DM Speaks:
It's been a blast so far and we have a way to go! The individual that gains all 20 items first and/or does it in the fewest rounds in no way guarantees them success in gaining the night Crawler Estate. They have an advantage, but they still need to be successful in the final challenge.
So, to be awarded the estate you need to:
Gain all 20 items on the list.
Succeed in the final challenge. The first individual to reach the final challenge has an advantage but is not guaranteed success.
The FINAL CHALLENGE cannot be played until all complete the game and gain all the items. The reason is because 1 benefit you gain is the # of rounds it took you to gain all the items. Just because a player has recovered all the items first in no way guarantees they did it in the fewest rounds thus impossible to give them the appropriate bonuses in the final challenge.
I've been trying to get the message across on how it works. I hope this is clear and makes sense. In the end trust me in knowing how and why it has to be done this way.
DM Speaks:
I believe there will not be any great disparity between players completing the challenges and gaining all the items. The reason is we are playing each room to its completion, so all players are getting the same # of rooms completed. However, if there is I will ensure players that have completed first are engaged with various things that will play into the ones still going! Rolling for the enemy against your companions can be fun (oh, just admit it).
As I've said before gaining the items first and doing it in the fewest rounds BOTH have significant benefit! Doing the worst in either has the least benefit in the final challenge for both. Placement in; acquiring all the items first and taking the fewest rounds to do it each have their benefit on a scaling metric.
Haven't thrown out a secret XP word in a bit but tonight for 150 xp's send me the phrase "Roll for the enemy - Oh, yeah."