following red-bordered cards: [[A dream about a calm sea]], [[A dream about a corridor lined with brass mirrors 2]], [[A dream about a market-place crowded with dead men 2]], or [[A dream about a burning river 3]]. If you play these red-bordered cards when you have no actions, they will not use an action. Each will add 3 CP of Nightmares.
# Continue to wait for red-bordered cards, taking off items as needed to prevent getting to 8 Nightmares, and possibly equipping items that decrease Nightmares if you have them. Cash out with {{IL|Nightmares: The Fool's Judgement}} at 6 or 7 Nightmares (or even more, depending on how many Nightmare decreasing items you have).
=====How to go from 0 to 8 {{IL|Nightmares}} with only two actions=====
The following process takes several card draws, but only two actions. Requires having several [[Menace-affecting items#Nightmares|Nightmare-affecting]] items - 1 increasing and 3 decreasing.
# Put on Nightmare-increasing item. This will increase unmodified nightmares from 0 to 1. (This works for Suspicion and Scandal also.)
# Go to [[Mrs Plenty's Carnival]] and [[Gaze into Dream's Mirror]] in [[The House of Mirrors]].
# Take off Nightmare-increasing item and put on 3 Nightmare-decreasing items.
# Draw cards until getting [[A friendly visage]].
# Play it and take off 2 Nightmare-decreasing items, then cash out with {{IL|Nightmares: The Fool's Judgement}}.
=====[[So hungry]]=====
1 action for +1-20 CP Nightmares, +1 CP Wounds, -50 CP Watchful, and very rarely +1 x {{IL|Night-Whisper}}. Requires {{IL|Seeking Mr Eaten's Name|Appearance=SMEN}} at least as far as {{IL|St Cerise's Candle}}, and its efficiency depends on (a) using Nightmares-reducing gear (preferably at least -2) to avoid high rolls sending you to the Mirror-Marches, (b) addressing your Watchful loss after Hallowmas ends, and (c) Wounds being available for turn-ins that year. Note that the values below are for turning in safely, i.e. turning in as soon as you reach a point where a high roll could send you to the Mirror-Marches.
{| class="wikitable"
!Reduction
!{{IL|Nightmares}} Turn-In
!{{IL|Spirit of Hallowmas|Appearance=SoH}}/action
|-
|{{TableList|-3{{IL|Nightmares|Appearance=}}|-1{{IL|Wounds|Appearance=}}}}
|9 +1 CP
|8.68
|-
|{{TableList|-2{{IL|Nightmares|Appearance=}}|-1{{IL|Wounds|Appearance=}}}}
|7 +7 CP
|8.23
|-
|{{TableList|-4{{IL|Nightmares|Appearance=}}}}
|10 +3 CP
|8.88
|-
|{{TableList|-3{{IL|Nightmares|Appearance=}}}}
|9 +1 CP
|8.62
|-
|{{TableList|-2{{IL|Nightmares|Appearance=}}}}
|7 +7 CP
|8.18
|}

====Suspicion====
[[File:Sidebarsuspicion.png|alt=|right|frameless]]'''''Note:''''' ''Suspicion cannot be relinquished to the Fool's Apostate this year (1899 II/ 2022). This information is included in the guide for future reference.''

=====The Wreck of the St Elmo=====
If you have the {{IL|The Crown|Appearance=Crown}} mask and are willing to spend {{IL|Volume of Collated Research|Appearance=Volumes of Collated Research}} and {{IL|Knob of Scintillack|Appearance=Knobs of Scintillack}}, then this masque will provide an average of 5 menace CP/action. If you have the mask and are only willing to spend one of these (replacing the other with either {{IL|Tale of Terror!!|Appearance=Tales of Terror!!}} or {{IL|Presbyterate Passphrase}}s, respectively), it'll provide 3.67 per action; if you aren't willing to spend either, or don't have the mask, it'll provide 2.33.

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
!Circumstances
! Turn-in Level
!Average Masque Length
!{{IL|Spirit of Hallowmas|Appearance=SoH}}/action
|-
| rowspan="2" |Crown mask, willing to spend both research and scintillack
|8
|10
|3.27
|-
|9
|11
|3.75
|-
| rowspan="2" |Crown mask, only willing to spend one
| 8
|12
|2.77
|-
|9
|15
|2.81
|-
| rowspan="2" |No mask/unwilling to spend
|8
|18
| 1.89
|-
|9
|22
|1.96
|-
|}

=====[[Cover Identities (Guide)|Cover Identities]]=====
Failures at [[Develop your cover identity more deeply]], [[Endow your cover identity with eccentricities]], [[Make sure your cover identity has been observed in the right quarters]] and [[Credential your cover identity]] give +3 CP. With sufficiently low BDR and {{IL|A Player of Chess}}, the odds of failure can reach 98-99% for the latter three, meaning that a single cover identity's development can be made to last (on average) about 1950 actions. Thus, the main inconvenience here is travelling back and forth to {{IL|Balmoral}} rather than starting and selling the identities themselves.
{| class="wikitable"
!Turn-in level
!{{IL|Spirit of Hallowmas|Appearance=SoH}}/action
|-
|7
|2.14
|-
|8
|2.38
|-
|9
|2.48
|}

====Scandal====
[[File:Sidebarscandal.png|alt=|right|frameless]]
=====Saint Dunstan's Sacristy=====
If you have the {{IL|The Demon|Appearance=Demon}} mask and are willing to spend {{IL|Touching Love Story|Appearance=Touching Love Stories}}, then this masque will provide an average of 4.33 menace CP/action. If you have the mask and would rather spend {{IL|Mourning Candle}}s, it'll provide 3 per action. If you don't have the mask and are willing to spend {{IL|Mourning Candle}}s, it'll average 2.33 menace CP/action.

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
!Circumstances
!Turn-in Level
! Average Masque Length
!{{IL|Spirit of Hallowmas|Appearance=SoH}}/action
|-
|Demon mask, willing to spend love stories
|7
| 9
| 2.8
|-
|Demon mask, spending mourning candles
|7
|12
|2.15
|-
|No mask
|7
|14
|1.87
|-
|}

=====[[Attend a Shrouded Soirée from the Wrong Side of the Mirror]]=====
With {{IL|Glasswork}} 6 or below, this gives +1.8 CP on average, working out to 1.59 {{IL|Spirit of Hallowmas|Appearance=SoH}}/action.

=====[[Bottle of Black Wings Absinthe]]=====
Normally pretty worthless, this is the best time to drink it, for +5 CP / bottle, plus an additional 1 CP of Wounds.

====Wounds====
[[File:Sidebarwounds.png|alt=|right|frameless]]
=====The Roof Below=====
If you have the {{IL|The Infant|Appearance=Infant}} mask and {{IL|Shapeling Arts}} 3, this will provide an average of 4.33 menace CP/action. With the mask, no {{IL|Shapeling Arts}} 3, and a willingness to spend {{IL|Unearthly Fossil}}s, it gives 4.33 CP/action; if you'd rather spend {{IL|London Street Sign}}s it gives 3. If you don't have the mask and are willing to spend {{IL|Strong-Backed Labour}}s and {{IL|London Street Sign}}s, it gives 2.33.  

Currently, to continue past Wounds level 7 you must remove your Infant mask to equip {{IL|Tracklayer's Helmet}}. This prevents access to the mask-specific actions, dropping your average menace CP/action to 2.33 for the last level.

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
!Circumstances
!Turn-in Level
!Average Masque Length
!{{IL|Spirit of Hallowmas|Appearance=SoH}}/action
|-
| rowspan="2" |Infant mask, {{IL|Shapeling Arts|Appearance=SA}} 3/willing to spend fossils
|7
|9
|2.8
|-
|8
| 12
| 2.83
|-
| rowspan="2" |Infant mask, spending signs
|7
|12
|2.15
|-
|8
|14
|2.4
|-
| rowspan="2" |No mask
|7
| 14
|1.87
|-
|8
|18
|1.89
|-
|}

=====[[Have a taste of the Toxicology Exhibit]]=====
This option in {{IL|The Prelapsarian Exhibition}} gives an average of +2.4 CP. As it locks with {{IL|Wounds}} 6, this can only be used to go from 0 to [[The Fool's Judgement]] if you have a {{IL|Tracklayer's Helmet}}, in which case it gives 2.21 {{IL|Spirit of Hallowmas|Appearance=SoH}} per action.

====[[Discordant Missive]]====
Sending a discordant missive gives +1-7 CP {{IL|Suspicion}}. Reading one gives +1-9 CP {{IL|Wounds}} and +2-14 CP {{IL|Nightmares}}, as well as some random changes to the four main stats. If you have friends to trade with, and it's the one year in four where all three of those menaces can be turned in, then this is an exceptionally good method.

{| class="wikitable"
!Reduction
!{{IL|Nightmares}} Turn-In
!{{IL|Spirit of Hallowmas|Appearance=SoH}}/action
|-
|{{TableList|-2{{IL|Nightmares|Appearance=}}|-1{{IL|Suspicion}}}}
|7 +3 CP
|36.0
|-
|{{TableList|-2{{IL|Nightmares|Appearance=}}|-2{{IL|Suspicion}}}}
|7 +3 CP
|45.0
|-
|{{TableList|-2{{IL|Nightmares|Appearance=}}|-1{{IL|Wounds|Appearance=}}|-1{{IL|Suspicion}}}}
|7 +3 CP
|36.0
|-
|{{TableList|-3{{IL|Nightmares|Appearance=}}}}
|8 +5 CP
|28.0
|-
|{{TableList|-3{{IL|Nightmares|Appearance=}}|-1{{IL|Suspicion|Appearance=}}}}
|8 +5 CP
|36.0
|-
|{{TableList|-3{{IL|Nightmares|Appearance=}}|-1{{IL|Wounds|Appearance=}}}}
|8 +5 CP
|36.0
|-
|{{TableList|-3{{IL|Nightmares|Appearance=}}|-1{{IL|Wounds|Appearance=}}|-1{{IL|Suspicion|Appearance=}}}}
|8 +5 CP
|36.0
|-
|{{TableList|-4{{IL|Nightmares|Appearance=}}}}
|9 +7 CP
|28.0
|-
|{{TableList|-4{{IL|Nightmares|Appearance=}}|-1{{IL|Suspicion}}}}
|9 +7 CP
|36.0
|}