The Last Homely House
Middle-Earth => Chamber of Mazarbul => Topic started by: Thranduil on November 12, 2008, 02:08:01 PM
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Some of you old timers may remember my old Hobbit block consisting of 3 sets: The Hobbit, The Battle of Five Armies and The White Council. Well, recently I've been retouching them (and putting them into lackey - cough! cough! :whistle:) and I think I've managed to approach one of the strategies from a rather different angle and I thought you guys might want to take a look.
Those who reviewed my cards on the old CC may remember the strategy of site-stacking seen in The Battle of Five Armies (set H2) whereby you could stack sites on your cards then discard them (which returned them to their adventure decks) for an effect. The motivation behind this was that I wanted to do more with the adventure decks because at the moment they just sit there and do very little else. Well, I've decided to retouch this idea and, in fact, scrap it! :mrgreen:
Instead, I'm following the same motivation to a different conclusion which is still focused on doing things with the adventure decks and the adventure path. So, here are some of the [Gandalf] cards - let me know what you think!
These 2 companions are obviously very simple and hardly groundbreaking, just there as a quick introduction into the concept. (By the way, the Eagle strategy works by continually discarding and replaying your Eagles and Wizards).
[2] Farsighted Eagle [Gandalf]
Companion • Eagle
Str: 5
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Winged (This companion can only take 1 wound per phase).
When you play this companion, you may spot 2 [Gandalf] companions to replace the current site with a site from your adventure deck.
... he could see the glint of the moon on goblin spears and helmets...
H2 U 63
[2] Circling Eagle [Gandalf]
Companion • Eagle
Str: 5
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Winged (This companion can only take 1 wound per phase).
When you play this companion, you may spot 2 [Gandalf] companions to play the fellowship’s next site.
... they began to go down circling round in great spirals.
H2 U 59
Now we get into something rather different to begin thinking about manipulation the adventure deck directly.
[2] Eagle’s Eyrie [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
When you play this condition, you may spot an Eagle to return your site on the adventure path to your adventure deck and choose an opponent to replace it.
Skirmish: Reveal up to 3 sites from your adventure deck to make an Eagle strength +1 and damage +1 for each mountain site revealed. Discard this condition.
You ought not to be rude to an Eagle, when you... are up in his eyrie at night.
H2 U 62
Now come more expositions on the theme.
(0) Circling High [Gandalf]
Event • Maneuver
Spot an Eagle and reveal a site from your adventure deck to, until the end of the turn, make the current site gain the game text of the revealed site.
... the birds were already high up...
H2 U 60
[1] Down the Wind [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Spot an Eagle and reveal a site from your adventure deck with Shadow number 3 to wound an unwinged (ie. without the "Winged" keyword as showcased by the companions above) minion skirmishing that Eagle.
Just at that moment, the Lord of the Eagles swept down from above...
H2 U 61
Next time will have some more different stuff.
Thranduil
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Hooray thank god you scrapped the stacking sites thing!
[2] Farsighted Eagle [Gandalf]
Companion • Eagle
Str: 5
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Winged (This companion can only take 1 wound per phase).
When you play this companion, you may spot 3 [Gandalf] companions to replace the current site with a site from your adventure deck.
... he could see the glint of the moon on goblin spears and helmets...
H2 U 63
The ranger from shadows was better, think you could easily lower the spotted companion number.
[2] Circling Eagle [Gandalf]
Companion • Eagle
Str: 5
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Winged (This companion can only take 1 wound per phase).
When you play this companion, you may spot 3 [Gandalf] companions to play the fellowship’s next site.
... they began to go down circling round in great spirals.
H2 U 59
See above, though much better than "carrying" sites!
[2] Eagle’s Eyrie [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
When you play this condition, you may spot an Eagle to return your site on the adventure path to your adventure deck and choose an opponent to replace it.
Skirmish: Reveal up to 3 sites from your adventure deck to make an Eagle strength +1 and damage +1 for each mountain site revealed. Discard this condition.
You ought not to be rude to an Eagle, when you... are up in his eyrie at night.
H2 U 62
Cool, do you choose or is it random from your adventure deck? Otherwise its always going to be 3 mountains if u pick isnt it (except if your low on sites obviously)?
(0) Circling High [Gandalf]
Event • Maneuver
Spot an Eagle and reveal a site from your adventure deck to, until the end of the turn, make the current site gain the game text of the revealed site.
... the birds were already high up...
H2 U 60
I think this answers my previous question. Fair enough.
(0) Down the Wind [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Spot an Eagle and reveal a site from your adventure deck with Shadow number 2 or more to wound an unwinged (ie. without the "Winged" keyword as showcased by the companions above) minion skirmishing that Eagle.
Just at that moment, the Lord of the Eagles swept down from above...
H2 U 61
Should cost at least 1 maybe 2.
Thranduil
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But the Eagle can only take 1 wound, wich is kinda better than a Ranger, lem0n. Also, he said Eagles are discarded and replayed, so it's reusable with more ease. And I like the concept of spoiling what's about to come to earn a profit now. See, you can let a companion die if you really trust you're gonna nail them with teh Shadow, but what if you don't? Otherwise, you can let them know what's coming and prepare better. You can even bluff them into stopping, for a Radagast-drop triple-move that they didn't see coming... and wlak through your sites anyway. :D
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Winged is good but u can even start the ranger who is 6 strength and u guarantee your site 2 even if you go first.
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wow...thats an insanely interesting idea. all are fine.
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[2] Farsighted Eagle [Gandalf]
Companion • Eagle
Str: 5
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Winged (This companion can only take 1 wound per phase).
When you play this companion, you may spot 2 [Gandalf] companions to replace the current site with a site from your adventure deck.
... he could see the glint of the moon on goblin spears and helmets...
H2 U 63
My inclination is to make this guy strength 6. Winged isn't all upside, in fact it can be quite bad, and site switching is less good than playing the next site, in general.
[2] Circling Eagle [Gandalf]
Companion • Eagle
Str: 5
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Winged (This companion can only take 1 wound per phase).
When you play this companion, you may spot 2 [Gandalf] companions to play the fellowship’s next site.
... they began to go down circling round in great spirals.
H2 U 59
Seems fine to me. Though I would be fine with Str 6 as well.
Now we get into something rather different to begin thinking about manipulation the adventure deck directly.
[2] Eagle’s Eyrie [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
When you play this condition, you may spot an Eagle to return your site on the adventure path to your adventure deck and choose an opponent to replace it.
Skirmish: Reveal up to 3 sites from your adventure deck to make an Eagle strength +1 and damage +1 for each mountain site revealed. Discard this condition.
You ought not to be rude to an Eagle, when you... are up in his eyrie at night.
H2 U 62
I like how this card becomes more difficult to use the later the game goes on. Do both halves of this text need to be on the same card? I think it overcomplicates it. Perhaps there should be one card that does the first bit (an event?) and leave this condition with just the second ability.
Now come more expositions on the theme.
(0) Circling High [Gandalf]
Event • Maneuver
Spot an Eagle and reveal a site from your adventure deck to, until the end of the turn, make the current site gain the game text of the revealed site.
... the birds were already high up...
H2 U 60
Cool
[1] Down the Wind [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Spot an Eagle and reveal a site from your adventure deck with Shadow number 2 or more to wound an unwinged (ie. without the "Winged" keyword as showcased by the companions above) minion skirmishing that Eagle.
Just at that moment, the Lord of the Eagles swept down from above...
H2 U 61
I think the site should be cost 3 or more. Otherwise it's all too easy. In general I would go for shadow cost 0 or 3, to make players have to work to gain the benefit.
A really funky idea. I can already imagine a burrito that has a different effect for different twilight costs/terrain keywords you reveal. The mind boggles.
Anvar
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Hooray thank god you scrapped the stacking sites thing!
I knew you'd be happy! ;D
I should make a point: one of the interesting things about dealing with sites in this way is that it gives a way to scale costs which LotR is currently not very good at (there's no difference to what a FP player can play during a turn at site 1 or site 9). Hence cards like Eagle's Eyrie can start to become useless in region 3. They'll be lots of other things which trigger of how many sites you have on the adventure path.
More cards a bit later. Thanks for all the reviews!
Thranduil
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Here are the last cards for the Eagle strategy dealing with this theme (I'm pretty sure these are the last anyway...). At some point will move onto a quick look at Orcs, Bilbo and finally Smaug! :twisted:
I can already imagine a burrito that has a different effect for different twilight costs/terrain keywords you reveal. The mind boggles.
For this, you'll have to wait and see! :hey:
[3] Great Eagle [Gandalf]
Companion • Eagle
Str: 6
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Winged (This companion can only take 1 wound per phase).
When you play this companion, you may reveal a site from your adventure deck. If that site’s terrain keywords match the terrain keywords of the current site, you may take a [Gandalf] event into hand from your discard pile.
The goblins hated the eagles, and feared them...
H2 C 65
[3] Swooping Eagle [Gandalf]
Companion • Eagle
Str: 6
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Winged.
When you play this companion (except during the fellowship phase), you may remove [1] for each site you have on the adventure path.
... their talons tore at goblin faces...
H2 C 81
(0) World Far Away [Gandalf]
Event • Maneuver
Spot an Eagle to choose one: return your site from the adventure path to your adventure deck and replace that site with a random site from an opponent’s adventure deck; or replace the current site with a site from your adventure deck.
They circled up in the sky and looked down upon the ring of the Wargs, a tiny spot far far below.
H2 C 87
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[3] Great Eagle [Gandalf]
Companion • Eagle
Str: 6
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Winged (This companion can only take 1 wound per phase).
When you play this companion, you may reveal a site from your adventure deck. If that site’s terrain keywords match the terrain keywords of the current site, you may take a [Gandalf] event into hand from your discard pile.
The goblins hated the eagles, and feared them...
H2 C 65
Does it have to match them all or what?
[3] Swooping Eagle [Gandalf]
Companion • Eagle
Str: 6
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Winged.
When you play this companion (except during the fellowship phase), you may remove [1] for each site you have on the adventure path.
... their talons tore at goblin faces...
H2 C 81
Id clarify "for each site of yours you have" just to make sure.
(0) World Far Away [Gandalf]
Event • Maneuver
Spot an Eagle to choose one: return your site from the adventure path to your adventure deck and replace that site with a random site from an opponent’s adventure deck; or replace the current site with a site from your adventure deck.
They circled up in the sky and looked down upon the ring of the Wargs, a tiny spot far far below.
H2 C 87
Nice.
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Does it have to match them all or what?
Yes, currently it has to match them all. Do you think it should be any matches?
Thranduil
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No i agree i think thats fine as it is, i was just checkin.
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[3] Great Eagle [Gandalf]
Companion • Eagle
Str: 6
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Winged (This companion can only take 1 wound per phase).
When you play this companion, you may reveal a site from your adventure deck. If that site’s terrain keywords match the terrain keywords of the current site, you may take a [Gandalf] event into hand from your discard pile.
The goblins hated the eagles, and feared them...
H2 C 65
fine so essentially you think winged is worth and extra twilight?
[3] Swooping Eagle [Gandalf]
Companion • Eagle
Str: 6
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Winged.
When you play this companion (except during the fellowship phase), you may remove [1] for each site you have on the adventure path.
... their talons tore at goblin faces...
H2 C 81
I think a limit is in order. could it remove the twilight he added?
(0) World Far Away [Gandalf]
Event • Maneuver
Spot an Eagle to choose one: return your site from the adventure path to your adventure deck and replace that site with a random site from an opponent’s adventure deck; or replace the current site with a site from your adventure deck.
They circled up in the sky and looked down upon the ring of the Wargs, a tiny spot far far below.
H2 C 87
fine.
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All look fine, but the way the first companion is worded, I think you'd have to match ALL terrain keywords of the site. Is that what you intended? Because it'd be pretty difficult to match Mount Doom, for example, or some dual forest/battleground sites.
Besides the fact that Mount Doom really messes with your strategy right now anyways.
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fine so essentially you think winged is worth and extra twilight?
Yes, essentially I do! Or rather, I think Eagles are worth an extra twilight for winged + ease of replay.
could it remove the twilight he added?
Yes he can, but I don't think that's a problem. The Eagle strategy would add a lot of twilight and to have good removal which you have to work very hard to get seems fine to me, even though it can potentially remove [6] (though this requires you to be at site 9 where it's almost irrelevant and for every single site on the adventure path to be yours).
All look fine, but the way the first companion is worded, I think you'd have to match ALL terrain keywords of the site. Is that what you intended? Because it'd be pretty difficult to match Mount Doom, for example, or some dual forest/battleground sites.
Besides the fact that Mount Doom really messes with your strategy right now anyways.
Yes you do have to match all keywords, and yes it would be difficult to match Mount Doom and yes it does mess around with your strategy, which seems fair enough - it is Mount Doom, it should make a big impact on the game.
Thranduil
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Well that lot wrapped it up for the Eagle site cards. So now we're moving on to Orcs as prompted by GT's minion of the same name as the one coming now (the [Orc] Orcs in the Hobbit block tend to be able to draw lots and lots of cards, by the way):
[4] •Bodyguard of Bolg [Orc]
Minion • Orc
Str: 13
Vit: 2
Sit: 4
To play, discard 2 cards from hand.
While you have 3 or fewer sites in your adventure deck, each other [Orc] Orc cannot take wounds.
The bodyguard of Bolg came howling against them, and drove in upon their ranks like waves upon cliffs of sand.
H2 R 100
And now some fun events that mess around with the adventure path:
[1] Lost Ways [Orc]
Event • Shadow
Exert an [Orc] minion to choose one: reveal a random site from your opponent’s adventure deck and replace a site on the adventure path with the revealed site; or replace the current site with an underground or mountain site from your adventure deck.
... the roads out of the East towards Mirkwood vanished or fell into disuse...
H2 C 128
(0) Raid and Plunder [Orc]
Event • Regroup
Spot 2 [Orc] minions to reveal a site at random from each player’s adventure deck. Add [X], where X is the total of those sites’ Shadow numbers. You may replace a site on the adventure path with one of the revealed sites.
H2 C 130
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I'm with lem0n. I love most of your ideas, but site stacking was really difficult to wrap my poor brain around. This looks MUCH better. =D>
[4] •Bodyguard of Bolg [Orc]
Minion • Orc
Str: 13
Vit: 2
Sit: 4
To play, discard 2 cards from hand.
While you have 3 or fewer sites in your adventure deck, each other [Orc] Orc cannot take wounds.
The bodyguard of Bolg came howling against them, and drove in upon their ranks like waves upon cliffs of sand.
H2 R 100
I love how this doesn't really trigger until late in the game, which makes sense storywise.
[1] Lost Ways [Orc]
Event • Shadow
Spot an [Orc] minion to choose one: reveal a random site from your opponent’s adventure deck and replace a site on the adventure path with the revealed site; or replace the current site with an underground or mountain site from your adventure deck.
... the roads out of the East towards Mirkwood vanished or fell into disuse...
H2 C 128
I don't see the first one really being used, but it's a fine card. MAYBE exert that Orc instead.
(0) Raid and Plunder [Orc]
Event • Regroup
Spot 2 [Orc] minions to reveal a site at random from each player’s adventure deck. Add [X], where X is the total of those sites’ Shadow numbers. You may replace a site on the adventure path with one of the revealed sites.
H2 C 130
Woe unto the FP player that has Sirannon Ruins revealed! :twisted:
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The cards all look really good - especially Bodyguard of Bolg. This is a neat way for your guys to take advantage of all your site-swapping somehow.
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[4] •Bodyguard of Bolg [Orc]
Minion • Orc
Str: 13
Vit: 2
Sit: 4
To play, discard 2 cards from hand.
While you have 3 or fewer sites in your adventure deck, each other [Orc] Orc cannot take wounds.
The bodyguard of Bolg came howling against them, and drove in upon their ranks like waves upon cliffs of sand.
H2 R 100
Nasty, not sure even having only a few sites less is fair enough to give all orcs invulnerability though. I suppose archery would bugga it up sort of.
[1] Lost Ways [Orc]
Event • Shadow
Spot an [Orc] minion to choose one: reveal a random site from your opponent’s adventure deck and replace a site on the adventure path with the revealed site; or replace the current site with an underground or mountain site from your adventure deck.
... the roads out of the East towards Mirkwood vanished or fell into disuse...
H2 C 128
Dunno about spot an orc, maybe exert.
(0) Raid and Plunder [Orc]
Event • Regroup
Spot 2 [Orc] minions to reveal a site at random from each player’s adventure deck. Add [X], where X is the total of those sites’ Shadow numbers. You may replace a site on the adventure path with one of the revealed sites.
H2 C 130
Nice.
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:o :gah:
How come you're online lem0n? You're surely not at work!
Thranduil
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Heheh. I PMed him the same question.
Isn't it scary how well we know each other's schedules? And how quickly we think the cosmos are out of balance when those schedules suddenly change? :P
And is it also not funny that lem0n are I are known to be most active when at work and not at home? :lol: Your tax dollars at work, folks!
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Luckily I don't have a day-job (studenting really doesn't count!), so I can be here 100% of the time! :uh-huh: 8-)
Thranduil
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Thats is kinda freaky. That two people know exactly when im online enough to be shocked when i turn up in the evening cos i have nothing else better to do!
I resemble the statement about being online at work! ;D My job is erm... very demanding i just manage my time well :-?
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Heheh. I PMed him the same question.
Isn't it scary how well we know each other's schedules? And how quickly we think the cosmos are out of balance when those schedules suddenly change? :P
And is it also not funny that lem0n are I are known to be most active when at work and not at home? :lol: Your tax dollars at work, folks!
I remember a few months ago when you were curious why I hadn't showed up between 1 and 3 EST to review ;)
Well that lot wrapped it up for the Eagle site cards. So now we're moving on to Orcs as prompted by GT's minion of the same name as the one coming now (the [Orc] Orcs in the Hobbit block tend to be able to draw lots and lots of cards, by the way):
[4] •Bodyguard of Bolg [Orc]
Minion • Orc
Str: 13
Vit: 2
Sit: 4
To play, discard 2 cards from hand.
While you have 3 or fewer sites in your adventure deck, each other [Orc] Orc cannot take wounds.
The bodyguard of Bolg came howling against them, and drove in upon their ranks like waves upon cliffs of sand.
H2 R 100
noice...
[1] Lost Ways [Orc]
Event • Shadow
Exert an [Orc] minion to choose one: reveal a random site from your opponent’s adventure deck and replace a site on the adventure path with the revealed site; or replace the current site with an underground or mountain site from your adventure deck.
... the roads out of the East towards Mirkwood vanished or fell into disuse...
H2 C 128
fine by me
(0) Raid and Plunder [Orc]
Event • Regroup
Spot 2 [Orc] minions to reveal a site at random from each player’s adventure deck. Add [X], where X is the total of those sites’ Shadow numbers. You may replace a site on the adventure path with one of the revealed sites.
H2 C 130
fine by me
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Okay, those cards seemed fairly straightforward and uncontroversial. What do we think about these? This batch includes a new way of referring to sites in the last card which is also explained there and which will be explored further with Smaug. :twisted:
(Sorry, I don't know why but for some reason I always want to accompany the word "Smaug" with evil smileys! :twisted: :fire: )
[2] Whirl of Bats [Orc]
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot an [Orc] minion.
At the end of your Shadow phase, you may spot an [Orc] minion to reveal a random site from your adventure deck. If that site has Shadow number 1 or less, you may shuffle an [Orc] event from your discard pile into your draw deck.
... still the great bats swirled about the heads and ears of elves and men...
H2 C 137
[1] Forging and Arming [Orc]
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot an [Orc] minion.
At the end of your Shadow phase, you may spot an [Orc] Orc to reveal a random site from your adventure deck. If it is a battleground, you may add [1].
H2 U 106
[1] Edge of the Wild [Orc]
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot an [Orc] minion.
When you play this condition, you may reveal a random site from your opponent’s adventure deck and replace your site on the adventure path with the revealed site.
Skirmish: Remove [3] and reveal a barren site from your adventure deck to make an [Orc] minion damage +1. (A barren site has no terrain keywords.)
The Wild was still the Wild...
H2 R 105
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[2] Whirl of Bats [Orc]
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot an [Orc] minion.
At the end of the Shadow phase, you may spot an [Orc] minion to reveal a random site from your adventure deck. If that site has Shadow number 1 or less, you may take an [Orc] event or [Orc] condition into hand from your discard pile.
... still the great bats swirled about the heads and ears of elves and men...
H2 C 137
Needs unique. Taking potential four events is lethal. Also GET RID OF THE CONDITION bit. I refuse to sanction what is another orcish smith.
[1] Forging and Arming [Orc]
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot an [Orc] minion.
At the end of the Shadow phase, spot an [Orc] Orc to reveal a random site from your adventure deck. If it is a battleground, you may add [2].
H2 U 106
Again needs unique or a downside if its not a battleground.
[1] Edge of the Wild [Orc]
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot an [Orc] minion.
When you play this condition, you may reveal a random site from your opponent’s adventure deck and replace your site on the adventure path with the revealed site.
Skirmish: Remove [3] and reveal a barren site from your adventure deck to make an [Orc] minion damage +1. (A barren site has no terrain keywords.)
The Wild was still the Wild...
H2 R 105
Have you introduced barren before this? Card is fine though.
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Have you introduced barren before this?
No I haven't.
I'm not sure about those conditions being unique - you have to reveal 1 random site for each copy of those conditions and the likelihood of triggering all of them requires careful deckbuilding and a coherent site-playing strategy, and it needs to be late game. I will remove the condition clause though.
Thranduil
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[2] Whirl of Bats [Orc]
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot an [Orc] minion.
At the end of the Shadow phase, you may spot an [Orc] minion to reveal a random site from your adventure deck. If that site has Shadow number 1 or less, you may take an [Orc] event into hand from your discard pile.
... still the great bats swirled about the heads and ears of elves and men...
H2 C 137
I really think this one should be unique.
[1] Forging and Arming [Orc]
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot an [Orc] minion.
At the end of the Shadow phase, spot an [Orc] Orc to reveal a random site from your adventure deck. If it is a battleground, you may add [2].
H2 U 106
maybe end of each shadow phase? or would that be too powerful? IDK, 4 chances to reveal a battleground is an awful lot. mayhaps if it was end of your shadow phase
[1] Edge of the Wild [Orc]
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot an [Orc] minion.
When you play this condition, you may reveal a random site from your opponent’s adventure deck and replace your site on the adventure path with the revealed site.
Skirmish: Remove [3] and reveal a barren site from your adventure deck to make an [Orc] minion damage +1. (A barren site has no terrain keywords.)
The Wild was still the Wild...
H2 R 105
:gp: for the helpful deck. so you could remove 3 and do nothing hypothetically.
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maybe end of each shadow phase? or would that be too powerful? IDK, 4 chances to reveal a battleground is an awful lot. mayhaps if it was end of your shadow phase
Sorry, obviously the cards should read "your Shadow phase" rather than "the Shadow phase". I'd forgotten that each player has their own Shadow phase.
:gp: for the helpful deck. so you could remove 3 and do nothing hypothetically.
I think in your haste to review you might have misread the card: this is the 1 of the 3 which is not random! :P
Thranduil
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[2] Whirl of Bats [Orc]
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot an [Orc] minion.
At the end of your Shadow phase, you may spot an [Orc] minion to reveal a random site from your adventure deck. If that site has Shadow number 1 or less, you may take an [Orc] event into hand from your discard pile.
... still the great bats swirled about the heads and ears of elves and men...
H2 C 137
Hate to just repeat what the others have said, but I agree that it should probably be unique, or else further limited to prevent you from potentially nabbing four events. Maybe if you shuffled the events into your deck instead.... :-k
[1] Forging and Arming [Orc]
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot an [Orc] minion.
At the end of your Shadow phase, spot an [Orc] Orc to reveal a random site from your adventure deck. If it is a battleground, you may add [2].
H2 U 106
As written right now, if you can spot an Orc, you HAVE to reveal the site. Is that intended? And I'd make it just add [1], be unique, and/or have a penalty if that site is NOT a battleground.
[1] Edge of the Wild [Orc]
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot an [Orc] minion.
When you play this condition, you may reveal a random site from your opponent’s adventure deck and replace your site on the adventure path with the revealed site.
Skirmish: Remove [3] and reveal a barren site from your adventure deck to make an [Orc] minion damage +1. (A barren site has no terrain keywords.)
The Wild was still the Wild...
H2 R 105
I like the barren idea. :up: This card seems okay.
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I've updated the cards according to suggestions (the compulsory bit was not intended, by the way). It's also good to have all the regular reviewers back and reviewing! ;)
I think that's all the site-craziness in the Battle of Five Armies. But there are a few cards to add from the third set of the block, The White Council. And here they are! :mrgreen:
[8] •Host of the Misty Mountains [Orc]
Minion • Orc
Str: 14
Vit: 4
Sit: 4
To play, spot an [Orc] minion.
This minion’s twilight cost is -1 for each site you have on the adventure path.
This minion’s twilight cost is -1 for each [Orc] condition borne by a companion.
But a great host of foes was arrayed on the slopes above them...
H3 R 99
[4] Moria Watcher [Orc]
Minion • Orc
Str: 10
Vit: 2
Sit: 4
Each time a site is revealed from your adventure deck, you may spot another [Orc] minion to add [1].
… and they had the higher ground.
H3 U 104
[6] • Golfimbul, Orkish King [Orc]
Minion • Orc
Str: 11
Vit: 4
Sit: 4
Fierce. To play, spot an [Orc] Orc.
Golfimbul is damage +1 and for each site in your adventure deck below 4.
At the start of the maneuver phase, you may remove [X] to replace the current site with a battleground site from your adventure deck, where X is the Shadow number of the current site.
[His head] sailed a hundred yards through the air and went down a rabbit-hole, and in this way the battle was won and the game of Golf invented at the same moment.
H3 R 95
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[8] •Host of the Misty Mountains [Orc]
Minion • Orc
Str: 14
Vit: 4
Sit: 4
To play, spot an [Orc] minion.
This minion’s twilight cost is -1 for each site you have on the adventure path.
This minion’s twilight cost is -1 for each [Orc] condition borne by a companion.
But a great host of foes was arrayed on the slopes above them...
H3 R 99
Sweetness.
[4] Moria Watcher [Orc]
Minion • Orc
Str: 10
Vit: 2
Sit: 4
To play, spot an [Orc] minion.
Each time a site is revealed from your adventure deck, you may add [1].
… and they had the higher ground.
H3 U 104
Id make him spot another orc to add the 1 rather than limiting his deployment.
[6] • Golfimbul, Orkish King [Orc]
Minion • Orc
Str: 11
Vit: 4
Sit: 4
To play, spot an [Orc] Orc.
Golfimbul is damage +1 and fierce for each site in your adventure deck below 4.
At the start of the maneuver phase, you may remove [X] to replace the current site with a battleground site from your adventure deck, where X is the Shadow number of the current site.
[His head] sailed a hundred yards through the air and went down a rabbit-hole, and in this way the battle was won and the game of Golf invented at the same moment.
H3 R 95
He can be fierce 3 times? :P Seems ok to me.
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I've updated the cards according to suggestions (the compulsory bit was not intended, by the way). It's also good to have all the regular reviewers back and reviewing! ;)
I think that's all the site-craziness in the Battle of Five Armies. But there are a few cards to add from the third set of the block, The White Council. And here they are! :mrgreen:
[8] •Host of the Misty Mountains [Orc]
Minion • Orc
Str: 14
Vit: 4
Sit: 4
To play, spot an [Orc] minion.
This minion’s twilight cost is -1 for each site you have on the adventure path.
This minion’s twilight cost is -1 for each [Orc] condition borne by a companion.
But a great host of foes was arrayed on the slopes above them...
H3 R 99
hmm...I think one of those abilities would be plenty.
[4] Moria Watcher [Orc]
Minion • Orc
Str: 10
Vit: 2
Sit: 4
Each time a site is revealed from your adventure deck, you may spot another [Orc] minion to add [1].
… and they had the higher ground.
H3 U 104
fine...but I think 3 cost and 9 strength would be better
[6] • Golfimbul, Orkish King [Orc]
Minion • Orc
Str: 11
Vit: 4
Sit: 4
To play, spot an [Orc] Orc.
Golfimbul is damage +1 and fierce for each site in your adventure deck below 4.
At the start of the maneuver phase, you may remove [X] to replace the current site with a battleground site from your adventure deck, where X is the Shadow number of the current site.
[His head] sailed a hundred yards through the air and went down a rabbit-hole, and in this way the battle was won and the game of Golf invented at the same moment.
H3 R 95
fine. but...triple fierce? why not just make him fierce and let the damage bonus triple?
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Well, assuming that card would read: Fierce.Fierce.Fierce., basically, you'd need three abilities that make a minion lose fierce to stop him from being fierce, now wouldn't you? Even if the ability says "unable to gain fierce", he already has it, so still no good.
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Well, assuming that card would read: Fierce.Fierce.Fierce., basically, you'd need three abilities that make a minion lose fierce to stop him from being fierce, now wouldn't you? Even if the ability says "unable to gain fierce", he already has it, so still no good.
No, I'm pretty sure the card would just say "Fierce no matter how many times you added it. Nevertheless I'll change it so that it's clearer.
Thranduil
-
Let's finish this [Orc] stuff with a cycle of Orkish armies.
[7] •Host of !Dol Guldur [Orc]
Minion • Orc
Str: 12
Vit: 3
Sit: 4
Enduring.
Each time this minion wins a skirmish, you may reveal a site from your adventure deck. If it is a forest, add a burden.
Three times Lorien had been assailed from Dol Guldur...
H3 U 96
[7] •Host of Gundabad [Orc]
Minion • Orc
Str: 13
Vit: 3
Sit: 4
Fierce.
Each time this minion wins a skirmish, you may reveal a site from your adventure deck. If it is a battleground, draw a card.
Both sides were pitiless, and there was death and cruel deeds by dark and by light.
H3 C 97
[7] •Host of Mount Gram [Orc]
Minion • Orc
Str: 12
Vit: 4
Sit: 4
Damage +1.
Each time this minion wins a skirmish, you may reveal a site from your adventure deck. If it is a mountain, Lock a companion until the regroup phase. This is one of the block keywords which you may remember cancels the game text of a card).
H3 U 98
[7] •Host of the Underdeeps [Orc]
Minion • Orc
Str: 14
Vit: 3
Sit: 4
Each time this minion wins a skirmish, you may reveal a site from your adventure deck. If it is underground, play an [Orc] possession or condition from your discard pile.
At last all the Orcs that fled before them were gathered in Moria...
H3 C 100
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[7] •Host of !Dol Guldur [Orc]
Minion • Orc
Str: 12
Vit: 3
Sit: 4
Enduring.
Each time this minion wins a skirmish, you may reveal a site from your adventure deck. If it is a forest, add a burden.
Three times Lorien had been assailed from Dol Guldur...
H3 U 96
Hmmm, why would you not reveal a forest, seems excess wording. Why not just reveal a forest site in your adventure deck to add a burden. Cos if you havent got one left you wouldnt use the text.
[7] •Host of Gundabad [Orc]
Minion • Orc
Str: 13
Vit: 3
Sit: 4
Fierce.
Each time this minion wins a skirmish, you may reveal a site from your adventure deck. If it is a battleground, draw a card.
Both sides were pitiless, and there was death and cruel deeds by dark and by light.
H3 C 97
Ditto.
[7] •Host of Mount Gram [Orc]
Minion • Orc
Str: 12
Vit: 4
Sit: 4
Damage +1.
Each time this minion wins a skirmish, you may reveal a site from your adventure deck. If it is a mountain, Lock a companion until the regroup phase. This is one of the block keywords which you may remember cancels the game text of a card).
H3 U 98
Ditto. Locking is back? Cool.
[6] •Host of the Underdeeps [Orc]
Minion • Orc
Str: 14
Vit: 3
Sit: 4
Each time this minion wins a skirmish, you may reveal a site from your adventure deck. If it is underground, play an [Orc] possession or condition from your discard pile.
At last all the Orcs that fled before them were gathered in Moria...
H3 C 100
You know i dont like condition recursion but this is much more balanced.
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I can't remember why I chose that wording. One reason might be that you can trigger the Moria Watcher's (see previous post) text even if you don't have the right site.
And Locking is here because these are cards from my Hobbit block! I'm not sure if I'll ever use that keyword elsewhere - I remember it not being particularly popular.
Thranduil
-
[7] •Host of !Dol Guldur [Orc]
Minion • Orc
Str: 12
Vit: 3
Sit: 4
Enduring.
Each time this minion wins a skirmish, you may reveal a site from your adventure deck. If it is a forest, add a burden.
Three times Lorien had been assailed from Dol Guldur...
H3 U 96
It's fine.
[7] •Host of Gundabad [Orc]
Minion • Orc
Str: 13
Vit: 3
Sit: 4
Fierce.
Each time this minion wins a skirmish, you may reveal a site from your adventure deck. If it is a battleground, draw a card.
Both sides were pitiless, and there was death and cruel deeds by dark and by light.
H3 C 97
Fair enough.
[7] •Host of Mount Gram [Orc]
Minion • Orc
Str: 12
Vit: 4
Sit: 4
Damage +1.
Each time this minion wins a skirmish, you may reveal a site from your adventure deck. If it is a mountain, Lock a companion until the regroup phase. This is one of the block keywords which you may remember cancels the game text of a card).
H3 U 98
Hmm. I'm a little iffy about natural damage on an Orc, but I guess it's balanced.
[6] •Host of the Underdeeps [Orc]
Minion • Orc
Str: 14
Vit: 3
Sit: 4
Each time this minion wins a skirmish, you may reveal a site from your adventure deck. If it is underground, play an [Orc] possession or condition from your discard pile.
At last all the Orcs that fled before them were gathered in Moria...
H3 C 100
He could cost [7] like the others. The ability is probably better than you give it credit for - fetching a Mordor Scimitar, Some sort of Warg, or Bladed Gauntlets could be evil. Not to mention fetching a discarded Goblin Hordes or something.
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All seem okay, though like EL, I'm a little leary about the Underdeeps one. Not overly so, but the very idea sends shivers through my spine a bit.
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Okay, sorry for the long delay in spoiling Smaug :twisted:
Right, so Smaug is all about control, and of course fiery death! :fire: Control represents itself here by controlling the site path and destroying sites with our showcase of a site keyword "barren".
(0) Befouled [Sauron]
Event • Shadow
Spot Smaug to replace the current site with a site from your adventure deck; that site is barren until the regroup phase. (A barren site has no terrain keywords.)
Fire leaped from thatched roofs and wooden beam-ends as he hurtled down and past and round again...
H2 C 142
[1] Barren Lands [Sauron]
Event • Maneuver
Spot Smaug to discard a Free Peoples condition; each site is barren until the end of the turn. (A barren site has no terrain keywords.)
There was little grass, and before long there was neither bush nor tree, and only broken and blackened stumps to speak of ones long vanished.
H2 R 140
[2] Desolation [Sauron]
Event • Skirmish
Spot Smaug to make an unbound companion strength -1 for each barren site on the adventure path. (A barren site has no terrain keywords.)
... they could see in the wide valley shadowed by the Mountain’s arms the grey ruins of ancient houses, towers and walls.
H2 U 148
[1][2] •Smaug, The Magnificent [Sauron]
Minion • Dragon
Str: 19
Vit: 5
Sit: 6
Winged.
When you play Smaug, you may reveal a player’s adventure deck.
While you have 2 sites on the adventure path, Smaug is strength +4.
While you have 4 sites on the adventure path, Smaug is damage +1.
While you have 6 sites on the adventure path, Smaug is fierce and gains terror 1. (Another one of the block keywords. Ech time this minion is assigned to a skirmish, the Free Peoples player must exert 1 companion).
... the trees by the shores shone like copper and like blood with leaping shadows...
H2 R 163
I'm not completely sold on this Smaug. When you see the token conditions, you can tell me whether you think Smaug should work directly with sites or indirectly through tokens.
Thranduil
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(0) Befouled [Sauron]
Event • Shadow
Spot Smaug to replace the current site with a site from your adventure deck; that site is barren until the regroup phase. (A barren site has no terrain keywords.)
Fire leaped from thatched roofs and wooden beam-ends as he hurtled down and past and round again...
H2 C 142
From your brackets it doesnt explain whether barren overwrites all other keywords. Logic does but the phrasing doesnt. Does it remove all keywords as it should? Or does it just mean it can be spotted as a barren site?
[1] Barren Lands [Sauron]
Event • Maneuver
Spot Smaug to discard a Free Peoples condition; each site is barren until the end of the turn. (A barren site has no terrain keywords.)
There was little grass, and before long there was neither bush nor tree, and only broken and blackened stumps to speak of ones long vanished.
H2 R 140
Hmm ok, though tending towards exert.
[2] Desolation [Sauron]
Event • Skirmish
Spot Smaug to make an unbound companion strength -1 for each barren site on the adventure path. (A barren site has no terrain keywords.)
... they could see in the wide valley shadowed by the Mountain’s arms the grey ruins of ancient houses, towers and walls.
H2 U 148
Yeeesh devastating with the above card and it doesnt need to be in smaug skirmish. *Shudder*
[1][2] •Smaug, The Magnificent [Sauron]
Minion • Dragon
Str: 19
Vit: 5
Sit: 6
Winged.
When you play Smaug, you may reveal a player’s adventure deck.
While you have 2 sites on the adventure path, Smaug is strength +4.
While you have 4 sites on the adventure path, Smaug is damage +1.
While you have 6 sites on the adventure path, Smaug is fierce and gains terror 1. (Another one of the block keywords. Ech time this minion is assigned to a skirmish, the Free Peoples player must exert 1 companion).
... the trees by the shores shone like copper and like blood with leaping shadows...
H2 R 163
You just cant resist burritoing Smaug can you? I like his burrito actually but cant judge the balance in his cost vs strength winged and revealing some1s adv deck.
Thranduil
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From your brackets it doesnt explain whether barren overwrites all other keywords. Logic does but the phrasing doesnt. Does it remove all keywords as it should? Or does it just mean it can be spotted as a barren site?
Yeah sorry, that would probably not be the helper text on the card, just a summary for you folks. Yes, barren removes all terrain keywords.
You just cant resist burritoing Smaug can you? I like his burrito actually but cant judge the balance in his cost vs strength winged and revealing some1s adv deck.
To be fair, out of 3 Smaugs in the block only 2 are burritos! :mrgreen:
Thranduil
-
(0) Befouled [Sauron]
Event • Shadow
Spot Smaug to replace the current site with a site from your adventure deck; that site is barren until the regroup phase. (A barren site has no terrain keywords.)
Fire leaped from thatched roofs and wooden beam-ends as he hurtled down and past and round again...
H2 C 142
Sweetness. Take THAT, Mount Doom. XD
[1] Barren Lands [Sauron]
Event • Maneuver
Spot Smaug to discard a Free Peoples condition; each site is barren until the end of the turn. (A barren site has no terrain keywords.)
There was little grass, and before long there was neither bush nor tree, and only broken and blackened stumps to speak of ones long vanished.
H2 R 140
Yeah, I think exerting would be better.
[2] Desolation [Sauron]
Event • Skirmish
Spot Smaug to make an unbound companion strength -1 for each barren site on the adventure path. (A barren site has no terrain keywords.)
... they could see in the wide valley shadowed by the Mountain’s arms the grey ruins of ancient houses, towers and walls.
H2 U 148
Yowch! Figured something like this was coming.
[1][2] •Smaug, The Magnificent [Sauron]
Minion • Dragon
Str: 19
Vit: 5
Sit: 6
Winged.
When you play Smaug, you may reveal a player’s adventure deck.
While you have 2 sites on the adventure path, Smaug is strength +4.
While you have 4 sites on the adventure path, Smaug is damage +1.
While you have 6 sites on the adventure path, Smaug is fierce and gains terror 1. (Another one of the block keywords. Ech time this minion is assigned to a skirmish, the Free Peoples player must exert 1 companion).
... the trees by the shores shone like copper and like blood with leaping shadows...
H2 R 163
I'm a little disappointed, actually. I expected to see SOMETHING with barren in there. Perhaps instead of spotting your sites, spot barren sites instead? I suppose Barren Lands would need a little tweaking then. Perhaps:
[1] Barren Lands [Sauron]
Event • Maneuver
Spot Smaug to discard a Free Peoples condition and name a terrain keyword; each site with that keyword is barren until the end of the turn. (A barren site has no terrain keywords.)
There was little grass, and before long there was neither bush nor tree, and only broken and blackened stumps to speak of ones long vanished.
H2 R 140
I'd probably like that better anyway, actually.
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Okay, sorry for the long delay in spoiling Smaug :twisted:
Right, so Smaug is all about control, and of course fiery death! :fire: Control represents itself here by controlling the site path and destroying sites with our showcase of a site keyword "barren".
(0) Befouled [Sauron]
Event • Shadow
Spot Smaug to replace the current site with a site from your adventure deck; that site is barren until the regroup phase. (A barren site has no terrain keywords.)
Fire leaped from thatched roofs and wooden beam-ends as he hurtled down and past and round again...
H2 C 142
fine
[1] Barren Lands [Sauron]
Event • Maneuver
Spot Smaug to discard a Free Peoples condition; each site is barren until the end of the turn. (A barren site has no terrain keywords.)
There was little grass, and before long there was neither bush nor tree, and only broken and blackened stumps to speak of ones long vanished.
H2 R 140
I like dain's version of this
[2] Desolation [Sauron]
Event • Skirmish
Spot Smaug to make an unbound companion strength -1 for each barren site on the adventure path. (A barren site has no terrain keywords.)
... they could see in the wide valley shadowed by the Mountain’s arms the grey ruins of ancient houses, towers and walls.
H2 U 148
fine
[1][2] •Smaug, The Magnificent [Sauron]
Minion • Dragon
Str: 19
Vit: 5
Sit: 6
Winged.
When you play Smaug, you may reveal a player’s adventure deck.
While you have 2 sites on the adventure path, Smaug is strength +4.
While you have 4 sites on the adventure path, Smaug is damage +1.
While you have 6 sites on the adventure path, Smaug is fierce and gains terror 1. (Another one of the block keywords. Ech time this minion is assigned to a skirmish, the Free Peoples player must exert 1 companion).
... the trees by the shores shone like copper and like blood with leaping shadows...
H2 R 163
also go with dain here
-
Ditto the dwarf.
-
Methinks the barren mechanic is good, but I am wondering, does a site with no keywords to begin with default as barren?
Cuz that would be AWESOME!
-
I believe Thranduil said so, yes.
-
I believe Thranduil said so, yes.
I did indeed. :mrgreen:
Like I said, I will think on Smaug stuff and probably post a revised version of him at the end of this strategy. I will change Barren Lands according to DI's suggestion, and we'll have more cards later methinks. Thanks guys! :gp: to DI.
Thranduil
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I was talking about tokens before. Well, this post explains what I meant by that!
[2] Shadow of the Mountain [Sauron]
Condition • Support Area
When you play this condition, add a [Sauron] token here for each site you have on the adventure path.
Maneuver: Spot Smaug and remove X tokens from here to Lock a companion with twilight cost X until the regroup phase.
The Mountain lay dark and silent below them and ever higher above them.
H2 C 162
[2] Perilous Waste [Sauron]
Condition • Support Area
When you play this condition, spot Smaug to add a [Sauron] token here for each barren site on the adventure path. (A barren site has no terrain keywords.)
While you can spot 6 tokens here, wounds cannot be healed.
The land about them grew bleak and barren...
H2 U 160
[2] Dragon-Hoard [Sauron]
Condition • Support Area
When you play this condition, add a [Sauron] token here for each site in your adventure deck.
Shadow: Spot Smaug and remove X tokens from here (minimum 1) to place a [Sauron] event or condition with twilight cost X or less from your discard pile on top of your draw deck.
... he gazed motionless... at the gold beyond prize and count.
H2 R 150
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[2] Shadow of the Mountain [Sauron]
Condition • Support Area
When you play this condition, add a [Sauron] token here for each site you have on the adventure path.
Maneuver: Spot Smaug and remove X tokens from here to Lock a companion with twilight cost X until the regroup phase.
The Mountain lay dark and silent below them and ever higher above them.
H2 C 162
Fair enough but i think it could cost 1 easily.
[2] Perilous Waste [Sauron]
Condition • Support Area
When you play this condition, add a [Sauron] token here for each barren site on the adventure path. (A barren site has no terrain keywords.)
While you can spot Smaug and 6 tokens here, wounds cannot be healed.
The land about them grew bleak and barren...
H2 U 160
Ok but how many times is smaug gonna be out while youre healing? Not many at all.
[2] Dragon-Hoard [Sauron]
Condition • Support Area
When you play this condition, add a [Sauron] token here for each site in your adventure deck.
Shadow: Spot Smaug and remove X tokens from here (minimum 1) to place a [Sauron] event or condition with twilight cost X from your discard pile on top of your draw deck.
... he gazed motionless... at the gold beyond prize and count.
H2 R 150
So you cant get 0 cost cards back? Im sure ive suggested a rewording to a similar card to this...
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[2] Shadow of the Mountain [Sauron]
Condition • Support Area
When you play this condition, add a [Sauron] token here for each site you have on the adventure path.
Maneuver: Spot Smaug and remove X tokens from here to Lock a companion with twilight cost X until the regroup phase.
The Mountain lay dark and silent below them and ever higher above them.
H2 C 162
Niftiness. Seems like a better card idea for Smaug's "dragon spell" (paralyzing with fear), but this is certainly fine as is.
[2] Perilous Waste [Sauron]
Condition • Support Area
When you play this condition, spot Smaug to add a [Sauron] token here for each barren site on the adventure path. (A barren site has no terrain keywords.)
While you can spot 6 tokens here, wounds cannot be healed.
The land about them grew bleak and barren...
H2 U 160
Ouch! Perhaps allow spotting Smaug or a certain number of conditions with [Sauron] tokens or something as an alternative.
[2] Dragon-Hoard [Sauron]
Condition • Support Area
When you play this condition, add a [Sauron] token here for each site in your adventure deck.
Shadow: Spot Smaug and remove X tokens from here (minimum 1) to place a [Sauron] event or condition with twilight cost X or less from your discard pile on top of your draw deck.
... he gazed motionless... at the gold beyond prize and count.
H2 R 150
Perhaps shuffle it into the deck instead. And I think this one really should be unique.
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I was talking about tokens before. Well, this post explains what I meant by that!
[2] Shadow of the Mountain [Sauron]
Condition • Support Area
When you play this condition, add a [Sauron] token here for each site you have on the adventure path.
Maneuver: Spot Smaug and remove X tokens from here to Lock a companion with twilight cost X until the regroup phase.
The Mountain lay dark and silent below them and ever higher above them.
H2 C 162
fine
[2] Perilous Waste [Sauron]
Condition • Support Area
When you play this condition, spot Smaug to add a [Sauron] token here for each barren site on the adventure path. (A barren site has no terrain keywords.)
While you can spot 6 tokens here, wounds cannot be healed.
The land about them grew bleak and barren...
H2 U 160
painful...how much token reinforcing where you have?
[2] Dragon-Hoard [Sauron]
Condition • Support Area
When you play this condition, add a [Sauron] token here for each site in your adventure deck.
Shadow: Spot Smaug and remove X tokens from here (minimum 1) to place a [Sauron] event or condition with twilight cost X or less from your discard pile on top of your draw deck.
... he gazed motionless... at the gold beyond prize and count.
H2 R 150
fine though I just realized I don't enjoy smaug being sauron...
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painful...how much token reinforcing where you have?
Currently none for Smaug, though [Sauron] spiders can reinforce [Sauron] tokens.
fine though I just realized I don't enjoy smaug being sauron...
I can tell you why I chose [Sauron]. One of the reasons for the Hobbit taking place (or rather, for Gandalf getting involved and making sure that Thorin succeeded) is given in the Unfinished Tales. Basically, Gandalf knew there was war coming and that Sauron would be able to persuade Smaug to join his side. In fact, had the Hobbit not taken place and Smaug been killed, the War of the Ring would have been lost because instead of a huge Dragon in the North, there was a bastion of Dwarves and Men under Brand and Dain Ironfoot.
Thranduil
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First some more funky adventure deck stuff.
[1] Flickering Fires [Sauron]
Event • Maneuver
Spot Smaug to reveal a site at random from your adventure deck. If the revealed site is a mountain, add [3]. If the revealed site is a dwelling, exert a companion. If the revealed site is barren, do both.
Flames unquenchable sprang high into the night.
H2 C 154
[1] Frightful !Guardian [Sauron]
Event • Regroup
Spot Smaug to reveal a site at random from your adventure deck. If the revealed site is underground, discard a condition. If the revealed site is a battleground, discard a follower. If the revealed site is barren, do both.
He was just about to step out... when he caught a sudden thin and piercing ray of red from under the dropping lid of Smaug’s left eye.
H2 R 155
Now, I've had so many ideas for Smaug in the last 15 minutes when I started writing this post it's completely ridiculous. I want to encapsulate in "The Magnificent" the sense of control, dominion and immense wealth that Smaug has at the height of his power. Wealth = tokens. A lot of his tokens come from controlling the site path, hence control. The second ability (entirely different from anything I've ever put on Smaug before) is to represent the fact that he was content to sleep the centuries away until he was disturbed by Bilbo and the Dwarves. So, he gets disturbed and he suddenly comes out of his mountain and burns down a town! :twisted:
[1][2] •Smaug, The Magnificent [Sauron]
Minion • Dragon
Str: 19
Vit: 5
Sit: 6
Fierce. Winged.
When you play Smaug, you may reinforce X [Sauron] tokens, where X is the current region number.
Each time Smaug exerts or takes a wound, you may make a site barren until the regroup phase and exert a companion.
... the trees by the shores shone like copper and like blood with leaping shadows...
H2 R 163
Let me know what you think and whether or not I should go back to burritos! ;)
Thranduil
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[1] Flickering Fires [Sauron]
Event • Maneuver
Spot Smaug to reveal a site at random from your adventure deck. If the revealed site is a mountain, add [3]. If the revealed site is a dwelling, exert a companion. If the revealed site is barren, do both.
Flames unquenchable sprang high into the night.
H2 C 154
I know its really picky but 'do both' sounds weird. Id repeat if barren exert a companion and add 3. O and id make it 4 cos the card costs 1. Or id make it free.
[1] Frightful !Guardian [Sauron]
Event • Regroup
Spot Smaug to reveal a site at random from your adventure deck. If the revealed site is underground, discard a condition. If the revealed site is a battleground, discard a follower. If the revealed site is barren, do both.
He was just about to step out... when he caught a sudden thin and piercing ray of red from under the dropping lid of Smaug’s left eye.
H2 R 155
Again and also to keep this til the regroup its gotta be better than potentially discarding a condition or follower.
[1][2] •Smaug, The Magnificent [Sauron]
Minion • Dragon
Str: 19
Vit: 5
Sit: 6
Fierce. Winged.
When you play Smaug, you may reinforce X [Sauron] tokens, where X is the current region number.
Each time Smaug exerts or takes a wound, you may make a site barren until the regroup phase and exert a companion.
... the trees by the shores shone like copper and like blood with leaping shadows...
H2 R 163
Yay a non burrito Smaug!
Thranduil
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I have a general question. I've seen a LOT of stuff requiring you to spot Smaug, but Smaug is so... expensive! Is there anotehr way to get him down cheaper? Otherwise, I'd suggest making a unique condition (could cost like #$&*@!, require discarding, demand card-stacking, you name it) that can be spotted as Smaug, allowing for a TRUE "Smaug control" deck, centered entirely around Smaug-related cards. For instance:
[5] •Reign of Terror [Sauron]
Condition • Support Area
When you play this condition, reveal the top 3 cards of your draw deck and stack them here.
Shadow: Discard a card stacked here. Until end of turn, Reign of Terror can be spotted as Smaug.
Response: If a card is about to exert Smaug or discard this condition, you may discard a card stacked here or discard this condition to prevent it.
See the beauty of it? You get to spot Smaug, at a cost. You even get to EXERT Smaug not having him around! And then, if the condition is depleted, discard it for a benefit and play another one. It's really raw right now, and it'd require quite a bit of work since it can't be really compared to anything, but I think it'd be AWESOME.
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[1] Flickering Fires [Sauron]
Event • Maneuver
Spot Smaug to reveal a site at random from your adventure deck. If the revealed site is a mountain, add [3]. If the revealed site is a dwelling, exert a companion. If the revealed site is barren, do both.
Flames unquenchable sprang high into the night.
H2 C 154
Instead of "do both", I think it needs to be "add [3] and exert a companion". lem0n makes a good point with the adding of [4] as opposed to [3], too.
[1] Frightful !Guardian [Sauron]
Event • Regroup
Spot Smaug to reveal a site at random from your adventure deck. If the revealed site is underground, discard a condition. If the revealed site is a battleground, discard a follower. If the revealed site is barren, do both.
He was just about to step out... when he caught a sudden thin and piercing ray of red from under the dropping lid of Smaug’s left eye.
H2 R 155
Same note here, but otherwise okay. Maybe allow some way to play it earlier, like during skirmish?
[1][2] •Smaug, The Magnificent [Sauron]
Minion • Dragon
Str: 19
Vit: 5
Sit: 6
Fierce. Winged.
When you play Smaug, you may reinforce X [Sauron] tokens, where X is the current region number.
Each time Smaug exerts or takes a wound, you may make a site barren until the regroup phase and exert a companion.
... the trees by the shores shone like copper and like blood with leaping shadows...
H2 R 163
I'd limit that to being exerted by FP cards so you don't have quite as much control over it. But it might be okay as is. Trying to remember how many Smaug-exerting cards you have.... :-k
And FM is spot on. In my Hobbit set, I instead created several methods to get Smaug much cheaper, which helped get him in play to use his centric cards. But FM's suggestion is so good that I may go back and incorporate something similiar myself!
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First some more funky adventure deck stuff.
[1] Flickering Fires [Sauron]
Event • Maneuver
Spot Smaug to reveal a site at random from your adventure deck. If the revealed site is a mountain, add [3]. If the revealed site is a dwelling, exert a companion. If the revealed site is barren, do both.
Flames unquenchable sprang high into the night.
H2 C 154
fine.
[1] Frightful !Guardian [Sauron]
Event • Regroup
Spot Smaug to reveal a site at random from your adventure deck. If the revealed site is underground, discard a condition. If the revealed site is a battleground, discard a follower. If the revealed site is barren, do both.
He was just about to step out... when he caught a sudden thin and piercing ray of red from under the dropping lid of Smaug’s left eye.
H2 R 155
I'd prefer mountain to battleground.
[1][2] •Smaug, The Magnificent [Sauron]
Minion • Dragon
Str: 19
Vit: 5
Sit: 6
Fierce. Winged.
When you play Smaug, you may reinforce X [Sauron] tokens, where X is the current region number.
Each time Smaug exerts or takes a wound, you may make a site barren until the regroup phase and exert a companion.
... the trees by the shores shone like copper and like blood with leaping shadows...
H2 R 163
I think just making sites barren would be fine...
FM's idea is kewl
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As FM rightly pointed out, having a Smaug deck would be a bit useless if you couldn't actually play Smaug. This is why this is one of the cards in the set:
(0) Dire Menace [Sauron]
Event • Shadow
Play Smaug from your discard pile or hand. His twilight cost is -4 and he is strength -6 until the end of the turn.
Smaug left his lair in silent stealth, quietly soared into the air, and then floated heavy and slow in the dark like a monstrous crow...
H2 R 149
And why this is in the next set:
(W) • Withered Heath (0)
Dragons are not roaming and cannot be discarded (except during the regroup phase).
H3 U 200
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NOW we're in business! But... what exactly is the (0) culture? And how do you pay for that cost of (W), tapping a site in the adventure path with plains in its text? Or do you have to take control of it first? ;)
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(0) Dire Menace [Sauron]
Event • Shadow
Play Smaug from your discard pile or hand. His twilight cost is -4 and he is strength -6 until the end of the turn.
Smaug left his lair in silent stealth, quietly soared into the air, and then floated heavy and slow in the dark like a monstrous crow...
H2 R 149
Iiiiinteresting. I think that works well enough for getting him cheaply, though I'd also prefer a card that plays him from hand or draw deck and doesn't have such a strength penalty. THEN we'd be talking. :uh-huh:
(W) • Withered Heath (0)
Dragons are not roaming and cannot be discarded (except during the regroup phase).
H3 U 200
Good stuff. :up:
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DI's right on the money.
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This obviously has nothing to do with the adventure path, but while I was on the subject of Smaug, I found myself revisiting some old cards, and I came across a card I no longer liked:
[2] •Uncountable Hoard [Sauron]
Artifact • Support Area
Shadow: Exert Smaug to Unlock this artifact.
Locked: Shadow: Unless Smaug is exhausted, exert a character to draw a card. The Free Peoples player may also use this ability.
H3 R 125
I was trying to represent the duality of treasure hunting, of the potential benefits but also the terrible risks. But I decided it was too weird and confusing and that I could make a better card. So after much thought I made a new version:
[2] •Uncountable Hoard [Sauron]
Artifact • Support Area
When you play this artifact, add a [Sauron] token.
Shadow: Remove X tokens from here to add [2], where X is the current region number.
At the start of the regroup phase, spot Smaug to add a [Sauron] token here for each exhausted character.
H3 R 125
What do you guys think of each version?
Thranduil
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[2] •Uncountable Hoard [Sauron]
Artifact • Support Area
Shadow: Exert Smaug to Unlock this artifact.
Locked: Shadow: Unless Smaug is exhausted, exert a character to draw a card. The Free Peoples player may also use this ability.
H3 R 125
[2] •Uncountable Hoard [Sauron]
Artifact • Support Area
When you play this artifact, add a [Sauron] token.
Shadow: Remove X tokens from here to add [2], where X is the current region number.
At the start of the regroup phase, spot Smaug to add a [Sauron] token here for each exhausted character.
H3 R 125
What do you guys think of each version?
Well the first one is balanced but could just make the game crazy. I wouldnt actually veto it though. The second is ok but not really awesome enough to bother using for the effort it takes to keep it going. Its ok, again i wouldnt veto it.
Thranduil
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Well the first one is balanced but could just make the game crazy. I wouldnt actually veto it though. The second is ok but not really awesome enough to bother using for the effort it takes to keep it going. Its ok, again i wouldnt veto it.
What do you think would make the second version more viable? Also bear in mind that Smaug each time he's played reinforces [Sauron] tokens and at least 1 card needs to remove [Sauron] tokens to work.
And also, which do you think better encapsulates the flavour of an immense treasure hoard?
Thranduil
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Well, first off, the Shadow ability of the first needs to spot Smaug to use, since as I recall, it is sometimes possible to unlock cards by other means in your sets. That all being said, it seems OP to me.
The second seems...eh, alright. Certainly a nice way to make Smaug cheaper. Make sure to add a "here" to the end of the first sentence. Maybe for the regroup part, add a token for either 1.) each wound on Smaug or 2.) his remaining vitality; can't recall how easily he can exhaust other characters rather than just kill them outright, so that's why I recommended the change...if he exhausts well then stick with what you've got.
Perhaps start it from scratch and have it slowly, very slowly, accumulate tokens--perhaps each time you play a [Sauron] artifact?--and then make Smaug's twilight cost -X, where X is the number of tokens here. So something like this:
[4]•Uncountable Hoard [Sauron]
Artifact • Support Area
Each time you play a [Sauron] artifact or a Free Peoples artifact is discarded, add a [Sauron] token here.
Smaug's twilight cost is -X, where X is the number of [Sauron] tokens here.
Shadow: Remove 2 [Sauron] tokens from here to play Smaug from your discard pile.
H3 R 125
Not sure how balanced that is, but it is certainly much more interesting. :up: