Info about Gloomhaven - Solo Scenarios: Mercenary Challenges:

Official game description:
  
The **Solo Scenarios: Mercenary Challenges DLC** is the digital adaptation of the Solo Scenarios board game expansion for Gloomhaven, the critically acclaimed Tactical RPG.  
Face 17 new carefully crafted missions by Isaac Childres, designer of the Gloomhaven Board Game. Each scenario comes with its own unique reward. There is a twist however, you can only complete each mission with its specific mercenary!  
Each deadly scenario plays around the strengths and weaknesses of a specific mercenary and the reward is tailored to them. The scenarios are unlocked once the required mercenary reaches level 5 in the Story Campaign, giving you time to hone your skills. Additionally, you can unlock the items within the Guildmaster through that character’s story scenarios.  
You can also take your current multiplayer save and complete the Solo Scenarios on your own and import them into your or the hosts’ next session. Alternatively, you can spectate your friends hopelessly trying to succeed in real time!
Face your greatest challenge
----------------------------
Extending the narrative of the Story Campaign, these scenarios are significantly harder than the base game. Play at your own risk, mercenary.  
**This DLC comes with:**  
*   17 new exquisitely punishing scenarios, each tailored to a specific base game Mercenary  
*   17 new items, one for each of the original Mercenaries  
*   Items & scenarios reworked and rebalanced by Isaac Childres to better fit the digital version  
*   New unique enemies…
**To access the content of Solo Scenarios: Mercenary Challenges in multiplayer co-op, every player will need to own the DLC.**

Release date: Sep 22, 2022

Categories: Tactical RPG, Turn-based Combat, Grid-based Movement, Party-based Combat, Class-based Combat, Puzzle Solving, Cooperative Multiplayer

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 15; verdict: Fair / Traditional Paid DLC with Harsh Access Restriction; summary: The feedback is dominated by a $5 Solo Scenarios DLC that flags multiplayer saves and forces all players in that save to purchase it. Although this creates real financial pressure and is poorly communicated, the evidence points to a traditional one-time paid DLC rather than an in-game cash shop, gacha, battle pass, paid power, or predatory microtransaction system. Other complaints are about DLC content quality and multiplayer desync, which are outside the monetization audit.
- Proton/Linux: score 0; verdict: Works Well (No Linux/Proton Friction); summary: The only supplied feedback concerns small fonts on Steam Deck. That is a Steam Deck usability/comfort issue rather than a Linux or Proton compatibility problem involving launch reliability, performance, stability, anti-cheat, DRM, launchers, or required workarounds. No actionable Linux/Proton compatibility evidence was found.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $5.00 - $15.00
  - Reasoning: The only explicit price anchor rejects $20 for a four-player group, while another reviewer conditionally says the game may be worth picking up for a solo save if the content has not been completed before. This supports a fair base-game price below $20, but the reviews provide no clear lower bound, so the estimated range is conservative at $5-$15.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 3.0h
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The first quote is the only direct content-length signal for the DLC: it says there are several hours of content. I therefore assign a conservative approximate game-completion value of 3 hours, treating 'several' as the low end. The second quote shows a player completed three scenarios but gives no time per scenario or total, so it does not support a more precise completion figure. No review provides a story duration, a session length, or an endgame time for this DLC.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Reports describe the DLC as not fun: scenario design is boring and multiplayer integration creates lockouts and desyncs. No review identifies a point where enjoyment begins.
  - Stance: Never clicks
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: Activation permanently locks friends without the DLC out of the multiplayer campaign; Multiplayer sessions desync with solo scenarios or reward items; Solo scenarios require multiplayer to be disabled in multiplayer sessions; Scenario design is boring and requires following a guide to pass; Multiplayer campaign fails even when all players own the DLC; DLC cannot be deactivated from the save after activation
  - Unlock drivers: N/A
  - Conditions: Multiplayer groups must all own the DLC; Solo scenario play in multiplayer requires disabling multiplayer and having others join later; A host owning the DLC forces other players to buy it to continue; Players focused on story-mode multiplayer find solo content irrelevant; Activating the DLC affects the existing save permanently; One multiplayer campaign required playing on the host's computer
- Player Archetypes:
  - Co-op Campaign Regular (no buy)
    - Motivation: To keep a shared multiplayer campaign running smoothly with friends.
    - Playstyle: Joins or hosts ongoing co-op campaigns and expects group access and stable sessions.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Board-Game Solo Completionist (sale)
    - Motivation: To relive faithful, challenging solo scenarios from the board game.
    - Playstyle: Compares digital rules and scenarios against the tabletop version and seeks faithful challenge.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Gloomhaven
  - Build-Optimizing Item Hunter (no buy)
    - Motivation: To earn powerful solo scenario items that improve character builds.
    - Playstyle: Levels characters, follows class guides, and pursues reward items as build upgrades.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Guildmaster Mode Player (no buy)
    - Motivation: To access solo scenarios across the full roster without campaign retirement barriers.
    - Playstyle: Plays Guildmaster mode to use many characters freely and expects content to fit that mode.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Scenarios offer challenge and satisfaction. (weight 0.26): The scenarios are described as clever and challenging, pushing players to study and formulate consistent strategies. This provides a satisfying experience for those seeking mastery.
- Solo scenarios are fun and great. (weight 0.16): Multiple reviewers praise the solo scenarios as enjoyable and high-quality content. They are considered great additions to the game.
- DLC is super and does not disappoint. (weight 0.16): Reviewers express strong satisfaction with the DLC, calling it super and a cause for celebration. The overall idea of the DLC is also highly regarded.
- Valuable for learning each class. (weight 0.16): The solo scenarios are worth it to learn the core concepts of each base Gloomhaven class. They provide several hours of content for fans wanting to learn every class.
- DLC introduces new items. (weight 0.15): The DLC offers new items, including 17 unique items, one per mercenary. Reviewers like the items added.
- DLC adds 17 solo scenarios. (weight 0.12): The DLC includes 17 solo scenarios, one for each mercenary. Each character receives a personal card from the DLC.
- Spectacular value for play hours. (weight 0.11): The value for the hours of play provided is described as spectacular. The DLC introduces new enemies and 20 hours of new content.
- Scenarios enjoyable and not too difficult. (weight 0.1): The scenarios are generally enjoyable and not too difficult overall, with one exception. Hard mode is still fun to play sometimes.
- Implementation of solo scenarios passable. (weight 0.05): One reviewer finds the implementation of the solo scenarios to be passable, indicating moderate satisfaction.
- DLC requirements warnings are clear. (weight 0.05): The warnings about DLC requirements are clear, helping players understand what is needed.
- Good design for campaign and Guildmaster. (weight 0.05): Keeping the campaign brutal while making Guildmaster more sandbox is considered a good design choice.
- Reviewer liked the core game. (weight 0.05): The reviewer liked the core game, indicating a positive baseline opinion.

Common complaints:
- DLC locks multiplayer group (weight 0.72): Enabling the DLC on a save file requires all players in the multiplayer group to own it, otherwise they are locked out. This requirement is permanent and affects ongoing campaigns.
- Solo scenarios poorly designed (weight 0.65): Scenarios are criticized as puzzle-like, boring, or requiring very specific builds, gear, and luck. Some are trivial with certain items while others are nearly impossible without optimal cards and repeated attempts.
- Solo items useless (weight 0.37): Many solo items are underpowered compared to common shop items, cannot be sold, and are often better suited for other classes. The restrictions remove joy from experimenting and kill the reason to get them.
- Save conversion irreversible (weight 0.34): Converting a save to a DLC-enabled save is irreversible; there is no way to revert it, even if the DLC is returned. The save file is flagged as DLC-enabled for all content.
- Solo items character-bound (weight 0.3): Solo scenario reward items are locked to the exact character that earned them and cannot be used by other characters or unlocked for future characters. This differs from the board game where items go to the merchant's pool.
- Game crashes with solo items (weight 0.23): Certain solo scenario items, such as the Beast Tyrant's reward, consistently crash the game when used. The crash bug has been present for years and remains unfixed.
- Allies use wrong deck (weight 0.21): In many solo scenarios, allies use their own ally deck instead of the character's modifier deck, making scenarios much harder and sometimes nearly impossible. This is due to rules changes.
- DLC requires long grind (weight 0.21): Accessing the DLC requires leveling each of the 17 characters to level 5 in Campaign mode, which takes a long time. Many characters may be retired or locked after the final boss, limiting access.
- Multiplayer desync issues (weight 0.19): The DLC causes desyncs in multiplayer, especially when solo scenarios or certain reward items are used. This renders the DLC worthless for multiplayer sessions.
- Solo items lost on retirement (weight 0.19): Reward items disappear when the character retires and must be re-earned by replaying the solo scenario. They cannot be sold or transferred, making them frustrating to obtain and keep.
- Solo scenarios cannot be activated (weight 0.17): Some players report that solo scenarios cannot be activated or joined, with issues such as getting stuck on 'waiting for other players' or the solo mode requiring online play.
- DLC not in Guildmaster (weight 0.17): The DLC can only be used in story mode and is not available in Guildmaster mode. In Guildmaster, solo items are obtained from group missions instead.
- Some scenarios impossible (weight 0.17): Specific scenarios are reported as impossible due to bad implementation, such as the Brute's solo mission having enemies at the wrong level or the Soothsinger's item being unusable.
- Difficulty spikes harshly (weight 0.13): Scenario difficulty scales harshly with level, and some scenarios require surviving overwhelming odds like 12 rounds against 400 rats with poisoned blades.
- Store page lacks disclosure (weight 0.11): The storefront page does not clearly disclose the save-file and group-purchase requirements, burying the information in a wall of text.
- Unlocks do not persist (weight 0.1): Unlocked items or scenarios do not stay unlocked, and some classes remain bugged. This makes progression feel unrewarding.
- DLC feels like prerelease (weight 0.06): The DLC is criticized as feeling like a prerelease version due to bugs, poor implementation, and lack of polish.
- Solo scenarios clutter quest log (weight 0.05): Solo quests bloat and clutter the side quest log with no separate collapsible tab, making it harder to manage other quests.
- Map cluttered with scenarios (weight 0.05): The map is cluttered with solo scenarios for characters not in the player's group, adding unnecessary visual noise.
- Steam Deck font issues (weight 0.05): The game is not fully Steam Deck compatible due to too-small fonts, affecting readability on the handheld device.

Gameplay feedback:
- Solo scenarios DLC adds content (weight 0.64): The DLC includes solo scenarios for each base class, rewarding items that can be used in multiplayer. The scenarios are unlocked when a character reaches level 5 and are designed as challenging class-specific tests.
- Solo scenarios integrated into campaign (weight 0.47): Solo scenarios appear as side quests in the campaign log and can be attempted within a multiplayer campaign session. The content is activated on a campaign save and affects ongoing multiplayer play.
- Scenarios are puzzle-like and challenging (weight 0.37): The scenarios are designed as puzzles that require following a guide and are intentionally hard, often testing mastery of a class. They can be brutal but are not impossible with persistence.
- Solo item rewards are character-bound (weight 0.27): Completing a solo scenario grants an item bound to the specific character that completed it. The item cannot be traded or used by other characters.
- Guildmaster mode solo items differ (weight 0.26): In Guildmaster mode, solo items are obtained by completing the second story mission for a character at level 5, instead of through solo scenarios. Guildmaster is a separate sandbox mode where characters never retire.
- Ally deck mechanics in scenarios (weight 0.22): Some scenarios use ally decks and player modifier decks, with ally behavior using a separate deck. Recent rules changes affect ally decks and other digital ruleset elements like curses and blessings.
- Item farming and builds needed (weight 0.22): Some scenarios require item farming and buying, and may need high-level cards or specific builds or gear. Success often depends on optimal card and item choices.
- Multiplayer DLC ownership required (weight 0.18): All participants in a multiplayer game must own the DLC to play it. The host's save file determines whether a session is DLC-enabled, and everyone's save is updated with the host's version.
- Scenario combat and objectives (weight 0.18): Combat is round-based with survival objectives, such as protecting city guards while rat scouts spawn each round. Enemy levels are set by the scenario.
- Difficulty settings and friendly mode (weight 0.17): A Friendly difficulty setting exists to ease scenarios, and scenarios can be played on hard mode. Some can be completed without stepping down difficulty or making a specialized build.
- Scenarios test class mastery (weight 0.15): Solo scenarios are designed to test whether a player has mastered the core concepts of a class. They require knowing each mercenary and their capabilities to achieve victory.
- Class-specific item effects (weight 0.14): The solo scenarios award items for specific classes like Beast Tyrant and Soothsinger. The Beast Tyrant item is tied to extra turns, and the Soothsinger item interacts with songs.
- Ruleset changes and item adjustments (weight 0.14): Digital ruleset changes affect curses, blessings, and enemy and friend decks. Item adjustments were made to buff and nerf items, and stamina potions are affected.
- Scenario luck and cheese potential (weight 0.13): Some scenarios involve luck in their start or end conditions, and can be cheesed with certain items. Success depends on card flips.
- Campaign vs Guildmaster differences (weight 0.13): Campaign mode is brutal while Guildmaster mode is more of a sandbox. Campaign mode has 17 characters that can be leveled and retired, whereas characters never retire in Guildmaster.
- Solo scenarios require existing character (weight 0.1): Scenarios are attempted with the player's existing character, cards, and gear. They must be completed with the player's existing character and card choices.
- Tutorial scenarios as separate mode (weight 0.05): The game includes special tutorial scenarios as a separate mode, which are distinct from solo scenarios.
- Solo scenarios unlock classes (weight 0.05): The content involves unlocking classes through solo scenarios.
- DLC is expansion for board game (weight 0.05): It is an expansion for the digital adaptation of a board game.
- Solo mode requires online multiplayer (weight 0.05): SOLO mode requires online multiplayer rather than single-player play.

Performance notes:
- Crash on extra turn (weight 0.06): The game crashes when clicking 'end extra turn' while using the Beast Tyrant solo scenario item.
- Small fonts hinder Deck (weight 0.06): Steam Deck compatibility is hindered because fonts are too small.

Recommendations:
- Not worth the money (weight 0.19): Several reviewers consider the DLC not worth the price, advising against purchase unless you want to support the developers.
- DLC forces group purchase (weight 0.16): Multiplayer groups are forced to buy the DLC with no way to revert the save, making it a negative recommendation for those players.
- DLC is worth buying (weight 0.11): Some reviewers find the DLC an absolute steal for its content and worth the hours of play it provides.
- Wait for fixes (weight 0.11): It is not a universal recommendation until fixes are made, and some advise not buying until major changes are implemented.
- For challenge seekers (weight 0.11): Recommended for players who want a real challenge or a mastery-level challenge with each class.
- Buy only for solo missions (weight 0.06): The DLC is only recommended if you specifically want the solo missions or want to support the developers.
- Worth it for class fans (weight 0.06): Fans of learning every base Gloomhaven class and pushing them to their limit will find the DLC worth picking up.
- Conditional for solo saves (weight 0.06): If you have a Solo save and have never completed these scenarios, it might be worth picking up.
- Group cost is high (weight 0.06): As a stand-alone product it is worth a low price, but for a group of four the higher total cost is definitely not worth it.
- Wait for solo scenarios integration (weight 0.06): Do not buy the DLC until solo scenarios are available in Guildmaster mode or as a standalone mode.
- Avoid future releases (weight 0.06): The reviewer will stay away from anything else released for this game.

Other player notes:
- DLC content and design details (weight 0.29): The DLC contains 17 scenarios designed by Isaac Childres, intended for players who want to learn every base Gloomhaven class. It is a digital adaptation of a board game expansion that adds new enemies and offers 20 hours of new content.
- DLC is second expansion (weight 0.16): It is sold as a DLC and is the second DLC for this game. The DLC provides more Gloomhaven content that was not included in the base Gloomhaven board game.
- All players must own DLC (weight 0.15): The DLC page states that all players must own the DLC, which the reviewer considers good that it is warned about. All party members need to purchase the DLC if the host enables it, which can interrupt existing multiplayer campaigns.
- Irreversible DLC conversion warning (weight 0.15): The game clearly states that converting a save to a DLC-enabled save is irreversible, and the DLC release announcement confirms there is no way to revert. The DLC toggle is irreversible once enabled.
- Solo scenarios integral but free (weight 0.15): Solo scenarios are integral to the core experience and should be included for free. Completing the solo quests is more for personal accomplishment than for gameplay rewards.
- Solo item advice and balance (weight 0.14): Character guides often advise earning the solo scenario item as soon as possible. The digital game changes item balance and item transfer compared to the boardgame, where solo scenario items could be used by other characters.
- DLC business practice criticized (weight 0.11): The reviewer calls the DLC business practice egregious. However, another reviewer states the DLC is not a cash grab.
- Missing language support (weight 0.1): Ukrainian language is not supported, and Russian language is not yet supported for the expansion.
- DLC compared to Jaws of the Lion (weight 0.1): The DLC is compared to Jaws of the Lion, which has similar multiplayer requirements but less complaint. Other multiplayer-focused games allow other players to benefit from the host's DLC.
- Solo scenarios better as standalone (weight 0.1): The reviewer compares the DLC to the special tutorial scenarios, suggesting it would have worked better as standalone content. The content would fit better in Guildmaster mode where max-level characters and shared gold are easier to obtain.
- Solo scenarios unfavorably compared (weight 0.1): The reviewer compares these solo scenarios unfavorably to the original Gloomhaven versions and to the physical Gloomhaven version's solo item handling.
- Guildmaster mode lacks solo mission (weight 0.1): Guildmaster mode does not include the unique single-character solo mission. Guildmaster mode has story scenarios and does not use character retirement.
- Solo scenarios visibility issue (weight 0.06): Solo scenarios show up on the map even for players outside the group. This can cause confusion or unwanted visibility for non-participants.
- DLC is purchasable add-on (weight 0.05): The content is a purchasable add-on and is sold as an expansion.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.38): Players are frustrated by the DLC's multiplayer requirement that forces all participants to own it, causing desyncs and locking friends out of ongoing campaigns. They also face unfixed game crashes, broken solo scenarios, and poorly balanced hard scenarios that require repeating difficult content for random card flips.
- Disappointment (weight 0.15): The DLC scenarios are seen as puzzle-like rather than engaging missions, with rewards that are useless or outclassed by other gear. The irreversible DLC setting and lack of developer support further diminish the experience, making the content feel not worth the purchase.
- Anger (weight 0.1): Anger is driven by the DLC permanently marking save files and forcing other players to buy it to continue multiplayer campaigns. Broken solo scenario items and the inability to use solo items on other characters also contribute to the anger.
- Annoyance (weight 0.06): Annoyance stems from cumbersome workarounds required for solo scenarios in multiplayer, such as having to play them on the host's computer. Solo quests cluttering the log and items being bound to the current mercenary add to the irritation.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.03): Players enjoy the solo scenarios for being fun, memorable, and appropriately challenging without being overly difficult.
- Regret (weight 0.03): Regret arises from buying the DLC without knowing that unlocks do not persist and that it cannot be used in the player's preferred mode. The purchase feels wasted when the content is incompatible with their multiplayer campaigns.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.03): Satisfaction comes from solving the DLC requirement by purchasing copies for friends and from developing effective strategies that leverage class strengths. Players also feel the content offers good value for the hours of play provided.
- Disgust (weight 0.02): Disgust is caused by badly implemented, impossible-to-complete scenarios and by paying for DLC that negatively impacts multiplayer campaigns, making it unplayable with friends.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): The levels are considered very boring and require no thinking, leading to a lack of engagement.
- Disbelief (weight 0.01): Disbelief is expressed at developers guessing at scenario effects instead of following the established rulebook, resulting in inconsistent gameplay.
- Exasperation (weight 0.01): Exasperation is felt when having to survive 12 rounds while keeping 4 city guards alive, a task that feels excessively demanding.
- Curiosity (weight 0.01): Curiosity is driven by wanting to know what the solo scenarios were like based on character guides, suggesting an interest in experiencing the content.
- Bitterness (weight 0.01): Bitterness arises from losing the reward item on retirement after leveling a character specifically for it, making the effort feel wasted.
- Dissatisfaction (weight 0.01): Dissatisfaction is felt when completing a scenario yields only relief rather than satisfaction, indicating the experience was more of a chore than enjoyable.
- Fun (weight 0.01): Fun is derived from playing in hard mode, which provides an enjoyable challenge.
- Incredulity (weight 0.01): Incredulity is expressed at a solo mode that cannot be played alone, highlighting a fundamental design flaw.
- Embarrassment (weight 0.01): Embarrassment is felt over the DLC releasing with an asinine requirement, reflecting poorly on the developers.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Enthusiasm is generated by great solo scenario content that effectively teaches class mastery, making players eager to engage with it.
- Caution (weight 0.01): Caution is advised due to the risk of losing save progress, prompting players to back up their saves before engaging with the DLC.
- Feeling hoodwinked (weight 0.01): Players feel hoodwinked because the DLC forced their group into buying it with no way to revert the save, leaving them with no choice.}