(fallen london stamps by at first I thought it was really obnoxious that they stick you with the slow as hell kinsects when you start out, but I think I'm beginning to develop a begrudging sense of why - it's to discourage newcomers from using the kinsect as a ranged weapon. making it super slow forces them to really get up close to the monster in order to grab their extracts (which is good practice even once you have fast bugs!)
...but also, I'm not neeeeeew, let me get the fast bugs alreadyyyyyy
I have lowkey considered taking this save file as an opportunity to learn longsword, but then I remember that LS is Perpetual Trip-Your-Teammates Simulator 2000, and Bast's lady just doesn't look right unless she's wielding a polearm
I LIED I am learning longsword now apparently. I am not totally sure about how I feel about the task of maintaining your Sword Power - it feels a little like busywork. But also, I get the impression that staying in red might just be something that happens naturally if you're playing well, as you should be looking for opportunities to Spirit Roundslash the monster's legs from under them anyway. (As opposed to glaive, where every minute or so you have to stop slashing for your Mandatory Juice Break.)