We finished off a game battling Chaugnar Faugn last evening. It was a tough fight. I lasted to the point where Chaugnar was down to his last four doom markers, then was devoured.

My partner killed* Chaugnar, partly because he was well armed, and partly because he just hit it very lucky on his last dice roll, getting hits on practically all of the dice rolled. It was something of a fluke. He darn near was devoured, also.

My partner was very elated, hopping around the room, giving out "high fives," and talking about how "WE won."

Actually, I didn't survivie. I would say my partner won. I was just cannon fodder. Am I just being a sourpuss about this?

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*Strictly speaking, I don't think players really "kill" the GOOs. They can be defeated, but generally not killed. Numerous examples appear in the stories by the Lovecraft coterie of writers.

For a good reference to Chaugnar, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Old_One_compendium#Chaugnar_Faugn

It's a cooperative game. Unless something else says so either everyone wins or everyone loses. There are a few exceptions to this (including Joining the Winning Team and a Nylarhotep Epic Battle card), but ordinarily that's the way it works.

Don't be an egoist. Your personal survival is not a necessary criteria for victory. By your brave self-sacrifice you have saved the world. For at least a few weeks until the next unnamable horror smiles upon Arkham. Bon Appetit!

One of the things I like most about Arkham Horror is that everyone at the table wins or loses together. It doesn't matter who all survives at the end, the players either beat the game or they don't. Based on other replies it looks like there are a couple of cards that change that perspective. I haven't run across any of those cards yet, and I make a point of not reading any of the cards outside of game play, so that I am as surprised as anybody while playing.

Nonetheless, the answer to your question is "you all won."

Gameplay-wise, I agree with everyone else. It's everyone vs. the game. Either the game wins, or everyone else does. Those "special" cards that violate the cooperative spirit kinda suck anyway. (Right on, Steve-O. No card before its time.)

Thematically, I would say it was your horrible death that galvanized your partner's resolve, granting him the sheer insane courage it takes to charge an Ancient One's face and empty his gun into its eye. The catalyst is often a bit less gruesome, but this kinda "Heroic Second Wind" happens all the time:

“If you won’t turn to the Dark Side, perhaps SHE will.”
“NOOOOOOOO!!!”

“You hear that, Mr. Anderson? That is the sound of inevitability, the sound of your death. Goodbye, Mr. Anderson.”
“My name…is NEO!”

>whirrrrclunk whirrrrclunk whirrrrclunk<
“Get away from her, you *****!!!”

I can understand why you feel sour. A life is a very costly thing to sacrifice, especially when it's your own. But personally, I'd be elated that someone actually managed to defeat Chaugnar Faugn (fewer than 12% of battles against CF are won).

Tibs said:

Interesting, thus far we've considered CF to be a big *****, 'cause both times we've won hands down against him...We'll no Elder signs, but it's been actually a bit boring, as CF has not delivered.

Steve-O said:

Snap! I found another! There are STILL cards from Dunwich Horror for me to see, after about 4 yrs playing with it. Arkham yet holds shadowy things only heard of in faint whispers across time and space...

here is the secret handshake by which you may know our Kind: ??@><phnglui!§

pahapasi said:

In final combat or close/seal wins? If you mean the latter, then CF has one of the lamest abilities out there. This is countered by his ridiculous final combat, which forces gearing up (or just luck draws during the game, Allies and/or GOO-cancellers).

Yes, I was talking about beating Chaugnar Faugn in combat, as per OP's claim. Beating him with seals or closing gates is no special feat.

I would say that you all won, but there is an honorary title of First Citizen of Arkham which goes to the player with the most gate trophies at the end of the game, that I think is the only other way one person can win something special on their own, other than that I say everyone is the winner or everyone is the loser

Well, it's a co-op game, right? The only sides are: Ancient Ones vs Humans, so if your friends won, you too.

I wouldn't say at 1946 to an allied soldier widow "We won! You don't because your husband is dead, but I do. sry :/"

InnsmouthLooker said:

When I first started playing I made up little certificates for three honors in victory.

First Citizen: The eternal gratitude of the the city of Arkham is bestowed on you for leading the struggle against the Ancient Horror.

Honored Citizen: The eternal gratitude of the the city of Arkham is bestowed on you for the courage shown in the struggle against the Ancient Horror.

In Memoriam: The eternal gratitude of the the city of Arkham is bestowed on you for your ulitmate sacrifice in the struggle against the Ancient Horror.

They were made from encounter size cards through Strange Eons. I just couldn't find frames small enough for them.

Yes, if the any one member of the team defeats the Old One in anyway, every one wins!* Depending on your religious belief, however, you may never know it. But mostly Arkham Horror practices reincarnation (sometimes through the Migo) and you'll be back! If you want to... And I hope you do.

*A certain traitor card would be the exception, of course.