Light & Shadow Block Review

[Thranduil]

Possible Subtitles:

Lord of the Golden Wood.
Silver Tree.
Prince of Doriath.
Silver-Hair.
Wisest and Tall.

For what it is worth, Marton Csokas as Celeborn always looked like a cheap male porn star to me. Imagine him with a mustache!
-wtk

Yeah thanks ket - those are actually quite good!

I think I've said it more than once, the names for pretty much all of the cards are more like playtest names so I desperately want suggestions on new ones for any of them that sound a little bad or confusing (I hear particularly the Galadriel RB argument, but I want to make it clear that her ability is permanent Nenya, Ring of Adamant; i could make her Bearer of Nenya, but then she sounds a little more like a RB (cf. Bearer of Wisdom) and is a little too close to Keeper of Nenya). I'm not a huge fan of Unrelenting, for example.

Thranduil

[Thranduil]

I changed Celeborn's subtitle (sorry Felipe!).

Now we're onto the next culture.

L&S (20, 8/6/6)
Dazzling Flash
Event • Skirmish
Spell.
Make a companion strength +2. If that companion is a Wizard and he wins that skirmish, you may remove a burden.
"It flared with a sudden white radiance like lightning; and his voice rolled like thunder."
L C 29

•Gandalf, Defender of Middle-Earth
Companion • Wizard
Str: 7
Vit: 4
Res: 8
Unyielding. (Gandalf's resistance is not reduced by the number of burdens).
Each other unbound companion is resistance +2.
"They came therefore in the shape of Men, though they were never young and aged only slowly, and they had many powers of mind and hand."
L C 30

•Gandalf, Mover of All
Companion • Wizard
Str: 7
Vit: 4
Res: 8
While the number of twilight tokens is equal to Gandalf's strength, Shadow skirmish events may not be played.
While the number of twilight tokens is equal to Gandalf's vitality, he cannot take wounds.
While the number of twilight tokens is equal to Gandalf's resistance, burdens may not be added by Shadow cards.
"'For... this is his victory.'"
L R 31

•Gandalf's Staff, Wizards' Device
Artifact • Staff
Vit: +1
Bearer must be Gandalf.
At the start of the maneuver phase, you may add to take a spell into hand from your discard pile.
"'I once knew every spell in all the tongues of Elves or Men or Orcs...'"
L R 32

•Glamdring, Lightning Brand (reprint)
Possession • Hand Weapon
Str: +2
Bearer must be Gandalf.
He is damage +1.
Each time you play a spell during a skirmish, you may make Gandalf damage +1 until the end of that skirmish.
"'Thunder they heard, and lightning... smote upon Celebdil, and leaped back broken into tongues of fire.'"
L R 33

Go Back to the Shadow!
Event • Response
If a Shadow event is played, exert a Wizard to cancel that event.
You may play this event from your discard pile. If you do, then place the Wizard you exerted in the dead pile.
"With a terrible cry the Balrog fell forward, and its shadow plunged down and vanished."
L R 34

His Voice Boomed
Event • Maneuver
Spell.
Exert a Wizard and add a burden to return a non-fierce minion to its owner's hand.
"‘Fly, if you value your foul skin! I will shrivel you from tail to snout, if you come within this ring.'"
L U 35

Intimidate (reprint)
Event • Response
Spell.
If a companion is about to take a wound, spot Gandalf to prevent that wound.
"There was a ringing clash and a stab of white fire. The Balrog fell back, and its sword flew up in molten fragments."
L C 36

Kindled Hearts
Condition • Unbound Companion
Res: +2
Spell.
To play, spot a Wizard. Limit 1 per bearer.
"‘With Dwarf and Hobbit, Elves and Men, / with mortal and immortal folk, / with bird on bough and beast in den, / in their own secret tongues he spoke.'"
L C 37

The Last Race
Event • Regroup
This event's twilight cost is -1 for each companion with resistance 6 or more.
Spot a Wizard to make the move limit +1 and foresee 3. Each Shadow player may discard up to 2 cards from hand to draw that many cards. (To foresee 3, look at the top 3 cards of your draw deck; place any number of those cards on top of your draw deck in any order, and the rest beneath your draw deck in any order).
L U 38

Lighting the Way ***
Event • Maneuver
Spell.
Exert a Wizard twice to make each companion (except the Ring-bearer) unyielding until the regroup phase. (The resistance of unyielding companions is not reduced by the number of burdens).
L U 39

•Narya, Hidden Fire
Artifact • Ring
Vit: +1
Bearer must be Gandalf.
Response: If a Shadow card is about to add any number of twilight tokens, discard a card from hand to prevent that.
"'I am the servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame or Anor.'"
L R 40

The Path of Wisdom
Condition • Support Area
When you play this condition, you may foresee 2. (To foresee 2, look at the top 2 cards of your draw deck; place any number of those cards on top of your draw deck in any order, and the rest beneath your draw deck in any order).
Maneuver: Exert a Wizard to reveal the top card of your draw deck. If it is a Free Peoples card, remove . If it is a Shadow card, add .
"‘… he that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom.'"
L U 41

•Radagast, Traveller in Great Need
Companion • Wizard
Str: 8
Vit: 4
Res: 6
Unhasty. Unyielding. (Radagast cannot be assigned to a skirmish by the Free Peoples player unless a Free Peoples card allows him to do so and his resistance is not reduced by the number of burdens).
While you can spot Gandalf, Radagast's twilight cost is -2.
Response: If you play a event, allow Radagast to be assigned to skirmishes until the regroup phase.
"‘Gandalf!' he cried. ‘I was seeking you. But I am a stranger in these parts.'"
L U 42

Strength of Spirit (reprint)
Event • Response
Spell.
If a companion is about to exert, spot Gandalf to place no token for that exertion.
"‘He cannot stand alone!'"
L C 43

•A True Company
Condition • Support Area
To play, exert a Wizard and remove 2 burdens.
If a companion is killed, remove this condition from the game and add 3 burdens.
"‘Then it has all been in vain! The Fellowship has failed.' ‘Not if we hold true to each other.'"
L R 44

Wisdom Renowned
Condition • Support Area
Tale.
Skirmish: Discard this condition to make a companion strength and resistance +1 (or strength and resistance +2 if that companion is a Wizard).
L C 45

Wise Companions
Event • Skirmish
Spot a Wizard to make a companion strength +2 (or +3 if that companion has resistance 6 or more).
L U 46

Wizard's Staff (reprint)
Possession • Staff
Str: +1
Bearer must be a Wizard.
Skirmish: Exert bearer twice to make a minion strength -3.
"At that moment Gandalf lifted his staff, and crying aloud he smote the bridge before him."
L C 47

Word of Command
Event • Fellowship
Spell.
Spot a Wizard to discard a condition.
"‘The door burst in pieces… All the wall gave way, and the roof of the chamber as well, I think.'"
L C 48

TW (9, 4/3/2)
Friend to Gandalf
Condition • Companion
To play, spot Gandalf.
Bearer gains the culture and the Gandalf signet.
Regroup: Discard this condition to heal Gandalf.
T U 15

•Great Trials
Condition • Support Area
Tale.
While you can spot a Wizard, each Free Peoples card gains toil 1.
Response: If you play a card with toil X, exert a Wizard companion to make that card's twilight cost -X.
T R 16

Have Patience (reprint)
Event • Fellowship
Spot Gandalf to heal an unbound companion twice.
T C 17

•Hugin, Lake-town Ambassador
Companion • Man
Str: 5
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Each event you play gains toil 1.
T C 18

•Ottar, Lake-town Ambassador
Companion • Man
Str: 5
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Fellowship: Exert Ottar to foresee 2; reveal and take into hand each card you foresee. (To foresee 2, look at the top 2 cards of your draw deck; place any number of those cards on top of your draw deck in any order, and the rest beneath your draw deck in any order).
T C 19

Root Out the Shadow ***
Event • Skirmish
Search.
Make a companion strength +2 (and discard an or condition).
T C 20

•Treebeard, Fangorn
Companion • Ent
Str: 12
Vit: 4
Res: 7
Unhasty. Unyielding. (Treebeard cannot be assigned to a skirmish by the Free Peoples player unless a Free Peoples card allows him to do so and his resistance is not reduced by the number of burdens).
At the start of the assignment phase, you may reveal the top card of your draw deck. If it is a or card, you may assign unhasty companions until the regroup phase.
While Treebeard has resistance 6 or more, he is damage +2.
T U 21

United in Bravery
Event • Skirmish
Spell.
To play, spot a Wizard.
Exert any number of companions to discard a minion with strength less than the total resistance of those companions.
T R 22

Valour of the West
Event • Skirmish
Tale. Toil 3.
Make a companion with resistance 6 or more strength +5.
T U 23

BL (13, 6/4/3)
Alliance of the Free Peoples
Event • Maneuver
Toil 2.
, , , and companions may exert for this card's toil.
Spot Gandalf to make each unbound companion strength and resistance +5 until the regroup phase.
B R 21

•Dáin Ironfoot, Heir of Durin
Companion • Dwarf
Str: 7
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Damage +1. Valiant.
While you can spot a or 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

•Gandalf, Olórin
Companion • Wizard
Str: 8
Vit: 4
Res: 7
Valiant.
Gandalf gains the cultures of each other companion with resistance 6 or more.
B U 23

•Gandalf's Cart, Purveyor of Fireworks
Possession
Res: +1
Bearer must be Gandalf.
Fellowship or Regroup: Exert Gandalf to shuffle up to 2 or cards from your discard pile into your draw deck.
B R 24

•Merry, Hasty Hobbit
Companion • Hobbit
Str: 3
Vit: 4
Res: 8
Skirmish: Exert Merry to make another or companion strength +1.
B C 25

Moria! Moria!
Event • Response
Tale. Toil 2.
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

Not the First Halfling (reprint)
Condition • Support Area
Fellowship: Exert Gandalf and either an companion or a companion to add a token here.
Skirmish: Remove a token here to make a minion skirmishing an unbound companion strength -2.
B C 27

•Pippin, Hasty Hobbit
Companion • Hobbit
Str: 3
Vit: 4
Res: 8
Each other and companion (except in your starting fellowship) is twilight cost -1.
B C 28

Sound Advice ***
Event • Maneuver
Stealth. Toil 2.
Make a companion with resistance 8 or more strength +2 until the regroup phase.
B C 29

Stay at Your Posts!
Condition • Support Area
Fortification. Toil 2.
Maneuver: Discard this condition and spot a companion with resistance 5 or more to discard a possession from play.
B C 30

•Théoden, Returned
Companion • Man
Str: 7
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Valiant.
While you can spot a or companion, Théoden's twilight cost is -1.
Each time you play a or event, you may exert Théoden to exert a minion.
B U 31

Treachery Exposed ***
Event • Maneuver
Spell. Toil 2.
Spot an companion with resistance 7 or more to reveal each Shadow player's hand.
B U 32

Unstoppable Charge ***
Event • Regroup
Toil 3.
Spot 2 companions with resistance 3 or more to discard each minion.
B C 33

[ket_the_jet]

Maybe a dumb question, but why isn't it "!•Narya, Flame of Anor?"

Anyways, as for subtitles this round...
Gandalf, Mover of All could be:
Gandalf, Wisest Counsel
Gandalf, Friend to Those In Need
Gandalf, Adamant Counselor

Radagast, Traveler in Great Need could be:
Radagast, Long-Traveled Friend
Radagast, Colors and Hues
Radagast, Bearer of Bad Tidings

Back to the last round...
Elrond, Ring-Bearer could be:
Elrond, Keeper In Secret
Elrond, Wielder of Air
Elrond, Eyebrows

Likewise, Galadriel, Ring-Bearer could be:
Galadriel, Keeper In Secret
Galadriel, Keeper of Adamant
Galadriel, Legs, Tits, and #$&*@!

I love Cate Blanchett. Thoughts?
-wtk

[legolas3333]

Yeah, Gandalf, Mover Of All sounds like a U-Haul worker, if you're going for a play on the line "For this is the ring of fire and with it you may rekindle hearts in a world that grows chill" you could do something along the lines of Inspiring Leader, or Rousing Leader

[Thranduil]

Thanks ket! If this was not virtual, I might kiss you!

But, if you're going to go crazy on my subtitles, then please do the same for my non-character card titles - I keep saying they're really playtest names and nobody seems to believe me!

Thranduil

[ket_the_jet]

But, if you're going to go crazy on my subtitles, then please do the same for my non-character card titles - I keep saying they're really playtest names and nobody seems to believe me!

I tell you what...I don't mind seeing what I can do, but maybe put an asterisk or use a different color or something by/for card titles that are, well, works in progress. That will hone my search a little bit.
-wtk

[Cw0rk]

The Gandalf culture looks really interesting!

Friend to Gandalf: Looks pretty cool, however what is the point of giving the Gandalf signet when there are no cards working with the Gandalf signet in the set?

Pippin, Hasty Hobbit: So Pippin's twilight cost is -1 as well? Ok.

[Sam, Great Elf Warrior]

Pippin, Hasty Hobbit: So Pippin's twilight cost is -1 as well? Ok.

I don't think so; the card's game text doesn't become active until after it's played (compare to cards like Orc Ambusher). Note that cards that specifically reduce their own twilight cost (e.g. Eomer) fall under the cards-override-the-rules exception (similar to Gollum, PD, whose text works when he's in your discard pile rather than in play).

It would help to say "Each other and companion..." though.

[Sam, Great Elf Warrior]

•Gandalf, Olórin
Companion • Wizard
Str: 8
Vit: 4
Res: 7
Valiant.
Gandalf gains the cultures of each other companion with resistance 6 or more.
B U 23

Have you checked this for broken combinations or infinite loops?

I notice that this would let you throw Arwen's Bow and Arwen's Dagger on him, give him both The Saga of Elendil and Coif, or load him up with multiple conditions like Reckless Pride in the same turn, making him too powerful even without some broken combo. What other cards play on "a [culture] companion" without race specifications?

[Thranduil]

Friend to Gandalf: Looks pretty cool, however what is the point of giving the Gandalf signet when there are no cards working with the Gandalf signet in the set?

It may look a bit bizarre, but I'm not just making cards to support block or standard formats - I have to make cards that support expanded as well. I basically thought that if that card was made in Movie Block, there would be no excuse to leave off the signet, and so I put it on. I'm not sure about it, it might be a little bit too anachronistic.

It would help to say "Each other and companion..." though.

Correct, and done. In fact I don't know why I didn't say that in the first place.

Have you checked this for broken combinations or infinite loops?

Not I have not! This would be your job as reviewers, playtesters and deck-builders! Generally I just try to make cool cards and let the deckbuilders work out what to do with them.

What other cards play on "a [culture] companion" without race specifications?

The whole entirety of this block!

Thranduil

[Thranduil]

I've decided to go through all FP cultures together. So, in that vein, let's have (titles with asterixes I consider to be particularly bad!):

L&S (8, 3/3/2)
A Dramatic Change (FP)
Event • Skirmish
Make Sméagol strength +2 (or strength +3 if the Ring-bearer is not wearing The One Ring).
"‘No, no!' said Gollum. ‘Sméagol promised.'"
L C 50

Nice Little Hobbitses (FP)
Event • Skirmish
Spot Sméagol to make a Ring-bound companion strength +2 (or +3 if the Ring-bearer is unwounded).
"‘They won't hurt us will they…'"
L U 56

Off We Go! (FP)
Event • Maneuver
Stealth.
Spot Sméagol to heal the Ring-bearer (or heal the Ring-bearer twice if he or she has resistance 6 or more).
L C 57

Serving the Master (FP)
Event • Response
When you play this card, you may foresee 2. (To foresee 2, look at the top 2 cards of your draw deck; place any number of those cards on top of your draw deck in any order and the rest beneath your draw deck in any order).
If the Ring-bearer is about to take a wound (or a burden that is in place of a wound), exert Sméagol or Gollum to prevent that wound (or burden).
"He would cackle with laughter and caper, if any jest was made, or even if Frodo spoke kindly to him, and weep if Frodo rebuked him."
L U 58

•Sméagol, Slippery Creature (FP)
Companion
Str: 3
Vit: 4
Res: 5
Ring-bound. Traitor. (Traitor is unloaded).
To play, add a burden.
Response: If a minion uses a special ability, exert Sméagol and add a burden to cancel its effects.
"‘Don't hurt us! Don't let them hurt us, precious!'"
L R 59

•Sméagol, Sworn to the Precious (FP)
Companion
Str: 3
Vit: 4
Res: 5
Ring-bound. Traitor. (Traitor is unloaded).
To play, add a burden.
While the Ring-bearer is not wearing The One Ring, Sméagol is strength and resistance +2.
"‘We'll be nice to them, very nice, if they'll be nice to us…'"
L C 60

•Sméagol's Promise (FP)
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot Sméagol.
While you can spot a Ring-bearer, Sméagol is resistance +2.
Skirmish: Discard this condition and exert Sméagol twice to make the Ring-bearer take off The One Ring.
"‘I will serve the master of the Precious.'"
L R 61

Wretchedness (FP)
Condition • Support Area
Stealth.
When you play this condition, you may reveal the top card of your draw deck. If it is a event, you may take it into hand.
While your Ring-bearer has resistance 6 or more, Sméagol cannot be overwhelmed unless his strength is tripled.
L U 64



TW (5, 2/2/1)
Go Away! (FP)
Event • Skirmish
Make a character strength +2 (and wound a character he or she is skirmishing).
T C 26

Hiding from the Shadow (FP)
Event • Fellowship or Regroup
Stealth.
Choose one: play Sméagol from your draw deck or discard pile; or spot Sméagol to take into hand a stealth card from your discard pile.
T U 27

Leading in Secret (FP) ***
Event • Regroup
Stealth.
To play, spot Sméagol.
If the total resistance of Ring-bound companions is 21 or more, remove and heal each of those companions.
T R 28

Pleasing to Masster (FP)
Condition • Support Area
Stealth.
Regroup: Exert Sméagol twice to foresee 2. Then reveal the top card of your draw deck. If it is a or card, you may remove a burden. (To foresee 2, look at the top 2 cards of your draw deck; place any number of those cards on top of your draw deck in any order and the rest beneath your draw deck in any order).
T C 29

We Must Hurry! (FP)
Event • Regroup
When you play this card, you may exert any number of characters to make this card's twilight cost -2 for each character you exerted in this way.
Make the move limit +1.
T U 33



BL (3, 1/1/1)
•Covert Deeds (FP) ***
Condition • Support Area
Stealth.
To play, spot Sméagol.
Each Shadow player plays with the top card of their draw deck faceup.
Regroup: Discard this condition to discard a minion with the same twilight cost as the top card of a Shadow player's draw deck.
B R 34

Secret Ways (FP) ***
Condition • Support Area
Fellowship: Exert Sméagol and either a or companion to add a token here.
Regroup: Remove a token here to play the fellowship's next site.
B C 37

Share the Load (FP)
Event • Fellowship
Toil 2. (When you play this card, you may exert any number of your characters to make this card's twilight cost -2 for each character exerted in this way).
Spot a companion to remove 2 burdens.
B U 38

[Cw0rk]

I feel like Pleasing to his master has some crazy loop potential with The Shire Countryside.

We must Hurry has no cultural enforcement, it may makes it too good compared to Last Throw or Durin's Secret.

Cover Deeds is pretty cool.

[legolas3333]

share the load seems powerful in comparison to the more the merrier, especially since it is a regroup event maybe make it exert a shire companion

[Thranduil]

I feel like Pleasing to his master has some crazy loop potential with The Shire Countryside.

It's not CRAAZY. It's okay. You get to do it one more time, but this still involves you having more and cards on the top of your deck. And TSC is on the X-list.

We must Hurry has no cultural enforcement, it may makes it too good compared to Last Throw or Durin's Secret.

Yeah - could be that it should be more expensive. Or maybe it should allow some Shadow players some advantage? I generally think that most cards that add to the move limit aren't especially good for their cost, so I perhaps was trying to push the power level.

share the load seems powerful in comparison to the more the merrier, especially since it is a regroup event maybe make it exert a shire companion

Yeah it is good, but The More, the Merrier has never seemed particularly good to me. I might make it a fellowship event, given there seems to be an overwhelming regroup theme otherwise to the culture that I had not noticed before...

Thranduil

[legolas3333]

share the load seems powerful in comparison to the more the merrier, especially since it is a regroup event maybe make it exert a shire companion

Yeah it is good, but The More, the Merrier has never seemed particularly good to me. I might make it a fellowship event, given there seems to be an overwhelming regroup theme otherwise to the culture that I had not noticed before...

Thranduil

Yeah changing it to fellowship would make it fine
the problem with it is you can add 4 twilight in regroup to remove 2 burdens, then stop moving, fellowship seems to make the toil more necessary.