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Hope you beat it.

Never heard of this game, thanks.

To me, AH2 and EH are equivalent in terms of fun. They are telling a similar story but on two different scales. And the encounters with monsters make more sense to me on a town scale than on a world one. In that sense AH 2feels less abstract to me and therefore more immersive. FFG have a tendency to make okay core games (lack of variety and extra mechanics) that become really great the more expansions you get. It's true for AH2, EH, AH: the card game and Elder Signs (you might like those two as well but, once again, it's an investment if you want them to be at their full potential) Fully fledged AH2 sessions tend to be very involved but in a good way. You feel like the settings are getting alive and more immersive. Which means that the core box of AH2 won't compete with the whole EH catalog. But the contrary is just as true. Eventually, if you have all the expansions of both games, you'll enjoy both of them equally (I believe). I know that expansions for AH2 are hard to get nowadays but I think that you should consider this game as a work in progress while you chase some expansions here and there, knowing they will increase the fun as you get them eventually. But if you don't plan to do that, just stick with your EH collection, it will always be a better pick in terms of completeness. The core box alone of any of those two will quickly give you the impression of revisiting the same cards and do the same thing over and over. This completely disappears with more expansions as the games become endless and you rarely encounter the same thing twice. They become a universe in and on themselves rather than just basic mechanics. And the thing that makes them kind of equal is that, more often than not, people tend to slightly prefer the first one they played 🙂. People who started with AH and then played EH prefer AH and vice-versa. Which means that the difference is just about having one in particular as a reference to assess the other. Note that there are ways to decrease the doom tokens on the doom track. And each and every Old One has its own mechanics and, if I remember well, sometimes the ways you can decrease the doom tokens are also built in their own cheat. It's not easy to temper with that track (for a reason) but it's definitely part of the rules (or an option provided by certain cards). Anyway, the doom track resists you but knowing how to manipulate it and using it to your advantage is possible and should be part of your strategy. PS : I really love your content.

You weren't kidding Marina. Gorgeous art, great components etc. Euros (barring Lords of Waterdeep) aren't my thing so I don't think I'd enjoy it, but it's easy on the eyes. Thanks for making the vid.

It’s a fairly heavy euro game. You’re definitely going to need some patience to learn and more to teach! Good to see people receiving their copies. Still waiting on mine. Hope you enjoy!

Worse than spiders, Marina? Can we agreed that they all need destroyed ASAP? LOL Great video as always.

Once again, you've introduced me to another game that I'd never heard of (to my memory) and it sure looks like it has serious potential. I'll look forward to the recap video.

It is. Thanks for watching

I've played a couple of regular haunts solo just by playing all the characters myself. It's not much of a game that way, but I still have fun doing it. And is that an elder sign dice cup on your table? I love it!

It sounds like there is only the one scenario for the solo game? Or can you play any of the original haunts in solo?

I will be interested to hear your thoughts on Solo Betrayal at House on the Hill. I haven't tried it solo yet, but I did get the fan created rules for it.

Huzzah! Once more into the breach, dear friends!

That's the real conundrum, what to do when the Showdown doesn't end with the villain defeated or all the heroes KO'd? I have had it happen about 3-4 times. Only once did we end up winning on the second Showdown. Most times the Shadow Track runs out before we could get a second Showdown. Twice the failure to resolve was caused by the conditions of the Vampire. Once because someone played the Escaped card. And once because one player couldn't make the Showdown and the remaining heroes were all KO'd in the Showdown, but the one not in the fight kept the struggle going.

Every time I play this game I am reminded how fun it is!

An extra thumbs up for the soundtrack going!

Fantastic! I love this game!

Another well done video walkthrough/review, my friend. Now thinking it may not be for me.

Definitely not a game for me. For one, the design doesn't enthuse me. Two, the mechanics seem lackluster. Three, those rules look pretty atrocious. When you need bright light and perfect eyes to read the rules, that's a big strike against the game.

You didn't have the items before that turn to trade? Oof yea this game is tight! Like your granddaughter says, it's a stress version versus the videogame. It's more like the year one community centre challenge that people restarting the game will often try. Except in the videogame that's almost guaranteed with a good plan, besides I think a single Year 2 crop that you have to rely on luck for at the Travelling Cart. Like you say there is an unofficial 5 year ruleset, although there's actually a ton of homebrew adaptations it's just that that one came from a popular TH-camr. You can easily add in extra days per season if you want, for example. Although making the game easier removes replayable I expect. The 5 year campaign rules maybe make it worth playing 5 times in a satisfying way though. As for expansions I can see the Desert being a simple add on to include. Maybe after you complete 2 or 3 bundles you could at least go to Skull Cavern with better loot but harsher enemies and crazier map cards. Going down levels there could also send you down a level at the regular mines for the sake of that grandpa goal. Once you're in the Desert for the day you wouldn't be allowed to move to other locations on the main board so Sandy could work like Pierre's just to give you that extra option. The Casino could certainly be at the same spot too and let you gamble your money away for a chance to get rich quick. Moving from the cavern to the shop could allow a unique forage of Coconut. It could be a simple sell price item or it could be incorporated into the bundles as a requirement. Ginger Island again you could be stuck there that turn, the Volcano could be alternative mines as with Skull caverns but with a different focus, there could be fishing spots that Joja can't block, maybe the Pirates could sell Bugmeat/Stone etc at high price dependant on a darts minigame. Potentially you could have a second farm for crops there but then you might need some additional limitations. In terms of the videogame you'd expect not having access until the community centre is complete but like the desert it could be restricted to a set number of bundles or paying Joja a set amount, with Joja tile payments counting toward it.

Glad you found the time to get it to the table when your granddaughter was around, and that it was a good time for you both. Great to find a game you can enjoy together. Thanks for sharing the vid.

Thanks for the unboxing video; we hope you enjoy the game!

The fact thst you got held up by an unfair fishing minigame tells me that this game is accurately delivering on the Stardew Valley experience 😂

Great video I so need to buy this game, love stardew valley

Do you play the online game as well? I'm a great grandmother and have been playing off and on for 7 or 8 years and I love it. I had gotten bored with it after completing the community center quite a few times and then played again once the 1.5 update came out and now again with the 1.6 update. there is just so much to do sometimes my grandchildren join me on my farm and right now my online man friend has been my farming partner. I enjoy all the little chores. Right now I am working on making all of the Recipes.

Appreciate the review, I've haven't watched your channel before but this video came up in my YT feed. I love Stardew on Switch and have been curious about the boardgame.

It's a very tight game which is good for solo play because it keeps it challenging. After a while you will probably become more efficient at getting the gears moving. The bottom of the mines goal is one of the harder to complete. If you get good items and the goals synergise you'll make it. Real solo might be easier too, I think 2-3 characters is harder than 1 or 4 players because of the way the goals scale.

I, myself, have slowed way, WAY down on buying new games. Honestly, not a lot of new stuff has interested me. (And I don't follow any Facebook/Meta or Reddit game groups). Most of my money now goes towards either getting expansions for games I already own, or for "fancy-up" my existing games. I have been playing a lot more of my games over and over again, learning to appreciate what I have and get things played. So you're not wrong for slowing down on new game purchases.

If you play again and/or with your granddaughter I'd love to see another video. I've watched a lot of people streaming the videogame that wish they had the boardgame so not as many people have as you might think! It had a limited productions with mild access issues outside of the US. I have it myself in the UK and I played it quite a number of times by myself, solo. The only time I played it with someone else was through Tabletop Simulator I played with a twitch streamer I know. He didn't even save the video but luckily I was able to preserve and upload it. I'll put the youtube link in a reply just so the whole comment won't get nuked if it auto-deletes due to the link. I really enjoyed playing it solo a lot. Beating it is always very tight with some possible goals being particularly easier or harder.

love the review! Where did you buy the game?

Had to watch this again months later. Glad you enjoyed it! Remember players can aid each other too if they are on the same space as the ghost and another investigator, giving an extra +1 clue die to roll for prove actions. Maybe you know that by now though since I'm commenting 7 months later :)

Pertamax gan

I absolutely love your prep, and organization. Great ideas everywhere.

This was the very first board game I ever played when I was introduced to board gaming at my very first board game event, it was such a horrible experience that it almost killed any wish in me to ever play any board games ever... I am not sure if it was the game itself or the guy running it or a combination or both... he was obviously passionate about the game but he kept yelling and ordering everyone what to do in their turns, he did not allow me a single decision on my own, well he knew the game and I was just a person moving meeples around the board for his enjoyment, the game dragged for hours and I was counting seconds just wanted it to end ... thank god following games I played at other tables were 7 wonders, Old World, Puerto Rico, and Caverna ... I had a blast with those ... If anything that game thought me that co-op games were not for me, I want to make my own decisions and if wrong pay for them without anyone giving me a hard time ...

Thanks for the nice mini review!

We should set up a play through. Wonder if you have a rule you are missing. I can walk you through everything and maybe clear things up. Maybe just bad die rolls?

Yes, the rumors were correct for once, this year it finally got released. Glad you liked the game. The hard part is the expansion that came out for it during covid was very limited, and hard to find, but adds more character and rooms. We included most of the expansion in 3rd edition. They are not backwards compatible, but a few could still be used in 2nd edition.

Not the Deliverance I was expecting....

Your audio is extremely quiet. I had to have the volume on my computer turned almost all the way to max to understand what you were saying. Looks like it has a copious amount of components. What's the concept of the game?

Thanks for the video! The 3rd edition just released and I ordered it. I haven’t played this game before but the theme seems cool.

Hi: I'm happy to hear that you've given the game a thumbs up. I've been thinking about the game since your video last week. I love games that include ghosts and supernatural bump-in-the-night themes. I am going to be contacting the designer to order it tomorrow morning. I never would have heard about this game if you hadn't featured in on your channel, so thanks. I'm definitely interested in the campaign mode that you spoke of. By the way I like your custom ghost, its very cool. Thanks again. Regards, Keith

Hi: Thanks for previewing this game. I have not heard about this one. This game really looks good. I'm looking forward to your review. I'm hoping this one plays as good as it looks. I love the theme, and the monsters and investigators seem interesting. The components look pretty good. It seems to be kind of an X-Files merged with Eldritch Horror-and interesting mix. When you give your review, please indicate your opinion of replayability and if you think it will play well solo. Regards, Keith

Hi: Thanks for posting the video. This game looks really great, and its one of my biggest regrets that I didn't act on it when I had the chance to buy it. I sure its going to be beyond my price range on the secondary market. You are really fortunate to have the deluxe edition. I wish we could go back to the old days whern you could just go to your local hobby store and pick up any game you wanted. With this kickstarter stuff, I end up missing out on so many titles that I would have liked to own. Please provide us with a recap of your playthrough, I will find it interesting to watch. Regards, Keith

Hi: Congratulations on your win. This game is difficult to win, and when you do, it is that much more satisfying. I've had the game since it came out and, like you, I think I've only won a couple of times. Eldritch Horror and A Touch of Evil are probably my favorite games. They work so well for solo and they generate so much theme that I keep coming back to them.

I really liked this game. Played the crap out of the original. Didn't like any of the Eldrich. Different yolks, I guess!

Break out "A Touch of Evil" for the rest of the weekend!

I feel the object in not necessarily to "win".....but it more is to rescue more people, in ratio, than was in reality done that night

Great job as always, Marina! Your videos are always fun to watch. It was your earlier videos that got me started down the trail of this game. And Dark Gothic... and... and... LOL you may have a second career as an influencer ahead of you :)

Hi: Thanks for posting the video. I like the components of both of the games you unboxed. I've always been interested in the story of the Titanic and I'm planning on checking out the game more closely. I like the mechanic of the ship slowly sinking... very thematic. Thanks and Regards, Keith

This is awesome

i took your lead and ordered stuff from The Game Crafter. I also got a translucent black avatar for the Mentat. Also for the agents I ordered the large translucent meeples. I looked into the Rise of IX expansion and I ordered the acrylic henhouses, although they are opaque. And I added more meeples for one of the tracks on the expansion board. For the combat track I got the sticker pawns. Cheap upgrade! And I had $5 in credit from the store so it brought the cost down more. I ordered some sci-fi themed coins and I have glass gems for the water and spice.