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[lemon10]

Just a reminder to everyone to check every item in every room even if it looks like some little decoration that you can't do anything with because it might just turn out to be something actually useful or have some secret behind it like the [redacted] I found that is apparently an egg even though in real life its something that isn't an egg at all, or how there are actually a ton of tools just floating around the building as well, many of which are small and easy to miss.
(You can look for tools specifically by having a desk open and repeatedly clicking on the tool slot as you go over new rooms you find).

Does it matter what level or type of skill is used when taking a walk? Or is the find completely random?

I'm pretty sure based on the text that the season matters, but I have no clue if the aspects/skill do.

[Il Palazzo]

That multitasking I mentioned earlier kinda breaks immersion. Hurts the vibe of the game, imo. Gonna have to stop myself from doing that, even if it's less efficient.

Btw, I'm not sure if there's gonna be much replay potential. The books might come in a different order, and the starting soul cards might be different, as well as the tiny bit of the librarian's backstory. But it will always be the same house, with the same rooms and the same stories to tell. I have maybe half the house cleared now, and I don't see what I'd be doing differently if I were to start over. I think the victory conditions are

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

getting to one particular, not too distant room and using the journal there for a minor victory, or getting 20 skill+soul+whatever (ink?) in one aspect and using it on the journal.

(I'm not sure that's spoiler worthy - the game pretty much tells you that early on)
The minor victory seems to be just ending the game early.
The only difference between replays I can envision right now is getting to read the lore off different high level books. Assuming one can't grind through to have enough in all aspects to read everything in a single playthrough.

Still, the experience so far has been highly enjoyable.

[nenjin]

Endings I'm sure is the reason to replay. For example, as you're building out the Tree of Wisdom with slotted skills:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

the Lore description of the slotted skill changes based on what you put in there. Disciplines of the Scar says something different in the Hushery track than other skills.

So you're kind of building a narrative tree there too. How much you get out of these games really depends on how much you like the Lore.

I confess though that I don't understand what attribute you're getting unlocked with you slot X skill in Y track. I level one up and slot it hoping for Phost but instead get Shapt, despite the skill I'm slotting having no real relation to Shapt....

Also kind of frustrating that if you bind a skill to a track and its upgrade work bench's allowed aspect doesn't match the skill you slotted...welp, guess you're just boned. I've gotten a couple like that. Really slows you down getting better base aspect levels because you can't consolidated aspects of the soul.

That multitasking I mentioned earlier kinda breaks immersion. Hurts the vibe of the game, imo. Gonna have to stop myself from doing that, even if it's less efficient.

Considering it's the only way you can utilize tools while researching, whether it's immersion breaking or not it feels kind of essential.

[Il Palazzo]

I don't mean not using the desks at all. I mean not reading five books simultaneously, in five corners of the house, while also watching a movie, and unpacking a mysterious bundle.
I should probably stop taking two walks at once too.

Btw, I like how I can use a mop to help with cleaning up theoplasmic contamination.

[nenjin]

Kind of like Cultist Simulator, I know there's a ton of recipes you can do if you experiment enough.

But that's also part of Book of Hours' problem: there are SO MANY skills and it's not clear which ones actually produce interesting effects and which don't. Some are somewhat obvious, like a skill named "Weaving." Others not so much though. And even though the text of a Skill implies it does something specific, it's not clear if that's flavor or not. For example:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

A skill that says it can bring a doll to life.

Is it actually THAT skill or just sufficient Grail and the right materials?

Like, there are only a finite number of books in the game. So you're kind of caught between "Do I use this to upgrade" or "Do I learn it as a skill because I don't actually know what it does without first learning it."

-edit-

Also, try checking couch cushions sometime

[nenjin]

Spoiler: I noticed this little detail scrawled on a wall (click to show/hide)

It's clearly Greek but I'm failing at translating it.

[nenjin]

That said it's the only thing of note in the room other than 2 butterfly lapidaries. Those feel like a huge waste of resources. I mean I kinda knew it was going to be a mostly useless stairway, but still. There's several rooms like that along the way, dining rooms and such. I just wish I had a game-ier reason to unlock them, instead of just an OCD reason.

[Il Palazzo]

Don't know Greek other than the alphabet, but that kinda looks like it needs more vowels.

So, how do I make jam?

[nenjin]

I can't figure out cooking or brewing. I assume there's both a specific workstation and a specific skill you need. And no I don't want tips or hints. I just wish every workstation wasn't capable of making the same shit except in some very specific circumstances. I feel like half my time is spent trying combinations and getting the same three results per Aspect.

[Il Palazzo]

Yeah, I did find it odd that I could brew some alchemical concoction by playing the organs.

[Karlito]

Workstation doesn't matter, just the skill and the aspect strength.

[nenjin]

I'd disagree. Just because some are like "If I use glass...." which means in some cases you do need the right workstation that accepts the right inputs for the right recipe.

[forsaken1111]

Without spoiling anything I will confirm that some things are indeed unique to certain workstations.

[nenjin]

I think that's also maybe one of the frustrating parts of the game. From the Workstations that upgrade Skills to the Workstations that actually do something specific, how you get these things has everything to do with how you unlock the House. So I'm like....50 hours in and I just found a Writing Desk that will handle Busk.

It's a shame the rooms aren't semi-randomly populated. I get why, the structure of Hush House and its rooms are part of the narrative. But it does make for some moments where you feel stuck simply because you haven't unlocked the right thing yet. Partly why I'm glad there's no real doomclock or upkeep.

I will say though that

Spoiler: the game gets much easier when.... (click to show/hide)

you get a stat and corresponding skill at 3 because you can start crafting basic stuff with no consumable inputs. Which means you can start making Memories and/or consumables on demand to push for tougher research/higher tier rooms without waiting on the right weather condition to provide the juice you need.

[Il Palazzo]

I have half my mind made up to start a new run. The game has finally managed to teach me to clean my room organise the house properly, and now I can't stand the immutable mess that I've made of the Tree.