Hi, I'm a new forum user, and only started playing AH this year. I've bought most of the expansions for my boyfriend, but because we live in such a small place we haven't gotten to play most of them yet (and some that I've order haven't arrived yet) from reading through some of the forums it sounds a little like playing with all of the expansions at the same time would be difficult and not play as well as just putting in one or two of the expansions. How do you guys like to play? Lots of expansions or none at all? Also, black goat of the woods is the only one I don't have yet because its out of stock everywhere. How long should I expect to wait to be able to buy it? By then I'm sure we'll have gotten to play with the other expansions at least.

I play with everything. It saves me from having to sort out and choose expansions, and it's fun to let the game decide what to throw at me.

Of course, there is the issue of dilution. I have to employ house-rules to counter what I feel to be dilution's most important consequences. And if you were looking to revolve your game around a specific theme, you can forget it.

I would recommend trying each expansion at least once on its own before you combine them. That way you get a feel for each. Black Goat, it should be noted, is my least favorite expansion and may be the least liked overall, so don't strain yourself trying to find it.

For what it's worth, I made a thread that features a series of scenarios that exhibit each expansion on its own, and the scenarios were designed to introduce players to the game and its expansions. They were arranged by difficulty, as well. Since you already have all the expansions, you can totally do these scenarios, and they'll be perfect for you because you're unfamiliar with the expansions. Black Goat constitutes the 4th scenario, and all other scenarios borrow very little from it compared to other expansions. That will give you some time to pick it up before it's required (or you could skip scenario 4).

Here is the thread:

League for introducing new players

Tibs' Beginning League is a terrific primer for all bits of Arkham Horror. And blissfully enhanced to truly bring out what makes each expansion special.

I've played both all-expansions and minimal-expansions. My "sweet spot" is one big box, one small box blended together, and I rotate through each of the smaller town boards. Without getting too deep into content spoilers that I would prefer you find out for yourself, I find that "less is more" when it comes to theme. Dunwich-only games do not play like Kingsport-only games do not play like Innsmouth-only games, but each style is distinct to its town. At the moment, my small box is always Lurker, but I know others who play this way like any of the other three (DP, KY, BG) as well. Note that this is only in regards to Mythos and Encounter cards; I mix all Investigator cards (Items, Allies, etc) from all expansions together for every game.

Welcome to the Carnival, Derufin!

When I add a new expansion, I add all the little cards and OW cards, but leave the Mythos cards/board until I'm done with all the components for other expansions. For example, after I got dunwich, I played through with each AO on that board, then I got Innsmouth before I finished, but finished before adding the Innsmouth Board. And for now, I'm playing with JUST the Innsmouth board for a few times before I get done, and then I'll add them together

So, as Tibs said, play with them bit by bit, adding them in piece-by-piece to get a feel of each expansion. Then, when you get done with them all, you can choose which expansion(s) to use next. Or go nuts (like I plan to do) and play with them all, all the time!

I'd play each of them solo for at least several games (more if you're finding them challenging). But eventually combination will add spice to the chaos (while detracting from thematic unity, and diluting certain elements from the games). Still, as Tibs said, there are variants to try to fix that, or custom heralds (which are essentially variants with pretty pictures).

I just downloaded the app for the game, and though gruesomely expensive for an app, it does allow you to quickly and conveniently take out and put back expansions. I reccomend it if you want to keep changing it up without the extra fifteen minutes shuffling cards in and out. And it saves table space, 12-13 large card decks worth.

Thanks for input everyone. Kingsport and Innsmouth just arrived today, so I'm sure we'll spend the weekend looking for somewhere to play. We'll probably stick with the suggestion of playing each new expansion on its own first and then maybe play with mixes. For storage purposes we always seperate everything after we finish playing, which takes way too much time. I wish I could get the app, but I will never buy any sort of apple product and even if its downloadable on something else I don't own that something else. It sounds like it'd be perfect for making more space though.

Feel free to use other investigators, though, before you "add" each new expansion. For me, they're half the fun!