Congrats, you've started the 100th What To Buy Thread!

[ema_nymton]

I'm gearing up for another HC speed ascension contest, looking to gain an edge via Mr. Store stuff (past and present), and unsure what will get me the most bang for my buck.

Relevant shinies I already have:
-Bander
-Sandworm
-He-Bo
-Sugar Tome
-Stocking Mimic
-Libram of BRICKOs
-Slimeling

Considering (sorted by cost):
~3 Mr. A's: Green pixie, Sticker Tome
~2 Mr. A's: Libram of Divine Favors, Llama Lama
~1 Mr. A: Baby Bugged Bugbear, Libram of Love Songs

Thoughts? Anything useful I missed?

[Xortag]

Get the Llama.
Then stickers.
After that it is a bit more of a tossup. (not on your list, but quite good are candy hearts)

[infern0]

I've heard great things about the bugbear as THE optimal HCfamiliar.

You'd want to be talking to a specialist about it though, but it is the sexy

[SuperChuj]

I know nothing about the buggedbear, so I defer to someone who's paying attention. otherwise. llama and stickers are the top contenders, and which one you pick is a tough choice: the llama is amazing on day 1 because the stats from feathers don't suck, and it overall reduces time spent with spleen familiars, allowing more time to use a fairy or bander. Stickers rock tits because shirts > apple stickers and speed up day 1 leveling. Also, sugar shields.

I would skip the divine favors and love songs entirely; i've always considered them rather useless compared to hearts

[Xortag]

The bugged bugbear is an interesting little fellow. For stats he is quite good. The uncertainty in getting the bonnet means you cannot rely on him for items. However, he is a full weight volleyball with +20 ML and potatoness. Since you already have a bander the bugbear is not quite as omgawesome, but still a decent consideration.

I will say get the Llama before anything else on your list and I'll also echo the Chuj's sentiments that love songs and divines are not nearly as good as hearts.

[V4mp]

I don't want to start another what to buy thread, so I thought I'd join this as my needs are reasonably similar, since I've suddenly noticed I've a lot of meat going spare, and apparently the bugged bugbear is good, although it didn't really appeal that much to me content wise... I was torn between the bandersnatch and the bugbear - I prefer the bander's content, but it would require a bit more meat gainage - essentially, if its better than the buggybear then its kind of decided, if not, I may buy a buggybear as an investment. I already have a llama, sandworm and slimeling, so I already have to spend far to much time agonising over which familiar to take... I've heard the bandersnatch isn't as good for HC, but is this a slightly-less-awesome-but-still-amazing isn't as good or a sucks isn't as good? Incidentally, not only am I HC4L I also play for ease on limited time, rather than speed

[ema_nymton]

From a gameplay standpoint, getting a bander a few months back was one of the smarter things I've done in KoL. The stats in hardcore aren't quite as nice as in softcore, but it's still a full-weight volley, and the combat utility (smust in particular) is amazing.

Also, thanks to everyone for their advice!

EDIT: After winning a couple of contests, I cashed in most of the prizes for a llama. Unfortunately, I blundered and did not get a bugged bugbear when I had the chance, and the bugger has doubled in price in the last month. So, yay and boo.

[ema_nymton]

Lately in KoL, I've been working on my ascension skills. So I can ascend faster. So I can win contests. So I can buy old ascension-relevant Mr. Store items. So I can ascend faster. So I can win contests. So... um, you get the idea.

Anyway, I'm once again loaded up on meat and Mr. A's, and looking to get the most bang for my buck with shinies. (This is mainly for hardcore.)

Things I have:
-3 spleen familiars (llama/sandworm/program)
-VIP key
-Bugged bugbear
-He-Boulder
-Bander
-Mimic
-Slimeling
-Sugar tome
-BRICKO libram

Useful things that I don't have, and their approximate mall prices:
-Green pixie (~30 million meat)
-Candy heart libram (~19 million)
-Libram of Divine Favors (~16 million)
-Libram of Love Songs (~7 million)
-The august IOTM (probably a familiar? -1 Mr. A.)

Thoughts?

[Xortag]

Candy hearts are pretty good IMO.

[thumbtack]

Useful things that I don't have, and their approximate mall prices:
-Green pixie (~30 million meat)
-Candy heart libram (~19 million)
-Libram of Divine Favors (~16 million)
-Libram of Love Songs (~7 million)
-The august IOTM (probably a familiar? -1 Mr. A.)

Thoughts?

These days the Pictsie is just a fairy that gives you a few turns of powerlevelling: not worth the price, esp. as you own the other threee spleen fams.
Of the three librams, Divines would probably save you the most turns and increase your ease of play the most; I would also definately look into getting a Sticker tome before splashing out on Candy Hearts.
Whatever the August IotM ends up being, it's unlikely to match last year's HeBo or anything else listed in this thread.

[SuperChuj]

my opinion: candy hearts are better than favors. I think favors are actually pretty useless

[Capros]

my opinion: candy hearts are better than favors. I think favors are actually pretty useless

I dont agree with this, and i'd go as far as to say, favours save way more turns than candy hearts. Candy hearts are nice for stat boosts day1, entering bedroom, that kinda stuff. Divines, its the rares you want, Poppers especially; i love these in the goatlet and junkyard, most of the other divines(except for perhaps crackers(pp item)) are a nice to have, and help you out of sticky situations

[Numenor]

Candy Hearts > Divines > Love Songs

[SuperChuj]

I've had horrible, horrible luck summoning favors. I get one useful thing for spending hundreds of MP. screw that. I'd rather summon candy hearts which have a way better chance of being useful somewhere

[thumbtack]

Whatever the August IotM ends up being, it's unlikely to match last year's HeBo or anything else listed in this thread.

Don't listen to this guy, he's always wrong.