Roland through Dunwich, play and analysis - Episode 1: 1-B

Introduction:

This is my first attempt at a complete playthrough of The Dunwich Legacy campaign which I will annotate and analyze to the best of my ability. There are a few reasons for why I am posting this, none of which have to do with any sublime deck building insights on my part nor any delusions of flawless execution of strategy or perfect play, quite the opposite. My goal is quite simply to survive the journey through Dunwich. More so, it is to endure or perhaps even enjoy the misery and misfortune that is bound to befall Roland on his ill fated adventure. Hopefully I will learn a thing or two from Roland's inevitable struggles and likely demise.

This account of Roland's travels is primarily for my own amusement and education, but any comments, questions or criticisms are more than welcome as long as they are constructive.

Disclaimer: I have played the introductory scenarios of Dunwich a few times, The Miskatonic Museum and The Essex County Express once each, and from Blood on the Altar I will be going in blind.

The House Always Wins. Scenario 1-B.

Starting hand initial draw (mulliganed the italicized):.

Art Student, .45 Automatic, Calling in Favors, Evidence!, Magnifying Glass

Redraw:

Unexpected Courage, Evidence!, Emergency Cache

Turn 1:

1. Play .45 Automatic (1 Resource)
2. Play Emergency Cache (4 Resources)
3. Draw: Art Student

Clover Club Pit Boss moves to La Bella Luna

Upkeep: Gain 1 Resource (5 Resources). Draw: Haunted

Turn 2:

Mythos: Doom +1 (1 in play). Draw: Cursed Luck

1. Activate Haunted
2. Activate Haunted Discard
3. Draw: Laboratory Assistant

Upkeep: Gain 1 Resource (6 Resources). Draw: .45 Automatic

Turn 3:

Mythos: Doom +1 (2 in play) Draw: Arousing Suspicions Doom +1 on Clover Club Pit Boss (3 in play)

1. Move to Clover Club Lounge
2. Activate. Discard Laboratory Assistant (4 Resources)
3. Gain 1 Resource (5 Resources)

Clover Club Pit Boss moves to Clover Club Lounge

Upkeep: Gain 1 Resource (6 Resources). Draw: Calling in Favors

Thoughts:

First, I did not read Clover Club Lounge thoroughly and incorrectly assumed it cost 2 resources in addition to the discard.

Second, selecting which ally to discard felt like the first real decision of the game. My first instinct was to discard Art Student thinking that I would not need more clue gathering and that the card draw of Laboratory Assistant might put me in a position to earn more exp. In the end I decided that I had already spent quite a lot of time in the early stages and my setup of an equipped weapon and a spare in hand meant that the redundancy of a second Art Student was the safer choice.

Turn 4:

Mythos: Doom +1 (4 in play) the Agenda advances. Clover Club Pit Boss loses aloof and engages. Draw: Swarm of Rats engages

1. Activate .45 Automatic (3 ammo) Fight Clover Club Pit Boss. Commit Unexpected Courage. Draw '-2', succeed by 1. Discard Cursed Luck
2. Activate .45 Automatic (2 ammo) Fight Clover Club Pit Boss. Draw 'Skull', succeed by 0. Clover Club Pit Boss dies.
3. Fight Swarm of Rats. Draw '-2' Swarm of Rats dies.

Upkeep: Gain 1 Resource (7 Resources). Draw: Vicious Blow

Turn 5:

Mythos: Doom +1 (1 in play). Draw: Arousing Suspicions (5 Resources)

1. Move to Clover Club Bar
2. Activate. Have a drink. Draw: Working a Hunch, Roland's .38 Special (3 Resources) (Clues 4, Act advances).
3. Move to Clover Club Cardroom

Upkeep: Gain 1 Resource (4 Resources). Draw: Guts. Discard: .45 Automatic

Turn 6:

Mythos: Doom +1 (2 in play). Draw: Arousing Suspicions (2 Resources)

1. Move to Darkened Hall
2. Move to VIP Area Play Fast Working a Hunch (1 Clue) (0 Resources)
3. Move to Darkened Hall

Upkeep: Gain 1 Resource (1 Resource). Draw: Emergency Cache

Turn 7:

Mythos: Doom +1 (3 in play) Agenda Advances. Spawn Servant of the Lurker. Draw: Twist of Fate ('-3', 1 damage).

1. Move to Art Gallery
2. Play Emergency Cache (4 Resources)
3. Play Roland's .38 Special (1 Resource)

Servant of the Lurker moves to Clover Club Cardroom

Upkeep: Gain 1 Resource (2 Resources). Draw: Preposterous Sketches

Thoughts:

After a brief evaluation I decide that I am in a fairly decent position to attempt killing Servant of the Lurker. My aim is to take the fight at a location with a clue and I do not like the idea of not moving for a few turns so I set up the needed items this turn and prepare for the fight at Back Alley

Turn 8:

Mythos: Doom +1 (1 in play) Draw: Something in the Drink, surge Rotting Remains. Commit Guts. Draw 'Skull', succeed by 0. Draw: Evidence!.

1. Lost action
2. Play Art Student (2 Clues) (0 resources)
3. Move to Darkened Hall

Servant of the Lurker moves to Darkened Hall, engages and attacks (Art Student takes 1 damage 2 horror, 1 damage on Roland). Discard Working a Hunch, Magnifying Glass

Upkeep: Gain 1 Resource (1). Draw: Deduction

Thoughts:

Something in the Drink forced me to reevaluate. I had already taken the clue from Art Gallery so the choice to take the fight with a +3 modifier seemed lost. With that in mind I decided to let the first attack determine the course, if I could connect with Vicious Blow I could gamble for 1 more success, otherwise I might be forced into Resigning almost immediately. It is amazing how one lost action made what I judged to be a reasonably safe situation incredibly precarious.

Turn 9:

Mythos: Doom +1 (2 in play) Draw: Arousing Suspicions (0 Resources)

1. Activate .45 Automatic (1 ammo) Fight Servant of the Lurker. Commit Vicious Blow. Draw '-1', succeed by 1, (3 damage on Servant of the Lurker)
2. Activate .45 Automatic (0 ammo) Fight Servant of the Lurker. Draw '-3', failed.
3. Activate Roland's .38 Special (3 ammo) Fight Servant of the Lurker. Draw '-2', failed.

Servant of the Lurker attacks (3 damage, 2 horror on Roland). Discard Magnifying Glass, Unexpected Courage

Upkeep: Gain 1 Resource (1 Resource). Draw: Beat Cop

Thoughts:

After connecting the 3 damage I felt committed to seeing it through, abomination be damned, enough bullets will surely see me through to Dr. Francis Morgan!

Turn 10:

Mythos: Doom +1 (3 in play). Draw: Swarm of Rats

1. Activate Roland's .38 Special (2 ammo) Fight Servant of the Lurker. Commit Beat Cop. Draw '-2', succeed by 0. (5 damage on Servant of the Lurker) dies.
2. Fight Swarm of Rats. Draw '-1' dies.
3. Move to Back Alley

Upkeep: Gain 1 Resource (2 Resources). Draw: Laboratory Assistant

Turn 11:

Mythos: Doom +1 (4 in play). Draw Cursed Luck

1. Play Art Student (4 Clues) (0 resources)
2. Move to Darkened Hall
3. Move to VIP Area Act advances.

Upkeep: Gain 1 Resource (1 Resource). Draw: Machete

Turn 12:

Mythos: Doom +1 (5 in play). Draw Swarm of Rats

1. Parley with Dr. Francis Morgan. Commit Preposterous Sketches. Draw '-2', failed. 1 damage from Swarm of Rats (4 damage on Roland).
2. Parley with Dr. Francis Morgan. Draw '-2', failed. 1 damage from Swarm of Rats (5 damage on Roland).
3. Parley with Dr. Francis Morgan. Draw '+1', succeeded by 0. Take control of Dr. Francis Morgan. Discard Cursed Luck. 1 damage from Swarm of Rats (6 damage on Roland).

Upkeep: Gain 1 Resource (2 Resources). Draw: Preposterous Sketches

Thoughts: First, I forgot that Parley actions do not trigger attacks of opportunity.

Second, it truly seemed as if saving Dr. Francis Morgan was no longer a realistic goal, but Roland steeled himself to attempt to wake Dr. Francis Morgan one last time, and if need be, abandon him to his grisly fate. Luck, and I do mean luck, nothing else, prevailed and Roland carefully plotted the final mad dash to the exit.

Turn 13:

Mythos: Doom +1 (6 in play). Draw: Conglomeration of Spheres

1. Move to Darkened Hall. Swarm of Rats and Conglomeration of Spheres attack (7 damage, 1 horror on Roland) (1 damage on Dr. Francis Morgan)
2. Move to Back Alley. Swarm of Rats and Conglomeration of Spheres attack (8 damage, 2 horror on Roland) (2 damage on Dr. Francis Morgan)
3. Resign!

Resolution:

O'banion gang has a bone to pick with the investigators

The investigators rescued Dr. Francis Morgan. *(Added to deck)

5 victory points (Servant of the Lurker, Clover Club Pit Boss, VIP Area, Art Gallery, Back Alley)

Final thoughts:

Well that was an experience! I would be hard pressed to come up with a more cinematic ending than Roland's wild scramble for the exit which nearly spiraled out of control at the very end. The decision to go for the Lurker almost turned out to be a fatal one, only Roland's fortitude and dumb luck allowed me to secure Dr. Francis Morgan.

In regards to the deck itself, I found it to be fairly functional. There were two main areas in which I thought it was a bit lacking, primarily the economy and being able to boost skill checks reliably, I'll keep this in mind when I upgrade.

To be continued ...