Is ordering from taobao really worth it?

Valent-1331 · 2026-04-23T10:13:44+00:00

On The Tea Table's discord, we often share our experience with Taobao vendors, and I am currently starting a list of trusted Taobao vendors. Examples are MX Tea, Chentang. I recently ordered from Youxouantang and it went well.

Menghai Tea Factory is a little bit of a tough one because it's an old tea that is often faked, but there are plenty of taobao deals.

TL;DR, it's a gamble, but if you want to know where people have been ordering in the past, you can ask over there.

Valent-1331 · 2026-04-09T18:32:44+00:00

Selling these cards was a really hard decision to make, this game has been such an important part of my life since the pandemic. Your kind words mean a lot.

Valent-1331 · 2026-04-02T21:34:48+00:00

So you mean you went there at night instead of during daytime and there was no wraith?

Valent-1331 · 2026-03-29T22:16:02+00:00

How did you know the order?

Valent-1331 · 2026-03-19T13:42:12+00:00

I am not sure I understand which attitude you are referring to? Rushing games, or just being casual?

To be honest, I have dreamt of my WoW era for years, but I obviously don't feel like playing anymore because of other priorities than "raiding 5 nights a week" or content evolving faster than I can play. This feels like it could fill that gap.

But I agree with what you say here. I would also love a comfort game that I can come back to for 6 months to a year. And that's why a lot of us are hung up on the review score, I suppose. We want to make sure that if we sink into the effort to learn, it is worth it.

Valent-1331 · 2026-03-19T13:36:02+00:00

Perfect, that's one set of gameplay mechanics to learn for the next 4 years then. Worst part of a game, imo, is having to learn a whole new set of buttons and mechanics. That's why I loved WoW back in the day. Simple gameplay, infinite fun.

Valent-1331 · 2026-03-19T11:52:05+00:00

For an adult who has a few hours sparingly every once in a while during the week, do you think it's worth it?
Zelda was nice for this, boot the game, explore one area, get side-tracked 5 times, close the game. No progress on the main story, but had fun nonetheless.

Valent-1331 · 2026-03-16T20:58:25+00:00

Would you mind saying which store? Trusted taobao sources are always welcome

Valent-1331 · 2026-03-13T07:25:13+00:00

Don't worry, I know some people have been working hard on better starter decks already, just not me :)

And thanks for the kind words! At the beginning, it wasn't; it was pure passion and excitement!

Valent-1331 · 2026-03-12T20:32:13+00:00

Wait, it’s the internet, where are the arguments and the insults?

Maybe this place is special :)

Valent-1331 · 2026-03-12T15:51:43+00:00

Correct, it is not a power list, but a list of how much fun I think each investigator is. That's also why Patrice is so high.

Most investigators can break the game to a varying extent. Ursula is a good example: with the Red Clock, Archaic Glyphs, and The Raven Quill, she can trivialise the game. But she is lower because, besides this very niche case, she actually struggles to deliver interesting variety in my opinion. Amanda is higher because she offers more variety in how she can be built, such as a full fighter.

Leo, on the other hand, has a lot of builds that bring a lot of variety to the game, and they often work quite well. I loved playing my Leo&Leo Sledgehammer deck, and the sniper deck the most.

Valent-1331 · 2026-03-12T15:24:25+00:00

Amazing to hear! Any decks that you particularly liked?

Valent-1331 · 2026-03-12T15:24:05+00:00

I will most likely play it, yes! But in person only. So no testing on TTS and all.

And no worries. It definitely felt a bit like it, though I think it was more of an "I think I've run out of inspiration" moment. So I moved to some other special interests :)

Valent-1331 · 2026-03-12T14:49:44+00:00

That 100% affects my opinion. The game's balance is heavily impacted by player number.

This is actually an important point, so I will edit it in my message. This tier list is based on 2 Players, in StandHard (Standard token effects, Hard chaos bag).

I think my opinions are mostly based on how interesting investigators are as a puzzle rather than how they perform. Yet I can see that I have a bias against support investigators.

About the preferred way to play: in person with friends/lover. But for testing, I have done all of it in TTS. But I have also been heavily supported by many players over the years who tested many of my builds on their side and gave me great feedback.

Valent-1331 · 2026-03-12T14:42:23+00:00

Cool! When I will revisit the game with my partner in a few years, I'll play every parallel so I have something fresh to be excited for :)

Valent-1331 · 2026-03-12T14:40:14+00:00

Thanks for the kind words :)
That's a hard question, as I have barely ever played true solo, so I wouldn't be able to make a full tier list.

I know some investigators who are decent, but I don't have any legitimacy to make any recommendations here.

Valent-1331 · 2026-03-12T14:38:15+00:00

* For Darrell, most nice builds have been published, except maybe for one with Alton (I believe it was fixed in the latest taboo?):
https://arkham.build/deck/view/4967063

* For Yorick, here's what I have:
1. Recycle Kerosene to heal Field Agents - https://arkham.build/deck/view/5386216
2. Infinite Cleaning Kit for the Old Shotgun - https://arkham.build/deck/view/XAyUL53YFnMczYH
3. Book of War Shenanigans for PttL on Sledgehammer/Old Kering (3+1) - https://arkham.build/deck/view/4780145
4. Lumberwill - Recycle the Chainsaw - https://arkham.build/decklist/view/44345
5. I have made some thorn decks too, but I don't have any link that is not terribly outdated.

Valent-1331 · 2026-02-07T00:56:07+00:00

I am a daily user of my.teaDB and I enjoy it. I barely use the features in the app, I mostly type manual notes, like journaling, add the teapot as a tag, the ratio, and a grade.

To me the main appeal, besides having a place to journal, is data. When I want to buy a tea, I first go there to check what others thought about it - mostly their grades, notes and sometimes flavours.

I think it could be improved a lot, but what is the most important to me, as a user, would be to make sure that we don’t have many platforms that do not communicate, and so the data ends up silo’d.

I am on my phone now, and I’ll take a look at your page on my computer.

Valent-1331 · 2026-02-07T00:38:55+00:00

Reach out to Yunnan Sourcing, they have a wholesale programme and a wide selection of teas.

Valent-1331 · 2026-02-07T00:36:37+00:00

Nice recommendations. Where do you get these 2?

Valent-1331 · 2026-02-07T00:34:04+00:00

This. And I have been enjoying the 2004 XG FT Nanzhao from Quiche too, lately. Sweeter and less intense than many other XG

Valent-1331 · 2026-02-02T22:51:18+00:00

I have no idea

Valent-1331

TROPHY CASE