Featured in The OverPower Homebase, Issue #5
I had already played many games with (and against) the powerhouse that is the Count of Monte Cristo. But it wasn’t until the playtest tournament in Boston, in a game where I got destroyed by Sean Ballantyne, that I witnessed how powerful an Intelligence-based deck based around these particular characters could be.
I went home and built my own version. Having two characters with an 8 on their grid is really strong, especially when one of them also has a negate (much rarer in the new environment). In this deck, Intelligence shines. Matching that flavor, the deck gives one the potential to outsmart and tactically outmaneuver one’s opponent.
A brutal combo that the Count can unleash is “Jacopo”, a 4 Brute Force attack that allows a face down additional attack (as long as it’s not an Any Character Special). The opponent then has to guess the defense they are going to play. A great strategy is to then play, as one’s face down card, “Network of Thieves”. That card, a 6 Intelligence attack, discards 2 of opponent’s cards (placed to target or in hand) if it is successful. So when one plays against “Jacopo”, it is advisable to at least play a 6; otherwise, that two card combo can really change card advantage for that battle!
Count also has “Surprise Swordsman”, an avoid (against only Combat or Brute Force) that also causes an opponent discard. “Friend to Foe” steals a Power card, which is then used to attack a different character. And “Unlimited Resources” draws three cards.
Sherlock Holmes has negates (one pure One Per Deck, and another offensive only) and a ‘pin’ (or lockout) that makes it so both he and a target character can’t attack. He also has “Unpredictable Mind”, a 4 Multi that allows a follow-up, and “Probability Evaluation”, which removes one of opponent’s cards from the game. “Irene Adler” is a 5 Energy that, if it hits, makes opponent play open handed for the rest of that battle (an obvious, even elementary card when running “221-B Baker Street”).
Professor Moriarty’s cards include “Tactical Fighter”, a 5 Combat that allows a Special follow-up. “Criminal Mastermind” makes opponent -10 to Venture that battle. “Napoleon of Crime” attaches, allowing him (for the rest of that battle) to use any Intelligence Power card to avoid any attack (for him or a teammate). “Future Plans” is aptly named, as it can be thrown down when either player concedes the battle. The Professor’s team may take 3 cards from hand and put them on top of the Draw Pile, setting up your next hand. This can even be done if the concession happens during the Venture Phase. Lastly, “Complex Criminal Schemes” is a 3 Brute Force/Intelligence attack that does not count towards Venture Total (but does still help with spectrum KO). If it is defended, Moriarty may search his Draw Pile or Dead Pile for “Mathematical Genius” and put it into play immediately. “Mathematical Genius” allows the player to look at the top six cards of the Draw Pile, pick one you like, and then place “Mathematical Genius” back on top of the Draw Pile again (effectively, a slightly weaker “With Great Power…”).
It’s time to put your thinking cap on and start plotting intricate schemes with Intelligence!
Home Base
The Round Table
Characters
Sherlock Holmes
Count of Monte Cristo
Professor Moriarty
Korak (Reserve)
Mission
Tarzan of the Jungle
DECK (58)
Ally (1)
Queen Guinevere
Aspect (1)
Any Homebase Supay
Events (1)
Meeting Jane Porter
Power Cards (22)
1 Combat
1 Energy
2 Combat
2 Energy
3 Brute Force x2
3 Multipower
4 Intelligence x2
4 Multipower
5 Combat
5 Intelligence
5 Multipower
6 Any Power
6 Combat
6 Intelligence
7 Intelligence x3
8 Intelligence x3
Specials (30)
Any Character Disorient Opponent
Any Character Fairy Protection
Any Character Freya: Goddess of Protection
Any Character Grim Reaper
Any Character Hades: Lord of the Underworld
Any Character Merlin’s Magic
Any Character Mystical Energy
Any Character Oni and Succubus
Any Character The Gemini
Any Character Valkyrie Hildr: Select the Slain
Count of Monte Cristo Friend to Foe
Count of Monte Cristo Jacobo x2
Count of Monte Cristo Network of Thieves x2
Count of Monte Cristo Surprise Swordsman
Count of Monte Cristo Unlimited Resources
Korak Like Father, Like Son
Professor Moriarty Complex Criminal Scheme
Professor Moriarty Criminal Mastermind
Professor Moriarty Future Plans
Professor Moriarty Mathematical Genius
Professor Moriarty Napoleon of Crime
Professor Moriarty Tactical Fighter
Sherlock Holmes Battle of Wits
Sherlock Holmes Brilliant Deduction
Sherlock Holmes Irene Adler
Sherlock Holmes Logical Reasoning
Sherlock Holmes Probability Evaluation
Sherlock Holmes Unpredictable Mind
Teamworks (3)
6 +0/+0 Any Power
7 +0/+1 Any Power
4/7 I +1/+1 C/BF