My playing partner and I were a little bewildered by the investigator Yorick, introduced in the Innsmouth Expansion. Yorick has the special ability that he can use monster markers as if they were clue tokens "on a one-to-one basis."

Does this mean a monster card is equivalent to a single clue token, regardless of toughness?

Or does it mean that monster cards can be used "per toughness," so that -- for example --- a Formless Spawn would be worth three clue tokens?

As I am sure you can see, it all relates to the meaning of "on a one-to-one basis." The game designers probably thought they were being crystal clear with this, but they have confused us.

I personally suspect that you get one clue token per monster marker, regardless of toughness-- Otherwise, doesn't it almost make the game too easy?

Glasgow Scotland said:

That one is correct. Each monster trophy = 1 Clue Token.

When you think about it, even at the Science Building, you're going to need, at the very least, 2 monster trophies to trade in for 2 Clues, so technically, since William could use 2 Cultists for 2 Clues, he's already making things easier without going overboard. But that's what makes William so nifty.

Yeah Will is great, I usually have him patrol the streets, making life easier for everyone else up to mid-game, then jumping in gates for a seal or two at the point the last row of doom starts lighting up.

jgt7771 said:

I haven't warmed up to Willy-Nilly myself. Even in the game where he started with the Ruby of R'lyeh, which fixes his movement issues, he didn't really shine. He has passed his PS on the first turn every time he has been in the game though (never drawn less than 5 toughness). But even his +1 Focus from the PS isn't really as good as it first appeared, mainly because there is very little slidering involved in most games for William. No Spells, slap his Luck to max, if no movement boost, Speed to max, then it's just middle-grounding the Fight/Will slider.

I have two problems with William Yorrick. Firstly, his speed is a crippler. Secondly, Yorrick was the one being dug up!

"Alas, poor Yorrick, I knew him Horatio." Yorrick is the one being lamented, Horatio is the one who's being spoken to. That's a great way to inspire an Investigator, name him after a fictional character who's only famous for being dead! :-)

Yorrick is a shakespearean actor, get it now?

Anyway, Yorrick is one of my favs. Yes, low speed can be a problem, but hopefully he can get around it, plenty of other low speed investigators who manage. But mainly I wanted to say: what the heck are you doing getting him blessed first turn? You crazy? I would only think about doing that if Mary were in the game (story Synergy). Otherwise as you said, +1 focus isn't that great, and rarely is an early blessing too helpful anyway. He's basically starting with 3 clues and you're sacrificng them all for an early blessing and +1 foucs. Instead why don't you use his first turn to pick up a clue at Historical or Silver Twilight? After that, if he can kill a monster, especailly if one had spawned on a gate, you have your 5 clues to make a seal with. Depending on what you have, Twilight turn 1 and General store turn 2 is also an attractive option, giving yourself a chance at a momevemt boost or a gun if you don't have one.

awp832 said:

Or Emily would tell you that he's probably half way to being the deputy and then all his movement problems are cured.

Stenun said:

Hey man, a lot of theater enthusiasts actually donate their skulls for use as Yorrick. Problem is, real skulls tend to get damaged during the show because Hamlet is supposed to really bang the skull up and abuse it.

awp832 said:

Um ... you did see me quote Shakespeare, yes?

I get the reference, I just think they're referencing the wrong character ...

Tibs said:

I'm not sure it's accurate to say "a lot"; when one did so recently over here in the UK it made the national news. So it happens, but not "a lot" ... :-)

And besides, in the art work of the Investigator he's holding a skull. So shouldn't the Investigator actually be Hamlet? Unless that's his own skull he's holding, which given this is Arkham Horror it could be ... ;-)

"A lot" of people donating skulls, to me, means more than 3.

Something tells me "Bill Hamlet" wouldn't have been as good of a name.

i saw the quote, i was merely wondering if you had read his backstory. *shrugs* I dunno, Yorrick (shakespeare) is dead, they did him up, Yorrick (investigator) is the gravedigger? I think it works. Besides, the jokes are a lot funnier if they are subtler.

awp832 said:

His problem is that he starts on the wrong end of the board. You want people up near Train Station, ready for a trip to another town. Another reason why I hate Vincent so much as well.

awp832 said:

I know if I don't pass his PS, he'll fail it the first chance he gets. Even Blessed, his die rolling is atrocious . And you don't have to spend all 3 trophies, if you've drawn a 2 and a 3 toughness one. Maybe I'll give it a go next time I draw him, though this looks to be another non-AH month.