What is this guide about?[]
So, welcome to this write-up of some of my experiences in expeditions, in which I would like to give you all some tips into the world of expeditions. While playing the game, there will be additions with tips and experiences. Since the game is in flux and new stuff can always change the way one can look at expeditions experiences, the guide should get bigger and broader over time. Any advice from others is very welcome and appreciated.
Introduction[]
Welcome in the world of expeditions, first some general links that are good to know about; these wikis will go into the basics of expeditions and how to go about them, this guide hopes to guide you into more depth decisions of an expedition.
The start[]
Expedition Start-screen
At the start of an expedition, you sill see the notice on top of your screen with the most used or required skills of that expedition, here you are looking at a level III difficulty expedition. Try to gather experts that are stacking their bonuses toward the Certain and Likely categories.
Choosing your setup[]
The early expedition[]
Choose a ship for the expedition with a lot of cargo space and a lot of slots to have specialists in. Always have at least one slot open in your cargo hold for random items found in events that are outside of the main scope of the expedition
When you want to 'sail into the blue' early game, a ship very suitable for going onto an expedition is a Ship of the Line (Navel Power +50), here you see a simple choice of setup; some Rum for Medicinal purposes and rations (you can acquire those from Madame Kahina), a 'Royal Letter of Immunity' acquired from Sir Archibald Blake for 10.000 gold, a 'Ship Toolbox' with +30 crafting, a spyglass with +10 hunting and +20 navigation, plus a Midshipman with +10 force, +5 navel power and +25 navigation. All those were gifts from citizen quests.
With the combined traits you can battle events like illness, mutinies, diplomacy tasks, and more. Only tasks that require religion are outside this base set, for events like 'The Storm'. However, if you lost your mast, you can repair it with crafting as a later choice.
The experienced expeditioner[]
Try to gather experts or items that have a specialist bonus that is at least 40, preferably combined with another trait that is counting towards a good expedition ending. Do not limit yourself in stacking a specialty needed on the trip, as bonus stack above 100% is possible and not cut short by the expedition event calculator. When going into expeditions where force or naval power is a main attribute, you can choose for a ship that has force and naval power as start bonuses. The Extravaganza Steamer is an excellent choice.
The Extravaganza Steamer has six cargo slots and three item slots and brings 20 navigation. It is a ship that can be acquired (for 500.000 gold) at the pirate harbors from time to time, or be constructed with a specialist, which is thus a ship that has lots of perfect conditions to have lots of options to go into the unknown. To rotate ships offered at harbors, buy them, and sell them immediately to get a new ship offered in no-time.
Items that are limited to use in 'military ships', can still be used on your 'cargo ship', while they are located in the cargo hold. Which makes it possible to have force modifiers from captains on your 'cargo ship'. Try to find traits from items that can be fit in your cargo ship item socket first, and then complete the requirements with items in your hold. Remember that items related to sail ships can be in a steamers hold, and vice versa.
For less advanced level expedition, a normal 'steam cargo' ship could be a long way into your expertise's needed to go into the open seas. Early game a ship of the line can work too.
Advised Experts and Items[]
While this game has a huge dept of randomness, these are some captains, items and people that are really worth mentioning to take on an expedition, if you encounter them, with a main skill above 40, please add them to the table and tell us where / how you acquired it.
In my humble opinion, its always smart to stack high into diplomacy bonuses, the diplomacy choice, especially when above or near 100% gives lots of random finds in expeditions. Mutiny is for example avoided with diplomacy and occurs a lot on events on level III. Also try to bring items that stack into high medicine, it repairs your moral (bar) when into missions regularly.
Randomly, expeditions require non specified traits to have an advantage, this is why I try to have all traits represented on an expedition, with a focus on the most likely used items.
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Editors note;[]
As someone who is not very known with writing guides, this is a work in process, feel free to add to it by comments or edits to clarify stuff on the fly.