I like the game, but it plays too long for me (solo play) which discourages me from playing this game as often as I want to. As such, I'm thinking of not buying the Strange Remnants or any other expansions (I have FL) since I've only played with 2 AOs so far (Azathoth and Yogsothoth, I think) since I bought the game in Dec '14.
Is there an official shorter/quicker variant for this game? Maybe solve 2 mysteries instead of all 3 mysteries? I hope FFG would come up with a shorter variant.
Creating a shorter variant can be a mess, because there entire flow of the game is linked to some key parameters (presence of gates on the board, increasing pressure due to rumors / tough monsters around, the thickness of the Mythos deck, and so on) that shortening the game simply by solving one less mystery or similar will simply break the balance. You should find a way to "start at midgame" (hence: have this number of gates on the board, this items, the omen track there and at least 1 running rumor), which is something that's beyond the mere "house-rules" thingy.
But I sense what you're saying, EH is indeed a time demanding game. We almost stopped playing it for this reason, no way we can go under 3 hours and it's too much time for this period of my life
Creating a shorter variant can be a mess, because there entire flow of the game is linked to some key parameters (presence of gates on the board, increasing pressure due to rumors / tough monsters around, the thickness of the Mythos deck, and so on) that shortening the game simply by solving one less mystery or similar will simply break the balance. You should find a way to "start at midgame" (hence: have this number of gates on the board, this items, the omen track there and at least 1 running rumor), which is something that's beyond the mere "house-rules" thingy.
But I sense what you're saying, EH is indeed a time demanding game. We almost stopped playing it for this reason, no way we can go under 3 hours and it's too much time for this period of my life
Yup you are not alone in that!
Between work, kids, trying to 100% Assassins Creed Rogue and spending time with my better half it is indeed difficult to finish a game in one sitting.
What we need is a dedicated games room set up where we can leave a game and come back to it next session. The kitchen table is only suitable for smaller simpler games.
FFG has been very clever with EH design though I think. A lot added with minimal bloat so far, (unlike Arkham Horror which requires several days to set up). I think you could happily add Strange Remnants without worrying that It will prolounge things. It just adds variety more than anything.
While two players seems pretty quick. You could also cut time by not reading ever word on the card, which easily happens after playing the game too much. Think turns ahead so won't hold up the table on your turn. Some ancient ones play quicker then others azaroth, yig and Ithaqua I find run quick.
This is complex , long and difficult game. If you dony like that aspect this game not fo you. Simple abd easy
Leaving out thematic fluff, for me would suck the fun out of this game. True, it would shorten game-time tremendously , but without reading flavour-text, the experience would just boil down to dry mechanics, and sometimes lucky, sometimes unlucky rolls. And that would be a shame, since half of the suspense comes from joining the dots in your mind, how various encounters connect to the big picture, and knowing the exact stakes, when rolling for a Test. I've been in a situation, where we needed one measly success with only one measly die rolled, otherwise the game would be irrevocably lost. I couldn't even bear looking at the die tumbling, so closed my eyes after like 1 minute shaking it in my hand, every eye on the table glued to my hand, in my minds eye I already saw those dark clouds forming, anticipating the Arrival of Azathots Heralds, when I finally let go of the die - you gotta cherish these moments, they are priceless and abundant, and if it means only playing the game twice a year with a group, which supports this kind of slow, thematic play, then so be it. 
Long story short - this is just not a game meant to be played fast and in-between. Instead, make it a rare and epic event.
You'll enjoy it more.
Edited by diceman2k4Don't know of no official variant. I suppose you could try something like:
Each investigator get 1 improvement token and either one random asset or one random spell.
If this is too easy, you can remove some of the investigator's proposed starting bonuses or add another rumor.
Do you have Arkham Horror? I think AH is less "board dependent" so you could remove the board and play a *similar* experience. To move from area to area, you'd make a Speed check. Fail means you encounter a monster, one success lets you move to any location within your current neighborhood or from one neighborhood to another, etc.
Do you have Arkham Horror? I think AH is less "board dependent" so you could remove the board and play a *similar* experience. To move from area to area, you'd make a Speed check. Fail means you encounter a monster, one success lets you move to any location within your current neighborhood or from one neighborhood to another, etc.
Sorry, this is not Arkham Horror at all. And it doesn't work in Eldritch either, considering that monsters are dealt with during encounters and so basically they don't influence movement
*puzzled*