Based on the FAQ…

Q: When you are losing Stamina or Sanity to gain power, using the Upkeep function of a Blood or Soul pact, is it a cost or a loss?
A: It is a loss.

It appears ass though Michael McGlen and Harvey Walters would do well get a Pact as early as possible…

Yeah, let's give away some free clue tokens, otherwise the Lurker was too a threatening Herald ::devil::

Yeah, I know! That Guarald (Guardian + Herald) is toooo scary.

Luckily, though, you're not allowed to gain Power during final combat, so that Walters and McGlen can't exploit this to insta-win Yig.

Lurker is significantly more challening with the MH Reckoning cards mixed in, but I still like to make Pacts exhausted the turn you get them, so you can't immediately gain power from them.

Tibs,

I agree with you…there have been a few elegant solutions to the Pact issue so that it doesn't get easily exploited.

Cheers,

Joe/the Professor