Back to the Light - Review

[Thranduil]

Okay, so I threatened that my 3rd set of Light & Shadow block would be coming soon. You can find the first set Light & Shadow here and the second set The Twilight World here.

This is a brief summary of what this DC block has set out to do:

• It is supposed to follow on from Hunters block, making a new standard which consists of The War of the Ring (Shadows, Black Rider and Bloodlines), Hunters (The Hunters, Rise of Saruman and Treachery & Deceit) and Light & Shadow (Light & Shadow, The Twilight World and Back to the Light). This means that all of movie block is rotated out and that the old Shadow cultures are out of standard (except for occasional splashes). (A quick aside: I decided to keep the new cultures rather than return to the old because, for better or for worse, this is the direction that the game has taken and would have continued with.)

• Its main themes are The One Ring and resistance - making resistance and the Ring truly matter.

• Its secondary theme is multiculture (facilitated in part by toil and the new keyword aggressor). This means that most cards are easily splashable (especially Shadow cards). I made this decision because I feel that the amount of cultural enforcement that is in the game at the moment is harming deck-building potential and creativity, and is ultimately unnecessary - FotR for example had very little of it, and it was not a real issue.

• To support multicultural decks, I've been making a point of using what I call "tribal" keywords wherever the flavour makes sense. Tribal keywords are things like "knight, ranger, tracker, besieger, engine, search, stealth, fortification, valiant" etc. and the new one I created for this block, "traitor". I am no longer confining them to a single culture, but allowing flavour to dictate where they belong - so there are knights, besiegers and so on. This allows for a different avenue of deckbuilding so that you can make tribal decks instead of just culture decks. That said, it is not one of the main themes of the block; it is just a seed which I am planting.

• This DC block is also supposed to be draftable. This is made possible by the very high percentage of characters (more or less 50% - which meant there was not enough room for followers) and the splashability of most of the cards. This is because I think drafting is the best thing about Magic: it means that cards (almost) always have a purpose. When you look through your MTG cards to make a deck, there are lots of cards you would never consider playing in constructed, but are decent, or sometimes excellent, in limited. Unless you allow drafting, then you just have a set made up of many bad cards that have no use whatsoever. This is why I will always push to have as many characters and as many non-culture specific cards as I can.

• Light & Shadow:
         • introduced the block mechanics, including aggressor, unyielding and foresee (which are described below)
         • was 210 cards, 100 Shadow 100 FP, 2 Rings and 8 sites
         • changed the focus of cards to spot cultures instead of races (so a sword would say "Bearer must be a companion" instead of "Bearer must be a Man")
         • spent a lot of cardspace emphasising each culture's strengths and weaknesses

• The Twilight World:
         • reintroduced toil into the mix
         • was 120 cards, 64 Shadow 52 FP and 4 sites
         • redefined the term corruption to apply to all companions

• Back to the Light will:
         • reintroduce ambush
         • be 120 cards, 52 Shadow 64 FP and 4 sites
         • start shifting the culture stereotypes, as you'll see...


That was very wordy and probably not very interesting to anyone else but me. But never mind.

I will now summarise the block keywords before getting into some real cards:

Aggressor - (For each aggressor minion assigned to a skirmish, each Shadow card is twilight cost -1).
Ambush - (Each time this minion is assigned to skirmish by the Free Peoples player, you may add ).
Corrupted - (Companions with resistance 0 are corrupted).
Foresee X - (To foresee X, look at the top X cards of your draw deck; place any number of those cards on top of or beneath your draw deck in any order).
Toil X - (When you play this card, you may exert any number of your characters that share a culture with it; its twilight cost is -X for each character you exert in this way).
Traitor - (Traitor is unloaded).
Unhasty - (This companion cannot be assigned to a skirmish by the Free Peoples player unless a Free Peoples card allows you to do so).
Unyielding - (This companion's resistance is not reduced by the number of burdens).

[Thranduil]

Luckily, you don't have to read my boring rant above, because here are the first cards!

•Thrarin, Emissary of Erebor
Companion • Dwarf
Str: 7
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Damage +1.
While Thrarin has resistance 4 or more, each and event is twilight cost -1.
B C 8

That is part of the multiculture theme. We'll explore this more in the next post.

Forgotten Secrets
Condition • Support Area
Tale.
Any phase: Spot a companion with resistance 4 or more and discard this condition to remove a Shadow card in a Shadow player's discard pile from the game.
B U 3

This is part of an "any phase" cycle. This is an attempt to simply make answers to possible threats - particularly to combat Shelob, Terror of the Mountains, which you can find in The Twilight World link above.

Hand Axe (reprint)
Possession • Hand Weapon
Bearer must be a Dwarf.
This weapon may be borne in addition to 1 other hand weapon.
Archery: Discard this possession to make the fellowship archery total +1.
B U 5

This is part of emphasising different parts of what a culture is good at. gets archery sometimes, and this is the classic example, so I thought I'd reprint it. Plus, I just love it!

•Gimli's Battleaxe, Axe of Moria
Possession • Hand Weapon
Str: +2
Bearer must be a companion.
Regroup: If bearer is Gimli and he is damage +X, exert him twice to make an opponent discard X Shadow cards from play (limit once per turn).
B R 4

This is part of a "spellshaper" cycle. I apologise for using these MTG terms, but essentially I mean cards that act like well-known events or abilities - the connection between this and the now rotated out Blood Runs Chill is no coincidence!

[sickofpalantirs]

•Thrarin, Emissary of Erebor
Companion • Dwarf
Str: 7
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Damage +1. Unyielding. (Thrarin's resistance is not reduced by the number of burdens).
While Thrarin has resistance 4 or more, each and event is twilight cost -1.
B C 8
I'm somewhat skeptical of Unyielding on this particular character.  I'd cut either that or the damage


Forgotten Secrets
Condition • Support Area
Tale.
Any phase: Spot a companion with resistance 4 or more and discard this condition to remove a Shadow card in a Shadow player's discard pile from the game.
B U 3
Any Phase...I don't really like being able to screw with them in the Shadow phase, but I don't know how you could change that.  Its probably fine.

•Gimli's Battleaxe, Axe of Erebor
Possession • Hand Weapon
Str: +2
Bearer must be a companion.
Regroup: If bearer is Gimli and he is damage +X, exert him twice to make an opponent discard X Shadow cards from play.
B R 4

thats an interesting idea, throwing events on to possessions and such.  Its definitly powerful, but I wouldn't think overly so. though admittedly, the ability to do it every regroup phase is pretty snazzy, though you still need a way to heal him in between.

[ket_the_jet]

•Thrarin, Emissary of Erebor
Companion • Dwarf
Str: 7
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Damage +1. Unyielding. (Thrarin's resistance is not reduced by the number of burdens).
While Thrarin has resistance 4 or more, each and event is twilight cost -1.
B C 8

Neat card...but why Unyielding? I don't really understand what Thrarin ever did except be a great speedbump.

Forgotten Secrets
Condition • Support Area
Tale.
Any phase: Spot a companion with resistance 4 or more and discard this condition to remove a Shadow card in a Shadow player's discard pile from the game.
B U 3

Okay...no good at any phase, especially if it is not unique. Fellowship, Maneuver, or Regroup (or any two of those three) sound good. This card is kind of out of the meta of Dwarves, but seeing as there is no more Blood Runs Chill, I will say it's okay.

Hand Axe (reprint)
Possession • Hand Weapon
Bearer must be a Dwarf.
This weapon may be borne in addition to 1 other hand weapon.
Archery: Discard this possession to make the fellowship archery total +1.
B U 5

Is Reflections part of this block?

•Gimli's Battleaxe, Axe of Erebor
Possession • Hand Weapon
Str: +2
Bearer must be a companion.
Regroup: If bearer is Gimli and he is damage +X, exert him twice to make an opponent discard X Shadow cards from play.
B R 4

Eh...kind of a built in Blood Runs Chill and I don't know that it should be a repeatable action...there is some pretty okay healing that could make this a little too powerful. Plus, it is just so easy to make Dwarves damage +. Nice job combining the two names of his axes, but Gimli's Battle Axe was supposed to be Balin's axe taken from his smashed tomb. That's at least the case in the movie...

Neat stuff...keep more coming.
-wtk

[legolas3333]

Luckily, you don't have to read my boring rant above, because here are the first cards!

right let's get to work and btw i did enjoy your intro

•Thrarin, Emissary of Erebor
Companion • Dwarf
Str: 7
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Damage +1. Unyielding. (Thrarin's resistance is not reduced by the number of burdens).
While Thrarin has resistance 4 or more, each and event is twilight cost -1.
B C 8

I'm with SoP cut the unyielding

That is part of the multiculture theme. We'll explore this more in the next post.

hmm it seems your going back to the Dain Ironfoot teme

Forgotten Secrets
Condition • Support Area
Tale.
Any phase: Spot a companion with resistance 4 or more and discard this condition to remove a Shadow card in a Shadow player's discard pile from the game.
B U 3

This is part of an "any phase" cycle. This is an attempt to simply make answers to possible threats - particularly to combat Shelob, Terror of the Mountains, which you can find in The Twilight World link above.

i don't know if im on the "any phase" train buuuuutttt, i like the idea, maybe make it Maneuver or skirmish

Hand Axe (reprint)
Possession • Hand Weapon
Bearer must be a Dwarf.
This weapon may be borne in addition to 1 other hand weapon.
Archery: Discard this possession to make the fellowship archery total +1.
B U 5

This is part of emphasising different parts of what a culture is good at. gets archery sometimes, and this is the classic example, so I thought I'd reprint it. Plus, I just love it!

sheesh so overpowered you might as well dump the idea

•Gimli's Battleaxe, Axe of Erebor
Possession • Hand Weapon
Str: +2
Bearer must be a companion.
Regroup: If bearer is Gimli and he is damage +X, exert him twice to make an opponent discard X Shadow cards from play.
B R 4

This is part of a "spellshaper" cycle. I apologise for using these MTG terms, but essentially I mean cards that act like well-known events or abilities - the connection between this and the now rotated out Blood Runs Chill is no coincidence!

hmm, super powerful, maybe make it at the start of the regroup phase or something the like.

nice batch overall

[Thranduil]

Thanks a lot guys! I was not expecting such swift or numerable responses, so to all of you! I've made 2 changes (and I had never noticed that Gimli's Battleax was from Balin's Tomb, so thanks ket!). A few words:

Forgotten Secrets - I think discard pile interaction is within the culture, and given that there has never been a card like this in the game before, I think it works here. Let's also take a look at some of the more straightforward any phase actions before we make a decision on this one, but I will keep these comments in my mind. I hadn't considered the Shadow phase thing (nor Shadow cards doing stuff in the Fellowship phase) and I'm not sure what I'm going to do about it. And I'm not sure it's an issue, but it is something I will be considering now that it's been pointed out to me.

Gimli's Battleaxe - yes it's superpowerful, but I don't think it's broken. It would probably need to be playtested, but for the moment I'm going to let it sit in the file.

L3333, you pointed out Dáin Ironfoot theme - and nicely done! Yes we will indeed be talking about this in the next post... :hey:

And ket you asked about reflections. Reflections I think would rotate out with Back to the Light. But, I would be following up this block with a Reflections II (which, because I don't seem to have anything else to do) I have indeed made some cards for and have some ideas for what it would look like. I might get to those ideas at some point...

Thranduil

[ket_the_jet]

I still don't support the "Any phase" idea...unless we were creating a new phase called "Any phase" to stick between maneuver and archery.
-wtk

[Thranduil]

Well as I said, I hope that you'll give it a chance - the component of this cycle is probably not the best to introduce it.

Thranduil

[ket_the_jet]

Alright...I'll be patient!
-wtk

[Not a Zombie]

The intro was quite good, thanks for taking the time to write it

Luckily, you don't have to read my boring rant above, because here are the first cards!

•Thrarin, Emissary of Erebor
Companion • Dwarf
Str: 7
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Damage +1.
While Thrarin has resistance 4 or more, each and event is twilight cost -1.
B C 8

That is part of the multiculture theme. We'll explore this more in the next post.

I really like this guy, but without unyielding you may be able to get away with res 7

Forgotten Secrets
Condition • Support Area
Tale.
Any phase: Spot a companion with resistance 4 or more and discard this condition to remove a Shadow card in a Shadow player's discard pile from the game.
B U 3

This is part of an "any phase" cycle. This is an attempt to simply make answers to possible threats - particularly to combat Shelob, Terror of the Mountains, which you can find in The Twilight World link above.

I personally like the idea of any phase, but maybe you should make it any phase except shadow to be safe


Hand Axe (reprint)
Possession • Hand Weapon
Bearer must be a Dwarf.
This weapon may be borne in addition to 1 other hand weapon.
Archery: Discard this possession to make the fellowship archery total +1.
B U 5

This is part of emphasising different parts of what a culture is good at. gets archery sometimes, and this is the classic example, so I thought I'd reprint it. Plus, I just love it!

•Gimli's Battleaxe, Axe of Moria
Possession • Hand Weapon
Str: +2
Bearer must be a companion.
Regroup: If bearer is Gimli and he is damage +X, exert him twice to make an opponent discard X Shadow cards from play.
B R 4

This is part of a "spellshaper" cycle. I apologise for using these MTG terms, but essentially I mean cards that act like well-known events or abilities - the connection between this and the now rotated out Blood Runs Chill is no coincidence!

With reflections out and no RoF, I don't think this is OP, but I would consider making it at the start of the regroup phase instead.

[Thranduil]

Now we come to the main focus of this multiculture set.

Craft of Erebor
Condition • Support Area
Fellowship: Exert a companion and either an companion or a companion to add a token here.
Regroup: Remove a token here to play a possession from your discard pile.
B C 2

This is part of the NtFH/SotS etc. cycle from Siege of Gondor, now redone and put in FP and Shadow cultures alike.

Okay now it gets a bit more confusing. Part of this multiculture set is these sorts of events.

Moria! Moria!
Event • Response
Tale. Toil 2. (When you play this card, you may exert any number of companions to make this card's twilight cost -3 for each companion exerted in this way).
If a minion is killed in a skirmish involving a companion with resistance 4 or more, that minion's owner must discard the top 8 cards of his or her draw deck.
B U 26

Bilbo's Legacy
Event • Fellowship
Tale. Toil 2. (When you play this card, you may exert any number of companions to make this card's twilight cost -2 for each companion exerted in this way).
Spot a companion with resistance 4 or more to draw 3 cards.
B C 90

If you were just given the game text, you'd think "Ah, these are cards" but if you'll notice the subtleties, they're off-culture with toil, essentially making them 2 culture support cards.

Then we come to the biggest theme: culture-shifted cards. This is a mechanic begun with Aragorn, Defender of Rohan, and now is being continued in many different cultures and places. I was going to originally post the companions that were shifted into the culture, but in the end decided that posting the cards shifted into other cultures was perhaps better. And with that, have some off-culture Dwarves!

•Gimli, Elf-friend
Companion • Dwarf
Str: 6
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Damage +1.
Each time Gimli wins a skirmish, you may make a or companion strength +2 until the regroup phase.
B U 15

•Dáin Ironfoot, Heir of Durin
Companion • Dwarf
Str: 7
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Damage +1. Valiant.
While you can spot a companion Dáin Ironfoot's twilight cost is -1.
Each time the fellowship moves, if Dáin Ironfoot has resistance 4 or more, you may reinforce a or token or draw a card.
B R 22

[legolas3333]

Now we come to the main focus of this multiculture set.

Craft of Erebor
Condition • Support Area
Fellowship: Exert a companion and either an companion or a companion to add a token here.
Skirmish: Remove a token here to play a possession from your discard pile.
B C 2

I like it; but, probably either make the second action a regroup or fellowship action or limit the use.

This is part of the NtFH/SotS etc. cycle from Siege of Gondor, now redone and put in FP and Shadow cultures alike.

Okay now it gets a bit more confusing. Part of this multiculture set is these sorts of events.

Moria! Moria!
Event • Response
Tale. Toil 3. (When you play this card, you may exert any number of companions to make this card's twilight cost -3 for each companion exerted in this way).
If a minion is killed in a skirmish involving a companion with resistance 4 or more, that minion's owner must discard the top 8 cards of his or her draw deck.
B U 26

very specific, costly and powerful... I like it, and I'd like to point out that most cards with toil you have to go over the amount of twilight reduction, elevated fire for example is cost 7 toil 2 so to make it 0 you have to exert 4 times, that being said I would make it toil 2. (other examples - Dwarven Skill, seclusion, discoveries, Bold and Cunning, Barrage, Storming the Ramparts, Undisciplined, Champion Orc, Keening Wail and Broken Heirloom. The majority of these being events so there are precedents.)

Bilbo's Legacy
Event • Fellowship
Tale. Toil 2. (When you play this card, you may exert any number of companions to make this card's twilight cost -2 for each companion exerted in this way).
Spot a companion with resistance 4 or more to draw 3 cards.
B C 90

I see this card and go "Calculated Risk," since it has the spotting requirement I think it's fine.

If you were just given the game text, you'd think "Ah, these are cards" but if you'll notice the subtleties, they're off-culture with toil, essentially making them 2 culture support cards.

Then we come to the biggest theme: culture-shifted cards. This is a mechanic begun with Aragorn, Defender of Rohan, and now is being continued in many different cultures and places. I was going to originally post the companions that were shifted into the culture, but in the end decided that posting the cards shifted into other cultures was perhaps better. And with that, have some off-culture Dwarves!

•Gimli, Elf-friend
Companion • Dwarf
Str: 6
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Damage +1.
Each time Gimli wins a skirmish, you may make a or companion strength +2 until the regroup phase.
B U 15

As in the missing partner of Legolas, AoM, they go together like elven comrade and unbidden guest. I like him.

•Dáin Ironfoot, Heir of Durin
Companion • Dwarf
Str: 7
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Damage +1. Valiant.
While you can spot a companion Dáin Ironfoot's twilight cost is -1.
Each time the fellowship moves, if Dáin Ironfoot has resistance 4 or more, you may reinforce a or token or draw a card.
B R 22

hehehe I see I jumped the gun a bit in my last post, He's fine.

[ket_the_jet]

Craft of Erebor
Condition • Support Area
Fellowship: Exert a companion and either an companion or a companion to add a token here.
Skirmish: Remove a token here to play a possession from your discard pile.
B C 2

Nice little common there...seems like it would end up in a few decks.

Moria! Moria!
Event • Response
Tale. Toil 3. (When you play this card, you may exert any number of companions to make this card's twilight cost -3 for each companion exerted in this way).
If a minion is killed in a skirmish involving a companion with resistance 4 or more, that minion's owner must discard the top 8 cards of his or her draw deck.
B U 26

Seems very powerful. Toil 2 or twilight.

Bilbo's Legacy
Event • Fellowship
Tale. Toil 2. (When you play this card, you may exert any number of companions to make this card's twilight cost -2 for each companion exerted in this way).
Spot a companion with resistance 4 or more to draw 3 cards.
B C 90

Neat idea. I like this one quite a bit. Delving, or Calculated Risk like L3333 said.

•Gimli, Elf-friend
Companion • Dwarf
Str: 6
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Damage +1.
Each time Gimli wins a skirmish, you may make a or companion strength +2 until the regroup phase.
B U 15

That guy is cool. I wouldn't likely use him, but he is still a nice uncommon.

•Dáin Ironfoot, Heir of Durin
Companion • Dwarf
Str: 7
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Damage +1. Valiant.
While you can spot a companion Dáin Ironfoot's twilight cost is -1.
Each time the fellowship moves, if Dáin Ironfoot has resistance 4 or more, you may reinforce a or token or draw a card.
B R 22

This I like less. I think he should still be ...also, keep in mind when using Valiant that Let Us Be Swift and No Rest for the Weary makes a ton of other cultures superstars in expanded and open!

Edit: Nevermind...that is three Valiant Men... Whoops.
-wtk

[Not a Zombie]

Now we come to the main focus of this multiculture set.

Craft of Erebor
Condition • Support Area
Fellowship: Exert a companion and either an companion or a companion to add a token here.
Skirmish: Remove a token here to play a possession from your discard pile.
B C 2

This is part of the NtFH/SotS etc. cycle from Siege of Gondor, now redone and put in FP and Shadow cultures alike.

Nice! I like it.

Okay now it gets a bit more confusing. Part of this multiculture set is these sorts of events.

Moria! Moria!
Event • Response
Tale. Toil 3. (When you play this card, you may exert any number of companions to make this card's twilight cost -3 for each companion exerted in this way).
If a minion is killed in a skirmish involving a companion with resistance 4 or more, that minion's owner must discard the top 8 cards of his or her draw deck.
B U 26

This is crazy powerful, at a minimum I would make it spot a companion, and I'd also drop it to 5 cards.


Bilbo's Legacy
Event • Fellowship
Tale. Toil 2. (When you play this card, you may exert any number of companions to make this card's twilight cost -2 for each companion exerted in this way).
Spot a companion with resistance 4 or more to draw 3 cards.
B C 90

Its fine, but there are cards that are better. You could probably get away with 4 cards (No pauses, no spills)

If you were just given the game text, you'd think "Ah, these are cards" but if you'll notice the subtleties, they're off-culture with toil, essentially making them 2 culture support cards.

Then we come to the biggest theme: culture-shifted cards. This is a mechanic begun with Aragorn, Defender of Rohan, and now is being continued in many different cultures and places. I was going to originally post the companions that were shifted into the culture, but in the end decided that posting the cards shifted into other cultures was perhaps better. And with that, have some off-culture Dwarves!

•Gimli, Elf-friend
Companion • Dwarf
Str: 6
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Damage +1.
Each time Gimli wins a skirmish, you may make a or companion strength +2 until the regroup phase.
B U 15

Sweet!

•Dáin Ironfoot, Heir of Durin
Companion • Dwarf
Str: 7
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Damage +1. Valiant.
While you can spot a companion Dáin Ironfoot's twilight cost is -1.
Each time the fellowship moves, if Dáin Ironfoot has resistance 4 or more, you may reinforce a or token or draw a card.
B R 22

Very Sweet!

[Thranduil]

Made some changes. I'm glad that the off-culture companions in general made a good impact, and thanks all!

Given we're about to go into the culture, we might as well start with Gimli, Elf-friend's companion:

•Legolas, Dwarf-friend
Companion • Elf
Str: 6
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Archer.
Each time Legolas wins a skirmish, you may heal a or companion.
B U 6

And another culture-shifted Elf - this time with some valiant tribal support.

•Haldir, Naith Leader
Companion • Elf
Str: 6
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Archer. Valiant.
While you can spot a valiant companion, Haldir's twilight cost is -1.
B C 77

With these cross-culture events, I've tried to in general keep to territory that is approached by both cultures. So for example, pre-skirmish wounding is something that both and does (eg. QaMB, Baruk Khazad, Nocked, Weapons of Lothlorien etc.). The culture has an event for each other culture (except ) and so the rules are there a bit more flexible.

Nimble Shot
Event • Archery
Toil 2.
Spot an companion with resistance 7 or more to wound a minion.
"'That one counts as mine!'"
B C 7

Treachery Exposed
Event • Maneuver
Spell. Toil 2.
Spot an companion with resistance 7 or more to reveal each Shadow player's hand.
B U 31