Embarrassingly, I'm having a hard time understanding the rules for flying monsters. Do flying monsters move directly to the sky from a location (ie: Black Cave) if there are no investigators in the adjacent street (Rivertown), or must they move to the street before going to the sky?

Directly to the sky. (Yes, the manual is very slippery about this. Sorry about that.) Any time a flying monster moves, if there is no adjacent Investigator to grab, it will move to the Sky from any space on the board, and it won't come down unless there is an Investigator in the Streets to swoop upon.

Also, a flying monster doesn't enter a location from a street, right? Even if the monster in a street location is adjacent to a location that contains an investigator?

Right. Flying monsters who are not in the sky only:

1. Stay still, if they're already in a space with an investigator.
2. Enter an adjacent street (NOT location) if there's an investigator there, if the above is not true.
3. Go to the sky, if the above are not true.

That's right. The only monsters that can MOVE INTO a location are stalker monsters (only into unstable locations if it contains an investigator) and aquatic monsters (from aquatic location to another aquatic location that contains an investigator).

Musha Shukou said:

And the Hunting Horror and Hounds of Tindalos, under the right conditions.

And just so we don't forget about all those nice exceptions:

www.arkhamhorrorwiki.com/Windy

Oh yeah, good calls on them there exceptions.

Hi, let me ask to clarify: if all flying monsters are in the sky, and an investigator moves around (i.e. travels from one location to another, crossing a street area), ALL of them attack him/her the moment he wants to leave that street area? Can he normally try to evade them? If he does evade them, they stay on the street until the next mythos phase?

(And a side question regarding evading: some spells let you auto-evade, but if you fail casting that spell, can you still try to normally evade?)

No, flying monsters only move when a Mythos card move symbol triggers them. Which means they only ever move during Mythos, and it's possible that an investigator can be in the street and won't be attacked because the monsters' movement symbols did not come up.

You mean Mists of Releh? If you fail Mists, you can attempt to evade normally.

Hello Great Old Ones and Dark Ones,

me humble little piece of insane brain in me heads troubles me with the awful challenging and demanding concepts of thy flying creatures of doom, despair and devouring the souls of the rich and poor, innocent and not so innocent etc.

Now, during the last couple of days (first encounter with Arkham Horrors in years, and it was real fun!) I have read and thought a lot about the flying creatures. I am from Germany, and I really don't get the point wth the German rules; then I tried hard with the international rules, and I even tried harder with the help of the faqs and the forum.

But tbh: confusion increases in power, and my sanity decreases at the speed of light.

I would like to ask with "pictures" and examples, and during this I will rephrase what I understood and did not understand from the rules. I will skip special conditions like windy etc., because my lack of understanding is about the basic concepts of it. That's why I am horribly sorry, that the Cultists of the Great Old Ones were not able to stop me in my creation of this wall of words. To make it easy: I will try to ask in the simple YES or NO scheme.

On the last part of this message I sum up my thoughts and strugglings; therefore one could skip the many cases and case-based questions; reading everything is highly recommended, 'cause the many examples "explain" the outcome on the last passage. Thank you for your patience.

1. Flying monsters entering the game:

a) A gate opens in one of the cursed places of Arkham. And creatures of madness swarm the place. It is a flying creature. In the labyrinthian streets of Arkham only the poor lost soul of Ashcan Pete lingers in the darkness, and he is not in the street adjacent to the newly opening goal.

By the rules: The flying Monster will engage him instantly, although he his on the other end of town - regardless of the movement symbol on the Mythos card. Right?

b) The fabric of time and space is heavily disturbed, as a new gate opens in Arkham, and new Horrors ascend from the depths of insanity. Again it is a flying creature. Poor Ashcan now wanders the deserted roads of Dunwich, and on no other street in the game other investigators are around.

By the rules: The flying Monster will engage him instantly - regardless of the movement symbol on the Mythos card. Right?
Alternatively: The same applies for a gate opening in Dunwich, a flying Monster appearing and a single Investigator being on one of the streets in the burdened town of Arkham. Right?

c) Ashcan Pete happens to find access to one of the unstable special locations in Arkham. Luck is on his side: No gate dominates the area, and no creature with bloody intentions wanders this place. He seeks shelter under the stairs to get some rest. But suddenly he shrieks in terror, as a flying monster rushes through one of the doors he opens ...

By the rules: When one hapless gamer draws a location card which says that a monster appears in that location, and the chosen monster from the cap is a flying monster, it remains in the location for the duration of this significant encounter. Right?

2. Monster Movement

a) The horrible Byakhee has feast upon the soul of the Doctor, who has went utterly mad; the creature has lost its interest ...

aa) alt.1: just around the corner on the adjacent street it senses the presence of Ashcan Pete, and it moves there.

By the rules: When a flying creature successfully destroys the mind or body of an investigator in a street, it directly heads to the adjacent street - regardless of movement rules in the Mythos phase. Right?

bb) alt. 2: Now that the Byakhee, already roaming the air of Arkham, has no businesses with the Doctor anymore, it does not sense a victim being near; but in one of the other streets in Arkham Ashcan Pete enjoys a happy life.

By the rules: All the streets of Arkham are connected with each other; but they are not considered being adjacent to each other, right? Therefore the flying monster would not move to any street with an investigator, it would only move to an investigator in a really and literally adjacent street - again regardless of the movement rules of the Mythos phase, right?

cc) By the rules: The cases aa) and bb) covered the case that a flying creature of darkness destroys the will or the body of an investigator in street X; and it would move to the adjacent street Y, if there happens to be another investigator. For the purposes of clarification: Is this movement INSTANTLY? Or does it take place during the NEXT monster movement phase in the NEXT Mythos phase?

dd) By the rules: But although the flying creatures only move if their symbols show up on the Mythos card, is it really the case that ANY flying monster with or without the proper symbol and with such a delicious opportunity to devour another soul will move as described above?

ee) By the rules: Does a flying creature INSTANTLY vanish into the nightsky, when the investigator in his street or the next street crumbles under its might? Or does it move there on the next monster movement phase during the next Mythos Phase?

b) The Bykahee has surprised Ashcan in his hideout on one of the instable locations in Arkham; but the lucky Ashcan happens to flee the creature.

By the rules: A flying creature in a certain location would be dismissed to the monster cap again, if the investigator happens to evade the creature, right?

3. So summing up my readings and thoughts:

a) A flying creature appears via a gate and moves directly to ANY street in the game with at least one investigator on it - the poor fellow with the lowest sneak skill; this happens regardless of the movement rules in the Mythos Phase therefore the creature does not need to provide the proper symbol displayed on the Mythos card.

b) A flying creature ONLY moves during the monster movement phase in the Mythos Phase, just as it applies for any creature. The question came up: Does it move instantly to the adjacent street with another investigator after it has destroyed the first investigator, or does it move to the next prey on the next Mythos Phase? And this again happens regardless of the movement rules in the Mythos Phase, therefore the creature does not need to provide the proper symbol displayed on the Mythos card.

c) Somehow the same: A flying creature ONLY moves during the monster movement phase in the Mythos Phase. The question would be: What about a flying monster moving to the night sky after having crumbled the mental or physical assets of an investigator? Does it move to the night sky instantly or on the next movement phase on the next Mythos Phase?

d) Flying creatures in the night sky ONLY move, if they show the proper symbol which matches the given symbols on the drawn Mythos card. And here the flying creatures may engage any investigator on any street in the game, i.e. in Arkham or one of the expansions.

Finally: Congratulations, you made it through. Maybe I have lost track of the rules by having read to much of 'em. What was the saying in English: I don't see the wood for the trees ... ? Anyway - the questions raised remain. So thank you very much for your assistance.

Kind regards

Mad

Hi,

Berlin player here. You have some things twisted, I will try to summarise flying in Arkham.

If flying monster appears as result of encounter (arkham or otherworld) - then after dealing with it it returns to cup.

If As result of mythos card:

If its symbol appears on the Mythos card, it moves. Only the monster with matching symbols will move.

When it moves - if there is an investigator in an adjacent street location, it goes to them. Lowest sneak breaks ties, then First Player chooses.

If no one can be reached, it flies up, to the sky. Its movement ends.

If already in the sky, it can reach any investigator in the streets. Flyers use the sky to reach further, but must be in it first.

If using an expansion board, and the flyer goes to the sky from outside of Arkham, it can only reach the sky if the monster limit in arkham is not yet reached, otherwise, put it in the outskirts. (This is because monsters in the sky count towards the monster limit).

Thats it. Flyers do not automatically move on after combat, nor do they move outside of the mythos phase (unless a card allows it).

EDIT: flyers also move when a Gate Burst occurs. In this event (a seal must be broken) ALL flyers move.

Hello dj2.0,

thank you very much for the clarification about the movement.

Still there remains a questionmark on the *duhduhDUNNNN* appearance of the flying monster.

Aside: I am so persistent on this, because from what I learned in the different sources of rules and faqs on the one side, and on your clarification minutes ago on the other side there is a huge difference in how we played the game a few days ago and what I learned from reading a lot. I was just a participant on a joyfull game-evening, and I fell prey to the game procedure being proposed by the owner of the game.

Back to topic:

The appearance of monsters via location cards or outer region encounters is simple, and tbh I didn't expect you writing something different.

The appearance of flying monsters troubles me still.

a) In the Mythos Phase the new gate is drawn and placed on the right place. No need for more clarification.

b) Then the new monster is drawn from the monster cup - in this case a flying monster. This is easy as well. (Draw a monster ... How much one might misunderstand something here ...?)

c) Question now: Where is it placed?

aa) The flying monster is placed like any other monsters on foot directly at the gate? Then I finally understood you correctly and am happy about it; also the concepts of movement make a lot more sense regarding flying monsters. And I also learned that we did it wrongfully all the time days ago ...

bb) Or is the flying monster directly placed at the next available and least sneaky investigator on ANY street or ONLY ANY Arkham street? And if there is no victim available then it would be directly put into the night sky? This is actually the way, we happened to play it - monster drawn and directly placed at either an investigator or into the nightsky. And here my confusion is based upon, because the rules seem to speak a different language, especially with all the faqs and forum entries.

Thank you for your patience.

Mad

ah, now I see! Yes the monster goes directly on the gate. Maybe now you are now fully initiated into flying in Arkham

dj2.0 said:

Probably my friends have played the game way to much, and their sanity was remarkably low ...

May I interfere with whatever you do a last time? Now that I understand that a flying monster is placed at the gate by the first appearance, it is automatically moved to the nightsky on the movement phase - even without showing the proper symbol? Or does it remain at the gate as long as its symbol is not displayed on the Mythos cards?

Sane regards

Mad

Hi , no problem, I like to help (but only with this game!).

The monster stays put until it is allowed to move by the symbols.

I should add that monsters do not move at all if they are already on the same space as an investigator. I think the exception to this are Evasive monsters (which have a green awareness modifier rather than a red one). Since you must succeed at an Evade check just to encounter them, I figure they slip away if on the same space. I might be wrong about that though.

dj2.0 said:

Hey.

The evasion is no issue. This is a rule which is frighteningly crystal clear to me.

About the quote: Let's say I have a flying monster on one of the many streets - no investigator around. Let's also assume this creature of darkness has a moon symbol to it. If I conclude that this creature won't move anywhere, not even to the nightsky, as long as the Mythos cards don't show the moon symbol for the purposes of monster movement, am I right about that?

Sometime even the stars will be right for me.

Mad

Yes, you are right. The monster will stay on the street until its symbol shows up, and then it will move to the sky unless there are investigators on the streets adiacent to it.

Thank you so much to the both of you. By now I realize that there are many gamers in my area who do it the wrong way then ... Not only the guys I already spoke about, but also many others who I joined in the game every now and then during the last two to three years.

Today I received the core rules. And I am very sure there will be more questions ... But until then: Enjoy!

Ia! Ia! Cthulhu Fhtagn!

Mad

questions do not always have answers, but we like to try bring em on

Hello.

Again flying creatures of madness drain my sanity ... And confusion reigns my mind ...

Take this case:

In the location A a gate and a flying monster appear during Phase V. In the adjacent street-location there is no investigator, but there is an unlucky fool two blocks to the south (i.e. three streets distance).

The Mythos card that has opened this gate and freed the dark-winged minion of mind-blowing craziness also allows the creature to move, as both the Mythos card and the creature belong to the sinister dominion of the "star".

What happens?

Does the dark creature happily jump upon the poor soul three streets south of its location, although that specific street location is NOT adjacent to the location with the gate that spewed out the flying creature of doom? (This is, what I have witnessed many, many times during my unworthy life of spectating and beholding others' misdeeds...)

OR do the basic rules for flying monster movement apply, and the creature has to "abandon" its abomination into the nightsky, where it lurks between moon, stars and clouds until its dimensional sign is uncovered again which directs this unearthly monster into the streets of Arkham again, if there is a simpleminded idiot without any shelter ... ? (This is actually the way, I played it during my last solo-session ... And I was not sure about it being right or wrong, and confusion made me feel mad.)

Thank you very much. I think this question is much easier then I expected; but the knots in my mind entangle my thoughts, and my ratio as well as my reason don't master this challenge. Again - thank you for any advice ...

Ia! Ia!

Mad

The creature would jump into the sky.

But that does give me visions of fast flying creatures able to jump into the sky then back down on investigators.

Veet said:

Hooray! My instincts proved to be worth their genetic roots! I played it the right way and didn't stick to the epic fail gamestyles of my teachers ...

Yeah. Consider a flying creature, which has not a blue border, but a two-color border - blue-red! Yarrrr! They would move anywhere anytime actually, at first into the sky, and then on any street available - in an instant ... !

First suggestion for a monster like this: "Cthulhu's Fart" - flying gas-cloud, moving at the speed of light, you know ...

Ia! Ia!

Mad

To sum up:

(a) The only time flying monsters behave any differently from other monsters is when they MOVE.

(b) They only MOVE if their symbol shows up on a Mythos card. (Special: When using expansions with gate bursts, flying monsters ALSO move whenever a gate bursts.)

© If a flying monster MOVES, follow this checklist in order. Remember that the SKY is adjacent to ALL street locations.

(1) Are they in a space with an investigator?

YES: They don't move. NO: Continue.

(2) Is there an investigator in an adjacent street location? (If the location isn't a street, this doesn't apply. If it isn't adjacent, this doesn't apply.)

YES: They move to the investigator. NO: They move to the Sky (or stay there).

(3) Go back to 2 and remember that the Sky is adjacent to ALL STREET LOCATIONS.

That's all there is to it.

Justin Alexander said:

The gate burst card does not have to burst a gate, it only has to be drawn. During monster movement phase, all flying monsters will move if the drawn mythos card is a gate burst. In the case of Atlach-Nacha, this means that almost every turn, flying monsters will move.