Intelligence+ Perception
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I am also surprised at how much Adrian flirting can be done when you take his name.
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Intelligence + Perception Guide
Job
Lab Technician (+15)
Detective (+5)
Biologist (+5)
Programmer (+15)
Paramedic (+7)
Club
Fencing (+5)
Book Club - participating (+10)
Book Club - listening (+20)
Accident background (+5)
Sloth vice (+5)
Xyzzy as name, surname or nickname [only works once] (+1)
Hazard as surname (+1)
Fly By Knight [polo] (+2)
Épée [fencing] (+2)
Talent
Luck [random] (+0-15)
Tactics (+10)
Memory (+10)
Lucid Dreaming (+5)
Fake Amnesia secret (+5)
Xyzzy as fake name or surname [only works once] (+1)
Hazard as fake surname (+1)
Packing
Laptop [automatic if addicted to internet] (+5)
Arthurian Encyclopedia (+1)
Bible (+1)
Photo [Accident background only] (+5)
Magic 8-Ball (+1)
8 Likes
Oh yeah, I forgot to update that file. Here I go, finally revising Adrian’s Interlude now and breaking all the safe saves that have been made in that section since the beginning. 
Otherwise, a grown adult taking someone else’s surname certainly has some implications!
Also, it’s funny that Adrian likes your MC (slightly) less in the playthrough where you were trying to be nice to everyone.
Woohoo, another guide to add to the FAQ! Also to be noted, that after Chapter 1, normal stat boosts (intelligence, charisma, physical etc) will mostly be relegated to training during free time.
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It must have been the Merlin flirting.
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Hi hello, i’m kinda stuck on trying to help Merlin finish his protection spell/dance in chapter 1. First two (mom and a Elsa obsessed kid) didn’t stop the dance, but the weed guy in elevator always stops it. any hints as to how to get BBQ Deferred achiv?
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Have high Cuckoo (pick the non sequiturs and other random/weird choices and you’ll find that some of them really aren’t that random after all) and Sweet and either start dancing alongside Merlin (possibly again) or give him a rambling speech about being trapped in an elevator. Alternatively, be intimidating (be a serial killer, have Wrath as your vice, have a heavy-duty weapon [but do not brandish it at him], and/or look physically imposing). Although the simplest option is to play as a pretty girl, especially one in a low cut blouse, and just ask him to ignore Merlin as they are practicing for a dance recital.
@AnneWest
Be a police detective in uniform and block the path between Ed and Merlin–you will claim that you’re conducting a very important sting operation and the dancing is important to it. You could also be a security guard and commiserate with Ed about lousy work conditions. You could also have had a pet minipig (which is not permitted in the apartment lease even if the pig is housetrained), so you know that Cheez Doodles are the way to Ed’s heart (and what bribes him into ignoring the pig when you walk him). You could also have 30+ Charm or the Eloquence talent, that allows you to distract him from Merlin by talking to him. As a last resort, you can attack him if you have a weapon, it will allow Merlin to finish the ward–but this has consequences down the line.
Or, you could let Ed be, join Merlin in the dance at the very beginning, and successfully avoid your other neighbors. That is another way to protect the apartment building.
@Unregistered
I can also add the Maia and Lili evasion. Would that be a good idea? That way all the information is truly corralled.
How to deal with Maia and Lili:
These two are the easiest neighbors to deal with, the only way to not protect Merlin’s dance from them is to not intervene at all. However there are various different ways to succeed with them, with varying affects on your relationship (whether that will have an effect later in the story is unknown).
If you are a handsome man, and/or sweet (>100) and/or charming (>30), either the friendly block or the intercept will be effective, and Maia will like you for it. She will also be curious if you have a broom, a houseplant, or a bunch of stuff in your hands. You can also block the way and do nothing else special. You can also successfully intimidate her if you have the Wrath vice, are a serial killer, and/or have a heavy duty weapon, but she will not be happy if you do it. Meanwhile (regardless of how you interact with Maia) her daughter Lili will run toward Merlin thinking she’s Elsa, but Adrian will successfully grab the kid before she gets to Merlin. After that you can interact with them a little bit, but it does not affect the dance. And then you board the elevator…
Again, the only way to fail at protecting Merlin from them is not to intervene at all.
8 Likes
What about the lobby? That’s where I always fail to keep Merlin uninterrupted.
2 Likes
Yeah, that’d do it. 
I could’ve sworn there was already a guide to protecting Merlin, but I don’t see any linked in the FAQ (maybe no one ever put all the info together in one place before). Anyway, added this post now, thanks!
Sure, if you don’t mind!
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Given that I’m seeing how long I can play a mute (but not actually physically mute) PC, that may be my best option…
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Done.
3 Likes
- Greater Circle: Available Now
- Lesser Circle: Available July 14*
- Public Beta: August 4*
*Updates occur in Eastern time and may be delayed in case of emergency or sickness (or computer going up in flames) because I’m not going through that clusterfuck again when I updated with COVID.
The new update, Closed Beta Version 0.24 is now live for the Greater Circle tier. This includes the final update to Merlin’s Guide, more text messages from non-dead people, and the Free Time Hub in all its horrifying glory.
- Platonically or romantically attempt to hang out with everyone onboard the RV. Or just pester them with unending questions & demands. Or pick a fight. Or start shit-stirring. Or…
- Work on your phobias or train your stats, with or without the help of the available ROs (Surgeon General’s Warning: Some of these people are not too good at this)
- Start your investigations on the internet. You totally want to see Merlin’s OnlyFans account and stalk Adrian on social media, right? (Also, all those MC Benoni’s who didn’t have The Talk, he’s coming for you)
- Indulge in some stress relief with one of the five million potential things in your inventory that definitely has no foreshadowing or chances of blowing up in your face.
- Put off doing one of many myriad chores. It totally won’t bite you at some point.
- Change your sleeping arrangements in the RV and set off a musical beds game that can end up pissing off several people. (Oh god, the coding in the Bed Hub)
Look at all the data from running RandomTest 60,000+ times!
- Current Word Count: 1.4 Million (including code) | 1.1 Million (sans code)
- Current Average Playthrough: 75,000+ words
- Total Update: 250,000+ (with code) | 200,000+ (without code)
57 Likes
You know, the number of things you say won’t blow up in our face makes me a bit suspicious that something involved is, in fact, going to blow up in our face. Call it instinct.
Also, looking forward to the update!
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Is book club available yet or still nah?
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Nope
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Anyway, here’s a preview from the Re-evaluation Hub which is the final part of the Free Time Hub (and which ended up being a huge &^ to code particularly the musical beds section).
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Leyline: Safe | RV Sabotage: False | RV Window: Not Broken | Rock, Paper, Scissors Champion: false
New Inventory:
Thievery? false | Whomp? false | Wanted? false
Merlin Affinity 56 | Flirt Bold: 0 | Flirt Subtle: 1
Adrian Affinity: 99 | Flirt Bold: 0 | Flirt Subtle: 3
Arthur Affinity: 55 | Flirt Bold: 0 | Flirt Subtle: 0
Percy Affinity: 55 | Soulmate: false | Nickname: Ivo (Normal)
Magic: 13 Physical: 10 Mental: 35 Charisma: 40
Bold : -23 Sweet : 108 Sassy : 30 Optimist : -15
Caution : 26 Will : 6 Denial : 3 Cloudcuckoolanderness : 4 Silent : 17 Fear Level : 11
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Leyline: Safe | RV Sabotage: False | RV Window: Not Broken | Rock, Paper, Scissors Champion: true
New Inventory: Iron Shard
Thievery? false | Whomp? false | Wanted? false
Merlin Affinity 78 | Flirt Bold: 0 | Flirt Subtle: 1
Adrian Affinity: 117 | Flirt Bold: 4 | Flirt Subtle: 8
Arthur Affinity: 57 | Flirt Bold: 1 | Flirt Subtle: 1
Percy Affinity: 61 | Soulmate: false | Nickname: Wren (Normal)
Magic: 13 Physical: 17 Mental: 43 Charisma: 22
Bold : 195 Sweet : 146 Sassy : 100 Optimist : 43
Caution : 40 Will : 9 Denial : -8 Cloudcuckoolanderness : 24 Silent : 13 Fear Level : -3
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Thanks for posting your stats.
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How do I follow Merlin behind the gas station?
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