Shrewd Analysis

Shrewd Analysis

So correct me if I'm wrong: Carolyn has only one eligible option when upgrading Ancient Stone: Unidentified and that is Ancient Stone: Minds In Harmony. When I upgrade the stones for which I spent 2 exp. (1 each), I spend 3 exp. and get free 3 exp. upgrade, since like the card says, Minds In Harmony is the ONLY eligible upgrade.

Wolf · 86
As far as I can tell, yes, although Shrewd Analysis will permanently take up one of her 15 mystic/seeker slots, but that is a pretty minor downside. — Death by Chocolate · 1490
That's my assessment as well; I mention it in my review of ancient stone. — SGPrometheus · 855
I think that's actually a pretty major downside but still might be worth it. Later on if you're choosing between a 0-1xp M/S card and a 4-5xp other card it may seem like a smaller downside but she really likes those seeker cards for investigation. — Timlagor · 6

Deciphered Reality

Deciphered Reality

SPOILER ALERT: Very minor spoilers for The Path to Carcosa.

I've played Deciphered Reality now in what is often considered the optimal deck for it, a Rex Murphy deck in a Carcosa campaign. I purchased the card early, and two copies of it, specifically to see if it would see any use prior to the last scenario. Unfortunately, it didn't get played even a single time. It didn't even get committed for the skill icons, as I was often better off keeping it in my hand instead, and using resources to fuel Higher Education.

The unfortunate thing for this card is it relies on several things:

  • Four resources (which I'm often spending on Higher Education, playing Dr. Milan Christopher, and other events to advance the group's progress).
  • Many locations revealed (which, other than the 8th scenario, we tended to explore conservatively, and stick close together).
  • At least one clue on all revealed locations (between Rex Murphy's ability to scoop up clues, and Archaic Glyphs's ability to combine with Higher Education to scoop up all the clues, there weren't often spare clues left behind).
  • The card in hand when the above three stars are in alignment (this was the least difficult to pull off, as I'd purchased the upgraded No Stone Unturned).

All of the above being said, in the final scenario of Carcosa, I did use one of the copies to scoop up eight clues. But, because of the nature of that scenario, it's better to focus on collecting all the clues from a single location.

Verdict? I feel I wouldn't buy this card again.

cb42 · 38
I’m not saying you shouldn’t go for Archaic Glyphs + Higher Education, but running that in the same deck as Deciphered Reality is just asking for anti-synergy since DR relies on you leaving a clue behind on each location as you explore the map. Compared to the combo, DR requires three other locations with a clue (plus your current with two) to get the same value for 4 resources. Again, I’m not disagreeing with your conclusions, but I think DR requires a deck built around it and not against it. — Death by Chocolate · 1490
Yeah, this isnt really a card that works well with Rex; Rex prefers a play style where he empties a location of clues completely with his ID one at a time before moving on to the next. As per my review above, this has better synergy with investigators that favor mobility over staying to grab clues. In an Ursula run, for example, she’s not gonna be blowing all her resources to overpay for Rex’s ID, she’s going to be hypermobile, and if she starts with this in hand or a way to pull it, she can deliberately leave said singleton clues behind. This isnt a card that just fits into any deck, but when it shows up in the hand of someone who has a mobile investigator early, it can reap immense dividends with the right playstyle. — Jarell88 · 19

Old Hunting Rifle

Old Hunting Rifle

The first ever interesting upgrade for survivors is...(drumroll)...not that good. Well it's good until it's not, then you're in a lot of trouble (barring a reliable self-eject button). I'm still holding out for a chainsaw. They have to make it eventually, right? And it would be for survivors. But that could jam too.

jmmeye3 · 632
It makes a good backup weapon for Pete when Duke is already busy, or better in a William Yorick deck with the soon to come Act of Desperation. — mogwen · 254
@mogwen Act of Desperation? What is this and where did you see it? — SGPrometheus · 855
It is plenty good. Play it with Act of Desperation and Live and Learn and you are going to be in great shape. Play it with OOPS! 2 and you will be in win/win situations. — Myriad · 1226
Well, with Eucatastrophe, the reliable self-eject button has now arrived. — Katsue · 10
And, two years later, here we are. — spannertheodd · 1
@Katsue Eucatastrophe helps against the auto-fail, but not the skulls, since the skulls aren't tokens that reduce your skill value to 0 - they are tokens that trigger an ability on the card and THAT ability reduces your skill value to 0. — Death by Chocolate · 1490

Rise to the Occasion

Rise to the Occasion

Confused?

The card text here basically boils down to: Attempt nearly any test you're normally bad at, with a +2 advantage.

4 Difficulty treachery hitting your Silas Marsh? Guts + Rise to the Occasion for a total advantage of +4!

4 Difficulty test for Ashcan? Commit Rise to the Occasion + Perception for a total advantage of +4!

3 Difficulty test for Wendy? Rise to the Occasion + Baseball Bat for a total advantage of +4!

Even if you cut out all those other cards, Rise to the Occasion still lets you attempt tests you're normally bad at with a +2 advantage, this is most important for those forced scenario tests and unique treacheries that just gotta go, I speak off the Locked Door, Frozen in Fear, that kind of stuff.

In my opinion this card is alright by me, and downright great in a Silas Marsh deck.

Tsuruki23 · 2588
Let's say you're using Calvin Wright, and it's a 4 difficulty test. You'll get +2 from the icons, and another +3 from the ability, for a total of +5 — Yusei1Fudo · 1
Super fun card in City of Archives :) — Quilzar · 6
If you copied this with Copycat, you would be at a +3 advantage. — Zinjanthropus · 231

Lightning Gun

Lightning Gun

Combos very nicely with Venturer cards. Venturer is not only a sanity/hp soako but allows you to distribute his 3 supplies/ammo between different assets. Basically, if you have venturer and lightning gun, he pretty much doubles the amount of bullets.

Another great card is Extra Ammunition - straight up + 3 ammo to a Firearm card like this. 2x Venturer + 2x Extra Ammunition, and you have lots and lots of +5 Strength +2 damage attacks. OUCH!

Killyox · 3