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+-- Forum: A Touch of Evil (/Forum-A-Touch-of-Evil)
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+--- Thread: A Touch of Evil, The Supernatural Game (/Thread-A-Touch-of-Evil-The-Supernatural-Game)
RE: A Touch of Evil, The Supernatural Game - Old Dwarf - 08-22-2008 11:19 PM
A Touch of Evil Soundtrack
Ok FFP seems bent on providing a CD with its games
to enhance the game mood.
I'm really sorry-Mary Beth even posts on this Forum,the FFP
people all come across as really dedicated to the games & their customers.I love AToE & I wanted to love the CD...but I can't
I've played it through & I can't imagine trying to play a game
while the music which has an arresting Tempo is playing.
I would not call it background music & playing it while trying to concentrate on a game in IMO would not work.
I'm hardly a music expert so take my coments in that light,
the tracks don't create a dark moody atmosphere for me,
they have that beating tempo driving them & then some
vocals thrown in at odd moments.It just doesn't work for me.
I truly sorry, I feel bad not enjoying the CD,you can see
the effort that went into it,I hope others do.
OD(probably tone deaf)
RE: A Touch of Evil, The Supernatural Game - supervike - 08-23-2008 01:40 AM
I'll reserve judgement on it.
I think it is a cool addition in LNOE...but it really only is cool as a novelty.
After a few playings, the novelty has worn off.
RE: A Touch of Evil, The Supernatural Game - Canadian Pittbull - 08-23-2008 04:12 AM
Yeah I will wait before I pass judgement as well. However you could always look into the Midnight Syndicate's catalogue of music to play during your games OD. I use a couple with my games and have even thought of using it with LNOE even thought I normally use the LNOE soundtrack(s).
Link: http://www.midnightsyndicate.com/
RE: A Touch of Evil, The Supernatural Game - mqstout - 08-25-2008 03:38 AM
So now that I've played a few games of ATOE, I can speak about my feelings for it. I'll skip straight to what you want to know most: I definitely prefer LNOE over ATOE, and not just because of the beloved zombie smashing. It is not a "bad" game. It is "Arkham Horror Light".
ATOE is a slower game, for sure. Contrary to the rules, I would recommend you never play more than one "basic game" to learn the rudiments of the rules. The basic version of the game is, well, dull. It takes MUCH longer to complete (Note that ATOE overall takes longer than LNOE.) than an advanced game. It's also lacking in much strategy compared to advanced game. Advanced mode's full use of the secrets cards on the elders make elder investigation more than "Okay, I'm going into the showdown next turn, I'll investigate everyone this turn." The villains all feel the same in the basic game, without their advanced game abilities and minion charts. I should note that my group has not yet attempted a cooperative game.
The game balance is fun, and nothing feels out of whack yet (but we have yet to encounter everything). We are keeping our eye on one of the heroes though -- she has an ability ("Manipulation") that makes it very, very easy for her to dodge dozens of wounds. The rules have a lot more gray and unexplained parts to them compared to LNOE, and an online FAQ and/or errata will definitely be necessary to iron them out. Many times while playing, certain situations came up and we referenced the rules and came to the honest conclusion of "we don't know, there's nothing in here that says clearly one way or the other". [If you're curious, one of these points is regarding whether moving through a space with a murder of crows can cause you discard; another involves rolling a movement die of 1 and then deciding not to move afterall.]
Thematically, the game's ambiance (I do not include the CD in this at all) is there and it's fun. Katerina is on too many card pictures, though! The town elders are an essential part of the game's feel. Without them, the game would feel stagnant as a period piece. There are a few weird things that can come up with items. You can buy a musket from the town blacksmith, have a musket from one of the corner locations, and also have a rifle from a different corner location -- and all three of their bonuses will apply to you! While I'm admittedly not a fan of changing games for realism, this just makes everyone slap their foreheads when it comes up (and it will!).
I have also come to the same conclusion others have about the board. It's too small and it ages quickly. It's common for someone basically to be able to move clear across the board on one move with no problem. There are also unused tiles on the board. The lack of any interactivity of the 'empty' spaces makes someone more often than not just not move until they roll enough movement go clear to the next named space. The Old Woods is also farther away from town hall than the rest (being Honor based, I understand this from a balance perspective), and it definitely is visited much less than any of the other three corners. The crossroads is NEVER used unless it comes up on a lair card or when The Drifter starts there.
Lastly, it is easy to miss dice you should have rolled. It's not unlikely that you'll be rolling 10+ dice from various sources at different points of the game. The game play slows down a lot when you have to go through and figure out just how many dice you have to roll for any given action ("My combat has 4 base, +1 item, +1 item, +2 event, +1 town elder, +5 fire item, oh damn, I forgot another +1 militia... Now let me count my Spirit to make sure it's not higher and that I'd rather use that instead..."), especially when it often changes from round to round.
Soundtrack: It's better than LNOE's, but still not so great. I'd rather the packaging be arranged for better storage of game pieces than allocating space to the CD.
I may edit this post later if more comes to mind. I just got back from my weekend at the cottage gaming, and I'm tired.
RE: A Touch of Evil, The Supernatural Game - DBC - 08-25-2008 08:01 AM
Old Dwarf Wrote:I've played it through & I can't imagine trying to play a gameIs the theme more focused this time around?
while the music which has an arresting Tempo is playing.
I would not call it background music & playing it while trying to concentrate on a game in IMO would not work.
I'm hardly a music expert so take my coments in that light,
the tracks don't create a dark moody atmosphere for me,
they have that beating tempo driving them & then some
vocals thrown in at odd moments.It just doesn't work for me.
My biggest complaint with LNoE, was all the different themes they tried to put on the soundtrack. If they stick to one kind of theme/mood, I believe it would be more successful.
RE: A Touch of Evil, The Supernatural Game - Old Dwarf - 08-25-2008 12:02 PM
DBC-There are 13 Tracks & to me they do seem more interconnected,
they all seem to share the same underlying tempo.
MQSTOUT-interesting review,its the first less than glowing one I've
seen on AToE (except for the map comments).I'm holding off playing
until we finish up a Warriors of God Campaign but I have read the rules.
Without actual game play I can't really form an opinion but it seems that
the advanced rules are necessary to really get full enjoyment from the game
(The basic game is afterall ment to be a "teacher").The multiple
weapon thing is explained as representing a running battle where your
hero uses his/her weapons over an extended period & not an instant
combat situation.
I think AToE is a deeper game than LNoE & thus the rules are a little more involved.It will be interesting to see how our opinions develop as we
gain more experience with the Game.
OD
RE: A Touch of Evil, The Supernatural Game - supervike - 08-26-2008 02:04 PM
Very good review. I'm still holding off as I'd like more information.
RE: A Touch of Evil, The Supernatural Game - Old Dwarf - 09-01-2008 01:21 PM
More MOOD reading
ok I'm not getting AToE on the tabletill October as i'm still slogging through the 100 years war
campaign (just 70 yeras to go:rolleyes: )so I'm getting
in the mood by adding 2 more books to my "spooky"
reading list.Both "Ghost Walk" & "Ghoul" are by Brian Keene
& oddly enough there both set in Central Pennsylvania!!!
just like the Mayberry books I mentioned a few post ago.
Sarku what the hell goes with PA???? you live next door to
a state for years & its cheese steaks & the Eagles now it
appears to be a hot bed of Weird Tales!
Anyway Keen has wittten some other books as well which
are in the same theme (including some ZOMBIE
stuff ),soI may look him up on Amazon & order if I like these works.
Speaking of Mood-there was a post on BGG about the CD
& it was suggested the AToE cd be played BEFORE the game
to help set the mood.I think this might work,my main problem
with the CD was trying to play the game with it as its not
background type music.I think the game itself would benefit
from lower,somber music that left you free to concentrate,
but as a pregame mood enhancer it would work.
OD
RE: A Touch of Evil, The Supernatural Game - mqstout - 09-01-2008 01:47 PM
Old Dwarf Wrote:Sarku what the hell goes with PA????
PA's an old state, largely rural and has had lots of time and bored days to generate such a rich mythology. Do you know about the X-Files episode set in the state as well? One of the best ones ever, Home ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_(The_X-Files) ) was set just because of that crockpot filled with rural isolation and a touch of religious weirdness.
Plus, it's real! Refer to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centralia,_Pennsylvania for information about our continually burning, abandoned town (gate to hell?
).Of course, don't forget that Pittsburgh is the zombie capital of the world, because of Romero!
RE: A Touch of Evil, The Supernatural Game - Old Dwarf - 09-01-2008 02:17 PM
Interesting I followed the X-Files on & off but never picked
up the PA connection.
I guess i'm stuck with The Jersey Devil:P-I do remember
an X-Files about him:cool:
OD