Greetings!

First, let me apologize for my initial posting several weeks ago without even so much as an introduction. As a Role-Playing Gamer for many years (1978 - date), the community certainly lacked the benefit of a forum through which we could communicate/inquire about rules interpretations, poll others about aspects of the game(s), and myriad other topics of interest with very well-informed and passionate players.

Second, I want to thank ColtsFan and others who have contributed clear, cogent, and concise responses to the many questions that I've read (yes, I've managed to read through most of the Old Forum [40 pages] and the New Forum [23 pages]) in order to better understand the game that I've grown to love in a matter of weeks (purchased last month).

Finally, to the question...One of the Historical Society Encounters has the investigator travel to an Other World, have an encounter, and immediately return.

The question has several possibilities...

A. If you pass the encounter and you would otherwise leave the Other World AND there's an open gate, do you a.) receive an "explored" token and end-up on the gate (obviously if there's no gate marker, you end up in LiTaS) OR b.) nothing happens and you return to the Historical Society?;

OR

B. You fail the aforementioned encounter which requires the investigator to remain in the area, do you a.) Remain in one of the two Other World areas OR b.) ignore and return to the Historical Society?

Thanks,

The Professor

"Immediately return" means you go back to the Historical Society.

What happens if your Dreamlands encounter sends you elsewhere is a better question.

For Arkham Encounters which send you to another world for an encounter and then have you immediately return, does the other world encounter happen as part of your Arkham Encounters Phase, or as part of your Other World Encounter Phase?

A: I've always read it as you fall asleep and have a Dreamlands encounter. Then you wake up in the Historical Society immediately after the encounter, unless something gets you and you end up insane, injured or lost in time in space (as per the OW encounter card). No Explored token is received.

B: Hm. Good question. I wonder if it just delays you in the Historical Society, or if there is no effect. I don't think it keeps you in the OW.

The Dreamlands encounter is part of the Arkham Encounters phase, in this case.

Tibs,

I understand your point, but as in all things "Arkham" it may not be as it seems. Again, if the OW encounter has the investigator make a skil check, and said investigator fails said skill check and is forced to remain ~ which takes precedence: Stay, per the OW encounter OR Immediately Return, as per the Arkham Encounter?

I agree with Tibs.

Reason:
You have your Other World Encounter, and then finish the Arkham Encounter you were in the middle of completing, and thus return to the Historical Society whether forced to stay in Other World or not.
On the same note, if you end up Insane or Unconscious, you end up in Lost in Time and Space because Insane and Unconscious end everything when they happen, where they happen. And before you say "But the Elder Sign" arguement, Elder Signs first Seal the Location and then force you to pay the Stamina and Sanity.

dkw said:

Ah. A coda to my argument.

Yes to all above. I consider the encounters to be parenthetical; therefore, you finish all of the OW encounter, whatever that may be, and unless you are insane/unconscious/devoured, when the OW encounter ends you complete the Arkham encounter, which was the parent encounter.

If you're delayed while in the OW, you come back to Arkham delayed, too I believe.

DKW / Tibs,

Thank you ~ the "parent encounter" theme seems the most resonable response to this conundrum. It would appear that only becoming Insane/Unconscious/Devoured would trump any other combination of encounters. Believe me, I was never inclined to have the investigator remain in the Other World as it appeared an anethma to the general flow of th game. However, I wanted to inquire from other players, as the general trend in this forum, when faced with competing equities, almost demands adherence to the predominant mantra: "do whatever hurts the Investigator more"

Again, I appreciate your insights on this one.

The Professor

You are welcome, and the people here will at least try to help if you ask nicely.