Mandy Studies the Forbidden Knowledge

This deck was for a (semi) blind Dunwich playthrough, my first attempt at 2h solo play and my first time interacting with the curse mechanic. Prismatic Spectacles were my first upgrade--they replaced a Written in the Stars after the very first scenario, but the card wasn't on arkhamdb yet so it probably isn't visible in the lower xp versions of the deck.

Bringing a Researched card to Dunwich was probably a mistake. The upgraded Cryptic Grimoire didn't get purchased for a couple of scenarios after it was unlocked, and the second copy wasn't in the deck until the last scenario. The one scenario I did get to play it, it was very fun to use secrets tech and get uses on it even without many curses in the bag via Enraptured or Astounding Revelation especially with Ariadne's Twine--though I got that out far later than the book, it was nice to have the flexibility to use twine secrets on Encyclopedia too.

A big problem with this deck was lacking actions. Encyclopedia was helpful for both Mandy and her partner Leo, but between moving and carrying all the clues a play action cost a lot and the action availability that book action was few and far between. I don't usually prioritize upgraded Deduction in 2p, but the compression is very valuable for Dunwich specifically which often requires clearing locations quickly. Forcing as many searches as possible (thanks Whitton Greene!) was helpful to try for Occult Evidence and extra clue pickup.

Practice Makes Perfect was great, especially with Mandy's ability to search deeper (and prevent whiffs) or commit (and then draw) 2 cards. The encounter deck did eat it most scenarios, though.

Quantum Flux and Deny Existence (and, in a different way, Delve Too Deep) were my Dunwich Tech cards. They were rarely used but I was glad I had them.

Cards I didn't use much: Eldritch Sophist never made it into play; it was a less valuable card to set up than the cards that used secrets, and actions were too valuable to have time to play it if I didn't already have a more valuable ally. Professor William Webb never did me any good more than soak. Tides of Fate was useless when you need to resolve curses to get secrets, and even before that I probably undervalued the bless tokens for it.

I did laugh when my RBW was Dread Curse and would instantly translate half the Cryptic Grimoire for me, but I literally never drew it in the whole campaign.