Perks

Perks are the special abilities that explorers or companions have. Every explorer begins the game with at least one perk, and gains one additional perk after each successful expedition. Humanoid companions have one upgradable perk that is enhanced with promotions.

Explorers' General Perks[]

After each expedition, the player will choose to add one of these perks to their explorer. Some explorers may also start the game with one of these perks. Secret explorers' names are given in italics.

Perk	Explorers	Effect
Adept		Addition of 1 upgraded support (blue) die.
Anthropology	Huizinga, E.S. Goffterding	Anthropological studies of indigenous cultures can be created for additional fame.
Arctic Explorer	Amundsen	Reduces the sanity cost of moving through deep snow by 4.
Black Market	Dimir, Sir Chorge	Access more gear when equipping your trek before heading out into the unknown.
Bullet Hoarder		Find a Marked Bullet every few days.
Careerist	Duke Lietu, Rafal Sokulski	Boosts loyalty when promoting a companion.
Cartographer		Reveals a full region once all of its locations have been found.
Charismatic	Alfred Nobel, Duke Lietu	Recruit up to two units per expedition.
Climber	Halász Tamás	Reduces the sanity cost of moving through hills by 7.
Desert Explorer		Reduces the sanity cost of moving through desert by 4.
Eagle Eye	G.K. Norman	Increased viewing distance.
Explosion Expert		Increases the radius of dynamite explosions to 3 hexes.
Fresh Air Fanatic	Alison Zawacki, Benedikt Meyer, Gregor Onkh, Hercule Boumba, Hiram Bingham	Extra 5 sanity gained when resting in nature. (+8 gain per day without perk, +13 with perk).
Good Reputation	Gregor Onkh	Start each expedition with +4 standing.
Gun Expert		Guns do +2 damage.
Heavy Carrier	Kai	Gain 2 additional inventory slots of capacity.
Impetus	Fortune	Reduces the base sanity cost of travelling (from 5 to 4).
Jungle Explorer	Selous	Reduces the sanity cost of moving through thick jungle by 4.
Lone Survivor		Survive a little longer when all alone.
Magician	RIVALS only	Addition of 1 upgraded magic (purple) die.
Navigator	Earhart	Increases the gained compass accuracy when uncovering fields.
Occult Vision	Crowley	Reveals the location of all stone circles and increases the radius when analyzing them.
Polyglot	Burton, Austin Walker, Blitz Kriegsler, Megan Carnes, Sound of Mystery	Allows player to rest in native villages without standing cost and improves communication with native people.
Polymath	Curie, Lovelace, Christophorus Amiculus	Allows player to choose between 5 perks instead of 3.
Protector		Addition of 1 upgraded defense (green) die.
Ruffian		Addition of 1 upgraded attack (red) die.
Strong Mind	Tesla, David Brender, Dingir Bhaak, Fridericus Schneider, Gloegg, Loki Texilake, Matthew Hadley, Riad Djemili	Increased maximum sanity by 20.
Waterproof	Lizards, Sir Chorge	Reduced movement costs in shallow rivers and swamps by 3.

Explorers' Exclusive Perks[]

Exclusive perks are unique starting perks. These perks are only available to the explorer who begins the game with them.

Perk	Explorer	Effect
Animal Whisperer	David-Neel	Can promote animals - but only animals.
Authoritative Leader	Garvey, Alfred Nobel	Can have one additional companion, but has lower max sanity (max sanity decreased by 30).
Butterfly Enthusiast	Darwin, Aeryn, Baron Victor von Paragon, Johannes Kristmann	Gain 20 sanity each time a butterfly is collected.
Cosmic Indifferentism	Lovecraft	Improves use of the Necronomicon but reduces max sanity.
Desert Expert	Stark	Always has at least one Desert choice when choosing her next destination.
Dream Visions	Tubman	Periodically reveals a location during a travel leg.
Healer	Feihong, Rasputin	Is capable of treating wounds. Grants 25% health regeneration to all non-animal trek members.
Geography	Bird	Reveals where the 4 nearest locations are at the start of each expedition.
Pacifist	Kingsley, Freiherr von Gehlsdorf, Jörg S. Friedrich	Reduced aggro chance but can't use Weapons in combat.
Preacher	Rasputin	Can recruit a companion at any/all villages, no matter what his current standing is.
Tactical Mastery	Selous	Make an extra dice roll in combat.

Companions' Perks[]

These perks cannot be chosen by an explorer, and their benefit can only be obtained by recruiting the appropriate companion. A companion's primary perk is enhanced further when the player promotes them.

Certain secret explorers may start with these perks as well, usually but not always at maximum level. They cannot be further enhanced. The names of these explorers are listed in italics, together with the level of their perk.

Perk	Companion	Effect	Promotions
Animal Capacity	Native Animal Handler	Increased inventory size for all pack animals.	1 extra Capacity per Level
Artist	Artist, Allison Otting (lvl 4)	Increases the quality and value of created paintings.	Increase painting value
Climber	Mountain Trooper	Reduced sanity cost when climbing up onto hills and plateaus.	Does -2 Sanity cost per Level
Coca Expert	Cultist	Increases the sanity gained when consuming Coca Leaves.	5 more Sanity bonus per Level
Combat Spirit	British Soldier	Gain sanity through combat. (+10 for Lv 1)	5 more Sanity per Level
Culinary Finesse	Cook	Can cook meat to increase sanity regeneration. (+2 for Lv 1, +5 for Lv 2, and 5 more for each level after.)	5 more Sanity per Level, Lv 2+
Desert Expert	Bedouin	Reveals nearby oases.	add 5 hex distance detection per Lvl
Extra Capacity	Pack Animals	Increased cargo capacity. Available for purchase at the harbor after each expedition.	1 extra Capacity per upgrade
Extra Character	Some Quest Companions, Luis, Pug, Buckwheat	Allows the addition of certain quest companions to the troupe without costing a companion slot.	None
Fast Mount	Mountable Animals	Reduced the base sanity cost of each travel leg by 3 while mounted. (-45%)	None
Flare Usage	Sailor, Reddick Campbell (lvl 4), Sir Deddlee Endeavour (lvl 4)	Increases the effectiveness of Coston Flares.	Increases flare range and reveal radius.
Good Reputation	All Natives, Persian Translator	Start each expedition with a +1 Standing bonus.	None
Haggle	Parsi Trader, Diplomat James Sterling, Rami Ismail (lvl 4)	5 Value discount at each trading location.	5 Value extra discount per Level
Indigenous Diplomacy	Persian Translator	Increased sanity gain when resting in villages. (+20 Sanity / Lv1)	10 more Sanity per Level
Journalist	Tim Timster, Fabian Aleksandar Scherschel (lvl 4)	Increased fame bonus for completing each expedition successfully (reaching the golden pyramid)	5% more fame per Level
Medium Mount	Mountable Animals	Reduced the base sanity cost of each travel leg by 2 while mounted. (-35%)	None
Mushroom Recipes	Native Shaman	Sanity gain from eating mushrooms. (+20 for Lvl 1)	10 more Sanity gained per Level
Pathfinder	Native Hunter	Reduced movement costs in arctic terrain	Sanity cost for travel in arctic terrain reduced by 10% per level
Scouting	Native Scout	Increased viewed distance by 30%.	15% more view distance per Level
Slow Mount	Mountable Animals	Reduced the base sanity cost of each travel leg by 2 while mounted. (-25%)	None
Spiritual Solidarity	Missionary, David Brender	Allows free rest in missions.	None
Sparkling Personality	Yeti	Increases loyalty of all trek members in regular intervals.	Shorter intervals
Stealth	Native Warrior, Zacharias Zour (lvl 4)	Reduces probability of aggroing enemies by 20%.	10% extra reduction per Level
Strong Mind	Missionary	Increases maximum sanity.	10 extra Sanity per Level
Waterproof	Lizards	Reduced movement costs in shallow rivers and swamps by 3.	None
Whisky Expert	Scottish Soldier, Eric Smith (lvl 4), Fabian Aleksandar Scherschel (lvl 1)	Increases the sanity gained from drinking whisky. (+10 Sanity for Lv1)	5 extra Sanity per Level

Blessings[]

The blessings are special perks that can be only obtained by visiting temples. When exploring a temple, a single chosen companion is blessed with a random permanent positive ability.

Certain secret explorers and companions may start with a blessing. The names of these characters are listed in italics.

Blessing	Character	Effect
Claws	Lawrence Talbodd, Olivia White, Sound of Mystery	A ghastly deformation of the hands allowing extra bestial attacks.
Holy Marking	Robert, Pug	Receives a +3 standing bonus as this person was hallowed by the pagan gods.
Inhuman Strength		Enormous strength allows to carry two additional items.
Leatherskin		A leathery and thick skin increases the natural protection from any kind of harm (+6 toughness).
Pure Mind		Is immune to any kind of mental ailments.
Regeneration	Olivia White	Wounds will never become infected and regenerate much quicker.

Temporary Perks[]

Temporary perks occur after consuming certain items or through special events. They expire after a certain amount of time.

Perk	Effect	Duration
???	Represents travel timer in portal worlds.	20-30 days
Feeling Strong	+1 Carrying Capacity. Effect does not stack.	4 travel legs
Elevated Mood	+1 Loyalty to all companions. Effect does not stack.	20 days