Stenun said:

Oh!  I totally agree that no "official" rule change is appropriate. For my part, I am just talking possible house rules. I have no desire to see any of the current official rules revised.

One of the things I love about AH is that it is in the "official rules" that "house rules" are encouraged. How cool is that?

While I agree that simple house rules are usually better than changing the existing ruleset, it may become awfully confusing if you have the chance to play with several groups: remembering the specific rules of each house can be a real pain in the ass with a game of this level of complexity. That's why I'd rather have an official change of rules in this matter.

That said, how about this: they should make a new Herald for the next big box expansion (Innsmouth, I suppose) and make the "Additional Doom Token for every devoured Investigator" be one of its abilities. Throw in a boost for some of the weaker monsters of the base game, like Ghouls or Byakhee (another pet peeve of mine - the monsters of the base game are too weak when compared to those of the expansions) and everyone would be happy - people like me could always use the Herald (house-ruling it so that two Heralds can be in the same game, if necessary) and others could just ignore it.

What do you think? Is there a creature in the mythos that would fit such a Herald?

-Villain

You could always just type out your house rules, and encourage others to do the same. That way it is on paper for all to see and there can be no discrepancies between the way different people remember it .

It makes no sense that the replacing Investigators are basically always stronger (as they get all the trophies of the previous Investigator) than those that started the game originally were.

I agree the rule about keeping trophies and being able to use them makes no sense.  It makes so little sense that most of my group refuses to take advantage of it.

Having an additional Doom token added to the Ancient One's Doom Track whenever a new Investigator is brought in to replace a devoured one feels like the bare minimum for me. Another option that I hadn't thought before would be that every new Investigator brought in mid-game would start with one Madness and one Injury card.

What's really happening when one member of the group is devoured? Why should it bring the Ancient One any closer? (Adding Doom Token) or why should his or her replacement come in ready to retire (with 1 Madness and Injury card?)

More realistically every OTHER member of the group might gain a madness card, or lose some sanity as the realization that fighting the Old One is really no game at all, but could mean death. 

Of all the rules mentioned so far, adding one to the number of investigators has the best feel.  This makes the rest of the game tougher but doesn't leave an actuual player/person out in the cold.  Adding one means there are more monsters in Arkham, Terror Level rises faster because there are fewer monsters in the Outskirts, the final battle is tougher, there might be more pressure on the number of gates and if the number moves from 4 to 5, more monsters to get in the way and rumors are more difficult to get rid off.

mageith said:

The new investigator should come into play with madness, considering that he or she had just heard the tale of the investigator they replaced and decided to do it anyways, they'd have to be at least a little mad ;')

As for why the doom rises, well, you can come up with your own reasons for that, or you could just assume extra time elapsed while the group searched for a fitting replacement, or coordinated their strategy, or whatever scenario you want to make up in your head to make a good rule "plausible" ;')

 I don't see any problem with people having investigator's devoured on purpose. After all it's going to take them a few turns to transfer items and get the investigator devoured while in the meantime gates and monster are appearing. If power gamers want to abuse the rules let them. This game is geared towards more of a RPG feel anyways.

The new investigator should come into play with madness, considering that he or she had just heard the tale of the investigator they replaced and decided to do it anyways, they'd have to be at least a little mad ;')

As for why the doom rises, well, you can come up with your own reasons for that, or you could just assume extra time elapsed while the group searched for a fitting replacement, or coordinated their strategy, or whatever scenario you want to make up in your head to make a good rule "plausible" ;')

From your point of view, I guess your suggestions make sense.  Although this is a cooperative game, I don't really see it as a team game.  Each investigator pretty much is on their own.  IMO, its not like the group has a meeting, takes resumes and selects the best of the applicants. The new investigator isn't really replacing anyone in an existentialist sense.   My POV says there are lots of folks dealing with the horrors as best they can--off screen. Heck, s/he might not even know about his/her predecessor.  Besides, death is all around Arkham by this time.

Well, I couldn't come up with any reasons for doom tokens being added due to devournment (unless the tasty human morsal would make the Old One anxious for desert).  That's why I commented.

As I said earlier, I'm not nearly as concerned about devournment abusal as you are.  I don't like the fact, nor can I see a reason for the new investigator retaining trophies.  Stopping that and maybe making the player make coffee and sit out a turn seems plenty of punishment for me.  So, in short, I hope your proposed rule changes does not become part of an upgrade.

I don't like power gaming and don't see or hear of it much in AH, but your punishment is too tough for most of the players (I think) who consider it a failure when their investigator dies an untimely death. 

The floggings will continue until moral improves.

mageith said:

Yeesh, you think *that's* too tough?  I didn't even mention my house rule where we remove a toe or a finger from a player every time their character dies.  I was trying to make it more appealing to softcore gamers ;'D

mageith said:

That is why I thought being devoured should add doom tokens. A little ketchup, a slice of cheese and an investigator and the AO feels that much more fortified by lunch and better able to face the task of breaking loose into the mortal world and wreaking destruction and chaos on Arkham and other places in New England.

I always feel better after lunch, why should an AO be any different. As a matter of fact, by lunch time every day, I often feel like New England should be devestated by some ancient god from a distant or parallel universe.

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