Can a character with no icons on it be committed to a story? For instance, the card "Ghost" from the original set (Arkham Edition, 2004) has a skill of "1" but no struggle icons. Can he be committed to a story where there is no opposition? Thanks.

Absolutely. The only characters who cannot be committed to stories are those who are exhausted, insane, or have text saying they cannot commit (e.g. Cannibal Ghast ). The Ghost can be a very handy blocker, especially if given a Terror icon or Willpower, as it'll reduce almost any opponent's success token haul by one (for being opposed).

There are plenty of icon-free characters who I've committed to stories in their time, including the Clover Club Bouncer , Paul LeMond and Innsmouth Troublemaker .

Thanks for the reply.

Can you elaborate? Can a character with no icons (and with a skill point total of 1 or more) be successful at a story? If the Ghost is unopposed, do they get a point for being unopposed as well?

Thanks.

Sintares said:

The character only need skill greater than zero.

Sintares said:

Of course.

Indeed, icons are only useful when it comes to the struggles (Terror, Combat, Arcane and Investigate) and contribute nothing to success at a story - which is purely based on skill. So, cards like Degenerate Ghoul (which has two icons but no skill) can go to a story and beat people up but will not count as 'opposition' at the skill check if defending and can never get a success token when attacking (without events/attachments/effects to give them some skill), whereas the Ghost can run at a story and get successes but won't do a lot for you during the struggles...

Isn't the Core Set Ghost pretty much the same (CS one has Invulnerability)? In my very first game of CoC, it did give me a few chuckles that a Ghost can go insane ! Not to mention sign up for treatment at Arkham Asylum...

SInce it is invunerable, Ghost is great for depriving Combat-heavy opponents of the extra unopposed success token in situations where they spread out the attack over several storys looking to divert your resources. Send one little Ghost to cover a story against any number of character (without Terror icons) and concentrate your heavier characters where the action is.