Does the first expedition have to fail?
No. The first small-party expedition is difficult, but winning is possible. The opening story continues whether you win or lose and leads into the restaurant and recruitment systems.
After a loss, continue the story rather than restarting just to force a win. You will be introduced to recruiting more humans for future expeditions.
When do reinforcements arrive?
Reinforcements appear at the start of the player phase. They do not spawn during the enemy phase or on the last round. This timing leaves at least two full rounds to respond.
Check the encounter objective as well as the enemies still on the map. A round limit can matter even when only one enemy remains.
Forgiving Round limits
Before an expedition, you can enable forgiving Round limits. This offers a less restrictive way to play; the developer describes it as having no extra penalty.
Use this option if the default time pressure is getting in the way of learning movement, terrain and your party’s skills.
Prepare for the next run
Recruit at the restaurant, choose a Master Rule that fits your party and use Training Grounds to practise individual mechanics. Read the cooking guide for the three starter dishes.