Contest!!! "Shelob's Lair" ready for overall review.

[Smeagollum]

On a lot of these cards there is no lore. Bring up the most suited lore for each of them. The best lore per card wins! Per card I reward a rare from the card's culture! The contest starts in a second ago and will last till the end of may 2009!

Ring

• Betrayal of The One Ring.
Str: +1
Res: +2
Condition
Plays on The One Ring.
Fellowship: Play this condition on your One Ring.
Shadow: Play this condition on opponent's One Ring.
The Ring-bearer is resistance -1 for each unoccupied site on the adventure path.
Regroup: If the Free Peoples Player can't spot a minion, discard this condition.
"The very desire of it corrupts the heart."
20P1

• Gollum's Fate.
Condition
To Play, spot Frodo bearing the One Ring.
Plays on The One Ring.
Fellowship: Play this condition on your One Ring.
Shadow: Play this condition on opponent's One Ring.
Any site 9 gains the name Mount Doom. Sam's game text does not apply.
Response: If Frodo is about to die at site 9, you may make Gollum or Smeagol the Ring-bearer (resistance 5) to prevent this. If Gollum or Smeagol survives the skirmish phase, he's corrupted. If  Gollum or Smeagol die's, the Free Peoples Player wins the game.
"Out of the depths came his last wail Precious, and he was gone."
20P2

The One Ring, Inherent Corruption of Madness.
Str: +2
Vit: +2
Res: +2
Each time the Fellowship moves during the Regroup phase add a burden.
Response: If the Ring-bearer is about to take a wound, he wears The One Ring until the regroup phase. While wearing The One Ring, each time he is a bout to take a wound, add 2 burdens instead.
Regroup: Remove from play an unbound companion from your dead pile to remove a burden.
"And into this Ring he poured his cruelty, his malice...and his will to dominate all life."
20P3

Dwarven

•Don't Tell the Elf
Event • Fellowship
Exert Gimli to place this card faced up in your opponents draw deck (limit 1 per deck).
Each time this card is drawn by an opponent, that player reveals it and shuffles it faced up into his or her draw deck. If it is that player's turn, he or she must discard the top 2 cards of his or her drawdeck.
"I cannot jump the distance....."
20P4

Drinking Contest
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot Legolas and Gimli.
Maneuver: Place any number of Free Peoples cards from your hand beneath your draw deck. Then you must choose a Shadow player who can place any number of Shadow cards from his or her hand beneath his or her draw deck. For each card you placed beneath your draw deck more than that Shadow player, you may place a token on this condition.
"It's the Dwarves that go swimming with little, hairy woman. "
20P5

• Orcrist
Possesion • Hanweapon
Str. +2
Vit. +1
Bearer must be Thorin III.
Regroup:If an opponent's card is inserted in your draw deck you may discard a card from hand to discard the inserted card.
Bearer is strength +3 and damage +2 when skirmishing an orc.
"Gleamed ever in the dark if foes approached"
20P6


Dunlend

Crebain, Saruman's Allies
Follower
Str. +1
Aid – Remove a threat or a burden. (At the start of the maneuver phase, you may remove a threat or a burden to transfer this to a minion.) Each time bearer wins a skirmish, you may heal a minion or ally.
"often used as servants and spies"...."
20P7

Crebain, Saruman's Followers
Ally
5
2
3
Maneuver: Exert Crebain, Saruman's Followers to play a condition or Follower from your discard pile.
"...a flock of crebain searched for the Ring-bearer."
20P8

Forgoil!
Event
Shadow: liberate a site you control to add and play a man from your discard pile.
At the start of the regroup phase, if Forgoil! is in your discard pile, you may remove 4 other cards from the game to take control of a site.  Then remove this event from the game.
"Strawheads"
20P9

Elven

• Arwen, Mostly Admired.
9
3
7
To play spot Éowyn.
While you can spot Éowyn, Arwen is strength -3.
Skirmish: Exert Arwen make a minion skirmishing Aragorn strength -2 untill the regroup phase.
Regroup: Discard the top card of your draw deck to heal Arwen.
"For a moment Aragorn gazed in silence...."
20P10

Game Over.
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot Legolas and Gimli.
Regroup Remove a token from Drinking Contest to heal Legolas or Gimli.
"What did I say? He can't hold his liquor. "
20P11

• A Vision of Galadriël
Condition • Support Area
Condition • Support Area
+1 Strength
Aid – (2).  To play, spot Frodo.
While a companion bears this condition, this condition is a follower.  It is still a condition.
When this condition is transfered to the Ring-bearer, you may play an artifact or a possession from your discard pile.
"This task was appointed to you, Frodo of the Shire. If you do not find a way, no one will. "
20P12

Gandalf

• Death is just a new path!
Condition • Support Area
To play spot Gandalf.
Assignment:  Play an enduring companion from your dead pile and assign a minion to skirmish it; its twilight cost is -5.  If no minion is assigned to a skirmish, place that companion in your dead pile.  Discard this condition.
"No, the journey doesn't end here."
20P13

Things To Unsay.
Event
Fellowship: Discard a artifact to discard a shadow artifact.
Manouver: Discard a condition to discard a shadow condition.
Skirmish: Discard a possesion to discard a shadow possesion.
Regroup: Discard a companion to discard a minion.
20P14

The Elf of the Wand.
Event  
Spell
To play spot a Wizard.
Maneuver: Exert an companion to play a staff from your discard pile.
Skirmish: Exert Gandalf or Elrond to discard an unassigned minion bearing a possession or artifact.  Any shadow player may liberate a site to prevent this.
"Most thought they were Elves or wise Men."
20P15


Gollum

Enemy in our midst
Event • Shadow
Exert Gollum (or Smeagol) to place this card faced up in your opponents draw deck (limit 1 per deck).
Each time this card is drawn by an opponent, that player reveals it and shuffles it faced up into his or her draw deck. If it is that player's turn, he or she must wound two companions.
"... and a green glint flickered under his heavy lids."
20P16

• No, Not Master.
Condition
Resistance: +1
Plays on Smeagol. Response: If a regroup special ability is used, discard Sam to cancel that action.
"Master is our friend!"
20P17

• Sollid Rock.
Str.: +1
Possesion  • Handweapon
Bearer gains damage +1
Bearer must be Smeagol or Gollum.
Bearer gains enduring.
Response: If bearer wins a skirmish you may discard a card from hand to heal bearer.
20P18

Gondor

• Beregond, first Captain of the White Company
7
3
7
Companion • Knight
If Beregond is in your starting fellowship, his twilight cost is -2.
Bergil is twilight cost -1.
Fellowship: Exert Beregond to make the first sentence of Denethor's game text not apply until the regroup phase.
20P19

• Bergil, Peregrin Took's Guide
5
3
7
Companion
If Bergil is in your starting fellowship, his twilight cost is -1.
At the start of your Fellowship phase you may exert Bergil twice to play Pippin from your draw deck or discard pile.
When you play Pippin you may heal Bergil or Beregond once.
20P20

• Bard, Slayer of Smaug.
8
4
6
Companion • Ranger
Archer
Archery: Discard 2 cards from the top of your drawdeck to add 1 (limit 3) to the Archery total.
20P21

Isengard

A Friendship Not Taken Lightly
Condition
To play spot an minion.
Each time a companion is killed or discarded during the skirmish or manouver phase, you may exert a minion to stack this companion here instead. The Free Peoples player may not play unique companions with the same title as a card stacked here.
"The guest who has escaped from the roof, will think twice before he comes back in by the door."
20P21

I Hate It and You!
Event
Skirmish: Exert Saruman to make an minion strength + x untill the regroup phase. Where x is the amount of Free People characters stacked on a condition, possession or Ally.
"You have robbed my revenge of sweetness, and now I must go hence in bitterness, in debt to your mercy."
20P22

•The Voice of Saruman!
Event
Skirmish: Exert Saruman twice to cancel all remaining assignments and assign a minion to skirmish a companion or an  unbound companion with resistance 6 or less; This Minion is strength +4 and damage +1 untill the regroup phase.
"He's trying to bring down the mountain!"
20P23

Men

• Harad, where the stars are strange .
Condition
To Play spot a [men] minion and 2 sites you control.
Plays on a site you control.
Every time your minion wins a skirmish you may stack a card from hand here.
Regroup Discard a card stacked from here to wound an unbound companion. The Free People Player may add to prevent this.
20P24

Horsemen form Khand .
9
2
5
Minion
This minion may bear a Mount.
Skirmish: Exert this minion to play  a Mount from your discard pile.
Khand was under the influence of Mordor and supplied it with horses.
20P25

Poisoned Southron Arrow.
Str.: -1
Possession
To Play spot a [men] minion.
Plays on an unbound companion. Limit 1 per character.
Every time Bearer loses a skirmish the Free People Player must reveal his or her hand and discard 1 card from hand. He or she may wound a ringbound companion to prevent this. Discard this possession when the ringbearer is exhausted.
20P26

Moria

• Goblin King
11
3
4
Minion • Orc
Shadow Exert this minion twice to play The Cave Troll of Moria from your discard pile. You may exert the The Cave Troll of Moria to play a possession from your discard pile on him or her for free.

Goblin Drum
Possesion • Support Area
Response If a condition is about to be discarded you may discard this possession instead. Each minion strength +1 until the regroup phase.
20P27

Goblin Spider
Possesion • Mount
4
1
Skirmish. Bearer must be a Orc. Exert bearer to prevent The Free People Player using a skirmish event during this skirmish.
20P28

Orc

Orc Bow.
  Possesion  • Ranged Weapon
Bearer must be an Orc with strength 10 or more.
Bearer is an Archer.
Archery: You may play only one Archery event in the archery phase.
20P29

• Snaga
Minion • Orc
9
3
4
Hunter 3. The roaming penalty for each minion you play is -1.
Response: If the free peoples player is about to liberate a site exert this minion to prevent it.
"Decapitated by Uglúk and cannibalized by the Uruk-hai."
20P30

• Ufthak, Prey of Shelob.
10
1
8
Minion  
When you play Ufthak you may exert Shelob to stack him on a possession.
Regroup: Discard Ufthak from a possession to exert a Ringbound Companion.
Ufthak is strength -4 while you can spot Shelob.
"....captured, poisoned, and then forgotten by Shelob."
20P31

Raider

•Banner From Afar
Possesion • Handweapon
Str. +2
Vir. +1
Bearer must be a minion.
Bearer is Fierce.
Skirmish: If the Shadow Player has initiative you may remove 2 burdens to shuffle a Minion from your discard pile back into your draw deck.
20P32

Power From Afar
Condition • Support Area
To play spot an Easterling
Maneuver: If you cannot spot 2 burdens and the Shadow Player has initiative you may discard 2 cards from the top of your draw deck to add a burden.
20P33

Warior From Afar
11
3
4
Minion • Easterling
Maneuver or Skirmish: Exert Warior From Afar and discard 2 cards from the top of your draw deck to add . The Free People Player may discard a card from hand to prevent this.
20P34

Rohan

• Death!
Condition
Bearer must be a man or Merry.
Possesions and conditions on bearer may not be discarded by a shadowcard.
Skirmish: Dicard this condition and place bearer in your Death Pile to wound a minion another companion is skirmishing twice.
"Great horns of the North wildly blowing. Rohan had come at last!"
20P35

Éowyn, Beacon Of A Heart In Flame.
9
3
7
To play spot Arwen.
While you can spot Arwen, Éowyn is strength -3.
Maneuver: Exert Éowyn to play a possession on her from your discard pile or exert her twice to play a mount from your draw deck or discard pile, on Aragorn.
"When I first looked on her and perceived her unhappiness..."
20P36

Faramir, moved by pride.
7
3
7
While you can spot Éowyn, Faramir is vitality +1.
While you can spot Aragorn, Faramir is strength +1.
Skirmish: Exert Faramir to prevent a Ringbound Hobbit with the Frodo signet from being overwhelmed unless that Hobbit's strength is tripled.
"...still I should take those words as a vow, and be held by them."
20P37

Sauron

• Annatar, Bearer of Gifts
6
6
6
Companion • Maia • Wizard
Ringbound.
Annatar can not be in a Fellowship with an other character as Ringbearer.
While bearing the One Ring, discard each unbound companion.
Annatar is strength +1 and resistence +1 for each minion you can spot.
Regroup: Place a companion from play in the dead pile to remove a burden.
"Bereft of his lord... he fell into the folly of imitating him."
20P38

• Draugluin, Father of Werewolves
8
3
6
Minion • Werewolf •
Enduring.When Draugluin is played the shadowplayer names a (shadow) race he will represent.
Manouver: Exert Draugluin twice to wound an unbound companion with resistance 6 or less.
Response: If a player reconciles, return this minion back to hand.
"Bred from the wolves and inhabited with an evil spirit sent by Morgoth himself."
20P39

• Thuringwethil, Woman of the Secret Shadow
8
3
6
Minion • Maia
Enduring:
The shadow player my play Thuringwethil on an unbound companion with resistance 6 or less. Thuringwethil has changed form into that companion.
Every time Thuringwethil is assigned to a skirmish the free people player discards 3 cards from hand or add a Burden.
Discard  Thuringwethil at the end of the free people player's turn. Wounds on Thuringwethil transfers to the companion in which she changed form.
"Secret Sister"
20P40


Shire

• Archers of the Shire
5
3
5
Companion • Hobbit
To play spot 2 unbound Hobbits.
Archer
When you play Archers of the Shire you may play an Artifact from your drawdeck or discardpile.
Archery: You may exert Archers of the Shire twice to wound a minion. Archers of the Shire does not add to the fellowship archery total.
20P41

• Red Book of Westmarch, Book of the Periannath
Artifact
Ringbound Hobbits gain the Frodo signet.
Response If a Tale is about to discarded you may place 2 cards from hand here to prevent this.
Every companion with the Frodo signet is strength +1.
"The last pages are for you, Sam."
20P41

•Sam's Frying Pan
Possession • Hand Weapon
Resistance: +1
Bearer must be Sam.
This weapon may be borne in addition to 1 other hand weapon. Sam is strength +2 and damage +1 while skirmishing a Troll.
Skirmish: Exert Sam to wound an Orc he is skirmishing. The shadowplayer may remove to prevent this.
20P42

Sites

Shelob's Lair
Site
Mountain. Underground.
Play Shelob from your Drawdeck or Discardpile. Shelob is not Roaming.
20P43

High Terrace of  Thangorodrim.
Site
Mountain.
When the Fellowship moves to here the Free Peoples player must add 1 Burden or choose an opponent who may take control of a site.
20P44

The Void's Gate
Site
Void
At the start of the maneuver phase the Free Peoples player may wound the Ringbearer to place a non-unique minion from the discard pile out of play. The Shadow Player may remove to prevent this.
"There is no life in the void. Only death."
20P45

Uruk

Light Does Not Stop Them
Condition
To play spot Saruman.
Bearer must be an minion. Bearer gains the culture.
Archery: Wound bearer twice to skip the assignment and  skirmish phases.
The Free Peoples player may heal Saruman to prevent this.
Regroup: Discard bearer to add a burden.
20P46

Fallen Maiar
Condition
Bearer must be an minion. Bearer gains the culture.
Skirmish: Remove a burden to make bearer enduring] until the regroup phase.
Regroup: Discard bearer to make the Ring-bearer's resistance -1 until the end of turn.
20P47

The Palantir of Orthanc, Saruman's Palantir
Artifact • Support Area
To play, spot an minion.
Regroup: Spot an minion or a minion and remove to reveal the top card of any draw deck. You may discard the revealed card. The Free Peoples player may add a burden to prevent this and place that card beneath its owner's draw deck instead.
"Perilous to us all are the devices of an art deeper than we possess ourselves."
20P48

Ringwraith

• Baggins, Shire!
Condition
Search
Regroup: If the fellowship has moved more than once this turn, discard 3 Nazgûl and this condition from play to move the fellowship back 1 site on the adventure path (if that site is controlled by a player, it is liberated, returned to the adventure path and all cards stacked on it are discarded). The Free Peoples player may place an unbound companion in the dead pile to prevent this.
20P49

• Chased By Shadows.
Condition
Regroup: If the Ringbearer has less then 6 resistance Discard 2 Nazgûl and this condition to make the Free Peoples player choose to move again this turn (if the move limit allows).
20P50

•Khamul, The Black Easterling
12
4
3
Minion • Nazgul
Khamul, The Black Easterling counts as Ulaïre Atteä.
When you play this minion and spot an Easterling, you may place a card from your discard pile out of play to play an Easterling from your discard pile. It's twilight cost is -2.
"Khamûl went to Hobbiton seeking someone by the name of Baggins."
20P51


• Annatar, Bearer of Gifts
6
6
6
Companion • Maia • Wizard
Ringbound.
Annatar can not be in a Fellowship with an other character as Ringbearer.
While bearing the One Ring, discard each unbound companion.
Annatar is strength +1 and resistence +1 for each minion you can spot.
Regroup: Place a companion from play in the dead pile to remove a burden.
"Bereft of his lord... he fell into the folly of imitating him."
20PO52

[Olorin]

interesting... but who is Annatar?

[Smeagollum]

interesting... but who is Annatar?

Annatar = one of Sauron's names. In this case: How he was called in the beginning by the elves. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annatar

[FingolfinFinwe]

hmm, I just can't see Sauron being the ringbearer, I mean it kinda kills the whole concept of the story of the game.  This is a very cool card idea though.  One thought I just had for Annatar... what if he was a Shadow Companion?  The Shadow player would play this companion on the Free Peoples side.  The Free People's player could use him to fight, but the ability may give the Shadow player some advantage.  Plus there could be other cards that could key off of Annatar being in the fellowship.  Any thoughts on this idea?

[Smeagollum]

hmm, I just can't see Sauron being the ringbearer, I mean it kinda kills the whole concept of the story of the game.  This is a very cool card idea though.  One thought I just had for Annatar... what if he was a Shadow Companion?  The Shadow player would play this companion on the Free Peoples side.  The Free People's player could use him to fight, but the ability may give the Shadow player some advantage.  Plus there could be other cards that could key off of Annatar being in the fellowship.  Any thoughts on this idea?

Actually it really does fit in the story. It's part of the silmarillion.

I did thought of your idea a while ago but seemed to me very difficult. Still it would be fun... well maybe on a second Thuringwethil....

[Smeagollum]

added:

• Thuringwethil, Sauron's Messenger
8
3
6
Minion • Maia • Vampire • Changeling
Enduring:The shadow player my play Thuringwethil on an unbound companion with resistance 6 or less. Thuringwethil has changed form into that companion.
Every time Thuringwethil is assigned to a skirmish the free people player discards 3 cards from hand or add a Burden.
Discard  Thuringwethil at the end of the free people player's turn. Wounds on Thuringwethil transfers to the companion in which she changed form.

On request;)

• O Yes, Right Through.
Condition
Regroup: If the Ringbeare has less then 6 resistance spot two minions and discard this condition to make the Free Peoples player choose to move again this turn (if the move limit allows).

I wanted a card that would make a nice and evil combo with "Baggins, Shire!"

• No, Not Master.
Condition
Resistance: +1
Plays on Smeagol. Response: If a regroup special ability is used, discard Sam to cancel that action.

Sam has "rare Good Ballast' as Smeagol-hate. So I thought, why not same abillity, but then with some Sam-hate. Also a great counter against 'O Yes, Right Through' and "Baggins, Shire!".

Or Perhaps You Have Things To Unsay.
Event
Fellowship: Discard a artifact to discard a shadow artifact.
Manouver: Discard a condition to discard a shadow condition.
Skirmish: Discard a possesion to discard a shadow possesion.
Regroup: Discard a companion to discard a shadow companion.

Here I'll not say anything as it should be clear or else it should be unsaid

Please place your comments. They're welcome

[Thranduil]

• Thuringwethil, Sauron's Messenger
8
3
6
Minion • Maia • Vampire • Changeling
Enduring:The shadow player my play Thuringwethil on an unbound companion with resistance 6 or less. Thuringwethil has changed form into that companion.
Every time Thuringwethil is assigned to a skirmish the free people player discards 3 cards from hand or add a Burden.
Discard  Thuringwethil at the end of the free people player's turn. Wounds on Thuringwethil transfers to the companion in which she changed form.

I don't think she needs that many races - let her text capture her changing nature and leave her race as Maia (which is probably what she is). Also, Vampires are very unclear in Tolkien just because they're a throwaway reference that only occurs with reference to Sauron and his servants in the Silmarillion and we know nothing about them!

I think this build is very interesting, but I think it's too complicated and I'm not sure it captures the story. After all, Thuringwethil did not change shape into Lúthien, it was the other way round. I think she should copy minions, maybe something like this:

•Thuringwethil, Sauron's Messenger
Minion • Maia
Str: 0
Vit: 0
Sit: 0
To play, spot a minion. Thuringwethil has the printed attributes, game text and race of that minion until the end of the turn.

That's clean, entertaining and has huge deckbuilding potential (two Lurtz's, two Mumak Commanders, two Saurons etc. ). And I think you can justify her low cost because you have to have both her and the other minion to actually make her do anything!

• O Yes, Right Through.
Condition
Regroup: If the Ringbeare has less then 6 resistance spot two minions and discard this condition to make the Free Peoples player choose to move again this turn (if the move limit allows).

Tis cool. Probably doesn't need to cost , maybe would do it.

• No, Not Master.
Condition
Resistance: +1
Plays on Smeagol. Response: If a regroup special ability is used, discard Sam to cancel that action.

I think I might want something else to go with this, I'm probably not likely to use it if it just cancels regroup abilities.

Or Perhaps You Have Things To Unsay.
Event
Fellowship: Discard a artifact to discard a shadow artifact.
Manouver: Discard a condition to discard a shadow condition.
Skirmish: Discard a possesion to discard a shadow possesion.
Regroup: Discard a companion to discard a shadow companion.

I'm not sure why you need different phases for these abilities. I would make it a maneuver event and have all of those as options (you know, of the "Choose one:..." build). Also, what's a Shadow companion? Presumably it should be minion.

Thranduil

[Smeagollum]

yes it should be minion Actually I like it that you can do various things in different phases..

No Not master: Well maybe to discard a condition and a minion?

Saurons'messenger: That's not the idea.. the idea is that the freeps can use this minion as a companion.. Bassicly it looks a bit like "Desperate Defense of the Ring" only then cooler... In the story she transforms into a bat.. well this idea might be bloodsucking as a bat and a vampire!

[Smeagollum]

A Friendship Not Taken Lightly
Condition
To play spot an minion.
Each time a companion is killed or discarded during the skirmish or manouver phase, you may exert a minion to stack this companion here instead.

A new idea.. kind of taken a prisoner... I think this card has a lot of potential like "Twisted Tales" from EOF. Just imagine an unique companion (a Merry or a Pipin is discarded and instead you stack it on this condition. The freep can't play this companion again, because it's still in play

[Thranduil]

A Friendship Not Taken Lightly
Condition
To play spot an minion.
Each time a companion is killed or discarded during the skirmish or manouver phase, you may exert a minion to stack this companion here instead.

A new idea.. kind of taken a prisoner... I think this card has a lot of potential like "Twisted Tales" from EOF. Just imagine an unique companion (a Merry or a Pipin is discarded and instead you stack it on this condition. The freep can't play this companion again, because it's still in play

That's a good theory, but unfortunately that doesn't work in the rules. Stacked cards are not in play and may not be spotted and therefore it does not affect which companions the FP player can and cannot play. If that's your intention, then you need to specify on the card "The Free Peoples player may not play unique companions with the same title as a card stacked here." And even then, why not just let them go to the dead pile which has the same effect but better because you get to use cards that care about the dead pile and you trigger threats?

I think you need something else to make this worthwhile. Maybe some kind of an ability something like: "Regroup: Discard this condition to exert a companion for each card stacked here." or something perhaps nastier.

It's a very cool idea though.

Thranduil

[Smeagollum]

A Friendship Not Taken Lightly
Condition
To play spot an minion.
Each time a companion is killed or discarded during the skirmish or manouver phase, you may exert a minion to stack this companion here instead.

A new idea.. kind of taken a prisoner... I think this card has a lot of potential like "Twisted Tales" from EOF. Just imagine an unique companion (a Merry or a Pipin is discarded and instead you stack it on this condition. The freep can't play this companion again, because it's still in play

That's a good theory, but unfortunately that doesn't work in the rules. Stacked cards are not in play and may not be spotted and therefore it does not affect which companions the FP player can and cannot play. If that's your intention, then you need to specify on the card "The Free Peoples player may not play unique companions with the same title as a card stacked here." And even then, why not just let them go to the dead pile which has the same effect but better because you get to use cards that care about the dead pile and you trigger threats?

I think you need something else to make this worthwhile. Maybe some kind of an ability something like: "Regroup: Discard this condition to exert a companion for each card stacked here." or something perhaps nastier.

It's a very cool idea though.

Thranduil

To my opinion it does work exactly as Twisted tales and I can remember that when by example sting was on twisted tales you were not allowed to play it again. That's why it was a very good card. But let's crystalize this out!

What you say about not in play and cannot be spotted doesn´t go up, because when it´s the shadows turn then the condition becomes active and the card stacked on the card will be spotted. Therefor an nunique card can not be played again.. unless it has been removed from the card on which it was stacked... or this one has been discarded.

[Smeagollum]

Newly added± One way or another
Event
Skirmish: Exert Saruman to make an minion strength + x untill the regroup phase. Where x is the amount of Free People characters stacked on a condition, possession or Ally.

[TheJord]

Thranduil is correct, you cannot spot stacked cards for the purposes of uniqueness or requirements. Some cards specifically require you to spot stacked cards, but you cannot choose to spot them.

Someone has misinformed you about Twisted Tales. Its strength comes from denying possession recursion.

[Smeagollum]

Don´t agree with you. I was informed about this by 3 different judges in that time: 2 Dutch, one Belgium. I recently asked it again to one of the same persons (Marc Hameleers) and he stated it again.

When an unique possesion is on twisted tales the freep can not play the same unique possesion.
This condition has actually the same text. So you will not be able to play an unique companion again.

[Thranduil]

Don´t agree with you. I was informed about this by 3 different judges in that time: 2 Dutch, one Belgium. I recently asked it again to one of the same persons (Marc Hameleers) and he stated it again.

When an unique possesion is on twisted tales the freep can not play the same unique possesion.
This condition has actually the same text. So you will not be able to play an unique companion again.

Then your judges are wrong or the rules changed. Here is what the comprehensive rules say under "Stack":

Stacking a card is not playing a card. Stacked cards are placed face up and may be looked at by any player at any time.
Stacked cards are not in play and are not active. You cannot spot them. They do not count for uniqueness. A stacked unique card may be in play elsewhere. Multiple copies of the same unique card may be stacked together.

Thranduil