For large group, Nature of the Beast is good card. This card is compared to Drawn to the Flame in that it make the investigator a encounter card. Only 1 clue is discovered, but at any location by any investigator. This card provides remote discover tool. This card gives the fighter a clue to avoid clue spending encounter like Hunting Shadow. In addition, 3 encounter cards are given and 1 is resolved and the others are discarded. It means that discarded encounters are not drawn in this encounter cycle. In addition, chosen card is drawn by any investigator. For 3 or 4 player game, commonly 1 of 3 is easy to handle by one of the player.

When I used, I confront two annoying situations. The first is when the number of the encounter deck is less than 3. I had to choose two of one, or choose one of one. The other is when no clue exists at any revealed location. Then, I had to draw encounter card without advantage.

For small (1/2) group, this card is good with another meaning. Many users comments in this review, so check those if you're interested :)

0xp: Empirical Hypothesis is almost similar as Lucky Cigarette Case. Let's assume we always choose the criteria "You succeed at a test by 3 or more," since this criteria is more robust to trigger than the other. Then, Empirical Hypothesis is just non-slot LCC(0). Of course, we need 1 additional succeed and cannot trigger during just played round (since we choose the criteria at the start of the round). However, we can choose the timming of the draw. It's useful if we want to shuffle the thin deck just before resolving the weakness or shuffle empty deck before searching the deck. For easy/standard difficulty, 0xp version is still good and even hard difficulty I think good^a.

0xp is enough good, so we may not upgrade this card. The below part is related to the upgrade and just as reference.

3xp: I suggest the 3xp upgrade as Field Research + Peer Review. It's a note that the criteria is chosen at the start of the round, before the encounter cards are drawn during the mytho phase. In this reason, it's hard to guess which criteria is suitable. I think, Field Research + Peer Review is easy to trigger. With Field Research + Peer Review, Empirical Hypothesis is triggered if we're in the location with 3+ shroud and another investigator is in our location^b.

Another upgrade candidates:

• Alternative Hypothesis(4xp): For multiplayer, we have two great criteria: Field Research, 3+ succeed. One problem is that we check which one is first and choose one.
• Research Grant(2xp): If you have not enough money source, this upgrade gives backup plan. This upgrade converts 2 cards into 3 resources, which is common trade ratio in AHLCG. Considering 2xp upgrade, it's not efficient trade but fair trade (or backup plan).
• One criteria considering your group: If we upgrade all above, Empirical Hypothesis is now 9xp and we have Peer Review. For easlier triggering of Alternative Hypothesis, one additional criteria is good, IMO. For instance, Trial and Error with Mark. Independent Variable is also considerable as second criteria with Alternative Hypothesis.

I do not recommand Irrefutable Proof. Commonly, drawing 3 cards is valuable than discovering 1 clue^a.

a) I has not play expert difficulty. This may not true for expert difficulty.

b) Since the text states "when the chosen criteria is met", this ruling may be wrong. IMO, when is not meaning as triggering timing considering the movement of the unrevealed location.

I want to add a bit to the other review that you can choose enemy engaged with the other investigator to easily tear it off. Perhaps you can choose a better investigator to engage in the Upkeep Phase. It's a handy rescue card though you can't just gang on it yet this round. Parley ensure you can do it even if you are busy fighting something else, so having this card on hand gives the clue finder at the same location insurance that they will not have engagement and can continue working. (on top of 1 clue you just helped removing)

Very insightful reviews! One thing that might be added post-EotE is how Gené Beauregard can potentially neutralize this weakness (at least sometimes). This is a great Ally --- in Ursula Downs as in other seekers (and in rogues, of course) --- so purchasing/playing her ALSO for the purpose of coping with Call of the Unknown in no way feels like wasting XP/resources.

With our "Intrepid Explorer", you may move a clue around among connecting locations. How is this helpful in this specific case? As Ursula, it may so happen that you absolutely cannot afford to tank the 2 horror which your weakness threatens to inflict. If so, then you're forced to designate a location as the locus of Call of the Unknown that may be conveniently (and with success) investigated this round, even if this location doesn't have any clues (it's like scrambling for a successful investigate action, its only use being the negative one of not taking horror). Such a "dead" investigation nets you no clues whatsoever, thereby costing you tempo.

Enter Gené: even if the location you choose as the destination of the Call of the Unknown doesn't currently hold a clue, you may be able to move one there from a neighbouring location (which itself may be blocked by an enemy, a scenario effect, or have too high shroud, etc). If you manage to pick up this relocated clue, you've effectively mitigated the extent to which your signature weakness forces your hand (which ideally is holding a Magnifying Glass or some such helpful tool). Ideally --- though this might not happen often --- you thereby actually turn a disadvantage into tempo.

Is this tactic absolutely waterproof? Certainly not, as its success hinges on many moving parts; in general, signature weaknesses would be laughable if they could be circumvented reliably. But I do think Gené Beauregard may help out Ursula every once in a while, in this case as in others (they seem to be best buddies anyway).

EDIT: Just realized that Pocket Telescope may trivialize this weakness every once in a while. Having both the Telescope AND Gené in your play area significantly reduces the danger of losing tempo from this weakness.

The flavor text at the bottom is a simple substitution cypher. It can be decoded using the Agenda cards from the last scenario of the Scarlet Keys campaign.

The text says: "I can hear you too, Amina."

If you are interested, I've posted the decoded text from all the cards here: boardgamegeek.com