VanyelAshke · 178
DECK CONCEPT
Generalist investigator, with a slight leaning towards combat. Paired with Patrice Hathaway in Path to Carcosa campaign, who was also a generalist investigator with a slight leaning towards clue-gathering.
Luke has 2 strengths that make him great, and which we try to capitalize on without compromising consistency and function:
1) Gate Box is essentially three copies of Elusive; free disengages and lots of movement. Luke can move around a map, saving lots of actions/turns.
2) Luke can play events (usually attack an enemy or gather clues) at a neighbouring location (including from the Dream-Gate).
Willpower is decently strong, once he has his assets in play. He can get to 6-7.
In the whole campaign, I never got "screwed" by not having enough charges or spells to kill an enemy or to gather clues. This deck provided me what I needed, when I needed it.
Health 5 is a concern, but that is mitigated with allies and Deny Existence.
STRENGTHS:
- very mobile. Can also influence the movement of Hunter enemies by being close to them, then using Gate Box to escape.
- saves many actions/turns, due to unique ability (event spell at neighbouring location) and Gate Box.
1st Hand ....... Hawk-Eye Folding Camera
2nd Hand ...... Occult Lexicon (or Hawk-Eye Folding Camera)
Accessory ..... Holy Rosary
Body .............. Unused
1st Arcane .... Combat Spell (Shrivelling)
2nd Arcane ... Clue Spell (Rite of Seeking)
Tarot .............. Four of Cups
Ally ................. Early: Arcane Initiate, Late: Mr Rook + Dayana Esperance (With Charisma, both)
CORE CARDS
Enemy management: Shrivelling and Spectral Razor are usually sufficient, especially when paired with another generalist investigator capable of handling enemies as well, Occult Lexicon is in the deck to provide additional fire power when needed; also can be used to generate resources and draw cards before Mr. "Rook" is in the deck. I did not find that I needed Wither or any other "eternal" combat spell.
Clue gathering cards: Rite of Seeking, Read the Signs and Drawn to the Flame are usually sufficient, especially when paired with another generalist investigator capable of collecting half of the clues necessary. I did not find that I needed Sixth Sense or any other "eternal" clue spell.
Will boosts: Hawk-Eye Folding Camera, Holy Rosary, and Four of Cups.
Economy: Uncage the Soul, Emergency Cache, and Crack the Case. her ability. This deck is quite expensive, so eventually adding Versatile to incorporate Lone Wolf and Astounding Revelation is very helpful to provide the resources needed, and they're action-free!
Health & Sanity management: allies, Deny Existence and Ward of Protection. Near the end of the campaign, upgraded Deny Existence also heals.
Utility: none in particular. This deck is focused on killing, clueing and maintaining tempo to finish scenarios quickly.
OPENING HAND / MULLIGAN GUIDE
First level priority is a combat spell and your -boosting assets. Mr. "Rook" probably ranks first level too. Second level priority is Arcane Initiate.
UPGRADES
Here is how I upgraded my deck over a Path to Carcosa campaign.
end Scenario 1:
AR upgrade: IN: Shrivelling OUT: Shrivelling. Get +2 bonus to hit more reliably.
1xp -> IN: Shrivelling OUT: Shrivelling
1xp -> IN: Four of Cups OUT: Hawk-Eye Folding Camera
4xp -> IN: Ward of Protection x2 OUT: Ward of Protection x2. Protect yourself and your party from nasty encounter cards (Ancient Evils, I'm looking at you the most!).
end Scenario 2:
AR upgrade: IN: Shrivelling OUT: Shrivelling. Get +2 bonus to hit more reliably.
1xp -> IN: Shrivelling OUT: Shrivelling
3xp -> Charisma. Permits room for more health and sanity protection, and Luke wants the abilities of his allies.
end Scenario 3:
AR upgrade: IN:Rite of Seeking OUT: Rite of Seeking.
4xp -> IN: Mr. "Rook" OUT: Guts
end Scenario 4:
AR upgrade: IN:Rite of Seeking OUT: Rite of Seeking.
4xp -> IN: Mr. "Rook" OUT: Guts
end Scenario 5:
AR upgrade: IN: Storm of Spirits OUT: Storm of Spirits. Costs 2 resources less, which is important because Marie struggles with economy. Also can be played during any player window; much more flexible. Worth the upgrade.
1xp -> Storm of Spirits OUT: Storm of Spirits)
2xp -> IN: Versatile:. Bring in three copies of Astounding Revelation, one copy of Deny Existence, and one copy of Lone Wolf.
2xp -> IN: Knowledge is Power OUT: Storm of Spirits. Adds another event that can target at connecting location. Cast Shrivelling or Rite of Seeking ACTION-FREE, RESOURCE FREE and NO CHARGE spent; very valuable. Can kill an 8 health enemy (or a health enemy if you failed a test) or gather 4 clues (2x Rite of Seeking triggers on the last turn).
end Scenario 6:
AR upgrade: IN: Deny Existence OUT: Deny Existence.
3xp -> Deny Existence OUT: Deny Existence.Just before the last scenario, where you know you're going to be up against an elder god that will attack you hard. Best get this instead. If you have enough xp to buy two copies instead of just one, buy them both. Important to heal health/sanity damage while also preventing a hit.
3xp -> IN: Dayana Esperence OUT: Crack the Case.Dayana allows Luke extra uses of Spectral Razor, Ward of Protection, Deny Existence or Read the Signs. Dayana also has 2 pips, like Guts in case it's necessary. Also provides 3 health soak.
end Scenario 7:
AR upgrade: IN: Deny Existence OUT: Deny Existence.
3xp -> Deny Existence OUT: Deny Existence.
2xp -> IN: Knowledge is Power OUT: Drawn to the Flame.
2 xp total unspent
Cards I'm intrigued by
CARDS I'M INTRIGUED BY
David Renfield: you need money
Dr. Milan Christopher: boost intelligence and money
Preposterous Sketches: card draw
Deduction: get extra clues
Working a Hunch: get a clue for just 2 resources
Connect the Dots: to get more clues? (but it's expensive)
True Understanding: get clue?
Magnifying Glass: boost intelligence (better for clue-ing than Hawk-eye)
Inquiring Mind: bigger boosts
St. Hubert's Key: boost intel and will (but it's expensive)
Barricade: Hunter enemies cannot cross through that location. Since Luke is not actually at that location, the "discard" effect never triggers, so it's permanently on the board.
Shortcut: Luke can move 2 locations, instead of just one (target a connecting location as the start point).
Other potential Level Up cards
After the first 7-8xp, you have a few upgrade options:
OPTION 1: better card searching 4xp -> IN: Mr. "Rook" OUT: Holy Rosary 2xp -> IN: Versatile: Astounding Revelation x3, Deny Existence, ??? (out of faction card) 4xp -> IN: Mr. "Rook" OUT: Guts
OPTION 2: Improve odds of success 2xp -> IN: Recall the Future OUT: Holy Rosary 2xp -> IN: Recall the Future OUT: Guts 5xp -> IN: Seal of the Elder Sign OUT: ?. It's a spell, so Arcana Initiate can tutor it
OPTION 3: stronger combat/Shrivelling. I don't value +1 damage at the risk of +1 horror. Two BS token pulls would equal 4 horror; that's scary! Not worth it for me. 2xp -> IN: Shrivelling OUT: Shrivelling 2xp -> IN: Counterspell OUT: Guts 2xp -> IN: Counterspell OUT: Holy Rosary Twila Katherine Price
Maybe...
3xp -> Relic Hunter. Allows 2 copies of Holy Rosary, which provides the boost that Luke needs, and gives the extra sanity to accommodate Shrivelling sanity loss. However, for 1xp more you can get the same 2 horror soak from Mr. "Rook", and you get to dig for key cards instead of +1.
I chose OPTION 1, paying xp to play Mr. "Rook" and Versatile with Lone Wolf as my out of faction card. Even at 4xp each copy, Mr Rook improves the deck. You can fish out key cards and draw your weaknesses when its convenient for you.
Cards that are under-performing:
Occult Lexicon. I'm on the fence; either it's not a necessary card, or it's been very needed because it was my only combat option at the time. Playing Lexicon for 2 damage takes 2 actions (with AoO) and 4 resources to play (2 for the Lexicon then another 2 for the Blood Rite spell). Sometimes I wonder if a second Hawk-Eye Folding Camera would be better....
Dayana Esperence. I added Dayana to my deck near the end of the campaign. Events are expensive, Dayana is expensive and this deck plays other assets. Most often, I think the spells that will go on Dayana will be Deny Existence (level 5 version is amazing), or Ward of Protection.
DECK REFERENCES
Original deck: https://arkhamdb.com/decklist/view/26177/odyssey-true-solo-4.0
Other influences or good write-ups: https://arkhamdb.com/decklist/view/27334/veteran-dreamer-1.0
https://arkhamdb.com/decklist/view/19422/mystical-dreamer-a-luke-standard-deck-1.0