Maximize fun: use character add-on deck with four or less players?

[El Tea]

I bought the add-on deck for my original group, but my new group is 3 players. Obviously, having the extra classes is good. But should I still add in the other cards? I realize it can certainly "work" either way, but would it be more or less fun, and why?

El Tea

[skizzerz]

Up to you, my home game is only 2 players right now and I have the add on deck mixed in. Doing so somewhat dilutes the card pool, but also gives you more options overall as there are more copies of some cards, so less fighting to see who gets a particular one as an upgrade. I don't personally believe that one way is more "fun" than the other. That being said, I found mixing class deck cards in to be less fun because it greatly diluted the card pool and the added cards oftentimes didn't fit in with the pirate theme or otherwise didn't help as much as base/add on deck cards for the particular challenges of S&S.

[Michael Klaus]

I am playing with 4 characters in each Box. It never bothered me to have the Class Decks in since we often used characters that make use of some of those cards, like Feiya and additional animal allies or Damiel and the "bombs".
Our ROTR box is really off right now we play with the Cleric and Wizard Deck. It bothers me less that some cards do not fit thematically, but mechanically like those that deal with the Swashbuckling trait, like the Eyepatch.
On the other hand in an unbalanced group of a Wizard, a Cleric, a Bard and a Ranger (who really topped it by taking the feat that gave him the Divine skill) you can never have too many spells in a box. And not enough other cards that are meant for spellcasters

[Firedale2002]

The Character Add-on deck can be added to the set with minimal dilution, as it was included in the planning by the designers to be added if it was available, and they recommend adding it even if you're not playing with 5-6 people. (This can also prepare the game for those 'just in case' games where you might have extra people come)

Concerning the Class Decks mentioned by the other posters, the designers have said that you should only add cards from a class deck if you're using a character from that class deck.

If you buy the rogue and cleric decks but you're only using a character from the rogue deck, you wouldn't put any of the cards from the cleric deck into the box. If you're not playing a character from the rogue class deck at all, then you wouldn't add those cards, either.

[Orbis Orboros]

I ALWAYS play with the add-on deck. It tends to add more stuff that's often wanted, and in particular, the extra cards are needed if any of your players pick the add-on characters (for example, Damiel wants the extra Tot Flask). Plus it saves the hassle of adding and removing it each game.

[Preston Poulter]

I have played with and without, and I much prefer without.

[bbKabag]

I think the add-on should just come in together with the Base set to begin with. All the adventure decks scale up to 6 players anyway.