If this has been discussed before then apologies and please follow up with a link to the discussion if you know it off hand. I find it difficult to search for threads as you get results for every FFG game.

Has anyone come up with a method of scoring a game if you have to finish prematurly? We put a time limit on the game and were trying to determine who would have won. There was a fairly clear winner, but it was also debatable what would be the criteria for scoring. We just did one point for every Str, Crf cone earned, each gold, spell, magic object & follower. It gave a rough idea who was the winner and the rest of the rankings, curious if anyone else has ever attempted this?

There is an option in the back of the rule book for just such a situation, it is almost the same as what you did for your game.

The website WarpZone, another talisman site has a method of keeoing a running score for times when they use dozens of expansions. The basics are to award points for each new region entered and for other accopmlishments during the game. Unfortunately the link is not working for me right now so that is all I have.

The most typical way to do it is to count up tokens for Strength and Craft acquired (sans Starting). That goes all the way back to 2E. Some groups count Craft at x1.5 as it is harder to come by through effort.

Some groups also count Gold, though that's pointless. It's mostly acquired by dumb luck or special ability that has no risk. Same for Fate, Objects, M.Objects, Followers, etc. So the back of ruleback suggestion is a way to go, but not for most hardcore groups. Stick with that if you can't think of anything else, but over all, Talisman is not built for "scoring." Even many Strength and Craft tokens are gained by pure chance.

Before we play tonight I'm going to peruse this.... rule book... you speak of once more. Good to hear we handled it ok, but I agree with some of the stuff being a bit out of whack. The Leprechaun had a weighty advantage, but you could look at it as the potential to get yourself out of trouble, pay for services and get equipment, which when you don't have gold all of that looks pretty good. I think we would do this if there wasn't a clear winner at the moment, but you know with the game that someone can just bolt ahead out of the blue.

I adore pure strategy games, and collect them physically and on the computer ( one of my favourites being Camelot or Inside Moves ), but a fun game for everyone should have that random edge or it's just not as enjoyable ( for them at least mwhaha. )

Agreed... and I've always thought the strongest games where a balance of both strategy and luck. Backgammon is the prefect example, and not just by its make-up. When traced through its earlier predecessors all the way to the oldest known board game (the Royal Game of Ur, predating the later Senet of ancient Egypt), as a style of game, it has the oldest history of any known game on the planet.

I don't think Talisman can make that claim to any balance, but it does have its whole load of surprises from one game to the next. I do like my games where you have to beat the odds AND the wits of your opponents. Here's hoping you don't have to play the point count for the sake of declaring a winner... since its not really that satisfying (by personal experience).