is it just me or is it getting harder?

From Fallen London Wiki (Staging)

Without page of gambits or roots, all i seem to be able to do is lose. I try really hard to keep changing up my strategies but i just can't find a good one, especially when i can't consistently draw the same characters. I feel like instead of being fun to try different characters with the luck of the draw I'm just scrambling to make even five hits with anything before resistance gets to 8. I wonder, am I just bad at this game?