I preface this post by stating I am a newb and haven't played many games (actually, only one). However, after my first play with the core set (only one copy of each card), I felt that I was more apt to use events and support cards for additional resources and save my characters to play. This was especially true early to mid game while I was still building up my domains. I was a little bummed because I felt like I had to throw away what could have been good events, but were just not right for that point in the game. Is this game mainly about the characters? Is it better to conserve characters to be able to field a large team rather than events and support? Is this a downside of playing with only one copy of each card?

This one is a tough question. It depends on how you play :

Of course, if you wanna make points on stories, you'll need to play characters. Some are heavy-costed and you can't play them in early game. It's up to you to choose whatever your strategy will be.

In case you decide to increase your collection, you'll see alot of complementary between characters from the samefaction , that offer a whole strategy to define. But Characters can be killed, and you need to analyze what's your playstyle and how you manage yoru game.

It really depends on you !

Playing with X1 limit your choise, as you can't ressource a character with the option to play it again ! Of course, you can't always play what you want. Playing with additionnal copy of AP or Core Set will provide you extra experiences. That's for sure.

rcmoore said:

Thats a very good question and one that I still can't answer after four years of playing CoC. I still have serious trouble deciding what should go down as a resource and what should be kept in hand ready for play. I don't think theres any hard and fast answer to it.

New player and you have already discovered one of the beautiful things about CoCLCG. The choices are ALWAYS hard. You have to think every turn, both for resourcing and story committment. Makes your brain hurt in a good way, and you get to tell an emotive story into the bargain !

Chick

I'm sure a serious player has an idea in advance what to resource at the beginning of play. The evaluation changes with each card and action, with each variable. Someone else should help me here. Resource at first the late game card. I'm sure a classic choice per faction could be made of cards necessary to strategy to withold, cards included in multiples to resource, cards that are situational when deciding.

there is no easy answer to that question, but-

if you have cards that say - enemy characters lose all terror, and you end up playing against agency - you can resource them, they will not help you.

Or let's say you draw multiples of any given card - resource the extra copy, unless you're absolutelu sure you will need the card.

(for example drawing 2 called the the sea against syndicate rush - they will buy you time).

and 1 general hint - when you build your deck, try to put as few cards that have very specific use only in a few given situations as you can - cards that remove terror/willpower/destroy villianous characters etc.

Of course, if you know, that you will be playing against hastur and cthulhu (for example) all day long, and, let's say, you're playing shub, then 3 copies of caught in the dreamlands will be a useful addition to your deck, while 3 copies of temple of haon-dor propably not.

So there you have it - it's all about making choices , and guessing what the opposing player is up to.

Well, based on my limited experience it is quite important to get one or better two characters out early. Otherwise, you may get rushed by your opponent and it can become very difficult to reverse an early advantage.

So, unless I know, I'm playing against a 'slow' faction, I tend to resource high cost characters and events first.

The importance of events varies with the faction, too. Especially Hastur and Yog-Sothoth seem to rely on events a lot.

I also tend to keep the cards with 'unique' effects. E.g. if there's only a single character with an investigation icon in your deck, I'd be reluctant to resource that character.

In the end though, the current needs always trump any expected future benefit. If it doesn't look like I'm able to use a card within the next two turns it's probably not worth keeping.

I hope that helped and isn't completely off the mark - If so, I hope someone more experienced will chime in and correct me

Jhaelen is right on all counts, BUT - - - - his avatar creeps me out.

Chick