Solo Jenny (#8: Dim Carcosa)

Dim Carcosa Second Impressions and Tips:

The campaign is over! Turns out Jenny hasn't left the theatre for eight scenarios. Was it worth it in the end? Yes. After all, according to the campaign log is safe for the moment. Not to mention, the campaign itself has been an excellent experience.

As for the scenario itself, once again the Doubt variant plays differently from the Conviction variant and the Neither variant. The Doubt variant is more restrictive in solo, but should be much more manageable in multiplayer when the investigator with the highest manages #Hastur each turn. In solo that action is too precious, so it might be a better idea to instead use horror soaks and lots of them. As expected of the final scenario monsters are beefy, but are relatively easily managed via evasion and #Elusive, since all locations are revealed from the start. Moreover, given the location layout it is possible to move around the #Palace of the King without doubling back and engaging hunters. It's a good idea to pick up clues from the #Palace before the penultimate agenda advances and spawns an Aldebaran Beast there. Unfortunately clues cannot be discovered during Act 2, so it is next to impossible to prime the locations for rapid flipping beforehand. Then again, same as in Curtain Call, our friend the Fanatic can be unintentionally helpful in that regard. Remember that both #Shores of Hali and #Dark Spires come in just one copy, so their flip effect is guaranteed. Dim Carcosa is the final scenario, so there of course is no point in hunting for extra XPs or even dealing with Jenny's weakness. Luckily, the scenario didn't anticipate the possibility of Hastur offering to find Izzie in exchange for Jenny looking the other way.

Looking back at earlier choices:

• Was it worth to devote effort to hunting the Stranger? Yes, but not as much as Jenny did during this campaign. Jenny's eight marks was just one short of the perfect nine. Nine requires either perfect play or farming The Man in the Pallid Mask during the Echoes of the Past. Six is much more manageable and in the end the difference amounts to one doom.

• Was it worth it to go out her way to spare the VIPs? No. Not at all. None of them appeared in the finale. Rather than playing pacifist it is advisable to take out as many VIPs as possible during the Last King. By hand. Torching the mansion leads to trauma, so I'd avoid that.

• Was it worth it to return to the mansion? Eh... No. Trauma is not worth it even in exchange for more XP. In subsequent runs I'll most likely opt for the neutral option.

• Was it worth it to leave the Clasp of Black Onyx? YES! It was a red herring all along and I'm glad my Jenny resisted the temptation to meta-game.

• Was it worth it to ignore Daniel's warning? No. It's the safer option, but much less fun. That being said I can: "Hastur", "Hastur", "Hastur" and nothing happens!

• Doubt or Conviction? Even with hindsight there's no definite choice. Therefore, we're all free to role play to our hearts content! I'm definitely satisfied with Jenny choosing to remain rooted in the rational material world.

Campaign Log:

Curtain Call: R2. Jenny chose not to go to the police! The Stranger is onto Jenny! 9 XP (Royal Emissary, Agent of the King, Balcony, Green Room, Lighting Box, Trap Room, Rehearsal Room, Delve Too Deep), 2 Tokens, Stranger Tally: 2, Doubt Tally: 1.

The Last King: R1. Jenny interviewed Constance Dumaine, Jordan Perry, Ishimaru Haruko, Sebastien Moreau and Ashleight Clarke! Jenny intruded on the secret meeting! 6 XP (10 clues, Delve Too Deep), 2 Tokens, Stranger Tally: 3, Doubt Tally: 2.

Echoes of the Past: R2. Jenny left the onyx clasp behind! 4 XP (Hidden Library, Agent of the King, Delve Too Deep), 2 Tokens, Stranger Tally: 3, Doubt Tally: 3.

The Unspeakable Oath: R3. Jenny escaped the Asylum! Jenny ignored Daniel's warning! 4 XP (Daniel Chesterfield, Mess Hall, Infirmary, Basement Hall), 2 Tokens, Stranger Tally: 4, Doubt Tally: 5.

A Phantom of Truth: R2. Jenny found Nigel Engram! 7 XP (Screeching Byakhee, Canal Saint-Martin, Gardens of Luxembourg, Grand Guignol, Père Lachaise Cemetery, 2 bonus XP), 1 Mental Trauma, 2 Tokens, Stranger Tally: 5, Doubt Tally: 6.

The Pallid Mask: R2. Jenny entered the catacombs on her own! Jenny knows the site of the gate! 7 XP (Specter of Death, Well of Souls, Narrow Shaft, Shivering Pools, Tomb of Shadows, Delve Too Deep), 2 Tokens, Stranger Tally: 7, Doubt Tally: 8.

Black Stars Rise: R2. Jenny opened the path above! 7 XP (Beast of Aldebaran, Chapel of St. Aubert, Outer Wall, North Tower, Abbey Church, Delve Too Deep), 2 and 2 Tokens, Stranger Tally: 8, Doubt Tally: 9.

Dim Carcosa: R2. Jenny prevented Hastur from escaping his prison! 6 XP (Screeching Byakhee, 5 bonus XP), 2 Mental Trauma.