E.T.C., Band Manager

Identity: A flexible Buddy-toolbox hero that trades 3 Gold for choices between immediate tempo and long-term combinations.

Profile

Nickname: E.T.C.
Trait: “Sign a New Artist” unlocks at Tavern Tier 2 and costs 3 Gold to Discover a Buddy. His exclusive Buddy, “Talent Scout,” is a Tier 5 4/4 whose Battlecry makes a Buddy Golden; the Golden version makes 2 Buddies Golden.

Early game: Follow a stable curve and reach Tavern Tier 2 with a functional board. Once the Hero Power unlocks, do not press it automatically; compare the offered Buddy value with spending that 3 Gold on minions, rolls, or leveling.
Key decisions: Judge each Discover by three questions: Does it add immediate strength, repay Gold or cards, or create a repeatable scaling engine? Take the effect that best fits the current game instead of forcing a composition from a single offer.
Mid to late game: Consolidate around the strongest Buddy effects you found. With Talent Scout, prioritize a Buddy whose Golden version meaningfully improves economy, trigger frequency, or scaling. If there is no premium target, avoid sacrificing several turns while waiting for a perfect setup.

Access to a wide range of Buddy effects provides tempo, economy, resources, and composition enablers, making E.T.C. highly adaptable.
Talent Scout can Golden a key Buddy directly, creating a strong mid- or late-game power spike when the pieces line up.

The Hero Power costs 3 Gold and its choices are random, so weak offers can leave the current turn noticeably behind on tempo.
The hero rewards deep knowledge of the Buddy pool and Golden effects. Keeping several unrelated packages also consumes valuable hand and board space.