How does the 2 clue getting ability of this interact with ad hoc. Ad hoc stats you can ignore all cost. According to the rulebook, everything before the colon is the cost. No technically the removing from game effect ist after the colon, but it also states "instead" impying that the removing from game is actually the cost. Does this mean I can actually simply discard this with ad hoc and get 2 clues?

I usually consider Determined to be a dead draw.

The majority of the events you're going to be playing don't have tests on them.

In a build where you're fighting exclusively with events they'll see a bit more play, but it's just +1 skill value (or +2 with both copies) that takes up space in your hand and that you might lose to an autofail.

There's no good skill card synergies in her current card pool to make playing around Determined interesting, like how Vincent has Grisly Totem for his On the Mends or Bestow Resolve for Carson's "As you wish" (both of which are much more less conditional skills anyways).

My hunch is that they inserted these into Marion's deck to deliberately hamper the power of her investigator ability, forcing you to draw crappy skills instead of keeping the event value train chugging.

So what else can you do with this card? The first two things that come to my mind:

1) Get Lola Hayes's versatile and combo-enabling card pool access without being restricted by her roles.

2) Fun times - supercharge Diana Stanley or George Barnaby via staring out as Sefina Rousseau!

( 3) Save yourself from the terrible statline of Lost Homunculus.)

Look at City of Archives...

"Body of a Yithian: During the setup for this scenario, each investigator is instructed to replace their investigator card with one of the Body of a Yithian investigator cards."

and then:

"Each investigator’s deck remains the same, but for the duration of this scenario, they must use a Body of a Yithian investigator card, and therefore cannot use any of their investigator’s abilities."

Does this card potentially break the scenario? Can you choose an investigator, with a normal stat line, that comes close to your original investigator or better suits your deck?

I always want to take this card, but what kills it for me is that third slot. That's a big ask for something that tends to be situational. I think this card was designed with higher player counts in mind. It's meant for a support investigator to back up your combat investigator. In that role it's pretty versatile and you can probably justify filling almost half your slots with it.

Not in one or two player. In two player you need to be able to fight or investigate reliably and with this thing hogging your best slots you're not doing either. It's worse in solo where you need to be able to do both. Those three slots make it useless as a backup or utility weapon. Maybe you could pull off using a combat spell along side this, but that's all you'll be doing. You better hope you already have a high book stat.

Thinking of ways I might improve this card; remove the exhaust requirement, have all shots spend a charge, and boost the number of charges. Alternatively, have it give you a passive boost to face and foot instead of giving it to you during the attack.