#CALVIN #YOLO #YAOTL

This deck focuses on the combination of desperate cards and their synergy with Yaotl. The intent is to get Calvin to three or fewer remaining sanity, use desperate cards for 7+ tests, and then reuse them a second time (or more) with Yaotl's ability.

Here is some of the rational behind some of the supporting cards:

• Fire Axe for cheap, reliable damage.
• Cherished Keepsake and Leather Coat as damage and horror soaks.
• Newspaper (or alternatively Flashlight) and "Look what I found!" for enhanced clue gathering.
• Fight or Flight: you're going to be trying to actively lose sanity, which makes this card a no-brainer (pun intended).
• Improvised Weapon and Hiding Spot could honestly be anything; they're really only 1 scenario placeholders (see upgrades below). Use your best judgement.
• Resourceful: use this to get back Yaotl if you should ever lose him.

Essential Upgrades:  

1. Yaotl (2 XP for 2) / Replace Improvised Weapon.Yaotl is the beating heart of this deck, and the first thing you should buy with XP.

2. Flare (2 XP for 2) / Replace Hiding Spot. Use Flare to find Yaotl if you can't get him in your starting hand, or as an emergency damage dealer. Repurchase as necessary.

3. Scrapper (3 XP) / There isn't a lot else in this deck to spend resources on. Use Scrapper to boost early tests (before you've lost your health and sanity), to keep Fire Axe at +1 damage, and/or for when you really need to ensure a successful skill test.

Optional Upgrades:  

• Will to Survive is a great card, although perhaps a bit high cost for this deck. Still probably worth it. Maybe swap it in for Newspaper?
• Or, if you really love Newspaper, upgrade to Newspaper. Do you even Newspaper, bro?
• Upgrade to Lucky! - why not?
• Plucky also potentially has a place in this deck, perhaps in place of 1 Desperate Search and 1 Say Your Prayers. Could be useful when you only need to pump a test by 1 or 2, allowing you to save the big skill cards for more important tests.

"Hey, why didn't you include...":  

• Last Chance and Rise to the Occasion are both excellent for Calvin, but they don't work with Yaotl's ability, so they're out. If you feel strongly about including one or both of them, swap out Lucky! or Fight or Flight.

Alternate build:  

Lastly, I wanted to mention an alternate build that I have been playing around with. It includes more allies with better abilities, and a (potentially) more reliable method for getting Yaotl on the board, but at the expense of maintaining a super low cost curve.

• Replace Cherished Keepsake and Leather Coat with Madame Labranche and Peter Sylvestre.
• Replace Improvised Weapon with Calling in Favors.
• Also, invest in a Charisma or two.

This alternate build uses Peter and the Madame as damage and horror soaks with benefits, and as targets for Calling in Favors to hopefully find our real target: Yaotl.