Now that Vincent is "officially" the least popular investigator. The first one voted off the island. I'd like to get some suggestions on how to make him more popular. The simpler the better, but don't let that stop you. Also, keep in mind his personal story (or write a new one) if that's how you fix him.

Mageith,

I have to tell you, I didn't vote anyone off of the island (or for that mater 'heal' any of the investigators, either). Since purchasing the game 6-months ago, and having played approximately 20 games (no expansions, yet), Dr. Vincent Lee has appeared in 3-4 'adventures, and has proven a solid member of the team. Granted, I'm not throwing him out there to get pounded like Mike McGlen, but his Sneak, coupled with his ability to heal Stamina has worked well in some tight places. I've recently read the Personal Story on the Doc, and adding to his Speed and augmenting his "Physican Ability" is quite impressive in making what others have deemed a useless character nito someopne much more constructive.

I realize that you weren't asking for a defense of this individual, but I didn't really want to post this on the Hurt/Heal topic.

Cheers,

The Professor

The Professor said:

See, his, Jenny's and Hank's PS issue is that they have to toss away 5 Clues to pass, which just doesn't cut it, at least not with me. Roland and Bob have a Pass clause of merely having 5 Clues, which is probably what at least Vincent should've gotten. Hank's pretty powerful already and Jenny can shop till the shops drop. +2 movement points and the ability to heal someone in the same neighborhood isn't worth a seal, not even close.

About half the time I play Vincent, someone on the team runs across a Feeding the Mind or a Cloud Memory Spell, and once Vincent has that, he's just as good as Caroline. I've even gotten Daisy to use her Livre d'Ivon in the first turn to get one of those Spells (how's THAT for a Daisy Nerf?) The other half of the time, he acts as a slow Wendy, Evading fights and closing Gates. His ability is just as handy as Carolyn's, at least for me; I don't know how everyone else seems to be avoiding Stamina damage so much.

Vincent doesn't need defending. He just doesn't fit with some people's style of play. If one doesn't like him...then one simply doesn't like him.

I like Vincent, his PS pass gives him a considerbale boost, pity the cost is so high.

I find him one of the more fun investigators to play.

- Mariana the ex-nun cultist

I heard some people suggest letting Vincent start with Cloud Memory. I think that over corrects the problem, since it would essentially give him Carolyn's ability in addition to his own. The last time I played him, I let him start with a Mi-Go Brain Case. (He found it lying around the hospital or something.) It certainly solved his movement problem, which I think is his biggest handicap.

I agree that personal stories that cost five clue tokens aren't worth it. Maybe Vincent, Jenny, and Hank need to spend five clue tokens to pass their story, but once they pass they immediately gain two clue tokens back?

avec said:

And immediately get devoured by Ghatanothoa !

Well, I've always been comparing Vincent to Carolyn.

His Special ability is, *of course*, less useful than Carolyn's: healing Stamina is good anyway, but everybody knows how much more important Sanity is.

Both of them have a dull Speed of 3, which ofter makes them boring or frustrating to play.

But still, I'm always happy to draw Carolyn, since her Ability is SO MUCH useful.

If Vincent had just a Speed of 4, he'd be a pleasant draw to me, though I'd still thick of him as a poor man's spellcaster or monster fighter.

Vinny vs Carolyn for me:

Carolyn's a better spell-caster (due to her ability), but doesn't start with Spells. Instead, she gets 2 Uniques. Vinny gets 2 Spells, no Uniques and $2 extra. I'll take Uniques, please. Only skill slider Carolyn has worse is Speed/Sneak and even Vincent's Speed at maxed doesn't give him a lot of Evading ability. And Carolyn starts at Asylum, meaning she can reach the all-important (for me anyway) Curiositie Shoppe on the first turn (barring monsters appearing). Vincent's 2 turns away and that's only if he stops at the street during his first turn, meaning no encounter.

Dam said:

All right, have five and spend three!