Amanda Sharpe: Terminator in 1927(expert mode)

Overview

Amanda Sharpe is an overpowered investigator. She is not only good at collecting clues, but also can deal tons of damage, move swiftly and trigger location effect in every corner, and support teammates. All because she is a seeker(seeker class cards are really amazing) and she has outstanding card-drawing efficiency.

Building

Quick Drawing And Big Hand Amanda's ability allows her draw one more card per round, which is a really powerful ability. To make better use of her advantage, we can build a quick drawing and big hand deck.

• Dream-Enhancing Serum
• Occult Lexicon
• Eureka!
• Perception
• ...

We Need More Resource! In expert mode, how to pass skill test is a big problem, especially for Amanda because of her low stats. We can use Higher Education to purchase stat value with resourse. So it is obvious that we need quite an amount of resource cards.

• Astounding Revelation
• Crack the Case
• Cryptic Writings
• Occult Lexicon
• ...

Practiced And Research Practice Makes Perfect is a perfect choice for Amanda. To make better use of that, we can add more Practiced cards and search-concerning cards.

• Practice Makes Perfect
• Whitton Greene
• Eureka!
• Astounding Revelation
• Deduction
• Perception
• Promise of Power
• ...

The only pity might be that core cards like Pendant of the Queen or Ancient Stone need exp to be added into deck. So Amanda is relatively weak in first scenario.

Update

First Choice They are core cards of Amanda deck. I suggest that adding them as soon as possible.

• 3x Segment of Onyx (4 exp) Moving/Collecting clues/Evading with no action or skill test. It is amazing for expert mode. And thank to high drawing efficiency so we can play Pendant of the Queen for 4 or 5 times or even more in one scenario!

• 2x Ancient Stone (8 exp) Making damage with no action or skill test. Combining with Occult Lexicon, you will have super strong firepower. Just playing one copy of Blood-Rite, You will deal 4 damage(2 from Ancient Stone and 2 from Blood-Rite), and if you trigger 2 Dream-Enhancing Serum, you will deal 2 more damage! One action, no skill test, no engagement, and you will deal 4 or 6 damage to enemies(even aloof)! That makes some guardian class cards look like a joke XD

Strongly Recommended They are also very appropriate for this deck. They can help you to get more efficiency of getting resources, investigation and drawing cards.

• 3x Three Aces (1 exp) Perfect solution when facing with some annoying encounters. And you will get more cards and resourses. Moreover, committing 3 Three Aces feels really good.
• Higher Education (6 exp) In expert mode, Sometimes you will find it is still not stable with help of skill cards. Higher Education will solve this problem. Don't worry, our badget is enough.
• 2x Perception (4 exp) More drawing!
• 2x Cryptic Writings (4 exp) More resources!
• 2x Deduction (4 exp) More clues!
• 2x Studious (6 exp) We always hope we can draw core cards in opening hand.

If you have too many exp? They are also good choices. But I think all of them has their own disadvantage so that they are not priority.

• 2x The Eye of Truth (10 exp) In expert mode, they are really valuable. And Amanda can make better use of it because of her ability. However, they are too expensive.
• 2x Extensive Research (2 exp) A good card for big-hands investigator. One action for 2 clues. But Amanda can repeatly use skills Deduction and she has enough int stats to investigate by skills and Higher Education, which can get 3 clues for one action.
• 2x Whitton Greene (4 exp) Comparing with Whitton Greene, this version provides 1 more willpower, search 3 more cards, has 1 more san. But these differences are not a big deal. ...

I don't recommend these. These cards are good. However, they are not good for this deck.

• Dream Diary, Archaic Glyphs and updated versions Their effects are not bad, but we only have two hands! Occult Lexicon and Ancient Stone are not replaceable.
• Pathfinder, Death • XIII I don't like too many assets in my deck. Playing them need actions and resources. And I don't think they are necessary because we have Pendant of the Queen and Higher Education.

During updating you need to cut some cards from the origin deck. I suggest Celaeno Fragments, Higher Education, Prophesy, Unexpected Courage.

Playthrough

By equiped with Dream-Enhancing Serum, commiting Perception or Eureka!, we will have exceptional drawing efficiency. During the first about 5 or 6 rounds, we will almost draw the whole deck and equip all of the core assets. Then Amanda will start her show.

Use combination of Occult Lexicon and Ancient Stone to rip all the enemies getting in the way to pieces. Use Deduction to collect lots of clues. Use Pendant of the Queen to teleport to a far location or unengage from an power enemy. Resources are enough because we will frequently play Cryptic Writings or trigger Astounding Revelation and Three Aces.

In a multiplayer game, Amanda also can act alone to improve total efficiency of the team. Acting alone is more dangerous but Amanda can handle any situation. Even if she is in really abominable situation, she can escape safely by using Pendant of the Queen.

Shortage

In one game, we usually refresh deck for 3 or 4 times. That mean we will suffer a lot of terror. And some specific weakness can kill this deck totally. Like Paranoia, Overzealous or Amnesia.

Another disadvantage is Amanda is so efficient that her teammates may complain that Amanda steals their jobs. :p

I just used this deck to clear expert mode of Innsmouth campaign in 4-player game. This deck behaves quite stable and I never feel too much pressure. I usually own 10+ resources and 6+ cards in hand. The burst damage is quite a surprise. I solo killed some 12 health big guy in scenario 3 easily. And I have great cluing capability as well.

It is bit suffering for players who just begin to chanllenge expert mode. I hope this guide will help you or give you inspriation. This is the first time I write a guide so there should be something unclear. I am sorry for that and if you have problems or good ideas, please comment and discuss with me. Anyway, have fun!