I think this card is great. Even without a blessed or cursed package, it acts as a plus 2 or 3 every single turn. That alone is worth a handslot at cost 2, and it synergies with other increases given this affects base stat. Works great for over suceed rogue. I've used in Wendy Adams and it allows her to punch cultists - a huge resource save and allows her to do things that she normally can't. That situation is probably the biggest benefit - allowing investigators to do things they can't normally so each turn - pass head tests, attack, investigate. Amazing versitility!

The most broken elder sign effect with this is probably Winifred Habbamock. Play your entire „overachieve“ combo, have your mystic friend commit this, profit, take it all back. Really can win a scenario for you.

You can really force it, too by putting Word of Command in your deck. If you haven’t already Wini & Jaqueline Fine is a combo you should try! ;)

So this card lets me wonder, regarding Read the Signs: up until recently, I firmly believed, you can not ignore the trigger of the damage, because it happens after investigating. Neither could you move from Père Lachaise Cemetery after successfully "reading the signs". But I'm browsing now all the locations for a RtS review, I'm preparing, and I stumbled over the definition for Investigate Action:

If the test is successful, the investigator has succeeded in investigating the location, he or she discovers one clue at the location. (This occurs during step 7 of the skill test, per "ST.7 Apply skill test results" on page 26.)

So apparently cards, like Père Lachaise Cemetery seem to trigger, because there is a timing after succeeding in investigating within the test (which lasts until ST.8). But if "after successfully investigating" is within reach of RtS's ignore ability, this should also apply to "after investigating" in general? Weird! How are the opinions on that one? Or have there been any official ruling? (Probably not, otherwise it would be mentioned in the FAQ paragraph of RtS.)

You might not guess it, but the card with the people bareknuckle boxing is super good with the boxer. The joy of this card is that it’s a natural upgrade from Mano(1), and you can earn it by killing victory point monsters that other classes simply can’t do enough damage to.

Three damage guaranteed is enough to build a deck around. Have your allies take Stargazing, take First Watch or On the Hunt...Use "Get over here!" during enemy, upkeep, or mythos. You’re already playing Nathan to punch the crap out of horrid monsters. Make it easier, and recur it with your elder sign. You’ll appreciate cheap damage in guardian.

This card is commonly compaired with Drawn to the Flame. Both cards can discover 2 clues with 1 action. Here is pros & cons.

Pros

• Read the Signs has spell traits. This cards can work with Arcane Initiate, Dayana Esperence, Agnes Baker.
• Read the Signs initiates investigate test. Enraptured can be committed to get 1 charge/secret.
• Read the Signs can ignore some effects by investigation or discovering clues.
• Read the Signs don't cause to draw any encounter cards. Sometimes, a encounter card break your plan.

Cons

• Read the Signs has 2 costs. Many suffers leaks of the resources, and 2 costs may be critical.
• Read the Sings cannot detour some penalty of investigation, such as Obscuring Fog, Locked Door, Orne Library.
• Read the Signs requires the test, and may be drawn. For hard/expert, the effects of some tokens (, -8...) may cause bad effect.