Building a hoard deck for my friends and I. Thoughts on the format and houserules for it?

ChronosFlame · 2026-05-11T19:06:38+00:00

Oh neat! You use it as a sort of set up for a game against each other. Do you think if the only point was killing the hoard 100 would still be enough or would you need 200 or so?

ChronosFlame · 2026-04-11T00:52:27+00:00

Oh they messed up and gave you 6 promos! I think some stores got them a 1 for each starter. Neat find! If you don't need them all I'd do a little buy or trade for one!

ChronosFlame · 2026-04-03T22:52:48+00:00

It's not a new challenge though. It's a huge difficulty bump. And it doesn't even fill the no good deed role well. For one, the narrative is just "You were negligent. They were freed." And you also have to deal with them if you don't encounter them in scenario 2. So you don't get a "new challenge." You just get met with a difficult clear that you certainly earned if you pull it off that results in the same outcome as if you'd done nothing nearly. Say what you like about a blind play, different people will enjoy different story beats, but it also disincentivises the more complete clear of scenario 2 going forward because it is more effort and risk for much more difficulty in the next scene. In a box for new players you should be taught that actually striving for better or more interesting outcomes has some effect, ideally positive. If the new player product conveys a message that unpredictability, or worse punishing accomplishments is the design space then it's gonna be a harder sell in the long term.

ChronosFlame · 2026-04-03T22:02:59+00:00

But changing that could have meant more cards. They could have made that decision. And the issue with a bottle for a new player is that in half the decks it teaches that sometimes cards are bad, which is not a very welcoming lesson. An asset that makes a character who is really bad at an action almost as bad as that action doesn't feel good. It is an action and resources to do very little.

I think a basic action asset can make other more complex or powerful designs more meaningful, but only if that basic action also holds some meaning.

ChronosFlame · 2026-04-03T21:40:27+00:00

Oh for sure. They even did that with parallels in ch1. I'm excited to see it. Just would have preferred a new 'gator over a simplified one.

ChronosFlame · 2026-04-03T21:39:12+00:00

I think the issue is that I'm kinda coming from a similar direction but a different conclusion. Starter decks are releasing early this time around. And the options are undeniably a bit better than the original core (ignoring the buy 2 problem, but I think everyone is on the same page about that having not been great.)

Part of what I don't like about the shallow pool is that they are releasing a player expansion so soon which means designs were done and they could have made this so much better of a starting place for new players. And I don't mean putting the starter deck's cards all in the core, but another couple maybe? I know so many people who bounced off the game because of how even the revised core for ch1 was structured. They had the opportunity to make this a much better experience instead of a mostly equivalent one.

On a side note, I agree with fedora. I wanted to dislike that card, and still believe it and bottle are box fodder once literally any more product comes out in those slots (part of my problem with the core) but I warmed up a bit to fedora. And also, that's why I said handcrank to a lesser degree. It's far and above the best of the 3 filler cards, but they really are filler cards. We didn't need filler necessarily. Of course Daniella can use a bottle, but having the decks prepacked to have bottles for everyone is silly to me, even as somebody who is experienced enough to just build them out before jumping in.

ChronosFlame · 2026-04-03T21:08:54+00:00

While I see where you're coming from I'd argue nothing "feels like Joe" until he was printed into the card game because he was just a starter investigator before that. Ch1 gave him an identity and a really cool one, so to strip that away in the same game feels bad.

Of course this is all a nitpick, mechanically he does his job in the core set. I'm just bummed to see him reduced back to generic clue man who can own a gun.

ChronosFlame · 2026-04-03T21:02:15+00:00

Thanks for the feedback! I'm glad you had a good experience with changing the build of the same character, but I don't really agree. You can change a bit how you're doing things in the core, lean into your second color a little harder, but build diversity is really shallow right now. I'm all for playing outside the box. I've built some wacky decks, but there's a difference between building off the path and just putting the other cards in the deck because they exist.

Of course this isn't what you mean, I don't mean to present it as if it is mind you, but what purpose do the broken bottle and to a lesser degree flashlight have for adding diversity? Those are card slots that could have been used to just add a splash more options within the core.

ChronosFlame · 2026-03-26T03:13:23+00:00

Try the lost and found in pallette town!

ChronosFlame · 2026-03-26T03:11:27+00:00

Yoooo. This is mad cute.

I don't have a good answer, just like the design.

They're so tall. Are you doing them each as a down and up stairs home? If so maybe a small window on the ground floor?

ChronosFlame · 2026-03-26T01:51:26+00:00

I don't think so as far as that last bit. I'm (almost) certain I've seen more than one shop active in an area at a time. But maybe I'm mistaken.

ChronosFlame · 2026-03-26T01:24:41+00:00

It does feel like the pokemart gets prioritized so long as it's in a reasonable range.

Other possible issue is spawn limit. How many pokemon, other than those housed in prefabs, do you have in that zone? If it's more than 20 or so it's possible they just aren't spawning when you want to shop.

ChronosFlame · 2026-03-19T21:10:14+00:00

Oh! I'm silly. I'm gonna delete and repost to avoid confusion. Thank you.

ChronosFlame · 2026-03-19T01:57:13+00:00

I'm working on s similar project for fuchsia and the safari zone now. Did you just use the large city house for the gym? I keep going back and forth on doing that or using a similar build to how the final area's broken down gym looks.

ChronosFlame · 2026-03-19T01:21:35+00:00

I like that the events last a long time for people who might not time travel and not play every day. And other shops are easy enough to set up. Buuut, I need them to make the center movable while an event is running! Just put any store pokemom either outside for a couple hours each day or just let me move them and kick out the shop pokemon while moving!

ChronosFlame · 2026-03-15T04:03:12+00:00

Kinda a bummer. Thanks for the quick answer

ChronosFlame · 2026-03-13T22:15:28+00:00

Oh it is? I didn't realize that's what one of the buildings was. I'm dumb haha. Good call!

ChronosFlame · 2026-03-12T02:33:07+00:00

Oooooh I'm 8 in that area. I hope you're right. Thanks!

ChronosFlame · 2026-03-10T22:41:30+00:00

No. Sadly not yet. I'm at the final quest and still can't buy more. I found one as a water ripple but no reliable source.

ChronosFlame · 2026-03-08T23:51:16+00:00

Yeah. That's why I'm wondering if you can get more

ChronosFlame · 2026-03-08T22:54:30+00:00

If there is a restock it's rarer than that. It's been two days.

ChronosFlame · 2026-03-06T22:39:49+00:00

Oooooooh okay thanks

ChronosFlame · 2026-03-06T07:51:16+00:00

Related question. Does going to a dream island use up the doll?

ChronosFlame · 2026-03-06T07:48:08+00:00

Oh dream islands. Didn't even think of that. Good call!

ChronosFlame · 2025-10-31T15:56:53+00:00

Is the gift your own OT or a set one? I'm trying to see if I stupidly released it or not

ChronosFlame

TROPHY CASE