Some Tips for New players

[Faray]

Hopefully some helpful advice from someone who has played this too much on mobile

Party Building

When building your party 3-4 members is general the easiest size (As the game recommends) More characters = more locations to close, less characters = less options for dealing with checks

Speaking of building parties This game has a lot of combat, so you to try and balance what attacks your party uses so you can use most of the cards. There are 4 main types melee weapons (STR) ranged weapons (DEX), aracne spells (INT or CHR) and divine spells (WIS or CHR). Some characters use multiple types. I try to have a party that has all 4 of types being used.

Blessings are valuable. A blessing grants you either an extra explore, or an extra die to anyone’s check. Generally speaking it’s best to use blessings against hard banes, than trying to get boons. Only use blessings for a boon if it’s going to be a really good card

Generally speaking, you will lose more by running out of time than dying (Unless you are using under 3 people). Try to plan around being able to close locations fast. Cards that let you look at the location and arrange them are very strong (Augury for example may be the best spell in the game). Don’t be afraid to use blessings to explore if you are running low on time, but try to save a blessing for the villain

Related to the above, don’t overstock on healing spells. I tend to carry 1-3 cures (Depending on how many chars I’m using) and use mostly other things for healing. Having your divine caster draw 4 cure’s in their opening hand does more harm than good. There are plenty of items and allies that can heal you and do other things.

Game Play

Make sure to pay attention to a locations closing requirements when you send somewhere there. If the requirement is Wisdom 8 to close, you don’t want someone who rolls a d4 wisdom there. Defeating a henchmen at a location but not closing it really slows you down.

If you know which location the villain is (Exploration cards, he could only escape to one possible location) you have a huge advantage. Set yourself up so you can close every other location before you fight him. If you fight the villain and he runs away you may waste turns trying to find him again. Generally speaking the best time to fight the villain is after 2 locations are closed. Then you can have the rest of your characters at locations they can easily close with one person to fight the henchman.

When you defeat a henchman his location closes without having to do the closing requirements. If you have a location you can’t easily close, leave this location open and try to get the villain into that location.

Character Improvement

I find it’s easier to specialize your characters. I tend to get +4 in their primary skill quickly before branching off. There are exceptions but early on that works well

Abilities that let you recharge cards tend to be strong. Recharging cards lets you get rid of cards that aren’t’ helping you currently without discarding and helps cycle your deck.

Abilities that provide general bonuses to checks are strong as well. For example Lini’s ability to reveal an animal and give 1d4+X is really good since that can be added to any check.

You can’t respec so plan your characters a bit. After the 3rd path you get to choose between two advanced roles, so you want to try and plan your character around that. On the other hand you don’t have to worry too much at least on normal as any combination is beatable

I'm sure there's more stuff others may add, but this should be some good things to help out newer players.

[-Drake]

Thank you.

[PSXfiles]

Also going go stress using Blessings and Allies for the extra explore, they are key to getting through a location fast. If I have two Blessings I always use one to explore. Don't forget that other characters can play Blessings on the active character in combat no matter where they are! I also rarely hold on to allies. If I hold on to them just to use them at the right moment they tend to clog up my hand, and cycling through your deck is very important.

And on that note, if you are still having trouble, try using the druid. She can recharge her animal allies instead of discarding them when she explores.

[Redblock]

Played RotR paper version full, think its way too easy (compared to my favorite Skull and Shackles), PC version added some fixes, but normal mode still too easy, now finished first 2 adventures on normal, and want to try hard mode, it seems to be unlocked, but I want to use new characters, as using leveled characters is as i said too easy. So question, how to start hard mode with new characters?

[Nagumo]

Could someone explain the deckbuilding mechanic. Do i get it right, that you have your whole collection only at the beginning of an adventure? After that you have to build around the cards you will find in the scenarios?
What is with treasure chests? Does the unclaimed cards are also available after the start. So is it useful to buy treasure chests after the start of an adventure.

I have bought the obsidian version and quite overhelmed with all the options. Because of the banished mechanic i'm really carefull what to do or what i will change.

[Wok]

Edit: Oops! I mistook banish for bury!

If I recall correctly, "banishing" a card only removes it from the deck for the duration of the current adventure. You don't lose cards. After the adventure is completed, you can modify your deck if you want, but you don't have to.

[taclane]

Originally posted by Nagumo:

Could someone explain the deckbuilding mechanic

> Do i get it right, that you have your whole collection only at the beginning of an adventure?

Somewhat. When you first start, characters begin with their "suggested" deck build. Before you attempt the first scenario, you are free to swap out any of those cards with other B-Deck Basic cards in your possession.

> After that you have to build around the cards you will find in the scenarios?

Yes, as you progress through the game, you will discover better and stronger cards to equip your characters. Those cards you chose not to keep ("banish"), just return to the card pool and maybe you will see them again later.

> What is with treasure chests? ... unclaimed cards ...

Treasure cards are found through treasure chests. They are added to your collection in addition to whatever you may have been granted through the Obsidian edition DLC pack. They may or may not be a little more "powerful" than other cards on their deck level, and often come from other adventures or expansions in the Pathfinder ACG tabletop game. They add a little variety to the game, and buying chests gives you something to do with earned gold.

A smallish random selection of your treasure cards are mixed into the base game each scenario, and they then have the same odds of discovery as any other card.

Any cards that are in your stash or "unclaimed cards" section are available to your party at any point in the game. Yeah, it feels a little like cheating, but if you score some awesome high-level cards from a treasure chest, there's nothing stopping you from handing them off to a new party.

> I have bought the obsidian version and quite overhelmed with all the options.

Honestly, it is usually fine to just go with the party defaults. The only thing I ever tend to do is swap out potions for other items (just a personal preference). Even though the game is played with cards, it is easier not to think of this as a deck building game. Each character has a certain, limited inventory, and you're just trying to equip them with things that best fit their powers and your play style. Anything you don't think you'll need, just banish or salvage it.

There's really no worries about banishing cards. Nothing is ever permanently lost in this game. Any card your party doesn't currently possess just returns to the "game box" and has a chance of being dealt out later.

Good luck!

[Nagumo]

@taclane

Big thx you! All my questions are answered. I'm now with my first party at the third scenario and have this feeling about being addicted :)

Game is good in it's own way. Really like it so far

Greetz Nagumo and Good luck to you too