Editing The Maze-Garden (Guide)

{{GuideFor|Location = The Maze-Garden|Pages = The Gateway to the Gardens#Perambulating...#Polythremean Disposition:#Awakening...#COMMUNION#IPSEITY}}{{Audience|MidZailing}}[[File:Polythreme.png|right]]
{{ActivitySummary
|Activity=The Maze-Garden
|Length=Fixed
|Starting Actions=1
|Progress Actions={{Tooltip|15|A couple cards can increase the length}}
|Ending Actions=2
|Progress Details=Build up {{IL|Awakening...}}, gaining, {{IL|IPSEITY}} or {{IL|COMMUNION}} along the way.
|Output Items=*{{IL|Silk Scrap}}
*{{IL|Surface-Silk Scrap}}
*{{IL|Whisper-Satin Scrap}}
*{{IL|Correspondence Plaque}}
*{{IL|Thirsty Bombazine Scrap}}
*{{IL|Glass Gazette}}
|Boost Items=*''{{IL|Ostentatious Paisley Suit}}''
|Raw EPA = 4.36
|Locked=Yes
|Starting Items=*'''Free'''
*{{IL|Pair of Scarlet Stockings of Dubious Origin}}
*{{IL|Pair of Magician's Gloves}}
*{{IL|Prisoner's Mask}}
*{{IL|Shabby Opera Cloak}}
}}

{{GuideNeedsWork|Missing info on fate locked Ostentatious Paisley Suit}}
The {{IL|The Maze-Garden}} is a carousel in the {{IL|Polythreme Docks}}. Each time you pass through the Maze-Garden, you bring with you a piece of clothing and ''"usher your garment towards independence"''. At the end of your journey, your item of clothing will wander off to a life in Polythreme, and you will be rewarded by a clay man bearing various gifts. The more alive your sartorial pupil is by the time you leave the garden, the better the rewards offered to you!

==Getting there==
{{IL|The Maze-Garden}} is located in {{IL|Polythreme Docks|Appearance = Polythreme}} and require services of a ship.
There are two ways to reach {{IL|Polythreme Docks|Appearance = Polythreme}}:

#The first is to buy [[A Ticket to Polythreme|a ticket]] on the tramp steamer at {{IL|Wolfstack Docks}} using 150 {{IL|Map Scrap}}s (typically earned from [[The Rat Market (Guide)|the Rat Market]]). Then build your {{IL|Approaching Journey's End}} quality to 10, using the various cards and storylets [[Aboard a Tramp Steamer|aboard the Tramp Steamer]]. Once it is at 10, the [[There at last!]] storylet will open up. Selecting [[Polythreme (Aboard a Tramp Steamer)|Polythreme]] there will place you in the {{IL|Polythreme Docks}}, from where you can unlock and access {{IL|The Maze-Garden}}.
#The second method requires a ship of your own (check the [[PoSI Item Crafting#Ship|PoSI Item Crafting]] guide to see how to get one) and an [[Assemble your Screaming Map|assembled]] {{IL|Screaming Map}}. See the [[Zailing (Guide)]] for an introduction to how you zail and plan a trip to Polythreme in the Sea of Voices.

When it's time to leave the island the following options are present:
*Board the [[Zail Away on the Tramp Steamer|Tramp Steamer]] for 80 {{IL|Surface-Silk Scrap}}s (8.00 Echoes). These can be gained in the carousel.
*Journey home on your [[Put to Zee! (Polythreme)|own ship]]

The challenges in {{IL|The Maze-Garden}} are variable and thus fit for many levels. Due to the slight difficulty in reaching Polythreme, this guide will assume you have around {{IL|A Person of Some Importance|Appearance = PoSI}}- levels or higher.

==Useful items and their challenge level==
During your stay you may need some specific items of clothing. As there is no access to the Bazaar in Polythreme, you will have to bring these garments with you. One item of clothing is needed each time you enter the Maze-Garden, and you will lose whatever item of clothing you select. The easiest and most difficult items of clothing to choose are always available at the Maze's front gates, which is to say selecting them does not require an item from your inventory. However, if you want a specific challenge level (that is {{IL|Polythremean Disposition:}}) in-between those two extremes, you must bring the item corresponding to that level. The challenge level is given to all main attribute checks ({{IL|Shadowy}} etc.) and also affects the reward. Higher challenge levels have harder checks, but greater rewards.

Some pieces of clothing are chiral. This means that the left version or the right version will be easier than the other, which means your {{IL|Polythremean Disposition:}} may increase or decrease by up to 30, depending on your choice.

It seems as though the rewards for a trip through the Maze-Garden do not increase beyond {{IL|Polythremean Disposition:|100}} or {{IL|Polythremean Disposition:|120}} (shown in-game as "Spirited"). This suggests that repeatedly choosing a Prisoner's Mask is the easiest way to get the maximum reward, if you can do so reliably.
{| class="article-table mw-collapsible"
|+ Clothing Table
|-
! Piece of Clothing
! {{IL|Polythremean Disposition:}}
! {{IL|Temperamental Chirality|Appearance = Chiral?}}
! Item needed
|-
|[[A leftover stocking]]
|70
|✘
|✘
|-
|[[A scarlet stocking]]
|90
|✔
|{{IL|Pair of Scarlet Stockings of Dubious Origin}}
|-
|[[A Magician's Glove]]
|100
|✔
|{{IL|Pair of Magician's Gloves}}
|-
|[[A Prisoner's Mask]]
|120
|✘
|{{IL|Prisoner's Mask}}
|-
|[[A Shabby Opera Cloak]]
|160
|✘
|{{IL|Shabby Opera Cloak}}
|-
|[[A Horrendous Cravat]]
|200
|✘
|✘
|}

==Progress Qualities==
There are several important qualities within the Maze-Garden.

*{{IL|Polythremean Disposition:}} adjusts the difficulty of the carousel, sometimes together with {{IL|Temperamental Chirality}}.
*{{IL|Perambulating...}} measures how close you are to the end of the carousel. When you hit 11, you reach the end of the Maze-Garden.
*{{IL|Awakening...}} measures how alive your article of clothing has become. This is proportional to the rewards you will receive.
*{{IL|IPSEITY}} and {{IL|COMMUNION}} are qualities used for several checks inside the Maze-Garden. Some rewards require ''one'' of them at level 7.

==Progress Through The Maze==

Once you reach {{IL|Perambulating...}} 5, [[The Silent Gate]] autofires which costs an action and raises {{IL|Perambulating...}} to 6.  Then when you reach {{IL|Perambulating...}} 9, [[The Heart of the Labyrinth]] autofires which costs an action and raises {{IL|Perambulating...}} to 10.  Then when you reach {{IL|Perambulating...}} 11, [[The Watchful Gate]] autofires which costs an action and takes you to [[An Offering (The Maze-Garden)]] where you can choose your rewards and exit the maze.  This costs one more action and resets your Maze-Garden qualities.  However, any unplayed cards will remain when you start your next trip through the maze.

===The Cards===
Note that every card option will increase {{IL|Perambulating...}} by +4, unless it's otherwise mentioned in the table below:

{| class="article-table sortable mw-collapsible" style="width: 100%;"
|+
Card Overview
|-
!Card
!Option
!Req.
!Challenge
!{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance = }}/{{IL|Perambulating...|Appearance = }} Gain
!IPS Gain
!COM Gain
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[ADORN]]
|[[Place it on the thin Clay Man in Regency clothes]]
|
|
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+7}}
|
|{{IL|COMMUNION|Appearance = COM|+4}}
|-
|[[Place it on a heavyset, conservatively-dressed Clay Man]]
|
|
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+7}} 
|{{IL|IPSEITY|Appearance = IPS|+2}}
|{{IL|COMMUNION|Appearance = COM|+2}}
|-
|[[Place it on the nearly nude Clay Man]]
|
|
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+7}} 
|{{IL|IPSEITY|Appearance = IPS|+4}}
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[DISCERN]]
|[[Select a head from the pile]]
|
|
| {{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+6}}/ {{IL|Perambulating...|Appearance=|+2}}
|
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Leave the pile of heads to its own devices]]
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" |{{IL|COMMUNION|Appearance=|3}}
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+1}}
|
|{{IL|COMMUNION|Appearance = COM|+4}}
|-
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+6}}
|{{IL|IPSEITY|Appearance = IPS|+2}}
|
|-
| rowspan="4" |[[DUEL]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Fight on behalf of your (garment)]]
| rowspan="2" |{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|< 5}}
| rowspan="2" |{{IL|Dangerous|Appearance=}}= {{IL|Polythremean Disposition:|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+7}}
|
|
|-
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+2}}/ {{IL|Perambulating...|Appearance=|+2}} 
|
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Allow your (garment) to participate]]
| rowspan="2" |{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|5+}}
| rowspan="2" |{{IL|IPSEITY|Appearance=|3}}
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+7}}
|{{IL|IPSEITY|Appearance = IPS|+4}}
|
|-
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+2}}
|{{IL|IPSEITY|Appearance = IPS|+2}}
|
|-
| rowspan="5" |[[HARVEST]]
|[[Pick out the sweetest words]]
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|< 8}}
|
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+7}}
|
|{{IL|COMMUNION|Appearance = COM|+4}}
|-
|[[Pick out venomous words]]
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|< 8}}
|
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+6}} 
|{{IL|IPSEITY|Appearance = IPS|+4}}
|
|-
|{{FontFate}} (Requires {{IL|Ostentatious Paisley Suit}})
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|< 8}}
|
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+?}}
|{{IL|IPSEITY|Appearance = IPS|+7?}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Let your (garment) choose its own food]]
| rowspan="2" |{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|5+}}
| rowspan="2" |{{IL|IPSEITY|Appearance=|3}}
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+7}}
|
|
|-
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+2}}
|{{IL|IPSEITY|Appearance = IPS|+4}}
|
|-
| rowspan="5" |[[PARTAKE]]
|[[Allow your (garment) to join in]]
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|< 6}}
|
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+7}}
|
|{{IL|COMMUNION|Appearance = COM|+4-5}}
|-
|[[Permit it only to observe]]
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|< 6}}
|
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+7}}
|{{IL|IPSEITY|Appearance = IPS|+3}}
|
|-
|[[Allow your (garment) to join in 2]]
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|6-9}}
|
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+3}}
|
|{{IL|COMMUNION|Appearance = COM|+7}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Let your (garment) choose to join, or not]]
| rowspan="2" |{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|7+}}
| rowspan="2" |{{IL|COMMUNION|Appearance=|3}}
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+7}}
|
|
|-
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+3}}
|
|{{IL|COMMUNION|Appearance = COM|+3}}
|-
| rowspan="4" |[[SCAVENGE]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Walk softly]]
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" |{{IL|Shadowy|Appearance=}}= {{IL|Polythremean Disposition:|Appearance=}}
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+7}}
|
|
|-
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+0}}/ {{IL|Perambulating...|Appearance=|+2}}  
|
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Allow your (garment) to dig through the pile]]
| rowspan="2" |{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|5+}}
| rowspan="2" |{{IL|COMMUNION|Appearance=|3}}
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+7}}
|
|{{IL|COMMUNION|Appearance = COM|+4}}
|-
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+3}}
|
|{{IL|COMMUNION|Appearance = COM|+4}}
|-
| rowspan="4" |[[TRANSFIGURE]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Have your (garment) inspected for damage]]
| rowspan="2" |{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|< 5}}
| rowspan="2" |{{IL|Luck|Appearance=|50%}}
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+6}}
|
|{{IL|COMMUNION|Appearance = COM|+4}}
|-
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+2}}
|{{IL|IPSEITY|Appearance = IPS|+4}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Bid it to ask for an alteration]]
| rowspan="2" |{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|5+}}
| rowspan="2" |{{IL|IPSEITY|Appearance=|3}}
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+6}}
|{{IL|IPSEITY|Appearance = IPS|+4}}
|
|-
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+2}}
|
|{{IL|COMMUNION|Appearance = COM|+4}}
|-
| rowspan="4" |[[TRAVERSE]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Carry your (garment) across]]
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" |{{IL|Shadowy|Appearance=}}= {{IL|Polythremean Disposition:|Appearance=}} 
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+3}}
|
|
|-
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+0}}/ {{IL|Perambulating...|Appearance=|+2}}
|
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Wade through the rushing water]]
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" |{{IL|Watchful|Appearance=}}= {{IL|Polythremean Disposition:|Appearance=}} 
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+4}}
|
|
|-
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|+0}}/ {{IL|Perambulating...|Appearance=|+6}}
|
|
|}

==Rewards==
The exact conversion rate of {{IL|Awakening...}} to items is based on {{IL|Polythremean Disposition:}}. This table gives the values with a prisoner's mask and cravat (disposition 120-200). With disposition 60 you gain approximately 2/3 of this number. For other dispositions, see the individual action pages.
{| class="article-table mw-collapsible"
|+ Reward table
|-
!Action
!Requirement/Cost
!Reward
!Max value per {{IL|Awakening...}}
|-
|[[Take some silk scraps]]
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|1}} / 1 CP
|{{IL|Silk Scrap|50 x}}
|0.5 {{e}}
|-
|[[Take some surface-silk]]
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|3}} / 6 CP
|{{IL|Surface-Silk Scrap|60 x}}
|1.0 {{e}}
|-
|[[Take some whisper-satin]]
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|5}} / 15 CP
|{{IL|Whisper-Satin Scrap|30 x}}
|1.0 {{e}}
|-
|[[Take some Correspondence plaques]]
|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|7}} / 28 CP
|{{IL|Correspondence Plaque|56 x}}
|1.0 {{e}}
|-
|[[Take some Thirsty Bombazine]]
|{{TableList|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|11}} / 66 CP|{{IL|COMMUNION|Appearance = COM|7}} }}
|{{IL|Thirsty Bombazine Scrap|26 x}}
|0.98 {{e}}
|-
|[[Take some Glass Gazettes]]
|{{TableList|{{IL|Awakening...|Appearance=|11}} / 66 CP|{{IL|IPSEITY|Appearance = IPS|7}} }}
|{{IL|Glass Gazette|26 x}}
|0.98 {{e}} <ref>Valuing gazettes at 2.5{{e}}; cash out [[Sell off a few Glass Gazettes|at Helicon House]] </ref>
|}
<references />

=== Optimally cashing out ===
For true EPA minmaxing:
* You want to cash out in an order that avoids ever doing the {{IL|Silk Scrap|50 x}} trade, as this loses 0.5{{e}} each trade.
* You also want to avoid the {{IL|Thirsty Bombazine Scrap|26 x}} and {{IL|Glass Gazette|26 x}} trades as this loses 1{{e}} each trade.

A dynamic programming solver for this [https://github.com/OrderedSet86/fallen-london/blob/master/mazegarden.py is available here]. The zero loss trades for {{IL|Awakening...}} 66-91 CP (66 being the minimum to unlock the 2.5{{e}} trades, 91 being the max possible doing +4 {{IL|Perambulating...}}) are:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Zero-loss Trade Pattern (High to Low)
|-
! {{IL|Awakening...}} !! {{IL|Correspondence Plaque}} !! {{IL|Whisper-Satin Scrap}} !! {{IL|Surface-Silk Scrap}}
|-
| 66 || 0 || 0 || 11
|-
| 67 || 1 || 1 || 4
|-
| 68 || 2 || 0 || 2
|-
| 69 || 0 || 1 || 9
|-
| 70 || 1 || 0 || 7
|-
| 71 || 2 || 1 || 0
|-
| 72 || 0 || 0 || 12
|-
| 73 || 1 || 1 || 5
|-
| 74 || 2 || 0 || 3
|-
| 75 || 0 || 1 || 10
|-
| 76 || 1 || 0 || 8
|-
| 77 || 2 || 1 || 1
|-
| 78 || 0 || 0 || 13
|-
| 79 || 1 || 1 || 6
|-
| 80 || 2 || 0 || 4
|-
| 81 || 0 || 1 || 11
|-
| 82 || 1 || 0 || 9
|-
| 83 || 2 || 1 || 2
|-
| 84 || 0 || 0 || 14
|-
| 85 || 1 || 1 || 7
|-
| 86 || 2 || 0 || 5
|-
| 87 || 0 || 1 || 12
|-
| 88 || 1 || 0 || 10
|-
| 89 || 2 || 1 || 3
|-
| 90 || 0 || 0 || 15
|-
| 91 || 1 || 1 || 8
|}

For example, if your {{IL|Awakening...}} was 89 CP, you would do 2 {{IL|Correspondence Plaque}} trades, then 1 {{IL|Whisper-Satin Scrap}} trade, then 3 {{IL|Surface-Silk Scrap}} trades for a total value of 89{{e}}.

==Strategy & EPA==
In terms of actions needed, it takes 5 actions for gates, starting and ending in addition to the cards you play to gain 49 CP {{IL|Perambulating...}}. Assuming 4 CP/card, that's 18 actions for a cycle. If you assume an average of 5 CP {{IL|Awakening...}} per card, that's 65 CP for a cycle. Each cp of {{IL|Awakening...}} is worth roughly 1 {{e}}, and you also get 1 {{IL|Memory of Distant Shores}} and you end up with a preliminary EPA of '''3.64''', however this will vary with skill and {{IL|Polythremean Disposition:}}. With more experience or following the IPSEITY strategy below, you may average 6 CP/card and end up at around '''4.36''' EPA. If you can manage to get 7 CP on average (unlikely), EPA reaches '''5.08''', assuming you get 4 CP Perambulating per card. Using only the 6 CP awakening/2 CP perambulating option is slightly worse at '''5.05''' EPA.

Of course, you will spend some actions zailing to the Maze-Garden and back as well. Assuming no profit from zailing (unlikely), it takes roughly 18 actions to zail back and forth to Polythreme. This means you may multiply your EPA from the garden with (x/x+1), where x is the amount of cycles done in the garden, in order to find your actual EPA for the whole venture. With one cycle, this gives only 50% of the above EPA, but e.g. with 9 cycles it raises to 90% of the above EPA.

=== IPSEITY and COMMUNION ===
It is best to focus on raising either {{IL|IPSEITY}} or {{IL|COMMUNION}} (based on which rewards you want), as it's hard to get both qualities to 7. You will need 6 in either of these two qualities to get 100% on their respective checks. If you're more interested in rewards unrelated to these two qualities, it's worth noting that both qualities have 3 challenges each, but the {{IL|COMMUNION}} check in [[DISCERN]] is beneficial to fail, and the {{IL|COMMUNION}} check in [[SCAVENGE]] can be avoided by choosing the  [[Shadowy]] check instead. The {{IL|IPSEITY}} checks are typically on cards that have no better options, which makes favouring {{IL|IPSEITY}} the generally advisable strategy (unless you specifically want the {{IL|Thirsty Bombazine Scrap}}s that unlock with 7 or more {{IL|COMMUNION}}). However, unless you are a late-game player and already have access to {{IL|Helicon House}}, you should pick {{IL|COMMUNION}} if you want pure Echoes.

It is suggested to avoid playing [[TRAVERSE]], because it gives low rewards. In addition, you might want to avoid [[TRANSFIGURE]] with {{IL|Awakening...}} less than 5. If keeping high {{IL|IPSEITY}}/low {{IL|COMMUNION}} you might want to avoid [[PARTAKE]] with {{IL|Awakening...}} 6+.

==== If going for {{IL|IPSEITY}}: ====
[[ADORN]], [[DUEL]], [[HARVEST]], and [[SCAVENGE]] all have branches with +7 cp of {{IL|Awakening...}}.  Failing the {{IL|COMMUNION}} check on [[DISCERN]] (90% if you have none) gives +6 cp.  Playing [[TRANSFIGURE]] with at least {{IL|Awakening...}} 5 gets you +6, while [[PARTAKE]] with at most 6 gives you +7.  If you can pass all checks at ~90% this always gives you six cards you can play with an average of upwards of +6 cp {{IL|Awakening...}}.

==== If going for {{IL|COMMUNION}}: ====
[[ADORN]], [[HARVEST]], [[PARTAKE]], [[SCAVENGE]], and [[DUEL]] with {{IL|Awakening...}} at most 6 all get you +7 cp {{IL|Awakening...}}.  The first branch of [[DISCERN]] gives +6 cp, but if played multiple times will extend your visit, which isn't ideal if your primary goal is {{IL|Thirsty Bombazine Scrap}}s.  Later in your visit you may get stuck playing one of [[DUEL]], [[TRANSFIGURE]], or [[TRAVERSE]] for lower gains.  Of these [[TRAVERSE]] probably gives the best average gain unless you picked up some {{IL|IPSEITY}} as well to pass the checks on the other two at least somewhat reliably.

=== Walking the Maze-Garden Multiple Times ===
Because the cards you have are preserved for your next time through the Maze-Garden, you can influence the cards you start subsequent Maze-Garden trip with. It might be worth not playing [[ADORN]], [[HARVEST]] and [[PARTAKE]] cards you get in the late-stage, so you can use them in the early stages of your next Maze-Garden adventure in order to increase your garment's attributes quickly.  If going for a mix of {{IL|Thirsty Bombazine Scrap}}s and other things, make sure to always use [[TRANSFIGURE]] when raising {{IL|IPSEITY}}, so that it doesn't clog your hand if you start {{IL|COMMUNION}} next.

[[Category:Guides]]