"Ashcan" Pete - Dunwich Campaign

After the Core Set Campaign, we start the adventure in Dunwich! "Ashcan" Pete is paired with Jenny Barnes and Agnes Baker.

CAMPAIGN DIARY ( may contain spoilers, go to the end for DECK THOGHTS ) :

FIRST SCENARIO: "EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY"( R2, 4XP )

After a slow start by Yithian Observer and Wizard of Yog-Sothoth to defeat in the early rounds thanks to Duke i was able to run, and discover clues into whole scenario while Jenny supporting me also thanks to Leo De Luca Which was a precious resource. Despite of all the discarded cards we managed the game quiet. The Experiment appears but since we are at Dormitories we decided to end with this objective.

SECOND SCENARIO: "THE HOUSE ALWAYS WINS" ( R3, 5XP )

This was a very special scenario, because except for the VIP area location there are not clues and in order to get them, it is necessary to solve the actions contained in the club. For this reason, Duke was helpful only in the first rounds to open the venues not finding clues. We have three or four Criminal around, and with a perfect coordination we are able to pick up the 8 clues needed to continue the second act, "without cheating." After Criminals loose Aloof, I find myself engaged with Clover Club Pit Boss and two criminals. Fortune is on our side, because as abomination mandatory encounter, we have Servant of the Lurker who thanks to the Hunter trait, and the Chaos in the Clover Club agenda, after a difficult turn where I get some damage, comes to my place, and makes a mad clean. Jenny, after discarding her weakness, spending a couple of rounds begins negotiating with Peter Clover, which I will save at the end. Before we get away, Jenny have action also thanks Leo De Luca to pick up the last two clues gaining an extra experience point for us, while I use Peter to escape a criminal encountered during the myths phase, and then get Jenny out of the Club

THIRD SCENARIO: The Miskatonic Museum ( R2, 4 Xp )

Agnes Baker join the party

Very fast scenario: We decide to access the museum by spending clues. After hiring Adam Lynch, I opened the Security Office pointing at my companions each turn the best room they can open and resolve. The Hunting Horror gave us not so much trouble, and we always send it into the void before the enemy stage. It collect 2 resources before I ultimately removed it with a crazy Fire Axe turn, allowing Agnes Baker to pick up the last clues to finish the scenario with Rite of Seeking.

Now the The Necronomicon is mine; I'm feeling like "Ash Vs Evil Dead!"

Dr. Henry Armitage Saved

FOURTH SCENARIO: "ESSEX COUNTRY EXPRESS" (R1, 3XP )

We are still in three investigators, so once we understand how to deal with the scenario, investigating wagon by wagon we rush to the locomotive. I'm realy unlucky with my asset i can play the whole scenario only with Duke, and the rabbit's paw, because I do not have good cards to play, and the only that i have are invested in skill tests to help other investigators, and me. Adrenaline scenario, but not too difficult. The idea of the wagons eaten by the purtal it's crazy.

FIFTH SCENARIO: "BLOOD ON THE ALTAR" ( R1, 6XP )

OK, this was a really frustrating scenario for the party.

1) The Hidden Chamber was placed under Bishop's Brook

2) Key to the Chamber was placed under the last locationwe opened

Then getting into the hidden champer took so much time in adding Kidnapped! was painfull for me: I had to put in the stack of sacrifices first, Peter Sylvestre and after Duke.

I played half of the scenario without Duke, doing a really hard work and I prayed a lot for him to not finish in ritual sacrifices.

Once we found, Silas Bishop since we are unable to alternate in the attacks entering and exiting from the Hidden Chamber we all went in and we attaking all together to defeat him, The Psychosis expose me to the defeat, with 5/6 health and 3/5 sanity but i survived! Then Jenny Barnes evaded Silas allowing us to defeat him in a turn making more than 10 damage also thanks Agnes Baker Arcanes.

Thanks to the God, Duke survuves, but i've lost Peter Sylvestre for the rest of the campaing. Only Earl Sawyer survives in adding with Dr. Henry Armitage that was already safe

SIXTH SCENARIO: "UNDIMENSIONED AND UNSEEN" ( R2. 2XP )

The misfortune of the previous scenario is back in our favor. With only 2 Brood of Yog-Sothoth to defeat, we handle the affair quite easily. The deck shows to me all its new ( even if forced) potential. Aquinnah fond with Flare and Dark Horse + Fire Axe make me unstoppable! and Duke deserved a steak!

SEVENTH SCENARIO: "WHERE DOOM AWAITS" ( 4 XP, R1 )

The most difficult scenario since the beginning of the campaign!

The whole group starts with a bad starting hand, our path to Sentinel Peak, is paired with misfortune: encounter cards destroy shot after shot our decks, health and sanity. I've played 2 flare to find out Aquinnah, for more horros spread but nothing. I'm forced to play Earl Sawyer for that protection i'm looking for.

Beyond the Veil, Rites Howled and the others mill cards hurts me more than the others investigators, and i'm doing all i can to support Agnes Baker and Jenny Barnes but with a few cards in the deck, I peel a card with impulse, and obviously the next card discards the remains of my deck.

I'm defeated-

At the top of the hill, the party defeat Seth Bishop and the encounter deck turn to deploying only monsters which slow down the closure of the scenario exposing them to my own destiny because of Jenny's Beyond the Veil.

A jump into the portal, to the unknown....

LATEST SCENARIO: "LOST IN TIME AND SPACE" ( R1, 5XP )

Agnes leaves the Party ( The investigator forgot its own deck at home....LOL )

Once again, we start with uncomfortable starting hands, and the first rounds are not a good start. We draw both of our personal weaknesses, and then I put back into play Wracked by Nightmares from the discard pile, that cost to me 2 rounds wasted. Jenny Barnes takes one of its basic weaknesses: Chronophobia in adding.

We finally start collecting clues, while places appear and disappear fast. I suffer some horror, which I can distribute to Duke and again on Earl Sawyer found this time with Flare. ( Where is Aquinnah when i need her???)

Thx to Liquid Courage i'm able to remove horrors from "Ashcan" Pete for a better future.

Defeated the only two monsters found, we are heading towards the closure of the scenario,Duke is precious, because it allows me to move quickly without wasting actions, and gathering the necessary clues.

In the end, I can leave the portal, faster then Jenny, but the only place connected with the exit disappears under the feet of her, which remains locked for 3 turns, with a bad assets situation, before she can escape avoiding Yog-Sothoth.

THE PORTAL IS CLOSED. We Won the Campaign!

DECK THOUGHTS:

If you read the campaing log, you will understand a lot of my deck choice/changing, if you do not, here there are the thoughts on this deck and charachter.

The undisputed protagonist of the deck is clearly Duke. Not in all scenarios in this campaign he have been 100% useful, but theoretically, Ashcan becomes the group's opener track, being able to move freely and, if possible, start collecting clues at the same time.

This exposes the character to so many risks for "when opened" location effect exposing you to bad things, but leaving the rest of the party in safe allowing them to save actions and resources at the same time.

In attack you can decide to take advantage of Fire Axe, or Duke tath are both efficient giving both an extra damage. ****

As two of the most used skills are covered by Duke, it's important to have a B-Plan: Supports and skills bonuses are vital to Ashcan. Guts, Perception and Unexpected Courage overall

Cards thoughts:

Skill Bonus: Every card that can give you a bonus for skills is recommended and overall ( For "B.Plan reasons" ) the same sanity

Peter Sylvestre: Fundamental in this deck. Ashcan is particularly vulnerable to horrors, and it will be very useful in combination (always for the same reason) with the Ward of Protection that guarantees you a minimum of control over the encounters during Mythos phase.

Scavenging: It's a good card for the core of the deck if you just started the campaign, especially because it allows you to discard items, get ready Duke and pick up it later, but is an extremely slow card with situational activation conditions. To have a small cards advantage, the Rabbit's Foot enough.

If you want to be particularly aggressive, you can bet on the Dark Horse + Fire Axe + Forbidden Knowledge + Emergency Cache combo. But the combination of so many cards can sometimes be difficult to find out, and Peter Sylvestre is even more important to absorb horrors.

****Why i'm not playing any Emergency Cache for better economy and to feed the Fire Axe?

i've not found room for that. It's a helpful card ( more if upgraded ) but i've started the campaign without, and i've not feel its lack, probably 'cose with a party of three/four investigators there is always someone ready to kill monsters, then raising my stats was not essential but probably if I did not suffering what happened to me during the campaign, I would have included at least one copy