Gloomhaven - Ultimate set up guide

Whether you want to get started playing Gloomhaven or your coming over to Gloomhaven after playing Jaws of the Lion, this how-to-play video will get your party set up and ready to go in less than 25 minutes. So why am I three years late in making this video series? Well, I'm a bit late in most things I do, but I will say that being late, let's me include some tips for those starting Gloomhaven for the first time who are coming to it from Jaws of the Lion. I really just hope this helps you get Gloomhaven to the table, or playing with others on TTS, or on Zoom or whatever.
0:00 Introduction
0:25 Picking out a character
3:10 Sorting out ability cards
4:01 Attack modifier deck
5:03 Tracker/Character sheet / Personal quest / Party sheet
6:20 Setting up Road and City decks
6:41 Starting campaign
7:55 Resolving City Cards
8:32 Shopping in the market
9:52 Starting a scenario
10:17 Encountering a road card
11:48 Determine scenario level
13:53 Scenario page breakdown
16:00 Setting up map tiles
17:57 Setting up monsters
20:52 Selecting battle goal cards
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#ModernCardboard

[@chrisblizzard5953]

I have watched multiple Gloomhaven videos on how to get started. This by FAR was the easiest to understand. Thank you!

[@ModernTablegamer]

Great to hear! I appreciate it!

[@stewy0013]

Yup, same for me. If only the board game itself came with such instructional clarity…

[@doctormauro48]

Hello Genius!!!! Thanks for this amazing video!!! A new suscriber to you. Im wondering how do you get the characters with those amazing painting!!

[@barrydeane7414]

Same here. Long time either didn’t have the time or energy to figure it out from other videos I have seen. Finally found your series and helps a lot. Thank you.

[@JonFromWA]

I started playing the Brute & Cragheart as of last weekend. I booked a meeting room at my local library to play my personal copy. Took me 4 hours to setup. I got to play for 35inites before I had to pack up and head home, but the game is so much fun. I haven't completed the first scenario yet. I have the meeting room booked again this Saturday. Looking to play for 5 hours.

[@watchfleabag]

My family has been struggling to figure out this game and this video was a LIFE SAVER! the guide was incredibly clear, engaging and helpful. thank you!

[@ModernTablegamer]

HI Kiva, That's really kind of you to say and I'm so glad this one helped!

[@raponesc]

THE BEST VIDEO SERIES ON GLOOMHAVEN EVER!! I have seen a lot of videos and just pick up one or two things but this one! It seems all so easy! I can see the work you put on this and I want to thank you sooo much!!

[@ModernTablegamer]

HI Yolimar, you bet! Thanks so much for your feedback!

[@RageBadgerGaming]

Appreciate the love for Gloomhaven, always glad to see other creators shine a light on it, especially in such detail!

[@ModernTablegamer]

Hi Rage Badger Gaming, Thanks so much!

[@popgas3821]

FINALLY bought a copy (2nd printing they say) and the competition of buying them is high, like good lord. Anyway, like I've expected, this is the perfect channel for a playthrough guide. Just like Root, this is immensely helpful. Thanks Sir! 👍❤

[@keenang4705]

are they hard to get? I just got on off fb marketplace for a great price ($50)

[@timjones990]

Such a great tutorial thank you so much. I purchased Gloomhaven a couple of weeks ago and have just been staring at its contents in a mild state of confusion and panic at learning it and having to teach it. This video has made me so excited to get it to the table. Thanks again.

[@ModernTablegamer]

So glad to hear it! I had a similar feeling of just being overwhelmed with where to start on this one. Hope you enjoy it!

[@timjones990]

@@ModernTablegamer update, still not played GH, but not relying on group anymore and going solo! setting up and taking a deep breath.

[@marcussanchez9592]

Love this! Clear and concise information, thank you sir 🙏🏼

[@ModernTablegamer]

You bet Marcus!

[@JohnDoe-vm1rr]

First game Yesterday night on new year eve. Your video is useful and very understadable. It's a plus, even if we already read all the texbook, it's alaways a good reminder and clarify some stuff. Big thx

[@arthurkurbedzis]

Key aspects are just what is needed for knowing how to start the early segment of the game.

[@markc8401]

Excellent tutorial! I have read through the rules once; however, your explanations confirm and enhance everything for me to successfully set up a scenario. Thanks!

[@mrsegundas3988]

Excellent series of tutorials.

[@bradford2211]

Thank you for the video. This is so good and useful. I have the game for more than a year but it seems too overwhelming to start. This video definitely helps a great deal.

[@ModernTablegamer]

So glad that this one helped. Thanks so much!

[@rangerdanr]

Pete; thank you for this well explained set up guide. Excellent.

[@ugottabkittenme4752]

That was one awesome explanation. I was wondering how to combine my JotL cards with gloomhaven and you were able to answer all my questions. Definitely had to sub after this.

[@ModernTablegamer]

That’s awesome! I was hoping a few would benefit from the JOTL addition. Thanks and welcome aboard!

[@bernardorippe7024]

Awesome video as always pete!

[@ModernTablegamer]

Thank you Bernardo!

[@steveross8364]

Digital. You just boot the program, invite friends to join and are good to go in under 2 minutes. Board Game: Three days, two sleepovers and about 10,000 pieces laid out and you are halfway there...

[@ScottnCarol4JC]

Excellent guide!

[@pkeef4778]

Excellent guide. Thank you very much.

[@ModernTablegamer]

You bet! Thanks !

[@dannyle465]

I've been waiting for this

[@ModernTablegamer]

Hi dat le! That's great! I hope this delivers!

[@MrGabino8000]

Been playing Jaws of the Lion for over a month now. Got my wife playing about two weeks ago, both characters at level 6 now. Absolutely love the game. The original Gloomhaven came in the mail this past week thanks to Black Friday. Going to dive into it as soon as we're done with JOTL. I might even stick with Hatchet. Keep rocking out brother n thanks for your videos. It was really helpful.

[@yeturs69420]

I cracked the starter 6 and got them all painted. Im hyped to play this game

[@househikephotography]

This was great! This game box definitely needs a START HERE. haha 😂

[@mickeymcnamara]

Great video, thank you.

[@chrislieu6757]

Omg. Now this game makes sense.

[@randysmithjr.5501]

Thank you for this!

[@ModernTablegamer]

You got it!

[@Acordim]

What a great video.

[@adriang6259]

Thanks, great video. I haven't got the game yet, but it's on its way.

[@wicaksonoadi1035]

I'm glad you picked Gloomhaven as your next highlights! MK and GH definitely on my top 3 board game of all time, with Marvel Champions being the newest of them all.

[@ModernTablegamer]

Hi Wicaksono, I've heard good things about Marvel Champions. I've got to try that one at some point.

[@Keludar]

I really enjoy your videos. I plan to use them for learning the game and have my wife watch them as well. We both are excited to play but it's taken 2 days of reading to feel comfortable starting. I wish I had found your videos on the first day. Also, have started doing KZbin content and your videos are so well executed, it's given me inspiration for my own. Everything from the camera shots to My favorite thing about your videos is they are so well paced and you explain very complex things in a simple manner. Great job!

[@ModernTablegamer]

Hi Keludar, Wow! Thanks so much for the kind words. I'm excited to hear that you're starting your YT channel. If there are any questions you have on anything about my channel, feel free to email me. Thanks again!

[@Keludar]

@@ModernTablegamer is there any chance you do a video where you just play through the 1st round? I dont know if it would be beneficial to all, but for me I would learn more just watching the process of a whole scenario. Would be a great addition to your videos imo. For after someone watches the explanation they see a game unfold, that would be amazing for me.

[@ModernTablegamer]

@@Keludar That's a great suggestion. I have done this with other games where I do an annotated playthrough. There is a possibility I'll put one of these out there.

[@Keludar]

@@ModernTablegamer Not that you couldn't explain with it in a lot less detail but just watching the repetition of turn sequence and monster movement would be helpful. You could "stage" it do a couple things like modifiers happen so viewers see multiple things they will face. Sorry not trying to backseat. It at least would help me lol

[@ModernTablegamer]

@@Keludar I love the feedback. All good suggestions

[@dzeclectic2327]

This was mega helpful

[@nickdungeon5399]

Thank you for this. Concise and well structured. It is also perfectly timed as my wife and I just finished the 2nd last campaign scenario in JotL yesterday and hope to complete the campaign next week. We started this whole Gloomhaven journey with JotL a few months back and bought into Gloomhaven proper as we learnt how much we liked the experience. I hope you don't mind if I ask this, but would it be possible to include a video that covers all the differences between the two games? There are some obvious ones like no item trading and retirement, but there are also rules like flying, invisibility and retaliate in Gloomhaven that dont exist in JotL. Finally I've heard that some rules were "streamlined" in JotL and that those changes will be implemented in Frosthaven as they are "better". It'd be wonderful to have a reference for all this in a single place and your delivery style and attention to detail is perfect for this!

[@ModernTablegamer]

Hi Nick Dungeon, First thanks so much for the kind words. I was really hoping that there would be a few who find this a good transition video from JOTL to Gloomhaven. I love your idea of having a streamlined video highlighting the rules differences between the two games. I am currently working on a couple other videos in this series, but once those are done, I will plan to put together the differences video. This may take me a few weeks to crank out, but it will be coming... Great idea and thanks again!

[@JCstock]

Having played Gloomhaven, go ahead and peek at the other character classes. There's literally no harm in it at all. You'll forget all about them when playing, and it's completely fair to peek at the ones you're about to unlock to stay excited. My game, my stuff, I can peek at that if I want. The log book and envelopes though should stay unpeeked at.

[@ModernTablegamer]

Fair enough! I think I would be in the same boat had I peeked at these. By the time I unlocked them, I would forget most of what I saw :)

[@alimaleki6512]

Awesome thank you .

[@ishinken]

20:00 Also don't put the wrong side of the sleeve on the monster group. If there are only 6 monsters of the type, flip it to the sleeve side that has only 6 segments to track damage for the monsters

[@ModernTablegamer]

Thanks for pointing this out. there was one part of this video where I mismatched the sleeve for the monster type / quantity.

[@kimzeevaarders9148]

Thx dude, was very helpfull!

[@ModernTablegamer]

Thanks Kim!

[@laapsaap]

Thank you ricky!

[@ModernTablegamer]

You are so welcome

[@jamesbtarter]

Great video! One very minor note. At 16:06, when describing the necessary map tiles for Black Barrow, you said "J 1b" but the image looks like "I1b". But I could be wrong. Either way, it's an impressive set up video!

[@Gareth96v1]

Thanks for all the videos! My son and I played, and I'm hooked, so now trying to get a game going with my brother and some friends. Definitely going to recommend your videos to get everyone spun up. One question I have that probably won't come up for a while is.. is it ok to say you're going to use an elemental during the round planning? Like "I plan do use the leaf and totally smack that archer".. Seems it would be ok as if you don't say it theoretically everyone could plan to use the leaf. Thanks

[@ModernTablegamer]

By the way thanks John C! I appreciate you recommending this series to your friends. In my opinion, yes, it's ok to disclose some info like that, but not specifics like, I'm going to inflict 4 damage to the Archer. Thanks again!

[@user-tj5lz8nm4e]

虽然英语不是特别好，但是看播主视频真的学的好快哈哈。感谢分享👍🏻

[@ModernTablegamer]

谢谢你的赞美:D

[@OmegaMaelstrom]

This is a wonderful guide, I'm super stoked to finally bust open my game and get started! I do have a quick question though. I'm curious as to what tackleboxes are you using for your organizers at 0:35? Your box looks so clean with that set up and I feel like this may be a better option for me than the super pricey box organizers I've been finding.

[@OmegaMaelstrom]

Edit: You can disregard as I just found your video that explains how you organized it! kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJ_VnWqMmrBpors&ab_channel=ModernCardboard for anyone else that had this same question!

[@ModernTablegamer]

Hi Vance, Perfect! I love that solution from the Y.A.S.S. thread over on BGG. Thanks for providing the link! Thanks so much and hope you enjoy your campaign in this one!

[@soup1322]

I'm starting a solo campaign and choose the Cragheart and Mindthief

[@garathminis5108]

This video is a textboo k example on how to teach. But the book keeping.... 1. Setup my characters 2. Setup the decks 3.place stickers 4. Read the flavor text 5. Go shopping 6.Resolve Road card 7.Setup scenario 8. Go shoot myself 9.Play some zombicide

[@ModernTablegamer]

Ha! You made me laugh! I agree. At least to get started, you’re only about one step removed from what it takes to start a group in a pen and paper RPG campaign. Thanks!

[@garathminis5108]

@@ModernTablegamer The game seems very interesting and emersive. Thing is I would like to play it with 3 heroes, but that seems really too time consuming in terms of all those moving parts. I CAN play for example Mistfall 4 handed, but this seems frankly very fiddly in a way. I also dislike the fact that monsters scale up in lvl. I would rather have different monsters for different lvl characters , like in say DnD. A goblin has one hit dice no matter your lvl. You might encounter lots of them if you're lvl say 7.

[@glasschicken13]

Hey this is great video. I’m new to the game gust got it for Christmas. I learned so much in so little time. Well versed thanks so much!! By the way what size plastic containers are you using to store all the parts?

[@Zoleeca]

I can't believe you have only 10k number of subsribers.

[@codyleblanc6597]

Where did you get the 4 storage containers are you using to organize all the punchouts and are they of a certain brand name, they seem to fit very well. Are all the map punchouts in the box as well (time index 0:38). Thank you! Just opened the box and not sure how much to punch out and how much to leave in the sheets for now.

[@gruvarbetare0838]

In the rule book, I saw an option in gloomhaven where you can donate 10 gold to bless your attack modifier deck. Is that always available, or is it something unlocked later?

[@andrewvanvelsor7426]

What are your thoughts on starting a solo campaign with 3 characters? Been looking online and saw a lot of recommendations saying the balance is better?

[@ModernTablegamer]

Hi Andrew, I saw this too. Personally right now I think it will add too much cognitive load to my solo game. I have a hard enough time keeping up with all of the abilities for two players let alone three. I am considering adding a third to my solo games once I feel more comfortable with the characters I am using. If you try this, let me know how it goes.

[@andrewvanvelsor7426]

@@ModernTablegamer thanks for the response! I’ll let you know! Enjoyed the video :)

[@RedSamuraiVolas]

Carry little chance of this getting seen but where did you get those bits sorting trays I want them for my coppy

[@marcfishwick8224]

Do you have a link to your containers please? Need to find a better way to store all the bits and pieces!

[@ModernTablegamer]

Hi Marc! I see you found the link from your comment on the storage solution video. Thanks!

[@oplenty]

If I use a character from Jaws do I need to remove the starting cards of the decks?

[@ModernTablegamer]

Hi Oplenty Villarreal, Yes, remove the A and B cards and start with just the level 1 and X cards to build your deck. Good question

[@prevail5776]

So..I have to ask most likely a dumb question. The stickers that you put on the map..What happens when you want to do a new campaign? like I said probably dumb question lol

[@ModernTablegamer]

No dumb question and sorry for the delay. If you use the stickers that come with Gloomhaven, they are permanent and this of course makes it difficult to reset. There is a set of removable stickers available on Amazon from Sinister fish I recommend if you ever want to reset your copy. I have an affiliate link for these in the description for the video, but you can go to Amazon and search "Sinister Fish" and you'll find these.

[@prevail5776]

@@ModernTablegamer Thanks!

[@tylermaendel8807]

Can I get a link to the organization boxes you use?

[@ModernTablegamer]

Hi Tyler. Here's the links. I know these work in the U.S., but I'm not sure if these work outside. Plano 3600 4-pack: www.planomolding.com/prolatch-stowaway-3600 Plano 3601: amzn.to/2Gf8ylJ

[@McSparky13]

How does this game become easier when playing 2 characters solo?

[@francoisgermain3991]

I wouldn't bump up monster levels in solo, that's for sure.

[@xtraplayer7281]

City card not optional.

[@ModernTablegamer]

I play mostly solo and have not skipped a city card while in Gloomhaven yet.

[@NielsorNiek]

7:37 NO YOU DIDN'T

[@trevordonohoe3712]

ZZZZZzzzzz

[@nardo4067]

Wait, why is this so complicated in the manual? I'm just sending mine back to amazon and letting them deal with it. Didn't realize I'd have to spend an additional 3-120$ for game pieces setup. Garbage, absolute garbage. Don't lecture me, we've all seen better.