A Few Tips On The EXPLORERS SKILL TREE

Hello everyone,

Been a while since I last posted here but, with this new system coming into place today I thought this to be the ideal excuse to write up something...

So. First it were the Geologists, now it's the Explorers... tricky?!
Maybe!

First and foremost let's look at what we can upgrade HERE.

As we all know the Explorers can do 2 things:
1 - they search for ADVENTURES
2 - they search for TREASURE

As such their upgradeable skills are naturally divided between the two options. For this reason (and particularly if you have more than one explorer) it would be best to tailor each of the explorers to either be an Adventure Expert OR a Treasure Hunter Expert.

For me the choice is really simple: all my explorers are bound to become Adventure Experts. And this, fine folks, is for the simple reason that some good people have done the maths and found that the most profitable way of using the explorers is by sending them on Adventure Searches. Further more, they have stated that it is the Medium Search the best out of the three.
So, for me, it's the Adventure Path taken.

Still, as we all know, sometimes during events we do get a few quests pertaining to Treasure Searches so, enhancing your Explorer in the Treasure Path is also a feasible option. As always it is your choice!

This is what I did with my first Explorer.

First I used an Experienced Explorer. They are faster, which means I will use them more often, which means whatever changes I make I will benefit more from them.

FIRST ROW - MANUSCRIPT

Fearless Hiker
1/3 shortens the search time for all adventures about 5%.
2/3 shortens the search time for all adventures about 10%.
3/3 shortens the search time for all adventures about 15%.
Lucky Detour
1/3 raises a chance to find Granite on Medium treasure searches about 8%.
2/3 raises a chance to find Granite on Medium treasure searches about 16%.
3/3 raises a chance to find Granite on Medium treasure searches about 24%.
Pilgrimage
1/3 shortens the search time for Long treasure searches about 5%.
2/3 shortens the search time for Long treasure searches about 10%.
3/3 shortens the search time for Long treasure searches about 15%.
Mountain Boots
1/3 shortens the search time for all treasure searches about 3%.
2/3 shortens the search time for all treasure searches about 6%.
3/3 shortens the search time for all treasure searches about 9%

Since it's Adventure Path the only option is really FEARLESS HIKER, since all the others pertain to Treasure Hunting. That's 3 manuscripts down. What about the other 2? I chose LUCKY DETOUR. Why? Check the next row...


SECOND ROW - TOME
 
Wild Determination
1/3 allows finding more about 30% Map fragments on Adventure searches.
2/3 allows finding more about 60% Map fragments on Adventure searches.
3/3 allows finding more about 90% Map fragments on Adventure searches.
Powder Sack
1/3 allows finding more about 8% Saltpeter on Extra-long treasure searches.
2/3 allows finding more about 16% Saltpeter on Extra-long treasure searches.
3/3 allows finding more about 24% Saltpeter on Extra-long treasure searches.
Offbeat Roads
1/3 raises chances of finding Titanium ore on Long treasure searches about 5%.
2/3 raises chances of finding Titanium ore on Long treasure searches about 10%.
3/3 raises chances of finding Titanium ore on Long treasure searches about 15%.
Extended Weekend
1/3 shortens the search time for Medium treasure searches about 5%.
2/3 shortens the search time for Medium treasure searches about 10%.
3/3 shortens the search time for Medium treasure searches about 15%.

Well, once again the path is clear. 3 Tomes on WILD DETERMINATIO (you can trade map frags quite easily and they're about 5 or 6 gold coins a piece). And 2 on EXTENDED WEEKEND since, if I ever do Medium Treasure Searches I will not only have increased chances of getting Granite but I will have shortened the time taken to do it.


THIRD ROW - TOME:

Travel Expenses
1/3 reduces the cost of all Adventure searches about 10%.
2/3 reduces the cost of all Adventure searches about 20%.
3/3 reduces the cost of all Adventure searches about 30%.
Loot Wagon
1/3 allows finding more about 8% Granite on Medium treasure searches.
2/3 allows finding more about 16% Granite on Medium treasure searches.
3/3 allows finding more about 24% Granite on Medium treasure searches.
Sturdy Shovel
1/3 allows finding more about 3% loot on all Treasure searches.
2/3 allows finding more about 6% loot on all Treasure searches.
3/3 allows finding more about 9% loot on all Treasure searches.
Mistwalker
1/3 raises chances of finding Exotic Wood on Long treasure searches about 5%.
2/3 raises chances of finding Exotic Wood on Long treasure searches about 10%.
3/3 raises chances of finding Exotic Wood on Long treasure searches about 15%.

 Well this was an easy one too... 3 Tomes on TRAVEL EXPENSES and 2 on LOOT WAGON, having once again enhanced my chances at finding Granite on Medium Treasure Searches.


These were my choices for the first explorer. Even though I will do the same choices Adventure Path-wise for the second I am still unsure in regards to the Treasure Searches. Perhaps it will be good to diversify a bit...

In any case, I have not posted this here to tell you to do the same. What I do think it's important to consider is which speciality you want for your Explorer.

So consider if you want to send them for adventures pretty much exclusively.
Or if you want to tailor them for Medium, Long and Very Long Treasure Searches (you could actually tailor 3 explorers, one to each of the Treasure Search types: a Medium Search Expert, a Long Search Expert and a Very Long Search Expert).
Or if you could simply want to shorten search times as much as possible.

The possibilities are NOT endless - but there are quite a few of them... Best thing is to look through the Skill Tree carefully and plan ahead since mistakes in assigning books are costly!

And, if you missed it the first time, find HERE a link to the book building costs.

Enjoy!

A Few Tips On The GEOLOGISTS SKILL TREE

Hello everyone,

Lately there has been a lot of talk about what to pick, what to do and what not to do with the books we've been building in regards to the Geologists Skill Tree. As such I have decided to do a brief post, mostly describing what I am doing (and why) in hopes to make matters a bit clearer. I am also going to point out a few things that have since come to light.

The first thing I would like to say is this: take your time selecting the skills. Read what bonuses they give you and plan ahead. Planning ahead is key in this game - if you want to develop faster.

The second thing is directly related to the first: if you make a mistake and want to go back you only have two choices - either get HALF of the books back for free. OR PAY GEMS to get the books back. And yes, the more books you have assigned... the more gems you will pay...

The third thing is directly related to the previous two: after you have PRODUCED 10 books (of each type respectively, so after 10 manuscript, 10 tome and 10 codex) the price for each book type will INCREASE. This means after producing 10 Manuscript the price for Manuscript INCREASES. After producing 10 Tome, the price for Tome INCREASES. And after producing 10 Codex, the price for Codex INCREASES.
And there are SEVEN INCREASES to be had!

Click HERE if you want to know more about these Book Costs!

You may think this is not a problem at first but, trust me, after the Geologists Skill Trees we will have the Explorers Skill Tree, the Generals Skill Tree and the Buildings Skill Tree! We will be producing books for years to come! So the costs WILL amount to A LOT in the long run.

And, as such, it is important that you decide a bit now just HOW MUCH are you going to level up your Geologist.

My current plan is to level ONE Geologist all the way up (or close). And have my SECOND one only half levelled. In this way I will have one to do high end stuff (Gold and Iron perhaps), and another to do Copper and Marble.


With this you can now see pretty much what I am going to do. Only TWO Geologists (normal ones at that) - and ONLY focusing on COPPER, MARBLE, IRON and GOLD.

This because I prefer to trade for stone rather than produce it (and save licenses there). This because I think Coal mines are a pain... and much rather have Coking Plants that require ZERO time spent taking care of them...


Now, even with these constraints, what to pick?!

Well, Nedrakus (thanks Ned!) pointed out something very important and that had completely skipped my notice:

If you pick an ability of the type Two Deposits In One, whenever this ability becomes active, it will disable another which is Find Larger Deposits (Natural "Deposit Name" Vein).

For clarity I will give an example:
Let us imagine you put some books into Finding Two Marble Deposits In One (8%, 16% and 24%).
But you are also interested in having Larger Marble Deposits (Natural Marble Vein). Perhaps even to it's maximum percentage (which is 24% larger deposit).

Now, you are going to send you Geologist out for marble as there are a few deposits that have ran out on your map.

And you get lucky - you find two deposits at the same time.

Only there's a problem with that - they ARE NOT LARGER DEPOSITS! One ability cancels the other!

Since I am much more interested in having LARGER deposits - which will last longer and mean fewer searches anyway - I have skipped entirely the ability of finding Two Deposits In One altogether. Not just for Marble but for everything else.

This is just me of course - you will have to pick something that will suit best your playing style. In any case, I only wish to remind you again that, if you choose to go back and restart the Skill Tree... you will either have to pay Gems for it  or you will have to lose some books that took a lot of time to be produced.

Click HERE if you want to see the full specs for the Geologists Skill Tree.

Hope this helps you decide what's best for you and your island productions!