Arkham Horror: the board game - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

digs · 18th June 2010, 06:22 AM

Disclaimer: This could equally go in the 'Gaming' forum, but I think it fits here (since I want to talk about it in relation to Lovecraft), so sorry if it's in the wrong place!

Time to 'fess up: has anyone here played the Arkham Horror board game? HJ and I play it with a bunch of friends quite regularly and it's lots of fun. I've only read about two volumes of Lovecraft's short stories, so I'm nowhere near as knowledgeable about him as many of you guys are, but I think it does an excellent job at capturing that dark, eerie Lovecraftian vibe. Obviously it's not entirely true to Lovecraft's works and doesn't attempt to be canonical (basically it's about a bunch of people trying to prevent an Ancient One from awakening and try to kill it if it does), but it does draw upon many of his creations and concepts, including characters and locations. There's an overall sense of macabre...ness (what's the noun of that? Macabraity?) that permeates it, which seems like it would be really hard to instil in a board game. It's creepy and fun and pretty excellent.

So who's played it and what did you think of it? Do you think it was true to Lovecraft's writing or was it an abomination that should be exiled forever in the Plateau of Leng? If you haven't played it and you're a Lovecraft or board game fan (or both, or neither) I recommend it. It takes ages and it's a bit complicated at times, but once you get the hang of it it's a good way to wile away years of your life.

Hilarious Joke · 18th June 2010, 06:29 AM

I hear that! In fact, I think this is a R'lyeh good thread!

For the record, new posters Axiom and onebigpotato play with us. So if you think they're cool dudes, they're not! They're ubernerds AHAHA!

Tinsel · 20th June 2010, 03:18 AM

I looked it over and it is even a one player game. The game has expansion packs as well. I like the concept having to do with the Old One growing in influence or power. It would be nice to have a software program that supplemented the game.

Tinsel · 21st June 2010, 01:21 AM

....More (next day):

I considered writing an application using .Net C# because it is available for free for personal use. It would take some time for example 6 months.

The thing is this. If you take a board game (Arkham Horror, Conan, etc) and all of the stories, than you can certainly enhance the content of the game as well as create an opponent or a custom game. You can even do things with photographs rather than drawings, certainly random number generation, probability, and heuristics (game rules) are the tools that one would rely on.

Well the actual game itself is fine too, but it is just the beginning because just look at the loads of information and details in these weird tales.

18th June 2010, 06:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
digs Thicker than water Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Australia, New South Wales Posts: 729	Arkham Horror: the board game Disclaimer: This could equally go in the 'Gaming' forum, but I think it fits here (since I want to talk about it in relation to Lovecraft), so sorry if it's in the wrong place! Time to 'fess up: has anyone here played the Arkham Horror board game? HJ and I play it with a bunch of friends quite regularly and it's lots of fun. I've only read about two volumes of Lovecraft's short stories, so I'm nowhere near as knowledgeable about him as many of you guys are, but I think it does an excellent job at capturing that dark, eerie Lovecraftian vibe. Obviously it's not entirely true to Lovecraft's works and doesn't attempt to be canonical (basically it's about a bunch of people trying to prevent an Ancient One from awakening and try to kill it if it does), but it does draw upon many of his creations and concepts, including characters and locations. There's an overall sense of macabre...ness (what's the noun of that? Macabraity?) that permeates it, which seems like it would be really hard to instil in a board game. It's creepy and fun and pretty excellent. So who's played it and what did you think of it? Do you think it was true to Lovecraft's writing or was it an abomination that should be exiled forever in the Plateau of Leng? If you haven't played it and you're a Lovecraft or board game fan (or both, or neither) I recommend it. It takes ages and it's a bit complicated at times, but once you get the hang of it it's a good way to wile away years of your life.

18th June 2010, 06:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
Hilarious Joke Fool Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Australia, New South Wales Posts: 1,988	Re: Arkham Horror: the board game I hear that! In fact, I think this is a R'lyeh good thread! For the record, new posters Axiom and onebigpotato play with us. So if you think they're cool dudes, they're not! They're ubernerds AHAHA!

20th June 2010, 03:18 AM	#3 (permalink)
Tinsel Science fiction fantasy Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 425	Re: Arkham Horror: the board game I looked it over and it is even a one player game. The game has expansion packs as well. I like the concept having to do with the Old One growing in influence or power. It would be nice to have a software program that supplemented the game.

21st June 2010, 01:21 AM	#4 (permalink)
Tinsel Science fiction fantasy Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 425	Re: Arkham Horror: the board game ....More (next day): I considered writing an application using .Net C# because it is available for free for personal use. It would take some time for example 6 months. The thing is this. If you take a board game (Arkham Horror, Conan, etc) and all of the stories, than you can certainly enhance the content of the game as well as create an opponent or a custom game. You can even do things with photographs rather than drawings, certainly random number generation, probability, and heuristics (game rules) are the tools that one would rely on. Well the actual game itself is fine too, but it is just the beginning because just look at the loads of information and details in these weird tales.

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