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The Arkham Horror world is huge, as is the list of expansions and cards available for the Arkham Horror LCG. As such it can be hard to know what to buy. That is where the series of Investigator starter decks come in. They make a perfect addition for new players to the game, giving them a brand new investigator with an entirely pre-constructed deck, making it an easy entry point. Whilst for the seasoned veterans these decks often contain new powerful players cards to add to their vast collection. Which brings us straight to the powerhouse that is Jacqueline Fine.
Jacqueline Fine emerges as a powerful addition to any player's roster of investigators. A Mystic class investigator who specialises in chaos token manipulation, taking the sting out of those dreaded token pulls. This playstyle offers a new captivating layer of strategy for players which feels clever and satisfying to execute, taking a lot of the unpredictability out of the chaos bag, letting players succeed in tests where they would almost certainly fail. Jacqueline Fine is a perfect introduction to the ‘Willpower Matters’ playstyle that is present throughout the Mystic card pool. Jacqueline Fines' preconstructed deck is for the most part well rounded and balanced, if a little light on economy given the high cost of many of her cards, but that is easily fixed with the inclusion of an Emergency Cache, making this a perfect pick up and play pack for new players.
What’s Included: A Sweet Suite of Spells
Just like the other 4 investigator starter decks within this pack you are provided with a fully preconstructed deck of 34 cards that players can use to jump straight into the action. Perfect for new players who don’t yet want to worry about constructing their own decks from scratch. In addition to this you are also given 26 upgrade cards to customise and include in the deck as you play through a campaign. These upgrades give players the opportunity to dip their toes into the process of building their own decks. Alongside the card you also receive a booklet containing all the information you need about Jacqueline Fine and her playstyle. Perfect for new players as it explains the benefits of some of the more critical cards in the deck.
Jacqueline Fine: Coming with a fairly standard stat line stands out with a willpower of 5, strengthening the tried and tested mystic strategy of using their willpower to do whatever they need through specialised spell assets. Her signature skill specialises in chaos token manipulation, a specialisation that is also represented in some of the cards within this pack.
Spell Assets: Jacqueline's deck contains a full suite of spell assets, including all of their upgraded versions. For a new player this is a huge plus as it would take a while to piece this together through other expansions. These spells cover a range of abilities, including investigation, combat, and evasion, making this a well rounded set of spells. The inclusion of Azure Flame, Clairvoyance and Ineffable Truth, alongside their upgraded versions, in this pack means players can build Jacqueline to fit any investigative role they see fit, from clue getter to monster slayer.
Ritual Cards: In addition to her spells, Jacqueline's deck also includes a selection of cards designed to complement her playstyle of chaos token manipulation. Including Ritual Candles to lessen the impact of a bad chaos token draw. Or Recharge to help get more mileage out of your all important spell cards by refuelling their charges.
Skills and Events: Jacqueline's deck also comes with a selection of skills and events that provide her additional support. Voice of Ra gives a good dose of economy which combines with Jacqueline's token manipulation. An upgraded Guts is also a welcome sight in this pack since Jacqueline, alongside most other mystics, relies on her willpower for everything, being able to boost almost any of your tests by +3 and draw 2 cards is a staple in any mystic deck.
Final Thoughts
The Jacqueline Fine Investigator Starter Deck provides players with a very powerful new mystic investigator. Sometimes described as almost cheating when you use this investigator. The player cards include a full suite of spells that mean Jacqueline can be used in any role and many different playstyles. A perfect set for beginners to give them a good collection of powerful mystic spells in one place. Whilst also a good set for advanced players as it contains a few key cards that are always valuable to have even in a larger collection. One downside is that for veteran players Jacqueline Fine herself may not add too much variety to other mystics in the game, as most mystics are tilted heavily towards using willpower to succeed.
