Joe Diamond - Solo Return to The Essex County Express

Spoiler Warning

Return to the Dunwich Legacy solo (Standard difficulty):
Disclaimer: semi-blind run - several decisions within the game as well as in deck-building is done with prior knowledge of the Campaign in mind.
Though this is my first run on Return and with Joe Diamond.

Upgrades:
After getting the Khopesh of the Abyss, need a Bandolier to carry it around. The +1 also helps.
Decided to drop an Inquiring Mind as it can be difficult to use when I don't have Quick Study out.

Return to The Essex County Express:

Summary:
Again, Pathfinder feels like the MVP here.
The Khopesh of the Abyss was immense, the +3 on checks meant I didn't need to commit cards to ensure I hit the target.
It also helped to be Well Prepared

Game Begins: Put Ace of Swords in play

• Turn 1:
  Play Dr. Milan Christopher
  Investigate (5 vs 2) (-2: success; +1 resource)
  Play Hawk-Eye Folding Camera

• Turn 2:
  Encounter: Helpless Passenger surge Broken Rails (-1 action)
  Investigate commit Eureka! (6 vs 2) (-1: success; +1 resource; draw Pathfinder) Hawk-Eye Folding Camera
  Helpless Passenger: Parley

• Turn 3: Advance Agenda (spawn The Conductor)
  Encounter: Idle Hands
  Evade The Conductor commit Take the Initiative (5 vs 3) (: success)
  Play Pathfinder
  Exhaust Pathfinder: move to Passenger Car (1 damage & 1 horror)
  Discard Idle Hands (2 damage, +1 action)
  Investigate (5 vs 1 shroud) (-1: success; +1 resource) Hawk-Eye Folding Camera
  to Parlor Car
  Working a Hunch (Hunch) Hawk-Eye Folding Camera

• Turn 4:
  Encounter: Acolyte
  Exhaust Pathfinder: move to Freight Car
  Fight Acolyte (5 vs 3) (: success - kill Acolyte)
  Investigate (6 vs 1 shroud) (-1: success; +1 resource)
  Preposterous Sketches (Hunch)
  Enemy: The Conductor to Passenger Car
  Freight Car: Test (2 vs 1) (), commit Inquiring Mind (5 vs 1) (-4: success)

• Turn 5: Advance Agenda (remove Passenger Car from game)
  Encounter: Mysterious Chanting (spawn Acolyte)
  Investigate (6 vs 1 shroud) (0: success; +1 resource)
  Play Khopesh of the Abyss
  Exhaust Pathfinder: move to Passenger Car (discard Ancient Ankh)
  Khopesh of the Abyss on Acolyte (8 vs 3) (: success - kill Acolyte)
  Enemy: The Conductor to Parlor Car

• Turn 6:
  Encounter: Claws of Steam commit Steadfast (6 vs 3) (-1: success)
  Scene of the Crime (Hunch)
  Play Well Prepared (WP)
  Investigate WP (7 vs 3 shroud) (-4: success; +1 resource)
  Exhaust Pathfinder: move to Sleeping Car
  Enemy: The Conductor to Freight Car

• Turn 7:
  Encounter: Emergent Monstrosity
  Investigate (6 vs 4) (-3: fail)
  Investigate (6 vs 4) (0: success;+1 resource)
  Exhaust Pathfinder: move to Engine Car
  Advance Act (Test WP (7 vs 3) (-2: success)
  Khopesh of the Abyss on Emergent Monstrosity commit Vicious Blow (9 vs 4) (: success - 3 damage)
  Enemy: The Conductor to Passenger Car

• Turn 8: Advance Agenda (remove Passenger Car from game)
  Encounter: A Baleful Welcome (cannot Investigate this round)
  Khopesh of the Abyss on Emergent Monstrosity (8 vs 4) (-1: success - kill Emergent Monstrosity and add to Victory Display)
  Parley with Engineer (6 vs 4) (-2: success)
  Parley with Engineer WP (7 vs 4) (-3: success)
  Enemy: The Conductor to Passenger Car
  Refresh: draw The Thing That Follows

• Turn 9:
  Encounter: Helpless Passenger surge Need for Knowledge (6 vs 1) (: success)
  Parley with Engineer (6 vs 4) (: fail)
  Parley with Engineer WP (7 vs 4) (-2: success)

Scenario Ends ( R1 : 3VP )