"Arkham Horror" is a tabletop adventure game (Board Game) published by Fantasy Flight Games, based on the Cthulhu Mythos worldview created by writer H.P. Lovecraft. Players play investigators in the game, exploring the fictional city of Arkham, fighting various supernatural phenomena, and preventing the ancient gods (such as Cthulhu, Hastur, etc.) from awakening and destroying the world.

Basic Information

Publisher: Fantasy Flight Games

Designer: Richard Launius, Kevin Wilson (remade based on the first edition)

Number of players: 1-8 people

Game time: 2-4 hours

Genre: cooperative adventure, exploration, horror survival

Background setting: Cthulhu Mythos universe, Arkham town in the 1920s

 

Core game mechanism

1. Game map

Arkham City is divided into several areas (such as universities, churches, shops, asylums, etc.).

There are also portals to other worlds.

 

2. Investigator

Each player plays a unique investigator role:

Each has attribute values (speed, will, knowledge, etc.)

Starting equipment

Special abilities

Each character has stamina and sanity

 

3. Attribute test system

Dice roll mechanism: Use the relevant attribute value as the number of dice.

Each 5 or 6 is considered a success.

Used for:

Fighting monsters

Exploring locations

Resisting madness

Seal portals

 

4. Portal and Ancient God Mechanics

Each round has a chance to open a "portal" in the city and connect to the Other World.

Players need to enter the portal → explore the Other World → return and seal the portal.

If the portal is not controlled, it will eventually trigger the Ancient One Awakens.

 

5. Ancient God

At the beginning of the game, an Ancient God (such as Cthulhu, Yog-Sothoth, etc.) is drawn.

Each Ancient God has different abilities and special rules.

If the awakening cannot be stopped, the final battle with the ancient god must be fought (usually very difficult to win).

 

Game turn process (overview)

Preparation phase: Each player chooses a character and equips the starting items.

Action phase: Move → Perform actions (purchase, fight, enter the portal, etc.).

Encounter phase: Draw a location card (Encounter) to trigger events.

Mythos phase:

Open the portal

Monster movement

Place clues and destiny points

Drive the rhythm of the game and the progress of the crisis

 

Newbie suggestions (for the second edition)

1. Choose a low-difficulty ancient god (such as Azathoth) in the first game

2. Choose a combination of characters that can fight and check (such as: Joe Diamond + Carolyn Fern)

3. Dedicated person to collect clues, dedicated person to seal the door, dedicated person to fight

4. Don't be greedy for monster battles, give priority to controlling the portal and advancing the plot

5. Don't let the number of portals reach the "ancient god awakening" condition (usually 6)

6. Get spells, props, and allies as soon as possible

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