Ashcan Pete Venkman

Old Post, just needed to do this so my friends can check the build.

This is my take on "Broke Ass Pete". Check that write up for more detail behind the strategy. Venkman was my homage to Ghost Busters, for those of whom are unfortunate enough to have never seen the movie.

Basic Strategy* - The big draw to running this deck is the ability to make impactful plays on very little economy. Pete never has to worry about using actions to gain resources and we dont have to use card slots to balance out the economy. We get to spend most of our time making skill checks and we dont have to worrying too much about setting up. Almost all of the cards cost 1 or less and the 5 resources you get starting the scenario will help with our 3x 3 drop assets. The main reason for being poor is for Fire Axe and Dark Horse to work. Although gathering clues is the most important tool to advance the agenda and beat the game, being able to fight the horrors that emerge is just as important. Pete will not be the "fighter" of the group, but this set up will ensure that we can deal with whatever misfortunes comes our way.

Card Choices*

Fire Axe - Takes up one hand slot, gives us an amazing bonus for having 0 resources, and gives us the ability to turn resources into fists while guaranteeing we get the plus one damage for being broke. Its the best weapon and a main motivator for running our strategy strategy. If you need something dead, most likely when they spawn on you, you can activate duke for +2 combat and +1 damage then attack again for +up to 8 combat and +1 damage. Its the only weapon worth running for the economy of the deck.

Magnifying Glass - +1 Int is great for 1 hand slot and 1 resource is just a good deal. Add the fact that you can actually use this to pump duke and its amazing. Once you get the upgraded versions you can typically (early game) use both without suffering the hand slot restriction, and they become free.

Rabbits Foot - You are going to making a lot of checks in this deck, rabbits foot offers great card draw. Once you have scavenging online you can use the extra rabbits foot in hand to increase your checks with a ? symbol, and usually get it back if you are investigating.

Leather coat - Free meat shield you can recur with scavenging. Highly needed so duke doesn't have to soak up damage. When the Duke dies times gets a whole lot worse.

Peter Sylestre - A good way to manage Petes awful Sanity. Also a big party of the strategy is to have good skill checks. +1 agility is nothing to scoff at. The upgraded version gives better sanity management and gives us an additional +1 will. Completely worth the 3 resource pricetag.

Dark Horse - It costing 3 and giving us a will check stopped me from running 2. Do not be mislead by this card, its not as good as fire ax because it relies on you being broke without giving you a way to guarantee its on. Its bonkers when its on, just not reliable enough to run 2, but if its what you want to be doing feel free to run 2.

Scavenging - There are times we want to use Petes ability to ready the Duke, Scavenging does a great job mitigating the shitty part of the ability. Recurring leather coat is amazing and scavenging combos well with the rabbits foot ? skill commit.

Look what I Found - Using a card to get 2 resources is nutty. Auto include in most survivor decks. Also gives us a way to get clues if the duke is exhausted or, heaven forbid, dead.

Drawn to the Flame - Basically means we are running 4x Look What I found.

Lucky! - Another almost auto include in all survivor decks. Its an unexpected Courage that you dont have to commit unless you know you have failed, and you can use 2. Becomes a cantrip after upgraded. :)

Prepared for the worst - Fire axe is really important. This helps dig it up and this also gave me the option to add a one of dark horse. (Since I had one more slot to splash a different class card.)

Resourceful - Probably the easiest card to cut. If there is something that isn't necessarily needed in this deck its Resourceful. I like the utility of having more ways to recur things as well as having basically another ? skill commit. Lets us recur Lucky! and Look What I found. :) Also lets us get back Dark Horse and scavenging if those get binned by the encounter deck.

Other Skill Commits - For when the Duke is down, helping out other Investigators, and cantripping.

Upgrades* Do whatever feels best. I would suggest upgrading the cards below. Other than those do what you think is fun or necessary.

Lucky! - Turns into a Cantrip. Everything we want to be doing.

Peter Sylvestre - Has a bigger sanity butt. Gives us a static +1 will. Just great value.

Magnifying glass - Makes them free and you can do the double with no worries, before you drop fire axe that is. Also the idea of holding two magnifying glasses in front of the duke makes my day.

Closing thoughts - Its important to note this deck doesnt fill any particular role. Its a fun way to play the game that will test your ability to manage your turns. You have a mechanic that takes a lot of decision making to run optimally. Have fun and let me know what you think.