Enough rambling. On to the cards!

Elfstone of Action Enhancement
Artifact • Elfstone
To play, spot an card. Bearer must be a companion. Limit 1 per bearer.
This artifact may be borne in addition to 1 other elfstone.
If bearer has resistance 4 or more, each time bearer exerts to play an event of bearer’s culture or as a cost of his or her special ability, you may heal bearer (limit once per phase).
the titles are kind of weird of course, ow. think about eowyn, or legolas greenleaf. but it is OK theres one thing since artifacts are permanent pretty much, i think that if say, bearer loses a skirmish, discard this artifact, or something like that. for other ones you might want different discard things, but I think all fo them should have something

Elfstone of Armor Enhancement
Artifact • Elfstone
To play, spot an card. Bearer must be a companion (except the Ring-bearer).
This artifact may be borne in addition to 1 other elfstone.
While bearer also bears armor, bearer is vitality +1.
fine by me

Elfstone of Health Enhancement
Artifact • Elfstone
To play, spot an card. Bearer must be a companion.
This artifact may be borne in addition to 1 other elfstone.
Response: If bearer is about to take a wound during an archery or skirmish phase, add to prevent that wound (limit once per turn).
how about with this one, if this companion heals discard this artifact.

Elfstone of Spirit Enhancement
Artifact • Elfstone
Strength +1
Vitality -1
Resistance +1
To play, spot an card. Bearer must be a companion. Limit 1 per bearer.
This artifact may be borne in addition to 1 other elfstone.
If bearer has resistance 4 or more, each time an event is played of bearer’s culture, you may make bearer strength +1 until the end of the regroup phase.
same discard text methinks as the first one.

Elfstone of Slashing Defense
Artifact • Elfstone
To play, spot an card. Bearer must be a companion.
This artifact may be borne in addition to up to 2 other elfstones.
Each minion skirmishing bearer loses all damage bonuses from hand weapons.
this one is fine it doesn’t need the discard thing.

Elfstone of Piercing Defense
Artifact • Elfstone
To play, spot an card. Bearer must be a companion. Limit 1 per bearer.
This artifact may be borne in addition to up to 2 other elfstones.
The minion archery total is -1.
Each minion skirmishing bearer loses all strength and damage bonuses from ranged weapons.
ditto above card

Elfstone of Shadow Protection
Artifact • Elfstone
To play, spot an Elf or Wizard. Bearer must be a companion. Limit 1 per bearer.
This artifact may be borne in addition to 1 other elfstone.
Response: If a Shadow event is played, exert bearer to return that event to its owner’s hand (limit once per phase).
it works, but make it once per turn IMHO

These next three are unique. They’d be way too powerful if they weren’t limited to the skirmish phase, but as is, I THINK they balance out okay. Let me know how wrong I am.

•Elfstone of Nimble Crafting
Artifact • Elfstone
To play, spot an card. Bearer must be a companion.
This artifact may be borne in addition to 1 other elfstone.
Skirmish: Exert bearer to take a non-unique possession into hand from your draw deck or discard pile.
again how about if a free peoples possession bearer bears(optional that they are bearing it) is discarded discard this artifact.

•Elfstone of Fell Shadow
Artifact • Elfstone
Strength +1
Resistance -1
To play, spot a Shadow card. Bearer must be a companion. If bearer is Ring-bound, bearer is resistance -1.
This artifact may be borne in addition to 1 other elfstone (except Elfstone of Pure Light).
Skirmish: Exert bearer and add a burden to choose one of the following: remove all cards borne by a minion bearer is skirmishing, remove the gametext of a minion bearer is skirmishing, wound each minion bearer is skirmishing.
to much text. remove on of the options of things you can do. and add a discard text.

Let me know which, if either, works best.
I didn’t see the difference

•Elfstone of Pure Light
Artifact • Elfstone
Resistance +2
To play, spot an artifact. Bearer must be a companion.
This artifact may be borne in addition to 1 other elfstone (except Elfstone of Fell Shadow).
At the start of bearer’s skirmish, exert bearer to choose one of the following: heal a companion, make a minion lose lurker or fierce, exert each minion bearer is skirmishing.
OK add discard text

EDIT: Oh, I almost forgot! There’s one more elfstone that has nothing to do with The Third Age, which is okay since this set isn’t going to be all about The Third Age like I originally was thinking. Enjoy!

•Stone of Eärendil
Artifact • Elfstone
Resistance +1
To play, spot a unique Elf. Bearer must be Aragorn or a unique Elf.
At the start of each of your turns, you may remove a burden or heal another companion.
“For it is said that those who looked through this stone saw things that were withered or burned healed again or as they were in the grace of their youth, and that the hands of one who held it brought to all that they touched healing from hurt.”

the titles are kind of weird of course, ow. think about eowyn, or legolas greenleaf. but it is OK theres one thing since artifacts are permanent pretty much, i think that if say, bearer loses a skirmish, discard this artifact, or something like that. for other ones you might want different discard things, but I think all fo them should have something

it works, but make it once per turn IMHO

again how about if a free peoples possession bearer bears(optional that they are bearing it) is discarded discard this artifact.

to much text. remove on of the options of things you can do. and add a discard text.

I didn’t see the difference

OK add discard text

its fine

Elfstone of Action Enhancement
Artifact • Elfstone
To play, spot an card. Bearer must be a companion. Limit 1 per bearer.
This artifact may be borne in addition to 1 other elfstone.
If bearer has resistance 5 or more, each time bearer exerts to play an event of bearer’s culture or as a cost of his or her special ability, you may heal bearer (limit once per phase).

Elfstone of Armor Enhancement
Artifact • Elfstone
To play, spot an card. Bearer must be a companion (except the Ring-bearer).
This artifact may be borne in addition to 1 other elfstone.
While bearer also bears armor, bearer is vitality +1.

Elfstone of Health Enhancement
Artifact • Elfstone
To play, spot an card. Bearer must be a companion.
This artifact may be borne in addition to 1 other elfstone.
Response: If bearer is about to take a wound during an archery or skirmish phase, add to prevent that wound (limit once per turn).

Elfstone of Spirit Enhancement
Artifact • Elfstone
Strength +1
Vitality -1
Resistance +1
To play, spot an card. Bearer must be a companion. Limit 1 per bearer.
This artifact may be borne in addition to 1 other elfstone.
If bearer has resistance 5 or more, each time an event is played of bearer’s culture, you may make bearer strength +1 until the end of the regroup phase.

Elfstone of Slashing Defense
Artifact • Elfstone
To play, spot an card. Bearer must be a companion.
This artifact may be borne in addition to up to 2 other elfstones.
Each minion skirmishing bearer loses all damage bonuses from hand weapons.

Elfstone of Piercing Defense
Artifact • Elfstone
To play, spot an card. Bearer must be a companion. Limit 1 per bearer.
This artifact may be borne in addition to up to 2 other elfstones.
The minion archery total is -1.
Each minion skirmishing bearer loses all strength and damage bonuses from ranged weapons.

Elfstone of Shadow Protection
Artifact • Elfstone
To play, spot an Elf or Wizard. Bearer must be a companion. Limit 1 per bearer.
This artifact may be borne in addition to 1 other elfstone.
Response: If a Shadow event is played, exert bearer to return that event to its owner’s hand (limit twice per turn).

•Elfstone of Nimble Crafting
Artifact • Elfstone
To play, spot an card. Bearer must be a companion.
This artifact may be borne in addition to 1 other elfstone.
Skirmish: Exert bearer to take a non-unique possession into hand from your draw deck or discard pile.

•Elfstone of Fell Shadow
Artifact • Elfstone
Strength +1
Resistance -1
To play, spot a Shadow card. Bearer must be a companion. If bearer is Ring-bound, bearer is resistance -1.
This artifact may be borne in addition to 1 other non-unique elfstone (except Elfstone of Pure Light).
Skirmish: Exert bearer and add a burden to choose one of the following: remove all cards borne by a minion bearer is skirmishing, remove the gametext of a minion bearer is skirmishing, wound each minion bearer is skirmishing.

•Elfstone of Pure Light
Artifact • Elfstone
Resistance +2
To play, spot an artifact. Bearer must be a companion.
This artifact may be borne in addition to 1 other elfstone (except Elfstone of Fell Shadow).
At the start of bearer’s skirmish, you may exert bearer to choose one of the following: heal a companion, make a minion lose lurker or fierce, exert each minion bearer is skirmishing.

•Stone of Eärendil
Artifact • Elfstone
Resistance +1
To play, spot a unique Elf. Bearer must be Aragorn or a unique Elf.
At the start of each of your turns, you may remove a burden or heal another companion.
“For it is said that those who looked through this stone saw things that were withered or burned healed again or as they were in the grace of their youth, and that the hands of one who held it brought to all that they touched healing from hurt.”

Yikes, I think I’d increase the resistance thingy to 6 or maybe even 7.

I dunno... having 4 copies of this could absolutely kick butt. I’d have it add instead of , or even better, add a threat to prevent the wound.

Compared to Elven Cloak, it seems a bit better. I’d make it cost 2.

I’m pretty sure that this would benefit the Shadow player a lot... if I’m correct, the event would be played and it’s effect carried out, and then the Freeps would return it to hand.

Ooh... I’d say increase the cost to 2.

Wow... this would be crazy on the Ring-bearer. I’d make it always resistance -2, adn keep the extra -1 for Ring-bound.

The last part (exerting each minion he’s skirmishing) seems like it could be too good with Power According to His Stature. I’d make it only exert 1 minion bearer is skirmishing.

Cool idea, but I think it needs a cost for the ability.

In The Third Age, you can give any of your heroes up to four elfstones and they hold them like any other piece of equipment (shield, sword, etc.).

OK thanks as I see it your options with each of them are,
1 give them discard abilities
2. give them limit 1
3. make it so you can only bear 1.

Still deciding what exactly to do about a couple of the Elfstones, but for now, here’s a slew of cards, from possessions to artifacts to events. Because there’s so many cards, I’ll refrain from comment for most of them and let you just soak them all in...and I’ll let people tackle them in groups, as many as they feel they can review at a time. Enjoy!

•Hadhod, Warrior of Erebor
Companion • Dwarf
Strength: 7
Vitality: 4
Signet: Thorin
Damage +1.
While you can spot a card, Hadhod’s twilight cost is -1.
Skirmish: If Hadhod is in a skirmish, exert him to play a skirmish event from your draw deck.
“‘We’ll see about that!’”
Pretty cool. Reminds me of Leofric. If that’s how you spell it...

Our second version of Hadhod (the first, Dwarven Companion is back on the first page of this thread) is a little less splashable than the previous version. Whereas that one is pretty culture-non-specific, this one is clearly better with some Dwarven support around him. Still, he’s not entirely reliant on other Dwarves. He’s kind of like a beefed-up Gimli.

Speaking of whom....

•Gimli, Defender of Helm’s Deep
Companion • Dwarf
Strength: 6
Vitality: 3
Signet: Berethor
Damage +1.
While at a mountain site, Gimli is strength +1.
While at a battleground, Gimli is strength +1.
Assignment: Exert Gimli to make a minion lose fierce until the regroup phase.
“‘It does my heart good to be so close to the mountains...this is good quality rock.’”
Seems like a fairly good Gimli. The assignment ability is pretty cool... but perhaps add another cost (adding a threat, perhaps?) to make it work. It could be a TAD overpowered as is. I dont know though, I’m not a very good judge of these things. The strength bonuses are nice as well.

Gimli is one of several familiar faces to appear in The Third Age, joining your party to fight alongside Berethor and company at the breached Deeping Wall (hence the unusual signet). Not much else to say about him. He’s pretty strong, but not overly so, I don’t think. His ability is focused on his in-game ability to stun minions...which is represented here by his ability to take away fierceness.

•Map of the Mines
Possession • Support Area
To play, spot a card.
Each time the fellowship moves to a mountain or underground site, draw a card for each of the following you can spot: Dwarf, Elf, ranger. Discard a card if you can spot a card.
“‘It would appear we have discovered the last delving of the Dwarves. The great Mithril Pit....So what do we wait for? Let us follow it!’”

Finding this map is the initial reason Hadhod joins the party. It turns out to be their only guide out of a goblin-infested Moria.
Its a cool card... but in the right deck, that card drawing could be very powerful...

Now a bunch of weapons and other equipment used by Hadhod, and several conditions and events representing the in-game skills of Gimli and Hadhod.

Steel Walking Axe
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +2
Bearer must be a Dwarf.
While skirmishing a roaming minion, tracker, or hunter, bearer is strength +1.
Erebor walking axes are both weapons and walking sticks.
No complaints here.

Battle Axe of Moria
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +1
Bearer must be a Dwarf.
Bearer is defender +1 and is strength +1 for each minion in his skirmish.
When played at an underground or mountain site, this possession’s twilight cost is -1.
A traditional double-bladed weapon, the result of generations of craft.
A NON-UNIQUE axe that makes Defender+1? That’s powerful. Perhaps... defender+1 at an underground or mountain site? and then you could change the cost reduction ability for something else... or make it start as cost.

•War Hammer of Helm
Artifact • Hand Weapon
Strength +2
Bearer must be a Dwarf.
Bearer is damage +1.
While bearer is not wounded, he is strength +1.
A rare artifact of Dwarven heritage, powerful and deadly.
This is a cool card. Nice, simple, and strong. Dwarven style, all the way.

•Mithril Piercing Axe
Artifact • Hand Weapon
Strength +2
Bearer must be a Dwarf.
Bearer is damage +1.
Each minion skirmishing bearer that does not bear armor is strength -1.
An axe using a rare design for tunnels too narrow to swing in.
Cool... but it probably doesn’t need to be unique.

Velvet Hauberk
Possession • Armor
Bearer must be a Dwarf.
Each minion skirmishing bearer loses all damage bonuses from weapons and strength bonuses from hand weapons.
Velvet overshirt and skirt lined with sturdy chain-mail.
Mithril-Coat does the same thing, for unique and cost . Well, mostly the same thing. Maybe up the cost to ?

•Mithril Scale-Mail Hauberk
Artifact • Armor
Strength +1
Vitality +1
Bearer must be a Dwarf.
Each minion skirmishing bearer loses all strength and damage bonuses from weapons.
Armor crafted from unbreakable mithril scales, made for the greatest of Dwarven heroes.
Nice. Definately another Durin pumper.

•Dragon Helm of the Second Age
Artifact • Helm
Bearer must be a Dwarf.
Bearer may not be overwhelmed unless his strength is tripled.
While skirmishing a minion, bearer is strength +1.
An ancient mithril and bronze helm, made with craft long past.
I doubt it needs to be unique. Or you could lower the cost. After all, its a lot like dwarven armor, just with an itty-bitty strength bonus.

Moria Battle Shield
Possession • Shield
Bearer must be a Dwarf.
Response: If bearer is about to take a wound, add (or if at an underground site) to prevent that.
Dwarven hardwood shields were built for tunnel combat and banded in steel and bronze.
This way, no dwarves would ever take wounds. Combine this with the possession above, and overwhelming wouldn’t be much of an issue, either. Something else needs to happen to prevent those wounds (threat-adding, maybe?) Though there are plenty of threat-adding effects already... maybe you could make a card for threat removal...

Erebor Rage
Condition • Support Area
Skirmish: Discard this condition to make a Dwarf strength +1 for each of the following that is true: he is at a battleground or mountain site; he is bearing a hand weapon; he is in a fierce skirmish; he is skirmishing an Orc or Uruk-hai.
A lot like His Father’s Charge. It’s a pretty good card.

Wrath of Moria
Event • Skirmish
Exert a Dwarf bearing a hand weapon to wound a minion. Then, if that Dwarf is at a mountain site, exert that minion.
An enraged Dwarf with an axe is an unwelcome sight for any Orc...and was a short one for Saruman’s Uruk-hai at Helm’s Deep.
The lore is amazing. The ability is nice. Maybe make it a maneuver event, though? It would be *slightly* more useful.

Stunning Cleave
Event • Skirmish
Exert a Dwarf skirmishing a fierce minion to make that Dwarf strength +2. If that Dwarf wins that skirmish, each minion in that skirmish loses fierce and is unable to gain fierce until the regroup phase.
Years of guarding their realms from Orcs has given the Elves of Mirkwood and Lothlórien unmatched skill in battle, skills which proved invaluable against the Uruks at Helm’s Deep.
A nice event.

Cleaving Wound
Condition
If a Dwarf bearing a hand weapon wins a skirmish, exert that Dwarf to play this condition on a minion in that skirmish.
At the start of each skirmish, wound bearer.
Dwarven axes leave deep wounds.
Amazingly cool and unique. Good against fierce, or double-moving. Waaaiiiit, this also triggers at the start of OTHER minions’ skirmishes??? That’s awesome!

Goblin Bane
Event • Skirmish
Exert a Dwarf to wound an Orc (or wound a Orc twice).
The hatred the Dwarves of Moria have for their kingdom’s new residents runs deep.
Meh. It’s pretty specific. But cool.

Rampage of Durin
Event • Skirmish
If a Dwarf is assigned to a skirmish, exert that Dwarf twice (or once if Hadhod) and add [X] to wound a minion in that skirmish X times.
An enraged Dwarf can strike many blows before an enemy has any chance to react.
Again, adding twilight is a poor cost, unless you really, really want to double. And if there’s a strong minion on the board, you want to kill it before doubling anyways. However, it does take exerting twice... its fairly balanced, I’d say.

I know it’s a lot, so no rush on reviewing them all. I’ll bump the thread if it gets TOO low.