Today's card is the first I will do that Gandalf has not already done. I was actually kind of surprised that he hasn't.
Thorough Search - Resource - Short-event
Scout only. Tap a scout during the site phase to allow another character in his
company to play any minor, major, or gold ring item normally found at its
current site. The company must face any automatic-attack for its current site
at least once during this site phase. This does not tap the site, and Thorough
Search can be played at a site that is already tapped.
This card is one of the two bases of the much-discussed "Indiana Jones" deck. Its premise is fairly simple, get an item without worrying about the tapped status of a site. Its cost seems fairly minor as well: just tapping a scout.
Fist off, although erratta has hurt this card a little bit (now you can't play two greater items, but you can still get a greater for 5 and a major for 4), but it's still a very good card. It is primarily useful in decks with lots of items (duh) with a fair number of characters in one company. Even if you don't tap anybody for the auto-attack, you will need one character to play the first item, a scout for this card, another character for the second item, and another if you want to complete the combo with a Rescue Prisoners for 11 MPs.
This card doesn't have to be used in an Indy Jones deck. If you end up with a couple of items in your hand, having this around can save a turn or two of movement. Also, if you are at a greater hoard item site, you can maximize your benefits (assuming you have enough untapped characters) with this card to bring in two hoard items (Emerald of the Mariner AND a Valiant Sword anyone?). Or you could put this card in a roadblock deck if you anticipate getting out Long Winter or Foul Fumes out.
As has been mentioned, this card has a bit more of a cost than it seems. In order to play this card, you must tap a scout. This means if you don't bring him in during the site phase with A Chance Meeting, you must have a scout and a couple item players untapped during your site phase, which means you may have to take some risks facing hazard creatures.
So all in all, Thorough Search is one of the many very useful common cards upon
which whole decks are based.
| Ratings for Thorough Search: | |
|---|---|
| Isildur: | 8.5 |
| Frodo: | 6.5 |
| Farmer Maggot: | 8.5 |
| Gandalf: | 9.5 |
| Legolas: | 9.0 |
| Strider: | 7.5 |
| Wormtoungue: | 5.0 |
| Samwise: | 8.1 |
| Average: | 7.8 |
Card names and text copyright 1996 by Iron Crown Enterprises, all rights reserved. This document copyright 1996 by Trevor Stone. Permission given to duplicate so long as no profit is made and the copyright notice is kept in tact, blah, blah, blah.