Blackened Zolo Bolo

This is my first attempt at a Dark Horse build for a solo campaign. I've run this deck through the first two scenarios of The Night of the Zealot and have (hopefully) learned a bit about what Dark Zoey needs to run smoothly.

Hand Slot

I was really hoping that variety would be nice, but I severely underestimated the need for a resource sink. Just a single copy of Fire Axe was a large mistake. I found myself always wanting it in play.

I liked the low cost and controllable damage in Kukri, but I think it's a waste of a slot if I know I want Fire Axe.

Machete is just too expensive in this build. I want to keep my costs as low as possible.

Flashlight is a must for Zoey and her 2 . It feels impossible to investigate 4 shroud locations without it.

Other Assets

Holy Rosary never made it to the board and was immeditately upgraded into a Police Badge. This card isn't making it into my next build.

Bandolier always tricks me into thinking I'll make use of it. (I get greedy for hand slots I guess.) It's not worth the 2 resources to play and then hope I can get two different weapons and a flashlight out. That kinda setup is probably achievable in a multiplayer environment where you can dilly dally a bit while others get some work done, but not in solo. I like to hit the gates running.

Guard Dog is still my go to ally, the action efficiency is nuts. (I especially like moving and killing rats, investigating and killing rats, drawing a card and killing rats, killing rats and killing rats...)

Arcane Studies lets me boost and acts as another resource sink to make sure Dark Horse stays online. I think the deck will probably need 4 resource sink cards to run efficiently. (2 axes and 2 pumps)

Events

"If it bleeds..." required me to have resources after killing a monster which never happens thanks to the Fire Axe. It's getting cut.

Dodge is staying in, it's cheap to play and gives more action choices when engaged with an enemy.

Emergency Aid was just a bit too expensive for my tastes, it's also getting cut.

Emergency Cache is there for the times when you need to play Guard Dog or pump a stat for a difficult test. I think 2 is a great place to be, even in a Dark Horse build.

Evidence! was so useful I wanted two, and so it shall be. Two pips and 1 cost make it easy to include. Moving with rats engaged and a Guard Dog in play out of a location with one clue left just feels too good to pass up.

Prepared for the Worst is going to be bumped up to 2 copies so that I can have two "extra" Fire Axes in my deck. I love its skill pips too.

Skills

Perception needs to be bumped up to 2. Zoey reallllllllllly needs the help investigating.