I seriously think that a nice, streamlined version of the rules, incorporating all expansions, referencing FAQs as they go along, with clarifications, would be great. Plus, in the tradition of great RPG books, it could have pre-made scenarios at the end for specific sorts of adventures. Maybe it's just me, but I think it would be a great idea for "upgrading" the game the same way the minis have. What do other players think?

I'm a big fan, so most any new material for the game I am going to go and buy. There is really no question about that. If they do another expansion, I know I'd buy it. Hardcover FAQ/rules, of course I'd buy it.

My big concern is the idea that they are "done" with expansions, and a final updated rulebook would mean the end for this version. While you can only do so many expansions and make a game so big, being done has been a bad thing for many games I've enjoyed in the past. My first board game close to this was Talisman, and anyone who tries to keep current on that has bought a whole game system and series of expansions more than once by now. I'd hate to think them being "done" means that next comes "starting over".

Longshot said:

It probably would, but just because they start over doesn't mean you have to.

I hate to say it, but a newer, updated, streamline and less space intensive version of the game would be most welcome. I only have the base game, DH and KiY, so it would not be a huge investment for me to start over. I know the consternation a reboot would cause (see Descent 2nd edition), for the old timers but as someone who has only just started his slide into madness, a clarified rulebook and better, more consistent text on the cards would be great. Then I wouldn't have to deal with you crazy people on this board anytime I had a question. (jk)

Steve-O said:

Oh, I know. And I am not sure I would start over personally since I have already invested a bunch in the game. I would like to give the company more money because I like them and their product, I would just be much more likely to with more material for the existing game than I would if it started over.

Tyrant242 said:

'Elder Sign'?

AsylumSeeker said:

Here's a crazy thought. How about a board that doesn't say, "Instead of having an encounter here, you may pay $5 to draw 2 Spells. Keep one of them and discard the other."

Instead it says, "Shop for spells."

And the RULEBOOK explains what "shop" means.

Also, the board wouldn't say, "Instead of having an encounter here, you may spend 10 toughness worth of monster trophies, 2 gate trophies, or 5 toughness worth of monster trophies and 1 gate trophy to become the Deputy of Arkham. Take the Deputy of Arkham card."

Instead it would say, "10 T: Deputy"

And the rulebook would explain what "T" and "Deputy" mean.

Crazy, huh?

That would be a neat shorthand. But an even neater, yet more informative, shorthand would be like the one depicted here:

That board is visually very cool, but the shorthand is still too cumbersome. It has "10 [blood drop] / 5 [blood drop] [gate trophy] / [gate trophy] [gate trophy]." All it needs is "10 T." In the rulebook, you explain that "T" means "toughness" and that gate trophies are worth 5T. The point is to not take up unnecessary space on the board. Then the board could be smaller and fit on more tables. Also, there's waaaaay too much negative space on that board.

On the point that Avec made about shorthand, I'd prefer to use plain english, somewhere between the wall of text we have now and a mass of abbreviations shown in Tibs' pic.

Saying that the text doesn't really bother me but I'd love a board that incorporates all expansion boards! I have limited space and strugle to add just one expansion board, even though I've got all the big box expansions. However, a smaller board would mean you'd struggle putting any minis on it! Arrgh!

Here's another way of looking at it.

A customer walks into a shop.

Customer: "Hello. I'd like to buy this item."

Clerk: "Certainly. I'll let you have it in exchange for 1 ten dollar bill, ten one dollar bills, or one five dollar bill and five one dollar bills."

Customer: "Ummm. So you're saying it costs ten dollars?"

Clerk: "What are you, some kind of math nerd? I'm telling you exactly what you need to take out of your wallet in exchange for the item"

avec said:

Customer: "I have 1 twenty dollar bill"

Clerk: "such bills do not exist in Arkham. I'll call the police"

For the most part, I agree with you guys about the trophies. However, the rate of exchange is not universal, and the problem thus lies with the corner cases. For instance, when using the Miskatonic U Institution, you can launch an expedition only by spending two gate trophies or ten toughness worth of monster trophies, but not one gate trophy and five toughness worth of monster trophies. Actually, come to think of it, that's the only instance I think of. Hmm...shifting gears slightly, do people tend to just allow spending the gate trophy and five toughness of monster trophies to launch an expedition since the restriction is anomalous?

Back on topic...

Yes, i would love a "unified" rulebook/faq. I have been thinking of making one my self, but i just don't have the time to do it.

Stalin said:

I think I'd settle for a FAQ written in crayon on old dot-matrix fanfold printer paper as long as it was OFFICIAL!!!

But a fully integrated rulebook would be nice too, so long as it was thin enough to fit above one of the boards in a game box (probably Innsmouth).