Livin', Learnin', Huntin', Calvin'

Card draw simulator

Odds: 0% – 0% – 0% more
Derived from
None. Self-made deck here.
Inspiration for
None yet

Brownloaf · 693

I built this deck to exploit the fact that survivors, especially Calvin Wright, often like to both pass and fail the same test. Although Lucky! is probably more reliable, Live and Learn allows you to do this. I especially enjoy how it works with Old Hunting Rifle (see below). With the zero xp version I start with Gravedigger's Shovel, and the upgrade to Old Hunting Rifle ASAP.

Events
Firstly, you can use the effects on cards like "Look what I found!" or Oops!, if failing by 2, then play Live and Learn to repeat the test and hopefully pass. 3 clues for 1 action! In addition if you commit Take Heart to the first test it will pay for it as well!

Locations/Treacheries
Some encounter card, and more often locations, can deal damage or horror for a failed test. Early game with Calvin, although you want the clue, you could also do with damage/horror. Live and Learn allows you to do both, and as above, can be combine with "Look what I found!".

Enemies/Retaliate
Similar to the above, sometimes it would be good to take the damage/horror from a retaliate, but you also need defeat the bad guy. Live and Learn lets you do both. This is really good because you get the +2 from Live and Learn and the improved combat stat due to any damage you may have taken from the retaliate.

Fire axe
Fire Axe works quite nicely here. Suppose you empty your 2 resources into fire axe and miss. If you had Oops!, you could use it here, then Live and Learn to have a second swing at your original target. If you had committed Take Heart you could use the two resources you gain to boost the second swing. Or in a perfect world you do BOTH!!

Old hunting rifle
Live and Learn improves the effectiveness of Old Hunting Rifle in a way that Lucky! can't. If you are using it on an enemy and you draw a skull or tentacle, it jams. However when playing Live and Learn you are not required to trigger the action or spend the ammo to repeat the shot. You get the plus +2 and potentially any boost from retaliate. Note that if the enemy you are attacking has a fight of 2 or lower you can even use Oops! at this point, and deal 3 damage to two enemies with a jammed shotgun!!

Upgrades
The first upgrade as mentioned is to get the Old Hunting Rifle. Against All Odds, is really strong with Calvin as his base stats are always zero, its great for that moment when you really need to pass a test. Also thanks to his base stats upgraded Rise to the Occasion is unbelievable!! Most of the time effectively acting like a 5?s. Later in the campaign when hopefully you've got a decent amount of trauma I tend to make sure I have at least one of each A Test of Will and Devil's Luck, just in case. In generally I aim to have both 4 damage and horror 4, going up to 5 of each is I have Perseverance, Devil's Luck or Until the End of Time in play. I also have been upgrading to Aquinnah

Finally, a big shout out to @zozo from the Drawn to the Flame podcast for clarifying some of the knottier rules questions for me.

11 comments

Jan 14, 2019 claytonj117 · 1

Thanks for the exciting deck list and detailed description - really looking forward to giving this one a whirl!

Jan 14, 2019 zozo · 2983

Sweet list, friend! Very nice write-up. I might try something similar myself soon!

Jan 14, 2019 birdfriender · 1008

What were your thoughts regarding Rabbit's Foot? Too slow?

Jan 15, 2019 Django · 5070

The combos with Live and Learn sound nice, but not sure how you'd win if you rely on it so much, but as event can only play maybe twice each scenario.

Jan 15, 2019 Brownloaf · 693

@claytonj117 and @zozo, many thanks for the comment, I hope it goes well!

@birdfriender thanks for the question. I think yeah, it could have a place in this deck, it certainly would be productive! I suppose the main reason I've left it out is because, I'm not actually finding I have a problem with card draw when I run this deck. Take Heart is extremely consistent at the start of a scenario and Resourceful equally so at the end. In fact in an earlier build I ran 2 x Last Chance, assuming it would be really useful but I think that the most I ever got was 3 x "?"s off it. I suppose if later on you wanted to upgrade to Cornered then it would come in really handy.

@DjangoThanks for the comment. I completely agree that you can't just rely on these combos to get you through a scenario. I suppose the hope is that they can help you out near the start when stats are low, and in some cases actually get you up to your desired damage/horror levels quicker (e.g. the retaliate example). You can increase its uses by committing Resourceful to the test you take immediately after you've played Live and Learn and bring it back to your hand. Maybe once you get up to your desired trauma levels, and Calvin is performing more consistently you move from Live and Learn to upgraded Lucky! instead................ but I don't think it's as much fun!

Jan 16, 2019 Wolf · 77

Hahaha dude, you made my day: "deal 3 damage to two enemies with a jammed shotgun!!" :D Nice deck btw, gonna give it a shot :)

Jan 17, 2019 Brownloaf · 693

Haha!! Glad you like it. Hope it goes well. Just won Return to Dunwich running this deck with Jenny. A bit touch and go but loads of fun!!!

Jan 26, 2019 sijan · 1

I love the deck, but feel weird not taking 2x Lucky! with a Survivor. I'd cut 2x "I'll See You In Hell!", or 1x along with 1x Oops! personally. Gonna test this out solo, thanks!

Jan 26, 2019 Brownloaf · 693

@sijan thanks so much for the comment. Bang on my friend! Lucky! is hard to ignore. Chuck it in there! Regarding "I'll see you in hell!", that is certainly more of a multiplayer choice than solo, so sounds good to cut. Currently on my second play through carcosa solo with this deck. First run ended when I drew The Bell Tolls on turn 2 of dim carcosa. Not ideal!!! However in that campaign is had 2x Fine Clothes over "I'll see you in hell!" and had my first ever “perfect” run of the last king so there’s certainly something to it. And yeah Oops! is far less potent in solo. The deck is certainly fun > power. Only to be played if you can deal with going an entire campaign, just to hear a deafening “click” when you fire your main weapon at the big boss at the end! Let me know how you get on!!

Feb 18, 2019 Invisiblecam · 1

That's a great combo with live and learn and hunting rifle.. I was wondering if live and learn does a similar thing with cornered and Yaotl.. I am in the process of building a Calvin deck and looking for inspiration.. Really like this deck.

Mar 31, 2019 Cluny · 51

The Fire Axe-Oops! suggestion of "...you empty your 2 resources into fire axe and miss. If you had Oops!, you could use it here..." does not fit together correctly, since Oops! costs 2 resources to play and if have just emptied your resources into Fire Axe you will not be able to afford it.