2nd Character Add-On Deck


Rules Questions and Gameplay Discussion


So I bought the Add-On Deck from my FLGS before I knew about the subcription. I signed up for it in time to get the promos, but now I'm going to have a 2nd copy of the deck. Then I thought, why not just add in the banes and boons? I'm not talking about running with 2 copies of a hero though.

Are there and reasons from a balance or gameplay perspective that I shouldn't have the extra copies in the mix? I know they won't fit properly in the tray, but I sleeved so that bridge has been crossed.

Liberty's Edge

Pathfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

I would not recommend that because you are going to have an abnormal amount of Basic cards in the decks. Limiting you from getting better cards.


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If you are going to do that then I would suggest you make up 8 charators with cards instead of the normal max of 6 charators to make the balance of cards left in the box closer to normal.


agraham2410 wrote:
If you are going to do that then I would suggest you make up 8 charators with cards instead of the normal max of 6 charators to make the balance of cards left in the box closer to normal.

Thing is with the 1st copy of the deck I already don't leave any characters built between sessions. At most we've built three characters at one time, so this isn't really going to have an impact in the way you're thinking.

TClifford wrote:
I would not recommend that because you are going to have an abnormal amount of Basic cards in the decks. Limiting you from getting better cards.

This is the kinda thing I was worried about. Still aren't some of the cards in there worth having more of? Especially the amulets for instance?

Scarab Sages

Yes, some of the cards are worth having more of, but most aren't. What Tcliff and agraham are saying is that your signal-to-noise ratio isn't going to be improved by doing what you're planning on doing. The game is designed such that less powerful cards are "pushed out" of the game by more powerful cards, first merely through the ratio of powerful to non-powerful cards, then through slowly removing less powerful cards from the game in more difficult adventures.

The game's balance is pretty finely tuned to get you the cards you need to defeat more difficult scenarios later on; you could be hindering your own progress by mixing extraneous basic cards into the deck.


Good points,thanks for the responses. I was thinking about selectively adding only the useful stuff, but I guess I'll just find someone to take my extra copy instead.

Liberty's Edge

Pathfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Also, I should point out that the ratio of cards in the base game and character add-on is balanced so that only so many basic and even magical cards are in the game at any one time.

But again, you bought the game. You can play anyway you want. Yea there are a lot of rules and [IMHO] a lot of nitpicking on these boards, but it isn't like you are going to have to bring a character deck to a tournament or anything. You are just playing amongst your friends. If you are cool with adding the cards and so are your friends...have fun.


Heh, give us anal-retentive types a break! Our nitpicking is just an attempt to play the game the way it was meant to be played.
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OK, it's really nitpicking.


I actually did this and played it yesterday with a party. I had bought the base plus 6 character expansion and starting building decks (because I missed the part in the manual that says not to do this :). Well I got up to 7 when I started seeing the starvation of cards happening, especially with blessings of the gods which I now realize is a very important card to have a great deal of in the box. So I struck on the idea of adding a second expansion. I also, built out 8 total character decks (and have my eye on doing the other 3, one of each). I tried it yesterday and had a decent sized group. I was extremely pleased when the box starvation had been cured and the game felt flushed out again like when I first played it.

But now here's the rub. There's only 1 or 2 of a given card (say holy candle or promo card) which is now locked away in one of the decks. My players all like having their own decks (I've given them character sheets from the pdf).

Should I be cataloging that a particular deck has that card and pulling those rare items back into the box so someone else can pick it up, or just say that character has that item and no one else can until he loses or gives it up?

Scarab Sages

If you're playing with multiple groups, you should catalog their decks using the character sheets and disassemble those decks (put those cards back) when switching groups...if that's what you're asking. If it's just one group, then yes - the one person that has a unique card is the only one who can have it unless they give it up.

It's not terribly clear exactly what you're doing - did you add a second character add-on deck? Are you playing with more than six characters? One way or another, though, it sounds like you're not doing something according to the game design / instructions, so I'm not sure anyone's going to be able to advise you on what to do...

Liberty's Edge

Pathfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

If you add a second character deck then you are messing up with the fixed distribution of the different decks. Adding weaker cards that will decrease the chances of finding better cards latter on.

I don't recommend this.

I still don't understand why people feel the need to build all the character decks. It takes like 5 minutes most to build a deck. Paizo has even given out free character sheets to keep track of every PC in ever game you are playing.

But, to each his own I guess.


I was actually contemplating only adding the strong cards from the second pack, such as the amulet, and leaving the weaker cards out. I don't still plan on doing that, but the idea wasn't to dilute the cards as much as add 2nd copies of cards that other members of the party could find useful.


You can do that if you like, but deep down you'll know you're cheating ;)


h4ppy wrote:
You can do that if you like, but deep down you'll know you're cheating ;)

Hilarious :)

You know I’ve cheated a little, maybe peaked at a card or maybe played some card after I saw a previous result but hey were all still friends’ right?


Iesha Foxglove is nobody's friend.

Scarab Sages

h4ppy wrote:
Iesha Foxglove is nobody's friend.

Your Charisma / Diplomacy skill just isn't high enough to make her your friend.

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