What's the ruling on the Black Goat Herald affecting how many monsters get drawn when you have more than 5 players? The Herald states to draw 1 monster from the normal cup and 1 from the hex cup. I interpret that rule applies when you're just drawing 1 monster from the cup (so it makes you draw 1 more from the hex). But if you're playing with 5 or more players, you're suppose to draw 2 monsters every time a new gate opens. So does the herald only change where you draw one of those monsters or does it mean you draw a third monster from the hex cup? Thanks.

The Black Goat herald makes you draw one extra monster, so in 5+ games you draw three. I'm inclined, by the trend, to say that one is Hex and two are not.

Tibs said:

I'm of the same opinion as Tibs. I would like to add a question here:

When playing with Black Goat herald and told to draw a monster from the cup at random and claim it as a trophy, even if it has the endless ability, may you draw from the hexagon cup?

I've been playing that the hex cup is "special," so you don't have access to it other than what the herald prescribes. If all the monsters run out of one cup and I need to draw a monster from that cup, the AO awakens. That's how I play at least. I'm not sure what the official ruling would be.

Tibs, did your "feelings" change recently? If my memory is not wrong, somebody said the other way round, two hexagon, one normal

The Arkham Horror Wiki says one hex, then one normal, then one hex. No idea whether that's correct, but all of the other corrections on the wiki come from Kevin Wilson's answers (or at least I think so). I've never actually played the Black Goat with more than four people (or, for that matter, more than two), but, if it weren't for the Wiki entry, I would agree with Tibs.

Julia said:

I believe Brian's been saying two hexes and one normal.

Sorry to have to use this awesome answer, but until the FAQ is released, play what feels right!

Tibs said:

Ah, ok. I remembered someone from the triumvirate said this, sorry for the confusion

Tibs said:

No probs. Just wondering when we will all have official answers. Starts getting boring... besides, IIRC, your NDA should last until autumn, right? And then? These FAQs seem the hidden combination of a Fort Knox lock

Tim's pretty responsible so I'm sure he'll touch base with us about the future of the FAQ before then.

Tibs said:

You mean your NDA will be extended for another year? ::laughter:: Sorry, Chris, nothing personal, but I just don't understand why we cannot have this published. All FFG LCGames have their FAQ constantly updated, and they have a new release every month. Arkham has one or two releases / year, the FAQs are ready but nobody can see them. It doesn't have much sense to me

No problem. I meant that he would probably let us know if it's extended or if it's okay to say things or that the FAQ was on its way to publication. I didn't want to get anyone's hopes up that we are scheduled to spill the beans in the near future.

Yup, that's clear for me. But I cannot avoid thinking it's a pity we have a brand new blender expansion in stores right now without them. It would have been a marvellous opportunity. Let's hope in the future!

Tibs said:

From TBGOTW rules sheet specifically mentions this. "Note that even if the hexagon cup is depleted of monsters, players should continue to draw monsters from the regular cup as normal."

I have 1 point for clarification though. Does this mean that you get a reprieve for a bit since you have killed so many hex monsters and thus only have 1 monster appear from the normal cup? Or does it mean you draw 2 from the normal cup now? I could see it being reasoned either way.

Yeah, thanks a lot Black Goat rules. You're super clear.

I'd say the fact that it says "as normal" would seem to indicate that you only draw the regular monster, and don't draw anything for the hex monster.

So, I wonder, how does this affect surges? My guess is that, since you're still supposed to draw N monsters overall, that the fact that you no longer have hex monsters does not preclude this, and you draw N from the regular cup.

Tibs said:

I second that. If the rules state to "play as normal", I suppose you would just draw monsters from the cup as if the hex cup didn't ever exist. That means no extra monsters appear when a gate opens, and a monster surge is composed entirely on non-hex beasties.