Just played my first game of this - up to the city. It's very relaxing. The only other game I've played liked this is Gwent and I loved that so this is right up my street
50% cancels the exhaust of cards. Works really well to get the benefit of Corruption, while minimising the negative, and when it doesn’t kick in Dead Branch helps out.
Fucked it. Battery died on laptop last night. Guess what? StS doesn’t automatically save state. Loaded up game to find my run gone
Anyway came back stronger with another Dead Brand and Corruption Combo but also had Charon’s Ashes and Fiend Fire and the Necro whatsit book. Firing off an upgraded FF with a full hand was dealing about 18 x 2 damage to all enemies plus the 60 x 2 damage to the target. And that was without strength and vulnerable modifiers. Absolutely wrecked everything.
Corruption is the one that exhausts skills but they cost zero. It's great because it lets you spend energy on attacking while defending, and keeps deck lean so that your good cards come round quick.
Snecko Eye is the one that randomises energy, but deals you extra cards per hand.
It's a % play that generally works out, the card draw is powerful, and if you have expensive cards, it generally averages out that you'll spend less on them.
(And there'll certainly be turns where it pays big time.)
You can imagine how good they are in concert. Randomised energy for attacks, so chance some 2 or 3 energy cards are zero + zero cost skills equals some big action.