so i have descent and the expansions and im starting a new campaign from the beginning and my question is can i mix all the monsters from the expansions and shop cards without upsetting the balance of the game?

The question of balance is a very complicated one - or it could even be a not very rational one, with the multiple factors that are involved.

I would encourage you to integrate all possible elements from the expansions, so they add variety and fun to your experience.

JMO

YMMV

alright thanks. i just wasn't sure if some of the monsters from the expansions or the items were to powerful for the base game.

Yeah it is complicated,

General consensus is there has been a small amount of power creep: Bearded Axe and Runic Plate being two examples in the item decks, the later probably being the most agreed to be overpowered to date.

The monsters are not really game breaking, but can definitely make things a bit harder for the heroes.

Doing expansion quests as part of the main story can give the heroes a fair bit more power as it gives them more shopping phases and more search tokens to search. Thus by the end of the campaign they can potentially be well more geared up.

That said personally play with everything i got and its mostly fun for everyone involved. Whoever is overlord at the time seems to complain about everything though lol, hopefully the lieutenant decks that will be arriving shortly will sort that out.

Yeah it is complicated,

General consensus is there has been a small amount of power creep: Bearded Axe and Runic Plate being two examples in the item decks, the later probably being the most agreed to be overpowered to date.

The monsters are not really game breaking, but can definitely make things a bit harder for the heroes.

Doing expansion quests as part of the main story can give the heroes a fair bit more power as it gives them more shopping phases and more search tokens to search. Thus by the end of the campaign they can potentially be well more geared up.

That said personally play with everything i got and its mostly fun for everyone involved. Whoever is overlord at the time seems to complain about everything though lol, hopefully the lieutenant decks that will be arriving shortly will sort that out.

Yea but relics need to be achieved by winning at quests, and other good hero gear needs to be drawn from a deck. If there was a 100% success rate in aquiring the "gear"combo of choice then id agree with the OP since it isn't i agree with Robin.

But there are ways to increase your odds. As many know already.