So, after one month of abstinence, it was time to return to Arkham. The usual setup, with AH, DH, KH, BGotW and MH in play; Bokrug + Black Goat of the Woods vs Amanda, Harvey, Tony (the only character whose fail effect on the PS is better than the pass), William and Monterey. So, an announced disaster, a ridiculously low amount of starting clue tokens, and honestly no rock star in the party. The only positive note was that Montenegro had a free Elder Sign, and Tony had a copy of De Vermis Mysteriis, but apart from that, nothing worth even mentioning.

Opening Mythos was at Wizard's Hill, with a Cultist and a Child of the Goat arriving. Monterey headed that way, losing 2 San at the Train Station. The others moved trying to get some clues.

Next Mythos was at the Witch House, still feasible. Monterey reached the Cultist and the Child of the Goat just one step away from the gate he needed so much. He killed both of them, but kept on losing time. 4-clues Amanda was sucked by a gate at the Black Cave; no probs since Tony had research material, but the idea the game as a little jinxed started assaulting me.

Next three Mythos: three monster surges. Monterey finally reached the gate, evading the Chthonian guarding the entrance but failing the Evade on the Crawling One and was sent to the Asylum. Amanda used five turns to return from Another Dimension due to multiple delaying. Harvey was sent LiTaS by the rats at the Unnamable. Tony failed his PS and then kept on trying entering gates but failed all the time due to monsters arriving on him literally from everywhere. Then another gate arrived at the Unvisited Isle.

So, long story short, doom at 7 and zero seals on the board.

I had three investigators in, but doom reached 8 before I could start sealing. Arkham was swarmed by a tribe of savaging Dark Youngsters, to the point that claustrophobic Monterey had to drink the Milk of Shub to transfer all the slaughtering tribe to the Curiosity Shoppe. In the meantime, bang, bang, bang, three seals on the board, Harvey at Wizard's Hill, Tony at the Witch House and Amanda at the Black Cave.

At that moment, the board left me a small opening: with all the monsters at the Curiosity Shoppe, I had a free board to attack. William (who had not enough clues but enough monster trophies to seal) moved to the Underworld gate open at Independence Square, immediately followed in the coming turn by Monterey (with only three clues and a ES), entering the very same gate (another Underworld was open at the Woods). Tony emerged from the Witch House, grabbed the Healing Stone from Amanda and entered Kadath at the Unvisited Isle. OW encounters: Monterey passed a Luck check to avoid being devoured by four-arm creatures in the Underworld, William had a tranquil encounter but Tony was sent LiTaS. So, no way to go for another 3 seals in a short time.

Next Mythos: surge. This is the most difficult moment of the game, doom 10, 3 seals to go.

William returns and seals the Woods, Monterey moves to second area, Tony stirs while LiTaS, and a rift opens. Fortunately the gate opening the rift bounced at the Black Cave seal.

Enough: Monterey returns and uses the Elder Sign to put the fifth seal on the board. Tony returns from LiTaS and passes the De Vermis Mysteriis to Harvey. During the encounters, Harvey uses the tome to close the last standing gate on the board.

Victory by closing gates in 10 turns.

Julia, you seem to win by closing gates pretty regularly. I think I've only done this twice in my history of plays! I don't know if it's because I never plan to in advance, or if I just never get lucky with seal bounces.

Good game!

Thanks for reading the SR!

Yeah, I'm a little bit lucky lately, the right bounce seems to arrive just when I need it. Also, I tend to play quite aggressively, keeping low the gate count and sealing high frequency as soon as possible (risking bursts,clearly)

No problem! I love reading Session Reports. I am envious of your ability to pull of such aggressive strategies. I've always been quite the cautious player. Somtimes it pays off, but you never know if the risk would have worked out better. I suppose I get too attached to my Investigators, and I'm afraid some horrible squamous fate will undoubtedly fell them. But this happens even when I AM cautious, haha.

I can see that. Arkham is a game where tme is really the most precious resource: the longer the game drags, the harder it gets because there are too many variables going out of control. So, going at a faster pace sometimes is more benefical than detrimental- Dunno. For me, the real life changer was Avi's League: too pressure from the Scenarios forced a change in the way I play

Thanks for the session report Julia - I love vicariously playing through others when I can't get in my Arkham fix over the weekend. Getting up to 8 doom without a single seal is a bit of a tough spot, but a tough spot always makes it more satisfying when the board leaves you that opening to make your move. Glad someone is out there snatching victories away from the AOs.