Kate's congress (of the Keys) world tour!

So, I want to play Kate in The Scarlet Keys campaign and I've been cooking this. My BF is playing a flexy Wilson with non ammo weapon tools for consistency.

Since we both are playing characters that love Tool cards and we only have one collection, I won't be using Tinker, Tool Belt and Fingerprint Kit.

I've come up with this level 0 deck that should work (I hope) trying to take advantage of Flux Stabilizer to beat high shroud values, trying to use the precise results science tech archetype and also trying new and shiny stupid cards like Ravenous Myconid. Aetheric Current events are very good, but not reliable enough to build around them IMO. I'll be happy when I draw and play them since they'll keep Failed Experiment disaster horror party in check.

THE ASSETS:

• Tools, tools and tools: If I remember correctly, TSK isn't a campaign that requires you to get an abnoxious amount of clues, but more about getting tested HARD because of the inmense shroud values in locations. Relying in assets with limited uses can prove to be a disaster since you will be doing a lot (and I mean A LOT) of tests to reveal Concealed minicards. Magnifying Glass will get Kate to 5 fast and cheap, Hawk-Eye Folding Camera should help me to get bigger numbers and more sanity just by investigating during later stages of a scenario and Microscope will get evidences just for evading succesfully in order to reveal Concealed minicards, allowing me to get a really big investigation check in no time in case I need to clean a location (EDIT 14/11/2024: Evading for revealing a Concealed minicard doesn't fuel the Microscope, as a comment said. It is still a good card and I should get plenty of oportunities to get evidences for big clue getting, but Fingerprint Kit is as good as an option in this campaign because you will use it only when clue getting is needed, not for Concealed minicards). Chemistry Set exists and by itself it may pay ocasionally 2 resources (success by 0) or a card (success by 2). When I can buy Steady-Handed, Chemistry Set will be more reliable.

• Dr. Charles West III wasn't my first pick, but I needed the extra tool-hand slot. I wanted to run Jeremiah Kirby since I wanted to draw HARD, but I think I have enough card draw and then I read Charles card again and I remembered that his proc can reveal a Concealed card! I will be buying Steady-Handed ASAP to get this done as many times as I can.

• I'm trying again Empirical Hypothesis. Last time I played it it didn't pay out, not because it was bad, but because it was card draw I didn't need! This time, it should work (i hope), and getting upgrades like Peer Review to help Wilson and Irrefutable Proof to reveal minicards just by a action sounds good.

• Ravenous Myconid EXP versions are WILD. I want to try the Carnivore enemy killing version! I'll decide when I buy the next version of this card, depending of what the party is lacking.

THE EVENTS:

• Crack the Case and Burning the Midnight Oil for money. This deck isn't expensive and Chemistry Set will pay a lot more when I've purchased Steady Handed, so maybe I change one of these in the future.

• The massive shrouds of this campaigns make Map the Area a good card for this campaign. Having this card in this deck makes me consider to buy in the future Survival Technique and Shortcut.

• Logical Reasoning should help me deal with Failed Experiment. Kate's signature weakness can kill you, so this card should help mitigate a massive 3-5 horror points you can suffer because of this.

• "I've got a plan!" for ocasional combat. I don't know if it'll get out of the deck because it is the only real way this deck will help my Guardian when we have to beat the crap out of the multiple Elite enemies.

THE SKILLS:

• Deduction for getting extra clues when needed, Eureka! and Perception for card draw and the 30th slot is a copy of Well-Funded. Maybe I add the second copy in the future since it looks good and it can save me from a hard check, but I want to try it first.

MOVING FORWARD:

Steady-Handed is SO GOOD here I think of using In the Thick of It to get the extra EXP. If not, I'll buy it ASAP after the first scenario. I run Logical Reasoning and Steady-Handed also heals horror by itself, so I'm kinda inclined to do it, but because of how brutal is Failed Experiment I'm scared to do it. What would you do?

Microscope will be the most reliable way to clean clues from locations in this deck. Using 3 evidences will allow Kate to smash any shroud.

I want to try the man eating Ravenous Myconid. I don't know if it will be good in TSK, but I find this card bonkers, and since the draw of this deck is quite good I should be seeing this card in every scenario.

WHAT'S ON MY SIDE DECK?

• PROTECTION: If damage proves to be a problem, I'd gladly add Bizarre Diagnosis in my deck, or maybe my Guardian can add healing cards in their deck. Orphic Theory should protect us from annoying Treacheries that stays in play like Frozen in Fear, Locked Door, Obscuring Fog or other TSK treacheries I don't remember RN. I'd think about adding these cards if this issues prove to be a problem in our party.

• Hand-Eye Coordination will get me doing big Microscope investigation checks using only a single action and Chemistry Set investigations checks actionless.

• MORE SCIENCE: Lab Coat and Steady-Handed are the cards that will guarantee me the precise results I need to get benefits from Chemistry Set, Dr. Charles West III and even Empirical Hypothesis.

• Survival Technique is good if I plan to abuse the hell out from Map the Area. Since I'll be picking cards from the scenario, Shortcut gets A LOT of value too, helping me and my Guardian to get faster to places.

This deck seems functional enough, so I hope TSK doesn't destroy us!