maybe instead of play, take in to hand, that way you can pull spells you can use during skirmish!....

•Saruman, Ring-maker
Minion • Wizard
Strength: 8
Vitality: 4
Site: 4
Saruman may not take wounds during the archery phase and may not be assigned to a skirmish.
Each time an artifact is played or discarded, you may heal Saruman.
Response: If the Ring-bearer puts on The One Ring, exert Saruman twice and spot X burdens to make X Uruk-hai fierce until the regroup phase.
“‘The lore of the Elven-rings, great and small, is his province. He has long studied it, seeking the lost secrets of their making....’”

•Saruman, Cold and Perilous
Minion • Wizard
Strength: 8
Vitality: 4
Site: 4
Lurker.
While skirmishing a Wizard, Saruman gains hunter 2 and damage +1 and is fierce until the regroup phase.
Each time an or minion wins a skirmish, you may exert Saruman to draw a card or make an or minion gain hunter 1 until the regroup phase.
“‘Well, I see that this wise course does not commend itself to you. Not yet? Not if some better way can be contrived?’”

•Saruman’s Staff, Heavy Black Staff
Artifact • Staff
Strength +2
Bearer must be Saruman.
He is fierce and may be assigned to skirmishes.
Each time a spell is played, you may exert Saruman to exert a companion (twice if that companion is skirmishing Saruman).
“The figure lifted his arms and a light flashed from the staff that he wielded.”

•Saruman’s Ring
Artifact • Ring
Bearer must be Saruman.
The twilight cost of each spell is -1.
Shadow: Exert Saruman twice or discard this artifact to take an spell into hand from your discard pile. If played this turn, that spell’s twilight cost is -2.
“‘But I rode to the foot of Orthanc, and came to the stair of Saruman....He wore a ring on his finger.’”

•Saruman’s Staff, Heavy Black Staff
Artifact • Staff
Strength +2
Bearer must be Saruman.
He is fierce and may be assigned to skirmishes.
Each time a spell is played, you may exert Saruman to exert a companion (twice if that companion is skirmishing Saruman).
“The figure lifted his arms and a light flashed from the staff that he wielded.”

Needs to be phrased like the old one, make the first line of sarumans gametext not apply. Lethal staff there DI.

•Saruman’s Ring
Artifact • Ring
Bearer must be Saruman.
The twilight cost of each spell is -1.
Shadow: Exert Saruman twice or discard this artifact to take an spell into hand from your discard pile. If played this turn, that spell’s twilight cost is -2.
“‘But I rode to the foot of Orthanc, and came to the stair of Saruman....He wore a ring on his finger.’”

Wow awesome. But agree with Thran completely.

Okay, made some tweaks to the last two and also went back and tweaked Saruman after Thran’s review.

You’ve probably already guessed what would be next...and you’re probably right, too. So, here it is. Enjoy!

I didnt guess

•The Palantír of Orthanc, Dangerous Tool
Artifact • Support Area
Palantír. To play, spot Saruman (or 2 minions).
When you play this artifact, add an token here for each artifact you can spot.
Shadow: Remove an token from here to make a player draw a card or discard a card at random from hand. Limit twice per phase.
At the start of each regroup phase, you may spot an minion and remove a threat to add an token here.
“‘Why should we fear to use it?’”

Id state Artifact • Palantir and then say plays to your support area as unless you plan on introducing the keyword palantir as an important thing it seems pointless. ID remove the or 2 minions. Only saruman should play that. Its seems balanced overall just not sure what its use would be. A threat to discard a card? Hmm...

Okay, made some tweaks to the last two and also went back and tweaked Saruman after Thran’s review.

You’ve probably already guessed what would be next...and you’re probably right, too. So, here it is. Enjoy!

•The Palantír of Orthanc, Dangerous Tool
Artifact • Support Area
Palantír. To play, spot Saruman (or 2 minions).
When you play this artifact, add an token here for each artifact you can spot.
Shadow: Remove an token from here to make a player draw a card or discard a card at random from hand. Limit twice per phase.
At the start of each regroup phase, you may spot an minion and remove a threat to add an token here.
“‘Why should we fear to use it?’”

Nice. Increase the limit, IMO.

•The Palantír of Orthanc, Dangerous Tool
Artifact • Support Area
Palantír. To play, spot Saruman (or 2 minions).
When you play this artifact, add an token here for each artifact you can spot.
Shadow: Remove an token from here to make a player draw a card or discard a card at random from hand. Limit three times per phase.
At the start of each regroup phase, you may spot an minion and remove a threat to add an token here.
“‘Why should we fear to use it?’”

Okay, made some tweaks to the last two and also went back and tweaked Saruman after Thran’s review.

You’ve probably already guessed what would be next...and you’re probably right, too. So, here it is. Enjoy!

•The Palantír of Orthanc, Dangerous Tool
Artifact • Support Area
Palantír. To play, spot Saruman (or 2 minions).
When you play this artifact, add an token here for each artifact you can spot.
Shadow: Remove an token from here to make a player draw a card or discard a card at random from hand. Limit three times per phase.
At the start of each regroup phase, you may spot an minion and remove a threat to add an token ere.
“‘Why should we fear to use it?’”