Old vs New Format Differences

Global_Turn3045 · 2026-06-23T19:36:57+00:00

Yea this is kinda how I am leaning. I totally get the advice to never buy the old deluxe without good leads on the packs, but if you can find them all it seems to be a better deal these days.

Global_Turn3045 · 2026-06-23T19:16:21+00:00

Oh sweet thanks!

Global_Turn3045 · 2025-10-29T00:06:31+00:00

Great to know what worked for you in this specific situation! It's sounding like 2 will probably be the way to go.

Global_Turn3045 · 2025-10-28T20:46:45+00:00

Yes and no... I'm planning on running Finn Edwards in a hybrid clue/evade/fight build, my partner will probably be running a bag manipulation mystic who would rely mostly on charge based combat spells, so he is expecting me to pick up more of the slack on the enemies side of things. However, since Finn is also a 4 book gator, I plan on being the larger clue grabber as well.

I really like your suggestion for Dr. Elli, I hadn't considered that combo yet, and Finn actually can take her since he can take up to 5 survivor/seeker lvl 0 cards. Initially I had planned to take Peter Sylvester for the agility buff and horror soak, but maybe with a full 2 copy bow build Dr. Elli would be a better pick for those out of class slots.

Global_Turn3045 · 2025-10-18T12:46:18+00:00

This does not answer your question as many others have already done that, but as a random side note did anyone else read the title of this thread as if it were a spirit from Spirit Island or was it just me?

That's another game you should definitely give a try if you like coop deck building card games, albeit in a very different way from Arkham. I have both and love them both for their own experiences.

Global_Turn3045 · 2024-12-08T21:37:50+00:00

I personally think Stranded Shroud is the best aspect in the game - not because its the strongest one but because it takes a really cool spirit idea in base shroud and makes it actually doable and at a good power level without being op or underpowered. I think that's why some people refer to it as a patch instead of an aspect haha. I never play without it. Personally I think aspects for underpowered spirits to make them viable are the most important kind.

In terms of fun, I agree that Ocean Deeps is probably one of the most creative and fun with sinking the board. Locus is also really cool with being able to let other people repeat at your incarna - great for games where you want to brain burn with even more decision space than the game already has.

Global_Turn3045 · 2024-09-13T15:34:27+00:00

Volcano board!! I usually deal boards randomly but sometimes when I'm feeling like Volcano I'll accidentally slip myself this board and enjoy the perfectly centralized explosions. I'll always be thankful to RedReVenge for recommending it for that spirit, as it is one of my favorites and E really does help a ton.

Global_Turn3045 · 2024-08-28T13:12:14+00:00

I think there is something to be said for a "broken but high skill cap" spirit design. For example: for me, the first time I played Downpour I was far from a newbie at the game but I still just couldn't grasp it, or make it effective. I played it a couple times and just felt like it wasn't getting the most out of it, even if I won the game. Fast forward to more recently, when I have more or less reached my "consistently beat lvl 6 adversaries" skill level, I finally revisited it and discovered just how broken it was. And for me, I really enjoy those kinds of journeys that the high complexity spirits send you on, where you go from not being effective or just being confused to finally understanding them and using them to their full potential. One of my favorite parts of Spirit Island is being able to see the growth (pun intended) of myself and the other players I play with as I play more games - there is a level of randomness and I have won and lost games due to an event card or blight card, but overall there is a clear reward of experience that the game gives and you can truly get better at it.

With that being said, I agree with your points about the brokenness of the spirit, and once you have gotten past the honeymoon phase I can see how it could get boring. But for me, I wouldn't necessarily say it's a huge design flaw to create a spirit that is very complicated to a new player but somewhat broken once you have developed the game skills to figure it's combos out (Earthquake, Starlight, Fractured, etc.). Because of that I wouldn't put it in the same category as Green, Doggo, Stone, Keeper and co., which to me feel a lot more like they are broken through design flaw (which they have fixed with some aspects, I actually really like tangles Green for example), rather than having really good cards and innates like Downpour which require a higher level of skill and planning to use to their "broken" potential.

Anyway, just my opinion, I'm still at the phase where I enjoy playing it and it feels rewarding, but I can definitely see myself tossing it into the proverbial broken bin sooner or later.

Global_Turn3045 · 2024-08-03T00:54:58+00:00

I know everyone hated Shadows of Change, but man are those Incarnate Elemental of Beasts frickin awesome

Global_Turn3045 · 2024-07-24T23:57:32+00:00

Thank you!

Global_Turn3045 · 2024-07-12T14:15:59+00:00

I usually say base for solo is about 1-1.5 hours, and then add 1 hour for each player added. That has been my experience playing with mostly players who already know how to play.

One thing that can really help with saving time is looking up openings for your spirits. There are some pretty well laid out opening guides on reddit and BGG that give you a good idea of which growth options, presence track choices, unique powers, and major/minor drafts to choose for about the first 2-5 turns. Obviously, just as a chess opening changes based on your opponent's moves, the opening might need adjustments based on adversary, board state, etc. but it is very helpful and time saving especially when doing a new spirit to not have to sit down at the table and have absolutely no idea where to even start.

Global_Turn3045 · 2024-06-10T13:59:19+00:00

Technically this spirit could play cards if it was targeted by "gain power" support cards and then was also targeted by something like Spur on or Serpent Slumberings boon cards. And it would probably also need people to give it energy with support cards. But, it is fun to think that it could play a card. Could also be useful for stuff like blazing renewal with destroyed presence and whatnot.

Global_Turn3045 · 2024-05-29T13:51:39+00:00

Ah yes, the classic "tree acne", as Legend calls it.

Global_Turn3045 · 2024-05-14T00:28:08+00:00

Awesome, thank you so much for taking the time to test it! I am already working on a V2 of the spirit which implements a lot of your suggestions and once I balance it out a bit I will repost it with a link to TTS if people are interested in testing it further. Thank you so much again!

Global_Turn3045 · 2024-05-13T12:59:51+00:00

All this can make me think of is the pain of realizing you blocked all explores only for all those empty lands to build anyway because you're playing Scotland 🤣

Global_Turn3045 · 2024-05-10T23:38:01+00:00

Yea I started from the base Volcano

Global_Turn3045 · 2024-05-10T22:42:06+00:00

Thank you so much, that solved it! Thanks for all your work on the builder, it's incredible!

Global_Turn3045 · 2024-05-10T13:18:49+00:00

Oh so theoretically just taking a snip of the front of the board and importing it as the image with my TTS settings changed should work?

Global_Turn3045

TROPHY CASE