The Whisperer in Darkness

Manfromleng and Nate 'Lost in Time and Space' Winslow review the Survivor cards in In Too Deep, the first Mythos pack in the Innsmouth Conspiracy cycle for the Arkham Horror LCG. CC licenced music from the album Lovecraft Memories by Zreen Toyz. Contact manfromleng@gmail.com. Direct DownloadYouTubeiTunesGoogle Podcasts

Manfromleng and Nate 'Lost in Time and Space' Winslow review the Covenant cards in In Too Deep, the first Mythos pack in the Innsmouth Conspiracy cycle for the Arkham Horror LCG. CC licenced music from the album Lovecraft Memories by Zreen Toyz. Contact manfromleng@gmail.com. Direct DownloadYouTubeiTunesGoogle Podcasts

Manfromleng attends a lecture by Harvey Walters, the Seeker investigator from the Investigator Starter Decks for the Arkham Horror LCG by Fantasy Flight Games. CC licensed music from the album Lovecraft Memories by Zreen Toyz. Contact manfromleng@gmail.com. Direct DownloadYouTubeiTunesGoogle Podcasts On this episode, we’re attending a lecture by one of Arkham’s oldest, most distinguished professors, Harvey Walters, an investigator for the Seeker class released in the Investigator Starter Deck product. I’ll share my thoughts on Harvey, explore his viability in the multiplayer and solo formats and examine some of the player cards that are included in his starter deck. By the end of this video, I hope that you’ll be better prepared to ace Harvey’s course on non-Euclidian mathematics at Miskatonic University. There are spoilers throughout if you care about that sort of thing. If you enjoy what you hear, like, comment and subscribe. Will Harvey’s lectures shed light on the nature of the Mythos or will they bore players to tears? Let’s find out! Harvey Walters is among the oldest, if not the oldest, investigators in the history of Mythos-related gaming. Harvey originated in the 1st edition of the Call of Cthulhu roleplaying game in 1981, where he was a sample investigator used to illustrate the character creation process and the game’s mechanics. I first encountered Harvey and his unfortunate companion, Kurt, when I picked up the 4th edition of the roleplaying game in 1989, and Harvey has reprised his role as the sample investigator in every edition since, including the 7th edition of the game that was released in 2015. Harvey appeared in the original Arkham Horror boardgame, which was published by Chaosium in 1987, and every Arkham Horror Files product released by Fantasy Flight Games. Harvey is the original investigator, so I was looking forward to seeing how designer MJ Newman would interpret him for the Arkham Horror LCG. She did not disappoint. Harvey Walters, The Professor, has 4 Willpower, 5 Intellect, 1 Combat and 2 Agility. He has the Miskatonic trait, 7 Health and 8 Sanity. Harvey has the following response: After an investigator at your location draws 1 or more cards from their deck during the investigation phase: That investigator draws 1 card (Limit once per round). Harvey’s Elder Sign effect is +1. Draw a card. Harvey Walter’s base skill values are typical of an intellectual Seeker whose goal is to investigate the Mythos from the safety of a university campus rather than the heart of a steamy jungle. Harvey’s advanced age and experience have taught him a thing or two about controlling his fear, which is reflected by his above-average Willpower. Harvey has an advantage against common Willpower-based treacheries, such as Rotting Remains and Frozen in Fear from the Core set. Harvey lacks the mental discipline of a highly trained Mystic though, so he’ll still need to commit cards and/or resources to deal with treacheries such as Crypt Chill and The Yellow Sign from the Core set, Arcane Barrier and Visions of Futures Past from The Dunwich Legacy or Centuries of Secrets from The Circle Undone. Willpower skill tests are required by some Parley actions and they also appear on Agenda and Act cards from time to time. Harvey’s above-average Willpower is helpful during these types of skill tests, although he’ll likely need to commit additional cards and resources to pass them consistently. Fortunately for Harvey, his starter deck includes one card with multiple Willpower skill icons, Arcane Enlightenment, as well as cards, such as Celeano Fragments, Encyclopedia (0) and Higher Education (0), that can modify his base Willpower. Harvey’s highest skill value happens to be in the most important skill in the game. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: playing an investigator with 5 Intellect is like playing an entirely different game of Arkham Horror LCG. An investigator with 5 Intellect has such a huge advantage that the rest o

Manfromleng steps into the ring with Nathaniel Cho, the Guardian investigator from the Investigator Starter Decks for the Arkham Horror LCG by Fantasy Flight Games. CC licensed music from the album Lovecraft Memories by Zreen Toyz. Contact manfromleng@gmail.com. Direct DownloadYouTubeiTunesGoogle Podcasts The stars are right, and that means it’s time for another episode of The Whisperer in Darkness. I am your host, the Manfromleng. Thank you very much for joining me today.On this episode, we’re stepping into the ring with Arkham’s resident boxer, Nathaniel Cho, the Guardian investigators released in the Investigator Starter Deck product. I’ll share my first impressions of Nathaniel, explore his viability in the multiplayer and solo formats and examine some of the player cards that are included in his starter deck. By the end of this video, I hope that you’ll be better prepared to serve as Nathaniel’s corner man when he attempts to go 12 arounds against the agents of the Mythos. There are spoilers throughout if you care about that sort of thing. If you enjoy what you hear, like, comment and subscribe. Is Nathaniel the type of investigator who can stand toe to toe with the Mythos, or does he have a glass chin? Let’s find out! Nathaniel Cho, The Boxer, has 3 Willpower, 2 Intellect, 5 Combat and 2 Agility. He has the Criminal and Warden traits, 9 Health and 6 Sanity. He has the following game text: Response – When you deal damage to an enemy by an event or a fight ability on an event: Deal 1 additional damage (Limit once per phase). His Elder Sign effect is +1, and if this skill check is successful during an attack, return an event from your discard pile to your hand. Nathaniel Cho’s base skill values are typical of a combat-orientated Guardian. Nathaniel’s average Willpower skill value will make it challenging for him to deal with common treacheries, such as Crypt Chill, Frozen in Fear and Rotting Remains from the Core set, without committing additional cards and/or resources to the skill test. He will also need help to pass important Willpower tests on Agenda cards, such as Agenda 1B – The Serpents Attack! in The Untamed Wilds scenario. Fortunately for Nathaniel, the Guardian card pool and the upgrades in Nathaniel’s starter deck are chalk full of extra Willpower skill icons. Nathaniel will need every Willpower icon he can muster in a Willpower intensive campaign, such as The Circle Undone, but at least he doesn’t have to overcome a significant Willpower deficit like his Rogue counterpart, Winifred Habbamock. Nathaniel’s below average Intellect is fine if you are playing in a three- or four-player game, where he can count on other investigators to discover the lion’s share of the clues. However, it’s much more problematic if you want to play Nathaniel solo or partner him with an investigator who doesn’t specialize in discovering clues, either. It will be extremely difficult for Nathaniel to discover clues using Investigate actions at a typical three-shroud location, and common obstacles, such as Obscuring Fog, can all but lock him out of a location for the duration of a scenario. Nathaniel needs to leverage cards such as Evidence, Flashlight, Perception, Grete Wagner, Lesson Learned and Scene of the Crime either to reduce the shroud value of locations or discover clues without taking Investigate actions. Unfortunately, Nathaniel’s starter deck comes up short in the Investigation department. While the deck includes Grete Wagner (0) and (3), Evidence (1) and Lesson Learned, it lacks Evidence (0), Scene of the Crime, Flashlight and Perception. If you want to play Nathaniel Cho solo, you will need to tinker with the starter deck to improve its viability in that format. Nathaniel Cho is the type of investigator who prefers to let his fists do the talking, so he will also struggle on Parley tests that use the Intellect skill. If Nathaniel wants to recruit Jazz Mulligan in Extracurricular Activity or sweet talk Constance Dumaine in Th

LettuceFolk requested that Manfromleng and Winifred Habbamock break quarantine to Return to the Forgotten Age! The jungle didn't agree with Winifred. Let's see how she does in an temple in today's #AHLCG Game of the Day! CC licensed music from the album Lovecraft Memories by Zreen Toyz. Contact manfromleng@gmail.com. Direct DownloadYouTubeiTunesGoogle Podcasts

LettuceFolk requested that Manfromleng and Winifred Habbamock break quarantine to Return to the Forgotten Age! Neither the jungle nor the chaos bag agree with Winifred in today's Game of the Day! CC licensed music from the album Lovecraft Memories by Zreen Toyz. Contact manfromleng@gmail.com. Direct DownloadYouTubeiTunesGoogle Podcasts

VVJR challenged Manfromleng to tackle City of Archives with either Silas Marsh or Amanda Sharpe. Why don't we throw a few Curse tokens in there while Amanda is possessed by a Yithian? CC licensed music from the album Lovecraft Memories by Zreen Toyz. Contact manfromleng@gmail.com. Direct DownloadYouTubeiTunesGoogle Podcasts

Manfromleng has built a Tommy Muldoon deck that can beat Union and Disillusion solo in standalone. Let's see if we can make it happen in a campaign! But first Tommy has to survive a night in Arkham's notorious Witch House! CC licensed music from the album Lovecraft Memories by Zreen Toyz. Contact manfromleng@gmail.com. Direct DownloadYouTubeiTunesGoogle Podcasts

Manfromleng and Roland Banks board the Essex County Express for Dunwich. What could possibly go wrong? Pretty much everything. CC licenced music from the album Lovecraft Memories by Zreen Toyz. Contact manfromleng@gmail.com. Direct DownloadYouTubeiTunesGoogle Podcasts

Arkham's most reliable letter carrier pays a visit to Arkham Asylum in a game requested by Patron of the channel Laurel Kristick. Once again, Lord Triloth comes through with a powerful Stella deck. CC licensed music from the album Lovecraft Memories by Zreen Toyz. Contact manfromleng@gmail.com. Direct DownloadYouTubeiTunesGoogle Podcasts

CorroBGG wanted to see Patrice Hathaway tackle A Phantom of Truth. Manfromleng found this deck by Lord Triloth that is powerful and a blast to play. This is the Conviction version of the scenario. CC licensed music from the album Lovecraft Memories by Zreen Toyz. Contact manfromleng@gmail.com. Direct DownloadYouTubeiTunesGoogle Podcasts

CorroBGG wanted to see Patrice Hathaway tackle A Phantom of Truth. Manfromleng found this deck by Lord Triloth that is powerful and a blast to play. This is the Doubt version of the scenario. CC licensed music from the album Lovecraft Memories by Zreen Toyz. Contact manfromleng@gmail.com. Direct DownloadYouTubeiTunesGoogle Podcasts

DocLeo has concocted a diabolical scenario that pits Finn Edwards against The Miskatonic Museum. Is Manfromleng up to the challenge of finding the Necronomicon and the Key of Ys? Find out in today's Game of the Day! CC licensed music from the album Lovecraft Memories by Zreen Toyz. Contact manfromleng@gmail.com. Direct DownloadYouTubeiTunesGoogle Podcasts

Manfromleng has built a Tommy Muldoon deck that can beat Union and Disillusion solo in standalone. Let's see if we can make it happen in a campaign! CC licensed music from the album Lovecraft Memories by Zreen Toyz. Contact manfromleng@gmail.com. Direct DownloadYouTubeiTunesGoogle Podcasts

Manfromleng reviews the Neutral cards and Basic Weaknesses in The Innsmouth Conspiracy, the sixth deluxe expansion for the Arkham Horror LCG, a living card game by Fantasy Flight Games. CC licenced music from the album Lovecraft Memories by Zreen Toyz. Contact manfromleng@gmail.com. Direct DownloadYouTubeiTunesGoogle Podcasts