It seems that most people don't like Cult Encounters. I think that's because they don't appreciate them enough. First of all, Cult Encounters happen on the Woods, Black Cave, and Unvisited Isle, places very dangerous to have normal encounters there because a gate can appear. Cult Encounters never make a gate appear. This should be enough to make them appealing, but most of them are actually very useful on their own. Here are my thoughts on each and every one of them:

Very useful. If you have a common item that isn't very useful you can discard it, otherwise get a corruptopn.
I doubt anyone would argue 2 sanity and a corruption isn't worth a blessing.
Not good per-se, but not as bad as a gate also appearing.
This one isn't so bad. Worse case scenarion you lose the membership.
This is bad, but there aren't a lot of thigs that raise terror. Not that bad.
This is probably the worst cult encounter but as you will see there are many good ones.
Very very useful.
Same.
Another bad one, but not horribly bad.
You didn't expect all of them to be good ones...? It's still better than a gate appearing.
Meh. Not that bad.
Another horrible one, but still better than a gate.
Insanely good. You would have to be a madman to argue that.
Maybe not so fun for your character, but obviously helps the game tremendously. One for the team, right?
$3 is an amazing deal for 2 clues. Well maybe not amazing cause of the corruption, but still good.
Milk isn't very useful, but if you don't want it then no penalty.
Again, insanely good.
Need money? help yourself. Don't need it or don't want a corruption? then no penlaty.

So, there are 10 good ones and 8 bad ones, and even among those 8 some of them aren't that bad really. The 10, on the other hand, are very useful. 10-8 is a better ratio then the one you'll find at Woods/Black Cave/Unvisited Isle. I hope this changes your mind about cult encounters.

I knew some slight benefit was to be gleaned, but I would unlikely turn down a chance to join the cult regardless, just to see the encounters.

As such I didn't read most of your analyses above

Slight?! You really should read them. There's one that removes a doom token if you sacrifice yourself and some that let you draw spells (even any spell you want!) common, unique, clues, money, blessing... Even if you know them all you wouldn't know which one you will draw if you have an encounter.

I don't have a problem with Cult Encounters. I don't really have a problem with Corruptions, either. What I have a problem with is how RARE either of these mechanics ever get into play.

There are (IIRC) FOUR Encounters that grant you a Cult Membership. Wow, TWICE as much as Sheldon Gang Membership Encounters, which I have only acquired ONCE in dozens and dozens of games. Even when I house-ruled a few games that started everyone with Cult Memberships, without a concentrated effort to actually GO to the three Cult Locations--similar to going out of my way to accomplish a Task or Mission, which I think you (kroen) are less fond of as well--Cult Encounters just NEVER happened. My worst Black Goat Herald game saw me acquire maybe half the green Corruptions.

The whole concept developed for the Black Goat box just DOESN'T WORK as expected. I like the Investigator cards, the Mythos cards complement the Innsmouth Mythos cards beautifully, and the Dark Druid is a hoot-and-a-half. But as nifty as the Cult Encounters and Corruptions cards are, they just don't manifest with even a modest frequency, and a rare mechanic is a forgotten mechanic.

If everyone started with memberships, how weren't they encounters? those 3 places are unstable meaning they clues on them...I will happily bounce to once of them rather than graveyard/unnamble etc. because I wouldn't encounter a gate. why would they not go there to collect clues? :/ it makes zero sense :/

The last time this came up, I had this take on the issue:

Out of the 24 cult encounters cards, I count 8 that are purely bad. That is, a bad effect happens and you are not offered the choice of avoiding it by taking a corruption card. So 33% of the cult encounter cards are bad.

Of the 35 encounters at each location, I count 9 in the Woods that are purely bad, 10 at the Unvisited Isle, and 14 at the Black Cave. That means that 26% of the Woods encounters are bad, 29% of the Unvisited Isle encounters are bad, and 40% of the Black Cave encounters are bad. So in two of the three Black Goat locations, joining the cult actually makes you less safe. And even in the Black Cave, your chances of drawing a bad encounter only decrease by a measly 7 percentage points. Of course, there are no cult encounters where a gate appears. So the pitch for joining the Cult of the Black Goat sounds something like this: "If you join, the Woods and the Unvisited Isle will actually become more dangerous, but the chance that a gate will open during the encounters phase goes down from 10% to zero. At those locations. For you personally." Like, wow, what an amazing advantage.

Here's the relevant thread: http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_foros_discusion.asp?efid=5&efcid=1&efidt=178489&efpag=0

I'd say that joining the cult only makes sense if your only concern is avoiding "gate opens" cards. Of course, if that's your only concern, you could just not visit the Woods, Black Cave, or Unvisited Isle. If you're clue hunting it makes more sense to go to the Newspaper or the Asylum.

jgt7771 said:

Heh, that happened to me too.

Your precentages mean little. I'd rather have 100% chance for a bad encounter that don't involve a gate than 1% chance for a bad encounter that involves one. Not to mention none of these three places can remove a doom token like the cult encounters can. Vising one of these 3 places with a membership is MUCH safer than without. And, lol, clues at newspaper? give me a break. At the middle of the game there's no time to sit idly at stable locations hoping to get an encounter that gives you clue. I'd much rather go to an unstable location and collect hard evidence than theoretical ones.

kroen said:

Have fun with that.

I will, but it's not even like that. 66% chance for a good/semi-good encounter and 33% chance for a bad/semi bad encounter that never includes a gate is AMAZING. You're noob to think otherwise. Sorry, but it's true.

Most of this game consists of playing the odds. If you put all your resources into avoiding risks, you're not going to be able to keep up with what's happening on the board. If the opportunity to join the cult comes up, then sure, take it. But don't expect it to increase your odds of winning.

kroen said:

So instead you sit idly by at the Woods hoping for one of only TWO Encounters that will give you a Cult Membership? Maybe I didn't make my position clear.

I LIKE the Cult Encounters. I LOVE the Corruptions. But unless you can actually FIND a Membership, THEY WILL NEVER HAPPEN. I go to the Silver Twilight Lodge, and Carl Sanford RAMS Memberships down my throat. I go to the Woods (or worse odds at the Cave or the Isle), and the Cult NEVER shows up with an offer. So your glorious 66% is meaningless unless you can pull off the first, what, 2%? 3%? that it takes to get a Membership in the first place.

Unless I'm playing Darrell...and there are better things for that guy to be doing with his ability than looking for goat cults.

The newspaper is excellent for clues, albeit indirectly. While you do get occasional clues from it, more importantly, you get money, and with the money you can head next door for unique items that produce clues or are the equivalent of clues.

kroen said:

kroen said:

You're right, precentages don't mean anything.

Probabilites, however, are very useful as a basis for sound decisions.

And to put it bluntly: Your opinion means even less. You'd be a noob to dismiss probabilities

Note:

In case you're offended (and knowing your past posts, you probably will be), being rude doesn't help at all if you're trying to convince others that you might have a point.

jgt7771 said:

[EDITED BY ADMIN]

All I was saying is thatif you already have a cult membership it would be in your best interest to pick clues from woods/cave/isle instead of any other unstable location (excpet for maybe low frequency locations). I never suggested you should try to camp for cult. And you're right, Darrel's ability is a waste camping for membersihp. I'd much rather camp at Darke's Carnival with a blessing to get Darke's Blessing or to camp at the Newspaper for Coded Messages.

kroen said:

So the quality of this thread just took a prodigious turn.

I swear to god people here are so sensitive. I'm in forums where people say fu to each other and no one cares.

Grow up.

kroen said:

Courtesy costs nothing. Failing to respect those that disagree with your viewpoint will not win them over to your way of thinking.

kroen said:

This statement is ironic. This forum (and BGG) are two of the most mature I've ever been to, due in part because cursing almost never occurs. Also, you yourself often have an over-sensitive reaction to criticism. You should probably take note that the only two times I've ever seen intervention from a moderator on this board have been in response to comments you've made.

Your assessment of the cult encounters is nicely researched and passionately declared. But, other users have a right to disagree.

Note that the other thread where I've witnessed a mod's presence was one where you were offended when someone didn't think the Kingsport mechanic was as good as you felt it was. Here we are a year later, and you admitted recently that Kingsport lost its luster to you.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that everybody can stand to learn from everybody else. Also, this isn't ebaum's.

Uh, sorry Kroen, this is a forum of mostly grown ups. We're not a bunch of twelve year olds here (and if there are any, sorry guys— sincerely— figure of speech).

Clearly your behavior isn't as tolerated elsewhere as you'd like to make it sound. See your wiki for details.

I'm 22.

Btw in GT (GameTrailers) forum saying the f word to someone won't ban you. people are saying it to each other all the time and no one gets offended like you "grown-ups". Maybe you should stop being so sensitive.

kroen said:

We know. Last year, someone accused you of being 13 and you said you were 21.

This shouldn't have to be said, but this isn't GT. Also, the "f word" is not necessary at all to convey points on this forum.

Though that didn't stop me or Avi from exchanging a billion of them over Skype during our one online game. Precious!

Tibs said:

Oh, Tibs, Tibs, I'm shocked that you'd suggest such a thing ;'D I'd never use the F word ::laughter:: what would Lovecraft think?

Which reminds me :') we should do another Skype game one of these days (I really enjoyed the last one).

Avi_dreader said:

So long as you don't mind that I now have video but NO AUDIO. So, now I need to get a mic.

Tibs said:

::Laughter:: how good is your sign language?