Arkham Horror - The Card Game

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Arkham Horror - The Card Game

Post by Smoove_B »

I heard the rumors, but didn't believe it was happening:
Arkham Horror: The Card Game is a cooperative Living Card Game® set amid a backdrop of Lovecraftian horror. As the Ancient Ones seek entry to our world, one to two investigators (or up to four with two Core Sets) work to unravel arcane mysteries and conspiracies.

Their efforts determine not only the course of your game, but carry forward throughout whole campaigns, challenging them to overcome their personal demons even as Arkham Horror: The Card Game blurs the distinction between the card game and roleplaying experiences.

...

For all the freedom you gain in building your deck, however, the greatest freedom you gain as an investigator in Arkham LCG is the ability to steer your investigation in whichever direction you wish. Do you want to scour a room for signs of the occult? You can. Do you want to leave the room and explore another location? You can. Would you prefer to load your weapon in case the sounds that you're hearing are being made by something not fully human? You can.

Your decisions in Arkham LCG aren't limited by the cards in your hand. Rather, you have three actions each round to use as you wish—to search for clues, to move, to battle monsters, or to dig for resources and equipment. You're the character; you're not limited by the cards in your hand.
I think I need to see a video of it in action (and I'm guessing one is coming soon enough), but for $40 and supporting 1-2 players out of the box, it seems priced right.

This is the first official preview:
Arkham Horror: The Card Game, more than any card game before it, is a blend of the traditional customizable card game and roleplaying experiences. You become one of the game's investigators and customize your deck of cards to reflect your personal strengths and resources. However, as the investigators of Arkham LCG all have their own distinct personalities, each comes with his or her own deckbuilding requirements.

...

It is easy to enjoy Arkham LCG as a series of standalone adventures. However, as much as all of your adventures thrust you into the midst of thrilling and horrifying situations, it is only when you see how they follow upon each other that you truly begin to understand the madness at the edges of Arkham LCG… The basic mode of play is not the adventure, after all, but the campaign. And all your choices and actions have consequences that reach far beyond the immediate resolution of the scenario at hand.
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

Post by hepcat »

Want!
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

Post by YellowKing »

I always get a little turned off by the "living" part of LCGs because it just means $$$, but I loved the LOTR ones and the theme of this one is even more appealing to me. Definitely going to keep my eye on it!
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

Post by Smoove_B »

I liked the LotR card game at first, but when it became apparent that you really needed to construct your decks with precision and/or hope that cards came out in a specific order to beat certain adventures, I lost interest and sold it. I'm absolutely going to be watching this because of the theme. If this tilts towards that aspect of the LotR game, I'd definitely be out. However, if this is their answer to the Pathfinder card game or possibly the new upcoming version of that system (The Apocrypha Adventure Card Game), I'm definitely still interested.
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

Post by Smoove_B »

I have no idea why, but the anticipation for this game is killing me. I'd really hoped it would be shipping by now, but they still have it listed as "on the boat" as of 8/31. It's just so strange to read all the expansion announcements and the base game is still in shipping limbo.
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

Post by YellowKing »

The early reviews seem really positive. Enough so that I'm overcoming my distrust of the "living" component.

One thing I found encouraging (though some reviewers list it as a negative) is that with just the core set there isn't a lot of deck variation. Personally I'm fine with this; the reason I stopped playing the LOTR:LCG was that it seemed more about constructing the perfect deck than actually playing the game. I'm the type of gamer that would much rather puzzle out the best strategic option from a limited deck than try to build some custom trial-and-error monstrosity from hundreds of options.

I'm not sure if it's going to get any play time from my group just because most of them don't really have any interest in the theme, and so far they've resisted pure card games. However, I'm more than willing to just add this to my solo game collection.
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

Post by LordMortis »

Post a review and compare it to the pathfinder deck shuffling game. I enjoyed pathfinder at first but it lost its luster for me about half way through the campaign. I still played the whole way through, because I commit to it with other people but it really became formulaic too quickly for me.

"Living" should mean a growing and changing dynamic not just tougher monster decks and tougher cards to combat them with.
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

Post by hepcat »

If the app had come out for Pathfinder ACG before I had purchased a core set, I probably would have just stuck with that. However, I do believe I'll go back and finish it someday. It's a great solo experience.

I put in a pre-order for this one at the same time I called to reserve Lord Mortis' my copy of Roll Player.
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

Post by Smoove_B »

According to the FFG website, this game is "Now Shipping". And no, I haven't been checking their site multiple times a day for the last week, why? :oops:

They suggest another 7-10 days to get to retailers so...soon.
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

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Just picked up a copy at my FLGS.
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

Post by Smoove_B »

Awesome. I'm really, really excited about this game. I ordered from Amazon so my copy is a week away. :(
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

Post by hepcat »

Played the intro scenario last night. I like it. The game takes parts of the Warhammer Quest adventure card game, bits of Pathfinder ACG and a little from Mistfall...all three great games. What it adds to the mix is a stronger narrative though. Although that might be simply because horror is my first love when it comes to gaming/stories/movies.

I think I'm in for the long haul on this one.
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

Post by $iljanus »

Did you just buy the core set, Hepcat? I don't mind buying expansions but I'm not interested in buying two core sets in order to have a more "fuller" experience.
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

Post by hepcat »

The only reason to buy more than one core is to add two more players. There's enough in one base game for two without any sense of being limited in any way.

There's deck building, but it's not a competitive game, so power builds requiring multiples of certain cards is less of a pull unless you're really into that kind of thing...at which point you're better off going with Game of Thrones LCG or something similar.
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

Post by $iljanus »

hepcat wrote:The only reason to buy more than one core is to add two more players. There's enough in one base game for two without any sense of being limited in any way.

There's deck building, but it's not a competitive game, so power builds requiring multiples of certain cards is less of a pull unless you're really into that kind of thing...at which point you're better off going with Game of Thrones LCG or something similar.
Cool! The topic did come up in BGG but wanted it confirmed by a trusted source. Thanks! I may pick it up at some time but for the moment I'm trying to wrap my head around the LOTR LCG w/Khazad-Dum expansion.
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

Post by Smoove_B »

So I'm apparently in the group of people that pre-ordered from Amazon but won't be getting a copy. Considering I can go to the Fantasy Flight Games website right now and purchase it directly from them, I'm guessing Asmodee shorted Amazon's order after seeing how many people were purchasing it from them and decided to just keep the copies themselves (to sell at a higher profit margin). Total speculation on my part, but I don't really know how to interpret it any other way. I guess I'll just have to find solace in the 37 other untouched games I posses. :?
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

Post by hepcat »

I've found that Amazon is always a touch and go endeavor with new board game releases. That's why I tend to go with coolstuff or miniaturemarket for anything new (well...before I discovered my local deep discount game store). Although I think those are both sold out now. Your best bet is your FLGS, I'd guess.
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

Post by Smoove_B »

I've never had a problem with Amazon on pre-orders, so I'm rather surprised. It's sold out everywhere and the only people you can get it from are Fantasy Flight, via their web store. I'm sure they didn't see high demand and short retailers promised deliveries in an effort to maximize profits - that would be cynical of me to suggest, particularly in light of recent acquisition by Asmodee. I do hope the people that ordered multiple copies of the core set are enjoying them.
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

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Would you like me to check if there's a copy at my discount FLGS when I stop by this weekend? If so, I could send it your way.
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

Post by Smoove_B »

Nah, but I appreciate the offer. I have a local store that opened this summer but he doesn't have any copies either. I'd be amazed if anyone could acquire it now from someone other than direct FFG purchase.
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

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I ordered this from Amazon yesterday. Couldn't help myself - it was on sale for $30 and I had a $20 credit, so only paying $10 out of pocket was too tempting to resist.

A couple of things pushed me over the edge. I watched a review on YouTube where the reviewer compared it to the LOTR LCG. Like me, he likes LOTR but has some issues with it. He seemed to enjoy this one more, and said that adding a luck component with the token bag negated some of the "perfect deck" syndrome from LOTR.

Eric from Dice Tower also really liked it, praising the storytelling aspects.

I kept sitting on the fence due to the LCG aspect, but then again getting in on the ground floor is super appealing. I always tend to come to these games late after they've got 20 expansions, and I find myself overwhelmed and unable to financially go back and pick up everything. Will be nice to finally start with everyone else and pick up the new content as it is released.

It should be here Thursday; if I like it I imagine I'll go ahead and get a pre-order in for the expansion. Will try to get some impressions up by the end of the week.
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

Post by Smoove_B »

My copy randomly arrived over the weekend; I was not expecting it at all. I've been reading through the manual and I'm struck at the similarities between this game and the Lord of the Rings Card game. I'm still not entirely sold on this "Chaos Bag" but I understand why it exists. Personally, I prefer having bad die rolls, not pulling bad tokens from a bag but perhaps it'll grow on me. :D
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

Post by YellowKing »

I was concerned about the token bag as well - it just seems like a rather archaic way of incorporating chance. But none of the reviews I've watched/read had any real issues with it so I'm keeping an open mind.
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

Post by coopasonic »

YellowKing wrote:I was concerned about the token bag as well - it just seems like a rather archaic way of incorporating chance. But none of the reviews I've watched/read had any real issues with it so I'm keeping an open mind.
I don't know how it works in this game, but Clank! uses a bag (of pain) for determining damage from dragon attacks and it's a really cool mechanic. The bag is seeded with misses and whenever you make noise you put one of your cubes in the bag. When a dragon attack is triggered, a number of cubes are pulled from the bag and if yours are pulled you take damage. Cubes aren't put back in the bag so the misses get thinner and thinner and the game gets more dangerous the longer it goes. The more noise you make the more likely you are going to get in trouble. There's no way practical way dice could be used to accomplish the same result.
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

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Smoove_B wrote:My copy randomly arrived over the weekend; I was not expecting it at all. I've been reading through the manual and I'm struck at the similarities between this game and the Lord of the Rings Card game. I'm still not entirely sold on this "Chaos Bag" but I understand why it exists. Personally, I prefer having bad die rolls, not pulling bad tokens from a bag but perhaps it'll grow on me. :D
The tokens in the chaos bag allow for greater scenario specific events. A skull in one scenario could mean something entirely different in another. Eldritch Horror does something similar with its icons on elder gods/characters/etc.. It really works quite well. Plus, it enables players to control the difficulty of the game with a level of finesse not found in most games with variable difficulty levels. Too easy? Remove a +1 and replace it with a -2. Too hard? Take out that -3 and replace it with a +4.

Give it a shot, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

Post by Smoove_B »

That was my general conclusion from reading everything - it's a way to really fine-tune the difficulty in a way that's likely a bit more precise than random die rolling. Deep in my heart though, I'm still a guy that likes dice chucking. :D
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

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During a game on Saturday, Redwarlord drew the only -4 token 4 times in a row. It was...less than optimal.
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

Post by Zarathud »

The same bag draw mechanic is used to great effect in Ygdrassil. Your in-game actions directly modify probability.
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

Post by YellowKing »

Cool, thanks for that explanation guys. I never thought about about a token draw allowing for "dynamic" probability vs a straight dice roll which will always be a "static" probability. I'm sure there are better terms to explain that but I'm no mathematician.
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

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hepcat wrote:During a game on Saturday, Redwarlord drew the only -4 token 4 times in a row. It was...less than optimal.
Ahh...he is apparently my spirit-brother. That's pretty impressive and what I usually experience in dice form.
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

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My remaining issue (and it's not unique to this game) is that when presented with multiple options for resolution, the game rules tell you to have the lead investigator decide the outcome. So by way of example, if there are two investigators at a location and a ghoul is going to attack, the lead investigator is tasked with picking which adventurer will take the hit. I know there are other factors (like the Prey label) that can allow the card AI to select a specific target, I just hate when a game forces me to make a negative decision. I'm fine with rolling a die for an outcome. I'm fine with the AI targeting the weakest player or the one with the lowest defense. Don't make me (as the guy that wants to win) make a decision that will clearly be in my own self interest.
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

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I tend to make more altruistic choices when confronted with such decisions. You are a horrible, horrible human being. :P
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

Post by Smoove_B »

:D

I am comfortable playing a game where my goal is to cause harm to other players (Spartacus, Dead of Winter, etc...) - because that's the point. When playing a game like this, I struggle with making decisions because the game is simultaneously making decisions for me (like a DM or evil player overlord might) but then also asking me as the player to make decisions that will harm me or someone I am playing the game with in a co-op mode. Do I choose what I think the evil game would select to maximize the pain or do I choose the option that benefits me as a player or my team? I guess it bothers me mostly because it takes me out of the game. That's one of the things I love about the Mansions of Madness app - it just tells me which character to target or apply an effect on. I did see they include something they term "The Grim Rule" on page 7 of the learn to play book and I think that is likely my answer. I'm always going to choose pain. :D
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

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Smoove_B wrote:Don't make me (as the guy that wants to win) make a decision that will clearly be in my own self interest.
Why not? If it's a Co Op game, that's what tanking is for. I don't understand your quandary at all. If you are playing against a game mechanic then your job is to do this best you can to minimize the effect of negative stuff and maximize the effect of positive stuff.

Do you ever play video game with multiple characters? Don't you build teams to absorb bad stuff and distribute good stuff the most effectively?
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

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Yeah, so I hate RPG video games with multiple characters that I need to control. Thematically, if the game is attacking me with a Ghoul and there are two characters it can attack, why wouldn't it seek out the weaker one? In terms of playing against a mechanic, I would always expect the game AI to target the weakest character and/or the character that can cause the monster the greatest amount of damage. If it can reach the Ranger, it's not going to instead run face-first into the armored Paladin. That's why I like monster deck AI in games like this - If [X] do this. If [Y] do this instead. If neither, creature moves closer (or whatever it is).

I get what you're saying, but this is what happens when you take someone that was a DM for 15+ years and expect them to play as a cooperative character on the other side of the fence. I'm wired to think like monsters and NPCs, not players. :wink:
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

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Soooo...in Aeon's End, when you are "killed" you are simply "exhausted". You can still play, but all damage you'd take is sent to the other players, and you can't regain health. However, you can still play cards on your turn. It's an elegant solution to the dilemma of player elimination in a game.
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

Post by Smoove_B »

That's totally against the spirit of a Cthulhu themed game. What are you? Some type of Care Bear fancy lad?
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

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Smoove_B wrote:Yeah, so I hate RPG video games with multiple characters that I need to control. Thematically, if the game is attacking me with a Ghoul and there are two characters it can attack, why wouldn't it seek out the weaker one? In terms of playing against a mechanic, I would always expect the game AI to target the weakest character and/or the character that can cause the monster the greatest amount of damage. If it can reach the Ranger, it's not going to instead run face-first into the armored Paladin. That's why I like monster deck AI in games like this - If [X] do this. If [Y] do this instead. If neither, creature moves closer (or whatever it is).

I get what you're saying, but this is what happens when you take someone that was a DM for 15+ years and expect them to play as a cooperative character on the other side of the fence. I'm wired to think like monsters and NPCs, not players. :wink:

So what you are saying is no CoOp games for Smoove? The mechanic of CoOp game that wants to go after the weakest would say go after the weakest, not choose wisely.
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

Post by Smoove_B »

Nah, I love coop games - they're actually my preference. But I want very clear enemy/monster AI rules that don't involve me as a player determining how a monster behaves. As I said, I think the "Grim Rule" the include in the manual is my answer. Always choose the option that would lead to the worst outcome possible - I think that fits with a Cthulhu-based adventure.
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Re: Arkham Horror - The Card Game

Post by YellowKing »

I get where you're coming from Smoove_B, even though I disagree with your conclusion.

If the game wanted to screw you over, it would just do so. "Monster always attacks character with lowest health." Done. The fact that they're giving you a choice means the designers want you to make the choice that best serves your team's interest. Now, you certainly have every right to choose the worst possible option, but I doubt the designers intended it that way.

I love the Grim Rule, but I think it's pretty clear that its purpose is to resolve rule ambiguities.

As a former DM and Cthulhu mythos fan, however, I applaud your masochism. :D
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