Say, I'm seeing a lot of what I'd like to do in the game, but while I managed the Tutorial well enough, I keep bouncing off of my first slave. She keeps refusing my demands, I punish her, she remains unhappy but it doesn't really improve and eventually she escapes. Some things I'm doing.
1: I try to buy ones with not too high pride or temprament, accepting I'm not going to get A+ grade slaves out of the gate
2: Bought a nice house with a bath
3: Go with M'lord, one of the easier trainers
4: Make sure the slave got a brand tattoo.
5: Do the 'explain the situation' thing.
6: Try to make sure I don't drive their energy in the red stars, so their health can recover a bit.
7: Feed them Fresh food so their happiness can recover a bit.
8: Punish in a variety of ways whenever they do something to get guilt.
9: Don't really buy them any clothing, because I don't really get any opportunity to reward them.
Is there some obvious thing I'm doing wrong?
What I do in the beginning with most new slaves after branding and a medical check-up:
1. Put on a leather collar, shackles on hands and feet and if the pride is high a crown of thorns. Don´t mind the mood at that point.
2. Explain situation before the next few sessions.
3. Trying different training subjects, she may have an affinity for one or multiple. If I feel lazy I just ask what she wants to do and punish her non-answers.
4. Go through all punishment categories, she may be susceptible to one.
5. If her sanity holds, repeat until she stops rebelling aka breaking the rules. If sanity get´s too low or despair too high, jump to point 6.
6. Throw a dress and slippers on and remove the crown.
7. Encourage helps out big time at the start to get her mood a little up.
8. At that point she´ll do all common skills and mood will improve steadily if she´s rewarded with some free time and a few dates.
9. Remove hand shackles when she´s obidient enough or when the mood drops too low.
Check her aura often if you´re not sure how you´re doing. Use your aura boost with headstrong slaves.
If you think you can afford the despair and mood hit ... anal rape is the nuclear option.
Edit: If you have a few days in a row where she fucks up everything, she might be menstruating... I have no idea how to handle them there either.
Edit2: Don´t fret over the cost of magic, clothes and rewards. They add up but are well worth it.
Start with D- and D+ assistants, servants and maybe artists for the guild. You need a good money cushion for the higher ones. I´d recommend 4k for a C+ and 7k for B+ and above. Gives a little room to fuck up a few days... maybe weeks.