Well doubling the harder cards using duplicates culled from a second deck and then removing some of the outright freebies (shortcut, black market) has made it a little more of a challenge. There's also no evading the watches.

Did you check out these Home brews to thoughen up the city:

City Laws & Crimes - Brett Haskell City life front&back.pdf

City Watch - Aaron Tubb: Download

@mightwolve: lol, the City Watch card would only slow down progress through the City expansion, which is the main reason we never use it in the first place. By the time someone has exited the city with some moderate to poor goods, the rest of us have already passed through a different expansion with a relic, destiny, dungeon treasure, or warlock quest reward and tons of stat points from the monsters they've slain. By the time they have traversed two expansions, they are ready to tackle the Crown of Command so nobody ever even attempts the city because to do so is to basically lose the game. I'll give the City Laws & Crime a look over in a couple of minutes.

Here's a link to the City Pass: https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1079326/some-house-rules-custom-city-watch-and-city-pass-c

I do like the City Life card. It adds a little bit of a danger element to the City. Also like the City Pass as well. Another thing I like is a punishment for being a Lycathrope, which would mean that the Werewolf would be forbidden to chase you in the City.

Will definitely have to try this!

And my trolly monster 'Plague Lord' Encounter number 3 Enemy - Monster. Craft 8. Place the Plague Lord on the City Square, he cannot be discarded like other cards on the City Square. Whilst the Plague Lord is on the Board, no character can trade in trophies to gain Strength.

I love that idea, FFG should make that card or something similar in the future.

There's a corresponding defeat-by-strength, inhibit craft trophies version I put in the Dungeon deck too, the Wraith Lord. He's less problematic as he's usually encountered later in the game.

One day, I'll have to do a thread of all my bodges together, which i do to make 'em all balance the playing experience

I find my The City at day and night rule in my Forever Talisman rules very good it makes the day night token extra long so it covers one half of the shops at once so half are closed during day and the other half at night. You do need Bloodmoon but without bloodmoon its just half the shops are closed for the whole game.

So when there is only half the shop choices there is less shop card gains and more wasted time in the city.