There are three types of Currency in the game: Fame, Funds, and Value.
Fame[]
the Museum
Fame is accumulated as a point system and cannot be spent. It is the single determining factor in winning the game, meaning a player can fail to win any race to the Golden Pyramid and still win the game, so long as they have the most Fame. These points are earned in several ways:
- Finding the Golden Pyramid awards you according to which Expedition it is: 1st = 100, 2nd = 120, 3rd = 140, 4th = 160, 5th = 180, 6th = 200. If the pyramid was buried, you are awarded an additional 50. These bonuses can be increased with the Journalist perk.
- Placing in the race to the Golden Pyramid. 1st place awards 200, 2nd = 150, 3rd = 100, 4th = 50. These bonuses can also be increased with the Journalist perk. A player who finishes an expedition last won't earn a race bonus, but is allowed to spend as much time as desired to explore the map and continue earning points that way.
- Finding the Golden Pyramid in a previously unvisited type of world ("New World Bonus") awards 50 Fame. This bonus can also be increased with the Journalist perk.
- Presenting a trophy item to the museum upon returning to London after an expedition.
- Resting overnight in the open at high sanity, which sometimes triggers a +10 event in which the explorer charts some of the stars.
Fame can be lost if the player fails to complete an accepted quest, which applies a -50 Fame penalty each time.
Funds[]
the Auction House
Funds are only used to purchase supplies and upgrades in London. Funds are only gained in two ways:
- Presenting a trophy item to the auction house upon arrival home from an expedition.
- As a reward for completing a quest, given in London before purchasing supplies.
Any Funds not used when in London are saved and can be spent on your next visit.
Value[]
Value is an estimate of the intrinsic worth of an item. This is used in a barter system rather than with money. All items have a base value that enables fair trading during expeditions. Certain traders value some items over others, which will automatically reflect during barter with a (%) indicator in that item's description, revealing the percent deviation from its base. Bartering cannot be performed at London.
Tips[]
- Some items are more valuable for trading during an expedition than at auctions in London. For example, a Hyena Pelt has 15 or 20 Value when trading during an expedition, but is worth only 5 Funds in London. Make sure to study the relative value of all items well. Also refer to the trader page.
- While Fame is the only currency that counts for winning in the game, auctioning your treasures early in the game will allow you to buy more equipment (including carrying capacity for your animals), which will help you survive and get more treasures in the long run.
- After Expedition 6, donate all items to the Museum for Fame. As there are no further expeditions, there is no need for Funds. (However, selling items will still count toward the Auctioneer achievement.)
- See Strategy for additional tips on managing Fame and Funds.