Editing Painting in Balmoral (Guide)

{{GuideNeedsWork|EPA needs re-evaluation after Rat Market rework.}}
{{GuideFor|Concept=Concept:Painting in Balmoral|Pages=Balmoral: Presenting your Painting}}{{Audience|LateRailway}}[[File:Painting fragment.png|right]]
{{ActivitySummary
|Activity=Painting in Balmoral
|Length=Fixed
|Starting Actions=1
|Progress Actions=6
|Ending Actions={{Tooltip|2*|Does not include travel to present.}}
|Progress Details=Raise {{IL|Painting: Nostalgic|Short=yes}}, {{IL|Painting: Luminosity|Short=yes}}, and {{IL|Painting: Incendiary|Short=yes}} while you can add {{IL|Painter's Progress}} as required for desired payout.
|Output Items=2.5{{e}}:
*{{IL|Thirsty Bombazine Scrap}}
*{{IL|Mourning Candle}}
*{{IL|Sworn Statement}}
*{{IL|Vienna Opening}}
*{{IL|Muscaria Brandy}}
12.5{{e}}:
*{{IL|Skeleton with Seven Necks}}
*{{IL|Blackmail Material}}
*{{IL|Cellar of Wine}}
*{{IL|Bazaar Permit}}
*{{IL|Silent Soul}}
*{{IL|Direful Reflection}}
*{{IL|Favour in High Places}}
62.5{{e}}:
*{{IL|Night-Whisper}}
*{{IL|Discordant Soul}} 
*{{IL|Parabola-Linen Scrap}}
*{{IL|Bottle of Fourth City Airag: Year of the Tortoise}}
|Raw EPA = 5.37
|EPA Notes = Ratket, Kraken, and woesel to fail Paint!
|Raw SPA = 5
|SPA Notes =  
|Conversion=Yes
|Input Items=*{{IL|Moonlit}}
*{{IL|Memory of a Much Lesser Self}}
*{{IL|Memory of Light}}
*{{IL|Vital Intelligence}}
*{{IL|Touching Love Story}}
}}
==General==
{{IL|Balmoral}} is found at the fourth station of the Railway. Apart from visiting the local forest (the [[Moonlit Woods (Guide)|Moonlit Woods]], where you can gain {{IL|Moonlit}} for painting) and [[Balmoral Castle]], you can join the artist in the [[Visit the Distillery|old Distillery]] in {{IL|Crathie}} and take up commissions for Her Enduring Majesty. She has neglected to visit the place since the Fall, but that doesn't seem to bother anyone.

==Painting Progress==
Your progress towards a finished piece is tracked by {{IL|Painter's Progress}}. It is set to 1 when [[Undertake a commission|beginning a new commission]] and when it reaches 7, the [[Complete a commission|painting is finished]]. This means you have 6 actions to contribute to your work and it takes 8 actions to fully begin and finish a painting. Your painting's style (the reward) is determined by the combinations of {{IL|Painting: Luminosity}}, {{IL|Painting: Nostalgic}} and {{IL|Painting: Incendiary}}.

'''You have 6 actions to influence your work for every painting. Both success and failure increase {{IL|Painter's Progress}} by 1.'''
{| class="article-table"
!Option
!Cost
!~In {{e}}
!Challenge
!Success
!Fail
|-
!colspan = "6"|{{IL|Painter's Progress}} 0
|-
|[[Undertake a commission]]
|
|
|
|
|
|-
!colspan = "6"|{{IL|Painter's Progress}} 1-6
|-
|[[Paint with Moonlight|With Moonlight]]
|{{TableList|{{IL|Moonlit}} 2|{{IL|Memory of a Much Lesser Self|2 x}}|{{IL|Memory of Light|10 x}}}}
|~11.60<ref>11.00 with {{IL|The Seal of St Joshua}}</ref>
|{{IL|Persuasive}} 200
|{{IL|Painting: Luminosity|Appearance=Luminosity}} 1
|{{IL|Painting: Nostalgic|Appearance=Nostalgic}} 1
|-
|[[Paint Balmoral in a subversive cast|In a subversive cast]]
|{{IL|Vital Intelligence|1 x}}
|12.50
|{{IL|A Player of Chess}} 4<ref>Reduced with high {{IL|Renown: Revolutionaries}}</ref>
|{{IL|Painting: Incendiary|Appearance=Incendiary}} 1
|{{IL|Painting: Nostalgic|Appearance=Nostalgic}} 1
|-
|[[Paint!]]
|{{IL|Touching Love Story|5 x}}
|12.50
|{{IL|Persuasive}} 200
|{{IL|Painting: Nostalgic|Appearance=Nostalgic}} 1
|{{IL|Painting: Incendiary|Appearance=Incendiary}} 1
|-
!colspan = "6"|{{IL|Painter's Progress}} 7
|-
|[[Complete a commission]]
|
|
|
|colspan = "2"|{{IL|Completed Painting}}
|}

<references />

Creating a painting is essentially a 70-75 {{e}} investment in order to gain different items.

Since both success and failure add one of the three attributes, your painting will always end up with 6 marks in total. The amount and combinations of these determine the rewards.

'''You must present your {{IL|Completed Painting}} before starting another one!'''

There are small additional rewards for the success of each option:
* {{IL|Inspired...}} (+1 CP) for [[Paint with Moonlight]]
* {{IL|Romantic Notion|15 x}} for [[Paint Balmoral in a subversive cast]] and [[Paint!]]

Failure consumes the items as well, except for "[[Paint!]]" where the penalty is only {{IL|Touching Love Story|3 x|Appearance=Touching Love Stories}}.

[[Complete a commission|Finishing a painting]] also increases the {{IL|Painter of Fine Art}} quality by 1, tracking the number of paintings you completed and your reputation as an artist.

==Rewards==
Return to either [[Balmoral: Presenting your Painting|London]] or the [[Display your own painting|Helicon House]] in [[Ealing Gardens]] to present your painting. '''Only a {{IL|Completed Painting}} may be presented.'''
{| class="article-table"
!Requirements
!Reward
!Value ({{e}})
|-
!colspan = "3"|London - [[Balmoral: Presenting your Painting|Presenting your Painting]]
|-
|{{IL|Painting: Nostalgic|Appearance=Nostalgic}} at least 4
|{{TableList|{{IL|Bottle of Fourth City Airag: Year of the Tortoise|1 x}}|{{IL|Cellar of Wine|1 x}}|{{IL|Sworn Statement|2 x}}}}
|80
|-
|{{IL|Painting: Luminosity|Appearance=Luminosity}} at least 4
|{{TableList|{{IL|Vienna Opening|5 x}}|{{IL|Sworn Statement|5 x}}|{{IL|Parabola-Linen Scrap|1 x}}|{{IL|Bazaar Permit|1 x}}}}
|{{TableList|100.20|122.7 w/ [[The Rat Market (Guide)|Ratket]]}}
|-
|{{IL|Painting: Incendiary|Appearance=Incendiary}} at least 4
|{{TableList|{{IL|Skeleton with Seven Necks|1 x}}|{{IL|Silent Soul|1 x}}|{{IL|Thirsty Bombazine Scrap|2 x}}}}
|80
|-
|{{TableList|{{IL|Painting: Incendiary|Appearance=Incendiary}} 3|{{IL|Painting: Nostalgic|Appearance=Nostalgic}} 3}}
|{{TableList|{{IL|Discordant Soul|1 x}}|{{IL|Direful Reflection|1 x}}|{{IL|Mourning Candle|2 x}}}}
|{{TableList|17.50|+ {{IL|Discordant Soul|1 x}}<ref>Valued at 62.50 {{e}}, but there's no direct way to sell it.</ref>}}
|-
|{{TableList|{{IL|Painting: Incendiary|Appearance=Incendiary}} 3|{{IL|Painting: Luminosity|Appearance=Luminosity}} 3}}
|{{TableList|{{IL|Night-Whisper|1 x}}|{{IL|Vienna Opening|5 x}}|{{IL|Thirsty Bombazine Scrap|5 x}}|{{IL|Blackmail Material|1 x}}}}
|{{TableList|100.20|122.7 w/ [[The Rat Market (Guide)|Ratket]]}}
|-
|{{TableList|{{IL|Painting: Nostalgic|Appearance=Nostalgic}} 3|{{IL|Painting: Luminosity|Appearance=Luminosity}} 3}}
|{{TableList|{{IL|Bottle of Fourth City Airag: Year of the Tortoise|1 x}}|{{IL|Mourning Candle|10 x}}|{{IL|Favour in High Places|1 x}}}}
|100
|-
|Any other combination
|{{TableList|{{IL|Bottle of Fourth City Airag: Year of the Tortoise|1 x}}|{{IL|Favours: Society|2 x}} (up to 7)|{{IL|Muscaria Brandy|5 x}}}}
|{{TableList|75|+ {{IL|Favours: Society|2 x}}}}
|-
|{{TableList|{{IL|A Nascent Opportunity}} 1|(only once, during [[Present the Fervent Widow's painting|story]])}}
|{{TableList|{{IL|Scandal}} (+5 CP)|{{IL|Vienna Opening|5 x}}|{{IL|Sworn Statement|5 x}}}}
|25.20
|-
!colspan = "3"|Helicon House - [[Display your own painting]]
|-
|Any combination
|{{TableList|{{IL|Hinterland Scrip|125 x}}|{{IL|Inspired...}} (+ {{IL|Painting: Luminosity}} CP)|{{IL|Fitting in at Helicon House}} + ({{IL|Painting: Incendiary}} - {{IL|Painting: Nostalgic}})}}
|
|}

==Analysis==

Each painting essentially takes at least 9 Actions: one to begin, six to paint, one to complete, and one to sell.
*Traveling to sell your paintings will take 3 Actions, irrelevant on your preference of selling method ({{IL|Fallen London|Appearance=London}} or {{IL|Helicon House|Appearance=The Helicon House}}). 
You have six chances to influence your painting, with each option giving a point of {{IL|Painter's Progress}}. Failing  checks is not only likely, but encouraged, if you are looking for the best EpA.
The following are the listed actions needed for sourcing the necessary items for each option:

*[[Paint with Moonlight]] — 4 Actions + {{IL|Moonlit| 2 x}} ''(see {{IL|Irem (Guide)}} for sourcing)''
**This option presents difficulty as it pretends to {{IL|Moonlit}} as a prerequisite. For the time being, it was ignored for the purposes of the guide, but if a compelling method is found, it will be factored in.

*[[Paint Balmoral in a subversive cast|Paint in a subversive cast]] — 6 Actions ''(see {{IL|Hunting Bees in Old Newgate (Guide)|Appearance= Old Newgate (Guide)}} for sourcing)''
**This option is by far the most expensive in terms of Actions and the less rewarding, as both its success and failure offer points in styles easier to gain through the other methods.

*[[Paint!]] — 5 Actions ''(see {{IL|Irem (Guide)}} for sourcing)''
**Even so, as mentioned above, the failure on the option to [[Paint!]] consumes only {{IL|Touching Love Story| 3 x}} for one progress and 1 x {{IL|Painting: Incendiary|Appearance= Incendiary}}
**Failure can be used as a cheap option to fill the rest of a painting after gathering 4 of any other desired painting styles.
**This can be improved through the use of your {{IL|Allow your Inculcating Kraken to engage in commerce|Appearance=Kraken}} in {{IL|The Lofty Tower: the Potential of Premises at the Bazaar|Appearance=the Lofty Tower}} card to source {{IL|Touching Love Story|Appearance=Touching Love Stories| 1.5 x}} per Action.

The following is a table detailing the EpA, or SpA, of any end option, using the factors above:

{| class="article-table"
!colspan = "2"|London - [[Balmoral: Presenting your Painting|Presenting your Painting]]
|-
!Requirements
!EPA
|-
|{{IL|Painting: Nostalgic|Appearance=Nostalgic}} at least 4
|{{TableList|2.42|2.58 w/ {{IL|Allow your Inculcating Kraken to engage in commerce|Appearance=Kraken}}}}
|-
|{{IL|Painting: Luminosity|Appearance=Luminosity}} at least 4
|{{TableList|3.03|3.61 w/ [[The Rat Market (Guide)|Ratket]]|3.83 w/ {{IL|Allow your Inculcating Kraken to engage in commerce|Appearance=Kraken}}}} 
|-
|{{IL|Painting: Incendiary|Appearance=Incendiary}} at least 4
|{{TableList|4.74 w/ [[Painting in Balmoral (Guide)#Strategy|Strategy]] & [[The Rat Market (Guide)|Ratket]]|5.37 w/ {{IL|Allow your Inculcating Kraken to engage in commerce|Appearance=Kraken}}}}
|-
|{{TableList|{{IL|Painting: Incendiary|Appearance=Incendiary}} 3|{{IL|Painting: Nostalgic|Appearance=Nostalgic}} 3}}
|{{TableList| 2.5|2.55 w/ {{IL|Discordant Studies}}|2.8 w/ {{IL|Allow your Inculcating Kraken to engage in commerce|Appearance=Kraken}}}}
|-
|{{TableList|{{IL|Painting: Incendiary|Appearance=Incendiary}} 3|{{IL|Painting: Luminosity|Appearance=Luminosity}} 3}}
|{{TableList|3.13|3.72  w/ [[The Rat Market (Guide)|Ratket]]| 4.09 w/ {{IL|Allow your Inculcating Kraken to engage in commerce|Appearance=Kraken}}}}
|-
|{{TableList|{{IL|Painting: Nostalgic|Appearance=Nostalgic}} 3|{{IL|Painting: Luminosity|Appearance=Luminosity}} 3}}
|2.88
|-
|Any other combination
| ~3.03| ~3.32 w/ {{IL|Allow your Inculcating Kraken to engage in commerce|Appearance=Kraken}} <ref>{{IL|Favours: Society}} valued at 13.96 {{e}}</ref>
|-
|{{TableList|{{IL|A Nascent Opportunity}} 1|(only once, during [[Present the Fervent Widow's painting|story]])}}
|{{TableList|0.87|1.1 w/ {{IL|Allow your Inculcating Kraken to engage in commerce|Appearance=Kraken}}}}
|-
!colspan = "2"|Helicon House - [[Display your own painting]]
|-
!Requirements
!SPA
|-
|Any combination
|{{TableList|4 |5 w/ {{IL|Allow your Inculcating Kraken to engage in commerce|Appearance=Kraken}}}}
|}

==Strategy==
{{GuideNeedsWork|Outdated info - Crackling Devices can no longer be sold at the Rat Market.}}
Considering all prior sourcing, methods, and payment, we can conclude that failure on [[Paint!]] six times, and the {{IL|Painting: Incendiary|Appearance=Incendiary| 4}} payment are our the best options for EpA:
*Assuming: an initial investment of 7 {{IL|Bright Brass Skull|Appearance=Brass Skull}}s, so a start of 437.5 {{e}}, and that {{IL|The Diplomat's Current Fascination}} is birds or skeletons with many skulls.  

*One cycle of painting failure (through the use of a {{IL|Weasel of Woe|Appearance= Woesel}}) will cost {{IL|Touching Love Story| 18 x}}. 
<!-- 18 Actions for sourcing-->
** Thus, with our {{IL|Painting: Incendiary|Appearance=Incendiary| 6}} we can choose the payment for {{IL|Painting: Incendiary|Appearance=Incendiary| 4}}, which will give us {{IL|Skeleton with Seven Necks| 1 x}} and 17.5 {{e}} worth of sellable goods.
<!-- 12 Actions painting/travelling to London/selling-->

*We turn to the {{IL|Bone Market}} for a worthy recipe for a {{IL|Skeleton with Seven Necks}}.
**[[Assembling a Skeleton (Guide)/Recipes#Diplomatic Bird|Diplomatic Bird]] recipe:
<!-- 10 Actions recipe-->
***{{IL|Skeleton with Seven Necks}} ✓
***7 {{IL|Bright Brass Skull|Appearance=Brass Skull}}s ✓
***2 {{IL|Wing of a Young Terror Bird}} (sourced from [[Take the Bishop of Southwark hunting|Hunting in Burrow]] or [[A Composed Composer]]) ✓
<!-- 2 Actions sourcing--> 

* Traveling to the {{IL|The Copper Quarter|Appearance= Khanate}} (requires a {{IL|Khaganian Safe-Conduct}}):
** [[Sell the Diplomat a fossil bird|Sell your Bird to the Diplomat]]. This will gain you 1011 {{IL|Assortment of Khaganian Coinage|Appearance=Khaganian Coinage}}.
<!-- 2 Actions disembark/selling -->
** Buy {{IL|Crackling Device}}s at a rate of {{IL|Assortment of Khaganian Coinage|Appearance=Khaganian Coinage| 130 x}} per device. This will produce around 7.77 Crackling Devices per trip, as this is rounded for multiple trips where coinage adds up.
** A visit to the [[Rat Market]], if it is in season for Crackling Devices:
*** Sell all your {{IL|Crackling Device}}s (7.77 in our given case) for 660.45 {{e}} as your final payment.
<!-- 7.77 Actions selling-->

*'''Total: 4.64 EpA'''
***This can be further improved through the use of the {{IL|Allow your Inculcating Kraken to engage in commerce|Appearance=Kraken}} method. 
* '''Up to 5.25 EpA'''


If some are wondering about the second best source of EpA, or the best use of {{IL|Painting: Luminosity|Appearance=Luminosity}}, that is the {{IL|Painting: Incendiary|Appearance=Incendiary| 3 x}}, {{IL|Painting: Luminosity|Appearance=Luminosity| 3 x}} option.

*'''Total: 3.61 EpA'''

**This can be further improved through the use the {{IL|Allow your Inculcating Kraken to engage in commerce|Appearance=Kraken}} method.
* '''Up to 4.55 EpA'''

''Please note that travel actions were not included for the London - Khanate route''

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Guides]]