Pete, Duke, & Yaotl get desperate (Standalone 9xp)

INTRO

This is a setup to maximize the effects of the 8 desperate cards (Desperate Search, Reckless Assault, Say Your Prayers, & Run For Your Life) which grant you a +4 to a skill when low on sanity.

HOW IT WORKS

You don't need to run either Forbidden Knowledge or St. Hubert's Key (to lower "Ashcan" Pete's sanity) to make this deck work. The key is "Ashcan" Pete ability to discard a card to ready an asset AND Yaotl's ability to increase a skill test with the top card of your discard pile.

Example: Exhaust Duke to investigate or fight. Then discard a desparate card (Like Reckless Assault) to ready Duke. Now Yaotl can give Duke a +4 to fight or better yet, Pete a +4 to fight after duke is exhausted again.

YAOTL

Yaotl is the MVP of this deck. You will likely want to mulligan everything for him. especially if you don't start with 2 or more mental trauma. If he gets defeated or discarded from a treachery card, we have Resourceful which allows you to recollect him from your discard pile. A Chance Encounter does the same thing, but as an added bonus can also bring back Duke!

SOAKING DAMAGE & HORROR

Leather Coat and Cherished Keepsake are for keeping damage and horror off you and your allies. Scavenging allows you to return them when destroyed.

CLUE COLLECTION

Duke or Yaotl with Desperate Search on the top of your discard pile are your best options.

Scavenging can fetch Gravedigger's Shovel which allows you to repeatively get 1 clue (with no skill test) for 2 resources and 2 actions. For some locations that's a decent trade and definitely not the worst option after Duke is defeated or exhausted. Drawn to the Flame is used for the same purpose.

OTHER CARDS

Dark Horse, Scrapper, and Fire Axe synergize very well. Shrivelling fills in the gaps when your resources are tapped and Duke has been discarded or exhausted. Inspiring Presence is boost a Duke action while also healing and re-ready him. It can be used on Yaotl too, but leaves a +1 skill card on the top of the discard pile.

UPGRADING

This deck doesn't require much experience. it needs two Yaotl (1xp each) and two A Chance Encounter (2xp each) you have all the cards you need. If running standalone 9xp mode, pick-up 1 Scrapper (3xp) for the last card.

If you wanted to start a campaign with this deck, I recommend replacing Yaotl with Peter Sylvestre and A Chance Encounter with Lucky!. Get Yaotl first, A Chance Encounter second, and Scrapper last. With the remaining XP save up for some bigger 5xp items like Timeworn Brand or Key of Ys, bigger versions of existing items like Bulletproof Vest or Elder Sign Amulet or expendable ones like Flare.

ALTERNATIVE CARDS

Drawn to the Flame & Gravedigger's Shovel can be changed out based on preference. some people like Magnifying Glass since it adds to both Duke's and "Ashcan" Pete's investigate skill tests. Eureka! is a decent choice to find helpful cards faster. Forbidden Knowledge or St. Hubert's Key are decent if you want to lower your sanity to trigger the desperate cards faster. Vicious Blow can take out a monster with an odd number of health faster.

PROS

• Perfect for low XP campaigns or Standalone adventures at 9xp!
• Can run well on low resources
• Able to soak a lot of damage and horror.
• No overlapping slots!
  • Ally = Yaotl
  • Hand 1 = Fire Axe
  • Hand 2 = Gravedigger's Shovel
  • Clothing = Leather Coat
  • Accessory = Cherished Keepsake
  • Arcane 1 = Shrivelling
• Able to get over big skill test hurdles.
• Many ways to fetch discarded cards.
• Many ways to cheat clues (no investigation tests required)

CONS

• Dependant on Allies.
• Dependant on Yaotl if you don't have 2 horror or mental trauma.
• Dependant on top card of discard pile.
• Unable to search deck for needed cards.