I've decided to pick up one of the small expansions or possibly one of the hero and monster kits. In my group we find that things are generally very difficult for the overlord so I want to get an expansion that helps the overlord out. Which expansion would you say comes with the "best" new monsters, overlord cards, etc.?

Trollfens

there's no best, all are best.

Maybe the infector class is better, but that's all

Get the CK instead.

Trollfens is definitely better for OL and the hero vs OL reward are reasonably balanced. LoW the relics are too good for the heroes and mediocre for the OL.

But yea if getting just one thing CK is best. Gives you lots of option for monsters..

Agree 100%. Trollfens is a better expansion, but the purchase that tilts the game most in favor of the OL is the Conversion Kit. Specifically, because it gives the OL access to Kobolds.

but CK does not offer minis with it ....

He said expansion so I suggested Trollfens, as the Conversion Kit is not an expansion. Also, most of the monsters in the CK are going to be reprinted again with mini's in the future, and they will be rebalanced, as the CK has poor balance at best for most of it.

Yeah I thought about the conversion kit but I really like having the minis. Proxying them up just doesn't feel the same and as another user said they're being slowly remade anyways. It seems that trollfens is unanimously the best choice so I'll be picking that one up first. As a follow up question would you all consider any of the Lieutenant packs to be worthwhile buys? I do really like the minis and I know they give you the ability to summon those lieutenants in any encounter.

Yeah I thought about the conversion kit but I really like having the minis. Proxying them up just doesn't feel the same and as another user said they're being slowly remade anyways. It seems that trollfens is unanimously the best choice so I'll be picking that one up first. As a follow up question would you all consider any of the Lieutenant packs to be worthwhile buys? I do really like the minis and I know they give you the ability to summon those lieutenants in any encounter.

Baron Zachareth is my favorite lieutenant deck, but you aren't really able to use his deck properly in The Shadow Rune campaign. Personally I think his deck, Raythen's deck, and Tristayne Olliven's decks are the best, but that's honestly just opinion.

but CK does not offer minis with it ....

I understand that some people prefer not to proxy minis. I don't understand WHY, but I do understand that some people don't like the idea.

but CK does not offer minis with it ....

I understand that some people prefer not to proxy minis. I don't understand WHY, but I do understand that some people don't like the idea.

why would be difficult to explain, but I can try.

I'm playing a game more for the design, artwork, and visual aspects in general than for the rules itself, even if it's important, it's a later thing. So, playing a game with proxies would like to me to play a prototype, an unfinished game, a "core rule" without any visual identity. It's a bit like some films. You may like this film or not because of an actor or not. It's something like that.

so, buying a bunch of cards and playing with miniatures that doesn't even looks like the true ones is something I can't even imagine.

That's interesting, Rugal - it is literally the exact opposite of the reason I play games. To me, "the game" is the rules - everything else is fluff. Nice fluff can make a game more enjoyable, but as long as the graphic design doesn't cause problems with the game itself, I could care less.

One of the things I enjoy about this hobby is that it offers so many different things to people.