So, I've noticed that some folks can really have an awesome time playing a round of AH all by themselves. I know I can play a game on my own, and have a few times, but my ADD starts to kick in about halfway through any given game and I start getting distracted and bored. I can't leave the game to come back to it later (I own cats and as much as I love them, they love getting on my game table more) and I loathe the idea of unpacking the game to only play halfway through and pack it back up again!

So, what do you do when the mid-game malaise of Tsathoggua kicks in and your attention starts to wander when playing a game all by your lonesome?

When I play solo, I set the game up near my TV and put a movie on. Preferably one that I've seen before so my attention is not stolen from the game. This allows me to focus mainly on the game, but to change the focus of my attention periodically to keep myself refreshed.

Not so sure I can help... generally speaking, I play a game in 75 to 90 minutes, not enough to have my attention drop. Additionally, soloing five investigators is quite a brain burner... the easiest solution coming to my mind is: can't you simply close the door of the room where you store the game? Cats could pillage the rest of your house, but the game is safe

I pour a glass of wine and put on some thematic music via Pandora (preferably Nox Arcana) and settle into 4-8 Turns. I'm a single parent, so I always have something to do in the house, so I rarely finish a game at one sitting. I play 4 Investigator games, so as Julia said, there's much to track. As for the cats...this is why I have a game room in the house.

So, I've noticed that some folks can really have an awesome time playing a round of AH all by themselves. I know I can play a game on my own, and have a few times, but my ADD starts to kick in about halfway through any given game and I start getting distracted and bored. I can't leave the game to come back to it later (I own cats and as much as I love them, they love getting on my game table more) and I loathe the idea of unpacking the game to only play halfway through and pack it back up again!

So, what do you do when the mid-game malaise of Tsathoggua kicks in and your attention starts to wander when playing a game all by your lonesome?

Let's see:

I take a break, maybe continuing after lunch/dinner or maybe the day after. I've had games stretched over 2-3 days.

Put on some music.

Turn the TV on, unless it's too distracting.

Beer.

Think of ways to DIY stuff for the game. Like containers, elder signs for the board, stands, card slots, whatever.

But then again I don't get too particularly bored while playing. It's a great game

Tox,

I apologize if I hadn't reached out to you before...what did you think of our pieces, as we'll start the expansion pieces later this year. I'm always looking for feedback.

Cheers,

Joe

Well, the only issue is that there is only one table that can hold the board, the cards and everything that goes with it. In fact, besides being intimidated by it, it's the reason why I can't really play with the expansions. I just don't have the table space. Thus, my games generally have to be done in one sitting. I will admit that running four investigators did keep me occuppied but I still started to wander a bit towards the end of the last game, XD

Well, the only issue is that there is only one table that can hold the board, the cards and everything that goes with it. In fact, besides being intimidated by it, it's the reason why I can't really play with the expansions. I just don't have the table space. Thus, my games generally have to be done in one sitting. I will admit that running four investigators did keep me occuppied but I still started to wander a bit towards the end of the last game, XD

Go UP, not sideways. Cut some cardboard tubes to use as "legs" and place the expansion board on top of the main board, resting on the "legs". You will probably need 6 of them...

(I called the file Arkham Stories. Pun intended )

I feel a bit silly after having written that, buuuut.... maybe I will try it myself next time

Tox, it's not a bad idea. Point is that somewhere in Fan Forum someone posted a "compact" version of the board, designed expressively for those having table problems... dunno where it's buried, though... but it shouldn't be difficult to recreate

... I own cats and as much as I love them, they love getting on my game table more) and I loathe the idea of unpacking the game to only play halfway through and pack it back up again!

I leave my game on the table, and cover it with a tablecloth (laying down any pieces that are standing up). It's not a great solution, but it prevents the cats from batting the pieces around (sigh).

I realize that this is an imprecise set of data and as we have a number of scientists who patrol this board, I would certainly like them to weigh-in on this, but...there's an amazing correlation regarding Arkham Horror players and cat owners...or is it just me?

No Professor, its not just you Although I refuse to choose and feel a kinship with all animals. But we never own them you know, especially cats...lol

I am researching the possibility that this is a dark enchantment with an ancient and twisted lineage that goes back to Lovecraft himself... from his 6000 word essay on cats and dogs -

"Between dogs and cats my degree of choice is so great that it would never occur to me to compare the two. I have no active dislike for dogs...but for the cat I have entertained a particular respect and affection ever since the earliest days of my infancy. In its flawless grace and superior self-sufficiency I have seen a symbol of the perfect beauty and bland impersonality of the universe itself, objectively considered; and in its air of silent mystery there resides for me all the wonder and fascination of the unknown. The dog appeals to cheap and facile emotions; the cat to the deepest founts of imagination and cosmic perception in the human mind... We have but to glance analytically at the two animals to see the points pile up in favour of the cat. Beauty, which is probably the only thing of any basic significance in all the cosmos, ought to be our chief criterion; and here the cat excels so brilliantly that all comparisons collapse. Some dogs, it is true, have beauty in a very ample degree; but even the highest level of canine beauty falls far below the feline average. The cat is classic whilst the dog is Gothic—nowhere in the animal world can we discover such really Hellenic perfection of form, with anatomy adapted to function, as in the felidae."

Back on thread: you have to know your own limits and break before you reach them. This means learning how to observe your own behaviour, especially your mentation. If you live alone (no animals or hairless apes) then it is a good idea to do this more often (I have noticed that the presence of other people slows the onset of symptoms even when we do not interact with those people - there is a connection between our energy levels and the energy levels of those nearby). Obviously, who you are around is important.

Breaks do not have to be long. It is quality not quantity that matters here. The high quality breaks do not involve any rational thinking. Problems are to be shunned. Beauty and simplicity must be invited. I simply go out onto my balcony where I spend time observing the constellations in the night sky, listening to the wind, or looking at trees and talking to the birds. Ten minutes of this every hour or so and I am all refreshed and ready for the next round.

I have also found that taking these breaks at dramatic moments in the game - little lost Wendy is cornered by Shoggoths at Devils Reef! - is a great way of controlling the game flow and thereby controlling my interaction with the game. It establshes who is boss and my chances of burning out are reduced.

And the win rate goes up slightly...

While I agree on the point about cats which makes sense given Lovecraft's fascination with them (and he did have another love-letter felines which I believe was titled, 'The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kaddath), mine don't cause problems by knocking around pieces, oh no. They just lay on the cards or character sheets, which for me is infinitely far worse. I'm a card freak, and I've nearly killed for someone even pretending to bend one of my game cards.

Still, the breaks does sound good--get up, stretch, etc. Go outside and /not/ think about the game for a bit. It helped me run a three-game marathon (even if said games were only with the base board and no gate bursts).

Thanks, dj! I figured that I was onto some revelation. As to taking breaks, I couldn't agree more, though I have a very healthy respect for the board and certainly have never tried to establish my superiority over it...there, there, good board...

yes...the board definitely has teeth and should be handled with care! I always throw it a jelly baby or two before I leave the room.

Mine prefers Jelly Toddler...

Boardgamers, as a general fact, speak more often of their cats than of their dogs, because cats are more likely to jump upon the table and disturb the game components.

And they certainly will insist on doing it, if they percieve that it is somehow forbidden.

My cats have already wrecked some of my wargame setups (such as one sitting on 300+ counters of a tactical situation in Stalingrad, then jumping on a shelve above the table, missing its aim and bringing down with it a now claw transperced box of Settlers, to finish the mess already created of my setup).

They haven't tried yet with AH, but I bet they will some day.

Robin,

Just curious, what's the Stalingrad war game? I ask, because several colleagues from work and I are war game play-testers for games produced in association with the magazines Strategy & Tactics and Modern War.

Robin,

Just curious, what's the Stalingrad war game? I ask, because several colleagues from work and I are war game play-testers for games produced in association with the magazines Strategy & Tactics and Modern War.

The context of my game was Advanced Squad Leader and, more precisely, Valor of the Guards, which is a historical module (that is, with a historically acurate map) about the fights in central Stalingrad (near the railway station).

There also is an OOP module, the first historical one : Red Barricades, which concentrates on the Barrikady Factories battles.

I have been playing ASL since the beginning (1986) and, previously, I had played the SL system (from 1982 on).

Thanks, Robin! I'm really into the more strategic games ~ from Axis and Allies to World in Flames. Unfortunately, games like World in Flames or one that came out last year by Compass Games, entitled The War, Europe 1939-1945 is realllly large. It's beautiful in design and construction, but a campaign game takes 40 hours ...40 hours! I don't know about you, but that's why a game of AH, even at three hours, is much more attractive.

Good chatting with you!

Boardgamers, as a general fact, speak more often of their cats than of their dogs, because cats are more likely to jump upon the table and disturb the game components.

And they certainly will insist on doing it, if they percieve that it is somehow forbidden.

My cats have already wrecked some of my wargame setups (such as one sitting on 300+ counters of a tactical situation in Stalingrad, then jumping on a shelve above the table, missing its aim and bringing down with it a now claw transperced box of Settlers, to finish the mess already created of my setup).

They haven't tried yet with AH, but I bet they will some day.

The image of that taking place just made my day! XD That poor cat was probably so humiliated after missing his footing and getting startled by the rain of pieces!