Custom Investigators and Investigator Cards

ninjadorg wrote:<Posted these on BGG to mixed reviews, lemme know what you think . . .>
Ever read the text on the back of a character sheet and thought - 'nice, now what does that have to do with the actual game?'

I have indeed. It's the basis of the plot in the example case book I've been working on for SE, if it ever gets finished. This is an interesting approach, as well. Not all missions have four locations, so don't worry about that.

Yeah, the layout is a bit shoddy and I couldn't get the Unique Item card backs out of Strange Eons.

I feel like I should understand what that means, but I don't. Can you phrase that in the form of a question?

Cheers,
Chris

Maybe I've not have updated my Strange Eons version, but the card back was showing a Common Item (instead of Unique Item) when I'd selected Mission, and I couldn't get it to change. How do you change the card back from Common to Unique?

ninjadorg wrote:Maybe I've not have updated my Strange Eons version, but the card back was showing a Common Item (instead of Unique Item) when I'd selected Mission, and I couldn't get it to change. How do you change the card back from Common to Unique?

I seem to remember that being a bug from a long time ago. If you are not using either v1.80b6 or the work-in-progress release of 2.00, I'd suggest upgrading and re-opening the card.

Otherwise, send me a PM and I'll investigate.

Cheers,
Chris

OK, that makes sense.
Tried updating but can't get the latest java working on my craphouse pc.
Will have to photoshop them or post on the eons to someone with a worthier machine . . .

ninjadorg wrote:Ever read the text on the back of a character sheet and thought - 'nice, now what does that have to do with the actual game?'

I like your idea to give the game some direction - not that I've felt the Story So Far sections were a waste. I like the mood set, and it helps in role playing for some.

What you've done is address a problem I had playing the game early on - sitting around thinking, "what do I do?" These missions also force some encounters at stable locations that typically no one visits.

ninjadorg wrote:And where the rewards are great, the sacrifices are too.

Some of these missions do seem like regular missions. Others seem quite powerful, but I think none unbalance the game on my first impression. You've play tested them, right? And, do I assume that these missions have a $3 value, but each Investigator starts with his own for free?

Here are my comments on the individual cards (criticism only - the other ones I think are good):

Mandy Thompson: This seems very strong - she is basically trading in two tomes for 5 clue tokens apiece, and in my games there is seldom a problem borrowing three unwanted tomes from your coworkers.

Michael McGlen: Depending on the GOO, his mission is useless, so I wonder if 30 toughness of monsters is too much. With his Sanity, I have trouble fighting with Michael.

Dexter Drake: Likewise, poor Dexter can be left with a rewardless mission.

Marie Lambeau: I read this as "Effect: removes most weak monsters from the cup, leaving you with only untimely death."

Sister Mary: That seems like a pretty good deal - 3 spells to bless everyone.

Jim Culver: It seems to me like he's sacrificing 6 clue tokens to receive (on average) what he could later trade for 2 over the course of 3 more turns at the Science Building.

Darrel Simmons: I worry that when he shares his ability with everyone else, he ceases to be special.

Harvey Walters: The Terror Track never decreases, isn't that right?

Generally, I really like what you're doing here.

Amazing stuff, keep it coming!
My first post, my first request: would it be possible for you to post the .eon files besides the jpg?
I'd love to translate some of the investigators/cards/gods in italian and having the .eon files would mean a much simpler edit for me and everyone who wishes to do so

You could upload to rapidshare or depositfiles or any other similiar service of your choice and we could stick these links in the board.
Think about it and thanks anyway

And this is my last new Investigator review for a while. It's harder now to get a group together, so I'm trying out Millmaster's Arkham Campaign Mode with the wife.

"Ace" Lionheart, Shoppe Evaluator (posted by MillMaster)

This investigator needs more work to even him out, in my opinion, as much as he needs a story to bring him into the game.

Ace's abysmal Lore (0/0/1/2) and his starting location at the hospital made for an amusing image of this poor guy. But don't feel too badly for him. His fantastic Will and Experimental Test ability make him an unbelievable fighter, getting double the dice for any weapon he doesn't mind throwing away at the end of the turn. This power needs to be better defined, or he could be used to toss +16 sticks of Dynamite, or use a +12 Tommy Gun on every monster in his location, or even make an Enchanted Blade a +8 magic weapon for the turn.

I would suggest limiting this to firearms, or at least non-single-use Common Items. Only allow the weapon to survive for 1 combat, or even a single use, before it explodes - remember Powder of Ibn-Ghazi causes the loss of 1 Sanity, and that's only for a single-use +9 magic weapon. Finally, limit this ability to one weapon a turn.

Father Wilhelm, the Vicar (posted by Geki)

This investigator is a fine addition to my collection; he is well rounded and with a nice story.

Possessions and skills all seem good. The God Is My Shepherd ability seems pretty good - avoiding red encounters is a nice divine gift - but I found it a little amusing that he's on his own in Arkham, Yuggoth, Celeano and the City of the Great Race. I actually ended up targeting Plateau of Leng and Abyss to maximize this ability. Divine Favour is great to have, and I think the cost of 2 Clue tokens is fine - otherwise it's a lot easier to have everyone running around, permanently Blessed.

Chester Carpenter, the Anthropologist (posted by DrGrant)

This is another good addition to your Investigator deck - we greatly enjoyed playing with Chester.

Chester seems to start with a lot of equipment and cash (but I'm sure it all balances out in the Strange Eons creator) and an amazing Lore. All of this, and his special abilities, really do make him feel like a teacher. The Pedagogy ability let's him impart knowledge to others (i.e. give away Clue tokens), and he can trade in Clues for cash at the Admin Building.

Ann Sanders, the Housewife (Strange Eons by Thelric)

I like the idea of a superstitious housewife, and I imagine her purse stuffed with protective charms that give her powers over the unearthly (most of then just give an odd smell).

Her starting Possessions are unassuming; her skills are average; her Stamina and Sanity are both 5 - perhaps your average, unassuming housewife, yes? Under the surface, though, her Counterspells make her special - a little like Prof. Armatige and Eric Colt combined.

Here are a couple characters of my own making (thanks to Thelric's Strange Eons).

Lucas actually comes up "unbalanced" because I gave him a +1 focus bonus in light of his negative ability (Terrifying Realization). He is based on a Lovecraft character - I forget the story title.

Wang is the one I actually fear to be unbalanced, as his Energy Dissipation ability provides may provide an easy seal (1 in 11 chance you get a seal right off the bat). The Reading the Dragon Lines ability also has some powerful uses combined with Kate's flux stabilizer. Oh, and I nearly forgot to mention, I penalized him 1 focus and $2 for all his geomantic mojo.

Feedback Appreciated