Oh boy, I didn't want to post another long message but here we go. It's mostly from memory so no detailed/ day by day step.
First thing to note, I played the 1rst game since nearly the beginning so I know how the mechanics works. This game is very similar.
I'm playing the current version aka 0.5.3a, my previous post was in this version in one run.
Typically my MC is a mage/healer and my 1rst slave is a combattant, Daisy is also a mage/healer.
When possible I buy 2 daggers and eventually a mace for Daisy (if no staves are available). As soon as some kind of armor appear (even light armor/cloth) I buy them, the cheap ones will do, this will improve survivability for combat. I insist I buy the cheapest available for the MC and the combat slave, this is priority number one.
I do not use cooks.
Average is 3 I think.
I insist, Growth is the most important stat, it's the only stat you can't improve, the other stats can be upgraded, F1 and F2 are cheap to upgrade so anybody with those stats can become a decent fighter/mage whatever you want.
When I look for a slave, they need at least F3 (Average) then a F4 (Good) or F5 (Excellent) in the stat I need them, For example a whore would be at worst F3 in growth then F4 or F5 in Charm and Sex factor (worst case F3 if bad luck but can be upgraded through classes so no worry).
Daisy with F3(upgraded cheaply remember) in wits with the good classes can very much kick ass (but mainly here to heal), don't forget that some classes gives additional wits/stats so she can be over 60 in wits while being F3.
[Master MC often "grows" way too fast] => other slaves can grows even faster that means big power up, you'll need F4 growth for that.
To make things easier in the 1rst week I train the combat team (MC, Daisy, the free slave + 1 whore) it will be a team of 4 so one whore will join, if possible I grab a slave from the bandits, this new slave depending of their stats will be temporary combattant or not so my whore can go back to work.
In order to make more cash you need to sex and train the charm of your whores, I usually train mainly 2 whores to improve incomes. Don't forget that some clothes improves charm, it is good investments so buy them whenever it appears in the shop.
Would be interested in what *QUESTS* you did
Hmm? all of them? obviously as I said I don't craft the items so I look for them in the shop if they appear else it's a skip. At first I do the easy quests. With a team of 4 I could clear kill quests (wolves, skeletons, ogres), clear dungeons (avoid the bandit Fort if you can't kill the assassins and the troves are indeed difficult so I might skip them early). Usually I do a mix of easy and medium quests at the same time, not all of them on medium at the beginning.
Regarding potions and assimilate I buy every potions/drinks as soon as they appear in the shop because I know some quests requiring them will appear one day.
& UPGRADEs
By day24? Mansion capacity 10 and master bedroom 2 or 3, one luxury room for the lol, that's it nothing else.
No cooking, no crafting, no tailoring.
Try a Hooker run w v *5.3* [most recent I've used] has his "nerf" built-in-----let me know
That's what I did in my previous post, no gold problem there.
OH, FYI, Beer/Whiskey easily crafted (cooking) provided u have grain.
I already know that but intentionally bought them instead of cooking, my hookers earns me much more by doing their work than cooking.
Once I have a team of 5 combattants the rest of my slaves are hookers and works non stop, I had 4 hookers by day 24. 2 of them well trained and equipped for the job, the 3rd partially trained and well equipped and the last one not trained at all and somewhat equipped, one of them even had a F2 in Charm ( the 1rst I bought if I remember right, not much choice at the moment).
All my hookers had at least Maid, Harlot, Geisha, Dancer classes, some had the bard and the pet. That's what growth factor can give you.
My combattant team have a lot of classes too, at least 6 or 7 each if I remember right so not much can threaten them (the trove can be though) relatively to the story quest I mean.
I do like Mages---but 1 problem (early on) is they need STAFFs.
In the beginning Daisy had a mace... it was the only thing available but hey it does more damages than empty handed. Basic staves will appear like wooden staff or iron staff, those will be enough until you loot the dungeons (and worse case a dagger is fine too).
Depends on who you're up against, But assume no armor---& only daggers can get you "killed"
You assumed wrong, I did say I prefer armor first, light and medium armor are enough for early threats, at least one piece per person as soon as possible. Try to have healers asap too and worse case buy some life crystals. 2 healers are quite enough for clearing dungeons and don't forget that if you are low health you can go back and finish the dungeons after your characters healed up (of course out of combat).
Don't forget you can buy dungeons, the easy ones will give you enough xp to boost survivability since you'll level up fast (remember growth is the factor here).
Hum I think that's all? Sorry for the length, I tried to order it but well I'm not used to write so much and from memory.