Hey all,
I just wanted to share the houserule I've been using at home. In keeping with the "an adventure is 5 scenarios" idea, I've started leaving every deck in the box "intact" for each full adventure.
Basically I never shuffle the monster, barrier, weapon, spell, etc. decks between each scenario of the same adventure. I always pick from the "top" when I have to build the location decks or when a card asks me to pick a random card for the box, and any banished card (or leftover cards from a closed location) are "buried" at the bottom of their respective decks.
I do shuffle, however, whenever I start a new adventure, as I introduce the cards from the new adventure deck.
On the plus side, you get a lot more variety between games.
On the minus side, it means that if you encountered and failed to acquire that wonderful, one-in-the-box boon you've been looking for, it means you probably won't get another chance before the next adventure starts.
I've been very happy with this houserule, so I thought I'd share it :)
I've been toying with an idea very similar to this, and I'm glad someone else has already tried and liked it. I'll give your method a shot on my next full playthrough.
Sorry to bump an old thread, but I wanted to add that I do this exactly. It indeed adds more variety and I have found it makes the game more fun in a very general sense.
I haven't actually told anyone that I do it though. (I'm usually the one tasked with setting up each new scenario.) I haven't had anyone complain though. Only "Yes, THERE's that sword I was hoping for!"