FoHV has been out for a month and still no reviews, so here's the description from my "One for All" series of decks that has a similar breakdown for each investigator:

Tools! What the heck is a tool, anyways? They're definitely assets. They probably have their own associated skill test, are very likely help you fight or investigate... and our boy Wilson wants to play lots of them! This means that his stats and abilities make him a relatively sturdy flex character who can pick up clues and take out enemies in equal measure. He can single-handedly churn through scenarios, and with a mitt of decent cards, he can fairly easily re-focus his efforts on whatever task the game throws at him. It's also remarkably easy to tweak your role mid-campaign with just a few simple upgrades, as Wilson's card choices can have a greater impact on his gameplan than most investigators. His signature is pretty neat too, allowing you to make duplicate item draws more useful and combo with big costly items like sledgehammer or pitchfork.

Even with some cleverly integrated stat boosts, Wilson is still a generalist, and generalists don't always have the sheer output specialists can typically achieve in Arkham - especially in larger teams. Static boosts and skill cards with lots of icons will help him overcome some of the tougher tests he'll eventually encounter. Like most of the Hemlock Vale investigators, Wilson isn't super beginner friendly to pilot either, and his deckbuilding can be rather complicated without some digital assistance.

Some archetypes that work well for this template:

The Handyman: Wilson's discount creates some bonuses that might not be immediately obvious. Playing lots of cheap tools potentially means resources spent on tool assets can be decreased by half or better. It also lends itself to playing limited use or discard-able assets that encourage you to cycle them in and out with your discount. Costly tools make great discard fodder for his signature Ad Hoc though, so those are absolutely worth including if they have powerful effects. Lastly, remember that his second ability only activates on skill tests printed on tool cards, so keep all these things in mind while filling your toolshed.

Full Flex / Solo - Keep a good balance of tool-based weapons and investigation aids, and you should be completely self-sufficient on almost any scenario. Static boosts to your combat and intellect skills will improve your odds, and targeted skill cards will really help push you through some of the more challenging tests.

The Specialist - Focusing your deck around either investigating or fighting will allow Wilson to fill voids in his team and more easily tackle the most challenging problems the chosen role can throw at him. Show Rex or Zoey that you have the right tools for either one of their jobs.

The Fixer - Fighter can't find their gun? There's a Pitchfork for that! Cluever scrambling in the shadows of a 5 shroud location? There's a Matchbox for that! Wilson has access to many more utility options than your average guardian, and loading your deck up with these can turn him into an interesting and effective support character.

• Uniquely effective or staple cards for Wilson: Flashlight, Gravedigger's Shovel, Lantern, Microscope, Sledgehammer, Pitchfork, Chemistry Set, Backpack, Matchbox, Jury-Rig, Tinker, Pushed to the Limit, Take the Initiative, basic neutral skills, Beat Cop, Geared Up, Grete Wagner, True Grit, Wolf Mask, "Let me handle this!", Dodge, Dynamite Blast, Emergency Cache, Glory, Evidence!, Prepared for the Worst, Scene of the Crime, Second Wind, Stand Together, Teamwork, Toe to Toe, Vicious Blow, Old Keyring, Magnifying Glass

Wilson has two powerful abilities. Firstly, he becomes a completely normal 3/4/4/3 investigator when activating a Tool asset. Secondly, as befitting the investigator who came in the same box as Wolf Mask, he has the ability to make Wolf Mask look underpowered when he plays it.

Oh, and he very occasionally gets a resource discount.

Play Wilson as a pure fighter, and you'll soon wish you were playing any other investigator. Wilson doesn't get the additional clues from Roland Banks, doesn't get the stat boost & draw on demand of Mark Harrigan, doesn't get additional resource like Zoey Samaras, or additional actions like Tony Morgan/Leo Anderson, or recursion like William Yorick. Heck, he doesn't even get Guardian 5 access. Even Sister Mary with a Hammer or Spear fights better.

As a flex, Wilson's tool access means he plays like a 4 mystic who needs to play out more assets to be effective, has worse draw, less skill value, and more expensive assets*. The one upside Wilson has over a mystic is that he can use Geared Up quite decently, but that only slightly offsets the sheer number of assets he needs to play, and you'll find him less useful than even poor old Jim Culver who at least could ward off an Ancient Evil or two. To add insult to injury, he can't even take Michael Leigh.

Ad Hoc would have had decent combo potential if Wilson had any way of stringing a combo together reliably. As it is, you might be able to get off a free hammer swing or a free investigate in the game if you're lucky, but it's no way something you can depend on.

Future tools and upgrade/improvised cards might breathe new life into Wilson, but I wouldn't be holding my breath.

* Investigative tool assets are all hand slots items, which means you'll need to play out tool belt/bandolier/tinker if you want to use a 2 handed weapon. Unlike a mystic who gets away with simply boosting , Wilson has to boost both and to handle high fight and high shroud locations. You also don't have access to draw options like scroll and Arcane Initiate, econ options like Uncage and robes, your recharge options are more expensive. I struggle to see any upside.

After playing some scenarios with Wilson I just want to strongly advise you to look for Tool Belt and/or Tinker in the opening hand. As an investigator that uses plenty of assets (mostly of them occupying hand slots), you may find yourself slot limited and not being to exploit the versatility that Wilson provides (which I believe is his biggest strength). Also I advice to include Ever Vigilant as the number of actions you spend playing assets can be detrimental.

Note that not all tools have a skill test on the card. For example, Magnifying Glass and Ice Pick. These are played for $1 cheaper, but they lack a skill test on the card.

Therefore Wilson will generally prefer things like Flashlight, Lockpicks, and Lantern in order to benefit from his bonus to skill tests.

If you’re running a Tool Belt and are specializing in clue-finding, then you might have room for both types!