Coshuda · 61
After reading The Forbidden Visions of Lucius Galloway (good read when you get the chance), I knew I was gonna want to play him first among the Drowned City investigators. This is a deck modified off one I am running through The Drowned City campaign currently. The goal was to get an infinite combo going that didn't feel like it simply broke the game. Set up loop of The Necronomicon via Library Pass and Scroll of Secrets to pull it back every turn. All at lightning speed! Ariadne's Twine will keep the Scroll/Eon Chart stocked. With Truth from Fiction for a little redundancy for secrets, but don't be afraid to pitch it readily for the stat boosts.
With how quickly you get through the deck it is actually fairly reliable to hit Memories of Another Life beyond our combo pieces. While it being the most efficient use of XP is debatable, it is really fun, leading to some really memorable plays. Not wanting to slow the game unduly down the side deck is prepped and ready with a greatest hits of cards for a variety of situations. Bank Job, Thorough Inquiry, Extensive Research all being strong options. For perspective if Unexpected Courage gave you 8 resources for anyone at your location on a successful test then the 5 XP seems more reasonable. But don't sleep on Toe to Toe for guaranteed 2 damage with no test, since the enemy attack is part of the cost you ignore.
If the infinite book combo doesn't come together, things like Eon Chart, Honed Instinct, Swift Reflexes, Quick Thinking, plus a 1/5 of the deck being fast cards mean you will be running above average actions per turn and can flex as the scenario/team needs. I have found Lucius to be a remarkably efficient investigator overall with the ability to manage an enemy while gaining a clue. Shortcut, Swift Reflexes, and Honed Instinct allow for good coordination with the team to take/give some actions out of regular turn order.
Laboratory Assistant and Medical Student are nice soak, and both are excellent with Hit and Run. Uncanny Specimen is a nice get out of jail free card for scenarios with a particularly nasty symbol token. Don't forget that is any test at your location, so help out the team too! Mouse Mask gives a bit of Mythos protection on the mind tests, but more importantly that and the Uncanny Specimen are throw away assets if you get hit with a treachery that wants to take out your combo pieces.
The deck only wants 19 (plus 3 ITTOI) XP to keep it to one RBW for standalone. If you wanted to drop ITTOI go lower level Emergency Cache and drop the upgrade on Honed Instinct.* That said the ability for the Cache to replace itself when you need to draw every combo piece you can is quite nice. Also the upgrade to be able to play Honed Instinct in response to enemies engaging gives some much needed insurance against Hunter enemies and ones that you pull during Mythos phase. Simply evade them on the spot and get a clue for your efforts! The two trauma may cause some to shy away, but it really let's the deck run just a bit smoother and can make all the difference.
All in all a very fun deck to pilot, and a flexible one to boot. Give it a go and let me know what you think!
*So after writing all this up I realized that Necronomicon was tabooed to cost 3XP extra, so the upgrade to Emergency Cache and Honed Instinct were dropped. Which while sad, I still feel my views on them were valid.