Neutral
Event

Supply. Double.

Cost: 3.
Test Icons:

As an additional cost to play Refine, spend an action.

Immediately mark a checkbox on an upgrade sheet for a customizable card you own, even if it is not in play.

Max once per game for each investigator.

Drazenka Kimpel
The Scarlet Keys Investigator Expansion #121.
No image
Reviews

This is a fantastic card if you are using custom cards.

While it seems extremely taxing at 3r, a card, and being a double for a mere 1 XP, its important to remember that the main way you get XP in this game is clearing victory locations or enemies, and mostly locations. In that context, is that a bad price?

No, not at all, its fantastic. Because this gives 1 XP for the player using it, and costs only the player using it actions and resources, you can compare it to how much it would cost you to get an extra victory point in a true solo game: You need to move into and out of a location that is otherwise superfluous, and need to pass 2-3 investigation tests or discover 2-3 clues, often times facing some sort of negative location effect. That is, in almost all cases, going to cost you MUCH more than 2 actions, a card, and 3 resources. Specific seekers might be able to get a VP for less with double pathfinder, assuming on their turn they didn't want to move anyway and were just 'popping in' to a location, investigating twice, and popping out, but in practice you probably are still spending time and energy in 99% of decks.

So when you look at it that way, its a fantastic investment of actions to VP, in multiplayer or solo, regardless of how many people run it, because it scales more aggressively for you than VP locations. You just play it during a turn your partially moving to a new location or any other 'administrative' turn where the team needs to just shuffle about and now your deck is stronger, which makes future scenarios easier, which gives you more time to get XP, which makes playing this card easier.

The other obvious benefit is that the XP comes from the aether, which matters if you are doing well and playing strong decks that tend to clear VP most or all of the VP of a scenario with some time to spare. At some point you can't get anymore XP from a scenario no matter how well you do, and Refine increases that max XP by 1, at least for you.

Also of important note is that you definitely should focus on VP locations over this card if your the cluever, because those pay out to the team. But it is very rare for you to literally not have 2 spare actions in the game as a cluever to cram in at some point. If you have custom cards and spare deck slots, definitely run this card for at least the first few scenarios.

dezzmont · 168
You can also look at this way: — tokeeto · 27
Trying again... You can look at it this way: In 4P, it often takes 8 clues to gain 1 victory. 1victory is worth 4xp thanks to player count. That means that you need, on average 2 clues to gain 1 xp. This card takes 2 actions and 3 resources, which could've been spent on investigate, investigate, and play Working a Hunch. This has the benefit of also progressing the game. — tokeeto · 27

I still can’t really figure out if this card is good or not. Scarlet Keys is extremely stingy with XP so far — I’ve played three scenarios and gotten a total of 5 XP. Yet, I’ve also taken Down the Rabbit Hole and so my customizable cards already have a total of 7 checkboxes checked, which is nice. Still, two actions and three resources is expensive, and it feels really bad to tell my teammates, “Hey, I’m gonna move once this turn and then give myself an XP.”

thadcar · 3
It’s a neutral card so everyone in your team can use it. Like delve too deep it’s a long the me investment. You need to find the right moment to use it without risk losing the scenario — Django · 4489
Posting an independent review that goes more in depth, but its good! Think of it like investigating twice in solo to clear a 2 clue per investigator VP location with a 3xp tax to do it testless and create the location from nothing. — dezzmont · 168

hey just noticed you can put this under Stick to the Plan. Nice to be able to reduce to one of these in a deck if you're going Carson (or whomever) upgrade path on Customizable cards. 200 characters here I come.

Krysmopompas · 302
Another one of these "I read, what trait a card has, and now I must come up with 200 characters to write a review" reviews. "Refine" might be good under SttP, because you can play it only once per game, but would rather put 2 copies in your deck for consistency otherwise. On the other hand, XP excelleration is at it's best in the early stage of a campaign, and SttP costs 6 XP, so you likely will only profit from this combo for a few scenarios. Unless you are parallel Roland with "In the Thick of It", it will take you at least a scenario or two until you get SttP, and mid- to late campaign you will likely cut "Refine". — Susumu · 295
I would also cut it likely quite early, compared to a D2D, because 3 resources and 2 actions is quite expensive for 1 XP for 1 investigator. — Susumu · 295
Do you still spend xp for this effect? Can you get upgrades with this that the owner does not qualify for? — Django · 4489
Of course not. What makes you believe either, Django? It is a "free" (XP wise) check on your card during the game, but the card(s) imediately might rise in level, once you do that. And deck building rules have to be regarded at any time. So you can never tick an 11th box, making the cards level 6. (Or a 9th, if you are restricted to level 4 for that card. Or even a 1st, if you are Carolyn with "Runic Axe".) — Susumu · 295
I havent opened my copy of TSK yet so i don't know the exact upgrade rules. This card doesn't say that checking the box needs to be legal. Might be similar you ignore any costs when you "put an asset into play" instead of playing it. Though it would be very OP if anyone could add any upgarde card to their deck with versatile and then upgarde it with with refine. — Django · 4489
Even if you would read it that way: as soon, as you check a box, it is not a level 0 card anymore, it is level 1. So if you can't have the card at level 1, you are violating the deckbuilding options, and have to remove the card. — Susumu · 295
You’re welcome, @Susumu! Happy playing! — Krysmopompas · 302
Так а эта карта что два действия тратит? — Zanofar · 1

This card is not so fit for cluever in my opinion. According to my practical run they barely have free time for some DIY hobby.

I just finished EotE. I went greedy and got 2 copies of Refine on most of the scenarios. And manage to only land 2 Refine played throughout unskip EotE. Moreover, I felt some small sense of guilt each time I played it. Some of investigator-mate even upgrade leaning a bit toward clue getting afterward.

I should notice the fact earlier but sometime you just learn from a card. Cluever is generally busier. If you are fighter probably got some peaceful time when enemy not spawn.

Pawley · 21