KM guide:
General Priorities:
0) The Curse is the only timer that matters and the only way you can get really screwed/lose the game. Be at HQ and free (not ranking-up/claiming) at exactly 14 days before it expires and you're good. Every day you don't handle it past that eats big stats. No reason for this ever to happen. Ideally you've got an advisor to do the one day project while you clear Hilltop causing the project to automatically succeed.
Global buffs/immunities that you can unlock via KM always apply at Hilltop since it's in your territory (so is Depths, and you can get Womb in your territory if you're quick):
Here Immunity to Compulsions, which is handy there.
1) Advisors: many hands make light work. The more advisors you've unlocked the less likely you are to miss problems/opportunities and the better you can match advisor strengths to each one that comes up. Some will have green/red tabs on them to indicate that certain advisors will get a bonus/malus if they're matched.
2) Regions: annexed regions unlock artisans, count as being in your territory for global buffs (see above), unlock resources for claiming, come with a significant stat boost, and by midgame host teleporters. I think they also reduce danger of random encounters? Some of the upgrades eventually provide a couple relevant bonuses.
3) Artisans: main income stream and best/most unique buildaround items in the game, also spawn quests for EXP.
Step-by-step plan for good start:
0) Prioritize Community to unlock Relations Advisor and North Narlmarches region. Build Windmill, Brewery, Granary in first few towns. Orphanage can even be decent since Loyalty is second priority (for Kamelands/Culture Advisor). More expensive equivalent Monument boosts adjacent Shrines (Divine unlocks Arcane for Teleporters). Need to get to 60 and rank III Community ASAP so every little bit is big including bldgs and map resources.
1) Claim Outskirts ASAP and build up town there. Sell all extra loot to get bldgs up. Getting to 20/40/60 in a stat unlocks rank-up which can boost stat etc... Don't put them off for anything but Curse.
2) Go to Sorrowflow as soon as you can handle it (main threat is random encounters on the way that can be bypassed with good enough stealth) to get Kanerah for Treasurer. After getting twins exit then re-enter area with full party to clear cave which unlocks KM project and has some good loot. Jub can replace her once Troll Trouble starts but there's a gap where she can help out (including on the Sorrowflow project).
3) On the way back you can claim some relatively valuable resources that are already on the eastern edge of your territory and clear at least first room of Barrow. Arbor Rock has +1 Warhammer and Diamond.
4) Hit Bridge for Trip Cloak and robbing Linnorm treasure with Stealth + Invis. Some other decent loot/EXP on map.
5) Go to Lone House and Ekun Tower map before Troll Trouble starts for extra loot and EXP. Lone House can be cleared three different times. Wait for quest to spawn there before going to Trobold.
6) Once you run out of funds for BP from selling loot and need another big chunk (I did it to claim North Narl before Trobold) *take the loan*. By the time it costs you more than you initially got you'll be rolling in cash and there's a project to turn off the penalty then anyway.
7) Do the Sweet Teeth quests in Sister's House as soon as they come up to get items for Artisan Quests and some EXP.
8) Once Artisans are established in North/South Narl and Kamelands and you've done their quests (early ch3) you'll have a nice income stream w/ good items to build your characters around and a good start building up the probability of getting their best items as the game goes on. Should be able to get all Advisors but Espionage by then too.
