Beardy on the Clocktower

Huntsman is an Outsider

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by

Beardy
in ,

Probably my least favourite Townsfolk is the Huntsman. It feels like it should exist in the Outsider category, and here I will briefly explain why I think that.

It has a major downside, adding an outsider, the Damsel, which includes an extra loss condition for the good team. There is an upside, being able to turn the damsel into a townsfolk. But they have to find the Damsel and pick them, at night.

Consider the Balloonist, another Townsfolk that adds an outsider. They get valuable information, including the name of the demon, especially if they can survive 4 nights.

Consider the Puzzlemaster. They add the drunk condition to another player and if they can correctly guess that player (any time during the game, not just at night), they learn… the demon! True, they do get wrong information if they pick the wrong player. But the upside is getting the Demon. Not just removing a lose condition from the good team.

AND… the Puzzlemaster is an outsider, while the Huntsman is a townsfolk. Puzzle that out.

Comments

4 responses to “Huntsman is an Outsider”

  1. Jaln Avatar
    Jaln

    Counterpoints:
    – Huntsman knows that the Damsel is in the game. This means Good can be warned that there is a Damsel out there, and that they should be helping to cover for the Damsel. Compared to the Balloonist in which they add an outsider to the game, but it isnt as devastating as the Damsel
    – If and When they do find each other, they confirm each other and also gain another Townsfolk ability. Similar to the Nightwatchman, a once per game ability that confirms two players should come at some tradeoff.
    – The Huntsman ability can confirm someone is NOT the damsel. Which can be almost just as important. Minions will also commonly be playing the Huntsman/Damsel game inside the regular game and I have seen plenty a minion out thinking they have got it.

    Other thoughts:
    Puzzlemaster is a townsfolk that creates a hidden Outsider. They should be treated similar to a Slayer and when they use their guess, if wrong they should clear a demon candidate.

    Reply
    1. Beardy Avatar
      Beardy

      Those are some good points. When Damsel is on the script all good players, at least a little, should be covering, in case it is in play. The upside of the Huntsman picking a Damsel is fantastic, confirming two players. Confirming a not-damsel is an interesting point that I hadn’t considered before.
      But I stand with my original point. If the Puzzlemaster is an outsider then, without some potential rework, I think the Huntsman should be moved into that category.

      This is of course with the current state of the game. When Damsel/Huntsman get a home script, this may change how I view this character, after all, experimental is experimental for a reason.

      Reply
  2. David G. Avatar
    David G.

    I figure the Huntsman is listed as a Townsfolk because it’s pure upside when a Damsel would be in play anyway. I think of its setup condition as “[The Damsel must be in play. +0 to +1 Outsiders.]”

    A simple tweak would be to not let it add an Outsider. Then it would only show up in a zero-Outsider game if another ability adds an Outsider. You can run it this way without Bootlegger.

    Reply
    1. Beardy Avatar
      Beardy

      There are certainly some simple tweaks allowing the Huntsman to become a townsfolk. You are right that the biggest issues is the forced Damsel, and it being used as outsider modification.

      Reply

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