Betrayal At House On The Hill or eldritch horror?!

chris-82 · 6 Feb 2015 at 09:15

So I'm looking at buying either Betrayal At House On The Hill or eldritch horror,I like the sound of betrayal due to the many scenarios and the whole traitor aspect but eldritch horror is supposed to be a very good game also,what's peoples opinions on both games?
,trying to get it ordered with some more games today so any help would be much appreciated and any advice on further games to purchase would be much welcomed,as I've just started my adventure into the board game world!

I currently have:
Relic
Relic expansion nemesis(haven't played yet)
Zombies
Zombies 3.5
Zombies defcon z
Zombies zoo
Love letter( play this quite a bit)
Pandemic
Contagion
Magic the gathering(have a few decks I play with a few people,not seriously into it just enjoy the odd game)

Looking at getting these from earlier recommendations:

Coup
Epic spell wars
Castle panic + wizards tower expansion
Betrayal at the house on the hill or eldritch horror

Should I buy less games? Not sure if I'm flooding myself or not, but I'm on a want more games mission!

So any games u would recommend we seem to enjoy short and medium length games as they seem to be played the most but we don't mind a long game just won't be played as much unless its really good(don't think they dig the 40'000 warhammer universe that much so probably why relic doesn't see much play time),any recommendations are muchly appreciated,any good board game buying sites?

I was going to get a lcg (android:runner a recommendation on here) and I love how it looks to play but sadly I don't think I have anyone who will wish to play it and also I wish for the time being to stay away from lcg's and deck building type of games.

I have on my wish list from previous recomendations:
Spacehulk:death angel
Claustrophobia
Cards against humanity

And my eye on:
Imperial assault

Thankyou.

EvilGrin · 6 Feb 2015 at 09:53

Betrayal is a phenomenally fun game, I've found it's been really popular with non-boardgamers too as a gateway game, my wife and my friends' girlfriends all loved it too. Saying that though, I just bought Eldritch Horror for my mate's birthday, it looks great as well!

Damnations Fury · 6 Feb 2015 at 10:17

Two very different games apart form the horror theme, Eldritch is a cooperative puzzle/adventure and Betrayal is more a thematic exploration with a nice traitor mechanic.

If you are looking at Claustrophobia/Imperial Assault I would probably get Eldritch as Betrayal has a little more akin to those (relatively speaking) and so will give you more variation.

While quite a bit of a leap you can think that Betrayal is a much better version of Zombies and Eldritch is an ameritrash/thematic version of Pandemic, so which of Pandemic/Zombies would you like a deeper version of?

chris-82 · 6 Feb 2015 at 10:42

EvilGrin said:
Betrayal is a phenomenally fun game, I've found it's been really popular with non-boardgamers too as a gateway game, my wife and my friends' girlfriends all loved it too. Saying that though, I just bought Eldritch Horror for my mate's birthday, it looks great as well!

Haha this seems to be the problem they both seem so good!! It looks like I will probably end up with both! Thanks for the info. Any other games you would recommend?

Damnations Fury said:
Two very different games apart form the horror theme, Eldritch is a cooperative puzzle/adventure and Betrayal is more a thematic exploration with a nice traitor mechanic.

If you are looking at Claustrophobia/Imperial Assault I would probably get Eldritch as Betrayal has a little more akin to those (relatively speaking) and so will give you more variation.

While quite a bit of a leap you can think that Betrayal is a much better version of Zombies and Eldritch is an ameritrash/thematic version of Pandemic, so which of Pandemic/Zombies would you like a deeper version of?

To be honest I like both games and would like deeper versions of both if I'm honest,I know this just make it more difficult! Haha
The problem with imperial is is a lcg (I believe and for the moment I want to start away from them they come across as a money pit and half to have to make decide and such, as I will get lumbered doing it all as my friend's won't), claustrophobia looks really good but at the moment I'm focusing on getting multiplayer games as claustrophobia is only two player it will probably come at a later date are is claustrophobia a better game than betrayal or? The group seemed quite up for betrayal also ,sorry I'm just trying to get the best games I can and don't want to buy poor games as I'm the only one funding the purchases for everyone to play.thankyou for good descriptions and comparisons.

Muz333 · 6 Feb 2015 at 12:17

Betrayal is my favourite of the two games, but other than some slightly overlapping theme, the games are entirely different.

Muz333 · 6 Feb 2015 at 12:20

Also, while you're looking at getting games, I'd suggest 'Lords of Waterdeep' with the expansion. I know a further expansion is going to be made as well.

You need some worker placement game and while others may suggest a different game than 'Lords of Waterdeep' I think the theme is great. It also acts as a gateway game for non-gamers while maintaining enough depth to be enjoyable for gamers (especially with the expansion pack).

JeditOjanen · 6 Feb 2015 at 13:05

BAHOTH suffers from significant balance issues, if certain scenarios go off early or late then one side has no chance of victory. Also it can feel like you spend 80% of the game setting up the board and the last 20% playing. Eldritch Horror is much better as a game, but it also takes a lot longer. BAHOTH usually plays in an hour; a full length game of EH with four players will take more like three.

I am going to disagree with Muz's choice of worker placement game. He's not wrong about anything, but Versailles is closer to the "move your pieces round the board" that non-gamers are used to and is faster to play (5-player games can take maybe 75-90 minutes).

Muz, are you ever going to make it to Granite City Gamers? Tuesdays at Ma Cameron's, people usually start crawling in around 7pm and there's always room for another.

chris-82 · 7 Feb 2015 at 18:44

thanks for the suggestons so far guys i really appreciate it,off of the suggestions ive got so far (in here,other threads and internet scouring) iordered these yesterday:

betrayl at house on the hill
coup
cards against humanity
castle panic
castle panic the wizards tower
epic spell wars

and looked what turned up today!!
used my rial of prime to get next day delivery!,however catle panic was supposed to take a week to arrive but came next day,happy it did though now just waiting for the base game to turn up!.

also picked this up for the missus:

had a little play of it lastnight we all seemed to enjoy it espically the missus reciting where and what everything was about and who everyone was haha.

EvilGrin · 8 Feb 2015 at 21:32

Wife got Forbidden Desert for her birthday this week, looks great. Made by same guys that made pandemic and has a similar mechanic, might be worth a look for you too mate

chris-82 · 9 Feb 2015 at 01:18

EvilGrin said:
Wife got Forbidden Desert for her birthday this week, looks great. Made by same guys that made pandemic and has a similar mechanic, might be worth a look for you too mate

Cheers mate will have a look into it.
Would love to hear how you get on with it if you wouldn't mind.

gradyhawks · 9 Feb 2015 at 10:39

I got given Betrayal At House On The Hill for xmas by my girlfriend. Played it on new years eve with 6 of us and had a great time. We managed to get the Dracula scenario with me as the bad guy. I walked into the room with a cape and some false teeth in giving it the whole "eh..eh..ehhh!".

Anyway, game is great, is very easy to pick up as most of the instructions are on the game tiles as you place them. Hope you have fun with it!

Woogie · 9 Feb 2015 at 10:55

If you are looking for quick games you could take a look at splendor, I bought it the other week and have a few games with the gf at the weekend, It is only 2-4 player though.

Spartacus may also be another one you could take a look at for a medium length game.

JeditOjanen · 9 Feb 2015 at 12:55

Woogie said:
If you are looking for quick games you could take a look at splendor, I bought it the other week and have a few games with the gf at the weekend, It is only 2-4 player though.

80% of Splendor is the components. The game itself is a bare bones engine builder with a snowball effect and no comeback mechanism. Nothing offensive, especially at the length, but there's not much to maintain long term interest and the pretty pieces jack up the price.

One quick game that is definitely worth looking at is Red 7, which plays 2-4 but is best with three or four. The game plays around a deck of 49 cards numbered 1-7 in each colour of the rainbow. In addition to its value, each colour represents a different set of game rules (e.g. highest card, most cards of one colour). Everyone gets a hand of seven cards and one card face up in front of them. Each turn you can play a card in front of you to add to the cards you have, play a card to change the rules of the game, or do both and draw a card. If at the end of your turn you are not winning the game or you did not play a card, you're eliminated. Winner is the last man standing.

It's a very clever little game that rewards forward planning, and it plays in 10 minutes. Costs around £8 on Amazon.

E: if you need a quick game for more, then Dodekka is your man. It's another card game, this time playing up to six and taking about 10 minutes. Basically, it's set collection blackjack. There are five suits of cards with values 0-4, and at the end of the game (when the deck runs out) your score is the total values of one suit that you've collected minus 1 point for each card you picked up that isn't in that suit. At the start of the game, a line of three cards is dealt. You can either pick up the card at the front of the line or add a card to the end of the line. If the total value of the line goes above 12, you have to pick up the entire line unless you paired the last card dealt (so a line of 3-2-4-2 will not go bust if you deal another 2). You'll probably have to Google it to find a copy as I don't think Amazon stock it, but it costs somewhere between £8 and £10.

Woogie · 9 Feb 2015 at 13:16

JeditOjanen said:
80% of Splendor is the components. The game itself is a bare bones engine builder with a snowball effect and no comeback mechanism. Nothing offensive, especially at the length, but there's not much to maintain long term interest and the pretty pieces jack up the price.

Its £20 on amazon so hardly breaking the bank. There is no come back mechanism but it does have a slight element of tactics to it. It is also quite a nice filler game.

Muz333 · 9 Feb 2015 at 13:39

JeditOjanen said:
BAHOTH suffers from significant balance issues, if certain scenarios go off early or late then one side has no chance of victory. Also it can feel like you spend 80% of the game setting up the board and the last 20% playing. Eldritch Horror is much better as a game, but it also takes a lot longer. BAHOTH usually plays in an hour; a full length game of EH with four players will take more like three.

I am going to disagree with Muz's choice of worker placement game. He's not wrong about anything, but Versailles is closer to the "move your pieces round the board" that non-gamers are used to and is faster to play (5-player games can take maybe 75-90 minutes).

Muz, are you ever going to make it to Granite City Gamers? Tuesdays at Ma Cameron's, people usually start crawling in around 7pm and there's always room for another.

Actually my friend was suggesting it very recently. He has facebook where as I don't, so having looked at your page he sounds really keen.

I'm not sure when we'll make it but I'm hopeful it will be next month. It all depends on what Tuesdays he's off work, as I can plan my experiments in the lab to work round it.

Muz333 · 9 Feb 2015 at 13:43

Woogie said:
Spartacus may also be another one you could take a look at for a medium length game.

Spartacus is an amazing game. It's also brings out everyones nasty side. As my game group are my best friends we are particular brutal when playing games against one another. This game allows for all sorts of betrayal opportunities.

In fact I'm still fuelled by hatred from the two times we played the game. My friends blocked me from winning only to let another friend win in order to spite me and break my winning streak. I'll use that rage to destroy them next time!

JeditOjanen · 10 Feb 2015 at 12:51

Muz333 said:
Actually my friend was suggesting it very recently. He has facebook where as I don't, so having looked at your page he sounds really keen.

I'm not sure when we'll make it but I'm hopeful it will be next month. It all depends on what Tuesdays he's off work, as I can plan my experiments in the lab to work round it.

We also have a smaller meet on Wednesdays if that's better for you. Same location, same time.

EvilGrin · 10 Feb 2015 at 22:55

So many Aberdeen gamers on here!

Wish it was convenient to come along to Ma Cameron's, but will likely just keep on playing very occasionally with mates. Having two young kids kills the majority of my free time!

Muz333 · 11 Feb 2015 at 10:14

JeditOjanen said:
We also have a smaller meet on Wednesdays if that's better for you. Same location, same time.

Ach, he works in a shop on rotas that are either early or late shifts. It all hinges on what his shifts are (as well as finances, we can't go to a pub and not drink a good few pints).

JeditOjanen · 11 Feb 2015 at 12:44

Muz333 said:
Ach, he works in a shop on rotas that are either early or late shifts. It all hinges on what his shifts are (as well as finances, we can't go to a pub and not drink a good few pints).

Rotas are fine, as are shifts. It's not like we have a monthly subscription fee or a loyalty card. Just turn up, you're always welcome - though it helps if you tell us on Monday if you're coming this week so we have an idea about numbers and can plan ahead for tables and the games we bring. Same goes for you, EvilGrin, any time you can make it you're welcome.

I wouldn't worry too much about heavy drinking, either; I've never seen anyone drink more than four pints in a night, and they turned up early. Once you get caught up in a good game you don't think about going to the bar, and some very good games run for two hours plus.