Hi Oscardiggs,
Wow! This is a great analysis and I love it!
The consort action is a very risky action which may not always be the best option, but then again, sometimes you need that coin and don't want to risk losing progress on your spell or some other desperate situation you have laid out on your comment.
Though, I will clarify that you should be replacing bonds when they're exhausted, so it is always a 50/50 chance of a positive or negative outcome when taking the consort action.
Additionally:
- Bonds are assigned to each suit (page. 10).
- Cordial Person does act as a clubs bond with some the same consequences when they're encountered.
It reads like you have a great winning strategy for Grimoire! I hope you're still able to enjoy the game :) . The bond mechanism is something I would likely change when I revisit Grimoire, not because it's filled with risk, but because I would want to make Grimoire be a less oppressive and difficult game mechanically.
Thanks again, Oscardiggs, for your analysis :)