# Arkham Horror (Third Edition): Secrets of the Order

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2021
- **BGG Rating**: 8.5
- **BGG Rank**: —
- **Players**: 1-6 (Best with: 2)
- **Duration**: 120-180 min
- **Weight**: 3.44 / 5
- **Designers**: Philip D. Henry
- **Artists**: Michael Silsby
- **Publishers**: Fantasy Flight Games, Delta Vision Publishing, Galakta, Galápagos Jogos, Hobby World
- **Categories**: Adventure, Expansion for Base-game, Horror
- **Mechanics**: Cooperative Game, Dice Rolling, Modular Board

## Verdict
A must-have for those looking to expand the campaign with well-crafted new scenarios and characters.New investigators with unique abilitiesChallenging and atmospheric scenariosGreat variety of encounter cardsUnderworld exploration is fantasticRequires the base game to playIncreases table complexityHIGHLY RECOMMENDED

## Description
Get ready to dive even deeper into the nightmare of Arkham! The 'Secrets of the Order' expansion broadens the horizons of the third edition, leading your investigators through the gloomy alleys of the French Hill neighborhood and, even worse, into the terrifying depths of the Underworld. If you thought the city was already dangerous, now you'll have to deal with the Order of the Silver Twilight, a group of cultists who won't rest until they achieve ancestral power.

What's in the box? To start, there are two new double-sided map tiles that bring new regions to the table, changing the exploration dynamics. But the real highlight is the new characters: four fresh investigators join the fight, including the fearless aviatrix Winifred Habbamock and the resilient soldier Mark Harrigan. Each brings unique abilities that can be the difference between victory and total madness.

When it comes to the challenge, the expansion doesn't hold back. There are three entirely new scenarios that force the group to face restless spirits and creatures that defy logic. To flesh all this out, the box delivers over 130 new encounter and event cards, along with new assets, monsters, and conditions that make the experience much richer and more unpredictable. It's the kind of content that transforms the base campaign into something far vaster and more dangerous. If you already enjoy the vibe of investigation and cosmic horror, this expansion is essential to 'upgrade' your table, adding layers of mystery and dangers that will test your group's coordination to the limit. Can you uncover the Order's secrets before the world is consumed by chaos?

## How to Play
Game Objective
In Arkham Horror: Secrets of the Order, players take on the roles of investigators trying to uncover supernatural threats in Arkham and the Underworld. The central theme involves ancient secrets, mysterious apparitions, and portals to other realities. The investigators must discover the cause of a supernatural disturbance and free lost souls from an evil pact.
Victory Condition: Players win if they fulfill the specific objectives of the chosen scenario, which usually involve collecting clues, defeating monsters, and solving mysteries before the threats become uncontrollable.

Setup
Follow these steps to set up the game:

  Add the expansion components to the base game components:
    
      Add investigator tokens, scenario tokens, map pieces, and tokens to their respective pools.
      Shuffle the encounter, headline, ally, item, and spell cards into their respective decks.
      Separate the archive, special, initial, condition, and monster cards into distinct piles.
    
  
  Prepare the anomalies, horror, and events decks as indicated by the chosen scenario.
  Do not mix the event cards with the encounter decks.

Consult the manual for details on the initial board setup and distribution of specific components for each scenario.

Game Flow
The game follows a turn structure divided into phases:

  Investigator Action Phase: Each player performs two actions with their character (movement, attack, collecting clues, etc.).
  Encounter Phase: Investigators not engaged with monsters resolve encounters in their space (using specific decks for thresholds or mysteries).
  Monster Phase: Monsters move or attack according to their abilities.
  Mythos Phase: A card from the codex is resolved, triggering global events or advancing the threat.

Consult the manual for details on the exact order of phases and specific interactions.

Actions and How to Play
Basic Actions

  Movement: Move to adjacent spaces, paying costs for perilous borders (damage, horror, or concentration) if applicable. Monsters ignore these costs.
  Attack: Test the skill indicated on the monster's attack modifier. Some monsters have abilities like retaliate or hidden.
  Collect Clues: Obtain clues in mystery spaces or neighborhoods, following specific scenario rules.


New Mechanics

  Hidden Monsters: While prepared, they have no visible attributes and cannot be defeated by damage. They flip when engaging an investigator.
  Conditions: Cards like motivated (extra action if not fatigued) and fatigued affect concentration limits.
  Complex Encounters: In mysteries, players choose between bold options to resolve different effects.


End of Game and Scoring
The game ends when:

  The investigators fulfill the scenario objectives (victory).
  The codex advances to a defeat event or the investigators are eliminated.

Consult the manual for details on the specific victory/defeat criteria for each scenario.

Tips for Winning

  Manage concentration: Use abilities like motivated for extra actions, but avoid becoming fatigued.
  Prioritize mysteries: They offer greater rewards but require caution with dangerous encounters.
  Beware of hidden monsters: Attacking early may be futile; wait to engage them to reveal their weaknesses.

## FAQ
### Do I need the base game to play?
Yes, this is an expansion. You need Arkham Horror (Third Edition) to use this content.

### How long does a game take with this expansion?
Games remain long, usually between 2 to 3 hours, depending on the chosen scenario.

### Is the expansion very difficult?
It maintains the base game's weight (around 3.4), but the new scenarios can be quite punishing.

### How many players can participate?
From 1 to 6 players, keeping the original game's flexibility.

### What are the coolest components in the box?
The new map tiles (including the Underworld) and the 4 new investigators are the main highlights.

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