If the outskirts is at its limit and additional monsters are added to it do they go in one by one or all at once?

Example: In our game we had an outskirts limit of four and a monster surge caused four more monsters to be drawn. Since the monster limit for Arkham was already maxed I put the four from the surge in the outskirts in addition to the four that were already there then put them all back in the cup.

My question is should I have taken them all to the cup or add them singly which would result in five going to the cup and three staying in the outskirts? I'm in favor of the latter as the terror track seems woefully underused but I hate house rules and would rather play as intended.

arkhamresident said:

Oops, I think we should've fought ol' Shubby last night then. Thanks.

Avi_dreader said:

Are you sure ? I think the manual says add them all and if the limit is exceeded return them to the cup.

I will have a look in the manual when I'm home.

volckaert.jelle said:

I'm never sure about anything. I have foggy goldfish memory syndrome. But I'm pretty sure. I'd be willing to bet five bucks.


---

Just double checked page 12 of the Innsmouth manual. Now I'll change that bet to five kagillion bucks.

You add monsters up to the limit of the outskirts. Every time 1 over the limit is added to the outskirts, the prior ones in there are returned to the cup and you move the terror track up one space.

In your case, the prior 4 that were in the outskirts immediately go to the cup, you turn the terror track up one notch and you place the 4 new monsters in the outskirts. The cycle repeats again when another monster is added to the outskirts.

This is how my group plays, and for once, I feel I have the confidence to say I believe that's what the rules dictate. If I am wrong, oh well, I'm wrong with most things about this game anyways. lol

I'm not agree with your scenario. I think, it should go that way :

- There are 4 monsters and you have to add 4 new monsters in the outskirts.

- Add one, reach 5, which triggers off limit outskirts. Remove all 5 back to cup, raise Terror.

- Add the last 3 to the Outskirts.

(And the way i'm playing it, i'm drawing one after the other so, you could redraw one from those who were in the Outskirts seconds before).

Avi_dreader said:

I rest my case

volckaert.jelle said:

I thought "I rest my case" is what you say when you are correct? But I have foggy goldfish memory syndrome. But I'm pretty sure. I'd be willing to bet five bucks. I'll go check the Arkham Horror Manual (I vaguely remember it having answers).

It is definitely "one at a time." Monsters will continue to be added after the overflow, so it's possible to have the terror level rise twice in one surge.

Avi_dreader said:

So to clear things up I agree it's one at a time, ok now ?

volckaert.jelle said:

As per the Dunwich Horror rules FAQ section:

Example: In a 3-player game, the monster limit is 6 and
the maximum number of monsters in the Outskirts is 5.
There are 3 open gates on the board, 6 monsters in
Arkham, and 4 monsters in the Outskirts. During the
Mythos Phase, you draw a location that already has an
open gate, so you have to draw 3 more monsters. You
would first draw 2 monsters and place them in the
Outskirts. The Outskirts limit would be exceeded upon
placing the second monster, so you would then increase
the terror level by 1 and return the six monsters in the
Outskirts to the cup. Finally, you would draw the third
monster and place it in the Outskirts.

Hugues said:

Now that I've read the way you do it....I am rethinking things. I think the way you're presenting it IS the way the rules say to do it. I dont know, I havent looked at the rules in awhile. I do think you may be right though.

Just another thing I've been doing wrong in this game, like so many things. lol.

Der1 said:

Yeah, I was making mistakes until my third year. Don't sweat it ;')