I have played base-game-only solo with one investigator many times, and won about 30% of the time. The most common way to win is by sealing six gates, including doing so on low doom-count AOs like Yig. Combat is something to avoid; I rarely win if it comes to combat, but it does happen. I have never won by closing all the gates. I have never made any modifications to the rules for any of these games; they were all won or lost strictly by the book.
Winnable with only one investigator?
bitva said:
I have played base-game-only solo with one investigator many times, and won about 30% of the time. The most common way to win is by sealing six gates, including doing so on low doom-count AOs like Yig. Combat is something to avoid; I rarely win if it comes to combat, but it does happen. I have never won by closing all the gates. I have never made any modifications to the rules for any of these games; they were all won or lost strictly by the book.
See, this expanation seems very counter-intuitive. I always would have thought that without other investigators keeping the town safe or simultaneously working on gates so you don't hit limit, a win by sealing would have been nearly impossible.
On the other hand, final combat should usually be easy because you only need one success to remove a doom token; and it's easier to get satisfactory battle gear for one character than it is for five. I do combat with AOs in the Other World all the time--those are 1-investigator fights, and I win them more times than not.
Ive enjoyed single investigator victories by closing a few times. My key strategy is to jump in the deep end immediately, and then again, and then head off to get deputised. If I can survive the 4 otherworld encounters, close both gates, and make it to the Eastown district by half time on the Doom clock, I can usually pull it off, especially with a blessing.
dj2.0 said:
Ive enjoyed single investigator victories by closing a few times. My key strategy is to jump in the deep end immediately, and then again, and then head off to get deputised. If I can survive the 4 otherworld encounters, close both gates, and make it to the Eastown district by half time on the Doom clock, I can usually pull it off, especially with a blessing.
And you don't lose your patrol wagon the first time you go through a gate, like I always do.
I just won a one character game. It was Gloria Goldberg vs Azathoth. The final doom track was 9 and the Terror track was 8. I went through the whole game with only the derringer as a weapon and I slew only a maniac, ghoul and zombie. First two gates I closed were both to the dreamlands. With Gloria’s ability to pick from 2 otherworld encounters, she actually had very pleasant trips there… though the doom track was up to 5 by the time I managed to close even a single gate. As turns went by, monster surges just kept increasing the terror level as the outskirts had a revolving door policy. The streets were pretty empty with a 4 monster limit and two Cthonians just hanging out on the gates they emerged from. Didn’t find a single elder sigh, but... thank Nodens I got my favorite item the Healing Stone which is 100% what I attribute my victory too. After closing 3 gates… I was sitting very pretty for a few turns. 4 turns went by where every gate tried to open on places I had already sealed (woods, unvisited isle and the black cave). As I was on my way to close gate 5, near disaster struck ( I had gone the whole game with no rumors) in the two turns I was getting the last needed clue tokens and moving to the gate I got 2 rumors back to back….The Terrible Experiment which had 7 monsters when I sealed gate 5 and The Stars Are Right. What seemed like it was going to be easy by the time I had 3 gates closed turned into a last minute squeaker.
PS this was my 5th attempt.. The 4 prior met with complete disaster.
PPS This game was slightly easier than some of the 4 character games I played against Yig…. I know you all think he is a cream puff, but he has been my bane for a long time.
mageith said:
And you don't lose your patrol wagon the first time you go through a gate, like I always do.
lol. No, the game just doesnt pussyfoot around with me usually, it just goes for the full on frak with instant devouring on top instead of the slow roast while you are crippled. Guess it knows not to take any chances
Negalith said:
As I was on my way to close gate 5, near disaster struck ( I had gone the whole game with no rumors) in the two turns I was getting the last needed clue tokens and moving to the gate I got 2 rumors back to back….The Terrible Experiment which had 7 monsters when I sealed gate 5 and The Stars Are Right. What seemed like it was going to be easy by the time I had 3 gates closed turned into a last minute squeaker.
You do know you can only have one rumour in play at a time right?
Only one rumor at a time? wow.. that helps a lot... those suck when they pile up on ya.
Don't worry, I only figured that one out myself a couple of weeks back. Up until then I was having games with 3 or 4 rumours active at a time on a far too regular basis.