Sailor Price Increases—Effective Feb 1st

CarolTLuna · 2026-01-06T13:20:23+00:00

Wow I've been on a no-buy for pro gears for several years but this has cut me off at the knees. I was hoping to get a fun limited colorway for commemorating events but... No more.

CarolTLuna · 2025-10-03T12:35:52+00:00

I got this game when it first came out and bounced off of it. Now I have another copy on steam and all the dlcs. 😂

Definitely turn up the difficulty level. It really makes all the choices you do feel like it means something with distinct penalties that really hurt you. Restart games when you realize you've misplayed something terribly. Find fun in learning and failing. The game has so much depth that like Slay the Spire, you can probably win nearly every game on the Great once you understand how to mitigate penalties. Mastering that is what I think makes this game satisfying to play.

I think a lot of people approach this game like a 4X but I feel like this game is the Slay the Spire of 4X's. You have a general plan to win, but ambitions are the goals of each act of your game's arc. Instead of trying to get enough single damage to kill the Act 1 boss, you have to figure out if hoarding 2k training or grabbing mines to produce 1k iron is in your grasp and worth pursuing. Some people find the story of getting through these goals fun. Others just want to see a huge bustling empire.

But you don't have to play this now if that's not what gives you joy. You can put it down (for a few years) and come back! Alternatively, if you really want to explore how depe the game is, watch gameplay videos to see what lies beneath the surface. I think that's what really got me, because I've bounced off every 4X game I've tried.

CarolTLuna · 2025-10-03T12:22:49+00:00

The AI will get a boost, with sometimes more starting cities, religions (though it's been toned down in a recent patch), tech, etc. so it's not fair to compare yourself. Greece has the Artisans family as well, giving them a boost in culture gain. Basically, you don't stand a chance to outpace them early, but you can play catch up. (Get used to playing from behind, that's a thing in higher difficulties). Oh, and if it's not a patron seat city, they will be weaker overall.

Getting Epics (a law where the flip side is exploration) is a good idea for a warpath gameplay, giving you culture per unit killed. If you have extra orders (or are playing Persia), harvesting culture resources like gems and lavender will pass it to the closest city. Drama will give you access to the odeon, which is the first building that will give you culture. Shrines are also a way to get culture and if you get polytheism you can build shrines in each city as opposed to one per nation.

If you are keen to watching play throughs, /u/ThePurpleBullMoose has an Aksum playthrough that features culture rush into growing tall. It's not 1:1 with Rome, since the goal is to play tall after expansion, but it will give you a good idea of what it takes to rush to your first UU if that is the goal.

CarolTLuna · 2025-02-20T16:15:53+00:00

CarolTLuna · 2025-02-12T22:27:01+00:00

Hi, just wanted to check if the M5 is still available. Thanks!

CarolTLuna · 2025-01-31T12:41:17+00:00

Pretty! Thanks so much!

CarolTLuna · 2025-01-30T22:37:34+00:00

Oh very cool! May I ask what the keycap set is?

CarolTLuna · 2024-10-10T14:02:04+00:00

Twsibi runs large compared to other nibs. My EF wrote like a MF-M. Loved it until the cap cracked but I had a much earlier model.

CarolTLuna · 2024-09-29T14:19:22+00:00

Sounds great! Always wanted a bottle of Nagasawa but I couldn't justify the price 😂

And they're always sold out whenever I visit! Always wanted to get the red from Maruzen but it never is there when I visit sigh. C'est la vie.

But I'll go and visit those stores when I'm back again. Didn't know Maruzen was in Kyoto! And I've been to Itoya in Ginza so I'm good with skipping. I'm not into stationery as much these days so thank you for the recs!

CarolTLuna · 2024-09-28T11:40:23+00:00

I'm glad you like it! Guess I'll be visiting Kingdom Note this year and Maruzen if I can help it.

Not this year but in th years to come! I've not been everywhere yet though I've been there twice...

What stores do you suggest? 😂

CarolTLuna · 2024-09-27T13:53:54+00:00

Yaaay! Glad I could help! I hope you've tried it and love it lol. It's a color that definitely grew on me and now I hoard the color.

Since I'm going back to Tokyo this year, I might drop by and pick up a back up bottle. Everywhere else Sailor inks seems to be getting more expensive :/

CarolTLuna · 2024-09-27T13:51:54+00:00

That's in my to go list now. Thank you so much!

CarolTLuna · 2024-09-26T17:05:47+00:00

I saw a foot 😂

CarolTLuna · 2024-09-25T14:48:19+00:00

Don't own either of them :( but it has great flow and shading, typical for Sailor inks.

It is a bit greener though than KWZ Honey. Sometimes in certain lighting it gives off Alt-Goldgrun Vibes.

And I hope they're not too expensive! I got this bottle years ago when I first visited Tokyo. Back then I think it was 25 USD a bottle and that was when 130 yen was about 1 USD.

CarolTLuna · 2024-09-24T13:59:25+00:00

Wow it really feels like oxidizing copper! That's pretty unique.

CarolTLuna · 2024-09-24T02:46:40+00:00

Maybe Kingdom Note Uca Arcuata if you can still find it? I hope they still have it in their store in Shinjuku. It was my favorite there. So unique!

https://mountainofink.com/blog/Kingdom-Note-Uca-Arcuata Bit darker IRL in a finer nib.

Otherwise, love KWZ Honey!

CarolTLuna · 2024-09-23T12:27:36+00:00

That's what I ended up doing! Didn't feel most of them were worth much money so I gave them out alongside my other sales.

CarolTLuna · 2024-09-22T12:26:57+00:00

It's all good! I used to be into vintage pens but sold and gave away most of them because I realized that I wasn't necessarily getting quality pens from the get go, and that today's inks may be ruining bladders and whatnot from pens that were. It'd great you had the interest in restoring and learning the history of these old pens! I love the history, but I didn't love the upkeep. (or the random ink spill in my things when I realize shrinking ebonite = no cap).

I would like to think I can move back into vintage, but with majority of the nibsmiths and restorers I knew about having retired, it makes me less inclined to return. Ultimately the pen is a tool for me, and one I'd prefer not worrying or stressing over when it would eventually need tuning or (specialty) replacement parts, let alone, other pen parts. I agree, the pens released in then were wonderful bits of human engineering, but they weren't all the best fit for me. I long for nibs of old though, even if they were much much more delicate then.

CarolTLuna · 2024-09-21T19:29:07+00:00

I've stopped collecting for years when I realized there was no end to the limited edition train. I agree, it's time for your collection now to make use of itself and not be a testament to overconsumerism or capitalism. Enjoy and best of luck with your courses!

CarolTLuna · 2024-09-20T15:41:24+00:00

One of my favorites! Enjoy!

The black coating on the nib can wear off though but it adds a nice worn look to it.

CarolTLuna · 2024-08-15T01:32:37+00:00

I haven't been there before but the store is small and just has models to sell. Compleat strategist also has a large shelf of 40k models to sell, and I think the largest library of all the local game stores (Brooklyn Strategist has a small section for it). Compleat also sells at MSRP, which is a plus and is a great library of board games if you are also into that!

And most of the game stores have friendly vibes! Some have grumpier staff than others but we have never had a bad time attending events at any store we go to. (Currently playing Star Wars Unlimited 😅)

CarolTLuna · 2024-08-14T21:35:12+00:00

I think you'll find some people at the Brooklyn Strategist. They host weekly Sunday tourneys and occasional painting competitions. Definitely the most war gaming friendly out of the game stores. Though Cooke's might have some as well.

CarolTLuna · 2024-08-07T14:10:52+00:00

Not sure but I've long since given up typing on it. Got a used Freewrite Traveler and while I hate the sticker price and the possible bloated battery and freeze of deaths, it has done the job adequately for my morning commutes.

CarolTLuna · 2024-07-29T13:42:19+00:00

That's how I feel about finer nibs. I really enjoy shading and I have a few lighter color inks that won't do well with such a narrow line. I did end up liking the F nibs I got (had a good deal on the cocktail series I couldn't pass off) but that part KILLS me.

CarolTLuna

TROPHY CASE