A more general question:
How does one not go broke? The costs and/or the rewards seem to have changed since I last played.
Game is on Easy. Custom start. Started with a house in Outcasts. Got Isabella day 1.
I have trained 2 slaves on contract (D- witch doctor and D+ gladiatrix) in the first 45 days. Pay for each was < 800 septims all-in; about 1400 combined.
I started with 6,000 septims and now have less than 5,000. A few more successes like this and I'll be back in the slums.
I don't think I'm being particularly extravagant.
My costs against the gain of 1400 septims:
- Decade rental/food cost varies widely, but I'd say it comes in around 200 on average. So those 45 days cost about 900 septims. The slaves ate dehydrated food almost exclusively. I think the witch doctor got a few days on fresh food.
- I rented a boudoir for the gladiatrix to increase nature and a lab to train the witch doctor. That's about 100 septims.
- I'm limiting clothing and gear purchases to what's actually used for the trainee. But that still clocks in between 50-100 septims for gear per slave (mainly uniforms and accessories specific for training their specialty + comfy dress and shoes + a couple of items to help increase taming). Call it 150 in total. I did spend more on the witch doctor because I thought some of the items worked like I remember (like high boots increasing temperament) -- they don't any more.
- Add the costs of spell casting, supplements + nutritionist (to get out of being feeble/weak/starved because generous food amount isn't very generous), those rewards with monetary cost (mostly hot springs, plaid and plush toy, a few walks around town), the occasional trip to the boutique for spa/appearance upgrade, and I'm not breaking even.
I looked into what a few proprietors want and will pay, but none appeared to be a better value proposition. My Jack's skills are more generalist and OK, but he's not going to be training a C+ or higher slave any time soon. I sat through a slave auction, but most of the slaves didn't appeal (feeble, poor sanity, arrogant, etc.) and I don't yet have a feel for what a more developed slave will sell for.
I don't mind working to 'git gud', but I have to understand where I'm being bad.