after completing the first two scenarios of the Dunwich Legacy solo with Zoey, i decided to go back and try it with the Duo Jim and Wendy. Instead of Extra Curricular Activities first i went with "The House Always Wins" first. I must say, the first time i played THAW i feel like i was rushed into the Monster fight with barely any time to enjoy exploring the Clover Club, in fact, i was only able to get past the first Act on my last action and expose the Darkened Hallway the turn before the monster appeared, which in this case was a conglomeration of orbs, which started eating my Knives and Axe as well as the Pit boss in the same room.

i'm unsure if the monster was added as an equalizer to getting too many criminals so you're not overwhelmed or what, but i find it odd that the monster even shows up in the first place.. it really feels out of left field, and i feel like the scenario itself really needed more time to explore the clover club. able to kill the monster, i made it to the VIP area and then back to the bar just in time to save Peter Clover and get to the back alley narrowly avoiding the second conglomeration of spheres.

last night, while playing with the Jim and Wendy duo, i was able to ****** up a clue in La Bella Luna, then as Wendy was playing a few games in the card room, Jim spent some time getting drunk, before joining up with her as the pesky pit boss followed us around rather annoyingly. 3 Doom on the Agenda i was able to finish the 1st act moving into the darkened hallway and move Wendy into it, and next turn, after evading a baddie with a crowbar in the hallway, able to get into the back alley with Wendy, and the art gallery with Jim picking up a few clues with Wendy, and rats with Jim's "Drawn to the Flame", who was feeling sluggish from back to back TO BACK treacheries with "Something in the Drinks", looks like having Liquid Courage, Leo, and Hard Knocks really panned out to be thematic this time around. 2 turns went by, the pit boss was closing in on Jim with his small army of O'Banion bangers, who was able to evade him once on his way to the last Back Door area the VIP room with Wendy, finding an unconscious Dr. Francis, and a nice "Double or Nothing" test on him made him an ally. Pit Boss readied, joining 2 other mafia members in the Hallway as Monster blasted his way in the Lounge area, and Jim had to make a test on the dead bodies in the VIP area, which i almost failed completely, nearly driving him insane. Wendy was able to get into the hallway, use cunning distraction on all 3 O'Banion boys, and get to the back alley. Jim and Dr. Francis followed, quickly getting out of there, and Wendy followed for her first action the next turn.

Going through the Scenario the first time, it was a little disappointing, as the investigating was short lived, but the second time, WOW. i was just so pressured by the pipe wielding a-holes, and i was unable to draw anything to combat them instead relying on blinding light and Wendy's natural Agility, as Wendy was an absolute ace in distracting them long enough for what felt like a real ninja/infiltration mission, the only enemy killed was "Rats" and i only put 1 Damage on "Pit Boss" evading him with blinding light.. Felt fast paced, but still gave enough time before the monster showed up to explore and get in then get out fast. While it was still the same Scenario that i played through as Zoey it FELT completely different, and had a separate pace given to it by the 3 extra turns from the 2nd Agenda as well as the characters i was using (most obviously). Not only that, but actually seeing Dr. Francis kind of came as a surprise to me this time, since last time i played through it, he wasn't there, and then the reading of the resolution, where the O'Banion gang "has a bone to pick with you" was even more-so thematic and made me laugh as to where in the future scenarios it might come back to bite me.

I really liked Extra Curricular Activities, it was quite thrilling, but i feel like it could've done without "the experiment" i don't even know what it's doing there, it has no back story.. almost the same with The House Always Wins, i don't know particularly why it needed a monster in it, but i do love both of these scenarios, and going back through this time playing THAW 1st i think it's quite an amazing scenario and maybe even my favorite so far.

I did have some similar experiences playing solo (Agnes) into Dunwich. I went Extracurricular -> House always Wins figuring the explanation for "The Experiment" was ahead of me. I have to assume that an explanation for what the fhtagn is going on is incoming further up in the storyline.

While I can understand the thematic concerns, I doubt we'll see many (or any) scenarios that are entirely focused on investigating. It would leave specialized combat characters with nothing to contribute. It also rarely works - Hills of Emyn Muil tried that with LOTR, and it's one of the most hated scenarios in the game.

It's also worth noting that having to build a deck and stick to it throughout, with minimal changes, is going to make strongly-skewed scenarios really problematic. For the long run of the campaign, balanced teams are going to be the rule. Anything that skews entirely to one side or the other will see the team unprepared, and the system gives no opportunity to adapt.

oh yeah of course, Hills of Emyn Muil, or as some call it, Hills of Yawn Muil, was basically an investigate only scenario. i mean we don't need Monsters in every single scenario. It would've been great with just the Mafia Baddies, following you around, beating you up, cutting off your escape, moving around hitting you. in this regard, the aloof keyword is amazing and works wonders with a variety of monsters and mobsters, and i think they can, at some point, keep the two mutually exclusive. i know it's Arkham Horror, but we don't need a shoggoth in every scene.

The name of a certain encounter set implies that the Abominations will become plot relevant soon enough...

The name of a certain encounter set implies that the Abominations will become plot relevant soon enough...

Namely, "Bishop's Thralls," since we haven't been introduced to any "Bishop" yet. Note that we've got three encounter sets full of Abominations, including one unused set of additional "Thralls." My guess is that Bishop is an acolyte of Yog-Sothoth responsible for creating the Thrall monsters. He's likely the one who's been targeting the Professors due to their connection with the Dunwich Horror (whether for their knowledge, some arcane significance, or simple revenge). The Experiment is his attempt, alongside fellow cultists within the University, to improve upon his Thralls. He likely also summons the Hideous Abominations that attack the Clover Club to cover up Professor Rice's disappearance.

wow, yeah. i can totally see that. makes a bit of sense down the line looking back at the earlier events. do hope at some point we can get an encounter set similar to "The Stewards Fear" which remains my favorite encounter of LOTR. it's a bit more personal when it's humans, as it's things that can take place in our reality yet set in a fantastic and improbable backdrop.

The name of a certain encounter set implies that the Abominations will become plot relevant soon enough...

Namely, "Bishop's Thralls," since we haven't been introduced to any "Bishop" yet. Note that we've got three encounter sets full of Abominations, including one unused set of additional "Thralls." My guess is that Bishop is an acolyte of Yog-Sothoth responsible for creating the Thrall monsters. He's likely the one who's been targeting the Professors due to their connection with the Dunwich Horror (whether for their knowledge, some arcane significance, or simple revenge). The Experiment is his attempt, alongside fellow cultists within the University, to improve upon his Thralls. He likely also summons the Hideous Abominations that attack the Clover Club to cover up Professor Rice's disappearance.

wow, yeah. i can totally see that. makes a bit of sense down the line looking back at the earlier events. do hope at some point we can get an encounter set similar to "The Stewards Fear" which remains my favorite encounter of LOTR. it's a bit more personal when it's humans, as it's things that can take place in our reality yet set in a fantastic and improbable backdrop.

That's why I love The House Always Wins. The first 2 acts, you're in a 1920's gangster flick. No weird alien demigod monsters or anything. Just derringers, poker tables, mob bosses.

That's why I love The House Always Wins. The first 2 acts, you're in a 1920's gangster flick. No weird alien demigod monsters or anything. Just derringers, poker tables, mob bosses.

While I do love The House Always Wins (and for much the same reasons), I do believe you mean 1930s gangster flick, The 30s were the heyday of the great gangster films.

That's why I love The House Always Wins. The first 2 acts, you're in a 1920's gangster flick. No weird alien demigod monsters or anything. Just derringers, poker tables, mob bosses.

While I do love The House Always Wins (and for much the same reasons), I do believe you mean 1930s gangster flick, The 30s were the heyday of the great gangster films.

I meant taking place in the 20's, sorry.