Zailing (Guide)

This guide is incomplete. You can help by expanding it.

What needs work:

• New ships! Note: fixed a section of this page, but something else may need more work?
• Advanced ships are now occasionally sold at Gaider's Mourn in addition to FoTZ.
• Changes from the July 5, 2024 patch: some Zailing Speed checks became easier so that ships with 75 speed can 100% them; "most actions at zee now give a small extra random amount of Zailing", this will occasionally save an action for fast ships.

Early Zailing Content and Onwards

This guide tries to cover the basic mechanics of zailing. For more info on the locations you may reach (and why you would go there), see the location guide.

This guide does not cover piracy, which alters the mechanics of many of the opportunity cards when zailing. See Piracy (Guide) for more.

Getting a Ship

In order to own a ship, you must be A Person of Some Importance -. Until then, you may travel to Polythreme via A Ticket to Polythreme at Wolfstack Docks, or to Mutton Island via Board (only during FRUITS OF THE ZEE).

Once you're a PoSI, you can start working towards Acquiring a Ship. The PoSI Item Crafting guide includes details on what items and qualities each of the four perennial ship options require; the stats for each are listed below.

• Rusty Tramp Steamer has Zailing Speed +45.
• Swift Zee-Clipper has Zailing Speed +75. This is tied for fastest ship available.
• Zubmarine has Zailing Speed +55 and Zubmersibility +1. It also has Bizarre +1.
• Majestic Pleasure Yacht has Zailing Speed +55 and Luxurious +1. It also has Respectable +2.
• The Cladery Heart has Zailing Speed +75 and Dreaded +1, but it was only obtainable during Sunless Sea's Kickstarter, when backing at the Navigator Pack level or higher. Allows you to safely dock and reclaim it while using another ship in its place.

There are also four "upgraded" ships available only at a certain time of year (see Fruits of the Zee Festival (Guide) for more information) that increase one of the four main stats as well as having some of the same bonuses as the four perennial ships. Note that these options are only available if you already own a ship.

• Ogedei-class Liner has Zailing Speed +75, Dreaded +2, and Dangerous +5. This is analogous to the Swift Zee-Clipper, and differs from it in the Dreaded and Dangerous gain.
• Il-Altun-class Yacht has Zailing Speed +55, Respectable +2, Persuasive +5, and Luxurious +1. This is analogous to the Majestic Pleasure Yacht, and differs from it only in the Persuasive gain.
• Obstinate-class Cruiser has Zailing Speed +55, Dreaded +2, Dangerous +5, and reduces Troubled Waters gains by 26% on average. It introduces a wholly new niche: namely, a ship that can keep one safe from Troubled Waters for longer.
• Nyx-class Zubmersible has Zailing Speed +55, Dreaded +2, Shadowy +5, and Zubmersibility +1. This is analogous to the Zubmarine, and differs in the Dreaded and Shadowy gain, although it loses the Bizarre gain.

Zailing Speed is a measure of how fast your ship is. Zubmersibility allows safer passage on several cards and Luxurious opens branches that give more material rewards than usual.

Which ship should I get?

Newly-minted PoSI and experienced players alike may have difficulty deciding what ship to get. This section covers the benefits of the different ships in the midgame, before unlocking piracy (see Piracy (Guide) for an overview relevant to the lategame.) Firstly, here's what each ship might say about you as a player:

What does my ship say about me?

Rusty Tramp Steamer

• I can't really afford any of the other ships yet
• I haven't decided what I want to do with my ship
• A ship is a means to avoid swimming (although it's probably equally fast)

Swift Zee-Clipper

• When zailing, I just want to reach my target as fast as possible — all that BDR is slowing my ship down
• Why avoid enemy ships when you can run laps around them?
• A ship is a means of getting from A to B in the least amount of actions

Zubmarine

• I can zail for days without needing to resupply, and my vessel will always be safe against Zee-Beasts
• I'm an eccentric gentleperson willing to wrest my designs from blueprint to reality
• A proper ship is a means to explore the entire Unterzee — not just the surface

Majestic Pleasure Yacht

• I care more about the journey than the destination. Preferably a long journey. With hors d'oeuvres
• I need as much BDR / Respectable as I can get for Paramount Presence, Khaganian Intrigue or other goals
• I wanted the discount for Ambition: Light Fingers!
• A ship is a means to cruise while taking in all the sights the Zee has to offer

Ratings of each ship for midgame zailing (1-3, high is better).

Perennial Ships	Rusty Tramp Steamer	Swift Zee-Clipper	Zubmarine	Majestic Pleasure Yacht
Cost of Acquirement	3	2	1	1
Base Speed	1	3	2	2
Extra/ Improved Actions at Zee	1	3	3	1
Profit at Zee	1	1	3	2
Stats	1	1	2	3
Overall Score	7	10	11	9
FRUITS OF THE ZEE Ships	Ogedei-class Liner	Il-Altun-class Yacht	Obstinate-class Cruiser	Nyx-class Zubmersible
Cost of Acquirement	2	2	2	2
Base Speed	3	2	2	2
Extra/Improved Actions at Zee	3	1	3	3
Profit at Zee	1	2	1	3
Stats	3	3	3	3
Overall Score	12	10	11	13

Non-piracy actions unlocked with specific ships:

Swift Zee-Clipper / Ogedei-class Liner

• Added options on 2 cards with Troubled Waters 4+: one in The Sea of Voices (link) and one while Zailing the Unterzee (link)
• Easier challenges on 7 cards: 3 in Stormbones (1, 2, 3), one with high Suspicion (link) and 2 in Shepherd's Wash (1, 2)

Zubmarine / Nyx-class Zubmersible

• Useful options for lowering Troubled Waters in Shepherd's Wash (link), Stormbones (link) and The Sea of Voices (link)
• Option when encountering a The Killing Wind at Troubled Waters 4+ (link)
• An extra option when hunting Zee-beasts (link)

Majestic Pleasure Yacht / Il-Altun-class Yacht

• A somewhat profitable option in Home Waters and Shepherd's Wash at the cost of speed (3.4 EPA) (link)
• A combined profitable and fast option in The Sea of Voices (link)
• Big discount when doing Ambition: Light Fingers!

Gaining progress

Zailing is done on non-discardable opportunity cards. Most cards will provide Zailing... equal to your ship's Zailing Speed and half of that on some failures and other options. They might also give you menaces (see the menace section) or material rewards. For zailing to a new region, you will either zail with the currents or against them. The currents go counter-clockwise on the map, as can be seen on the model below. Experienced zailors may also zail through the Snares (DO NOT DO THIS EARLY ON). Once you have reached your region you will zail directly to your new location.

If your destination is in the same region as you, you will need 80 Zailing... and not gain any Zee Legs. Otherwise, you will need 160 or 220 Zailing... and gain 1 x Zee Legs per region on your way, except for your destination region, where you will only need 80. Discounting currents, this means that returning to Home Waters (the easiest region) even from safe ports is generally a bit more difficult than leaving from there but don't fret -- everybody returns to London eventually.

The table below shows how much progress is needed to reach the next region or your chosen area. Results that give half speed are considered 0.5 actions.

Zailing direction	Zailing... needed	Actions to next region/your area
		Rusty Tramp Steamer	Majestic Pleasure Yacht	Zubmarine	Swift Zee-Clipper
Along the Currents	160	4	3	3	2.5
Against the Currents	220	5	4	4	3
Direct route	80	2	1.5	1.5	1.5
Through the Snares	160	4	3	3	2.5

The Broad Unterzee is divided in several different regions. Each has its own difficulty, also known as Zee Peril. Most broad challenges in main attributes ( Watchful, Shadowy etc.) are equal to Zee Peril. Some narrow challenges against skills (e.g. Kataleptic Toxicology) using a logistic relationship to Zee Peril. Some challenges do not adjust difficulty by region, notably the (Non-Piracy) one that tests against Zeefaring.

Region (Current 🠗)	Zee Peril	Narrow Challenge	Notes
Home Waters	100	3
Shepherd's Wash	110	3	Southern Wind is found here
The Sea of Voices	150	5
The Salt Steppe	200	9	Eastern Wind is found here Passing by gives Discovered: The Khanate
The Pillared Sea	210	9	Find an Unexploded Mine here with Renown: The Docks 40 Passing by gives Discovered: Irem
Stormbones	110	3	Northern Wind is found here
Between the regions
The Snares	250	12	Requires Zeefaring 3 Passing by gives Discovered: Corsair's Forest

Locations

The following table shows the different areas, based on region and additional requirements or notes. See the location guide for a more in-depth guide to the locations. Safe ports remove Troubled Waters and all zee-threat qualities upon docking.

Location	Zee Location	Requirements / Notes	Safe Dock?
Abbey Rock	Shepherd's Wash	Ambition: Bag a Legend! 44	✔
Apis Meet	Shepherd's Wash	FATE Flint	✔
Bullbone Island	Home Waters	Embarking on a Voyage of Scientific Discovery 3	✘
The Chapel of Lights	Stormbones	SMEN 49 A Book of Crimson Prayer	✔
Corpsecage Island	Stormbones	Embarking on a Voyage of Scientific Discovery 3 Has a separate option for Ambition: Heart's Desire!	✘
The Court of the Wakeful Eye	Shepherd's Wash	Associating with Radical Academics 20	✔
Gaider's Mourn	The Snares	Discovered: Corsair's Forest Discovered: Gaider's Mourn	✘
Godfall	Shepherd's Wash	Discovered: Godfall	✘
Grunting Fen	The Sea of Voices	Embarking on a Voyage of Scientific Discovery 3 Screaming Map	✘
Hunter's Keep	Home Waters		✘
Irem	The Pillared Sea	Iremi Zee-Chart	✘
The Iron Republic	Shepherd's Wash	Iron Republic Safe-Conduct	✘
Khan's Heart	The Salt Steppes	Discovered: The Khanate	✔
London	Home Waters		✔
Mangrove College	The Sea of Voices	Discovered: Mangrove College	✘
Mutton Island	Home Waters		✔
Polythreme	The Sea of Voices	Screaming Map	✔
Port Carnelian	Shepherd's Wash	Imperial Legitimacy	✔
Port Cecil	Stormbones	Discovered: The Principles of Coral	✘
The Tomb Colonies	Stormbones	FATE All Things Must End	✔

Hunting Locations

As these aren't docks, they will not reset Troubled Waters. See Hunting the Beasts of the Zee (Guide) for details.

Location	Zee Location	Requirements / Notes
Feral Crocodile Hunting Grounds	Home Waters	Monstrous Anatomy 5
Angler Crab Spawning Grounds	Shepherd's Wash	Estimated Angler Crab Population Base Monstrous Anatomy 1
Lifeberg Hunting Grounds	The Salt Steppes The Sea of Voices Shepherd's Wash	Remaining Mass of the Ravenous Lifeberg Base Monstrous Anatomy 1
Plated Seal Spawning Grounds	Stormbones	Making Progress in the Labyrinth of Tigers 16 No Plated Seals

Discovering locations

In order to see a location on the Zee map (and subsequently travel there), you need to have first discovered those locations. For the locations where this is mentioned as a requirement, there are typically different ways to do this.

• Port Cecil is discovered by one of two methods. You need Embarking on a Voyage of Scientific Discovery either way, as well as either drawing an opportunity card in Stormbones, or spending 8 x Partial Maps.

• Godfall is discovered by one of two methods. You may either draw a card in Shepherd's Wash and spend some wine to gain access, or you may spend a Relatively Safe Zee Lane at Wolfstack, as long as you have Making Progress in the Labyrinth of Tigers 16.

• Mangrove College is discovered by passing by. This typically involves traveling to any location in the Sea of Voices.

• The Khanate is discovered by one of several actions. You may discover it by simply passing by; this typically involves traveling to the Sea of Voices, then switching destination to London. Alternatively, there's an option when looking at a Salt Steppe Atlas that requires Zeefaring 3, as well as an option from the story in Balmoral requiring only a Salt Steppe Atlas.

• Gaider's Mourn is discovered by spending a Relatively Safe Zee Lane on A Return to Terra Firma at base Zeefaring 5. In order to actually mark the Mourn as a destination, you will also have to zail through The Snares once on other business, but nothing is preventing you from switching destination to the Mourn once you enter the Snares.

Menaces

The Broad Unterzee is full of menaces. Some of these are just general menaces, while some are more specific. These qualities (except for Wounds and Nightmares) are all removed when docking at a safe dock.

Note that Zee-Menace cards are Urgent, meaning that they will always be drawn before other Zee-cards if eligible. If you have more than one Zee Menace with Troubled Waters 7, you will not be able to draw other cards. Zee-Menace cards have a dark green (or black) border, denoting that these are sinister cards.

Troubled Waters

• If it reaches 7, you will begin to draw dark green cards depending on the other menace qualities you have.
• If it reaches 8, Tuesday, __th of ____, ____ will auto-fire. This will give you A Demise at Zee and either kill you or drive you mad. The exact manner depends on your other menaces. After you have returned to London, you can regain access to your ship by meeting the crew at Wolfstack Docks at the cost of a single action. Note that this will take precedence to arriving at your destination.

Rumbling Stomachs

• Gained when your crew experience certain hungers that will not easily be filled.
• Prevents you from choosing options on some opportunity cards.
• Together with Troubled Waters 7: A Worrying Appetite

Silent Stalker

• Gained when Zee-monsters notice you.
• Together with Troubled Waters 7: Signs of Pursuit

Creeping Fear

• Gained when your crew is afraid of something.
• Together with Troubled Waters 7: A Growing Concern

Groaning Hull

• Gained when damaging your ship.
• Together with Troubled Waters 7: Taking in Water

Mutinous Whispers

• Gained by disrespecting your crew.
• Together with Troubled Waters 7: Signs of Disloyalty

Unwelcome on the Waters

• A result of some piracy actions (usually failing checks).
• Together with Troubled Waters 7: Zeeborne Pariahs

Nightmares

• When Nightmares reaches 8, you will go mad as usual. Storylet: Into Dark Water.

Wounds

• When Wounds reaches 8, you will take a trip to the river after first visiting the Fathom-King's Court. Storylet: Thursday, __th of ____, ____

Zee-Menace Cards at a Glance

Menace	Card	Check	Other Option(s)
No or Any Zee Menace	A Blank Space on the Charts	50%	Spend 2 x Partial Map OR Requires Chasing Down Your Bounty & 2 Corsair's Colours to slightly lower TW and gain CDYB
Rumbling Stomachs	A Worrying Appetite	50%	Requires 1 Unaccountably Peckish and slightly raises TW
Silent Stalker	Signs of Pursuit	Varies	Spend 10 x Deep-zee Catch, gain Rumbling Stomachs, and action locks itself
Creeping Fear	A Growing Concern	50%	Spend 1 x Crate of Incorruptible Biscuits, 100 x Foxfire Candle Stub, 100 x Bottle of Greyfields 1882, gain Rumbling Stomachs
Groaning Hull	Taking in Water	70%	Spend 500 x Nevercold Brass Sliver, gain Creeping Fear
Mutinous Whispers	Signs of Disloyalty	50%	Spend 250 x Shard of Glim and 250 x Moon-Pearl
Unwelcome on the Waters	Zeeborne Pariahs	70%	Spend 50 x Inkling of Identity, removes Unwelcome on the Waters, gain Mutinous Whispers

Dream Qualities

The wind qualities allow you to dream new dreams in London. Actions initially increase the wind qualities by 4 CP, then by 1 CP per card after first obtaining each. Conveniently the cards that initially raise the wind qualities have a blue border. The wind qualities do not reset when docking and once you have experienced the winds for the first time, more cards will increase it. Each finished dream storyline will give you an Oneiric Pearl, reset the storyline, and grant a special quality that will allow you to dismiss the related dream and clear its wind once you draw the card again - alternatively, you may continue dreaming for more Pearls.

Rosy Colours Leaping on the Wall work slightly different in that the dream cards are drawn at Zee and require a quality from an equipped hat instead of a wind quality. Instead of providing a Pearl, it produces Whirring Contraptions. The first cycle gives significantly more contraptions than subsequent cycles.

Southern Wind

• Initially gained in Shepherd's Wash by fixing a looking-glass on the Mountain of Light. Subsequently also increased by other cards.
• Starts Having Recurring Dreams: I Shot the Albatross in London
• Finishing the storyline takes 11 cards in London and gives a total of 15 CP Nightmares

Northern Wind

• Initially gained in Stormbones by listening to the Wind of the North. Subsequently also increased by other cards.
• Starts Having Recurring Dreams: Betwixt Us and the Sun in London
• Finishing the storyline takes 11 cards in London and gives a total of 16-19 CP Nightmares

Eastern Wind

• Initially gained in The Salt Steppes when fixing a looking-glass on the Eastern horizon. Subsequently also increased by other cards.
• Starts Having Recurring Dreams: Upon a Painted Sea in London
• Finishing the storyline takes 11 cards in London and does not increase Nightmares

Delighted + Nightmares

• Delighted is unlocked in Evolution pt. 4 at Godfall, and drawing the cards requires keeping your Shattered Mask equipped at Zee.
• Starts Having Recurring Dreams: Rosy Colours Leaping on the Wall while Zailing the Unterzee
• Finishing the storyline takes 8 cards at Zee and gives a total of 21 CP Nightmares and 4 x Whirring Contraption (11 Contraptions upon first completion)

Opportunity Cards

See this page for a list of all the opportunity cards at Zee.

Minimising Troubled Waters

Below are the cards that do not increase Troubled Waters. Options that have a Challenge won't increase Troubled Waters on a success, but usually do increase it on failure, unless specified otherwise. Some cards also actually decrease Troubled Waters, whereas others do not effect the quality at all.

All Zee Menace cards (dark green or black borders) also always reduce Troubled Waters, except for one option on A Worrying Appetite.

Ironically, one way to avoid accumulating too much Troubled Waters is to travel through the Snares instead of around it. For example, going from the Salt Steppes to London along the current would take you along the Pillared Sea, which is just safer than through the Snares. Afterwards, however, you will have to pass through Stormbones giving you additional chances to lose your mind or become dinner. {{Citation needed}}

All Regions	Option	Challenge	Requirements	TW Loss	Zailing... Progress	Menaces [Collapse]
A Corvette of Her Majesty's Navy	Exchange pleasantries via semaphore		Suspicion < 5	-2 CP	Speed
A Giant Angler Crab	Full reverse! Turn us away!	Shadowy			Speed/2
	Ready the guns and fire at its soft spots	Monstrous Anatomy		-2 CP	Speed
A Huge Terrible Beast of the Unterzee!	Delicious, delicious lumps	Dangerous			Speed	+1 x UP Gives Rumbling Stomachs
A Navigation Error	Correct your course	Watchful			Speed
	Listen to the Zee	Zeefaring			Speed
	Let your own star guide you	Persuasive	A False-Star of your Own	-5 CP on success, 0 CP on failure	Speed
A Spit of Land	Stop briefly at the island	Luck (50%)		-2 CP	Speed/2
	FATE-locked		The Cladery Heart	-1 CP	Speed
Passing a Lightship	Stop and exchange news		7 x Zee-Ztory		None
	Zail on				Speed
Rats in the hold	Negotiate with them	Persuasive			Speed
	Go on a rat-catching expedition		A Notched Bone Harpoon or Ratting Piece		Speed
The Killing Wind	Make ready to dive		Zubmersibility	-2 CP	Speed
What do the Drownies Sing?	Cure the ignorance of your zailors	Kataleptic Toxicology	A Faceted Decanter of Drownie Effluvia	-5 CP	Speed
Your False-Star	Navigate by the light of your star		Looked Upon Fondly	-5 CP	Speed
Home Waters	Option	Challenge	Requirements	TW Loss	Zailing... Progress	Menaces [Collapse]
She's Going Down!	Stop and rescue them			-2 CP	None
A Steamer full of Passengers	Invite them aboard for a party		Luxurious		None	+2 CP  Scandal
Shepherd's Wash	Option	Challenge	Requirements	TW Loss	Zailing... Progress	Menaces [Collapse]
A Steamer full of Passengers	Invite them aboard for a party		Luxurious		None	+2 CP  Scandal
The Wax-Wind	Shut off the engines and hide belowdecks			-2 CP	None
	Dive!		Zubmersibility	-1 CP	Speed
Row, row, row	Zail on by	Speed			Speed
	Brawl with the monks	Dangerous			None
Stormbones	Option	Challenge	Requirements	TW Loss	Zailing... Progress	Menaces [Collapse]
A Tiny Coral Island	What's that down there?		Zubmersibility	-2 CP	Speed
	Recognise its shape	Shapeling Arts			Speed
A Wind from the North	Keep your crew on course	Persuasive			Speed
	Help them	Dangerous			Speed
Sighting a Lifeberg	Keep your distance; make observations	Watchful			Speed/2
	Zail quickly past the lifeberg	Speed			Speed	+2 CP  Nightmares
	Ram the lifeberg and claim a piece of it!		A Notched Bone Harpoon		None
A Mountain of the Unterzee	FATE-locked		The Cladery Heart	-1 CP	Speed
The Sea of Voices	Option	Challenge	Requirements	TW Loss	Zailing... Progress	Menaces [Collapse]
Crossing Paths	Hail the ship and have a chat with the captain			-2 CP	Speed/2
Meeting a Local Steamer	Hail the steamer to exchange news			-2 CP	Speed/2
	I say, must you do that?		Luxurious	-1 CP	Speed
The Iceberg	Have a look around under the iceberg		Zubmersibility	-2 CP	Speed
The Salt Steppes	Option	Challenge	Requirements	TW Loss	Zailing... Progress	Menaces [Collapse]
A Chelonite Hunting Ketch	Hail them and purchase a bag of assorted bones		500 x Moon-Pearl 500 x Shard of Glim		None
	Offer to help a Sharp Hunter		Chirurgical Touch		None
	Hail them and exchange stories		10 x Zee-Ztory		None
	Regale them with tales of your own hunts		A Notched Bone Harpoon 10 x Tale of Terror!!	-4 CP	None
A Distant Gleam	Measure the measureless	Artisan of the Red Science			Speed	+1 CP  Nightmares
A Khaganian Patrol Vessel	Give them a wide berth	Shadowy			Speed
	Brazenly hail them	Persuasive			Speed/2
	Record their position		Shrine to Saint Joshua		Speed/2
The Pillared Sea	Option	Challenge	Requirements	TW Loss	Zailing... Progress	Menaces [Collapse]
Becalmed	Look into the glassy water (50%)	Luck			Speed/2	+1-4 CP Nightmares
	Cross the threshold		Glasswork Parabolan Base-Camp No The Mirror's Hunger		Redirects to Drowning (which then redirects to Your Lodgings, and gives +7-8 CP Wounds and sets The Mirror's Hunger to 1 or 2)
Of the Pillars	You will look towards her shores	Luck (90%)		-2 CP	Speed
	You will turn your helm away from her				Speed/2
	You will change currency		25 x  Justificande Coin		Speed
The Snares	Option	Challenge	Requirements	TW Loss	Zailing... Progress	Menaces [Collapse]
Navigating the Snares	Slow and steady does it				Speed/2

Zeefaring

Whenever you leave a region, you gain 1 x Zee Legs. These can be spent in Wolfstack Docks to improve your skill in Zeefaring initially up to 5, but later to 7. The amount of Zee legs required increases based on the table below. Zeefaring is required in order to trace a route through The Snares, which is often useful as a shortcut. Zeefaring is also used on several opportunity cards at zee, particularly when participating in piracy. Zee Legs can also be used to assemble a Cartographer's Hoard.

Zeefaring Ztudies increases the cap past 5. This is first unlocked by following the story in Gaider's Mourn. See Piracy (Guide) for more information. The second is by following the Evolution storyline out to Irem

Zee Legs	Desired level
Starting level ↓	7	6	5	4	3	2	1
0	84	56	35	20	10	4	1
1	83	53	34	19	9	3
2	81	51	31	16	6
3	74	44	25	10
4	64	36	15
5	49	21
6	28