The base set rules state (p. 20 of revised rulebook) that if a 'gate marker' or a 'monster' should be drawn but there are none left to draw then the AO awakens immediately. No problems there. But, if you were to add the monster tokens from one or more expansions for use in the base game surely this would decrease (one of) the chances of the AO appearing, or am I overlooking something? Not that I have played a game yet where either gate or monster token pools were empty, but some views on this would be appreciated.
Adding Monster Tokens From Expansions To Base Game
Nyogtha said:
The base set rules state (p. 20 of revised rulebook) that if a 'gate marker' or a 'monster' should be drawn but there are none left to draw then the AO awakens immediately. No problems there. But, if you were to add the monster tokens from one or more expansions for use in the base game surely this would decrease (one of) the chances of the AO appearing, or am I overlooking something? Not that I have played a game yet where either gate or monster token pools were empty, but some views on this would be appreciated.
No you are not overlooking anything. I would say the increased monsters are offset by the larger board but you can add the monsters without the additional boards.
The monster rule is put in there because people were probably finding a loophole in that they could defeat all the monsters (except endless) adn keep them out of the monster cup. It isn't a practical way to end the game but slammed the door none-the-less.
Of the games I have played, either the game was won outright or the open gate tripped the end condition. Next most frenquent is the Doom track filling up. Other than that, I have never had any of the other end-conditions get remotely close, including the Terror track.
I've had the gate tokens with only 2 left to be drawn, but once we noticed we quickly spent a couple to get blessings around, but have never had the monster cup empty (except the hex cup when using the Black Goat herald).
I've had to go spend some monster trophies to keep the monster cup from emptying, but it was a league game where we were grinding for points (highest in the 5-6 category). In any honest game we simply purchase too many allies and blessings forrunningout ofmonsters to be muchof a problem.
-Frank
Yeah, I would guess the likelyhood of it happening would be quite low. And as Colt points out, the rule is more of a failsafe mechanic. That being said it does essentially decrease the chance of such an occurrance even rarer.
Well, anyways, as usual I reckon the All-Knowing-Bri resolved that one, so now I can relax about leaving all the monster tokens together. Thank you one and all.