I am mightily curious and so tossing this out there. We are about a week and a half from the Dream-Eater release and have had more cards spoiled than I can remember being spoiled in previous expansions. Which investigators are you planning on playing? Who in the Dreamlands and who in the waking world and why? Are you choosing only new ones, or falling back on old faithfuls? (Understanding that we don’t know the back of all the cards yet.) Would you play 2 Guardians for example, Carolyn for the Dreamlands and Tommy for the waking world? Or make sure you have Luke and his gate box with you? Or making the most of the use of the Cats of Ulthar? I am still undecided and would love to hear your thoughts.

I've gone back and forth on this so many times already, I'm really not sure.

I think I'm absolutely going to be Patrice (probably in the Dream-World?) and will be taking Miss Doyle. For the waking world? I don't know. I may give Norman a run for his money so I can have a thematically appropriate Star-Gazer. But then again, he is going to partially overlap with Patrice in the Mystic department, and I'd like them to play differently enough that I don't get tired of seeing the same cards. But oddly enough, the only cards they can have in common are Mystic Lvl 1-2.

If I don't go with Norman, I will more than likely choose a Rogue because I miss them, and probably Finn at that since I've yet to play him. Part of me really wants to do a Patrice/Sefina artists unite theme, but I've overplayed Sefina (even though I still want to see her with the Crystalizer of Dreams).

And lastly, if my group is open to it, I may choose my waking world character to be one of my custom creations I need to fine-tune. He's a young boy and part of the Sheldon Gang, but accidentally 'acquires' the Silver Key from a woman he comes to think may be his mother (she turns out to be a Silver Twilight Cultist). Long story short, he has the Silver Key which is interesting theme-wise, but I am betting we'll see Matt's version of the Silver Key somewhere along our Dream-travels.

We have a team of 3, so I think right now the plan looks something like:

Dream:

Patrice
Tommy
Joe

Waking:
Norman/Finn/Edmund (fan-created)
Silas
Mandy

Patrice with the cats would be the first choice. The deck will be full of cheap assets/events and skills with the cats being the key card. Getting Miss Doyle consistently might be a problem even with her draw ability if I am unlucky though. I might still need to put in calling in favors.

Alternate character might be Tommy with a deck based around being a tank then accumulate enough resources to bring out the big guns. I will try probably try to build it around the red gloved man.

3 hours ago, Soakman said:

think I'm absolutely going to be Patrice (probably in the Dream-World?) and will be taking Miss Doyle. For the waking world? I don't know. I may give Norman a run for his money so I can have a thematically appropriate Star-Gazer.

I played Norman in TCU and really liked the way he progressed, becoming a mystic, but staying a seeker at the core. One of my all time favorite investigators to play and really liked his ability. Patrice intrigues me too, but since I am almost always the nominal seeker in our group, so Mandy is also calling. I am obsessed with Miss Doyle and her clever kitties, so maybe Patrice dreams and Mandy waking? But then there’s Luke and Carolyn...

Interesting that you are taking Tommy into dreams and Norman waking. Guard dog may struggle with being in Ulthar😉

I like your young boy. Is he a rogue? I have also wondered if the silver key won’t be revealed in this campaign. My husband created an investigator card that is a set of twins who are students at MU. A seeker sister and rogue brother. Their favorite game as kids was hide and seek, but it was playing that game in the woods around Arkham and what they saw there, that’s led them down the path they are currently treading. 2 4 2 4 level 0-3 Seeker and level 0-3 Rogue cards. 7 health 7 sanity.

1 hour ago, DarkFate said:

Patrice with the cats would be the first choice. The deck will be full of cheap assets/events and skills with the cats being the key card. Getting Miss Doyle consistently might be a problem even with her draw ability if I am unlucky though. I might still need to put in calling in favors.

I like Patrice for the sake of the cats. And because she would play so differently in every scenario. I like calling in favors. I have no idea what her secondary will be, but No Stone Unturned wouldn’t go amiss. And Mandy’s ability could help her out sometimes too, if they were together.

I'm really keen to play Mandy - but I might run her through Carcosa first, rather than waiting to play a scenario with her every two months.

So for The Dream-Eaters, I'll probably use Tommy and Luke for the dream world, and Tony and Patrice for the waking world.

7 hours ago, Mimi61 said:

Guard dog may struggle with being in Ulthar😉

It is said that in Ulthar, which lies beyond the River Skai, no man may kill a cat. Doesn't mean you can't still chase them.

7 hours ago, Mimi61 said:

I have also wondered if the silver key won’t be revealed in this campaign.

The release announcement for A Thousand Shapes of Horror includes an image of the Silver Key, so I'd expect so.

8 hours ago, Mimi61 said:

I played Norman in TCU and really liked the way he progressed, becoming a mystic, but staying a seeker at the core. One of my all time favorite investigators to play and really liked his ability. Patrice intrigues me too, but since I am almost always the nominal seeker in our group, so Mandy is also calling. I am obsessed with Miss Doyle and her clever kitties, so maybe Patrice dreams and Mandy waking? But then there’s Luke and Carolyn...

Interesting that you are taking Tommy into dreams and Norman waking. Guard dog may struggle with being in Ulthar😉

I like your young boy. Is he a rogue? I have also wondered if the silver key won’t be revealed in this campaign. My husband created an investigator card that is a set of twins who are students at MU. A seeker sister and rogue brother. Their favorite game as kids was hide and seek, but it was playing that game in the woods around Arkham and what they saw there, that’s led them down the path they are currently treading. 2 4 2 4 level 0-3 Seeker and level 0-3 Rogue cards. 7 health 7 sanity.

Here he is, though I'm not sure if you'll be able to read everything. Essentially he is rogue 0-5, seeker 0-2.

I have to scoot off to work. I figured Norman may be even more confused if he woke up and all the stars were completely different, so I was kind and will have him start in the waking world.

PS: I really like the idea of your characters. They sound pretty interesting too. I think we're all craving a rogue/seeker combo. Edmund is pretty simple, but I like the idea of him. His weakness can be very problematic if you draw it at the wrong time though. It can be smart to find her as fast as possible and deal with her before she either snatches your key or advances the wrong agenda at the wrong time.

Hmm...

If pressed right now, I'd say Tommy & Tony in the real world, with Mandy & Patrice in the dream.

I'd really like to run Tommy with Rita, as through plays of Final Hour I've created a romance between them. Rita thinks he's some prick officer who's following her out of prejudice, while Tommy thinks she's really cool (the way she's handling all these monsters like the boss she is) and is concerned for her wellbeing but can't figure out how to broach the subject of asking her out while he's periodically shotgunning cultists or accidentally leveling a building.

Unfortunately, their decks are going to clash out of the gate. ... Maybe there's a way. (Alternating with Patrice will be chore.)

10 minutes ago, Duciris said:

Hmm...

If pressed right now, I'd say Tommy & Tony in the real world, with Mandy & Patrice in the dream.

I'd really like to run Tommy with Rita, as through plays of Final Hour I've created a romance between them. Rita thinks he's some prick officer who's following her out of prejudice, while Tommy thinks she's really cool (the way she's handling all these monsters like the boss she is) and is concerned for her wellbeing but can't figure out how to broach the subject of asking her out while he's periodically shotgunning cultists or accidentally leveling a building.

Unfortunately, their decks are going to clash out of the gate. ... Maybe there's a way. (Alternating with Patrice will be chore.)

Just curious, with a Mandy/Patrice set-up, how do you plan on navigating enemies? I'm still trying to figure out Patrice's role, and she doesn't seem like she is going to shine as a monster killer as she can only take 0-2 mystic cards.

Are you going to take a fire axe and try to pump it with skills? Or are you going to lean into spells like shriveling lvl 1 and Song of the Dead? Storm of Spirits and other events are going to be difficult because you'll never know if you'll have them the turn you need them.

27 minutes ago, Soakman said:

Just curious, with a Mandy/Patrice set-up, how do you plan on navigating enemies? I'm still trying to figure out Patrice's role, and she doesn't seem like she is going to shine as a monster killer as she can only take 0-2 mystic cards.

Are you going to take a fire axe and try to pump it with skills? Or are you going to lean into spells like shriveling lvl 1 and Song of the Dead? Storm of Spirits and other events are going to be difficult because you'll never know if you'll have them the turn you need them.

Jeez, make me think.

I don't know. I'm 1 scenario away from finishing Circle with Diana & Joe. (I started on Friday!) Before that I ran every stand-alone I have (except for Rugarou and Labyrinth) with lvl 29 Leo & Caroline. I just didn't want to do something too similar to them.

Well I'll dry run the deluxe when it comes out, which will be 1 scenario a piece, so I'll get a feel for how they play and work. I may even run both sets of scenarios as either pair. Regardless, this won't be my definitive playthrough, as I'll be playing through other campaigns as I wait for Eaters to release.

Short answer: no idea, but I'm looking forward to it.

Longer answer: It'll be hard getting a feel for and upgrading their decks in the usual manner (only 3 opportunities to spend XP). So I want to give Mandy Strange Solution to upgrade to 2x Strange Solution [Acidic Ichor], but that's 6 total attacks w/ 8XP and a task involved. Ancient Stone [Knowledge of the Elders] would be nice, but you can't even get the task card until the second scenario. This may be a campaign I enter with XP.

Do we know Mandy's deckbuilding yet? Past the 30, 40, or 50 card decksize?

12 minutes ago, Duciris said:

Jeez, make me think.

I don't know. I'm 1 scenario away from finishing Circle with Diana & Joe. (I started on Friday!) Before that I ran every stand-alone I have (except for Rugarou and Labyrinth) with lvl 29 Leo & Caroline. I just didn't want to do something too similar to them.

Well I'll dry run the deluxe when it comes out, which will be 1 scenario a piece, so I'll get a feel for how they play and work. I may even run both sets of scenarios as either pair. Regardless, this won't be my definitive playthrough, as I'll be playing through other campaigns as I wait for Eaters to release.

Short answer: no idea, but I'm looking forward to it.

Longer answer: It'll be hard getting a feel for and upgrading their decks in the usual manner (only 3 opportunities to spend XP). So I want to give Mandy Strange Solution to upgrade to 2x Strange Solution [Acidic Ichor], but that's 6 total attacks w/ 8XP and a task involved. Ancient Stone [Knowledge of the Elders] would be nice, but you can't even get the task card until the second scenario. This may be a campaign I enter with XP.

Do we know Mandy's deckbuilding yet? Past the 30, 40, or 50 card decksize?

We do, but I can't recall it exactly. She picks a secondary class I think, and it's from Rogue/Survivor/Mystic I think. Lvl 0-2?

Maybe I'll have to send Tony into the dream and pull Mandy out of it.

Edit:

Although how Tony will have bounties in the dream world is beyond me.

I think I might play Norman in an initial run at Dream Eaters, but I'm sure I want to play Patrice in Return to Path to Carcosa!

Carolyn/Agnes for the dream portion of the campaign. All cats all the time. For the waking campaign probably Mandy/Silas. I've not actually run Silas yet and Mandy feels like the new investigator I want to form an opinion on the most. I'll probably try a Luke solo run also to see if that works but I suspect Luke will get more support as the cycle goes on so that one might lag behind.

For Return to Carcosa I think I wanna try Mark/Wendy again. That was my original blind run in that cycle and both investigators received support (since the time of the original Carcosa box) that would make that team much more functional this time around.

My current plan is Carolyn-with-a-cleaver and Patrice, for the Dreamlands and the Waking World respectively.

But if we need dedicated monster-hunters, I'll take one of the two Dream-Eaters fighters.

I like that there were no dedicated fighters in TCU (closest we had was Rita, who was more a dedicated evader), and now we have two dedicated fighters in The Dream Eaters.

Gotta go with Luke, he's one of my faves. Look forward to Norman being released in a box, I don't have the promo.

22 hours ago, Rejoinder said:

I'm really keen to play Mandy - but I might run her through Carcosa first, rather than waiting to play a scenario with her every two months.

How did I not really internalize that these guys are all gong to be two months apart!! Sigh. I may have to wait for it to fully release.

I seriously belly laughed. Hilarious! And what a great mental image, because you know they would lead Guard Dog and Duke on a merry chase.

I was thinking more along the lines of a location or encounter card which says “Treat any Canine’s Ally’s Text box as blank.” or “automatically exhaust any Canine in the same location as a Cat of Ulthar.”

16 hours ago, Soakman said:

Here he is, though I'm not sure if you'll be able to read everything. Essentially he is rogue 0-5, seeker 0-2.

I have to scoot off to work. I figured Norman may be even more confused if he woke up and all the stars were completely different, so I was kind and will have him start in the waking world.

PS: I really like the idea of your characters. They sound pretty interesting too. I think we're all craving a rogue/seeker combo. Edmund is pretty simple, but I like the idea of him. His weakness can be very problematic if you draw it at the wrong time though. It can be smart to find her as fast as possible and deal with her before she either snatches your key or advances the wrong agenda at the wrong time.

I like him...a lot. A little bit of Wendy and the Artful Dodger.

My husband and I are on an emergency trip to San Diego as his mom had a stroke and heart attack earlier today. So a long car ride, but will post you their stuff when I get back. They are fun, because they are in constant competition. (We have a lot of actual twin experience) So they each have a signature card and their weakness is called “Who’s in Charge Here?”

14 hours ago, Duciris said:

Hmm...

If pressed right now, I'd say Tommy & Tony in the real world, with Mandy & Patrice in the dream.

I'd really like to run Tommy with Rita, as through plays of Final Hour I've created a romance between them. Rita thinks he's some prick officer who's following her out of prejudice, while Tommy thinks she's really cool (the way she's handling all these monsters like the boss she is) and is concerned for her wellbeing but can't figure out how to broach the subject of asking her out while he's periodically shotgunning cultists or accidentally leveling a building.

Unfortunately, their decks are going to clash out of the gate. ... Maybe there's a way. (Alternating with Patrice will be chore.)

You got to give love a fighting chance. And when better than when you are actually fighting...or leveling?

Just a heads up. I ran Rita in TCU and your big competition is going to be Peter S. He was there for her every single scenario. It became a joke, that he always made an appearance. They started dating at MU, bonding at track meets. Although by the end, she just felt like he was too clingy. She thinks she left him behind in the Cosmos, but isn’t sure.

12 hours ago, Carthoris said:

I think I might play Norman in an initial run at Dream Eaters, but I'm sure I want to play Patrice in Return to Path to Carcosa!

Patrice in Carcosa. Interesting. How would you build her?

9 hours ago, Krysmopompas said:

Gotta go with Luke, he's one of my faves. Look forward to Norman being released in a box, I don't have the promo.

I have to confess that we made a copy of Norman before I bought his Novella. So now we are legit. I just was so intrigued and wanted to play him in TCU. Like I said, he did not disappoint. But in Dream Eaters, you’d only have him half as long and the transition would be less noticeable. I like Luke too and was even wondering how he would play in RtPoC.

11 hours ago, Allonym said:

current plan is Carolyn-with-a-cleaver and Patrice, for the Dreamlands and the Waking World respectively.

But if we need dedicated monster-hunters, I'll take one of the two Dream-Eaters fighters.

I like that there were no dedicated fighters in TCU (closest we had was Rita, who was more a dedicated evader), and now we have two dedicated fighters in The Dream Eaters.

Carolyn is up on my list too. I tried her way back and had an unsatisfactory experience, but I was new to the game and don’t think I built her right. And had her in the wrong scenario. (Rougarou) The knife asset in Hotel Excelsior looks like it could fit her well. It is a bit obscured in the article, but looks intriguing.

And dead on with Rita. She was amazing! Ran circles around everything (done and undone). Led enemies off, shot off occasional big damage with her bow, removed doom from the agenda, banished treachery cards from player areas (the Pipers never summoned their man) and even picked up several clues by failing her investigation draws pretty consistently.

I know, sorry. I’m super obnoxious, because I think I have responded to everyone! Yet everyone so far has given me such good food for thought. (And am on an unexpected road trip with time to burn and need to stay awake).