Recently we played numerous side quests in world of Frosthaven – they gave us a lot of loot, experience and very exciting – although oftentimes non-standard – adventures. Still, it is good to be back to the main campaign track – some very interesting things are happening there, especially on Algox track!
Last week we tackled a super interesting, main-track, Algox-related scenario, #28 Summit Meeting. Do you remember all those Iceaspeakers and Snowspeakers attacking each other? Yes, that was the session.
Now we continue further in a very thematically named adventure, #38 The Way Forward. We thought previous scenario was crazy, with all those Algoxes attacking each other. We were really not prepared for what was to come in the next one…
Our company composition has not changed recently – it is not so easy to get a Level Up on higher levels, although we all are quite close to the next promotion:
Deathwalker at level 7 (me)
Trapper at level 5 (Kuba J)
Coral level 5 (Kuba G)
Scenario
Here is our scenario:
Again, a three-dots scenario, which slowly becomes a rule with those more advanced adventures. That means it will be a super complex one, where additional rules will make the experience unique. And indeed, from the set-up up until last room, this was session full of surprises.
Or should I say sessions? Indeed, there were more than one. Why? Well, is it not easy to guess? 🙂 Yes – first time we were defeated! But we did not give up!
PS. As always, feel free to click on below images for full details.
Session report – attempt one
Scenario #38 set-up – as hinted, the initial situation is a pretty specific one. We were divided into two groups, each with max two characters and one emissary to be escorted to Altar – of course, with pack of enemies awaiting us. The Emissaries automaticallymoved 2 hexes to altar each turn! Some three additional area tiles were left to side. Looks like three-dots were not a joke.
Before starting the scenario report, a small trivia. I want to present what kind of Outpost Event (during Outpost Phase) and Challenge (During scenario) we had. Very thematic, and pretty close in the subject 🙂 It was not a surprise that we had such problems with tackling that adventure later on!
Coral & Trap were together on one side – they took the side with the larger number of enemies (three Hounds and Polar Bear). They were doing pretty well, properly channeling the enemies.
I was alone one the other side (of course, with Emissary). Having a wound from road event was really a nuisance – as I have zero healing options.
After couple of turns, both sides managed to kill all their enemies (I had to lose some cards though). The Emissaries arrived at altar and then… magic started to happen! A portal to other, spiritual dimension opened. Both Emissaries were transferred there and started to move forward against two Sun Daemons.
We decided I will accompany the Emissaries to the other dimension. I might not have the best ability to soak-up the damage but definitely was killing the enemies efficiently. Kuba & Kuba were defending our bodies in the other realm, while our souls in spiritual world were moving forward!
When we though we are so close to victory, we opened last room. To win one of the Emissaries had to end move next to Orb. But another three Sun Daemons were awaiting us. Shit.
Those daemons got me and two Emissaries. We almost killed two of those bastards but simply that was all we could do. Scenario lost.
Session report – attempt two
Next week we decided not to give up and sit down to this scenario again. We knew exactly what to except and could prepare much better; we slightly adjusted initial set-up – I was with Trap, while Coral was alone, using to large extent his retaliate skills.
It worked flawlessly, enemies were dying in droves, we did not burn so many cards in first room. Then, we moved our souls to different dimension…
Here we also changed the approach – we decided for me and Coral to move to the other side, while only Trap was defending us in normal world. We made paths for our Emissaries, killed couple of Sun Daemons and… won as they moved aside for range attack and Emissary managed to reach the orb!
Overview of the map after we finished the scenario; that was crazy, really crazy set-up. Pity we had to approach it twice, but good we have it cleared in the end.
We unlocked another two scenarios, 45 and 46. We also noticed we are very close to final part of this Campaign Path – like three more scenarios (45 or 4, 52 and 55) and we should finish Algox path!
Summary
I am glad that we finally cracked that scenario. That was full of surprises, crazy turns of fate, innovative solutions. For me it was simply… too much. It was artificially overcomplicated and brought more confusion and frustration than fun and joy. But that is of course my personal opinion. Hopefully next one will be more straightforward – we are definitely getting closer to some important storyline conclusions. Let us see!
Since we knew what to expect we had two decision, one whether we send 1 or 2 characters with emissaries – we decided 2 are needed, and i should be able to protect their bodies in the middle ground), the other was who starts alone , Michal like previously, or Kuba G. I was hesitant, i know that Michal is capable of doing high damage quick, and Kuba’s Coral is fairly slow and weak without tides, and was forced to act quicker than usually, with less tides, so i doubted he can slay hounds and handle the bear to protect te emissary. It seems i greatly underestaimed Coral’s and Kuba’s abilities , he did very well without our help.
I was little affraid that i’m gonna have problems to protect guys and emissaries in the bottom area, but i managed to quickly set two traps and block one ladder, that gave me some time to prepare protection on the upper and right side. I was unable to protect the bottom left ladder(on the photo), and one wolf was able to reach the emissary. That’s all, after that i’ve closed all gaps in my defenses.
Sadly Michal didn’t make photo from above of the middle section showing how we’ve finished the game. I would be nice to see all traps that have been placed – using terrain and already existing traps i’ve created a secured a single path for all enemies(from the upper right right side, and the ladder, through the bottom log on the photo, to the second log in the upper part of the map, symetrical to the bottom one-hidden by standees, from which enemy would be able to attack Kuba G.) to a single hex at far end of the map(some enemies would be forced to move some 20 hexes) to focus on their movement.
Second emissary was safe- and we needed just one to complete the mission), and if i had more time maybe i would get rid off it a round later, before doggy would kill the endangered emissary.
We played quick, we didn’t want to give time to constantly spawning monsters, once it would get crowded at the end of my secured path monsters would start entering traps to attack all characters without much chance for defense and healing. In such sitation we had no time to loot anything, even me, greedy vermling.
The Boardgames Chronicle 
Since we knew what to expect we had two decision, one whether we send 1 or 2 characters with emissaries – we decided 2 are needed, and i should be able to protect their bodies in the middle ground), the other was who starts alone , Michal like previously, or Kuba G. I was hesitant, i know that Michal is capable of doing high damage quick, and Kuba’s Coral is fairly slow and weak without tides, and was forced to act quicker than usually, with less tides, so i doubted he can slay hounds and handle the bear to protect te emissary. It seems i greatly underestaimed Coral’s and Kuba’s abilities , he did very well without our help.
I was little affraid that i’m gonna have problems to protect guys and emissaries in the bottom area, but i managed to quickly set two traps and block one ladder, that gave me some time to prepare protection on the upper and right side. I was unable to protect the bottom left ladder(on the photo), and one wolf was able to reach the emissary. That’s all, after that i’ve closed all gaps in my defenses.
Sadly Michal didn’t make photo from above of the middle section showing how we’ve finished the game. I would be nice to see all traps that have been placed – using terrain and already existing traps i’ve created a secured a single path for all enemies(from the upper right right side, and the ladder, through the bottom log on the photo, to the second log in the upper part of the map, symetrical to the bottom one-hidden by standees, from which enemy would be able to attack Kuba G.) to a single hex at far end of the map(some enemies would be forced to move some 20 hexes) to focus on their movement.
Second emissary was safe- and we needed just one to complete the mission), and if i had more time maybe i would get rid off it a round later, before doggy would kill the endangered emissary.
We played quick, we didn’t want to give time to constantly spawning monsters, once it would get crowded at the end of my secured path monsters would start entering traps to attack all characters without much chance for defense and healing. In such sitation we had no time to loot anything, even me, greedy vermling.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel like that’s common in campaign games – the scenarios get more complicated, but not necessarily more exciting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was exactly case here; hopefully next one will be better!
LikeLiked by 1 person