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First timer with Arkham

hamdingershamdingers Registered User regular
edited January 2010 in Critical Failures
My play group (aka my family; wife + 2 teenage sons) are trying AH for the first time today. Any suggestions on the best old one / investigators to make for a good first experience?

Other tips / gotchas also appreciated.

Thanks!

hamdingers on

Posts

  • SageinaRageSageinaRage Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Yig isn't necessarily the EASIEST ancient one, but he is probably the fastest, so the game would be shortest if you use him, which is probably a good thing for your first time.

    As far as the investigators, I don't think it makes a huge difference, though you may want to get the doctor/psychologist/researcher, as they are good team players and really allow people to help each other out specifically.

    Mostly just make sure you know as many of the rules as possible before starting, because it's already a long game, and you don't want to get too bogged down looking things up (even though you'll have to do that anyway). And know going in that it's pretty difficult if you don't know what you're doing. There's a good chance you'll lose and/or your investigator is devoured.

    SageinaRage on
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  • Locutus ZeroLocutus Zero Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    There will undoubtedly be mistakes and unknown rules in your first game. My advice is to keep the pace going, don't stop and look up every single thing or redo something from a minute or two ago when you realize you messed up. After the game you can look up questions you had. When in doubt, rule in the favor of whoever is losing (the team or the game). This game can get very, VERY long otherwise.

    Locutus Zero on
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  • Jason ToddJason Todd Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Yig is definitely the fastest Old One. Don't face Cthulhu your first time around, no matter how popular he is.

    Jason Todd on
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  • Kevin R BrownKevin R Brown __BANNED USERS regular
    edited January 2010
    Play a solo game first!

    Take an afternoon or whatever and just run the game by yourself once or twice to get a hang of the rules, then bring it to the gaming table. The game plays best with at least one person who knows enough of the basics to help new players out with uncertainties.

    Kevin R Brown on
    ' As always when their class interests are at stake, the capitalists can dispense with noble sentiments like the right to free speech or the struggle against tyranny.'
  • LeumasWhiteLeumasWhite New ZealandRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Azathoth is probably best for a starter game. He's got a long doom track, doesn't mess with the monsters much, and you don't have to deal with a possible boss fight since it's death if he wakes up.

    LeumasWhite on
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  • Kevin R BrownKevin R Brown __BANNED USERS regular
    edited January 2010
    I'd agree with either proposed GOO: Azathoth or Yig.


    Don't run C'thulhu or Yog'Sosoth until you're more comfortable with the game, and don't run it with any expansions right off the bat.

    Kevin R Brown on
    ' As always when their class interests are at stake, the capitalists can dispense with noble sentiments like the right to free speech or the struggle against tyranny.'
  • GoodOmensGoodOmens Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Azathoth is probably best for a starter game. He's got a long doom track, doesn't mess with the monsters much, and you don't have to deal with a possible boss fight since it's death if he wakes up.

    Plus he adds a nice bit of fatalism to the game. Cthulhu wakes up? You can beat him.

    Azathoth wakes up? He eats the world.

    GoodOmens on
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  • Zombie NirvanaZombie Nirvana Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I'd go to boardgamegeek and get a flowchart summary just to help you manage the phases on your first game.

    Zombie Nirvana on
  • DarianDarian Yellow Wizard The PitRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Play a solo game first!

    Take an afternoon or whatever and just run the game by yourself once or twice to get a hang of the rules, then bring it to the gaming table. The game plays best with at least one person who knows enough of the basics to help new players out with uncertainties.

    This; even if it is just a few rounds worth, you need to run through the process to get a good feel for how everything works. But best to do a full solo game if you have time.

    Darian on
  • RendRend Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Darian wrote: »
    Play a solo game first!

    Take an afternoon or whatever and just run the game by yourself once or twice to get a hang of the rules, then bring it to the gaming table. The game plays best with at least one person who knows enough of the basics to help new players out with uncertainties.

    This; even if it is just a few rounds worth, you need to run through the process to get a good feel for how everything works. But best to do a full solo game if you have time.

    Thirded. This is easily the best way to get a handle on the rules, which are considerable. Even if you're the only one, there should be at least one person familiar enough with the rulebook to know where to look up the unknowns.

    Rend on
  • HavelockHavelock Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I'd agree with either proposed GOO: Azathoth or Yig.


    Don't run C'thulhu or Yog'Sosoth until you're more comfortable with the game, and don't run it with any expansions right off the bat.

    On New Years I played AH for the first time in a four man game with Yog'Sothoth as the GOO. We had a hell of a time on Gate closing duty, and eventually he woke up. Through a combination of lucky rolls, dynamite and tommy-guns we drove him back into the darkness from whence he came. We got lucky I guess, since we were on the ropes the entire time trying to get below five gates. Every time we'd close one, another would pop up.

    Havelock on
  • Zombie NirvanaZombie Nirvana Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Also keep in mind that combat generally occurs during the movement phase.

    Zombie Nirvana on
  • DarianDarian Yellow Wizard The PitRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Also keep in mind that combat generally occurs during the movement phase.

    This is the investigator movement phase (II), not the step of the Mythos phase (V) where you move the monsters (that misconception just popped up in a question about AH in the main boardgame thread).

    Darian on
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