There are two gates open in Dunwich and four in Arkham. There are currently 7 monsters in Arkham (the monster limit) and one in Dunwich. I draw a Mythos card indicating a gate opens in the Woods, which already has an open gate, so there is a monster surge. What happens?

A) All 6 monsters go to the Outskirts.

B) 4 go to the Outskirts, 2 go on the Dunwich gates.

C) All 6 go on the Dunwich gates

D) Something else I didn't think of?

Brine said:

Monsters should be divided as even as possible between the open gates, caring - in case you have to put into play more monsters than the actual numer of open gates - that no gates receives more monsters that the "surging" gate (i.e. the Woods, in your case).

The correct sequence in the described situation should be:

First monster drawn - surging gate. Since the monsters limit has been reached, the monsters goes for a walk in the Outskirts
Second to fourth monsters drawn - same as the point before
Fifth monster drawn - first gate in Dunwich
Sixth monster drawn - second gate in Dunwich

So, scenario (B) is the correct one

Monsters should be spread between open gates as evenly as possible, as Julia said. The one notable difference is that monsters that wind up in Arkham are subject to the monster limit, while those on expansion boards aren't.

Thanks. And a followup question:

Glaaki is the Ancient One. That monster Surge caused the Outskirts to be exceeded, raising the terror level and spawning a Servant of Glaaki in an Arkham locaton. Since Arkham is full already, does it just go to the Outskirts? And if so, when the Outskirts overflows, does he go back to the AO sheet?

Edit - Failing the "Nightmare Pool" rumor while Arkham is full of monsters, and all three Mythos cards are monster surges, with Glaaki as the AO, is bad news.

Servants of Glaaki are spawn monsters (denoted by the red circle on the front). Spawn monsters are characterized by four special rules:

1. They are never added to the monster cup
2. "Return to cup" effects do not work on them (such as Feds Raid Arkham)
3. They can never be claimed as trophies
4. They do not count against the monster limit

So they stay on the board, and are independent of the monster limit. Note that they will never wind up in the Outskirts.

I see. Thanks much.