Thoughts after soloing Forgotten Age with Yorick

Card draw simulator

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Derived from
Mr. Pawterson and Big Brother Bill #8: Delve Deeper! 3 1 0 1.0
Inspiration for
None yet

Magnificate · 1177

  • Yorick is a poor investigator, so given the choice between Ichtaca and Alejandro the latter shores up his weakness to some degree. Ancient locations are relatively prevalent and if nothing else Alejandro Vela can tank some damage and horror for Yorick.
  • This deck relies on reusing Gravedigger's Shovel and "Look what I found!" for gathering clues, with only an occassional clue gotten via Evidence! or Take the Initiative. This is more than enough for first six scenarios, but not so for the final two. Losing the The Depths of Yoth is not fatal, but Shattered Aeons is of course, essential.
  • Aside from Shattered Aeons the second most challenging scenario for Yorick is The Doom of Eztli. In the former it is because Yorick's resource generation is not robust enough to consistently evade #Formless Spawn and because he needs to save his silver bullet cards for the final or tests needed to mend the timeline. In the latter it is because Yorick has no way to cheat himself to the exit and risks getting 10 additional vengeance.
  • What do the above two scenarios have in common? Torches. I feel solo Yorick will need to find a place for torches in his supplies. Other essentials are provisions, because his economy is weak, medicine, because in the final scenario tokens are autofails if poisoned. Binoculars and Pendant are nice for getting extra XP, while Pocketknife might be needed to not get saddled with the awful Relic of Ages in the last scenario. Blanket is not essential, because Yorick handles trauma relatively well.
  • Solo investigators rarely can afford to wield two-handed weapons and Yorick is no different. His damage output is much lower than I expected, even with testless damage from Beat Cops and Guard Dogs. I'm not sure how to deal with it. I used both Knife and Gravedigger's Shovel for great effect, but the usual all-star Machete and later .45 Automatic underperformed.
  • Gravedigger's Shovel turned out to be the best weapon to use against Harbinger of Valusia. Due to how the damage from each final attack is not retained there's little point in trying to ourtight kill the Harbinger of Valusia in solo.
  • Scrapper. I'm primary a Jenny player and it might be that is why I tend to overuse this card. I need to remind myself that it is there for one or two critical evasions and nothing more.
  • As with all survivors the XP requirements for this deck are low. However, given how ill-suited Yorick is for Shattered Aeons in future runs I might consider going out of my way to get enough XPs for The Red-Gloved Man. It's a perfect fit! Alternatively, because Relic of Ages is sure to be present for the final stretch where and tests matter, Well Prepared is a strong condidate for spend the last deck upgrade.
  • Why Evidence! instead of Scene of the Crime? Mostly because of the double icons. It's a godsend in City of Archives and I definitely ended up commiting it more often than playing it. That being said, perhaps Scene of the Crime is still better? Even if does cost 2 resources to use? I'm undecided, but I still lean towards Evidence!
  • Why Mr. Pawterson isn't hosting this one? Well, in the proud tradition of unresolved cliffhangers we've last seen him and Big Brother Bill on the precipice and let that be that.

Campaign Log:

The Untamed Wilds: Yorick cleared a path to the Eztli ruins! Ichtaca is wary of Yorick! Alejandro followed the investigators into the ruins! 6 XP (Ichtaca, Ruins of Eztli, Serpent's Haven, 2 extra XP), Yig’s Fury: 2. 1 Psychical Trauma.

The Doom of Eztli: Yorick recovered the Relic of Ages! The Harbinger is still alive (1)! Yorick gave custody of the relic to Alejandro! 4 XP (Chamber of Time, Grand Chamber, Burial Pit), Yig’s Fury: 6.

Threads of Fate: Yorick found the missing relic! Yorick rescued Alejandro! Ichtaca is in the dark! 7 XP (Northside, Eztli Exhibit, Arkham Police Station, Town Hall, Bury Them Deep, 2 bonus XP, 3 XP spent to heal poison), Yig’s Fury: 6.

The Boundary Beyond: 2 paths are known to Yorick! The Harbinger is still alive (2)! Yorick mapped the way forward! 4 XP (Padma Amrita, 2 locations), Yig’s Fury: 8.

Heart of the Elders: The Harbinger is still alive (4)! 4 XP (Circuitous Trail, Stone Altar, Perilous Gulch, Crystal Pillars), Yig’s Fury: 9.

The City of Archives: Yorick resisted captivity! The process was successful! Alejandro remembers everything. 6 XP (Yithian Observer, Interview Room, Yithian Orrery, Bury Them Deep, 2 bonus XP), Yig’s Fury: 9. 1 Psychical Trauma.

The Depths of Yoth: Ichtaca is set against Yorick! Yorick fell into the depths! The Harbinger is still alive (5)! The braziers remain unlit! 4 XP (4 bonus XP), Yig’s Fury: 10. 1 Mental Trauma.

Shattered Aeons: The fabric of time is unwoven.

4 comments

Nov 17, 2018 bee123 · 25

Your campaign has been a lot of fun to follow along with! I just finished Shattered Aeons for the first time myself, and I was amazed at the sheer volume of investigation that you had to do in both and the Depths of Yoth. It just doesn't ever let up :) .

Survivor/Guardian is super not an awesome class combination for that amount of investigating to boot. You just have so few options to work with :( , especially given that actually passing intellect tests ever is a big ask. I think you're probably right that Evidence! has the edge over Scene of the Crime in this circumstance. The cost in actions and resources, along with the limitations on when it can be used, all seem to matter so much more in solo where the margins are so much thinner.

Anyway, thanks for a marvellous read!

Nov 19, 2018 Magnificate · 1177

@bee123Much appreciated.

Nov 24, 2018 Phobic · 2

Aww, bye Mr. Pawterson! D:

May 08, 2019 Shakiko · 6

Despite being late to the show, it was a blast reading the playthrough. Thanks for sharing, must have been alot of work to do the formatting and the writing.

As for comments: If Yorick is a poor Cluever, do you think playing good ol' Flashlight would help finding a light at the end of the tunnel ? Alternatively, the upcoming Trial by Fire could be a potential, albeit expensive stand-in, at least on standard. Basically does half of what The Red-Gloved Man does, just for 0 exp. Could be upgraded the the red-gloved man later.