Hello All,

My friends and I are on the hunt for a new game to add into our rotation. We currently have Battlestar Galactica (+Pegasus), Lord of the Rings (+Battlefields), Game of Thrones (+both expansions) and Middle Earth Quest.

MEQ - Our newest game and a big hit the few times we've played it. Issue is that more often than not we have more the 4 players.

BSG - We all love it and it is definately our most played game. In fact this past Sunday we played 3 games until 3am. We love the Team Co-op element of the game.

GoT - Another big hit with some of us, but not played very often as it takes us a LONG time to play a game. So we only play this on nights we know we'll have time to finish.

LotR - Least played game, we like it but its generaly only something we play when we want a more relaxing game on a lazy afternoon. Actually now that I think of it we've only played this when the owner of BSG could not make it and have not played since we got MEQ.

We are all big gamers and between us have done everything from RPGs and LARPs to Table Top Miniature War Games to Classics like Axis & Allies. So we are looking to add in a new game and definitely need something for 5+ players so that BSG is not our only option there. I have read up on Arkham Horror and gone through the rules and love the look and sound of the game. My only hesitation is the Total Co-op play of the game. As I stated LotR is not a huge hit with us compared to some of the other competitive cames. The Team Co-op games like BSG and MEQ are definately our favorites. My fear is that since LotR isn't a huge hit that AH may be the same since its total Co-op...

Any thoughts/remarks are appreciated.

Thanks!

You shall fraking buy this hell of a game because it is giganticly excellent and you shall frakin buy the expansions too or else you 're a cursed lame moron !

... just kiddin don't hesitate, man, if you're not poor, spend fifty bucks to buy the original, I bet you you'll catch the virus too, there is no other simpler reason than that. My woman and my brother are always like "oh no, not talisman, not bsg, not cosmic : Arkham !". Hell, it's exhausting.

Oh, and Hi to everybody I haven't met recently I was "litas", as you all say (and so say we all).

I think you will find Arkham Horror a much different experience than most cooperative games you have come across before. The reason for that is simply the challenge of the game. Arkham Horror is not an easy game to win. It's a major battle. Less so with just the base game than if you add in an expansion like Innsmouth, but still a significant challenge with just the starter.

That said, the game is best balanced for 3-4 players. So a 5+ group is going to have a significantly easier time with it. Even then, expect to all die horribly. It will happen.

Also be aware that the amount of table space needed for this game, especially with the addition of board expansions, is significant. A card table will not suffice.

Honestly, the best large-group game I've played is actually the card game Citadels, also available from FFG.

Kkat

Just my two cents

I suspect that Arkham Horror can be fun for anyone, but may be more fun for players who are at least somewhat familiar with the stories and novels of H.P. Lovecraft and other writers in his circle.

We have spent countless hours playing the base game, and later, the expansions. Both I and my playing partner have read at least some of the stories and novels of the writers who created this imaginary world.

Even so, the game is genuinely scarey, and you may enjoy it a great deal.

I hope you "give it a whirl."

AH is exceptionally difficult your first few times playing. However, once you and your friends get a style of play down and realize some of the strategies involved in the game, you can end up winning reasonably often. I would definitely reccomend this game. I play it all the time with my wife, and also when we have friends over. It's the best fully-cooperative or partially cooperative game that I've played (including BSG). Rediculously many investigators/items/AOs/etc ensure that each game feels unique, and the game really doesn't get repetitive at all. Despite a lot of components and an intimidating nature, the game is actually quite easy to play once you're familliar with the rules. Even new players simply need to learn the basics of combat and how to read the monster tokens and they'll do just fine. Really, only one player in your group needs to have any more than a casual understanding of the rules.

I wouldn't worry if you havent read the Cthulu stories. I enjoyed the game just fine before I started reading them, and know plenty of people who feel the same way.

Arkham Horror is really the best boardgame I know. Since I bought it, I'm always asked to bring it when my friends plan an evening of board games.

Many of them didn't know anything about Mythos before playing the game and still enjoy it a lot. One player hates complicated games and still enjoys playing Arkham Horror.

When we're playing the game it often takes a long time to complete it and it's often frustrating as hell, but the next time the question comes up what to play, everyone still wants to play it again. It's addictive!

The first game I played with 3 other players was a disaster for us. Everything that could go wrong did. We ended up dying messily after a period of setback after setback. I worried that none of the other players would want to try it again, that was how badly we did.

A few days later each of them told me, separately, that even though they worried that each of the other two wouldn't want to play again after that, they themselves sure did. It's just that addicting, that even after a frustrating first shot, they all wanted to play it again. I thought I'd be lucky with one out of three!

In short, the game is great.

Monkeyclops said:

If you dont buy Arkham, the relentless Hound will be sent out with your scent by everyone named above. Signed,

The Cult of Doom.

Thanks for the feedback all, very helpful! It looks like Arkham is going to be 1 of the 2 new games I buy. I am slightly familiar with the Cthulu Mythos, have yet to read any of the books, but they have been added to my list! Also, one of my favorite video games of all time is Eternal Darkness, which was based on this Mythos.

Thanks again! Now if I can just figure out what else to buy I can palce my order

So my next question would be, what order should I look at purchasing the expansions? I do not plan to purchase any of them right away, sounds like we'll be good with the base game. But eventually I'll add them in 1 at a time and curious as to the order. Thanks!

Innsmouth adds a significant level of difficulty to an already tough game. If you find the game less challenging than you would like considering your high number of players, I would definitely recommend this as the expansion of choice. It's also amazingly flavorful and includes the best of the optional rules: personal stories.

Kkat

I bought the game for a variety of reasons:

1) I've read quite a bit of HP Lovecraft's work and enjoy its psychological twistedness

2) My bf's tabletop group went on hiatus and eventually disbanded only to regroup using the DnD 4e, which he doesn't like at all. He prefers more roleplaying/story centric campaigns.

3) We both regularly play games and figured it would be fun and engaging enough to fuel his gaming fix.

After studying the game by myself for a week (reading and rereading rules and short practice games), I finally got him to play. It was a long playing session, didn't go as smoothly for obvious reasons. He has been reluctant to play it gain despite the fact that we both enjoyed it. I think he's afraid to re-experience the awkward pacing of our first play through. And because we don't get a chance to game with more than just ourselves, it will probably be a good while before we even bother to pick it up again. We recently tried Talisman and had a much better time(more streamlined gameplay) but mentioned he'd rather play it with more people.

However, with all that said, I really enjoyed it - love the atmosphere and love the whole package all together. It seems like you have a regular group going and despite the pacing issues I experienced, it definately felt like something that would fix itself once becoming more familiar with the rules. Even with just the two of us, you will run into instances where you'll have to make a choice between helping yourself or helping another player (which would be better for the group?). Hell, I recently purchased two of the smaller expansions just because I love the art and overall presentation - despite having haven't be given the chance to play since we first broke it out.

Monkeyclops said:

Ahhhh... Eternal Darkness... A wonderful game.

I'd say get Dunwich first (it has the best monsters, not to mention its other useful components). Second get Kingsport (if you get it last, it will be anti-climactic, but it will also let you get the Epic Battle cards, as well as all its other components). Third get Innsmouth (lovely little hell town), the personal stories are a must.

Out of the three small box expansions... Hrm... Curse of the Dark Pharoah adds in some nice allies, and three *really* fabulous Other World encounters. The problem with that set is it seems to really get diluted when you combine in everything. Hmmm... Black Goat of the Woods is also notoriously badly designed (but it does come with some lovely extra monster tokens, and great cards for customization). King in yellow comes with some good items, and a good herald. ::Shrug:: I'd say the big boxes are *must* buys, and the little boxes, buy them if you want to, or if you have the spare cash to.

BUY BUY BUY! SELL YOUR FAMILY INTO SLAVERY SO THAT YOU CAN AFFORD ALL THE EXPANSIONS!

Jambly Ho-Tep said:

You monster. What kind of Arkham Horror player are you? Clearly you take the game more seriously than the lifestyle. Money can always be obtained with a crowbar and some sneak skills. Whereas a family is priceless. Where would you ever get another family? What a waste of good meat ;')

I've played games longer that most of the people on this board are old and I think that Arkham Horror is the best board game ever. Until Arkham Horror came along, my daughter would never play a game with me and my wife would seldom play a game with me. Now we play 2-3 games every weekend. One member of my group is a 12 year old girl.

The two main drawbacks of the game are its length, though in the last game the 12 year old girl was ready to play again. The other drawback is also its main strength. It is cooperative. Not everyone is into cooperative games.

Once you solve the base game, you'll need an expansion, for sure. For what will at first seem impossible will soon be too easy. Innsmouth, Dunwich or King in Yellow will soon disavow you of that notion. I suggest Innsmouth but most others suggest Dunwich. If you have too small of table for those extra board expansions then go with King in Yellow. I'd try those before the other three.

Arkham Horror should be arriving tomorrow, just in time for a game night Luckily I have the day off, so plan to bust it open and go through a solo game before the guys come over. Although if there is only 4 of us we may play MEQ. But we will be playing AH soon. Thanks for all the feedback!