Why did the skeleton refuse surgery? No backbone!
We hope you enjoyed our little joke because now we have to address the serious matter of Carnevale this Halloween. To be more precise, today’s TTCommunity topic is how to start a Doctor’s gang in Carnevale! Written by Dario from ‘Monsters behind the Masks’ we hope you enjoy this in-depth guide.
The following is written by Dario.
Hello! Here it is my first article for TTCommunity. Hope you like it.
“Get your PhD in no time with Dario.”
This is a transcription taken from the lesson “Starter Gang: the Gateway to Your Greatness,” held on San Servolo Island on October 20th, 1795.
Welcome to this class, students. I’m Doctress Livia Trevisan, First Associate Professor at the Ospedale in Venice, specializing in mental disorders caused by mystical madness. I am the professor charged with tutoring you, esteemed students.
The objective of today’s lesson is to teach you how to start and expand your very first Doctors collection, bringing it up to a strength of 100 Ducats. First of all, the best place to start your studies is by acquiring the Doctors Starter Gang.
This box gives you a solid, versatile leader in the shape of a Plague
Doctor: 2 powerful Magic Disciples to choose from, a reliable stat line, protective abilities for your associates, and the humorous—if you will excuse me for using an “unprofessional” word—possibility of testing some plagues in the unfortunate case of an early demise of your valuable collaborators. HEY YOU! YES, YOU TWO OVER THERE!SILENCE! …Unless you want to go back to tying up madmen! Now… The Plague Doctor comes together with two dependable team members: an Ordinance Doctor from La Grazia research grounds and a Warden for personal protection. The Ordinance Doctor brings his experimental weaponry to the theatre of operations. No better place to run some tests with live ammunition, if I may say so. If the Plague Doctor is nearby and has chosen spells from the Fate weaving discipline, Marksman’s Fortune and Blessing from the Skies can greatly enhance the effectiveness of the Spirit Cannon. I can assure you that your experiments will produce some quite explosive results. As for the Warden, keep him close if your Doctors need to advance towards the enemies (or if they dare to come near you!). His bodyguard ability, paired with the Knockback mace, can repel anyone who charges your valuable savants. The gang is rounded out by a couple of madmen, who provide the necessary Will Point stash. Now, I’m sure you’ve already mastered the ways of the Starter Gang (maybe you follow Monsters Behind the Masks—editor’s note), but how do you boost it to 100 Ducats? Of course, there are infinite possibilities, depending on your experience with the rules, your play style, and personal preferences.
However, I wish to give you my advice. Well, you’re here for this, aren’t you? Well, since you’re here, you’re probably beginners and it’s better to keep you light on additional magic and interactions that your untrained minds can’t cope with yet. In order to maximize your in-game choices and help you master your gang, my suggested choice goes to the Beast Tamers. I can hear your thoughts (yes, I actually can): is she insane? No, I’m not. Otherwise, I’d be tied up in a straitjacket, locked three rooms away from here. Anyway, Beast Tamers offers you an amazing variety of choices, making you able to support your Starter Gang and tackle any kind of scenario.
Let’s start with the hero included, the Doctor of the Beast. This esteemed colleague is the linchpin of this box, being able to control and, if necessary, enrage his lion and gorilla through a wise use of his passive and command abilities. He isn’t a slouch in combat either, even though the front line is usually a place we scholars tend to avoid. The creatures included with the Beast Tamers are a gorilla and a lion, as I mentioned. The gorilla literally stitches together Flight and Bodyguard, creating the ultimate personal protector. Take advantage of his 40mm base to grapple away any assailant threatening your Doctors, and always remember that gorillas are smart creatures (even if a bit primitive) and can secure objectives for you. The lion is another great asset, perfect if you prefer a more direct approach to scientific problems. Its damage output is consistent, paired with superb mobility. Make it hunt and guard objectives, and watch those pesky little slippery pilferers quickly reconsider their strategies.
Lastly, this set includes two Lab Assistants. These invaluable helpers can be really handy in supporting your main fighters. I personally performed autopsies on many foes who underestimated the powerful stun effect of a well-placed shock prod. Remember to use them, especially if your mission is to control objectives! This set brings your gang up to 108 Ducats, giving you flexibility and options. When you’re feeling ready, use these two boxes as a starting point to expand your collection, maybe towards more powerful creatures and a Master of Zoology from the “Monstrous Menagerie” set. Or, if you opt for more subtle ways, acquire Esoteric Investigation and ask for the aetheric services of a Doctor of the Firmament. Master the field, conduct experiments, make mistakes, and take notes on everything! Only the scientific method can advance mankind. Class dismissed. —
Thanks guys! You’re the best.
Dario (Monsters behind the Masks)
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