Speedrun Finn (Fence, Illicit, Solo, Standard)

This build is a ton of fun to play in solo. Except for hopefully playing Fence on the first turn and Peter Sylvestre, everything is goal-oriented and all about moving-forward as quickly as possible. In most scenarios, he is investigating on the first turn; most non-hunter enemies will just be left behind. I have a review of Fence where I lay out why I think it easily pays off in turns of action economy, though on Hard (and definitely Expert), building around Lone Wolf and Streetwise might be safer, if less fun.

The only cards to not mulligan are Fence and Peter. (Maybe Lockpicks depending on how unlucky you're feeling.) There isn't a ton of investigating support but once you get Lockpicks down, it's a wrap, and his base 4 is usually enough to brute force clues even with a bad draw. Smuggled Goods can also help to get your Lockpicks out later on.

Like all Rogue decks, there is a fun selection of different events and skills to swap in or out between Cheap Shot, Narrow Escape, Quick Thinking, Coup de Grâce, Hatchet Man, Think on Your Feet, Backstab, etc. Slip Away can seem like a boring choice but it can be used with Finn's free action and really comes in handy against baddies with 3+ evade. Sneak Attack and Elusive are always good draws. Hatchet Man isn't the greatest but is free and rarely hangs around in your hand for long.

Logical Reasoning, on the other hand, does sometimes seem like it camps in your hand but is a lifesaver when Finn's willpower puts you in a hole. Same with Say Your Prayers which not only protects you against all the horror you'll be taking from the encounter deck but is sometimes needed for scenario objectives. Try Take Heart instead if you want to walk the line.

This deck is 16xp, so right around the midpoint of a campaign. I've found that this investigator and play-style really does not rack up XP but your mileage might vary. Spending 4xp on Switchblade doesn't feel great but the +2 bonus means they're very dependable to at least poke an Acolyte to death or finish off bigger enemies after a Sneak Attack. Lockpicks, Lupara, and Pay Day are all great, especially with Fence. After that, you might want to throw in a Chicago Typewriter for bosses in the last few scenarios or Ace in the Hole if you can afford it.

I'm interested in how others handle this style and would love to hear any comment. Thanks!