After multiple attempts to successfully finish the Scenario #10 – Crystal Enclosure – in our Frosthaven campaign, we were ready for something less challenging. At the same time we wanted to progress with main story line and get closer to the great mystery of the northern word.

As stated couple of times, unlike Gloomhaven, Frosthaven has three main story-lines, which of course sometimes intertwingle between themselves; a brief reminder and recap of where we are with those:

  • Lurkers path – we went very, very deep into this story branch – we still have one boss we cannot cope with (#21 Realm of Endless Frost) and a super-tough scenario to progress the gameplay. I think we shall pass for now.
  • Unfettered path – the main enemy here are some very strange machines; here we just completed one, beginner scenario and we are slowly getting ready for continuation; but not yet!
  • Algox path – this seems like the most important part of campaign as exactly those creatures were the first we met – and they were attacking the Frosthaven when we arrived and saved the outpost; we even managed to befriend one tribe while the other turn with hatred towards us; hm, why not continue here?

So let us see how the Algox path unfolded!

Our Frosthaven Campaign in scenario order:
#1 Town in Flames
#2 Algox Scouting
#4 Heart of Ice
#5 Frozen Crypt
#7 Edge of the World
#8 Crystal Trench
#9 Glowing Catacombs
#10 Crystal Enclosure
#13 Frozen Fjord
#14 Jagged Shoals
#21 Realm of Endless Frost
#22 Ice Floes
#32 Ravens’ Roost
#33 Thawed Wood
#69 Sacred Soil
#112 Raised by Wolves
#114 Work Freeze
#115 Pylon Problems
Some interesting materials about Frosthaven World:
Frosthaven – first look – starting characters (1/2)
Frosthaven – first look – starting characters (2/2)
Frosthaven – monsters' analysis & strategies – Lurkers
Frosthaven – monsters' analysis & strategies – Unfettered

As always I start my report with the team composition. As mentioned already two times, after multiple scenarios played in 4-character group we are permanently back to 3-adventurers group. Good that at least we are able to have all important group roles covered, namely:

  • Damage Dealer – that task lays with my Deathwalker at level 5, who just finished the Solo Scenario
  • Support – Trapper (Kuba J) level 4 – not only he does wonderful work of crowd control, but also throws his traps at enemies!
  • Tank – Coral (Kuba G) level 3 – that is one of the most important roles in the team and one which we often lacked; glad Coral is getting more and more proficient & powerful is his play

Now, time to jump to report itself!

Session report

Here is our adventure:

Reading the scenario description, its complexity rating (one dot out of three) as well as victory conditions (just kill everybody) everything seemed very smooth and straightforward. But when I learned about the story in this adventure and monster composition, something started to tell me All Is Not As It Seems…

And, unfortunately, I was right. Oh, so much right…

PS. As always, feel free to click on below images for full details.

Session report

The set-up for the Scenario #18 – three rooms, first full of frozen corpses. Pretty long areas to cover with last room having entry only at lower edge. Not sure how it will go but we shall try our best.
The road event added an Ally to our group. He Moves 2 and Attacks 2 every turn – if he survives, we will get morale boost but if not – well tough luck, we will get negative effects. So let us try to save him! BTW, in the meantime we killed all the Frozen Corpses – that was not so difficult.
When opening 2nd room, we were nastily surprised – a bunch of Burrowing Blades jumped out of thin air and attacked us from all sides. What was the worst, they went for Ally too!
We knew there were no healers among monsters so using a BANE (10 points of True Damage to monster at the end of his next turn) was safe to play. Our Coral can bite when needed :)
Finally both rooms emptied, everybody killed, Ally healed (he was wounded). Our Trapper had a normally clever plan to open last chamber and retreat building a wall of traps. BUT…
…that was a very bad idea! Last room was full of Burrowing Blades who were attacking Algox Guard. If he dies – we lose! I knew it! I knew – the scenario description was talking about Algoxes cut to pieces by “blades” and then rising from death as zombies.
Well, that was true chase with time. For the first time I used my lost card which allowed allies to teleport between shadows – that way we transported Coral into the heat of the battle. And barely but still, prevailed. UFF!

Outpost Phase

So far in our Outpost Phase we had pretty mild events – one, maybe two attacks. But this time internal riots shaken teh Frosthaven, one of our buildings was damaged and second burned to the ground!
We used most of our buildings, gathering the supplies and resources. Unfortunately Logging Camp we not functional due to the attack. Also, our prosperity is not high enough to develop all the possibilities yet.

Summary

A seemingly easy and quick scenario really surprised us; what is more after coming back to our befriended Algox, a rift started to develop between two factions – hawks and doves – within this group. Some of the Algox even marched away – and we got an event to be read in 4 weeks. I think we should get ready for some serious troubles soon!

More reports to come – stay tuned!