RPG Superstar 2011 Top 32
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So I got my copy of set 5 last night, and now we finally have the ability to rasie dead characters. So I got to thinking - is this a card I really want to keep if I get it?
Pros:
- It's a great panic button. If you have a character die it lets them come back and not be dead at the end of the scenario. It prevents the hideous consequences of character death, i.e. starting basically over.
- Death being less risky means it's more feasible to take big risks to win a scenario.
Cons:
- It uses up a valuable spell slot.
- By this point most of us are very good at avoiding death.
- Does you no good if the character holding it is the one that dies.
So is it worth using up a card slot in a deck for a spell that may never see use? Basically a security blanket? Is there any way to play super hard and fast knowing that raise dead is there to save you?
I don't think it's going to be a keeper in my 2 player game I play with my girlfriend, but I could see keeping one in the group when you get to 4 or more players.
I haven't gotten deck 5 yet, but I can think of a few characters who might easily keep it in their deck. Some of these assume it is a divine spell. All of them can do something else with it until it is needed.
1. Merisiel: She'd need to take a card feat for spells, but this might be the reason to do it. She can use it for her recharge power until she needs it for its power.
2. Harsk: Again, he'd need the card feat, but he also has a shot at recharging it and keeping it. And again, it can fuel his aid to combat in other locations when people aren't dead.
3. Lini: It can be her discard for her d10 strength/dexterity until someone is dead.
4. Kyra: She can use it to fuel her healing.
5. Seelah (Hospitalier): Again, can use it to fuel her healing.
6. Lem: Can use it for his swap or his d4 bonus until someone dies.
So, it might be worth considering hanging on to it.
Personally, I can't see using it. I'm sure some players will appreciate the security it offers, but I haven't felt worried about dying in some time. If anyone can afford to use it, it would be Lem, since he can pitch it for another spell in his discard pile, or someone wired like Harsk, who could take the spell and use it to fuel his recharge power until he needs it, but those both seem like stretches to me. However, I am sure some players will love the spell.
I posted a thread on my assessment of all boons in this AP over at BGG, if anyone is interested.
edit: Bah! Ninja-ed by hawkmoon!
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Rules as written, there is virtually no penalty whatsoever for waiting for the blessings deck to time out if you're ever in danger of death. Therefore, if you pay attention to your remaining deck size, you should never have to worry about dying.
I play with penalties for failing a scenario, so this card could be situationally useful so we don't worry too much about using valuable turns healing (Kyra has to give up an exploration for that), but overall, I think it would just be more useful to have another heal or utility spell in its place.
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I think it is simply too powerful. A discard is crazy in my opinion, especially with a recharge option. I was expecting, and hoping, it would be a bury with a check to discard instead (and the usual "banish if you don't have divine")
I got it the first scenario as Kyra using Emerald Codex's bury power. We only had a few turns left, and my brother started his turn almost dead. I easily had the cards to slaughter the boss, and we've been waiting to see this card since I first saw the character sheet PDFs. We decided to have him discard his hand before resetting it, causing his end of turn drawing to kill him, and my next turn I played the spell to bring him back and kill the Villain. Did he have to die? No. But it was so satisfying to finally play Raise Dead!!
I acquired one in my playthrough, but couldn't keep it on my Lem, because it took up a spot that could be held by something much better, and with my Lem, he is in a two person group. In a larger group, I think that it could be useful, because you can build into more of a support role, instead of a location farmer.
On a side note, I have only ever seen one character die since I have had the game. I know that a lot of the barriers and monsters are much more difficult in the adventure, though. It may be useful, but I do not think it is useful, yet.
When you die, you bury all your cards.
Chief Technical Officer
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Actually, he's right—the rulebook just said to put them under your character card, and did not use the word bury. This has been fixed.
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RPG Superstar 2011 Top 32
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I know that a lot of the barriers and monsters are much more difficult in the adventure, though. It may be useful, but I do not think it is useful, yet.
The very existence of Raise Dead makes me wonder if we might see some very rare Save-or-Die type effects. At this stage in the RPG they begin to show up with some frequency. For those unfamiliar with the RPG, this is an effect that you get usually one roll to avoid that kills your character. The card game equivalent would be something like "Pass a Constitution or Fortitude 10 check or bury the top 10 cards of your deck" or other such super nasty effect.
If instant death starts becoming possible Raise Dead shoots up drastically in usefulness.
Ouch. Assuming Raise Dead isn't Arcane, that would be horrible for any group that doesn't have a Divine skilled character (such as my wife and I's Ezren, Sajan, Merisiel, Amiri group).
Should get my cards today or tomorrow. Can't wait.
Hawk, I think it is a little sad that you don't have your cards yet. Hopefully you can get them and start playing.
Yeah, I have not really seen anything that really punishes you, other than the Clay Golem. I hate that monster. I just pick up my hand and toss it into the discard when I am playing a caster.
Yeah, I feel Hawk's pain. My wife ordered from Amazon and the status on the order is "Not yet shipped" and still showing as preorder. I think they are estimating a May delivery date. :-(
Oh wow, Pixel, I feel bad for you as well. Surprised you aren't a sub, actually. I can say that there is a definite advantage to being a sub. I understand not being one, though. Hopefully you get yours soon, and can enjoy it.
I don't have mine yet either, it has yet to make it to my LGS.
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I'd like to see a self-destruct spell now that Raise Dead exists.
"Bury this card when you encounter any bane to defeat it; if you do, your character dies. Banish any non-Villain bane defeated by Self-Destruct.
Banish this card if you do not have the arcane trait.
Recharge: none"
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Remember that if you use this card to end the scenario, there is no chance to revive your character.
My cards have arrived. To the Sleeving Room! (aka The living room.)...After dinner with the wife and kids first...And some fun time with the kids, because they are more fun than PACG. But right after that sleeving, then my wife and I shall vanquish the forces of evil after bedtime.
How I've missed you Ezren and Sajan. And you too Merisiel and Amiri.
My cards have arrived. To the Sleeving Room! (aka The living room.)...After dinner with the wife and kids first...And some fun time with the kids, because they are more fun than PACG. But right after that sleeving, then my wife and I shall vanquish the forces of evil after bedtime.
How I've missed you Ezren and Sajan. And you too Merisiel and Amiri.
How do you fit the cards in the box with sleeves? I always play sleeveless, and after part 5, I'm getting real close to running out of space in the box.
I bought this thing. And I'm loving it.
One sec and I'll post a link to pictures of it loaded with cards through deck 4.
EDIT: Here are pics.
Before that I built this.
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I was planning to buy the Broken Token organizers, but then I saw UltraPro is coming out with a case later this year (supposedly) that holds an entire AP sleeved. I'm saving to see what that looks like first. Of course, I also have to have Pathfinder sleeves (yes, have to!), so I fear I either won't be sleeping, or I'll be spending over $100 on their PF sleeves that release this summer...
Where did you see that bit of news?
Never mind. Vic just posted this link.
Can't wait to see it. I didn't get the character mats, but the sleeve, adventure mat, and case will be something I'm interested in.
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On the "Raise Dead" card...
Obviously, this card is custom-designed for Kyra (and other divine-centric casters...although I see in the Pathfinder OGC that witches can cast it, too, so I wonder if they'll do anything with that). She has the ability to use this spell as a cure, if she has it in hand, so in that sense it's not a "waste" of a spell slot. It's also a great "just-in-case" card, to boot. Not to mention the items and other things we're seeing now that require discarding a spell to use for an effect...those "just-in-case" cards might have more uses than those described on the card itself.