by amoshias
The problem is that without being able to combine with Greedy, Lurk is probably worth 1 point instead of 3, MAYBE 2. Most of the time, Search tokens are out of the way - that's the whole point of them, you're trading off short-term tactical advantage for long-term benefit. I haven't seen a board so far where all the search tokens are placed directly in the middle of the rooms the heroes are running through.The thief's basic ability relieves that pressure a bit. For most characters, searching will take a full turn - (most of) a move action to get to the token and get back to where you want to be, plus an action to search. Greedy says, you can save those spaces moved - occasionally saving you as much as a full action, which no longer has to be spend on moving.
That means that for your three-point skill, you now lose that ability. Often, you will be spending either an action, or 2-4 stamina, in order to get that "free" search for Lurk. Compare this to Bushwhack - which you definitely have to set up to use, but which isn't going to cost you anywhere near an action for your "free" action. (Now compare it to the Runemaster 3-point ability which is a straightforward free attack every turn.)
(Of course, Lurk also gives a brown defense die - but it's such a small bonus (especially by the cusp of act II, when you have enough XP for Lurk) that I can't imagine anyone really cares.)
Disciple and Necromancer have have abilities which build heavily on their basic ability, and Wildlander's basic also gets enhanced later on. Berserker has a similar conundrum - later abilities can conflict with his basic - but 1. combat is a much more varied part of this game than searching, and 2. Death Rage is already a highly circumstance-specific action; when it works, you're happy to have both it an Rage.
If it can combine with Greedy (and as written, it clearly can't) Lurk is a great ability. If it can't, it should lose the brown die bit and become a 1-point ability... as such, it'll still probably never be taken.