I know I've asked this question several times all ready. But, I have to again;

After having the Arkham encounters phase at a location containing a gate, the player is pulled through the gate to the Other World. Now, during that same turn, does the player immediately draw a card, have an encounter in the Other World Phase, and then move one space over in that Other World before that TURN is over? Then starting the next turn, that player skips the Arkham Encounter Phase, and then has an Other World encounter during the Other World Encounters phase. After that he returns to Arkham, at which point, he may attempt a "fight" check (with not Combat modifer) in order to Close the and possibly seal the gate. Essentially, it takes three turns to enter and then close a gate?? Is this sequence correct?

When playing with 2 players or less, is it kosher to skip the Mythos Phase every other turn, rather than each player running two investigators??

Thanks!!

If you're in an Other World during the Other World Encounters phase, you have an encounter there. If you're in an Other World during the movement phase, you move to the second area -- if you're already in the second area, you return to Arkham.

Different people have tried different solutions to having a low number of investigators, such as the one you mentioned. I can't vouch for it. Personally, I think the game is optimal around 4 investigators -- with 2 you will definitely have problems. It is probably easier to just use 2 each if you only have two players, at least once you've got the rules down.

All you have to do is pay attention to the phases.

Movement (either around the Arkham board or within OW spaces) is only done during Phase 2: movement.

Arkham encounters, including entering a gate, are done on Phase 3: Arkham Encounters phase.

Other World encounters are done in Phase 4: Other World encounters.

So in the first turn, you could:

Phase 2: Go to a gate somewhere in Arkham
Phase 3: Entering the gate is your required encounter
Phase 4: Have an OW encounter

Next turn:

Phase 2: Move over to the 2nd OW space
Phase 3: Nothing
Phase 4: Have a 2nd OW encounter

Third turn:

Phase 2: Leave the OW and return to the gate
Phase 3: When you've explored a gate, your only two choices during this phase are "try and close the gate" or "do nothing." If you were at the Science Building, for example, you could not use the special "Dissect" ability there. But you may also choose not to attempt to close the gate.

So yes, 3 turns is about right. Could take more or less, depending on encounters. If an Arkham Encounter causes a gate to open on you, you will enter the OW delayed and can expect to have one more OW encounter than normal before you return.

Regarding your other question:

Skipping mythos phases with 1 or 2 investigators isn't unheard of. In fact, in a 1-investigator game, that's probably your only hope to win by seals. I personally never skip the Mythos phase, but then I try never to play with fewer than 3 investigators. Using 3+ investigators give you a lot more lenince in strategising, exploring, and winning by some way other than final combat. Unless you're teaching yourself with 1 or 2 investigators, I would not play with fewer than 3.

A good rule of thumb is that the bare minimum investigators you need to have anything resembling a fair game is 2, plus 1 for each expansion board. That's 2 as a bare minimum with the base game. 3 or 4 would work much better. 4 appears to be the most balanced game: equal effort is usually needed to win by seals as by final combat.

Thank you both,

Lastly, what if you are in your FIRST Other World encounter and draw an Other World encounter card that says you return to Arkham. Do you do so and can close the gate upon your return, thereby making it only TWO turns to perform this action?

Also, when you return to Arkham, and there's a monster there waiting for you, you must evade or defeat him before you can attempt to close the gate in that SAME turn, is this correct??

The rule regarding monsters is that you don't have to deal with any of them on the turn you come back from the Other World.

Closing gates is done on Phase 3. An encounter sending you back will have happened on Phase 4. A new turn will have to have begun before you're allowed to close the gate, which means that you don't get the freebie against any monsters there.

GalaxyUC said:

I think this might be a little too easy. I think skipping 1 in 3 mythos phases if there are 2 investigators, and every other mythos phase if there's only one investigator would be a good idea.

You can roll a die, on a succes no Mythos Phase...