Thanks for the write-up, this was fun to read.
Really well observed with point 1 there--this game is a wild conceptual hurdle, especially if you're coming right from D&D world. On your second point, I don't think you're giving yourself enough credit! With a group full of new players and on the larger side too, it sounds like you did everything you can to keep the party going. Congrats on making it happen! The old truism with running games is that if the players had fun, you did a great job.
I think I definitely would have made great use of more examples of interactions
I'd love to make some more of these to make better illustrative examples for players, I think your suggestion here is a great idea.
Discord very recently launched a soundboard feature! Servers can add several sounds for use in calls within that server, and Nitro users can use sounds from other servers (although this can be disabled). While not all the sounds players used were "spooky" per se, it did add a lot of joy to the game!
FUCK YEAH this rules. Can't wait to upload chainrattle.wav or floorboardcreak.mp3 here. We were playing a game last night just vine-booming each other over and over again.
If you have recommendations for ghost movies or stories that might be good inspiration for a round of TDHGII, I think that would make an excellent addition if you were ever inclined to publish another edition or supplement for the game!
I love this idea. Right off the top of my head, movies like Thirteen Ghosts, Grave Encounters, and The Others and shows like Truth Seekers is right in the sweet spot for this game. Slightly wacky, lots of protagonists/investigators, and a lot of ideas. I reveal a little bit of the flavors you can play with the readymade haunts, like The Shining in the Underview Hotel and Resort, Alien and Event Horizon with Cargo-class Starship Constag, and classic 00s new home horror like Paranomal Activity in Nouevau Courts.
Anyway, thank you for the thoughtful notes--I appreciate it!