I'm thinking about buying this game.

But i know for sure that i will play it with more than 2 players. So is the core game enough for more than 2 players ? Or do i need some expansions ?

Twenty cards per faction and 25 neutrals (from memory / work, could be wrong). So, three two-faction decks are 40 cards each and need 10 more cards each to be legal. You are 5 neutrals short. You could put in remaining off-faction cards to be legal, but they would be hard to play as faction number three, and would likely be a detriment. But you're close. I think core is unplayable to optimal tactics with one of each card and no three-card situations to emphasize that tactic. So, you need more cards to be reasonably playable, but not too many. To build an old fashion deck, the core alone is not adequate. Three cores is better, or buy other releases to supplement.

From the first response I'd say you'd get almost three out of it. A $10 Asylum Pack would probably fill out the rest of a third deck, with enough faction and neutral cards. That's not too expensive.

Two or three cards per faction in an AP won't supplement core decks alone. The game is optimally played with one or two factions. With core you can't play a mono deck. You can't. You're 30 cards short without neutral cards. Thirty cards! I'm telling you, in this environment three core is the place to start.

By all means pick up UT, AE if you can find it get two, FR, get two EE, FC, and MN. That's the classic approach. And the heart of the game.

But these boxes are right here brand new current and 3 for hundred. They're sure to be legal for a long time. Before we needed four of each. Now three non-collectible core sets will place you in the drivers seat with each AP released.

In the old days of getting four of a base set - AE and EE were 240 cards, 79 or 73 rares. $76 X 4 AE or EE got you your four Victoria or Scotophobia or DOA or the day and night neutrals, or maybe it didn't. The trades and purchases to fill in are a whole other thing.

If mom didn't give you enough allowance to buy three alone, split up factions with friends. Otherwise it's $100 to establish the basics of what you can do.

And white borded mono faction is still far away. There are 25 to 26 white border cards per faction (CT 23), including Mountains and Ancient Horrors. That's 25 short. With two or three per pack coming over months, you're going to have to do something. The game welcomes you to come in for a swim. Soon the waves will beckon and you will be called to the sea. What are you gonna do then? Show up with 23 cthulhu cards and an explanation? " ia! I had to choose another faction oh hideous one, I couldn't afford to get all your great cthulhu cards. Instead I brought the Feds and Yog Sothoth. I hope it is no prob.., iargh!"

Get real. Get Cthulhu

Core set gives you unique feature of playing 21 decks.

I would propose to buy 1 [ONE] box if you buy in a local shop. If you order - maybe 2 would be better because of shipping rates.

Anyway, 1 Core Set should be enough to see if mechanics are OK for you, graphic side, playability etc. I always say that you should try before you buy, and here you should spend minimum, that alows you to try the game [=1 Core Set].

1 Core set would be enough for first 2 weeks of games with your frriend.

Then you will see for your self, if you want to go forward, and if so - would you like to have more copies of already had cards (buy next Core Set) - or new cards: Asylum Packs of Boxes.

Just a minor correction:

The CoC Base Game includes 20 cars for every faction and 15 neutral cards (one of them a Conspiracy card). The rules say to combine two factions and 7 neutral cards for one deck (resulting in a total of 47 cards per player).

Now, I'm quite interested in giving the game a try but I'm not interested in having to buy three Base Games. If the game doesn't work with having three copies of every card, I am frankly not interested.

I'd also like to point out that I am strictly interested in casual play, I don't care about things being tournament-legal or not.

So, is the Base Game sufficient for two players on a strictly casual basis or isn't it?

If I enjoy the Base Game, I expect to buy one of each of the forthcoming six Asylum Packs but certainly no more. I mean, six Asylum Packs add 120 new cards, so that's less than what I get from the Base Game for twice the cost!

I've also been wondering if I should bother with the old Asylum Packs 5 & 6. Are they worthwhile for casual players?

jhaelen said:

The Core Game is perfectly sufficient for casual play. 21 different deck possibilites guarantees varying game situations, as does the fact that there's only one of each card. All CoC products including Asylum Packs 5 and 6 are good for casual play because they give you more options how to customize your deck.

jhaelen said:

That's quite odd, since 47 card deck isn't tournament legal... well this isn't the first or last mistake FFG has done regarding CoCLCG. However if you planning to play only casual, it doesn't matter if you're 3 cards short.

Have fun!

Closer inspection of the card choices for core may reveal that broad tactical considerations with each faction are built in to navigate the decks toward specific classic faction tactics. I think rather that this card pool will allow players to "bop around" the game. Both sides will be inching his way toward victory by playing baby steps of each possible tactic toward victory. It probably will be a nice survey of the game, a colorful jaunt, balanced enough, affected by classic card play. But a simple look at the mechanics by a beginner of the core cards should reveal that you can't exploit the tactic you want once you find it with the cards provided. One or two of many cards per effect are provided from many more oprtions. And, again, the card you think is most awesome is coming around once, not thrice. You are dabbling. How will you know? Know the 1,200 card pool. For free. Download the deckbuilder. It will convince you.

Bard said:

The Eldritch Edition Premium Starter also seems to have only 47 cards for each player. What gives?! I get a feeling I am missing something here...

jhaelen said:

When I first bought the EE premium I thought that you count the 3 domain cards to be a part of your deck... That's clearly not the case here, though, so I have no idea. Maybe it's to force you customize your deck a tiny bit..?