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Author Topic: Just bought Eldritch Horror  (Read 2136 times)

Trond

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Just bought Eldritch Horror
« on: October 05, 2019, 03:29:06 PM »
Boy, this game looks good. I played Arkham Horror a long time ago, but never really learned all the rules, because one of the other players was very much on top of it so we just trusted him to run things correctly. I like that Eldritch Horror has a single-player option, so I can play around with it before teaching others. I also like that it is a bit RPG-like.

Any advice on how to get the most out of this? Any mistakes beginners tend to make? One thing that I remember from Arkham Horror was that it was very difficult to win the game (and avoid TPK :D). Same thing here? The rules suggest to start with Azathoth, as your main opponent Elder One....but it looks rather badass (if Azathoth awakens, the world is simply devoured!). Is e.g. Cthulhu more manageable to take on?

Spinachcat

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Just bought Eldritch Horror
« Reply #1 on: October 05, 2019, 05:17:57 PM »
Looking forward to your review!

Our crew played loads of Arkham Horror back in the day and we played it very much like a hybrid-RPG as all of us were RPGers. Definitely want to hear about the RPG aspects with Eldritch Horror and your thoughts how the two games compare. AH was definitely hard to win, which is why it rocked. It wasn't a beer and pretzels just throw dice until we win experience.

3rik

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Just bought Eldritch Horror
« Reply #2 on: October 06, 2019, 05:40:11 AM »
Played this the other day. Personally, I prefer Arkham Horror (pre 3E!).
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Trond

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Just bought Eldritch Horror
« Reply #3 on: October 07, 2019, 12:26:19 AM »
OK, I tried a solo session. I think this game is pretty difficult to beat, like Arkham Horror, but that could be a good thing for some. There's also this: the game has an easy mode which I haven't tried yet. You simply remove some of the cards from the deck before the game starts. Personally, I don't see how this game can be beaten without doing this, but then I'm a newbie :D

The box and board feel sturdy, and I like the artwork, so everything is good in this regard. It has A LOT of cards and pieces, so be prepared to use some small plastic bags to keep things sorted. The setup took a long time first time around, but after I arranged the tokens and cards a bit differently, and got to know things a bit better, the setup time was OK. Some rules confused me at first, but then I realized that nearly everything is phrased in very specific ways, so that when you get used to it it removes ambiguity. The box contains both the rules book and also a book clarifying specific elements in alphabetical order, and includes FAQ etc. Pretty nice.

It has some strong RPG-elements for sure, perhaps a bit more than I remember from AH. Your character sheet gives some nice background info on each character, as well as the individual abilities and starting artifacts, startup location etc. Again, pretty nice.

I think Eldritch Horror has a bit more coherence in what's going on than AH, because as you pick an Ancient One as your main opponent at the start, this influences which horrors occur later in various ways (I can't remember how this was done in Arkham Horror, but I think there's a bit more coherence here)

I can see a good reason for having both Arkham Horror as well as Eldritch Horror: whereas Arkham Horror gives a bit more "claustrophobic" feeling from being in a city that is invaded by otherworldly horrors (which makes a bit more sense in explaining why the characters know each other, and reminds of a number of Lovecraft stories like Shadow Over Innsmouth), Eldritch Horror operates on a map of the world, where you can visit other types of places, such as the Amazon forest, or Antarctica etc. This is gives the game a different exploratory feel, which actually reminds me of that most famous HP Lovecraft story; Call of Cthulhu. Can't wait tor try this out with friends.

Motorskills

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Just bought Eldritch Horror
« Reply #4 on: October 07, 2019, 02:10:21 PM »
Quote from: Trond;1107767
Boy, this game looks good. I played Arkham Horror a long time ago, but never really learned all the rules, because one of the other players was very much on top of it so we just trusted him to run things correctly. I like that Eldritch Horror has a single-player option, so I can play around with it before teaching others. I also like that it is a bit RPG-like.

Any advice on how to get the most out of this? Any mistakes beginners tend to make? One thing that I remember from Arkham Horror was that it was very difficult to win the game (and avoid TPK :D). Same thing here? The rules suggest to start with Azathoth, as your main opponent Elder One....but it looks rather badass (if Azathoth awakens, the world is simply devoured!). Is e.g. Cthulhu more manageable to take on?

The BGG forum, and the FFG forum - while the latter is almost dead - are both musts, there are threads for people that are new purchasers of the game etc.

The game is transformed, much for the better, by the introduction of one or two of the (seven?) expansions, I think Forbidden Lore is the one people recommend. Certainly whichever introduces Focus tokens.

If you are playing solo, I would suggest two characters for your first couple of games, and then increase to four after that.

I generally like say the game lasts for 2 hours + 30 minutes per player / 2 hours plus 45 minutes per player with two characters.

But the time required swings wildly. I've lost in 80 minutes, and had games last 6 or or more hours. Certainly while the game supports 8 players, I wouldn't recommend more than 6, too much thumb-twiddling and debate, fun quotient drops.
(You can have four players with two characters each though. That makes for a very long, but pretty fun game).


What I would say above everything else is don't rush it - calculate you need 3 hours...budget for five.
Eldritch Horror is about theme. Skipping the flavour text to jump straight to the mechanics misses the point IMO. It's a social game and the flavour text adds to the enjoyment.
Edit: and as part of that, have the next player read out the Encounter cards, make the active player decide which path to choose based on the description alone, not on the (now-hidden) mechanics. It makes things harder of course, but it really adds to the game.
« Last Edit: October 07, 2019, 02:18:20 PM by Motorskills »
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Motorskills

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Just bought Eldritch Horror
« Reply #5 on: October 07, 2019, 02:16:42 PM »
Quote from: Trond;1107976
OK, I tried a solo session. I think this game is pretty difficult to beat, like Arkham Horror, but that could be a good thing for some. There's also this: the game has an easy mode which I haven't tried yet. You simply remove some of the cards from the deck before the game starts. Personally, I don't see how this game can be beaten without doing this, but then I'm a newbie :D

Dump out the Mythos cards with the tentacles to begin with, you'll struggle enough as it is. Add them back in pro-rata as you get more comfortable with the game.

(I eventually learned that the easy Mythos aren't emblazoned with snowflakes - those are actually some kind of Elder Sign (shining trapezoid or somesuch). :D )
“Gosh it’s so interesting (profoundly unsurprising) how men with all these opinions about women’s differentiation between sexual misconduct, assault and rape reveal themselves to be utterly tone deaf and as a result, systemically part of the problem.” - Minnie Driver, December 2017

" Using the phrase "virtue signalling" is 'I'm a sociopath' signalling ". J Wright, July 2018

Motorskills

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Just bought Eldritch Horror
« Reply #6 on: October 07, 2019, 02:24:46 PM »
Quote from: Trond;1107767
Boy, this game looks good. I played Arkham Horror a long time ago, but never really learned all the rules, because one of the other players was very much on top of it so we just trusted him to run things correctly. I like that Eldritch Horror has a single-player option, so I can play around with it before teaching others. I also like that it is a bit RPG-like.

Any advice on how to get the most out of this? Any mistakes beginners tend to make? One thing that I remember from Arkham Horror was that it was very difficult to win the game (and avoid TPK :D). Same thing here? The rules suggest to start with Azathoth, as your main opponent Elder One....but it looks rather badass (if Azathoth awakens, the world is simply devoured!). Is e.g. Cthulhu more manageable to take on?

They recommend Azathoth because it is deliberately straightforward. The other ones have their Cultists do weird things, the Ancient One Reckoning does weird things, and the Ancient One waking up (happens immediately) not be the end of the game, but shit just got real real, yo.

Cthulhu is a minor PITA without Focus tokens, since there is sometimes nothing else to do in the middle of the sea. Yog-Sothoth is hard on the brain, but if you can cope with that gameplay, you are good to go.

Shub is a decent balance.
« Last Edit: October 07, 2019, 02:27:24 PM by Motorskills »
“Gosh it’s so interesting (profoundly unsurprising) how men with all these opinions about women’s differentiation between sexual misconduct, assault and rape reveal themselves to be utterly tone deaf and as a result, systemically part of the problem.” - Minnie Driver, December 2017

" Using the phrase "virtue signalling" is 'I'm a sociopath' signalling ". J Wright, July 2018

Trond

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Just bought Eldritch Horror
« Reply #7 on: October 07, 2019, 02:57:29 PM »
OK thanks for the tips, Motorskills!

3rik

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Just bought Eldritch Horror
« Reply #8 on: October 07, 2019, 05:00:28 PM »
We usually play Arkham Horror (pre-3E) with 3 or 4 characters and frequently manage to ward off the apocalypse. We do throw out the Rumor cards, as we found those way too distracting to keep track of.
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Motorskills

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« Reply #9 on: October 08, 2019, 09:59:48 AM »
Quote from: Trond;1108053
OK thanks for the tips, Motorskills!

You're most welcome. :)

Don't ignore the Reference Guide that comes in the core box, lots of good stuff in there, I still dip back in on occasion. There's also the Eldritch Horror Wiki which is a god-send when I can't remember what a "Possession" or an "Asset" is (those get more complicated as you add in the expansions).

Speaking of which, the one to buy first is Forsaken Lore. From the reviews it is clear that many folks consider the core game is not complete with this one, i.e. less of an expansion, more of a must-have if you intend to play mroe than only a few times.

One final tip - if you get into blinging up your game, be talented, rich, or both! :D
“Gosh it’s so interesting (profoundly unsurprising) how men with all these opinions about women’s differentiation between sexual misconduct, assault and rape reveal themselves to be utterly tone deaf and as a result, systemically part of the problem.” - Minnie Driver, December 2017

" Using the phrase "virtue signalling" is 'I'm a sociopath' signalling ". J Wright, July 2018

Trond

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Just bought Eldritch Horror
« Reply #10 on: October 08, 2019, 10:21:20 AM »
Quote from: Motorskills;1108268
You're most welcome. :)

Don't ignore the Reference Guide that comes in the core box, lots of good stuff in there, I still dip back in on occasion. There's also the Eldritch Horror Wiki which is a god-send when I can't remember what a "Possession" or an "Asset" is (those get more complicated as you add in the expansions).

Speaking of which, the one to buy first is Forsaken Lore. From the reviews it is clear that many folks consider the core game is not complete with this one, i.e. less of an expansion, more of a must-have if you intend to play mroe than only a few times.

One final tip - if you get into blinging up your game, be talented, rich, or both! :D

Ah, you're the second person who says this about Forsaken Lore. Guess I have to get that one then :D

Omega

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Just bought Eldritch Horror
« Reply #11 on: October 12, 2019, 06:00:57 AM »
Eldritch Horror just sits on shelves round here. Like alot of these "new editions" it sacrifices elements that made the predecessor great to the eldritch god Streamline.

nuAH got even a bigger "meh" reaction. Though its on my to get list just to see what it is really like.

EH had alot of potential. But they trimmed the tree poorly. It is still a good game. But it is a pale shadow of AH. In a way it feels like it should be a different theme. Like an Indiana Jones style relic hunt and trap defeat rather than globe hopping monster busting. Derleth loved that ideas though.

BGG though is a good place to ask questions or dig through the forum for the game and look at whats been asked before and possibly restart fallow threads with new questions. BGG encourages posting in old threads rather than starting new ones to ask the same question.

Motorskills

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« Reply #12 on: October 13, 2019, 09:35:04 AM »
Quote from: Omega;1109060
Eldritch Horror just sits on shelves round here. Like alot of these "new editions" it sacrifices elements that made the predecessor great to the eldritch god Streamline.

nuAH got even a bigger "meh" reaction. Though its on my to get list just to see what it is really like.

EH had alot of potential. But they trimmed the tree poorly. It is still a good game. But it is a pale shadow of AH. In a way it feels like it should be a different theme. Like an Indiana Jones style relic hunt and trap defeat rather than globe hopping monster busting. Derleth loved that ideas though.

BGG though is a good place to ask questions or dig through the forum for the game and look at whats been asked before and possibly restart fallow threads with new questions. BGG encourages posting in old threads rather than starting new ones to ask the same question.

I'd say that there's a couple of different things here. "...just sits on the shelf..." doesn't really equate to much. Twilight Imperium is probably even harder to arrange games for, and no-one is suggesting that it isn't a brilliant game.

As for the rest, well I can't speak to AH 3e, it may be a big step up, but I don't know anyone that prefers AH to EH. Of course the people I speak to (and read on BGG) are fans of EH, so the bias is significant.

The couple of times that I have played AH at conventions, its been fine, but always harder when a full table includes a majority of newbies, same with EH can turn into a slow grind.
“Gosh it’s so interesting (profoundly unsurprising) how men with all these opinions about women’s differentiation between sexual misconduct, assault and rape reveal themselves to be utterly tone deaf and as a result, systemically part of the problem.” - Minnie Driver, December 2017

" Using the phrase "virtue signalling" is 'I'm a sociopath' signalling ". J Wright, July 2018

Omega

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Just bought Eldritch Horror
« Reply #13 on: October 16, 2019, 05:28:51 PM »
Quote from: Motorskills;1109175
I'd say that there's a couple of different things here. "...just sits on the shelf..." doesn't really equate to much. Twilight Imperium is probably even harder to arrange games for, and no-one is suggesting that it isn't a brilliant game.

Twilight Imperium is really popular and far as I know the editions, till the most recent, did not change too much. This latest version no clue on.

I knew the designers way back when they first started.

Trond

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Just bought Eldritch Horror
« Reply #14 on: October 17, 2019, 04:22:16 PM »
Quote from: Omega;1110009
Twilight Imperium is really popular and far as I know the editions, till the most recent, did not change too much. This latest version no clue on.

I knew the designers way back when they first started.

Settlers of Catan is one of the most popular games, and I have several friends who tried to get me into it. But I never really liked it. So my taste does not really follow the main stream anyway. Still Eldritch Horror got some great reviews and I like it too.