My wife and I just got Arkham Horror on this past Friday. We have played each night since Saturday.

Our butts were handed to us on our first two games and then last night we played four investigators (2 each) and I think we won. The reason I am not certain is that it seemed far too easy. Maybe it was just really good draws and some luck.

What happened was that we got to a point that there were three gates open and pretty much immediately we sent in three investigators. We got a card while they were in there that causes all investigators to return to Arkham immediately from Otherworld locations. So, as soon as they were out (the next turn) we closed all three, as there were no others opened before then and only two players we met a victory condition.

Right? Anyone want to back me up on this or tell me that I am dead wrong?

Win condition for closing gates and other things (monster limit, etc.) are based on the # of investigators, since the assumption is 1 investigator/player. So with 2 players but 4 investigators, need 4 gate trophies for a closing gates win (assuming you didn't play with 2+ extra boards).

Okay. See the whole player vs. Investigator thing is fairly unclear in my head. So, we she have gone with all the monster limit changes, etc. as well with the additional investigators playing.

And, just always use the term 'player' in the rulebook to mean Investigator. Ah well, guess I'll that one off the win column.

Winter324 said:

Yeah, rules almost always affect investigators. It's assumed, I think, that it's one investigator per player, but people started playing with multiple since using one or two investigators really isn't very easy or fun. The rules have to be based around number of investigators, since otherwise, one player could be using eight investigators -- and win exceedingly easily.

Gee, that mythos is devastating... I remember having crossed it only once, but hell, if you got all your team journeying in OW and it turns out... wow.

Come to think of it, that Mythos was responsible for the only ever time we ever won by gate closure....

Hmmmm...

Ugh... I really don't wanna think about the prospect that the only way to win properly is by drawing that card.

no.

NO.

NO!!

IT'S NOT TRUE!!!!

Can someone please reassure me?! I hurt inside now...

I don't think that card has ever been involved in my gate closing wins. For one, I rarely have everyone in a gate, meaning there will always be an open gate even if that card hits and every manages to close their gates the following turn. Hoping for 1 specific Mythos card for a win is, well, hopeless? OP got a nice scenario, another would be that Mythos card opening a gate on an investigator, spawning a monster that then moves away, then Mythos text kicks in, returning investigators to Arkham, 0 OW encounters.

Things that help in a gate closing win: sealing hot spots, Personal Stories that allow sealing a gate (Mandy and Silas I think), Find Gate (for speed), De Vermiis Mysteriis, Science Building encounter, Arcane Insight.

Good old-fashioned sealing makes the job easier, too. When new gates stop appearing, you can get the remainder under control. I usually don't aim for winning by closing gates, but sometimes when the opportunity rears its head, or the situation is incredibly desparate, I'll take a shot at it.

Don't forget the Dunwich mythos card, "Strange Waves Subside (I think)." It closes a gate of the first player's choice. That one's helped me an awful lot, too.