Card Reviews · ArkhamDB

Summoned Servitor

Absolute garbage, can't believe they even put this in the box as is.

At level 0 does literally nothing...what? Worse, it costs 2 resource, takes up 2 slots and you have to sacrifice another asset.

Put some XP in so it can now do base 4 tests... underwhelming much?

Compare this to miss Doyle and it's night and day. You need to put around 7 or 8 exp (carapace, claws, dominance, dreaming call) and Miss Doyle would still be better.

11/1/22

fates · 51

The use case is significantly different, as when used correctly in some scenarios, the servitor can net you quite a lot of bonus actions. In Carcosa for example its basically a 2 cost super-Leo De Luca that requires some build around. — dezzmont · 210 11/1/22

Not to say its amazing, but it definitely isn't trash either. After all, a base 4 test is on par with a gator who is 'good' at something. — dezzmont · 210 11/1/22

Since free move is a bad thing? — bugiel_marek · 21 11/1/22

A base 4 skill I would say is not a good amount. 5 is when it gets good. — fates · 51 11/2/22

'base 4' is what most investigators start with, and it still gets your static boosts. Honestly don't know what game you're playing that you think a base 4 skill is unserviceable. — Lailah · 1 11/5/22

Some classes even have to make due with base 3 for things they are trying to specialize in! I understand that for mystics used to always playing base Willpower 5 and doing everything infinitely through willpower its quite the shock, but as a rogue main I would say 'come on in, the water is fine!' — dezzmont · 210 11/7/22

@fates Did you miss the part where the servitor takes an action without costing you one? Doyle's cat army is great, but they don't give you extra action economy. — Death by Chocolate · 1428 11/7/22

I do think the card should come with a single checkbox filled in though, even if it puts you into a 1 XP debt. It feels weird to need in the Thick of it for a card to do something. — Lailah · 1 11/13/22

Then again, I guess it's fine that it's a dead draw at first. The shotcaster is too. — Lailah · 1 11/13/22

This card has no free move (for the investigator). Even if you upgrade it, it still takes 2 slots and an asset discard. No comparison to Pathfinder. Surprise to see people defend this card, sacrifice so much for so little. 4 stat is alright if you play on easy I guess....but it's really not that good, if it was then we wouldn't need to play assets with buffs. Hard tests are 4 difficulty if not higher, chaos tokens range from 0 to -6. With no bonuses you're failing like 90% of the time. — fates · 51 11/15/22

You... do understand how base stat changes work, right? You still get your modifiers - eg magnifying lens, or St. Hubert's Key, Prophesiae Profanae and the like. A 4 stat is just... what an investigator usually gets - there are some who work with 3, or cheat away with a 1. How do you think Ashcan Pete, Joe Diamond, Leo, or Jenny get anything done? — Lailah · 1 11/15/22

I don't jump through 5 hoops to get to base 4 stat. — fates · 51 11/20/22

If you've added those cards - that is, jumped through 5 hoops (played a sacrifice for the thing, played the thing itself, played 3 boosters), you are testing at a base 4, but you are testing at a _final_ score of 7, as an additional action on your turn. Difficult to get all of those boosters in play, but quite a ceiling. — Lailah · 1 12/17/22

A lot of the above discourse is valid -- base 4 investigate with all your assets on top of that is solid. However, it misses the fact that mystics generally don't use non-willpower stats. Evading, fighting, or investigating is rarely going to be more than 4. I can see this being good in Luke, who'll have plenty of int boosts and commits, to squeeze out an extra clue and/or move every turn. Same with Lily and fighting. I see this being A LOT more popular in half-Mystics, since the Wings of Night + Dominance + one of the test options only brings it up to level 2 — cheezzywizz · 3 12/24/22

You’re not going to splash it in thoughtlessly, certainly. And sadly Lily has no use for it, because she needs to spend at least 1 XP for it to do something. Diana can use it and the hammer with Beat Cops, with or without a bandolier (astral mirror is technically also an option, but…) for her dagger. Amina is actually using a smaller base so she wants static boosts to help out. Marie theoretically could use it but that’s a bigger ask. Dexter also seems a candidate for it, and the Summon trait means he can tutor it with his assistant. It’s not going to win awards as the GOAT but it’s a solid card you can in fact use and have fun with. — Lailah · 1 7/16/23

Shrewd Analysis

There is a good synergy between this card and Vincent Lee deck's requirements.

The only eligible Strange Solution upgrade is the "Heal Damage" version.

You can basically upgrade a second copy of Strange Solution for free without loosing consistency.

10/31/22

filippo21daniele · 198

The problem is that this version of Strange Solution is a terrible card and I won't add it to Vincent's deck even if it is 0 xp, not to mention investing some time and actions to identify the solution and then to spend 3 XP on two its copies. The card cannot heal allies, it requires an action to play the asset and an action to trigger it later. You cannot divide heal between different investigators like Healing words do. Nonetheless your point is very correct and I would suggest to pay attention to the similar situation with Carolyn Fern and healing horror Ancient Stone upgrade. It is still not the top priority card for her IMO, but unlike Strange Solution it may be taken into consideration for the deck if you would like to do such a combo. — chrome · 56 11/1/22

This is of course the same as the long known and often applied Carolyn-AS:MiH-Combo. The thing is, "Ancient Stone: Mind in Harmony" seems like the way better card than "Restorative Concoction". Maybe, if there is a second seeker on the team, who wants to do the research anyway, it's worth it. Also in a single collection run of multiple investigators, Vincent might upgrade first, filtering out the concoction, then the other investigator has no risk of getting that version, should they use "Shrewd Analysis" as well. Of note, contrary to Caro, Vincent can also use this card for "Dream Diary", which I consider the best use case, as no version really sucks. ("Forbidden Tome" also has level 3 upgrades.) — Susumu · 361 11/1/22

Bonesaw

Bonesaw is similar to mechanic’s wrench. They are both single handed melee tool-items. And both will let you do yourself damage, potentially. Vincent's weapon has an updated, better version of the Kukri effect. If he wants to, he can do an extra damage, trigger bandages or Jessica Hyde, then slash again with a fresh On the Mend. Kind of a dark mirror to the meat cleaver.

The secondary effect feels like an emergency button; there are very few effects in the game that can reduce that much damage on someone, especially if you’re healing people steadily to give them On the Mend. Combining that test with premonition, neither rain nor snow, or other downside mitigators is best. If your allies have trauma, it should be because of 'in the thick of it'.

Since it’s a tool, it can go back in your Tool Belt when there’s nobody around to stab. Situationally very useful, which is the sweet spot for a signature card.

10/31/22

MrGoldbee · 1443

It doesn't have the Weapon trait so Prepared for the Worst won't find it. But Captivating Discovery will and synergizes well with a clue dropping deck. — MindControlMouse · 40 1/20/24

Vincent Lee

Vincent Lee is a very active support character. It’s hard to forget he’s in play when he’s handing you a gory skill card every turn. And he has a very easy way to do it: bandages and scrounging. If you can take the damage, and in certain campaigns you absolutely can, he can heal you and give you that +2 buff.

Vincent may be the most “feature complete“ character with one XP. Once he has Jessica Hyde, Dr. Lee becomes Dr. Jekyll. With his Bonesaw, you can take a damage every round, and get on the mend in time for the mythos phase.

Like Carolyn Fern, he has a secret advantage of giving other investigators three bonus XP at the start of a campaign, because “in the thick of it“ goes from penalty to opportunity.

10/31/22

MrGoldbee · 1443

Captivating Discovery

This card is absolutely insane. For 1 action and 1 resource cost, you could search and selectively draw up to 6 cards. Dropping clues might sound like a heavy burden, but with 2 Research Notes in play, dropped clues potentially double back, so you actually benefits from dropping clues. However, I have only tried this combo on 4 player game and I assume that it doesn't work well on solos or 2 player games.

10/31/22

Horo · 36