I guess you're right. I actually thought at start to have the "Debts" fail card be his second ability, but I thought it would make him too bad and made it a PS instead. Would it have balanced him?

Anyway, here's an investigator I believe is quite balanced (and fun):

He looks fun, and he's definitely balanced (however I don't print custom investigators— I made a pseudo-exception for a really well designed Jack the Ripper once since it would be so much fun to roleplay with). He's going to be a bit weak though (because of his one focus— it will make gate closing difficult for him unless he sneaks through while leaving his fight on max, hrm... I guess it could be done that way). The more I think about it, the more I think it will be a by a skin of the teeth character who will nevertheless manage to function, somehow. Should be interesting.

For the Gambler, he's still a very powerful character, and I could see people (who knew how to manage an investigator with a built in bomb) even if Debts was the price of doing so. If you made that change, I'd still lower his luck by one, but I'd also change his pass condition to three skills instead of four (it's not like it'll make a huge deal since it'll still cost eight dollars which is rather expensive, but it'll make him a much better fighter Or anything really. Having 5 stats on everything is essential like having 30 stat points instead of 16. Quite powerful. If he were reduced to 24 stat points, he'd still be stronger than anything on the board (of course, if his will was maxed at six, he'd really have essentially 26 stat points).

Another direction you could take that card is reducing his focus to one, his luck to four and putting the skill points you get from that somewhere else (perhaps in fight&will— perhaps two will and one fight). I still think he'll become overpowered if played properly (three skills, one of them will probably boost luck— or luck boosting items or allies can be gotten). Still, he won't quite start in a dominating position.

Perhaps you could change his fail condition to Losing Streak (causing $2 losses instead).

You could also leave his focus as it is (or increase it to three), just to throw away stat points (since his ability would make it so rare you'd want to adjust his skills anyways). Hmmm... That'd be an interesting change actually. Changing his luck to four, and using the two extra skill points from that to raise his focus to three, and raise his speed another point.

Tnx.

kroen said:

I edited in another paragraph on the bottom of the last remark.

Interesting feedback, you may have some points.

kroen said:

It would be very interesting to play him in a game where he got Mythos Lore.

How so?

kroen said:

He'd be able to generate two clues per turn (he'd be a gate sealing machine). Likewise, Granny Orne would work really well with him.

Hey Avi_dreader and anyone else,

Could you go back a few pages (pg. 66) and look at my custom Investigator? I really would like more feedback on him.

Innsmouth13 said:

I wouldn't be willing to pay to cure him. Adding doom tokens to the Ancient One is horrible. And I wouldn't mind a 8 sanity investigator. I thought starting him with a healing stone was neat. He'd make a good spell caster.

I'll say the same thing to you that I say to everyone though :') no black and white pictures (unless there's a thematic reason why the card is in darkness). No photos. Try to stick with the Arkham Horror aesthetic.

Avi_dreader said:

Thanks Avi. I only used that pic cause it the only one i could find that did not have a man in a wheelchair or was in a hospital bed.

Worked a lot on this one in order to allow her to compete with the best spellcasters. Did I succeed?

No. You didn't succeed for one very obvious reason. She's still paying sanity cost. Eight sanity's pretty good, but you eat through it pretty fast. Especially when your will is only 3. I thought the gate skill was interesting. It's too bad FFG never made anyone with that power (though I'd argue that Wendy can be close to having it).

Well, I guess that if I had succeeded, she would've have been broken like daisy. But I still think she's pretty **** goon. 8 sanity, 3 spells and surprise-focus are not stuff to sneeze at.

Maybe If you lower her sneak skill to 3 or 4 and raise her will to 5 or 4.

kroen said:

I'm not saying she's bad, it's just that you said she'd compete with the best spell casters, while actually she's something else entirely. I wouldn't really describe her as a spell caster.

Also, what Innsmouth said. Her low will makes her sanity worthless for the purposes of combat. Harvey can deal with it because he reduces sanity losses and can soak up the damage from a lot of monsters (plus once he passes his personal story he doesn't pay sanity for most spells).

Yes, I know he's not tier 1 or even close. Yes, I know that 3 will/3 sanity "combo" is awful. But you know what? I don't care. Mark has that "combo" as well and he's one of my favorite investigators in the game. Both Mark and Jake has a simple, badass ability, which is why I like Mark and is why I would like Jake if he were real. Not all investigators need to be power-houses.

Yes, I know the following investigator is very similar to the default one in Strange Eons, but I revised it quite a bit and fixed the ability (it said that whenever you draw unique items you can draw exhibit items instead, but what happens when you shop? excatly. mine doesn't have this problem). Also added a PS.

Can't say I'm a big fan of Jeffrey, as he alters the win/loss condition of the game. He'd be the character that would always go to the two-clue location, get handed the King in Yellow, Old Journal and any other items that lets you gain clues. There are just too many ways to load up a character with clues, and that's what this guy would become. Just protect him with all the other investigators and have him hoard up clues.

Flip side, if I were playing him and was close to failing my story, I'd retire him (or get him devoured). Then, the game continues.

Yeah, I figures the story's overpowered. But what about the character itself without the story?

No word on Jake the fighter? Anyone? I really like him and he has a simple, badass ability like Mark Harrigan. Also Sarah is pretty fun IMHO.

A brief word on Ryu... Errr, Jake. That was actually a slip of tongue. What I was going to say is that you shouldn't use recognizable art because it distracts from theme. I think a lot of players can recognize the character picture you posted.

Pointless comment as I won't be making any more investigators. Your post just proved it to me- not a single word on balance/design/etc. No point in making investigators if no one's gonna bother criticizing them.

Well, I actually think the ability is one the game is missing, but as for skill ratios and all that I don't take the time to study them to really comment on them. Strange Eons does a good job of balancing the characters, so I don't worry about that kind of stuff.

Myself, I rarely make investigators, and for our local group tend to do things like custom encounter cards or allies for storyline events. Sorry you feel you're not getting your "bang for the buck" with creating invetigators, but you should be making them more for personal satisfaction than anything else.

kroen said:

i actually thought she was kinda cool. I mean, i never knew someone could be as smart as Harvey Walters and STILL have more brains, plus she starts out with 3 spells.