At risk of being a hot take merchant, this is one of the greatest cards ever printed. You need at least one other player before it brings enough value to merit +3XP from its previous version. But it’s incredible at 3+ players. In particular, with 3 players, you’re getting nearly the equivalent of an extra turn of tempo + a Stand Together’s worth of resources. The effect is slightly diluted in 4p because you have more actions across the team to begin with, but it’s still incredible.
I play a lot of multihanded solo, and I’ve reached the point where I literally don’t build teams without this + Stick to the Plan access anymore. And even if my Guardian is my main fighter, I’d rather invest the first 10 XP in that combo than fully upgrading Runic Axe or buying two Cyclopean Hammer. Tempo gain snowballs hard in this game, and it’s not hard to make up the lost tempo from an inferior weapon with this much of a head start. Plus, this gives tempo to your proactive win-the-game parts of the team instead of investing it in your reactive deal-with-the-monster part.
It pains me that Carolyn Fern can’t take this card. What I’d give to bump her deckbuilding up to Guardian 4…