Editing Writing a Monograph (Guide)

{{Audience|LateRailway|Evergreen=yes}}{{GuideFor|Location = The Archaeological Institute|Cleanup = Tidy up|Storylet = Construct an Archaeological Institute}}
[[Has icon::File:Porticolight.png|right]]
{{ActivitySummary
|Activity=Writing a Monograph
|Length=Semi-Fixed
|Starting Actions=1
|Progress Actions=0-6
|Ending Actions=2
|Progress Details=Increase your {{IL|Depth of Historical Study|Appearance=Historical Study}}, while incorporating {{IL|Monograph: Cautionary|Appearance=Cautionary}}, {{IL|Monograph: Ironic|Appearance=Ironic}}, and {{IL|Monograph: Tragic|Appearance=Tragic}}. 
|Output Items=*{{IL|Memory of Distant Shores}}
*{{IL|Unprovenanced Artefact}}
*{{IL|Femur of a Jurassic Beast}}
*{{IL|Final Breath}}
*{{IL|Parabolan Orange-apple}}
*{{IL|Extraordinary Implication}}
*{{IL|Apostate's Psalm}}
*{{IL|Maniac's Prayer}}
*{{IL|Verse of Counter-Creed}}
*{{IL|Thirsty Bombazine Scrap}}
*{{IL|Hinterland Scrip}}
*{{IL|Nightsoil of the Bazaar}}
*{{IL|Bazaar Permit}}
*{{IL|Mourning Candle}}
*{{IL|Tale of Terror!!}}
*{{IL|Blackmail Material}}
*{{IL|Favours: Revolutionaries}}
*{{IL|Infernal Contract}}
*{{IL|Brilliant Soul}}
*{{IL|Muscaria Brandy}}
*{{IL|Silent Soul}}
*{{IL|Bone Fragments}}
*{{IL|Slim Volume of Bazaarine Poetry}}
*{{IL|Volume of Collated Research}}
*{{IL|Crystallised Euphoria}}
*{{IL|Knob of Scintillack}}
*{{IL|Moves in the Great Game}}
*{{IL|Ambiguous Eolith}}
*{{IL|Vital Intelligence}}
*{{IL|Presbyterate Passphrase}}
*{{IL|Solacefruit}}
*{{IL|Royal-Blue Feather}}
*{{IL|Magnificent Diamond}}
|Boost Items=*{{IL|Revisionist Historical Narrative}}
*{{IL|Corrective Historical Narrative}}
*''{{IL|Coolflame Quill}}''
|Raw EPA = 4.94
|Raw SPA = 9.88
|Conversion=Yes
|Starting Items=*'''None'''
*{{IL|Drop of Prisoner's Honey|1 x}}
*{{IL|Vienna Opening|1 x}}
*{{IL|Presbyterate Passphrase|1 x}}
*{{IL|Relic of the Fourth City|50 x}}
*{{IL|Favours: Hell|1 x}}
*{{TableList|{{IL|Nicatorean Relic|1 x}}|{{IL|Mystery of the Elder Continent}}}}
*''{{IL|A Vial of Queenly Attar|1 x}}''
*''{{IL|Reported Location of a One-Time Prince of Hell|1 x}}''
*''{{IL|Hellish Hymn|1 x}}''
*''{{IL|The Pirate-Poet|1 x}}''
|Input Items=*{{IL|Trace of the First City}}
*{{IL|Relic of the Second City}}
*{{IL|Relic of the Third City}}
*{{IL|Relic of the Fourth City}}
*{{IL|Proscribed Material}}
*{{IL|Palimpsest Scrap}}
*{{IL|Rusted Stirrup}}
*{{IL|First City Coin}}
*{{IL|Trace of Viric}}
*{{IL|Nicatorean Relic}}
*{{IL|Silvered Cat's Claw}}
*{{IL|Unlawful Device}}
}}
A guide on how to write a Monograph in {{IL|The Archaeological Institute}}.

Writing and publishing a Monograph is a resource consuming semi-fixed length carousel.

*For a useful cheat-sheet with only tables, for use in planning, see [[Writing a Monograph (Guide)/Tables]]

==Before you Start==
First you will need to unlock access to {{IL|The Archaeological Institute}} in {{IL|Moulin}}. This requires going on expeditions to raise {{IL|Para-Archaeologist}}, then [[Construct an Archaeological Institute|Constructing an Archaeological Institute]] at the [[Offices of the Tracklayer's Union: Moulin Branch]]. There are a total of three levels of {{IL|Moulin Archaeological Institute}}, with higher levels unlocking more buyers.

==Mechanics==
===Gathering Research Materials===
In addition to providing the Para-Archaeologist needed to construct the Institute, Moulin expeditions are the most efficient way to gather the materials needed to write your monographs. The [[Moulin Expeditions (Guide)|Moulin Expeditions guide]] has an explanation of how to conduct expeditions optimally, but for the purposes of this guide it's important to note which expeditions are useful for which kind of materials:
*[[The Deep Layer]] provides materials that increase {{IL|Monograph: Cautionary|Appearance=Cautionary}} and {{IL|Monograph: Tragic|Appearance=Tragic}}.
*[[The Silvered Front]] provides materials that increase {{IL|Monograph: Ironic|Appearance=Ironic}}
*[[Across the Zee]] provides materials that increase {{IL|Monograph: Cautionary|Appearance=Cautionary}} and {{IL|Monograph: Ironic|Appearance=Ironic}}
Notably, while you can grind {{IL|Monograph: Ironic|Appearance=Ironic}} materials exclusively, you cannot get {{IL|Monograph: Cautionary|Appearance=Cautionary}} or {{IL|Monograph: Tragic|Appearance=Tragic}} materials without getting something else at the same time. This is not a problem, as exceptional monographs require all three qualities, but it has implications for how to best grind materials. Additionally {{IL|Relic of the Second City|Appearance=Relics of the Second City}} are very slightly more efficient in material costs for use in monographs, and can be found in [[The Deep Layer]]. 

==Writing and Publishing==
Writing and publishing a Monograph is essentially a series of 4 parts and optional planning:

* (optional) Planning your monograph so you get the right qualities and the right buyer
# [[Begin composing a new Monograph]] to start
# [[Continue writing your Monograph]] until it is ready to finish
# [[Finish your Monograph]]
# [[Publish your Monograph]]

===Choosing a topic===

The topic you choose to [[Begin composing a new Monograph|write your Monograph on]] will determine:

* The initial {{IL|Approximate Value of your Monograph in Pennies}}
* The initial value of one Monograph quality ({{IL|Monograph: Cautionary|Appearance=Cautionary}}, {{IL|Monograph: Ironic|Appearance=Ironic}}, or {{IL|Monograph: Tragic|Appearance=Tragic}})
* Which three Buyers you can sell to
* {{IL|Object of Historical Study}}, which is relevant if you have a Moulin statue that uses this quality

{{#lsth:Writing a Monograph (Guide)/Tables|Topics}}

===Furthering your Monograph===
You will then go on to [[Continue writing your Monograph|expend resources]] in order to further your {{IL|Depth of Historical Study}} and change the proportions of {{IL|Monograph: Cautionary|Appearance=Cautionary}}, {{IL|Monograph: Ironic|Appearance=Ironic}}, and {{IL|Monograph: Tragic|Appearance=Tragic}} in your monograph. Each research action taken will result in an increase of {{IL|Approximate Value of your Monograph in Pennies|Appearance=Penny Value|+1700 x}} ({{e}}17) and a net increase of 50 of {{IL|Monograph: Cautionary|Appearance=Cautionary}}, {{IL|Monograph: Ironic|Appearance=Ironic}}, and {{IL|Monograph: Tragic|Appearance=Tragic}} at a cost of items valued at 12.50{{e}}. 

Failure has the exact same results as Success except it also adds {{IL|Monograph: Incoherence|5 x}}. The only exception is [[Unlawful Device]], which will provide [[Wounds]] if failed. Note that once you have {{IL|Depth of Historical Study}} 7, you will no longer be able to remove {{IL|Monograph: Incoherence|Appearance=Incoherence}} from your Monograph!

{{#lsth:Writing a Monograph (Guide)/Tables|Research}}

===Finishing your Monograph===
While there are four options available depending on {{IL|Depth of Historical Study}} and {{IL|Monograph: Incoherence}}, the only thing that matters is whether or not you publish an exceptional thesis. Publishing an exceptional thesis nets an extra reward item worth {{e}}12.50 from Buyers and unlocks the option to purchase particular statues.

===Finding a Buyer===
This is the part where you sell your completed monograph. You will have three available Buyers that depend on your Monograph's topic. If you applied a {{IL|Corrective Historical Narrative}} while your {{IL|Colour at the Chessboard}} was Black, you will have an [[The Charismatic Tracklayer|additional Buyer available]].

Each buyer will pay out in a mixture of three different items. Rounding aside, the ''total value'' of the three rewards will be equal to the {{IL|Approximate Value of your Monograph in Pennies|Appearance=Approximate Value}}, minus 1% for each level of {{IL|Monograph: Incoherence}}. The ''distribution'' of the three rewards will match the proportions of {{IL|Monograph: Tragic}}, {{IL|Monograph: Ironic}}, and {{IL|Monograph: Cautionary}} that your Monograph has. For example, if your Monograph has 200 Tragic, 100 Ironic, and 0 Cautionary, then 2/3 of your Monograph Value will be paid in the item associated with Tragedy, 1/3 in the item associated with Irony, and you will receive 0 items associated with Cautionary. If your Monograph is exceptional, you will receive an additional bonus item worth {{e}}12.50.

{{#lsth:Writing a Monograph (Guide)/Tables|Buyers}}

=Strategy=
==Profitability==
Monographs provide for an added value of 4.94 epa assuming all checks are passed, on top of converting relics into other items. This can be pushed towards 5.16 epa if the majority of improvements are made with {{IL|Relic of the Second City|Appearance=Relics of the Second City}}. 

To make writing monographs worthwhile from a profitability standpoint, it is important to always aim to [[Conclude an exceptional thesis on the subject]], which has three requirements:
*{{IL|Depth of Historical Study}} 7
*All three of {{IL|Monograph: Cautionary}}, {{IL|Monograph: Ironic}}, and {{IL|Monograph: Tragic}}.
* No {{IL|Monograph: Incoherence}}

Avoiding {{IL|Monograph: Incoherence}} is ideally done by succeeding all the writing checks, which requires {{IL|Mithridacy}} 12 and {{IL|Glasswork}} 10. Some of the relics from The Deep Layer have an easier {{IL|Mithridacy}} check, but since it is impossible to grind those without picking up other materials, it will be inefficient in the long term to rely on them exclusively. If the ideal skill values can't be reached, then {{IL|Monograph: Incoherence}} will sometimes need to be removed with a {{IL|Revisionist Historical Narrative}} or {{IL|Corrective Historical Narrative}} '''before the final research step.''' Once {{IL|Depth of Historical Study}} reaches 7, {{IL|Monograph: Incoherence}} ''cannot'' be removed, so those with less than ideal stats should save an easier writing check for the last step before finishing the monograph to reduce the risk of having {{IL|Monograph: Incoherence}} sneak in when it cannot be addressed. The cost of obtaining Narratives means that removing {{IL|Monograph: Incoherence}} cuts significantly into the profitability of monographs, so the worse the odds of succeeding all checks, the less viable this is as a money grind.

In order to plan your monograph efficiently, consider using [[Writing a Monograph (Guide)/Tables]] as a handy reference sheet.

==Utility==
Several of the items that monograph buyers pay out are difficult to acquire in quantity elsewhere. Some of them (such as {{IL|Final Breath|Appearance=Final Breaths}}) can be obtained more efficiently on a per action basis elsewhere, but with less overall profitability. As such, when writing monographs it is often worthwhile to target a specific payout that is of value beyond its monetary worth by biasing the monograph toward a particular quality while still having a little of the other two to keep it exceptional. The general rule of writing with regards to monograph qualities is:
*{{IL|Monograph: Cautionary}} lowers {{IL|Monograph: Tragic}} (with the exception of {{IL|Trace of the First City}})
*{{IL|Monograph: Tragic}} lowers {{IL|Monograph: Ironic}}
*{{IL|Monograph: Ironic}} lowers {{IL|Monograph: Cautionary}} (with the exception of {{IL|Trace of Viric}})
With that in mind, there are two general strategies for targeting a specific payout. In the first, you start with a topic that adds your target quality, spend four actions writing to improve that quality, then use the final two writing actions to sprinkle in the other two qualities without reducing your target quality. The second involves picking a topic with a starting quality that will not be reduced by grinding your target quality, such as using a {{IL|Monograph: Tragic}} topic when your target is {{IL|Monograph: Ironic}}. Then you can spend five actions improving your target quality and one action adding in the third quality at the expense of your starting quality. Examples of both approaches will be provided below. In either case, the final result is usually close to 500 of your target quality, 100 of a secondary quality, and 50 of a tertiary quality, but specific topics can modify that, and varying your approach can help with expending research materials evenly.

Since {{IL|Monograph: Cautionary}} and {{IL|Monograph: Tragic}} materials cannot be farmed without picking up a second type, some forethought is helpful when planning expeditions to gather research materials. If you're focused on a {{IL|Monograph: Tragic}} payout, for instance, sooner or later you'll end up with a surplus of {{IL|Monograph: Cautionary}} materials. It's a good idea to identify an alternate payout to target using that surplus so that you can benefit from it. It's also worth noting that [[The Deep Layer]] and [[The Silvered Front]] expeditions provide the pattern-breaking research materials that are often helpful for maximising a specific payout, so as a general rule those two expeditions will be the most useful, although [[Across the Zee]] will still be a useful gap-filler for some strategies.

==Research Outlines==
===''Simple Scrip Grind''===
Every item [[The Disgraced Diplomat]] pays out in (with the exception of the bonus bottle of wine) can be sold on the Upper River Exchange for scrip, so if you don't want to worry about prioritising a specific quality, writing exceptional monographs for him is a simple grind. Start with [[Investigate the Fourth City's decline|The Fourth City's Decline]] or [[Investigate the Fourth City's War against Hell|The Fourth City's War against Hell]] as a topic and follow the circle of research (Ironic to Tragic to Cautionary) to ensure that no quality gets reduced to zero. Finish it as exceptional, sell, and repeat. One of the payouts is in {{IL|Knob of Scintillack|Appearance=Knobs of Scintillack}}, so if you use the [[A Renegade Claw on your Expedition|Renegade Claw]] as an assistant on expeditions, this helps make that part of the grind more self-sustaining. Since you only have to make sure no quality ends up at zero, you're also free to vary the proportions in order to use excess materials of a certain type.

===''Backstory without Breaths or Bones''===
[[The Disgraced Diplomat]] pays out [[Moves in the Great Game]] in proportion to the {{IL|Monograph: Ironic}} of your monograph, which can be used for {{IL|Cover Identity: Backstory}}. Grinding breaths in the Hurlers provides better Backstory per action, and selling exceptional monographs to [[The Exiled Antiquarian (Monograph)|The Exiled Antiquarian]] provides breaths and a [[Parabolan Orange-apple]], which can be converted to further profit in the Bone Market, but the Diplomat has his place for those who would prefer to avoid selling skeletons as much as possible, and as a way to burn excess {{IL|Monograph: Ironic}} materials leftover from selling to the Antiquarian.

The ideal starting topic would be [[Examine London's relations with the Khanate|London's Relations with the Khanate]] but that requires a {{IL|Vienna Opening}}, which is difficult to source efficiently, so instead we'll rely on [[Investigate the Fourth City's decline|Fourth City's Decline]]. [[Examine Viric-tinged Trinkets]] five times, then finish with either {{IL|Monograph: Tragic}} material. This will provide a payout of:
*{{IL|Knob of Scintillack|7 x}}
*{{IL|Moves in the Great Game|148 x}}
*{{IL|Ambiguous Eolith|33 x}}
*{{IL|Vital Intelligence|1 x}}
*{{IL|Bottle of Greyfields 1882|1 x}}
If you have {{IL|Vienna Opening|Appearance=Vienna Openings}} to spare, using London's Relations as a topic will give you a better proportion of Moves and allow you to use any {{IL|Monograph: Ironic}} material four times before adding Cautionary/Tragic in the final steps.

===''Cautionary Orange-apples''===
[[The Exiled Antiquarian (Monograph)|The Exiled Antiquarian]] provides a {{IL|Parabolan Orange-apple}} for exceptional monographs, a useful item that is otherwise expensive to source, and she also pays out in {{IL|Final Breath|Appearance=Final Breaths}} which are useful for Backstory. Start with [[Investigate the Fourth City's decline|The Fourth City's Decline]] as your topic, write {{IL|Monograph: Cautionary}} four times using any appropriate materials, then [[Examine Viric-tinged Trinkets]] once, and finish by using either {{IL|Monograph: Tragic}} material. The final payout will be:
*{{IL|Memory of Distant Shores|33 x}}
*{{IL|Unprovenanced Artefact|3 x}}
*{{IL|Final Breath|165 x}}
*{{IL|Parabolan Orange-apple|1 x}}

To help vary the research materials used, you can also [[Write about the War in Parabola]] for your starting topic. Use any {{IL|Monograph: Cautionary}} material ''except'' {{IL|Trace of the First City}} four times, then either {{IL|Monograph: Tragic}} material, and finish with any {{IL|Monograph: Cautionary}} material ''except'' {{IL|Trace of the First City}} again. This route does cost a {{IL|Drop of Prisoner's Honey}}, but it eliminates the need for {{IL|Monograph: Ironic}} materials, simplifying your expedition priorities (i.e. you can just hit [[The Deep Layer]] over and over). The profit is also slightly higher than the above option, having accounted for the honey.
*{{IL|Memory of Distant Shores|18 x}}
*{{IL|Unprovenanced Artefact|4 x}}
*{{IL|Final Breath|178 x}}
*{{IL|Parabolan Orange-apple|1 x}}

===''Tragic Orange-apples''===
As above, we're selling to [[The Exiled Antiquarian (Monograph)|The Exiled Antiquarian]], but in this case we're prioritising the {{IL|Memory of Distant Shores}} payout for up-conversion into {{IL|Collated Research}}. If you have {{IL|Favours: Hell}} to burn and don't want to wait around for card draws, writing about [[Write about the Expulsion of Roses|The Expulsion of Roses]] lets you fold 4 echoes into starting the monograph. For the purposes of grinding, use [[Write a history of Arbor|The History of Arbor]] or [[Investigate the Fourth City's decline|The Fourth City's Decline]] as your topic.

With [[Write a history of Arbor|The History of Arbor]] (or [[Write about the Expulsion of Roses|The Expulsion of Roses]]) as your topic, write {{IL|Monograph: Tragic}} four times, then {{IL|Monograph: Ironic}} once (do not [[Examine Viric-tinged Trinkets]]), then [[Examine traces of the First City]].

With [[Investigate the Fourth City's decline|The Fourth City's Decline]] as a topic, write {{IL|Monograph: Tragic}} five times, then {{IL|Monograph: Ironic}} once (do not [[Examine Viric-tinged Trinkets]]).

===''Correspondence Through Prayer''===
While salacious newspapers are the most action-efficient way to grind {{IL|Correspondence Plaque|Appearance=Correspondence Plaques}}, [[The Militant Curate]] offers an overall more profitable alternative through bulk {{IL|Maniac's Prayer|Appearance=Maniac's Prayers}} paid out for {{IL|Monograph: Cautionary}}.

Start with [[Chronicle the history of Port Carnelian|The History of Port Carnelian]] or [[Chronicle the history of Gaider's Mourn|The History of Gaider's Mourn]] as your topic, then write for {{IL|Monograph: Cautionary}} five times without using Traces, then finish using {{IL|Monograph: Tragic}} materials. Upconvert your {{IL|Maniac's Prayer|Appearance=Maniac's Prayers}} in bulk as you go to get your {{IL|Correspondence Plaque|Appearance=Correspondence Plaques}}, and if you have {{IL|A Submerged Rector}}, you can sell the {{IL|Verse of Counter-Creed}} on [[A Jurisdictional Dispute]] for Scrip. As of now, however, it is probably more efficient to write mostly Tragic monographs for the [[The Militant Curate]], getting {{IL|Extraordinary Implication|Appearance=Extraordinary Implication}}, upconverting them into {{IL|Uncanny Incunabulum|Appearance=Uncanny Incunabulum}}, then selling those at the Rat Market for {{IL|Maniac's Prayer|Appearance=Maniac's Prayers}}.

===''Shepherd Amidst the Wolves''===
[[The Diabolical Propagandist]] is the best source of {{IL|Infernal Contract|Appearance=Infernal Contracts}} in the game, bar none. This is primarily only notable for Shepherds of Souls, but who knows what other uses may crop up? With this, it may even be reasonable to [[Unleash Baseborn & Fowlingpiece]] to deal with {{IL|Suspicion}} (or perhaps that's a stretch).

Pick [[Chronicle the Campaign of '68|The Campaign of '68]] or [[Investigate the Fourth City's War against Hell|The Fourth City's War against Hell]] as your topic, then write {{IL|Monograph: Tragic}} five times before finishing with a non-Trace source of {{IL|Monograph: Ironic}}. This approach favours {{IL|Brilliant Soul|Appearance=Brilliant Souls}} over {{IL|Muscaria Brandy}} as your secondary payout.

Alternatively, using [[Collate Accounts of the Revolution in Hell|The Revolution in Hell]] or [[Write about the Expulsion of Roses|The Expulsion of Roses]] as your topic, write {{IL|Monograph: Tragic}} four times, then {{IL|Monograph: Ironic}} (non-Trace), before finishing with [[Examine traces of the First City]]. This approach favours {{IL|Muscaria Brandy}} as your secondary payout (and allows you to optionally burn a {{IL|Favours: Hell}} for more value).
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	Each buyer will pay out in a mixture of three different items. Rounding aside, the ''total value'' of the three rewards will be equal to the {{IL\|Approximate Value of your Monograph in Pennies\|Appearance=Approximate Value}}, minus 1% for each level of {{IL\|Monograph: Incoherence}}. The ''distribution'' of the three rewards will match the proportions of {{IL\|Monograph: Tragic}}, {{IL\|Monograph: Ironic}}, and {{IL\|Monograph: Cautionary}} that your Monograph has. For example, if your Monograph has 200 Tragic, 100 Ironic, and 0 Cautionary, then 2/3 of your Monograph Value will be paid in the item associated with Tragedy, 1/3 in the item associated with Irony, and you will receive 0 items associated with Cautionary. If your Monograph is exceptional, you will receive an additional bonus item worth {{e}}12.50.		Each buyer will pay out in a mixture of three different items. Rounding aside, the ''total value'' of the three rewards will be equal to the {{IL\|Approximate Value of your Monograph in Pennies\|Appearance=Approximate Value}}, minus 1% for each level of {{IL\|Monograph: Incoherence}}. The ''distribution'' of the three rewards will match the proportions of {{IL\|Monograph: Tragic}}, {{IL\|Monograph: Ironic}}, and {{IL\|Monograph: Cautionary}} that your Monograph has. For example, if your Monograph has 200 Tragic, 100 Ironic, and 0 Cautionary, then 2/3 of your Monograph Value will be paid in the item associated with Tragedy, 1/3 in the item associated with Irony, and you will receive 0 items associated with Cautionary. If your Monograph is exceptional, you will receive an additional bonus item worth {{e}}12.50.
		+
	{{#lsth:Writing a Monograph (Guide)/Tables\|Buyers}}		{{#lsth:Writing a Monograph (Guide)/Tables\|Buyers}}