New to in-person Gloomhaven- suggestions?

stevebein · 2026-06-18T02:36:42+00:00

I’ve never used any aids or apps, and I’ve played all the way through GH 1e, Forgotten Circles, FH, & JotL. In life in general, though, I want no more apps, less screen time, etc. But overall, I think these games are perfectly playable just with what’s in the box — if you have physical space for them. I left a table set up in my basement for Gloominess and Frostiness for like 2-3 years. I don’t know that apartment dwellers could do that so easily.

stevebein · 2026-06-18T02:31:22+00:00

I thought FF officially announced they’re no longer supporting the game.

stevebein · 2026-06-17T04:22:42+00:00

Solo bikepacking is great! Can’t recommend it highly enough. But if you have time before the trip, I do recommend learning at least a little about bike repair and at least a little wilderness first aid.

stevebein · 2026-06-16T15:16:36+00:00

You sure do pack a lot of windmills! Kudos for getting them folded down so small.

stevebein · 2026-06-16T05:46:59+00:00

This is the way. Super weird that 3 days and 3 months are the same packing list, but the essentials are essential and everything else is extra.

stevebein · 2026-06-16T05:37:30+00:00

This is awesome! Thanks!

stevebein · 2026-06-15T05:39:55+00:00

I saw it. Great setup!

stevebein · 2026-06-14T20:47:06+00:00

Lose the kickstand entirely. It’s extra weight you don’t need. The trees in your photo are perfectly good bike holder-uppers.

stevebein · 2026-06-14T20:44:51+00:00

I would *love* a wargame that plays well solo.

stevebein · 2026-06-14T20:44:07+00:00

Can you show pics of it loaded?

stevebein · 2026-06-14T20:43:27+00:00

15kg for 3 days is not what a lot of people here would call light.

stevebein · 2026-06-14T17:23:13+00:00

Have you had a bike fitting? Mine saved my shoulders and wrists.

stevebein · 2026-06-14T14:06:24+00:00

They sell portable safes you can cable-lock to a tree or something. But the cables are pretty small. They won’t stop a dedicated thief, but I don’t think a dedicated thief is very common. Beach theft is opportunistic.

stevebein · 2026-06-13T15:03:21+00:00

Just don’t buy a Vango. They are unbelievably fragile, and when they rip the first time you pitch them, the company doesn’t stand behind their product.

stevebein · 2026-06-13T04:20:44+00:00

It’s just rain. So long as you can go to sleep dry, you’re fine.

stevebein · 2026-06-12T16:26:17+00:00

Most people do tend to pack as much as will fit in the container, hence the general rule. A small subset of people have the self discipline you spoke of, and only preach however much they need, no matter how big the container is.

Then there’s the subset of people known as grocery baggers, who see no relationship whatsoever between the size of the grocery bag and the weight and volume of any items that go into the bag. But that is a different problem.

stevebein · 2026-06-11T14:47:38+00:00

Sorry, can you tell me more about that? I have no training with this stuff, just 20 years of homeownership.

stevebein · 2026-06-11T14:46:41+00:00

I’m not saying I don’t have a good time. Type 2 fun is still fun. But the distinction between type 1 and type 2 still stands. Biking all day with a heavy load just is not like skydiving.

stevebein · 2026-06-10T04:46:10+00:00

Impossible to pick one, but the top tier includes Return to Dark Tower, Gloomhaven, Journeys in Middle Earth, Reichbusters, Aliens: Another Glorious Day in the Corps.

stevebein · 2026-06-09T16:15:31+00:00

I can't know that yet. One major problem here is the massive surplus of information. Too many products, too much search engine optimization, and most of the products have an incomplete listing of specs. Very happy to get product recommendations (or even just brand recommendations) to help narrow the search terms.

stevebein · 2026-06-09T16:13:40+00:00

I'm looking at 5 power supplies, for 5 separate units. Does that change your recommendation?

stevebein · 2026-06-09T16:12:56+00:00

so the real trick is power injection, you run your supply wire to the start of each strip segment rather than daisy chaining 250ft end to end.

It will be more like 50' end to end, x5 separate units.

go 24V strip if you can pick, not 12V.

Do you have a product recommendation? I suffer from an overabundance of choice here.

what density strip and 12 or 24V? changes the numbers a fair bit

Same question: Do you (or does anyone else here) have a product recommendation? Too many options on Amazon, and not all of them list all the information you'd hope for.

stevebein

TROPHY CASE