Guides/Earning monetary rewards

This guide will teach you how to earn more money in *Phasmophobia*, mainly focusing on maximizing the value of photo rewards.

## Photo rewards

Photo rewards can be obtained by taking photos of various objects or appearances using a Photo Camera. The reward will vary based on the number of photos taken, and the type and quality of these photos. For the purpose of this guide only, the photos shall be separated into 3 "bands":

* **Band A (high reward):** Ghost (including in D.O.T.S.)
* **Band B (medium reward):** Burned Crucifix, Dirty Water, Bone
* **Band C (low reward):** Dead Body, Cursed possession, Fingerprints, Footprints, Ghost Writing, Interaction, Disturbed Salt

The rewards from these bands are as follows:

Photos score summary
 Band B
 Band C

Depending on the difficulty and map size, the value of photo rewards can range from being insignificant to being over half of the contract's total payout. The absolute maximum payout obtainable is $110/110 XP, but this is generally hindered by the lack of objects required to obtain this reward. Additionally, the reward cannot be multiplied higher than x1. Realistically, one can expect a maximum of $85 - $90 on most contracts. The following are a few examples of the photo rewards players could obtain (there are many more combinations):

* 1 Ghost + 1 Bone + 4 Burned Crucifix + 1 Dirty Water + 3 Band C photos ($95/95 XP)
* 1 Ghost + 1 Bone + 1 - 4 Burned Crucifix + 4 - 7 Band C photos ($75/75 XP - $90/90 XP)
* 1 Bone + 1 - 4 Burned Crucifix + 5 - 8 Band C Photos ($60/60 XP - $75/75 XP)

### Ghost

Ghost photos are worth the most, giving you $20 and 20 XP. However, only the first ghost photo will count; subsequent photos are blank. However, in the unlikely case that two players manage to take one at the same time, both will count and provide rewards, though this is likely a bug.

* Using the Summoning Circle or Music Box is preferred over ghost events, and ghost events are preferred over taking the picture during a hunt.
	+ Singing ghost events last for the longest duration, and the ghost stands in place; this is preferred over other types of events.
* In ghost events, ghosts disappear if the "event target" collides with it, so make sure that this player (or all players, if it is unclear which person is being targeted) maintains a safe distance from the ghost before the picture is taken.
	+ Ghost events almost always start in the same room as where the event target was.
* During hunts, there is no clear strategy other than attempting to time the flickering and snapping at the right time, and is ultimately down to intuition, reflexes, and a bit of luck.
	+ Taking a photo during a hunt should be seen as a last resort if no alternatives are available, however, as it is easy to not only miss the shot wholesale, but also to take it from too far away to not be ranked at 3 stars, and ruin the chance for the perfect game bonus.
* Taking photos during a hunt is even harder with the Phantom, and easier with the Deogen and Oni.
* If the Ghost has D.O.T.S Projector as evidence, taking a picture of the ghost's appearance in D.O.T.S will also count as a full ghost photo. The D.O.T.S. ghost doesn't have the "event target" collision issue listed above during ghost events. If a ghost has D.O.T.S. evidence this should be the preferred way to get the ghost photo at least on tier 2/3 of D.O.T.S. projectors.

### Cursed possession/bone

* The middle of the summoning circle must be within the frame to be registered as a valid photo; crouch and aim for the centre of the circle.
* On larger maps, finding the bone should be treated as a side task after all other objectives have been completed, due to the sheer amount of space that needs to be checked to find it. If the Ouija Board is available, you can use it to locate the bone.

### Fingerprints

* Interaction photos are prioritized over fingerprint photos when it is on the same surface; taking a photo of the surface twice (when it is already known that the ghost will leave fingerprints and 100% of the time) can be used to quickly fill the book.
* Ensure that none of your teammates have already taken a photo of the fingerprint.
* Each surface can only "store" one fingerprint at a time - if the ghost touches the door three times, you can only get one fingerprint photo unless you take more photos in-between touches.

### Footprint

* Footprints are easy to get provided the ghost can generate them and walks around. If footprints are placed on top of each other due to the ghost stepping on the same spot, listening to the heavy footstep sounds and counting the steps may help the player know how many valid pictures can be taken of that spot.
	+ A ghost may enter its idling phase after stepping on salt and can potentially leave no or few footprints. Listen for the ghost's footsteps to tell if it is moving and hence creating footprints.
* If you are using a glowstick, only activate it after the ghost has stepped in the salt and you are ready to take photos. This will ensure that the glowstick is shining brightly when you need it. A secondary measure is to right click while the glowstick is in hand to "re-invigorate" it to get more light.
* The salt pile itself also counts as a "Disturbed Salt" photo, which can be obtained even if the ghost does not have Ultraviolet evidence.

### Interaction

* The Ouija Board, if available, is a valuable source of interaction pictures. Each successful question answered by the ghost counts as an individual interaction photo, and the use of low-cost questions can be used to quickly fill up the journal without having to wait for the ghost to perform multiple interactions.
* The Voodoo Doll causes the ghost to create an interaction, and thus a new photo opportunity, with each use, but also risks starting a cursed hunt. Stay some distance away from the ghost (room) before pushing pins.
* Saying recognized phrases will increase the chance of the ghost interacting with something, though there is a cooldown on this and the player has to be near the ghost.
* Shades cannot throw items while the player is in the room. Try standing just outside the room if you intend to obtain interaction photos of throwing.
* Wraiths leave no fingerprints and do not step in salt at all, making it much more difficult to fill a journal. Try placing multiple props in and around the ghost room to get interaction photos.

### Burned crucifix

* Each photo of a burned crucifix is worth twice an interaction, and may warrant the extra risk. Place crucifixes spaced apart in/near the favourite room (or nearby, depending on the room's size).
	+ The crucifix's overall effectiveness is hampered in larger rooms, as there is more area for the ghost to walk and find a spot that both crucifixes miss, or fully consume one crucifix while walking to places that the other one doesn't cover and hunts from there. Regardless of how large the room is, the ghost can simply begin a hunt while wandering away from the favourite room at an area where crucifixes have not been set up.
	+ If the ghost can teleport or walk to a player (e.g. Wraith, Banshee, Phantom), it may be wise to stay on top of the crucifix to ensure that the ghost using its ability does not cause it to move away from the crucifixes, keeping in mind if a hiding spot can be reached with enough ease if the ghost manages to avoid the crucifix regardless and hunts.
	+ Taking a second picture of a crucifix while the EMF reading from the successful hunt prevention is active provides an additional interaction photo.

### Dirty water

* As dirty water is highly dependent on having the ghost linger in rooms with sinks, it is generally not worth waiting around for the ghost to produce it, though you should always take a picture of dirty water if it occurs.
* Dirty water can only be obtained once per sink, even if the ghost interacts with it several times.
* As with the burned crucifix, taking a second photo of a sink while the EMF reading is still active will provide an additional interaction photo.
	+ Further interactions with a sink with dirty water by the ghost will continue to provide interaction photos.

### General tips

* For all subjects, you need to take a picture of its centre. If the centre is not within frame, the photo will not count. For the ghost, this rule is less strict.
* Each individual interaction or footstep can be photographed by multiple players. In a 4-player game, just 3 instances of interactions or footprints are technically enough to fill up the whole journal.
* Where needed, crouch to reduce the distance between you and the photo subject, allowing a 3-star photo to be taken.
* It may sometimes be more worth it to move on to a new investigation, instead of waiting around for the last few photos to take.

## Custom difficulties

> *This section needs expansion. (October 2022)*
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Depending on your skill level, you can create a custom difficulty with increased multipliers over Insanity that will allow you to earn more money per unit time than you normally would on a standard difficulty.

As of 0.9.0, the base value of objectives is substantially higher than before, and even without any difficulty multiplier, completing them will count for a significantly greater proportion of a mission's rewards than before—and at very high multipliers, photo rewards are practically pocket change in comparison to objective rewards. Regardless, filling up a photo with three-star photos is still required for obtaining a perfect investigation bonus, even if the photos themselves are relatively not as worthwhile.

* When playing before level 16 is reached, setting "Sanity Medication restoration amount" to 0% is completely free, as Sanity Medication is not unlocked until then.

## Investigation bonuses

* **Investigation bonus:** Identify the ghost correctly and escape alive. This will double all rewards from ghost identification and all completed objectives, which is then further multiplied by the difficulty multiplier.
* **Perfect investigation bonus:** In addition to the above, fill your journal with 10 3-star photos of any category, collect the bone, and complete all objectives. Besides rewards from completing these items, an additional bonus of $50 and 50 XP will be rewarded, which is affected by the difficulty multiplier.

## Other rewards and tips

* Avoiding death is possibly the easiest way to earn money, and avoid losing it.
* While it may be tempting to be stingy and minimize the use of consumable items, the overall low price of them will be drastically overshadowed by the reward from objectives successfully completed by electing to use them when they're needed.
* Daily and Weekly Tasks are available for the player. Some of these are easy, like buying an item, but some may require more proactiveness, like taking a ghost photo.
* The "Survive with only the starter items" Daily Task can be accomplished by completing one round of the Weekly Challenge Mode, as the provided equipment counts as "starter items". Since you cannot get a perfect investigation bonus with the actual starter items (no cameras and very limited investigation gear) the payout will be better, as well as getting one step closer to completing the large reward Weekly Challenge Mode payout.
* "Get a ghost to blow out a Firelight" can be completed via the static candles that appear on some maps if you light those and the ghost blows them out, which saves a consumable.