Pickpocketing

Even removing exhaust part away. this card would not even be close to broken.

might be wrong since I'm starting new with a new format but that's my bold opinion on this card so far.

The fact that this card trigger with Evade, Evade Action which is not a useful action or progressing action just multiplying how bad it is.

I'm about to build some deck base on this card but just realize it has to exhaust too so project closed.

Pawley · 34
The problem this card has is, you will never get your investment fully back, and it really only supports evoiding — Therealestize · 79
*avoiding enemies, which in campaigns like the forgotten age, is good. But most of the time, taking out the target is better. Mind you, the upgrade is fantastic. — Therealestize · 79
I disagree that evading is generally bad. Especially in 3 or 4 player games its a critical tool. While core+Dunwitch evasion support is bad, evasion has had a huge glow up in the last 6 years, with pure evasion strategies being very potent. Pickpocketing (0)'s problem is more that you are getting very little for playing it: 2 resources is about a card, and it costs an action you could use to draw to play it, meaning it puts you down 3 cards in a class that really needs to maximize power via resources or cards. Pickpocketing (2) is amazing however because its both fast and amps up the payout considerably to the point it may be the strongest single card engine in Arkham. — dezzmont · 226
Yeah, you are way undervaluing Evade as a tactic. I was once much like you, but I built a "evade and go fast" Ursula deck, and it was a blast. Ursula and Rita make a ridiculous pair for most campaigns, cutting through scenarios like nobody's business. Finn is also awsome at enemy management and clue-getting, likewise Trish. dezzmont is correct that evade was pretty second tier until Carcosa, but it's only gotten better with time. All that said, Pickpocketing (0) is pretty marginal, except maybe as a placeholder for Pickpocketing (2). Finn is about the only investigator who can get use out of the basic version, and he usually has better things to do with his card slots. — LivefromBenefitSt · 1102
I taked this card with Trish during the time travel scenario. I got it on my starting hand and evaded a lot during the scenario. I would take it again since it nets me surely 5-6 additional card over the scenario. — Tharzax · 1
Thanks for opinions! I'm starting new format eote and tdl so I do not know those card yet but definitely looking forward to. And even recently I start to get the gist of game design. most of investigator who benefit from draw would likely be Survivor class. which often use hand as resource instead of normal resource. — Pawley · 34
I agree this card has gotten better over time. There are scenarios where evading enemies is the preferred way of dealing with them. Examples include the vengeance mechanic and mini-bosses that never truly die. In a vacuum this card may seem bad, but its practical for investigators who already want to evade like Finn and Trish. The card is fine and I wouldn't judge someone for running it. — SpicyNugy · 2
I think this is a good include in an [Underworld Support](/card/08046) side deck for evasion-focused investigators, especially with [Fence](/card/04108). The former keeps it out of the deck and never too far away until you need it, while the latter helps the action economy (and cost once you upgrade to [Pickpocketing](/card/03195)). — vercingix · 219
Heavy Furs

"Non- symbol" mean things like , , , , , , , , ... and not any numbers. I believe you cannot re-roll numbers.

Unexpectedly handy for Jim Culver for fishing out . Didn't do probability math but 2 resets on Standard with Jim feels like it reliably allows you to pass test that you are equal or 1 higher as needed. Similar feeling to having Lucky! ready on hand but need to wear it first.

5argon · 12452
Not very thematic for a Jazz musican, but maybe you can imagine that it's one of those racoon coats that were popular in the 20s.... — LivefromBenefitSt · 1102
Also considering that Jim can play scavenging :) — Valentin1331 · 88851
Mob Goons

An enemy weakness that asks the question "why do mob goons cause horror?" Looking at the two elements, the effect and the discard condition, we get:

The effect: Daniela clearly has some history with these guys, and so she knows how do deal with them. About the only special thing about them is that direct damage effect, which turns off things like Bandages†, Guard Dog, Peter Sylvestre (2) as well as soak in general. The horror component of their attack is more worrying for Daniela, since she has less Sanity to use, but these bad boys aren't likely to get more than one hit in before she finishes them off, so it's not that significant. As hunters, this isn't an enemy weakness you can ignore, and Daniela isn't big on evasion, so the "mitigation strategy is doing 3 damage in one action. The obvious plan is to use Mechanic's Wrench to provoke an attack, then defeat them with Daniela's ability and a wrench attack. It's so obvious that it's a little odd that they don't have 4 health just to mess with it. If you'd rather not take an attack, many weapons + Vicious Blow will do the trick, as will Chainsaw. Brute Force might be the most direct solution, as Daniela would attack at 8 vs 3, making the 3 damage pretty likely to land, even without extra boosting. If you are worried, throw in an Overpower and get a card draw. I'd also like to endorse HanoverFist's janky solution, above. It's not efficient, but very satisfying if you can pull it off..

The discard condition: Beat them like rented mules.†† It's likely to take Daniella 1, maybe 2, actions to finish them.

Like most enemy weaknesses, this is below average, unlikely to end a scenario or campaign or, really, cost you more than one action.

† Thanks to Susumu, I realized that I meant Flesh Ward, not Bandages. Mea culpa.

†† Note: this should not be taken as an endorsement of beating mules, who are mostly hardworking and affectionate creatures.

How should they turn off Bandages? You can heal direct damage like any other damage. — Susumu · 385
You are absolutely correct. I was actually thinking of Flesh Ward. The Goons go up slightly in my estimation, since they also turn off a bunch of the Survivor "escape death" cards, although that would be a pretty rare situation. — LivefromBenefitSt · 1102
...Why DO the Mob Goons cause horror...? — dezzmont · 226
That is a question for the ages. Maybe they are epistimic goons, and, while they beat you up, they also cause you to doubt the foundations of your own beliefs and how they were formed. "Nice conception of God you have here; it's be a pity if something happened to it..." — LivefromBenefitSt · 1102
Thanks for the nod to my silly Handcuffs-Interrogate-FineClothes combo! It was inspired by Mordenlordgrandison's Handcuffs-review that suggested perp-walking a fishman around the board and interrogating it. That said, as a Humanoid enemy who will show up at your location, Mob Goons ARE one of those rare weaknesses that actually enhance the value of some great cards, esp for Guardians/Daniela, such as Evidence! and Scene Of The Crime. — HanoverFist · 774
I don't quite get why they turn off Flesh ward. Flesh Ward does not cancel their attack, only the damage/horror dealt by the attack. The rules about direct damage they it can not be assigned anywhere else but it doesn't say that it can not be canceled. — guybrush · 20
Sorry, guybrush, I've been away for some fairly weird reasons, but... note that Flesh Ward can soak damage and/or horror for you. Normally, you don't use that until the end of it's life, but.... — LivefromBenefitSt · 1102
Stroke of Luck

Somewhat comparable to mystics' Seal of the Elder Sign which costs 5 exp. Both practically gives you an autosuccess.

Seal doesnt work as well if your stats are low and you need to put additional resources to succeed (arguably Preston Fairmont and sometimes Calvin Wright) but gives you the benefit of the investigator elder sign.

Stroke of luck also has a small chance of failure but can be used after revealing the token (and always gives +1 skill when commited).

In terms of the value of the elder sign, a lot of survivors have situational abilities that can be hard to quantify. Perhaps it's a moot point since (as far as I can recall) only Agnes Baker can take both cards. In her case, her elder sign just gives lots of stats. You'd be paying 5 exp just for an autosuccess where stroke of luck would only cost 2.

For most other investigators on average, the elder sign also gives you a 1.5 card advantage (like Mandy Thompson Harvey Walters, William Yorick, Silas Marsh, Father Mateo). 1.5 cards is worth about 2 exp (according to Emergency Cache and Lucky!).

So with seal of the elder sign you're paying 3 for the autosuccess and 2 for the side benefits. With stroke of luck, you're paying 2 for selective autosuccess after revealing a token (maybe that's worth 0.5 or 1 exp?).

In most cases you're paying only 2 exp for a around a 4 exp effect is a pretty good value exp wise. I think it might even be worth buying and rebuying for the last 2-3 scenarios of a campaign.

fates · 57
Seal has the additional benefit of helping your teammates, and it also provides +1 when committed. — SGPrometheus · 858
It's OPTIONAL. Exile only when you gotta. — MrGoldbee · 1520
Shadow Agents

An enemy signature weakness, designed to annoy Trish. Looking at the two elements, the effect and the discard condition, we get:

The effect: There are three ways to deal with this weakness, the mug's way, Trish's way, and Trish's other way. The mug's way is to fight them; that is likely to be 2, maybe 3 actions, although another investigator can always do the fighting for Trish. Trish's way is to evade them. As a , Trish has a lot of evade options. The entries above give some good suggestions, and Slip Away, Slip Away (2), Stealth, and Manual Dexterity (2) can help with the test. Trish's other way mostly involves boosting investigation checks and using Obfuscation to ignore the AoO (or just eat the damage; Trish has 8 health) and relying on Trish's special ability to evade them. The real secret of the Shadow Agents is: why are they hunters? If they get discarded, they aren't going to hunt, and there aren't too many cards that move an investigator without bringing the enemy with them.

The discard condition: Evade them or kill them.

All in all, this is a below average signature weakness, like most enemy weaknesses.

There are ways to disengage them, such as Elusive, Stealth, or Cat Burglar. — Death by Chocolate · 1510
Breaking and Entering was basically designed to neuter this weakness. It' — DjMiniboss · 44
*It's incredibly weak, and sometimes Trish is actively happy to spend a Breaking and Entering on it. — DjMiniboss · 44
Death by Chocolate: I assumed that there was *some* reason, but I completely forgot about Stealth and Co.... Thanks! — LivefromBenefitSt · 1102
DjMiniboss: Thank you! I had noted B&E to include, then spaced it when the kitchen timer went off, so I'm glad you mentioned it. — LivefromBenefitSt · 1102
My personal favorite way to deal with this weakness is to start an Investigation action and trigger Mr. Rook for 9 during the free trigger window in the test. Pull the weakness from the deck, pass the test, and then Trish-evade it all in the same action! — Death by Chocolate · 1510