:pulling harder:

:something stumbling on the floor:

really? oooops...

(c'mon, Kingsport rumors are *awesome*)

So leave in the rumors and take out all the other cards and the board :'D I'd be okay with that.

:laughter:

Our group varies in size from 1 (me), to 2, 3, 4 or 5 players. In solo or duo games, players quadruple or double their investigators.This means I usually play with 4 or 5 investigators, typically 4.

Our group varies in size from 1 (me), to 2, 3, 4 or 5 players. In solo or duo games, players quadruple or double their investigators.This means I usually play with 4 or 5 investigators, typically 4.

4 Investigators can probably do it (I usually played a 4-5 member team), but it will be very tough :') enjoy.

Thanks Avi, I will, very tough is my middle name and I have not lost often over the last 3-4 years, maybe as few as a dozen in a couple hundred games. So it will be an interesting battle. I have the first materials printed and ready for the opening game and have started tactically preparing. The team is selected. The main part of that was dealing with the monsters and making sure I have a decent clue pool for sealing. I will take another look before play to figure out more involved tactics.

Do the institutions and guardians make scheduled appearances in this saga (I wont look the scenarios over before they come into play)?

Thanks Avi, I will, very tough is my middle name and I have not lost often over the last 3-4 years, maybe as few as a dozen in a couple hundred games. So it will be an interesting battle. I have the first materials printed and ready for the opening game and have started tactically preparing. The team is selected. The main part of that was dealing with the monsters and making sure I have a decent clue pool for sealing. I will take another look before play to figure out more involved tactics.

Do the institutions and guardians make scheduled appearances in this saga (I wont look the scenarios over before they come into play)?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No institutions. No guardians. ::Laughter::

One thing though. If you feel it is too easy, I can post the hard mode :') (You can take or leave those scenarios as you'd like). I basically pulled a bunch of punches for the regular mode, so that good strategy would have a pretty good chance of winning games, whereas in the hard mode.... Well... You need good strategy, and for the Elder Gods to not go against you ;') (i.e. it's significantly more challenging, a lot more of the scenarios are scenario 2 levels of unpleasant).

I feel like I should definitely dig up the hard mode for scenario one for you (I find scenario one a little too relaxing without it, I actually much preferred the harder version, although some of the harder scenarios are, um, well, somewhat terrifying, not that they're unbeatable, it's just they'll make you sweat a lot for a victory that isn't even certain or near certain, maybe like 60-70% victory odds with very good play). That's a statistic I just pulled out of my you know where.

Aviiii... let the guy try at least ONE scenario in normal mode... :laughter: plus, I won't be able to do the eons for hard mode in the immediate future...

Aviiii... let the guy try at least ONE scenario in normal mode... :laughter: plus, I won't be able to do the eons for hard mode in the immediate future...

I don't know, based on what he says, I think he can do it :') besides, the first scenario in hard mode is more fun (imo) if his skill level is high enough. It's not soul crushingly brutal like scenario 2 ;'D

That's fine re: the aeons. I'd just like it to be publically uploaded somewhere already instead of floating around in the aether on my computer.

errr...I'm kinda lovestruck here... If I can try hard mode without printing new things, cool why not, if I need to print out new sheets, I'll do both but try hard after. My printer needs some loving and I dont get to the store until next week.

I'm really looking forward to this. It has been many moons since I danced in Arkham, and it is hungrily growling for some stick play. Thanks for the big stick Avi. And thanks for bringing it to my attention Julia.

Whatever happens, its all your fault.

errr...I'm kinda lovestruck here... If I can try hard mode without printing new things, cool why not, if I need to print out new sheets, I'll do both but try hard after. My printer needs some loving and I dont get to the store until next week.

I'm really looking forward to this. It has been many moons since I danced in Arkham, and it is hungrily growling for some stick play. Thanks for the big stick Avi. And thanks for bringing it to my attention Julia.

Whatever happens, its all your fault.

:') Well, if Julia has her way, scenario 24 will have one additional herald print out. However, there should be no extra printouts. Have no fear. Except of the game ;')

I'm very curious to see what you make of the insanity inducing difficulty level :'D

So am I :-) My sanity is hanging in shreds around my ankles this year, i have a feeling this will put life back in perspective.

So am I :-) My sanity is hanging in shreds around my ankles this year, i have a feeling this will put life back in perspective.

Possibly ;') but it could go in the other direction.

Also, one piece of advice. You might want to allow one or two of your players to control a second investigator if you need to. Going for an arbitrary number of investigators based on your player numbers can be a bad idea at times ;') While some of these scenarios can be *very* enjoyable with a group, they were designed with hardcore Arkham solitaire players in mind.

I'm in the middle of proofreading Elder God difficulty level (it was still sort of in draft mode). I've been going through it during spare time the last few hours. Making some of the scenarios a bit harder, clarifying mechanics, plugging one loophole, and, believe it or not, making one scenario easier (rereading it I realized the design was significantly flawed, and while it wouldn't be impossible, it would frequently end in luck based losses, which is somewhat lame, I'm only okay with infrequent luck based losses). I should have it up by the end of today, but if you just want something for scenario 1 in the meanwhile, here it is. I'm afraid you're going to hate Sister Mary even more now ;')

---------------------------------

Elder God Difficulty for the Fan Creation League:

Rules Changes:

Only two investigators may carry over items or trophies between scenarios. If you are defeated by a scenario, you may restart it with two investigators beginning with an extra random common item during the beginning of the game. But should you?

Sister Mary: she automatically fails her personal story when the Doom Track reaches four. If she passes it, it only allows her to reroll dice for herself. If she is devoured before the doom track is at 6, you lose.

---------------------------------

Scenario 1: Investigators who take stamina damage from any vampire are devoured at the end of the mythos phase. When the Doom Track reaches five, place a random vampire from the monster cup on each open gate.

Hmm, interesting...that makes it even more critical to focus on evasion. Could also be a sneaky way to refresh the team in a tight spot though. Not that I ever do that unless I have no choice. That's how I appease the storyteller in me - "There's no other choice, I have to do this!! If i don't try to kill that unkillable thing, were all Doomed to be eaten slowly by a giant slug!" I want to win, but I can't completely sacrifice my conviction in the story for it.

Thanks for the tip. Yeah a lone devouring can be an off putting setback, less so if you have a second investigator to serve up for more...I will suggest it, but warily as it will extend game time considerably. I whizz through turns when playing alone. With others, just explaining why "I have a bad feeling about this" can take strange aeons...especially in German. The word for sex after all is Geschlechtsverkehr (pronounced aggressively and with exclamation, as if you are cursing someone vehemently) . Yes we play modular, i.e. without clothes.

And yes i do H8! Mary even more now. Curse your evil little mind, that is horrible.

A quick question - do you know Tibs' Thematic starting items variant, I have taken to using it regularly and wonder if you know how it might affect the passing over of items? Basically, certain items and relationships are banned from being dished out (new items are drawn instead), relationships are likewise thematically restricted, and some small changes were made to some investigators for balance and a ranking order of investigators is in play that gives advantage to some over others in terms of who draws their gear first. Will this screw anything nightmared up by you?

Hmm, interesting...that makes it even more critical to focus on evasion. Could also be a sneaky way to refresh the team in a tight spot though. Not that I ever do that unless I have no choice. That's how I appease the storyteller in me - "There's no other choice, I have to do this!! If i don't try to kill that unkillable thing, were all Doomed to be eaten slowly by a giant slug!" I want to win, but I can't completely sacrifice my conviction in the story for it.

Thanks for the tip. Yeah a lone devouring can be an off putting setback, less so if you have a second investigator to serve up for more...I will suggest it, but warily as it will extend game time considerably. I whizz through turns when playing alone. With others, just explaining why "I have a bad feeling about this" can take strange aeons...especially in German. The word for sex after all is Geschlechtsverkehr (pronounced aggressively and with exclamation, as if you are cursing someone vehemently) . Yes we play modular, i.e. without clothes.

And yes i do H8! Mary even more now. Curse your evil little mind, that is horrible.

A quick question - do you know Tibs' Thematic starting items variant, I have taken to using it regularly and wonder if you know how it might affect the passing over of items? Basically, certain items and relationships are banned from being dished out (new items are drawn instead), relationships are likewise thematically restricted, and some small changes were made to some investigators for balance and a ranking order of investigators is in play that gives advantage to some over others in terms of who draws their gear first. Will this screw anything nightmared up by you?

Heh... You should curse Fire Emblem makers for the Sister Mary idea. I loved those games. They were so brutal (they'd kill you for losing one of your main strategic pieces, and there went an hour down the drain). It forced a sort of aggressive caution (and sometimes made for some very tense and exciting... and frustrating... turns).

I would *definitely* not use the thematic items variant. Some of the scenarios are specifically designed for some of the characters (or items) in the investigator pool to be used heavily. Using different starting equipment can disrupt them either in your favor or against (the latter I wouldn't mind so much) ;')

Ah, well, it's good that you're aware of the importance of evasion. Some of these scenarios are really nightmarish without an understanding of the importance of running away ;') Try not to make too many vampires though. Also, each time you get an investigator devoured in this scenario, your team's maximum sanity will be reduced by about .6 per investigator ;'D

You needn't feel any guilt about tactical devourings in this league, I guarantee you they will come at a price. As the battle against the infinite hordes progress, perhaps your excessive valuation of individuals will diminish. No need to worry about a loss of an important investigator, you'll be able to find another one over the infinite battlegrounds to take his or her place.

Your image of collective Arkham modularity, especially in the context of Geschlechtsverkehr was exquisitely disturbing.

Just my two cents on hard mode vs normal mode. Avi, Dj, the point is that most of the people who started the League quit because it was too difficult. Clearly, they weren't playing it in the right mode, and some of them were noobs and ended up being butchered, but still - and no, Avi, I'm not complaining :-p - the "normal" mode is difficult. So, my suggestion for Dj is quite easy: go with the normal mode first. Then, if you find the game not to be challenging enough, switch the hard mode on. For sure, you won't play the normal mode after winning the hard mode, so in some ways if you start with the normal, you can have two whole Leagues in front of you.

This said, is up to you guys

Just my two cents on hard mode vs normal mode. Avi, Dj, the point is that most of the people who started the League quit because it was too difficult. Clearly, they weren't playing it in the right mode, and some of them were noobs and ended up being butchered, but still - and no, Avi, I'm not complaining :-p - the "normal" mode is difficult. So, my suggestion for Dj is quite easy: go with the normal mode first. Then, if you find the game not to be challenging enough, switch the hard mode on. For sure, you won't play the normal mode after winning the hard mode, so in some ways if you start with the normal, you can have two whole Leagues in front of you.

This said, is up to you guys

True. Most people found the league too hard, but Dj may not if his win/loss is as good as he says it is ;') plus the way he initially discussed tactics makes me think he miiiiiight want to go for hard mode not just in theory.

We will let the game decide...I will run at it in 'normal' (ha! never was that word more abnormally used) and if I do ok, Ill crank it up to 11. Julia your point about making way for double the fun is excellent and had crossed my mind too.

Ok, so thematic items are out - although they only change the random draws not the fixed possessions, it is wiser to assume there might be some unforeseen conflict.

I'm a Doctor Who fan (less than 4 months to the 50th!) - so "RUN!" is a favoured tactic. Also, as a Cthulhu rpg player, running was the only way to develop your character in a positive direction...I also learned long ago that the most valuable resource in Arkham isn't clues or Elder Signs, its time. And probably the most significant skill is prioritising actions and evaluating the importance of he numerous and varied threats. So my tactic is to kill only when it is absolutely necessary and to generally ignore the Terror track unless I cant.

As for tactical devouring: I don't think I ever did it. So it will be a blooding for me...but one thing about me and games is I am not afraid to make sacrifices if I have to. I've just never *had* to in AH...

some of them were noobs and ended up being butchered, but still - and no, Avi, I'm not complaining :-p

::laughter::

We will let the game decide...I will run at it in 'normal' (ha! never was that word more abnormally used) and if I do ok, Ill crank it up to 11. Julia your point about making way for double the fun is excellent and had crossed my mind too.

Ok, so thematic items are out - although they only change the random draws not the fixed possessions, it is wiser to assume there might be some unforeseen conflict.

I'm a Doctor Who fan (less than 4 months to the 50th!) - so "RUN!" is a favoured tactic. Also, as a Cthulhu rpg player, running was the only way to develop your character in a positive direction...I also learned long ago that the most valuable resource in Arkham isn't clues or Elder Signs, its time. And probably the most significant skill is prioritising actions and evaluating the importance of he numerous and varied threats. So my tactic is to kill only when it is absolutely necessary and to generally ignore the Terror track unless I cant.

As for tactical devouring: I don't think I ever did it. So it will be a blooding for me...but one thing about me and games is I am not afraid to make sacrifices if I have to. I've just never *had* to in AH...

Agreed. It sounds like you may have the correct perspective on the game to succeed in the advanced league (provided you properly manipulate game features). I like telling people that being distracted from the primary objective in Arkham is far more fatal than monsters.

Although I wouldn't necessarily say that time is more valuable than Elder Signs and clues. I sort of look at them as all different time related currencies ;') if you exchange one for the other, it is important that you are getting a good exchange rate. I don't just look at an Elder Sign as an easy seal, I look at it as a way to potentially devour a character you want to be rid of (rarely, but I've done it before), a way to gain turns equal to the number of investigators, plus a little more since it's not like you get one doom per turn, and of course, guarantee of not getting stuck at a difficult to close gate, so, a little more time. And of course, the time saved on clue hunting or clue trading ;') Of course, all this comes at the cost of time spent elder sign hunting, but I'm sure you know all this.

Speaking of time, I like your new Avatar :'D

Aye, I like Dj's new avatar too.

Avi, I was considering designing three special Scenarios to be considered as "bonus" (hidden levels where you train with the master? something like that) to be used at the end of each of the first three segments of the League - Hard mode. What do you think? Will you accept an external interference? The first one will be Yog (after scenario 5), the second one will have some nefarious things related to the Cats of Ulthar (after scenario 12), and the third one should be a sort of prequel to the last segment (and you all will hate me for this, I promise you)

Lemme know

Aye, I like Dj's new avatar too.

Avi, I was considering designing three special Scenarios to be considered as "bonus" (hidden levels where you train with the master? something like that) to be used at the end of each of the first three segments of the League - Hard mode. What do you think? Will you accept an external interference? The first one will be Yog (after scenario 5), the second one will have some nefarious things related to the Cats of Ulthar (after scenario 12), and the third one should be a sort of prequel to the last segment (and you all will hate me for this, I promise you)

Lemme know

Wellllll... I spent a few minutes thinking about this. My answer is yes and no. Yes, you can make bonus content scenarios that I'd be glad to add in the bonus content section under Alternate Timelines, no in the sense that I don't want them interrupting the narrative (plus I don't want to write narrative for them), so I'd want them put at the end. If you want investigators to still have some bonus items for them, just provide extra random or fixed items for those scenarios. How does that sound? I think it'd be fun if some of your content got more exposure in the context of the league. I was always somewhat sad that it was designed before you really started taking off with your creations, because I would have incorporated all or most of them had they been around earlier, on the other tentacle, fortunately I did not, because that would have given me even more work to do, and one has only so many tentacles to do things with. ... That sounds wrong. One must be more careful while discussing tentacles in Lovecraft Land. To work with. Better!

So, correct me if I'm wrong, it's a sort of mini-league to be set off after Scenario 24, right?

I'd go with something like "save this from the first segment", "save this from the other" and so on.

Really, I think no narrative is required.

It won't really be about my stuff, but about something different. You'll see :-P But first of all, I need to seriously work on some stuff :devil:

So, correct me if I'm wrong, it's a sort of mini-league to be set off after Scenario 24, right?

I'd go with something like "save this from the first segment", "save this from the other" and so on.

Really, I think no narrative is required.

It won't really be about my stuff, but about something different. You'll see :-P But first of all, I need to seriously work on some stuff :devil:

I would just assign investigators a bonus item or two, it would make things a lot easier instead of having to edit.

I would just assign investigators a bonus item or two, it would make things a lot easier instead of having to edit.

I guess not editing a dam(n) is a good point...

I would just assign investigators a bonus item or two, it would make things a lot easier instead of having to edit.

I guess not editing a dam(n) is a good point...

First principle: be lazy.

Second principle: be lazy.

Agreed. It sounds like you may have the correct perspective on the game to succeed in the advanced league (provided you properly manipulate game features). I like telling people that being distracted from the primary objective in Arkham is far more fatal than monsters.

Although I wouldn't necessarily say that time is more valuable than Elder Signs and clues. I sort of look at them as all different time related currencies ;') if you exchange one for the other, it is important that you are getting a good exchange rate. I don't just look at an Elder Sign as an easy seal, I look at it as a way to potentially devour a character you want to be rid of (rarely, but I've done it before), a way to gain turns equal to the number of investigators, plus a little more since it's not like you get one doom per turn, and of course, guarantee of not getting stuck at a difficult to close gate, so, a little more time. And of course, the time saved on clue hunting or clue trading ;') Of course, all this comes at the cost of time spent elder sign hunting, but I'm sure you know all this.

Speaking of time, I like your new Avatar :'D

Thanks, I like it too, it is from the Elder Sign: Omens list.

Yes, you are right of course, the exchange rate for things is the critical factor, and I usually base that on what is happening at the time so there are no real guidelines to it, it is something you get a feeling for. Speaking of which, that is one of my gaming quirks: I can sit and stare at the board and get a sense of whether or not the worst is about to happen. You know the deal: is that seal going to crumble, will the Gug move and join up with the Dhole, will the Dunwich Horror awaken this turn, etc. It doesn't work with the lucky break syndrome, only with the stuff you don't want to happen. I get it right about 8 out of 10 times according to the group I play with. Is this cheating, and do I need to wear an aluminium cap?

hmm ...am I slowly turning into a servant of my nemesis, Glaaki...???