As usual, I've made a custom game variant in the form of a herald, but the truth is, I don't think heralds are necessary for game variants (I just like them). Basically the main idea behind this, is, well, cumulative slumbering and worshipper abilities while only fighting one of the Ancient Ones during final battle (which you can either allow them to double attack during or not, depending on your preferences). I'll post the picture so you'll have a better understanding of what I'm talking about (obviously, if you didn't want to use the herald, you could dump out the double evade checks, I just thought it'd make an interesting game modification and it would be thematically appropriate with this herald).

Anyways, I've been thinking about how to make this game variant work since I got back from my summer trip. And now that it's done. I'm done. I'm not going to be gone from the forum, but I will be doing a lot of lurking (like I've already been doing lately, but now my lurking is officially begun). ::Returns to lurk mode::

direct link: http://i622.photobucket.com/albums/tt307/avi_dreader/JanusHerald.jpg

a cool idea, but i'm not sure on the execution of this one, though I like your other heralds.

Certain combos would be confusing, others would be positively rediculous. Hastur + Ghantathoa, for instance. Atlach-Nacha and Zhar, Rhan-Tegoth and Azathoth. I also hate the idea of rolling randomly to see which doom track you use (essentially) and then rolling randomly again to see which AO you actually fight. At the absolute minimum they should at least me the same, and I'm leaning towards the one with the longer doom track.

In essence, I think that stacking worshipper abilities works, but stacking slumber ablities and/or final combats doesn't. You could just edit the herald so its something like, after the AO is chosen, choose another AO, his worshippers and worshipper abilities are added to the game. Althernatively you could just have the herald buff worshippers somehow, although I realize that kind of wrecks your theme.

How about a variant where two AOs are fighting each other with poor Arkham stuck in the middle? It would probably involve a lot of special rules, but it could be maddeningly fun! The shorter of the two doom tracks dictates when both AOs wake up, the final battle involves them duking it out while the investigators desperately try to avoid being devoured by anyone. Crazy. Just a idea, but I think it has potential.

I don't see how it would work with Azathoth though.

Nice, i like it

What about choosing the bigger terror track?

awp832 said:

Okay :') first of all, as I said before, it's essentially a gameplay variant. I don't think there's any reason to use the herald if you don't like it. It's just a model for how to simultaneously use two Ancient Ones.

As for some of the issues you raised, I'd already considered the possibility of a 9 doom track Azathoth ;') pretty horrific, I'd probably mulligan that every time it came up unless I had preselected investigators or a team of seven or eight players. Hastur and Ghathanathoa would actually make a really interesting (and difficult) game of course, the players could aim for a deliberate rush to final battle as an alternative strategy, though the double ancient one attacks would make this a bit difficult, especially if Hastur wasn't the one being attacked. I don't see why Zhar and Atlach would be *that* bad. Yeah, you'd have some extra gates open, but, eh, let's face it, you're in trouble playing Atlach with anyone. :') And of course, if you could beat the pair, you'd have bragging rights.

From the point of view of convenience and ease, it would be easier and more convenient to have the longer doom track consistently, but I wanted the herald to allow for more varied circumstances. Sometimes you'll get the easier fight, and sometimes the harder, and of course, you could choose to make it easier or harder depending on what mood you're in, you don't actually *have* to follow the herald rules (think of them more as suggestions).

Anyways, feel free to play around with the basic idea and see what works for you. As I said before, the main point of this creation was allowing for a relatively simple Double Ancient one variant.

Heh... I definitely wouldn't want to make it so that you only use double worshipper abilities. To me, the most fun thing about this creation is allowing you to use Ancient Ones as heralds for eachother (while also giving extra worshipper boosts in some cases). C'mon, you can play Cthulhu with masks now :'D If you want a really crazy game, you can play Abhoth and Glaaki. Let insanity rain from the sky!

Steve-O said:

Hey, if you could design something fairly simple, I'd play it, and if it were complex, I'm sure there would be other players who'd find it appealing. I leave this idea to you though ;') since I haven't the vaguest idea how to make it simple.

Mmm... Eihort is a bit problematic. I'll leave it to you to decide if you'd want his slumbering ability to add to the other Ancient One's doom track. Likewise with Y'Golonac. Personally I'd rule it so that they can effect the other AO instead of themselves. But as I've said before, play it for you, not for me.

-

And as far as joint nightmares go :') try Atlach and Abhoth ;'D now there's *real* hell. Well... Or Atlach and Shudde ;'D (note: I will not try either of these combinations, and I will suspect that anyone who does is insane, or they better be playing a preselected team).

I'd be more concerned playing Tsathoggua with Hastur than Ghat...

I think Ithaqua and Cthulhu would be a fun challenge. Tough cultists, and *very* dangerous streets. Ithaqua would also pair well with Cthuga (and not just ironically because they're fire and ice). Nygotha and Yog-Sothoth seem like an appropriate match to me. It'd be interesting to play against Yig and Nyarlethotep (together the two weakest base game AOs take their revenge).

It'd be interesting to play Quachil and Ghatanathoa.

I think Atlach-Nacha and Abhoth or Shudde-Mell is not worse than Atlach-Nacha with Black Goat as herald. And by no worse I mean just as nightmarish.

A really ridiculous combination would be Hastur and Yibb-Tstll; all you can do is gear up for final battle and try to get as many clues as possible off the board while keeping the monster level down.

Y'Golonac and Glaaki are an annoying combination; stalking cultists that summon a Servant of Glaaki when defeated; sounds almost like a scenario to me.

Morgaln said:

Ooo. Y'Golonac and Glaaki. Good one.

If you had the double final battle ability, you'd be worse off playing Atlach and Shudde (imo) than Atlach and BGotW (although I wouldn't want to play either). But maybe not ;') I'm not going to playtest it.

Likewise, I'd probably just mulligan with Yibb and Hastur. Well... After beating it a first time anyways :') It would be an interesting twist.

I'd like the option of fighting both in most cases. At the very least it'd be two games separated by the defeat of the first AO then you have to fight the second w/ a doom of, say, the first AO's doom minus the second plus one for each surviving investigator (players who's investigator was devoured could draw new characters after the track is filled to where it needs to be). The idea being the first paved the way now the second would finish the job since I doubt AO are in the habit of turning tail or whatever sticksw out of their back. Or fight the "weaker" one first depending on your poison.

That, or have the second AO participate in the final battle w/ their plot cards, throwing their worshippers at the investigators, or sending in custom avatars who have investigators make a second check or just harrass them in general.

Taking part in a battle b/w two of them would be awesome but would investigators side w/ one AO? Attack them both? Embark on a mission to Elder Sign both of them w/out being squished in the process?

Heh... Draw a sinister plot card for the second AO every third turn. Fun ;')