I'm a fan of the new descent, and have picked up all the expansions thus far, but I am surprised to see that no new search cards (besides the trapdoor replacing the nothing card) have been added. In the old edition there were new potions added every expansion, and I thought search cards were in many ways the new potions. They seem to be trying to even further limit the number and probability of search cards by having one removed in order to add one, and this just seems odd to me. I would have loved to see a much wider array of search cards and effects, and if probability was an issue just throw in a few healing or healing-esque items every so often.

Does anyone know why the search cards remain so untouchable, despite the fact that so many abilities interact with search cards and tokens, or is there something I'm missing here?

There are skill combos in the game that can allow a party to cycle the entire Search deck in the course of a single quest. as it is now, the benefit provided by such combos is limited by the fact that the Search deck doesn't renew itself - once everything has been drawn, you're done. They're probably being cautious about adding new Search cards because increasing the deck size also increases the potency of such combos.

That said, they could make a "Search II" deck, similar to Basic II, which replaces the existing deck instead of adding to it.

Huh- thanks for the insight. I still feel that this is not a reason to simply limit the number of search cards, don't they already limit the amount of search cards that can be gained to the number of search tokens on the board (usually the number of heroes, plus aurim's heroic feat if he's around). If a hero takes the time to gain those special search card siphoning abilities, and the deck is still not reshuffled, what is the problem with letting them use those abilities to the fullest?

I have always played the overlord, and in the most recent game was pummeled by an Aurim and treasure hunting Silhouette combo (I'll admit, Silhouette was a huge source of grief, Aurim surprisingly much less so) but neither seemed at all game breaking. Even with their seemingly endless supply of money they barely managed to eke out a victory. Rather than just limit these abilities, I would like to see more options for the overlord (who i feel really needs more customization options) that might allow him/her to counteract what the heroes might try and exploit.

Maybe I've missed the point, though. What specific combos can the players pull off that warrants limiting of the search deck? In my opinion this just limits the variety of cards you can find.

I have always played the overlord, and in the most recent game was pummeled by an Aurim and treasure hunting Silhouette combo (I'll admit, Silhouette was a huge source of grief, Aurim surprisingly much less so) but neither seemed at all game breaking. Even with their seemingly endless supply of money they barely managed to eke out a victory. Rather than just limit these abilities, I would like to see more options for the overlord (who i feel really needs more customization options) that might allow him/her to counteract what the heroes might try and exploit.

Just as things are fresh with your side note, the OL will soon get his ups with the plot decks! Your customization is coming soon! And all OLs everywhere rejoices!

The could always institute a rule where there are only so many cards in the deck and you have to pick and choose which ones to put in. I know with the secret room card you replace the nothing card, so what is to stop them from putting other cards that have rules stating "Replace card X with card Y in the search deck"?