I currently own 2x Core Sets, Ancient Horrors and At the Mountains of Madness... but am still VERY new to the game (just getting into the swing of things)

For my next purchases I'm looking to either pick up the Summons of the Deep or Dreamlands APs... and I'm just not sure which I'd want more (first)

Note: Current availability & price are not a concern in comparison (as I know where to get all of them right now and they're all the same price per pack there)

To help me decide, from a thematic standpoint:

1. What is generally the plot / "story" of the two AP sets (Summons of the Deep & Dreamlands)?

2. What characters and/or monsters from Lovecraft's works are focused on a good deal in them (if any)? (I'm not looking for a card list, but if there's a ton of Deep Ones or Shoggoths or whatever in the set, for instance, it would be nice to know that's a focus, etc).

And from a gameplay standpoint:

3. Which of the two fleshes-out the game better in your opinion from a gameplay perspective... or are they pretty much both doing a great job of it? ...and would you suggest one over the other for a new player in my specific situation?

Thanks a ton in advance for any suggestions/info!

Welcome again Aedon! It seems these are similar questions as you recently presented? I then responded to download the deckbuilder. Ya gotta dew it. Your questions are great and valid and welcome, but seem to ask questions that available research will satisfy. The more you play, the more involved your queries will be. Always the deck list will be there in the background. Might as well be in the know.

Aedon said:

Hi, and welcome!

Summons of the Deep focusses thematically focusses on the Deep Ones. The gameplay focus is on struggles; Each seperate AP takes one struggle and interacts with it in some way. The last pack of the cycle focusses on transformation.

Dreamlands is about the dreamlands and the creatures that live there; Zoog, Gugs, Dreamers etc. The gameplay focus is towards the day/night mechanic, as well as dreamland locations.

They both flesh out the game more, but do it in different ways. Deep is more struggle-centric, Dream is adding a dimension to the game where you control it's environment. I'd get 'm both...