Finally, we get to the clan I've been playing since the coup (the set
)!
Sinister Soshi - 1 cost shugenja that gives out a -2/-2 debuff. She can't enter into conflicts but her extremely low cost and ability should turn her into a workhorse for the clan. Spooky Sista.
Way of the Scorpion - I don't know why there's a ninja on this since the ability doesn't seem to fit the image. Any who, it's a staple, action-speed dishonor effect and, while not as powerful as Way of the Crane, still helps the clan by downgrading characters with a positive glory.
Yogo Outcast - She fills that cheap character slot that does get better when you play into the dishonorable route. The clan got far more shugenja that I thought it might be interesting to try out Phoenix as a splash. Wish she was another courtier though.
Yogo Hiroue - He's a solid character, with an effect that can pull both your opponent's characters or your own into a conflict. If I have a problem with him, it's that 2 glory and the number of Scorpion cards that like to dishonor it's own characters. Yes, I know that Hiroue's is a "may" effect, but I'm referring to other cards. It does potentially hurt himself and the other three uniques in the clan.
Fiery Madness - A somewhat reliable debuff but is hampered by the potential of a anti-attachment meta game. Even if there's a shift towards a more event-hate environment, a few more hurdles exist for Fiery Madness like the competition of other characters and conflict cards.
Bayushi Yunako - Great to see her get that promotion from the fiction! I like the ability, although it has never been a particularly ground breaking or competitive one in other card games. She does add the bushi trait but the cost of 4 might be her undoing for the short term.
Shosuro Miyako - Would have liked to see her with 0 glory because of that shinobi trait. She works very well with the Adept of Shadows but the lack of any shinobi card makes me sad. She has the most potential out of the four uniques in the clan because of her low low cost and her ability. If I have a gripe about her is that her ability gives the opponent a choice.
Unassuming Yojimbo - Expensive but covert is a very nasty ability in the game right now. I'm not the biggest fan of that cost of 3 since it competes with other characters and events. Despite that, there's no reason not to run her till we get more conflict characters.
Forged Edict - This card makes me just hate the fact that many of the courtiers in the clan have glory great than 0. Counterspells are great when they are cheap so I expect this to show up in both Crane and Phoenix.
Court Mask - Follows some of the problems and benefits behind other attachments, although I'd rather run Kitsuki's Method or the Ornate Fan in a deck.
Soshi Illusionist - I do like the ability to remove status tokens and he has good stats for the cost. Another shugenja too! Phoenix and Crane will certainly hate on this guy.
Secret Cache - I do like this card quite a bit, despite it only be ok. Any impulse effect can be very useful for the clan and I even want to try to save it for potential, multiple uses in future turns. It does have some competition with Manicured Garden but there's always the Seeker of Air to help with that problem, if need be.
City of the Open Hand - It does what it needs to do for the clan rather well and feels better than several of the other ones. I would caution that while you can play dangerously with the dishonorable route, I'd recommend being cautious with it. Being dishonorable only means you need to be one honor lower than your opponent so don't lose the game because you want to bid high every turn.
Shoju - He's a great character but that 2 glory is more of a hindrance than a benefit.
The scorpion are in a rather precarious situation with a higher fate spread on it's events and uniques but they do have enough potential for several different deck direction, if given the right tools in upcoming dynasty packs. If they want to help the Scorpion, I'd like to see more 0 glory courtiers, cheaper events, cheaper conflict characters, air shugenja stuff, and a few shinobi-centric events.
Since we're talking about ninja, I'll add that I've been a Ninja Interior Decorator since 2001. Bonus points for those that know the reference, you oldies!
