This is the episode where Mike goes into detail about his Negative Play Experience at Gen Con 2019 and how it spawned the idea for this podcast.
How to Fix the Randomization Mechanic for a More Cooperative Starting Hand:
When performing Step 9 of setup, "Deal Priority Cards", follow the instructions as written. After placing the Priority deck near the game board, all players look at their four Priority cards and choose one to keep by putting it facedown in front of them. Depending on the total number of players, each player will then pass a number of cards from their remaining three cards accordingly:
Four players: Each player takes their lowest valued card and places it facedown in front of the player to their left, then places the next lowest valued card facedown in front of the player to their right, and the last card is placed facedown in front of the player across from them. All players then pick up the facedown cards in front of them and continue as normal.
Three players: As with four players, but skip the final pass across. All players will keep their last card instead.
Two players: Players A and B each choose one card from their hand to put facedown in front of the other player, leaving two cards in hand. Player A then lets Player B randomly choose a card from the remaining two cards in A’s hand to put facedown in front of A, and Player B lets Player A do the same. Player A puts their one remaining card facedown in front of Player B, and Player B puts their one remaining card facedown in front of Player A. Both players then pick up the facedown cards in front of them and continue as normal.
Option 1: At the end of the Action Phase, any Investigators in the same location can trade Priority cards on a one-for-one basis. The Investigators first agree to a set number of cards to trade and with whom, up to a maximum of four. They then choose that many cards from their hand and make the exchange. Investigators cannot trade Priority cards more than once per Action Phase.
Option 2: At the end of the Action Phase of Round 4, any Investigators can trade Priority cards on a one-for-one basis as in Option 1, regardless of their location. The Investigators cannot trade Priority cards at any other time.
Option 3: At the end of the Action Phase of Round 4, all Investigators repeat the same Priority card exchange that they used during setup, if they used The Game Mechanic's recommended fix to the randomization mechanic for a more cooperative Starting Hand, described above.
Option 1: At the end of the Action Phase, any Investigator can give any number of their Item cards to another Investigator while they are in the same location. Each Item card can only be given to another Investigator once per Action Phase.
Option 2: At the end of the Action Phase of Round 4, any Investigator can give any number of their Item cards to another Investigator, regardless of their location. Each Item card can only be given to another Investigator once only, and Item cards cannot be given to another Investigator at any other time.
Suggestions? Feel free to contact Mike at [email protected]. Thanks for listening!