Wilson Richards

FoHV has been out for a month and still no reviews, so here's the description from my "One for All" series of decks that has a similar breakdown for each investigator:

Tools! What the heck is a tool, anyways? They're definitely assets. They probably have their own associated skill test, are very likely help you fight or investigate... and our boy Wilson wants to play lots of them! This means that his stats and abilities make him a relatively sturdy flex character who can pick up clues and take out enemies in equal measure. He can single-handedly churn through scenarios, and with a mitt of decent cards, he can fairly easily re-focus his efforts on whatever task the game throws at him. It's also remarkably easy to tweak your role mid-campaign with just a few simple upgrades, as Wilson's card choices can have a greater impact on his gameplan than most investigators. His signature is pretty neat too, allowing you to make duplicate item draws more useful and combo with big costly items like sledgehammer or pitchfork.

Even with some cleverly integrated stat boosts, Wilson is still a generalist, and generalists don't always have the sheer output specialists can typically achieve in Arkham - especially in larger teams. Static boosts and skill cards with lots of icons will help him overcome some of the tougher tests he'll eventually encounter. Like most of the Hemlock Vale investigators, Wilson isn't super beginner friendly to pilot either, and his deckbuilding can be rather complicated without some digital assistance.

Some archetypes that work well for this template:

The Handyman: Wilson's discount creates some bonuses that might not be immediately obvious. Playing lots of cheap tools potentially means resources spent on tool assets can be decreased by half or better. It also lends itself to playing limited use or discard-able assets that encourage you to cycle them in and out with your discount. Costly tools make great discard fodder for his signature Ad Hoc though, so those are absolutely worth including if they have powerful effects. Lastly, remember that his second ability only activates on skill tests printed on tool cards, so keep all these things in mind while filling your toolshed.

Full Flex / Solo - Keep a good balance of tool-based weapons and investigation aids, and you should be completely self-sufficient on almost any scenario. Static boosts to your combat and intellect skills will improve your odds, and targeted skill cards will really help push you through some of the more challenging tests.

The Specialist - Focusing your deck around either investigating or fighting will allow Wilson to fill voids in his team and more easily tackle the most challenging problems the chosen role can throw at him. Show Rex or Zoey that you have the right tools for either one of their jobs.

The Fixer - Fighter can't find their gun? There's a Pitchfork for that! Cluever scrambling in the shadows of a 5 shroud location? There's a Matchbox for that! Wilson has access to many more utility options than your average guardian, and loading your deck up with these can turn him into an interesting and effective support character.

EzieBaikUben · 728
Glad to see a referenced to Let Me Handle This, and undervalued card IMO. That said, I'm curious how you see it as a 'uniquely effective or staple card' in Wilson? Same with Emergency Cache and neutral skill cards, is there some Wilson tech I'm not seeing that gives him extra value with these cards? — Pseudo Nymh · 67
The emergency cache and neutral skills are just staple cards that most characters benefit from having in their decks. Let Me Handle This though I feel is a better choice for Wilson because of his generalist statline and it fits well in the support archetype I'd listed. — EzieBaikUben · 728
Strange to list a bunch of generic cards but not point out Tool Belt, which feels almost mandatory for Wilson (both mechanically and flavorwise). — anaphysik · 98
A warning to Wilson players: several cards representing real-life tools are not Tool-traited (which matters for both deckbuilding and the skill boost). E.g. Machete, Fire Axe, Meat Cleaver. I'm also surprised that Salvage wasn't made in such a way for Wilson to be able to play (e.g. by making it Improvised in preparation for Wilson in the next expasion, and simply giving Wilson 0-5 Improvised access, which would barely be different from 0-1 anyway). — anaphysik · 98
@anaphysik Unfortunately the list is restricted to cards I have in my own collection, otherwise that'd be a great include! — EzieBaikUben · 728
If anybody wants to use my list to do up something more complete, they're more than welcome! — EzieBaikUben · 728
I am playing Wilson in my first run through Edge of the Earth and I have one aspect to add for consideration. Wilson seems to like cards that use Supplies as well. The Cleaning Kit seems tailor made without mentioning spoilers. — Staticalchemist · 1
Cleaning kit is just generally good for Edge of the Earth, and there's a little synergy potential with Wilson to be sure, but I didn't include it because I think there are other characters that prefer it. — EzieBaikUben · 728
Cards I'm missing in the list (in no specific order): Tool Belt, Tetsuo Mori, Fire Extinguisher (combos with Pushed to the Limit and Ad Hoc), Fine Tuning (depending on your other assets), Well-Maintained, Hatchet (compensates well for Wilson's statline - you already attack with 7 without any boosts), Lockpicks, Pocket Telescope (because why not?), Reliable (double benefits for Hatchet and Lockpicks). — AlderSign · 405
All very good card choices! For my own sanity I've chosen to only include level 0 cards that I have in my collection, but you're welcome to use that list to build your own! — EzieBaikUben · 728
Kate Winthrop

FoHV has been out for a month and still no reviews, so here's my description from my "One for All" series of decks that has a similar breakdown for each investigator:

At first glance Kate looks pretty complex, and she kind of is! If you boil her ability down it looks like this: put your clues on your tool and science cards for a +2 boost to any skill. One clue per card. You can still spend the clues, but if you find your other signature card, you can put the used clues back on your investigator for more boosts. This make her quite flexible, especially by Seeker standards, and she performs well with or without teammates around. If you want a clue focused investigator that has an answer for most situations and loves playing assets, Kate is your girl!

Her reliance on assets can also be a liability, as she needs some setup time before she really gets going. Scenarios that require you to hit the ground running, or even some bad early draws can really put the hurt on poor Kate. It's not a bad idea to have a few tricks up your sleeve that might prevent an overwhelming start. Her signature weakness also has some major potential to cause trouble, so be ready to give yourself a little willpower boost at a moment's notice.

Some archetypes that work well for this template:

The Scientist - Here's a formula for you: Tool / Science cards + tutoring / card draw + funding for both = Progress! Dedicating majority of your deck space to the aforementioned items should result in a fairly self-sustaining investigative engine, and not only does bonus card draw help you find your assets faster, it also helps dig for your Aetheric Current! Huzzah!

Precision Success - "Succeed by" cards aren't just for Rogues any more! Kate comes included with a number of cards that grant bonuses if you manage to over-succeed by a specific amount, and this pairs well with her ability to grant on-demand skill boosts if you're paying attention to what the likeliest token modifiers are. Seekers don't have a lot of options for token manipulation, but if you have a Mystic friend, there is a tonne of potential here!

Full Flex - Once Kate gets her gear set up, she can be remarkably self-sufficient. Static foot boosts, evasion bonuses, and cards that allow Kate to get out of trouble if she gets overwhelmed early on will help her get fully online without needing a babysitter for the first half of the scenario.

Clue Drop - I don't personally have the card sets to pull this off, but this is a great archetype for Kate if you have most of the newer investigator cards. Dropping clues from your assets allows you to use your powerful ability even more often, so grab cards that enable drops, and that grant benefits for doing so.

EzieBaikUben · 728
I houserule that "Scientific Theory" is Science. — MrGoldbee · 1492
Right?! We need a taboo list for traits — EzieBaikUben · 728
I believe that may be one of the "big changes" that they are teasing at after drowned city is released — Benjamitis · 7
Dario El-Amin

Dario El-Amin uses eight (8) actions to create a two-resource surplus compared to basic Resource Actions. Emergency Cache creates a two-resource surplus in one action. Don't take him if you want to make money. It's no coincidence he carries the moniker Unscrupulous Investor.

Stray Cat · 1
ECache needs another card in play (Cornered) to ever grant you a skill boost. Don't get me wrong, Dario is a nieche card, and in most decks a bad card. But you can't evalue it based on his action. If you want him, it's mostly as a level 0 ally, who grants two stat boosts. Getting fast to 10+ resources by other means is no problem nowadays in Rogue, and there are many cards, that pay off a big money build aside of him. His most relevant ding is that willpower and intellect is an odd pair in his class. Most gators want either will (Sefina, Dexter) or book (most of the others). I see a case in Alessandra, that she might want both. — Susumu · 381
Like I said, don't take him if you want to make money. — Stray Cat · 1
I'd argue this is overstatement. Big money decks must have multiple ways of generating money. He can be one of the options. Not the only option but one of many. With Stylish Coat he turns out to be Emergency Cache on demand, each turn. Almost, as there's a condition for the action. — bugiel_marek · 24
He is also a good target for the extra action of haste from time to time, since activate is a common action — Tharzax · 1
Bank Job makes him a lot different than he was in 2017. — MrGoldbee · 1492
Anyu

This is hands down one of the best cards that can be gained from dead companions. I have tried it in a Leo Anderson deck (yes, I know all allies look better with Leo) and it perfectly complements his weak points. Most importantly, Anyu can always do something useful for you.

First, it can be an improved version of Pathfinder, letting you move in any window. You will use this most often.

Secondly, it can be the equivalent of a Well Prepared + Mitch Brown combo, giving you +2 to whatever test you need some help passing. It's worth to mention its own combination with Well Prepared, which will help you with the following point and in general is an outstanding upgrade in Edge of the Earth.

Finally, it can be a free evade action with a +3 (for Leo, a +1 at least for most investigators).

To top it off, Anyu can combine the 3 of them in a clutch situation to evade with 6 and then move; move, evade and investigate with +2 or any other busted burst you need.

Obviously, not all is perfect and it occupies the contested ally slot, but the free actions it provides can very well make it a better fit than most other allies in certain contexts. It's actually so good that it merits the investment in Charisma a in a deck with 2 other allies.

Anyu is also a Creature which means that you could use take the Rod of Animalism and use it to equip Anyu alongside a Guard Dog, Stray Cat, and so on. — OrionAnderson · 125
Blackmail File

Not gonna lie, this looks like hot garbage, but I want to write a review in the hope that someone proves me wrong.

This costs 2 resources and an Action to give you the ability to make a test that makes an enemy not bother the party until the end of the round, so I see it as very similar to Mists of R'lyeh. Obviously, there are quite some differences:

  • Different class
  • Doesn't use charges and is slotless
  • Parley instead of Evade
  • No bonus movement (and no drawback for the scary tokens)
  • Non-Elite enemies only, but can be used on enemies not engaged with you
  • Test against printed health instead of evade value
  • Aloof instead of exhaust if successful

Let's start with the class. While Mystics like to use on each and every test, it's one of the most common weaknesses of Rogues all around. In fact, every single green 'gator so far has an equal or higher , so why would they bother. Some of the outside-class 'gators that can take this have stats better suited for it, but Pete, Jim and Zoey have way better things to do with their limited out-of-class slots, while Leo Anderson has the means to deal with enemies in a more definitive way.
Dexter might consider this in order to have different options to play with his ability, but that comes with the age old question "why pick an Evade spell when I can pick a Fight one", especially since being a main-class Mystic means he has other options if he wants some way to deal with enemies while building as a cluever (like Mists of R'lyeh itself). The lack of charges is also kind of an anti-synergy for him, since he likes to have expended assets to throw away.
For Parallel Daisy this has the arguable advantage of being a slotless tome, thus bringing with it a stat boost and a semi-reliable way to deal with enemies, does she have the deckspace for it, though?

Now, clearly, this being a parley card we must consider it in the parley-centric investigator that got released together with this card. Thanks to this card, Alessandra Zorzi can sort-of-evade each round as a free action, but I feel like the drawbacks of having to play this in advance (contrary to the various evade events she has at her disposal), testing a lower stat and not working against Elites outweight the saved actions (even considering the engage actions you would normally take to evade an enemy engaged with a friend) and deckspace. I can see it in a level-0 deck if you have few other options, but I would upgrade out of it fairly quicky.

When it comes to the "special effects" of this card, they leave me pretty confused. Testing against health is rarely an advantage, since the few times the evade value is higher it usually means that it's easier to just kill the enemy. Giving them aloof instead of exhausting them honestly just sounds like a disadvantage: can't attack them without engaging, they will move during the enemy phase if they're hunters and you can't engage and move them around freely if you need it for some enemy-to-clue shenanigans.

All in all, looks like blackmailing ain't worth it.

tinybreeder · 29
Seems fun in Sef, especially in TFA multi. No need to engage/evade. With fine clothes, auto succeed vs nasty non-hunters. — MrGoldbee · 1492
#Alessandra Zorzi likes to have enemies at her location to enable other parley tests. — JosieBean · 1
This is not a good card IMO because it costs too much and is too difficult to use. That said, it is often better to make a hunter enemy aloof for a round than to evade them conventionally, because that way they can move to your guardian and engage them at the end of the round without getting an attack in. — OrionAnderson · 125
You also get to avoid triggering Alert — OrionAnderson · 125
The point regarding Alert is a valid one I think. Also, there are scenarios or at least parts of them where you it's actually bad to kill certain enemies while the game makes them annoying for you nonetheless. Aloof fixes that. — AlderSign · 405