This time it should invest in BTC instead of altcoins and ICOs. In the second half of 2018, ICOs are almost unlikely, altcoins in the downtrend due to BTC, ETH increase. So it is best to invest in BTC and hold until the end of 2018, which will help you make a profit without paying attention to the exchange rate of the market is fluctuating daily.
No short cut to ICO better than personal and convincing research and from those that had earlier on participating in such ICOs. Better still as you have said, BTC is good to invest in as the most reliable mother coin but it just have to be a long term effect before one can acquire good ROI on it except for occasional inevitable hype periods based on its strong volatility. Insert Quote
The investment in BTC, altcoins or ICO depends on each person's personal point of view. Do you define short or long-term investment in this market? If you decide on short-term investment, you can invest in altcoins and ICOs, and if you have long-term investment and hold for at least a year, then BTC and ETH are an excellent choice for you at the moment.