On the expansions, when I decide to remove an expansion board (say I want to remove Dunwich so I can play with just Kingsport board), which components must I remove and which ones work no matter what expansion is used (cards, bits, etc)
Remove expansion components
All expansions mark eveything but the boards, monstes and gates with the expansion symbol. So you can remove those components that show the symbol of the particular expansion you are removing.
It doesn't really harm anything to leave all the monsters in from all expansions. And you just need to check you gates against teh ones on the board.
Now having said that, a lot of components from one expansions continue to work in otehr expansions. With Dunwich, for example, you can leave in the Injury and Madness cards, all teh investigators and GOOs, and the encounters specifically for the Arkham locations. Items, spells, allies, skills, and most small cards should all be ok to keep mixed in as well, if you don't mind diluting them a bit. You will most likely want to remove the Mythos cards as they key in to Dunwich. Other World cards you'll probably want to remove as well since you will end up with a lot of generic "other" encounters.
You don't have to physically remove all these cards. If you draw a card with the expansion symbol, you can just set it aside and draw again until you get a base game component or and expansion symbol from one you are "using" that game.
ColtsFan76 said:
You don't have to physically remove all these cards. If you draw a card with the expansion symbol, you can just set it aside and draw again until you get a base game component or and expansion symbol from one you are "using" that game.
Yep, sure, that's the most important/clever tip to keep in mind while sorting everything.
Basically, investigators, ancient ones, items (except perhaps exhibit items), spells, skills and injury/madness, epic battle and personal story cards are designed to work irrespective of the expansion boards you're using. A very minor caveat is that Silas, from Innsmouth, has an essentially useless ability if you use only the base board, but that doesn't make him unplayable, and he is the only exception.
Other world and Arkham encounters mostly work fine with any expansions. However, you may want to consider dilution of the decks, particularly if you're using a small expansion (which mostly have a definite theme); if you want, say, corruption cards to be at all relevant, you might want to consider using only the BGotW and AH encounters.
The only components that are strictly tied to the boards are the Mythos cards and the encounters for the expansion boards (the latter pretty obviously). Though do note that if for some reason you want to dilute the difficulty slightly (say, for example, you're trying Innsmouth with two investigators), leaving in Mythos cards from expansion boards not in use is a simple way to do it; from time to time you get a card that doesn't open a gate.
YellowPebble said:
Basically, investigators, ancient ones, items (except perhaps exhibit items), spells, skills and injury/madness, epic battle and personal story cards are designed to work irrespective of the expansion boards you're using. A very minor caveat is that Silas, from Innsmouth, has an essentially useless ability if you use only the base board, but that doesn't make him unplayable, and he is the only exception.
Other world and Arkham encounters mostly work fine with any expansions. However, you may want to consider dilution of the decks, particularly if you're using a small expansion (which mostly have a definite theme); if you want, say, corruption cards to be at all relevant, you might want to consider using only the BGotW and AH encounters.
The only components that are strictly tied to the boards are the Mythos cards and the encounters for the expansion boards (the latter pretty obviously). Though do note that if for some reason you want to dilute the difficulty slightly (say, for example, you're trying Innsmouth with two investigators), leaving in Mythos cards from expansion boards not in use is a simple way to do it; from time to time you get a card that doesn't open a gate.
Silas still gets +2 at River Docks and more importantly when visiting the Univisted Isle.
I''ve only seen one Arkham encounter that doesn't work at all if Kingsport is not in play. It's at the train station. I don't remember any Other World Encounter that fails.
Some of the personal stories require a cultist to pass and with Abhoth and Rhan that won't happen.
YellowPebble said:
A very minor caveat is that Silas, from Innsmouth, has an essentially useless ability if you use only the base board, but that doesn't make him unplayable, and he is the only exception.
Technically, Silsas can still get a major bonus in the Unvisited Isle or River Docks. In addition, he doesn't have to worry about the Innsmouth Look cards!
Edit: forum layout = farts
His PS more than makes up for the lack of more aquatic locations. Basically should get 2 seals with him and then get a brand new investigator. What's not to like. And he's got a manly, hairy chest 
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