If you need more arcane slots in a resource hungry build, the economy of this card is game changing. For just 1 resource and half an XP per slot, you can necro 2 extra arcane slots out of whatever monsters you can stuff into this interdimensional jar. It's as if those "pickle me" Elmos they sell at the flea market filled you with eldritch power, and occasionally let you stop an attack in its tracks as a failsafe.

I don't know exactly what you need all those cheap arcane spaces for, but I bet you know a mystic who wants them!

For comparison, here are your other options for getting another arcane slot:

• Sign Magick Costs 3 resources. New slot is limited to holding Spells and Rituals. FAST.
• Familiar Spirit Ally. Only costs 1, but takes up the ally slot and offers minimal other benefits. New slot is limited to holding Spells.
• Dragon Pole. Weapon. Costs 3, and takes up both hands slots.
• Book of Shadows Costs 3xp and 4 resources. Takes a hand slot. Adds a charge to spells.
• THE HIEROPHANT · V Costs 3 resources and 3xp per slot. Also lets you share slots between accessories and arcane. Takes the tarot slot.

I think this card is definitely worth a second look with the new Sin-Eater card. You can now use this once per turn, get the doom on Sin Eater and then clear it in a couple of turns before doom advances.

I think even then it's not super necessary on most Mystics and spending 9XP on the combo is a lot but I can see the argument on hard or expert where you want a reliable 3+ will power on tests.

I want to say this card is better now that Research Notes lets you "cheat" the timing window. You can drop a clue on shroud 4+ location through Quick Study or Dr. William T. Maleson, test at 0 to pick it back up, then discover 2 clues somewhere else. At 4 resources this isn't a cheap combo, and you've still spent an action, but I think this has some uses in scenarios where locations aren't easy to move between.

For example, this is one of the few cards that can make getting the clues off Snake Pit easy in FA. 4 Resources for 2 clues is a hefty price, but 4 resources to get 2 clues testless while avoiding 3 fight or evade actions (and the threat of Poisoned) does seem pretty substantial. It is probably still sub-optimal in standard scenarios where you are free to move around the board, but I think this could do wonders in exploration-based scenarios or the Essex County Express where you can be slowed down by poor location placement.

I enjoy this thing greatly.

The large investigation boost can be used to let a less than stellar base beat mid level locations routinely or power through low difficulty spots and harness the card draw.

On the other hand it can synergize with folks like Ursula Downs or Rex Murphy, 4 character who want to be clueving but might be spending a lot of actions on other stuff like evading and moving, this will help those mid-hight stats beat big locations while simultaneously help you assemble your combo pieces.

Notably, the book character Daisy Walker has a funny way of being too busy with her book engine to actually properly engage as a cluever, handing her this specific book means that she get's to do her book thing but also progress the map a lot faster.

You -could- combo this with secret-mechanics like Ariadne's Twine but this is less a destination for secrets than it is a target of opportunity in a secrets based deck.

As the one who is currently playing Carson with Seeker sub-class... Don't make my mistakes, Survivor is a correct choice.

At a Crossroads is crazy good for him. Playing it on demand with Resourceful? Yes, please. Nature of the Beast should also work just fine. All of these along with other survivor staples like Take Heart create a good card draw engine which Carson really needs.