Dream Diary
Dreams of a Child

Asset. Hand

Item. Tome. Charm.

Cost: 2. XP: 3.

Seeker

Researched.

While you have at least 8 cards in hand, your Essence of the Dream gains .

When your turn begins: Search your bonded cards for Essence of the Dream and add it to your hand.

Germán Nóbile
Point of No Return #238.
Dream Diary

FAQs

(from the official FAQ or responses to the official rules question form)
  • NB: ArkhamDB now incorporates errata from the Arkham Horror FAQ in its card text, so the ArkhamDB text and the card image above differ, as the ArkhamDB text has been edited to contain this erratum (updated August 2022): Erratum: The purchase restriction on this card should be replaced with the keyword: "Researched." - FAQ, v.2.0, August 2022
Last updated

Reviews

This looks fantastic for Minh Thi Phan with Analytical Mind.

Not only is Minh more likely to interpret the dreams successfully over the course of a scenario (with the need to over-commit for The King in Yellow), Minh can effectively give a +2-5 (possibly +6/7 with Grisly Totem (3)) boost to any skill test for any investigator each round, with greater flexibility over turn order as well as the option to save it for the next round.
With Dream-Enhancing Serum, Minh should easily be able to reach and hold 8+ cards in her hand each round.
Unfortunately, it will take up one of her hand slots which is generally reserved for Ancient Stone (4) and The King in Yellow, albeit the latter being involuntary.
I can also see this doing well in a Daisy Walker deck.

Any other suggestions on who else it would be good with?

unremb · 252
Mandy seems like a pretty solid pick as well since she just searches double. Daisy and Minh are my top picks, but it is funny that they both have hand slot weaknesses. — StyxTBeuford · 12987
The other version that triggers off a shroud 4 location would work brilliantly with the command centre version of Minh. She can set up shop on a high shroud location and then fire off a +5 boost anywhere on the map. — Sassenach · 179
@Sassenach you're right! — unremb · 252
@StyxTBeuford for Mandy's ability to double search, do you mean to fill her hand quickly to 8+ cards? cos you can't use it for bonded cards. — unremb · 252
Yes I mean it in regards to filling her hand fast. — StyxTBeuford · 12987
@StyxTBeuford makes sense. Mandy also has limited use for her Arcane slots so can probably squeeze in the Dream-enhancing serum. — unremb · 252
How many Essence of Dreams can you have? If you get one on a turn, and don't use it, does it last in your hand until the next turn, joined by yet another copy? — Phelpsb83 · 208
You're limited to one copy. Just make sure you use it every turn and then it pops right back at the start of the next. — Sassenach · 179
What if I have two copies of Dream Diary in play? — Phelpsb83 · 208
You still just get the one copy. If they’re different upgrades they’ll apply their bonuses to the same single Essence. — StyxTBeuford · 12987
Hand slot limitations? Sounds like a job for Arcane Enlightenment (from the upcoming Harvey Walters Deck), also gives you +1 hand size limit. I feel like that might end up being a good card with all of the tome stuff that's been teased recently. — Zinjanthropus · 227
I'm planning on using this as part of my Lucid Dreaming Mandy Rouge deck. Dream Enhancing Serum + Lucid Dreaming + Mandy's On-Card Special + having three different sets of Myriad cards (segment of Onyx, Three Aces, and Easy Mark) = Staying above 8 cards. I’m looking forward to trying it out! — PanicMoon · 2
That FAQ entry really needs to be put in these card entry pages because it's quite surprising you can't have at least one bonded card per copy. — Timlagor · 5
Amanda Sharpe can use this every other turn under her. It also helps keeping her hand big, as you then keep the second draw while using the 4 wild Essence. — Kidaf · 6
If I control two copys of dreams of a child does essence of dreams has ?? ?? ?? icons? — Unterberg84 · 1

This card is insane with Amanda, I always take 2 copys, no matter what.

It gives you a free card every turn. A card that she can commit under her, or unto test at her leisure. She can't commit it under her unless she starts the investigation phase with it, but it's still really good.

When I build with this card, I run it with charisma,so I can have both Dr. Milan and laboratory assistant, And arcane enlightenment, so I have a max hand size of 11, and 2 free hand slots for mag. glass. It works really well when it's the mythos phase, and you come across a test you aren't prepared for, commit a ???? Essence, pass that test, and watch with glee as it returns to your hand when your next turn starts.

Stupid bonkers, I love it.

Therealestize · 69
You can take two books, but you can only ever have 1 copy of the bonded "Essense" card per investigator. I'd rather save my XP. It is not like Amanda has card draw issues anyway, I normally cycle an Amanda deck 2 or 3 times a scenario so I rarely have trouble without it. She makes a self-milling deck easily with the strong synergy with Dream Enchancing Serum. — Antiundead · 29