The Last Homely House
Middle-Earth => Chamber of Mazarbul => Topic started by: DáinIronfoot on July 15, 2008, 07:24:45 AM
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Well, once again, in my latest poll (http://lotrtcgdb.com/forums/index.php?topic=465.0), the people have clearly spoken. No votes for Hobbits, only one vote (mine doesn't count ;)) for Elves, and four for the [Gandalf] culture.
And I think it's pretty plain what people want to see first: Ents, right? So, let's start with the best-known of their kind, shall we? :mrgreen:
As you'll see, some of my Ents are unhasty, just like back in the old days of Tower block. But don't despair...they aren't ALL unhasty, and there are plenty of ways for them to get quite hasty when you need them to, and not just by their own gametext.
Also like the old days, there will be close ties between Ents and Hobbits...as well as a tie-in that could use a little more help: Ents and Gandalf.
[5]•Treebeard, Eldest Ent [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 12
Vitality: 4
Signet: Gandalf
Unhasty. Damage +1.
Maneuver: Exert an unbound Hobbit or Wizard companion to allow Treebeard to skirmish and participate in archery fire until the regroup phase.
Maneuver: Spot a [Gandalf] Wizard and exert Treebeard to play an unbound Hobbit from your discard pile.
“‘I told Gandalf I would keep you safe, and safe is where I’ll keep you.’”
23U?
Yep: discarding Hobbits are big again in this set. This does what Gandalf, Greyhame tried (and in my opinion, failed) to do: give that strategy some really solid support. Yes, it requires two rather expensive companions be around, but once they are, a simple exertion can pull a Hobbit back from discard during arguably the most useful phase for such an action to take place.
Oh, and Treebeard can make a nice beatstick, too. As an unhasty companion, he requires a little motivation to do so, but I think exerting a Hobbit or Wizard is a small price to pay for a 12-strength damage +1 monster, don't you? :hey:
[4]•Treebeard, Earthborn [Gandalf] (reprint)
Ally • Home 2 [TTT] & 8 [TTT] • Ent
Strength: 12
Vitality: 4
Unhasty.
Response: If an unbound Hobbit is about to be discarded, stack that Hobbit here instead.
Fellowship: Exert Treebeard and add [1] to play an unbound Hobbit stacked here as if played from hand.
“‘Hm, but you are hasty folk, I see. I am honoured by your confidence; but you should not be too free all at once.’”
23R?
Once again in full support of the discarding Hobbit strategy. This is an example of a card I tried desperately to remake into a unique and better alternative, failed, and opted to just reprint. For the purposes of supporting discarding Hobbits, it really is hard to beat, especially since that response action has no limit. You could stack every unbound Hobbit in your fellowship here, no questions asked!
[4]•Beechbone [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 9
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 7
To play, spot 2 [Gandalf] characters.
Each time an Ent is killed (including Beechbone), each Ent is strength +2 and loses unhasty until the end of the turn.
“‘...a very tall handsome Ent....’”
23C?
This poor fellow was eventually burned to a crisp by Saruman's Orcs during the attack on Isengard. His death made all the other Ents rather furious, so I tried to represent that here. Since Ent fellowships tend to flood the twilight pool leave a player open to losing some of those Ents along the line, I figured this guy could be a BIG help in inspiring the other Ents to a fever pitch...just as they were in the story. Until then, you get a pretty strong companion to help beat up minions. :up:
And by the way, if you have a subtitle suggestion for Beechbone, I'm all ears. :)
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[5]•Treebeard, Eldest Ent [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 12
Vitality: 4
Signet: Gandalf
Unhasty. Damage +1.
Maneuver: Spot a [Gandalf] Wizard and exert Treebeard to play an unbound Hobbit from your discard pile.
Maneuver: Exert an unbound Hobbit or Wizard companion to allow Treebeard to skirmish and participate in archery fire until the regroup phase.
“‘I told Gandalf I would keep you safe, and safe is where I’ll keep you.’”
Seems ok to me.
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[5]•Treebeard, Eldest Ent [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 12
Vitality: 4
Signet: Gandalf
Unhasty. Damage +1.
Maneuver: Spot a [Gandalf] Wizard and exert Treebeard to play an unbound Hobbit from your discard pile.
Maneuver: Exert an unbound Hobbit or Wizard companion to allow Treebeard to skirmish and participate in archery fire until the regroup phase.
“‘I told Gandalf I would keep you safe, and safe is where I’ll keep you.’”
Seems nice enough, I think. Depends on what you get to do with it, though.
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Cool, cool. Glad he's well-recieved so far.
I DID make one change: I switched the order of his abilities. Looking back, it appears all other unhasty Ents have their hasty-ing text listed first, regardless of phase, so I decided to stick with that pattern here.
Oh, and with the two quick reviews, I decided to add one more Ent to the original post. So much for unhasty, eh? :hey:
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Well, once again, in my latest poll (http://lotrtcgdb.com/forums/index.php?topic=465.0), the people have clearly spoken. No votes for Hobbits, only one vote (mine doesn't count ;)) for Elves, and four for the [Gandalf] culture.
why doesn't yours count? meh. ni. it. ;)
[5]•Treebeard, Eldest Ent [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 12
Vitality: 4
Signet: Gandalf
Unhasty. Damage +1.
Maneuver: Exert an unbound Hobbit or Wizard companion to allow Treebeard to skirmish and participate in archery fire until the regroup phase.
Maneuver: Spot a [Gandalf] Wizard and exert Treebeard to play an unbound Hobbit from your discard pile.
“‘I told Gandalf I would keep you safe, and safe is where I’ll keep you.’”
fine
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[4]•Beechbone [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 9
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 7
To play, spot 2 [Gandalf] characters.
Each time an Ent is killed (including Beechbone), each Ent is strength +2 and loses unhasty until the regroup phase.
“‘...a very tall handsome Ent....’”
beecbone, burned ;)
should he be unhasty?
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I like Beechbone. Cool ability.
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I like beechbone but i would just question how useful he is, if youre in a skirmish when an ent dies which is 75% of the time surely, then youve paid the unhasty cost so it renders that bit useless, so youre paying 4 for a companion that only works a little bit if you lose a companion? Dont get me wrong DI i love him but think he needs a slight thoughtful tweak...... ;)
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I like beechbone but i would just question how useful he is, if youre in a skirmish when an ent dies which is 75% of the time surely, then youve paid the unhasty cost so it renders that bit useless, so youre paying 4 for a companion that only works a little bit if you lose a companion? Dont get me wrong DI i love him but think he needs a slight thoughtful tweak...... ;)
True enough. If I made it until the end of the turn, would that be better? It would then work if you double-moved, would it not?
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It would be ok if no other inspiration hit you o bearded one ;)
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Done, then! :up:
Okay, two more Ents to play with, and ones we have somewhat surprisingly not seen since Tower block. Can you believe the only Ents Decipher used multiple times were Treebeard and Quickbeam? Like I've said a million times...underdeveloped strategy (and race!) on their part.
Anyway, Big D may have made up these guys' names, but their new subtitles are straight from the language of the Elves: Sindarin. Took a little research, but considering Tolkien himself did the same thing with Leaflock and Quickbeam ("Finglas" and "Bregalad", respectively) and Decipher DID copy that, I figrued Sindarin names made sense for these guys too, and was more than worth the time it took to delve into Sindarin. Hope you agree...and enjoy! ;D
[4]•Birchseed, Brethil [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 8
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 7
Unhasty. When NOLINKBirchseed is in your starting fellowship, his twilight cost is -1.
Assignment: Exert an unbound Hobbit or another Ent to allow NOLINKBirchseed to skirmish.
Each time NOLINKBirchseed wins a skirmish, you may heal another [Gandalf] character (or an unbound Hobbit if that skirmish involved an Orc or Uruk-hai).
“...there were tall strong Ents, clean-limbed and smooth-skinned like forest-trees in their prime....”
23U?
"Brethil" is Sindarin for "birch tree". I considered working the Sindarin translation of "seed" ("eredh") in there too, but any combination of that and brethil just looked too complex and, frankly, stupid. So I kept it simple. ;)
[4]•Lindenroot, Nimlothond [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 10
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 6
Unhasty. To play, spot 2 [Gandalf] characters (or a unique Ent).
Assignment: Exert an unbound Hobbit or discard a [Gandalf] card from hand to allow NOLINKLindenroot to skirmish.
Each time NOLINKLindenroot wins a skirmish, you may exert a minion (or wound that minion if it is an Orc or Uruk-hai).
“There were a few older Ents, bearded and gnarled like hale but ancient trees....”
23R?
Not QUITE so simple here, as I combined two Sindarin words. I couldn't find the exact translation of "linden" (or any of the other names it goes by in English, like "lime", "tilia", or "basswood"), but I got the next best thing: "nimloth", which is Sindarin for "white-tree", something many species of linden are known as. The next part fit PERFECTLY: the Sindarin word for "root" is "thond"...a pleasant surprise, since "th" appeared at the end of the first Sindarin word and the beginning of the next, making the natural portmanteau "nimlothond". Woo-hoo! :D
Yeah, it's the small things in life. :roll:
Oh, as for the cards' actual text, they're obviously best when used against their worst enemies: Orcs and Uruks. Many old-school Ent cards targeted [Isengard], so I figured the Orc/Uruk thing made a lot of sense from a gameplay perspective...as well as from a storyline persepctive, of course. I'm a little worried about how cheap you can get NOLINKLindenroot, but I wanted to stick with the original costs and stats for the Ents as much as possible, so hopefully the spotting requirements help offset that. You tell me, though!
EDIT: In light of peoples' uneasiness with the return of unhasty, here's another card to show one way I plan on allowing the FP player to more easily circumvent the restrictive keyword. Notice it also works without any Hobbits in sight...unlike previous conditions like Ent Moot.
[2] Infuriated [Gandalf]
Condition
Strength +2
Toil 1. Bearer must be an Ent. Limit 1 per bearer.
While wounded, bearer loses unhasty.
“‘When Treebeard had got a few arrows in him, he began to warm up, to get positively ‘hasty’, as he would say.’”
23U?
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Get away from "Unhasty"l
Is Aragorn, Gil-Galad or Eomer unhasty?
Ents are no beatdown companions - and are unable to kill minions; Do you know Sheperd of the Trees?
[5] costs... but strength of 7 - imagine you start with
Frodo Merry and Quickbeam - a possible starting fellow for an Ent-deck. You have only got this companion in hand (Sheperd of the trees)... and you move to a site with 1 twilight: there are now 10 twilight tokens.
Your opponent plays a siege troop or something like that... and now - each of your ents would be overwhelmed (especially due to the fact, that Gandalf pusher cannot push enough: strength +2 or in rare cases +3) even if you play a pusher, your ent will be overwhelmed)
... and if an ent ever should win a skirmish, than he makes just one wound... so ents never can run
so get away from unhasty - for ents it's hard enough to survive!
They give so much pool - and it's hard for them to win or to kill minions - and they didn't get any strong artifacts or special abilites - only poor conditions - but for the [Gandalf] there aren't any cards like Scouring of the shire... - so they loose each support
...and in addition to that, there have to be always those tiny wimpy hobbits sucking up the fellowship count - and you shouldn't have more than 5 comps in play - with ents impossible
The best fellows are:
Elves
Knights
Ranger and Rohan and Hobbits
...
...
Gandalf and Ents...
that's my opinion.
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Get away from "Unhasty"l
Is Aragorn, Gil-Galad or Eomer unhasty?
Ents are no beatdown companions - and are unable to kill minions; Do you know Sheperd of the Trees?
[5] costs... but strength of 7 - imagine you start with
Frodo Merry and Quickbeam - a possible starting fellow for an Ent-deck. You have only got this companion in hand (Sheperd of the trees)... and you move to a site with 1 twilight: there are now 10 twilight tokens.
Your opponent plays a siege troop or something like that... and now - each of your ents would be overwhelmed (especially due to the fact, that Gandalf pusher cannot push enough: strength +2 or in rare cases +3) even if you play a pusher, your ent will be overwhelmed)
... and if an ent ever should win a skirmish, than he makes just one wound... so ents never can run
so get away from unhasty - for ents it's hard enough to survive!
They give so much pool - and it's hard for them to win or to kill minions - and they didn't get any strong artifacts or special abilites - only poor conditions - but for the [Gandalf] there aren't any cards like Scouring of the shire... - so they loose each support
...and in addition to that, there have to be always those tiny wimpy hobbits sucking up the fellowship count - and you shouldn't have more than 5 comps in play - with ents impossible
The best fellows are:
Elves
Knights
Ranger and Rohan and Hobbits
...
...
Gandalf and Ents...
that's my opinion.
Agreed. The ents need to be stronger with less of a penalty.
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Get away from "Unhasty"l
Is Aragorn, Gil-Galad or Eomer unhasty?
Ents are no beatdown companions - and are unable to kill minions; Do you know Sheperd of the Trees?
[5] costs... but strength of 7 - imagine you start with
Frodo Merry and Quickbeam - a possible starting fellow for an Ent-deck. You have only got this companion in hand (Sheperd of the trees)... and you move to a site with 1 twilight: there are now 10 twilight tokens.
Your opponent plays a siege troop or something like that... and now - each of your ents would be overwhelmed (especially due to the fact, that Gandalf pusher cannot push enough: strength +2 or in rare cases +3) even if you play a pusher, your ent will be overwhelmed)
... and if an ent ever should win a skirmish, than he makes just one wound... so ents never can run
so get away from unhasty - for ents it's hard enough to survive!
They give so much pool - and it's hard for them to win or to kill minions - and they didn't get any strong artifacts or special abilites - only poor conditions - but for the [Gandalf] there aren't any cards like Scouring of the shire... - so they loose each support
...and in addition to that, there have to be always those tiny wimpy hobbits sucking up the fellowship count - and you shouldn't have more than 5 comps in play - with ents impossible
The best fellows are:
Elves
Knights
Ranger and Rohan and Hobbits
...
...
Gandalf and Ents...
that's my opinion.
Agreed. The ents need to be stronger with less of a penalty.
Ahhhhhh...so THAT'S what all the fuss is about.
I admit I'm not a big fan of unhasty either. It makes Ents difficult to skirmish with, especially against a Shadow player that features at least decent wounding potential. Like you said, Olorin, they flood the twilight pool as it is, giving the Shadow player(s) plenty of twilight to send several minions after you, and then you need to worry about "unlocking" your best fighters to counter them.
But like many of my DCs, while I want to bring newer gameplay terms and tactics into older strategies, I want to stay true to those older cards as well. With The Way Into Mordor essentially being a Standard-legal Tower block set, that means it has plenty of Standard legal stuff...but also a taste of good old Tower block, which was the beginning of LOTR TCG's golden age. For better or for worse, unhasty was part of that, and like many long-gone concepts and terms I'm trying to bring back in my sets (trackers, search cards, allies, etc.), I think it would be a shame to just abandon it.
What I am trying to do--perhaps unsuccessfully so far--is to make unhasty Ents more viable for gameplay. This means that while several (but not all) Ents will have the old and mostly despised keyword, their text, for the most part, makes it easier to "hastify" them then their older, Tower block counterparts. And more importantly, there are other cards--Beechbone being a small example--that get rid of unhasty entirely, at least short-term. Yes, you have to work at it a little bit, but once you do, you end up with some mighty powerful companions bashing their way through the skirmish phase. That's why you can get away with a [4]-cost 10-strength 4-vitality companion like Nimlothond.
I promise, I am aware of the serious drawbacks of unhasty, and am determined to make it less restrictive than it was in the old days. I just haven't gotten far enough to really demonstrate some of my plans for doing so...but I'm going to go back to the last post after I'm finished typing this and add a condition that will hopefully show a better glimpse of how even unhasty Ents can get "positively hasty" more easily than they could in the past.
I am also aware of how they have difficultly finishing off minions, which I promise I ALSO plan to address. If there is ANY group of companions in the game that should leave little standing in their wake, it's Ents! :twisted: The damage bonus on Treebeard is a small taste of my plans to tackle that issue.
Just trust me for now. If, once I get further into the culture, you feel like unhasty is STILL too much of a drawback, I will reconsider. But give me that chance first, eh?
All the same, I'm dishing out some gold for your constructive critisism. :gp: I appreciate ya'll expressing your concerns, I really do. That's what I post these for, after all! :mrgreen: Just give me a little more time, and then take a second look and let me know how I'm doing at that point.
In the meantime, check the condition I'm about to go back and add, and I'll accelerate my "hastifying" cards a bit and spoil more of them over the next few days. Deal?
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[2] Ent-thing
Artifact support area
To play spot an ent. Each companion is resistance +1.
While you can spot 2 ents, each [Gandalf] companion is strength + 2 and damage +1.
While at a forest or battleground site, each ent is defender +1 and strength +3.
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[4]•Birchseed, Brethil [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 8
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 7
Unhasty. When NOLINKBirchseed is in your starting fellowship, his twilight cost is -1.
Assignment: Exert an unbound Hobbit or another Ent to allow NOLINKBirchseed to skirmish.
Each time NOLINKBirchseed wins a skirmish, you may heal another [Gandalf] character (or an unbound Hobbit if that skirmish involved an Orc or Uruk-hai).
“...there were tall strong Ents, clean-limbed and smooth-skinned like forest-trees in their prime....”
I see everyone's point on the unhasty thing, a few ents similar to this guy and youre already taking like 4 wounds from exertions before you even get into the fight, just to get INTO the fight lol. Hes just ok though Dain, considering Infuriated.
[4]•Lindenroot, Nimlothond [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 10
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 6
Unhasty. To play, spot 2 [Gandalf] characters (or a unique Ent).
Assignment: Exert an unbound Hobbit or discard a [Gandalf] card from hand to allow NOLINKLindenroot to skirmish.
Each time NOLINKLindenroot wins a skirmish, you may exert a minion (or wound that minion if it is an Orc or Uruk-hai).
“There were a few older Ents, bearded and gnarled like hale but ancient trees....”
Again just ok.
[2] Infuriated [Gandalf]
Condition
Strength +2
Toil 1. Bearer must be an Ent. Limit 1 per bearer.
While wounded, bearer loses unhasty.
“‘When Treebeard had got a few arrows in him, he began to warm up, to get positively ‘hasty’, as he would say.’”
Cool, excellent flavour, but id make more than 1 card similar to this to overcome the unhasty blight. And make the next one either 0 cost or a 2 cost with toil 2.
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[2] Infuriated [Gandalf]
Condition
Strength +2
Toil 1. Bearer must be an Ent. Limit 1 per bearer.
While wounded, bearer loses unhasty.
“‘When Treebeard had got a few arrows in him, he began to warm up, to get positively ‘hasty’, as he would say.’”
Cool, excellent flavour, but id make more than 1 card similar to this to overcome the unhasty blight. And make the next one either 0 cost or a 2 cost with toil 2.
There will be other ways to get around unhastiness, don't NOLINKworry. :up:
In fact, here's some more help for our unhasty Entish friends. Enjoy! :)
[4]•Quickbeam, Lover of Rowan-trees [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 8
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 6
When Quickbeam is in your starting fellowship and you can spot a [Gandalf] or [Shire] companion, Quickbeam's twilight cost is -2.
The twilight cost of each other Ent and Tree is -1.
Assignment: Exert an Ent or discard a [Gandalf] card from hand to make another Ent lose unhasty until the regroup phase.
“‘He says he has already made up his mind....he is the nearest thing among us to a hasty Ent.’”
23U?
Hopefully, THIS is a companion that can really get Ents going. He gets to start cheaply, and then makes each other Ent (and Tree, which we'll get to before long) cheaper as well. Oh, and perhaps the best part: he allows you to circumvent the normal hastifying methods by basically giving every Ent the ability: "Exert this Ent to make an Ent lose unhasty until the regroup phase." Then you can heal them up through any means you wish, but ESPECIALLY with the new NOLINKBirchseed...who can start with Quickbeam, actually; [2] for Quickbeam, [4] - [1] for NOLINKBirchseed - [1] more thanks to Quickbeam's text = a total of [4]. Nifty, eh?
If nothing else, starting with two 8-strength Ents--and one of them hasty ALL the time--without a single Hobbit being necessary is something the race could DESPERATELY use.
And now, going back and retooling a card from my last set, The Road Ahead:
[1]•Radagast’s Staff, Wand of the Wood (G)
Artifact • Staff
Strength +1
Vitality +1
Bearer must be Radagast.
Assignment: Exert a Wizard companion to allow an unhasty character (except a Man) to skirmish until the regroup phase.
Response: If a companion skirmishing a Tree, Spider, or Creature is about to take a wound, exert Radagast and add [2] to prevent that.
22C?
The assignment ability is new: the ability it replaced was basically a way to prevent wounds to Ents and Eagles. I figured this was much more useful, especially since there are a number of unhasty Eagle allies and companions in earlier sets of mine.
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[4]•Quickbeam, Lover of Rowan-trees [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 8
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 6
When Quickbeam is in your starting fellowship, his twilight cost is -2.
The twilight cost of each other Ent and Tree is -1.
Assignment: Exert an Ent to make another Ent lose unhasty until the regroup phase.
“‘He says he has already made up his mind and does not need to remain at the Moot. Hm, hm, he is the nearest thing among us to a hasty Ent.’”
How is this not the same as all the other unhasty costs. They all say exert another ent or hobbit anyway?
[1]•Radagast’s Staff, Wand of the Wood (G)
Artifact • Staff
Strength +1
Vitality +1
Bearer must be Radagast.
Assignment: Exert a Wizard companion to allow an unhasty character (except a Man) to skirmish until the regroup phase.
Response: If a companion skirmishing a Tree, Spider, or Creature is about to take a wound, exert Radagast and add [2] to prevent that.
Why would a man be unhasty? And why is the cost for unhastyfying stuff always exertions? Why would there be minion trees as well? You mean old man willow?
Sorry for all the questions!
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[4]•Quickbeam, Lover of Rowan-trees [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 8
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 6
When Quickbeam is in your starting fellowship, his twilight cost is -2.
The twilight cost of each other Ent and Tree is -1.
Assignment: Exert an Ent to make another Ent lose unhasty until the regroup phase.
“‘He says he has already made up his mind and does not need to remain at the Moot. Hm, hm, he is the nearest thing among us to a hasty Ent.’”
How is this not the same as all the other unhasty costs. They all say exert another ent or hobbit anyway?
True enough, but so far, the only Ent that allows exerting another Ent to lose unhasty is my NOLINKBirchseed. The rest require exerting Hobbits or Wizards or discarding from hand.
Speaking of which...how about if I change his ability to "Exert an Ent or discard a [Gandalf] card from hand to...."?
[1]•Radagast’s Staff, Wand of the Wood (G)
Artifact • Staff
Strength +1
Vitality +1
Bearer must be Radagast.
Assignment: Exert a Wizard companion to allow an unhasty character (except a Man) to skirmish until the regroup phase.
Response: If a companion skirmishing a Tree, Spider, or Creature is about to take a wound, exert Radagast and add [2] to prevent that.
Why would a man be unhasty? And why is the cost for unhastyfying stuff always exertions? Why would there be minion trees as well? You mean old man willow?
I can only think of one unhasty Man: the Master of Laketown, an ally from my set Lasting Alliances (http://lotrtcgdb.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=3262). Just wanted to cover my bases. :roll:
And yes, there are several Tree minions in my last set, The Road Ahead (http://lotrtcgdb.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=4717). Old Man Willow is their centerpiece, but hardly the only one.
Sorry for all the questions!
No problem at all. If you haven't been reviewing since the start (I've gone through two MASSIVE sets before this one), I'd recommend going back and checking them out when you have the time. :up: I linked to them above.
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Yeah do that change to quicky.
I do think you need diversity beyond exertions for the cost of hastying people!
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Change made. :up:
I realized you could potentially start Quickbeam and 2 copies of Huorn. I suppose that's not an entirely bad thing, though. All the same, I tweaked his starting cost reduction so it requires spotting a [Gandalf] or [Shire] companion already be on the table. Still works exactly the same if you start with Frodo or Gandalf as your Ring-bearer, but keeps you from loading up early with a powerful Ring-bearer like, I dunno, Boromir BoC. Or Gimli BoG. *shrug*
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[2] Infuriated [Gandalf]
Condition
Strength +2
Toil 1. Bearer must be an Ent. Limit 1 per bearer.
While wounded, bearer loses unhasty.
“‘When Treebeard had got a few arrows in him, he began to warm up, to get positively ‘hasty’, as he would say.’”
Cool, excellent flavour, but id make more than 1 card similar to this to overcome the unhasty blight. And make the next one either 0 cost or a 2 cost with toil 2.
There will be other ways to get around unhastiness, don't NOLINKworry. :up:
In fact, here's some more help for our unhasty Entish friends. Enjoy! :)
[4]•Quickbeam, Lover of Rowan-trees [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 8
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 6
When Quickbeam is in your starting fellowship and you can spot a [Gandalf] or [Shire] companion, Quickbeam's twilight cost is -2.
The twilight cost of each other Ent and Tree is -1.
Assignment: Exert an Ent or discard a [Gandalf] card from hand to make another Ent lose unhasty until the regroup phase.
“‘He says he has already made up his mind....he is the nearest thing among us to a hasty Ent.’”
well he's does get the culture going..and I can't complain about that...but on the other hand he almost seems too good...again it would depend on his rarity...but I would cut the -2 twilight reduction thingamabobber though I understand why you have it...
[1]•Radagast’s Staff, Wand of the Wood (G)
Artifact • Staff
Strength +1
Vitality +1
Bearer must be Radagast.
Assignment: Exert a Wizard companion to allow an unhasty character (except a Man) to skirmish until the regroup phase.
Response: If a companion skirmishing a Tree, Spider, or Creature is about to take a wound, exert Radagast and add [2] to prevent that.
fine...but why not men?
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but on the other hand he almost seems too good...again it would depend on his rarity...
Doh! Forgot all about that. :ninja: I promised I would start that up with my next culture, and now we're into the next culture and I plum forgot. Oy.
Okay, I've gone back and added rarities (and set numbers) for the cards, though I won't know the actual card number until the set is complete, so that's simply a "?" for now. I'll make sure to do it in the future...and if I don't, just give me a hard nudge, as I've probably just forgotten. :P
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Alright, onward and upward! More Ents follow. Enjoy! :)
[2] Onod of the Entwood [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 8
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 6
Unhasty.
Fellowship or Regroup: Add [3] or discard 2 cards from hand to allow this companion to skirmish until the next regroup phase.
While at a forest or battleground, if you can spot 3 other Ents, this companion loses unhasty.
“‘I thought they were only a memory of ancient days, if indeed they were ever more than a legend of Rohan.’”
23C?
There...an Ent that requires no exerting whatsoever to skirmish. Happy now, lem0n? :P
In fact, at the right type of sites, he doesn't require ANY help skirmishing.
[3] Enyd of Fangorn [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 7
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 6
To play, spot 2 Ents (or a unique Ent).
Each time this companion wins a skirmish at a battleground, dwelling, or forest site, you may add [2] to take a non-event [Gandalf] card into hand from your discard pile.
“‘I have heard nothing of this in my own land, save only songs that tell how the Onodrim, that Men call Ents, dwelt there long ago....’”
23U?
And this guy helps pull back cards you discard to get certain unhasty Ents skirmishing in the first place. And he's got pretty good stats for a 7/4 hasty companion, eh?
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They're good, but I miss the good ol' BIG Ents. Huge twilight, that kind of stuff, you know? THAT (and being unhasty) made them pretty unique.
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[2] Onod of the Entwood [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 8
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 6
Unhasty.
Fellowship or Regroup: Add [3] or discard 2 cards from hand to allow this companion to skirmish until the next regroup phase.
While at a forest or battleground, if you can spot 3 other Ents, this companion loses unhasty.
“‘I thought they were only a memory of ancient days, if indeed they were ever more than a legend of Rohan.’”
23C?
There...an Ent that requires no exerting whatsoever to skirmish. Happy now, lem0n? :P
YES!
[3] Enyd of Fangorn [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 7
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 6
To play, spot 2 Ents (or a unique Ent).
Each time this companion wins a skirmish at a battleground, dwelling, or forest site, you may add [2] to take a non-event [Gandalf] card into hand from your discard pile.
“‘I have heard nothing of this in my own land, save only songs that tell how the Onodrim, that Men call Ents, dwelt there long ago....’”
23U?
And this guy helps pull back cards you discard to get certain unhasty Ents skirmishing in the first place. And he's got pretty good stats for a 7/4 hasty companion, eh?
Yes possibly too good though. He eclipses most of D's ents that arent unhasty for his price. But id let him go :up:
FM makes a good point though, and one i wish to elaborate on. At the end of the day these guys were freakin huge trees yet they have the same strength as boromir? I know its hard to balance in LOTR TCG but i do feel as though a 25 foot high monster should be harder than 7 if you get me....
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Ah, you want big Ents, eh? BIG Ents? Very well then.... :twisted:
[1][3]•Marching Onodrim [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 15
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 6
To play, spot 3 Ents (or 2 unique Ents).
Marching Onodrim's twilight cost is -2 for each Ent you can spot.
While at a battleground, Marching Onodrim is damage +1.
While at a forest site, Marching Onodrim is damage +1.
“‘For bole and bough are burning now, the furnace roars – we go to war!’”
23R?
There. Stronger than any Ent to date, including Treebeard and even the massive Ent Horde and Host of Fangorn. Big enough for ya? :P
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Lol thanks for that Dain, yes much better. He's ok, doesnt set the heart on fire but he'll do!
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[5]•Treebeard, Eldest Ent [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 12
Vitality: 4
Signet: Gandalf
Unhasty. Damage +1.
Maneuver: Exert an unbound Hobbit or Wizard companion to allow Treebeard to skirmish and participate in archery fire until the regroup phase.
Maneuver: Spot a [Gandalf] Wizard and exert Treebeard to play an unbound Hobbit from your discard pile.
“‘I told Gandalf I would keep you safe, and safe is where I’ll keep you.’”
23U?
I really don't like unhasty, but fair enough - at least you have bigger choice who you can exert.
[4]•Beechbone [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 9
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 7
To play, spot 2 [Gandalf] characters.
Each time an Ent is killed (including Beechbone), each Ent is strength +2 and loses unhasty until the end of the turn.
“‘...a very tall handsome Ent....’”
23C?
This I like a lot! Perhaps at least 1 way then to remove a dead companion from the game so that you can keep killing Beechbone? :mrgreen:
[4]•Birchseed, Brethil [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 8
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 7
Unhasty. When NOLINKBirchseed is in your starting fellowship, his twilight cost is -1.
Assignment: Exert an unbound Hobbit or another Ent to allow NOLINKBirchseed to skirmish.
Each time NOLINKBirchseed wins a skirmish, you may heal another [Gandalf] character (or an unbound Hobbit if that skirmish involved an Orc or Uruk-hai).
“...there were tall strong Ents, clean-limbed and smooth-skinned like forest-trees in their prime....”
23U?
To be honest, I would just make his text without the parentheses (ie. when he wins, he can heal a [Gandalf] character or unbound Hobbit). And [3] in your starting fellowship doesn't seem especially useful. Surely you'll want at least Merry and Pippin to go with him?
[4]•Lindenroot, Nimlothond [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 10
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 6
Unhasty. To play, spot 2 [Gandalf] characters (or a unique Ent).
Assignment: Exert an unbound Hobbit or discard a [Gandalf] card from hand to allow NOLINKLindenroot to skirmish.
Each time NOLINKLindenroot wins a skirmish, you may exert a minion (or wound that minion if it is an Orc or Uruk-hai).
“There were a few older Ents, bearded and gnarled like hale but ancient trees....”
23R?
He's alright.
[2] Infuriated [Gandalf]
Condition
Strength +2
Toil 1. Bearer must be an Ent. Limit 1 per bearer.
While wounded, bearer loses unhasty.
“‘When Treebeard had got a few arrows in him, he began to warm up, to get positively ‘hasty’, as he would say.’”
23U?
My problem with unhasty, is why have it if you're just going to make ways to lose it again?
[4]•Quickbeam, Lover of Rowan-trees [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 8
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 6
When Quickbeam is in your starting fellowship and you can spot a [Gandalf] or [Shire] companion, Quickbeam's twilight cost is -2.
The twilight cost of each other Ent and Tree is -1.
Assignment: Exert an Ent or discard a [Gandalf] card from hand to make another Ent lose unhasty until the regroup phase.
“‘He says he has already made up his mind....he is the nearest thing among us to a hasty Ent.’”
23U?
Certainly makes Birchseed's reduction more useful. Very good starting choice, but I repeat my reservations about unhasty.
[1]•Radagast’s Staff, Wand of the Wood (G)
Artifact • Staff
Strength +1
Vitality +1
Bearer must be Radagast.
Assignment: Exert a Wizard companion to allow an unhasty character (except a Man) to skirmish until the regroup phase.
Response: If a companion skirmishing a Tree, Spider, or Creature is about to take a wound, exert Radagast and add [2] to prevent that.
22C?
Seems reasonable. Which Men are unhasty? In fact, who other than Ents are unhasty?
[2] Onod of the Entwood [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 8
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 6
Unhasty.
Fellowship or Regroup: Add [3] or discard 2 cards from hand to allow this companion to skirmish until the next regroup phase.
While at a forest or battleground, if you can spot 3 other Ents, this companion loses unhasty.
“‘I thought they were only a memory of ancient days, if indeed they were ever more than a legend of Rohan.’”
23C?
Again, I'd rather just use a hasty Ent with game text than an unhasty one which can lose it easily.
[3] Enyd of Fangorn [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 7
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 6
To play, spot 2 Ents (or a unique Ent).
Each time this companion wins a skirmish at a battleground, dwelling, or forest site, you may add [2] to take a non-event [Gandalf] card into hand from your discard pile.
“‘I have heard nothing of this in my own land, save only songs that tell how the Onodrim, that Men call Ents, dwelt there long ago....’”
23U?
Looks good.
[1][3]•Marching Onodrim [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 15
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 6
To play, spot 2 Ents (or a unique Ent).
Marching Onodrim's twilight cost is -2 for each Ent you can spot.
While at a battleground, Marching Onodrim is damage +1.
While at a forest site, Marching Onodrim is damage +1.
“‘For bole and bough are burning now, the furnace roars – we go to war!’”
23R?
Decent. But I think strength 15 is quite ridiculous for a companion.
Thranduil
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[1][3]•Marching Onodrim [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 15
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 6
To play, spot 2 Ents (or a unique Ent).
Marching Onodrim's twilight cost is -2 for each Ent you can spot.
While at a battleground, Marching Onodrim is damage +1.
While at a forest site, Marching Onodrim is damage +1.
“‘For bole and bough are burning now, the furnace roars – we go to war!’”
23R?
Typical entish brutality. He's nice, but like Thran says, 15 is a heck of a lot of strength for a companion. What with G for Grand and Strange Meeting running around as well, this guy could approach a 20-strength base with ease.
Darned Ents.
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[1][3]•Marching Onodrim [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 15
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 6
To play, spot 2 Ents (or a unique Ent).
Marching Onodrim's twilight cost is -2 for each Ent you can spot.
While at a battleground, Marching Onodrim is damage +1.
While at a forest site, Marching Onodrim is damage +1.
“‘For bole and bough are burning now, the furnace roars – we go to war!’”
23R?
I think this guy should just say "To play, spot 3 Ents." Otherwise it's fine.
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Oy. I make a bunch of 10 or less strength Ents, and people cry they're too weak. I give them a monster, and now I'm off my rocker on the OTHER end. I swear, you people are impossible. :P
I'm inclined to leave it as is, since I don't have any plans for other mega-companions in this culture (at least, not with Ents :roll:), so this would be the exception rather than the norm. I DID change it to 3 Ents as Menace recommended, so it's a little tougher to get it out. I could be talked into bringing the strength down a little bit, but like I said, I think leaving it be is the best course of action, even though 15 is a little insane for a companion. Certainly inspires the fear a proper swarm of Ents SHOULD though, doesn't it? :twisted:
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15 strength is fine, as long as it's costed correctly. With the 3-Ent spotting requirement, you'd already been flooding the pool with twilight, giving all Shadow players the ability to throw everything at you.
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I see no problem with the guy's strength, I mean, Ents tend to be more vulnerable to indirect strategies, like conditions, archery (heavy archery, that is) and/or swarm. Also, let's face it, barring skirmish shennanigans, when a companion hits around 12-13 strength he won't lose skirmishes unless the FP player plans to do so anyway, so what's the deal with 15? Could've been 18 and it wouldn't still make a difference, really. VERY seldom a game situation would arrive that the 15 strength would have THAT impact.
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If "an angry Ent is terrifying", what about a whole swarm of them? :twisted:
[3] Join the Moot! [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Make an Ent strength +1 for each other Ent you can spot.
“Then with a crash came a great ringing shout: ‘ra-hoom-rah!’ The trees quivered and bent as if a gust had struck them.”
Sort of like a bigger, older cousin of Roused. This one saves the exertion and has no limit, but it's much more expensive.
[7]•Ta-rûna Rûna Rûna Rom [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
This condition's twilight cost is -1 for each Ent and unbound Hobbit you can spot.
Each Ent at a battleground is strength +1.
Each Ent at a forest is vitality +1.
Each Ent skirmishing an Orc or Uruk-hai is damage +1.
“‘...with roll of drum, we come, we come; To Isengard NOLINKwith doom we come! NOLINKWith doom we come, NOLINKwith doom we come!’”
Mwaha! :twisted: Probably far too powerful, at least with the vitality part, but I had to try.
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[3] Join the Moot! [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Make an Ent strength +1 for each other Ent you can spot.
“Then with a crash came a great ringing shout: ‘ra-hoom-rah!’ The trees quivered and bent as if a gust had struck them.”
I think it would be fine at [2] - I never used Roused, it's just significantly worse than Boomed and Trumpeted. Yours is awesome though!
[7]•Ta-rûna Rûna Rûna Rom [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
This condition's twilight cost is -1 for each Ent you can spot.
Each Ent at a battleground is strength +2.
Each Ent at a forest is vitality +1.
Each Ent skirmishing an Orc or Uruk-hai is damage +1.
“‘...with roll of drum, we come, we come; To Isengard NOLINKwith doom we come! NOLINKWith doom we come, NOLINKwith doom we come!’”
Actualy I think it's fine, because you're unlikely to get many of those bonuses at the same time. Still, such a conditional vitality bonus is actually pretty darn dangerous.
Thranduil
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[7]•Ta-rûna Rûna Rûna Rom [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
This condition's twilight cost is -1 for each Ent you can spot.
Each Ent at a battleground is strength +2.
Each Ent at a forest is vitality +1.
Each Ent skirmishing an Orc or Uruk-hai is damage +1.
“‘...with roll of drum, we come, we come; To Isengard NOLINKwith doom we come! NOLINKWith doom we come, NOLINKwith doom we come!’”
Actualy I think it's fine, because you're unlikely to get many of those bonuses at the same time. Still, such a conditional vitality bonus is actually pretty darn dangerous.
Should I actually REDUCE the cost, then?
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Perhaps you should also make it -1 for each unbound Hobbit rather than straight reducing the cost?
Thranduil
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[3] Join the Moot! [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Make an Ent strength +1 for each other Ent you can spot.
“Then with a crash came a great ringing shout: ‘ra-hoom-rah!’ The trees quivered and bent as if a gust had struck them.”
Neat.
[7]•Ta-rûna Rûna Rûna Rom [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
This condition's twilight cost is -1 for each Ent and unbound Hobbit you can spot.
Each Ent at a battleground is strength +2.
Each Ent at a forest is vitality +1.
Each Ent skirmishing an Orc or Uruk-hai is damage +1.
“‘...with roll of drum, we come, we come; To Isengard NOLINKwith doom we come! NOLINKWith doom we come, NOLINKwith doom we come!’”
It's fine. Unless you can control the site path, the vitality bonus is really kind of useless, actually. Although it would be funny to move from a forest and watch 3 or more exhausted companions die.
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[3] Join the Moot! [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Make an Ent strength +1 for each other Ent you can spot.
“Then with a crash came a great ringing shout: ‘ra-hoom-rah!’ The trees quivered and bent as if a gust had struck them.”
Alright i guess, would hurt me to play such a costly event.
[7]•Ta-rûna Rûna Rûna Rom [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
This condition's twilight cost is -1 for each Ent and unbound Hobbit you can spot.
Each Ent at a battleground is strength +2.
Each Ent at a forest is vitality +1.
Each Ent skirmishing an Orc or Uruk-hai is damage +1.
“‘...with roll of drum, we come, we come; To Isengard NOLINKwith doom we come! NOLINKWith doom we come, NOLINKwith doom we come!’”
Wow erm, put simply i do think its too strong. Cant really see it has a comparable card that is so immense. EL is right about the vitality, and as you know, i really cant see the point in temporary text vitality bonuses theyre stupid. But all +2 at a battleground is awesome, and 66% of youre fights are gonna be d+1? Wowser.
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It could be that Ta-rûna Rûna Rûna Rom needs to give only strength +1 at a battleground.
Thranduil
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It could be that Ta-rûna Rûna Rûna Rom needs to give only strength +1 at a battleground.
Thranduil
:up: ;D
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Alright, tweaked Ta-rûna Rûna Rûna Rom as recommended. Thanks, boys! :up:
We've had several cards that allow getting around the drawbacks of unhasty. Now here's some incentive to actually USE some of those unhasty Ents. Enjoy! :)
[3] Not So Hasty [Gandalf]
Event • Fellowship
Heal an unbound companion for each unhasty Ent you can spot.
“‘I have become too hot. I must cool myself and think; for it is easier to shout ‘stop!’ than to do it.’”
[2] A Strange and Sad Story [Gandalf]
Condition
Vitality +1
Resistance +1
Tale. Bearer must be an unhasty Ent (or Treebeard). Limit 1 per bearer.
Each time an Ent is played, you may heal bearer.
“‘Together we will take the road that leads into the West, / And far away will find a land where both our hearts may rest.’”
Too good...either of them? Both of them? You tell me!
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First one should cost 4 but both are fine.
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Actually, I think Not So Hasty should remain at [3] but only heal unbound companions.
Also, how about something that benefits from the mechanic of unhasty, not just the keyword? (ie. something that rewards Ents for not fighting?)
Thranduil
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Also, how about something that benefits from the mechanic of unhasty, not just the keyword? (ie. something that rewards Ents for not fighting?)
We'll get there. Not so hasty, Master Thranduil. ;)
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So you dont get to heal the RB.... Big deal, its still potentially boat loads of healing cos ur playing unbound ents and unbound hobbits, have patience heals a companion twice gets a cost of 3 but this could heal more fore 3. Sorry but unless cost is raised i refuse to go quietly.
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[3] Not So Hasty [Gandalf]
Event • Fellowship
Heal an unbound companion for each unhasty Ent you can spot.
“‘I have become too hot. I must cool myself and think; for it is easier to shout ‘stop!’ than to do it.’”
Massive Have Patience. No problem.
[2] A Strange and Sad Story [Gandalf]
Condition
Vitality +1
Resistance +1
Bearer must be an unhasty Ent (or Treebeard). Limit 1 per bearer.
Each time an Ent is played, you may heal bearer.
“‘Together we will take the road that leads into the West, / And far away will find a land where both our hearts may rest.’”
Yikes. Not sure I like more vitality on ents. I guess since it requires unhasty, and you don't get any strength bonus from the [2] twilight... it works.
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So you dont get to heal the RB.... Big deal, its still potentially boat loads of healing cos ur playing unbound ents and unbound hobbits, have patience heals a companion twice gets a cost of 3 but this could heal more fore 3. Sorry but unless cost is raised i refuse to go quietly.
Fair enough...but keep in mind that, as you yourself have pointed out, unhasty Ents usually have to do a good bit of exerting to stand a fighting chance (pun intended :P). If you have a lot of them, and are therefore likely exerting a lot to get them skirmishing, then I think it's only fair they have some above-averge healing.
And if you DON'T have several unhasty Ents, then this event isn't nearly as powerful, now is it? ;)
I think it's balanced when one considers cards like Farewell to Lorien, Much-needed Rest, and Simple Living. Have Patience is TOO expensive, I have always thought. [2] would probably be better for it, but that, of course, is beyond my control.
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I don't think Have Patience is too expensive - it's one of the most efficient and useful healing cards in the game, because all you need to do is spot Gandalf. This card requires a lot more for potentially less or more benefit, and I'm pretty sure you can't heal the same companion more than once the way it's currently worded, so it looks fine to me.
Thranduil
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...and I'm pretty sure you can't heal the same companion more than once the way it's currently worded, so it looks fine to me.
That was my assumption too, though that wording has always been a little bit of gray area to me.
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Ok 2 things to say.
1. I concede on the costing now ONLY because Dain rightly pointed out you have exert carp loads to get into fights so its culturally balanced rather than gameplay balanced.
2. You can heal a companion more than once with this phrasing, its pretty much the only good phrasing you can use to do the healing anywhere you want. Heal x for each x is different, for example might of numenor, cos that specifies a number of companions to heal, this say a comp must be healed for each unhasty ent. So I heal gorn, thats 1 unbound companion healed, then i heal him again thats an unbound companion healed etc...
E.g. Galadriel sothl heals multiple elves or same elf a few times etc...
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Which do you think is more balanced, then?
- Heal an unbound companion for each unhasty Ent you can spot.
...OR...
- Heal X unbound companions, where X is the number of unhasty Ents you can spot.
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Which do you think is more balanced, then?
- Heal an unbound companion for each unhasty Ent you can spot.
...OR...
- Heal X unbound companions, where X is the number of unhasty Ents you can spot.
To be honest, I'm not at all bothered.
Thranduil
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Time to switch gears a little. We're certainly not AT ALL finished with Ents, but before we get too much further, I want to introduce the "sheep" that the Ents shepherd. What are the Ents called again...? Oh yeah: Shepherds of the Trees.
Decipher teased us with the possibility of a Tree subculture with Reflections' companion Huorn...then didn't do anything else with it. I, however, have been setting up MUCH more with Tree companions for a while now....
From my Hobbit-based set, Lasting Alliances:
[4]•NOLINKRadagast, Gandalf’s Cousin (G)
Companion • Wizard
Strength: 7
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 7
NOLINKRadagast is strength +1 for each Tree, Eagle, and Free Peoples mount you can spot (limit +3).
Fellowship: Exert NOLINKRadagast and discard 2 cards (or one (G) or [Gandalf] card) from hand to heal an Eagle, Tree, or Ent.
“‘...not a bad fellow as wizards go, I believe.’”
From my Fellowship of the Ring-based set, The Road Ahead:
[2] Friends Of Old (G)
Event • Maneuver
Exert NOLINKRadagast twice to draw a card for each Eagle, Tree, and Spider you can spot.
“‘For NOLINKRadagast knew no reason why he should not do as I asked; and he rode away towards Mirkwood....’”
22U?
[3]•Help Of All Things [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot NOLINKRadagast or exert your Wizard.
Fellowship: Discard this condition to make each Free Peoples Wizard, Eagle, and Tree strength +1 until the regroup phase.
Maneuver: If you have initiative, exert your Wizard and add a threat to play an Eagle or Tree from your draw deck.
“‘Send out messages to all the beasts and birds that are your friends.’”
22R?
[8]•Old Man Willow, Angry and Resentful [Wraith]
Minion • Tree
Strength: 11
Vitality: 5
Site: 2
Damage +1. Fierce. Hunter 1.
If the fellowship is not at a forest or river site, discard Old Man Willow.
The move limit is -1 (to a minimum of 1).
Shadow: Exert Old Man Willow twice to take a [Wraith] weather card into hand from your draw deck.
Skirmish: Exert Old Man Willow to make a Tree strength +2 or strength -2.
“...his heart was rotten, but his strength was green; and he was cunning, and a master of winds, and his song and thought ran through the woods on both sides of the river.”
Had a whole subculture of Tree minions, actually, but this one can specifically target FP Trees (making them strength -2).
And now...I will tease ONE last time with today's only all-new card before we get to some actual Trees...tomorrow. ;)
[7]•NOLINKLeaflock, Ancient Ent [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 10
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 6
Unhasty. NOLINKLeaflock's twilight cost is -1 for each Ent and Tree you can spot.
Each Tree is strength +1 (or +2 if you can spot a Wizard).
Assignment: Exert a Tree or 2 Ents to allow NOLINKLeaflock to skirmish.
“‘NOLINKLeaflock has grown sleepy, almost tree-ish, you might say...covered with leafy hair, he is.’”
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[4]•NOLINKRadagast, Gandalf’s Cousin (G)
Companion • Wizard
Strength: 7
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 7
NOLINKRadagast is strength +1 for each Tree, Eagle, and Free Peoples mount you can spot (limit +3).
Fellowship: Exert NOLINKRadagast and discard 2 cards (or one (G) or [Gandalf] card) from hand to heal an Eagle, Tree, or Ent.
“‘...not a bad fellow as wizards go, I believe.’”
It sounds a little silly to have this grand list of things that Radagast gets a bonus for, then put a measly +3 limit on it! It sounds much better to say something like: "For each of the following you can spot, Radagast is strength +1..." or "While you can spot 3 Trees, Eagles or Free Peoples mounts..."
[2] Friends Of Old (G)
Event • Maneuver
Exert NOLINKRadagast twice to draw a card for each Eagle, Tree, and Spider you can spot.
“‘For NOLINKRadagast knew no reason why he should not do as I asked; and he rode away towards Mirkwood....’”
22U?
Apart from the fact that Friends of Old is obviously already a card title, this looks like it could get crazily out of hand. I'd prefer much less cost for much less benefit.
[3]•Help Of All Things [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot NOLINKRadagast or exert your Wizard.
Fellowship: Discard this condition to make each Free Peoples Wizard, Eagle, and Tree strength +1 until the regroup phase.
Maneuver: If you have initiative, exert your Wizard and add a threat to play an Eagle or Tree from your draw deck.
“‘Send out messages to all the beasts and birds that are your friends.’”
22R?
Looks good. I might even make it cost [2].
[8]•Old Man Willow, Angry and Resentful [Wraith]
Minion • Tree
Strength: 11
Vitality: 5
Site: 2
Damage +1. Fierce. Hunter 1.
If the fellowship is not at a forest or river site, discard Old Man Willow.
The move limit is -1 (to a minimum of 1).
Shadow: Exert Old Man Willow twice to take a [Wraith] weather card into hand from your draw deck.
Skirmish: Exert Old Man Willow to make a Tree strength +2 or strength -2.
“...his heart was rotten, but his strength was green; and he was cunning, and a master of winds, and his song and thought ran through the woods on both sides of the river.”
Fun stuff! But I don't get the hunter bonus.
[7]•NOLINKLeaflock, Ancient Ent [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 10
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 6
Unhasty. NOLINKLeaflock's twilight cost is -1 for each Ent and Tree you can spot.
Each Tree is strength +1 (or +2 if you can spot a Wizard).
Assignment: Exert a Tree or 2 Ents to allow NOLINKLeaflock to skirmish.
“‘NOLINKLeaflock has grown sleepy, almost tree-ish, you might say...covered with leafy hair, he is.’”
You should 'Exert a Tree or an Ent', but otherwise looks good. Though obviously it depends on what kind of trees you have....
Thranduil
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- Heal an unbound companion for each unhasty Ent you can spot.
...OR...
- Heal X unbound companions, where X is the number of unhasty Ents you can spot.
Uh, neither of them limits the healing to one companion, if that's what you were going for. "For each" lets you heal one separate time for each time you spot an unhasty Ent. So you could heal one companion 3 times, a companion twice, and another companion once, if you wanted to. Like Aiglos.
The card is most balanced if healing is limited to one companion.
So, I'd say: Heal a companion X times, where X is the number of unhasty Ents you can spot.
[4]•NOLINKRadagast, Gandalf’s Cousin (G)
Companion • Wizard
Strength: 7
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 7
NOLINKRadagast is strength +1 for each Tree, Eagle, and Free Peoples mount you can spot (limit +3).
Fellowship: Exert NOLINKRadagast and discard 2 cards (or one (G) or [Gandalf] card) from hand to heal an Eagle, Tree, or Ent.
“‘...not a bad fellow as wizards go, I believe.’”
I like thran's wording of "for each of the following" because it reminds me of Friend of the Shirefolk. Good ol' card.
This guy is good, by the way.
[2] Friends Of Old (G)
Event • Maneuver
Exert NOLINKRadagast twice to draw a card for each Eagle, Tree, and Spider you can spot.
“‘For NOLINKRadagast knew no reason why he should not do as I asked; and he rode away towards Mirkwood....’”
22U?
Interesting. I agree with Thran, in a way, maybe make this one "for each of the following" and then I don't think you'd need any exertions. "For each of the following" could be a nice little Radagast theme, don't you think?
[3]•Help Of All Things [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot NOLINKRadagast or exert your Wizard.
Fellowship: Discard this condition to make each Free Peoples Wizard, Eagle, and Tree strength +1 until the regroup phase.
Maneuver: If you have initiative, exert your Wizard and add a threat to play an Eagle or Tree from your draw deck.
“‘Send out messages to all the beasts and birds that are your friends.’”
22R?
I think it's a way to easy way to pull companions during the maneuver phase, plus you could theoretically (with all the vitality increasing cards out there) throw out 5 or 6 companions in one maneuver phase (since each companion would enable you to add another threat) and then not have to play any more companions the rest of the game, depriving the opponent of a lot of potential twilight.
I'll review the other two later.
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Anyone else? Just one review for Leaflock so far...I'd prefer one or two more before moving forward, if anyone has the time.
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[4]•NOLINKRadagast, Gandalf’s Cousin (G)
Companion • Wizard
Strength: 7
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 7
NOLINKRadagast is strength +1 for each Tree, Eagle, and Free Peoples mount you can spot (limit +3).
Fellowship: Exert NOLINKRadagast and discard 2 cards (or one (G) or [Gandalf] card) from hand to heal an Eagle, Tree, or Ent.
“‘...not a bad fellow as wizards go, I believe.’”
Kinda wordy. Perhaps you could reduce his text a bit by cutting the mount part? Otherwise he'll just be a tanky companion for pretty much any deck.
[2] Friends Of Old (G)
Event • Maneuver
Exert NOLINKRadagast twice to draw a card for each Eagle, Tree, and Spider you can spot.
“‘For NOLINKRadagast knew no reason why he should not do as I asked; and he rode away towards Mirkwood....’”
22U?
Still wordy, and I'm not too fond of the Spider connection. I like FP cards that can trigger off the opponent's Shadow, make them pay dearly for playing that, but I think it does too much right now.
[3]•Help Of All Things [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot NOLINKRadagast or exert a[color] Wizard.
Fellowship: Discard this condition to make each Free Peoples Wizard, Eagle, and Tree strength +1 until the regroup phase.
Maneuver: If you have initiative, exert your Wizard and add a threat to play an Eagle or Tree from your draw deck.
“‘Send out messages to all the beasts and birds that are your friends.’”
22R?
I think stuff that deals with initiative should almost always have discarding as a cost, so that you eventually LOSE initiative for abusing the ability. Otherwise, fine.
[8]•Old Man Willow, Angry and Resentful [Wraith]
Minion • Tree
Strength: 11
Vitality: 5
Site: 2
Damage +1. Fierce. Hunter 1.
If the fellowship is not at a forest or river site, discard Old Man Willow.
The move limit is -1 (to a minimum of 1).
Shadow: Exert Old Man Willow twice to take a [Wraith] weather card into hand from your draw deck.
Skirmish: Exert Old Man Willow to make a Tree strength +2 or strength -2.
“...his heart was rotten, but his strength was green; and he was cunning, and a master of winds, and his song and thought ran through the woods on both sides of the river.”
If Trees are in the Gandalf subculture, as weird as it may be, I think Old Man Willow should share their culture. Also, I'm not sold out on the idea of a tree that doesn't move being a hunter... Do you really need the strength bonus/keyword? He already does so much!
[7]•NOLINKLeaflock, Ancient Ent [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 10
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 6
Unhasty. NOLINKLeaflock's twilight cost is -1 for each Ent and Tree you can spot.
Each Tree is strength +1 (or +2 if you can spot a Wizard).
Assignment: Exert a Tree or 2 Ents to allow NOLINKLeaflock to skirmish.
“‘NOLINKLeaflock has grown sleepy, almost tree-ish, you might say...covered with leafy hair, he is.’”
He's good. Not spectacular, but still very good. Gets amazing if you don't have a way to enforce the "rule of 5" over the Fellowship.
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Alright, I'll go back and touch up some of those older cards (especially Radagast), but what I was REALLY looking for was reviews of NOLINKLeaflock. If EL still wants to finish off his review (or anyone else wants to), please feel free. But since there doesn't seem to be any controversy in the two reviews I DID recieve, let's get to the actual Trees, eh? And with this being the last update before a weekend, you get a bunch of cards to enjoy until Monday. :) Enjoy!
[2] Huorn of Fangorn [Gandalf]
Companion • Tree
Strength: 5
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 6
To play, spot a [Gandalf] character.
While you can spot an Orc or Uruk-hai, this companion is damage +1.
This companion is strength +1 for each Tree and Ent you can spot (limit +4).
“‘...the Ents with all their rustling Huorns behind.’”
Sort of a slightly different take on Huorn. This one can only get up to strength 9, unlike the original, and the damage bonus is conditional. But it can work well with other Trees instead of only Ents, so THAT, I think, sets it apart enough that it hopefully stands out on its own.
[3] Dark Huorn [Gandalf]
Companion • Tree
Strength: 7
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 4
This companion is damage +1 for each Orc and Uruk-hai in its skirmish.
Maneuver: Add a threat to make this companion strength +2 until the regroup phase (limit once per phase).
“‘There is a great power in them, and they seem able to wrap themselves in shadow....’”
Kind of an unusual phase for a strength pump, but being able to turn [2] twilight into an extra 2 strength every turn ain't bad, eh?
Now, some BIG guys that should make folks like lem0n and FM happy. :twisted:
[1][2]•Trees of Fangorn [Gandalf]
Companion • Tree
Strength: 12
Vitality: 5
Resistance: 6
Damage +1. Defender +1. To play, spot 2 Trees or 2 Ents.
Trees of Fangorn's twilight cost is -2 for each Tree you can spot.
Regroup: Exert Trees of Fangorn and another Tree companion to liberate a site.
“Great trees, bare and silent, stood, rank on rank, with tangled bough and hoary head....”
[1][2]•Fangorn Forest [Gandalf]
Companion • Tree
Strength: 12
Vitality: 6
Resistance: 5
Damage +1. To play, spot 2 Trees or 2 unique Ents.
Fangorn Forest's twilight cost is -2 for each Ent and Tree you can spot.
Fangorn Forest is strength +2 for each Orc and Uruk-hai in its skirmish.
“‘It is Orcs that they hate....From the deep dales of Fangorn, Gimli, that is whence they come....’”
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[8]•Old Man Willow, Angry and Resentful [Wraith]
Minion • Tree
Strength: 11
Vitality: 5
Site: 2
Damage +1. Fierce. Hunter 1.
If the fellowship is not at a forest or river site, discard Old Man Willow.
The move limit is -1 (to a minimum of 1).
Shadow: Exert Old Man Willow twice to take a [Wraith] weather card into hand from your draw deck.
Skirmish: Exert Old Man Willow to make a Tree strength +2 or strength -2.
“...his heart was rotten, but his strength was green; and he was cunning, and a master of winds, and his song and thought ran through the woods on both sides of the river.”
Good enough.
[7]•NOLINKLeaflock, Ancient Ent [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 10
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 6
Unhasty. NOLINKLeaflock's twilight cost is -1 for each Ent and Tree you can spot.
Each Tree is strength +1 (or +2 if you can spot a Wizard).
Assignment: Exert a Tree or 2 Ents to allow NOLINKLeaflock to skirmish.
“‘NOLINKLeaflock has grown sleepy, almost tree-ish, you might say...covered with leafy hair, he is.’”
I think the original version of Leaflock had a little bit less strength, didn't it? I might drop this guy's strength by 1, but otherwise he's fine.
[2] Huorn of Fangorn [Gandalf]
Companion • Tree
Strength: 5
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 6
To play, spot a [Gandalf] character.
While you can spot an Orc or Uruk-hai, this companion is damage +1.
This companion is strength +1 for each Tree and Ent you can spot (limit +4).
“‘...the Ents with all their rustling Huorns behind.’”
He's fine. Could stand to have 6 strength, like a regular Huorn.
[3] Dark Huorn [Gandalf]
Companion • Tree
Strength: 7
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 4
This companion is damage +1 for each Orc and Uruk-hai in its skirmish.
Maneuver: Add [2] to make this companion strength +2 until the regroup phase (limit once per phase).
“‘There is a great power in them, and they seem able to wrap themselves in shadow....’”
Easy 9 strength for [3] might not be cool. Maybe lower base strength to 6, but have some conditional cost-lowering.
[1][2]•Trees of Fangorn [Gandalf]
Companion • Tree
Strength: 12
Vitality: 5
Resistance: 6
Damage +1. Defender +1. To play, spot 2 Trees or 2 Ents.
Trees of Fangorn's twilight cost is -2 for each Tree you can spot.
Maneuver: Spot an Orc or Uruk-hai and exert Trees of Fangorn and another Tree companion to liberate a site.
“Great trees, bare and silent, stood, rank on rank, with tangled bough and hoary head....”
Honestly, I think these trees could be tied together with a better theme than race hate. Base Def+1 is a little bit odd, I might make it conditional.
[1][2]•Fangorn Forest [Gandalf]
Companion • Tree
Strength: 10
Vitality: 6
Resistance: 5
Damage +2. To play, spot 2 Trees or 2 unique Ents.
Fangorn Forest's twilight cost is -2 for each Ent and Tree you can spot.
Fangorn Forest is strength +2 for each Orc and Uruk-hai in its skirmish.
“‘It is Orcs that they hate....From the deep dales of Fangorn, Gimli, that is whence they come....’”
See above. Base D+2 also make doubling much easier... I have a big problem with heaping such powerful keywords on companions that also have massive strength, plus reduction and other abilities. Massive companions are fine; but if you look at the biggest ents, they lack other keywords and have conditional abilities.
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[2] Huorn of Fangorn [Gandalf]
Companion • Tree
Strength: 5
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 6
To play, spot a [Gandalf] character.
While you can spot an Orc or Uruk-hai, this companion is damage +1.
This companion is strength +1 for each Tree and Ent you can spot (limit +4).
“‘...the Ents with all their rustling Huorns behind.’”
Reasonable, but I always prefer giving concrete numbers than limits (like "While you can spot 3 Ents...")
[3] Dark Huorn [Gandalf]
Companion • Tree
Strength: 7
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 4
This companion is damage +1 for each Orc and Uruk-hai in its skirmish.
Maneuver: Add [2] to make this companion strength +2 until the regroup phase (limit once per phase).
“‘There is a great power in them, and they seem able to wrap themselves in shadow....’”
My problem is that I can't ever see myself not using the maneuver ability. Perhaps make it conditional on something.
[1][2]•Trees of Fangorn [Gandalf]
Companion • Tree
Strength: 12
Vitality: 5
Resistance: 6
Damage +1. Defender +1. To play, spot 2 Trees or 2 Ents.
Trees of Fangorn's twilight cost is -2 for each Tree you can spot.
Maneuver: Spot an Orc or Uruk-hai and exert Trees of Fangorn and another Tree companion to liberate a site.
“Great trees, bare and silent, stood, rank on rank, with tangled bough and hoary head....”
His maneuver ability is pretty useless. I don't see why his twilight cost isn't reduced by Ents as well and would make the maneuver without the spotting an Orc or Uruk-hai and a regroup action.
[1][2]•Fangorn Forest [Gandalf]
Companion • Tree
Strength: 10
Vitality: 6
Resistance: 5
Damage +2. To play, spot 2 Trees or 2 unique Ents.
Fangorn Forest's twilight cost is -2 for each Ent and Tree you can spot.
Fangorn Forest is strength +2 for each Orc and Uruk-hai in its skirmish.
“‘It is Orcs that they hate....From the deep dales of Fangorn, Gimli, that is whence they come....’”
Sounds a bit more like a site than a companion! Again, not very useful because its usefulness depends entirely on what your opponent plays. I find myself agreeing with EL on most of his judgments as well.
Thranduil
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[7]•NOLINKLeaflock, Ancient Ent [Gandalf]
Companion • Ent
Strength: 10
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 6
Unhasty. NOLINKLeaflock's twilight cost is -1 for each Ent and Tree you can spot.
Each Tree is strength +1 (or +2 if you can spot a Wizard).
Assignment: Exert a Tree or 2 Ents to allow NOLINKLeaflock to skirmish.
“‘NOLINKLeaflock has grown sleepy, almost tree-ish, you might say...covered with leafy hair, he is.’”
I think the original version of Leaflock had a little bit less strength, didn't it? I might drop this guy's strength by 1, but otherwise he's fine.
Yes, the original had 8 strength, BUT could get up to 12 with enough Ents around. This one is also unhasty whereas Finglas is not, so I think it all balances out.
[3] Dark Huorn [Gandalf]
Companion • Tree
Strength: 7
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 4
This companion is damage +1 for each Orc and Uruk-hai in its skirmish.
Maneuver: Add [2] to make this companion strength +2 until the regroup phase (limit once per phase).
“‘There is a great power in them, and they seem able to wrap themselves in shadow....’”
Easy 9 strength for [3] might not be cool. Maybe lower base strength to 6, but have some conditional cost-lowering.
My problem is that I can't ever see myself not using the maneuver ability. Perhaps make it conditional on something.
Hmmmm. The downside was supposed to be discouraging doubling by adding twilight, but...what if it adds a threat to increase the strength instead of adding [2]? Would that be better? Should I take it a step further and limit it to once per turn?
[1][2]•Trees of Fangorn [Gandalf]
Companion • Tree
Strength: 12
Vitality: 5
Resistance: 6
Damage +1. Defender +1. To play, spot 2 Trees or 2 Ents.
Trees of Fangorn's twilight cost is -2 for each Tree you can spot.
Maneuver: Spot an Orc or Uruk-hai and exert Trees of Fangorn and another Tree companion to liberate a site.
“Great trees, bare and silent, stood, rank on rank, with tangled bough and hoary head....”
His maneuver ability is pretty useless. I don't see why his twilight cost isn't reduced by Ents as well and would make the maneuver without the spotting an Orc or Uruk-hai and a regroup action.
I didn't want to make him TOO easy to get with his base damage and defender bonuses, so that's why Ents don't make him cheaper, too. I'll change his liberation to a regroup action.
[1][2]•Fangorn Forest [Gandalf]
Companion • Tree
Strength: 10
Vitality: 6
Resistance: 5
Damage +2. To play, spot 2 Trees or 2 unique Ents.
Fangorn Forest's twilight cost is -2 for each Ent and Tree you can spot.
Fangorn Forest is strength +2 for each Orc and Uruk-hai in its skirmish.
“‘It is Orcs that they hate....From the deep dales of Fangorn, Gimli, that is whence they come....’”
See above. Base D+2 also make doubling much easier... I have a big problem with heaping such powerful keywords on companions that also have massive strength, plus reduction and other abilities. Massive companions are fine; but if you look at the biggest ents, they lack other keywords and have conditional abilities.
Yes, but I was trying to distinguish these from Ents, especially since you'll find they don't come with a lot of support cards as Ents do.
Sounds a bit more like a site than a companion! Again, not very useful because its usefulness depends entirely on what your opponent plays. I find myself agreeing with EL on most of his judgments as well.
On the flipside, with a base damage +2, I didn't want it to be too easy to pump up his strength higher than 10...hence the very conditional strength bonus. I'm inclined to leave that part alone because I think allowing the FP player to have any way to pump him up on their own would make it OP overall.
What if I leave the conditional strength, take his base strength up to 11 or 12, and drop his damage to just +1?
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That seems fair. Base D+1 isn't very out of the ordinary.
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Hmmmm. The downside was supposed to be discouraging doubling by adding twilight, but...what if it adds a threat to increase the strength instead of adding [2]? Would that be better? Should I take it a step further and limit it to once per turn?
Unfortunately, that's no downside - the Free Peoples player can always add twilight and so it never feels like a cost, which is why I would always do it. I would just change it into a basic conditional strength bonus.
Also, you do know that Fangorn Forest is a towers site, right?
Thranduil
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Hey guys,
do you really know that the starting fellowship must not be higher than 4 twilight cost?
What should be the starting fellowship in an ent deck, if each companion costs about 7 or more?
Make at least one ent like this:
[4] ° Lindenroot
Strength: 10
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 7
Damage +1.
Maneuver: exert a tree to heal Lindenroot.
Skirmish: add a threat or exert two trees to wound an orc or Uruk-hai.
And another thing: please keep in mind that the One Ring of Sauron doesen't have any effect to ents or trees - so the vitality should be at least at 7!
Of course, we need to pay attention that ents - even if they are now the weakest fellowship in my opinon - don't get to strong with new cards; so it should hardly be possible to play them in an Elves-deck for example... and for other ents or trees you should spot at least one ent or tree.
[3] ° Quickbeam
Strength: 8
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 7
Maneuver: exert Quickbeam to replace the fellowships current site with a site from your adventure path.
Regroup: discard Quickbeam to remove up to three threats or [4]
[15] ° Force of Fangorn
Strength: 12
Vitality: 6
Resistance: 7
Damage +1. Defender +1. Toil 3.
To play spot Treebeard or two ents.
The current site gains forest.
This companion is strength +2 and damage +1 for each two ents or trees you can spot.
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do you really know that the starting fellowship must not be higher than 4 twilight cost?
What should be the starting fellowship in an ent deck, if each companion costs about 7 or more?
This deck (http://lotrtcgdb.com/forums/index.php?topic=450.0) shows you how to start many different ents.
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Remember this card?
[2] A Strange and Sad Story [Gandalf]
Condition
Vitality +1
Resistance +1
Tale. Bearer must be an unhasty Ent (or Treebeard). Limit 1 per bearer.
Each time an Ent is played, you may heal bearer.
“‘Together we will take the road that leads into the West, / And far away will find a land where both our hearts may rest.’”
Or this one?
[7]•Ta-rûna Rûna Rûna Rom [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
This condition's twilight cost is -1 for each Ent and unbound Hobbit you can spot.
Each Ent at a battleground is strength +1.
Each Ent at a forest is vitality +1.
Each Ent skirmishing an Orc or Uruk-hai is damage +1.
“‘...with roll of drum, we come, we come; To Isengard NOLINKwith doom we come! NOLINKWith doom we come, NOLINKwith doom we come!’”
There's a theme I've been working on here, one that people questioned a bit (at least with Ta-rûna Rûna Rûna Rom), and that theme comes to fruition today. Let's see if you can figure it out as we move through today's new cards. :D Enjoy!
[2]•Wandlimb, Fimbrethil [Gandalf]
Follower
Strength +1
Vitality +1
Resistance +1
Aid – [3].
To play, spot a [Gandalf] character.
Each time you transfer this to a companion, except an Ent, exert bearer twice.
Each time bearer wins a skirmish, you may heal a companion.
“‘Very fair she was still in my eyes...though little like the Entmaiden of old.’”
Figure it out yet? Why all this extra vitality? The strength makes sense as does the healing and such. But why so much vitality that seems to be temporary (like that on Ta-rûna Rûna Rûna Rom and now Wandlimb)?
Here's the answer. It's time to reward Ents for being so tough in the vitality department. :D
[2] Search of the Ents [Gandalf]
Condition
Resistance +2
Tale. Bearer must be an Ent. Limit 1 per bearer.
Skirmish: Discard this condition to make bearer strength +1 for each vitality he has.
“‘Long we called, and long we searched; and we asked all folk that we met which way the Entwives had gone. Some said they had never seen them; and some said that they had seen them walking away west, and some said east, and others south. But nowhere that we went could we find them.’”
See? Considering the vitality-boosting methods I've created, as well as their staple Ent Draught, you're looking at some potential strength +7 or even +8 boosts here, and you should at least get something like +5 pretty easily. Yes, it takes some work, but as long as you're not too hasty and can work up to it, this, like the Ents' eventual rage, can grow to terrifying levels.
[3] March and Sing [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Toil 1.
Make a [Gandalf] companion strength +1 for each card borne by that companion. If that companion is an Ent, you may then make him strength +1 for each tale he bears.
“‘But if we stayed at home and did nothing, doom would find us anyway, sooner or later. That thought has long been growing in our hearts; and that is why we are marching now. It was not a hasty resolve.’”
Ditto here. This one definately takes some work, but once you get there...look out! With this set so far adding 3 conditions Ents can bear, and Decipher's sets having several more (Enraged, Ent Moot, Ent Draught, etc.), you're once again looking at potentially a very big boost for your Ents...especially since two of the three conditions I've made for them also happen to be tales. :up:
So again, like the Ents they're based around, it takes some time to get the wheels in motion, but once you do, the power you then bring to the table is immense. Hopefully this turns Ents into the true terrors they should be in the game without making it TOO easy...or too hasty. ;) What do you think?
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[3]•Wandlimb, Fimbrethil [Gandalf]
Follower
Strength +1
Vitality +1
Resistance +1
Aid – [2].
To play, spot a [Gandalf] character.
Each time you transfer this to a companion, except an Ent, exert bearer twice.
Each time bearer wins a skirmish, you may heal a companion.
“‘Very fair she was still in my eyes...though little like the Entmaiden of old.’”
Looks good, though perhaps I would prefer a lower twilight cost and higher aid cost.
[1] Search of the Ents [Gandalf]
Condition
Resistance +2
Tale. Bearer must be an Ent. Limit 1 per bearer.
Skirmish: Discard this condition to make bearer strength +1 for each vitality he has.
“‘Long we called, and long we searched; and we asked all folk that we met which way the Entwives had gone. Some said they had never seen them; and some said that they had seen them walking away west, and some said east, and others south. But nowhere that we went could we find them.’”
To be honest, I think the resistance bonus is seriously unnecessary.
[3] March and Sing [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Toil 1.
Make a [Gandalf] companion strength +1 for each card borne by that companion. If that companon is an Ent, you may then make him strength +1 for each tale he bears.
“‘But if we stayed at home and did nothing, doom would find us anyway, sooner or later. That thought has long been growing in our hearts; and that is why we are marching now. It was not a hasty resolve.’”
[/quote]
This one looks good! You've missed an "i" in the second companion though.
Thranduil
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I think all of them look fine. I'd prefer some kind of cap on March and Sing, because it seems like such a HUGE event for ents.
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Should Search of the Ents be phrased: "Strength +X where X is his vitality"?
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[2]•Wandlimb, Fimbrethil [Gandalf]
Follower
Strength +1
Vitality +1
Resistance +1
Aid – [3].
To play, spot a [Gandalf] character.
Each time you transfer this to a companion, except an Ent, exert bearer twice.
Each time bearer wins a skirmish, you may heal a companion.
“‘Very fair she was still in my eyes...though little like the Entmaiden of old.’”
Hmmm seems ok.
[1] Search of the Ents [Gandalf]
Condition
Resistance +2
Tale. Bearer must be an Ent. Limit 1 per bearer.
Skirmish: Discard this condition to make bearer strength +1 for each vitality he has.
“‘Long we called, and long we searched; and we asked all folk that we met which way the Entwives had gone. Some said they had never seen them; and some said that they had seen them walking away west, and some said east, and others south. But nowhere that we went could we find them.’”
Wow big! I might cut the res or make it cost 2.
[3] March and Sing [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Toil 1.
Make a [Gandalf] companion strength +1 for each card borne by that companion. If that companion is an Ent, you may then make him strength +1 for each tale he bears.
“‘But if we stayed at home and did nothing, doom would find us anyway, sooner or later. That thought has long been growing in our hearts; and that is why we are marching now. It was not a hasty resolve.’”
Seems cool.
So again, like the Ents they're based around, it takes some time to get the wheels in motion, but once you do, the power you then bring to the table is immense. Hopefully this turns Ents into the true terrors they should be in the game without making it TOO easy...or too hasty. ;) What do you think?
Id like to see more! Has promise....
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Just a couple random Entish cards today. I THINK we're winding down with them, but you never know when inspiration might hit me again like a 2x4. :P Enjoy!
[3] Long Count of Years [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
Tale. When you play this condition, you may spot an Ent to add a [Gandalf] token here for each river and forest site on the adventure path.
Fellowship: Remove X [Gandalf] tokens from here to play an Ent at twilight cost -X.
Skirmish: Remove a [Gandalf] token from here to make an Ent strength +1 or damage +1.
“‘Only three remain of the first Ents that walked in the woods before the Darkness: only myself, Fangorn, and NOLINKFinglas and NOLINKFladrif – to give them their Elvish names; you may call them NOLINKLeaflock and NOLINKSkinbark if you like that better.’”
[2] Release the River [Gandalf]
Event • Regroup
Spot an Ent and exert 2 unbound Hobbits twice (or once if at a river) to heal each Ent and liberate a site.
“‘Break the dam! Release the river!’”
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[3] Long Count of Years [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
Tale. When you play this condition, you may spot an Ent to add a [Gandalf] token here for each site on the adventure path.
Fellowship: Remove X [Gandalf] tokens from here to play an Ent at twilight cost -X.
Skirmish: If the fellowship is at a battleground or forest site, remove a [Gandalf] token from here to make an Ent strength +1 and damage +1.
“‘Only three remain of the first Ents that walked in the woods before the Darkness: only myself, Fangorn, and NOLINKFinglas and NOLINKFladrif – to give them their Elvish names; you may call them NOLINKLeaflock and NOLINKSkinbark if you like that better.’”
Erm ok.
[3] Release the River [Gandalf]
Event • Regroup
Spot 2 unbound Hobbits and exert each unbound Hobbit twice (or once if at a river) to heal each Ent and liberate a site.
“‘Break the dam! Release the river!’”
Seems too costly.
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[3] Long Count of Years [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
Tale. When you play this condition, you may spot an Ent to add a [Gandalf] token here for each site on the adventure path.
Fellowship: Remove X [Gandalf] tokens from here to play an Ent at twilight cost -X.
Skirmish: If the fellowship is at a battleground or forest site, remove a [Gandalf] token from here to make an Ent strength +1 and damage +1.
“‘Only three remain of the first Ents that walked in the woods before the Darkness: only myself, Fangorn, and NOLINKFinglas and NOLINKFladrif – to give them their Elvish names; you may call them NOLINKLeaflock and NOLINKSkinbark if you like that better.’”
The tokens seem fairly easy to get, considering. And with that second ability (and perhaps some Traveled Leader) you could play this at site 6/7 and easily move for the win with the masses of damage it would give you. I'd change it to only add tokens for each forest/battleground, but maybe be able to remove at any site.
[3] Release the River [Gandalf]
Event • Regroup
Spot 2 unbound Hobbits and exert each unbound Hobbit twice (or once if at a river) to heal each Ent and liberate a site.
“‘Break the dam! Release the river!’”
Nice.
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Changed the first as EL recommended and lowered the cost of the second as lem0n suggested. Better now?
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[3] Long Count of Years [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
Tale. When you play this condition, you may spot an Ent to add a [Gandalf] token here for each river and forest site on the adventure path.
Fellowship: Remove X [Gandalf] tokens from here to play an Ent at twilight cost -X.
Skirmish: Remove a [Gandalf] token from here to make an Ent strength +1 and damage +1.
“‘Only three remain of the first Ents that walked in the woods before the Darkness: only myself, Fangorn, and NOLINKFinglas and NOLINKFladrif – to give them their Elvish names; you may call them NOLINKLeaflock and NOLINKSkinbark if you like that better.’”
I think with [Gandalf] token reinforcement the skirmish ability needs to be 2 tokens.
[2] Release the River [Gandalf]
Event • Regroup
Spot 2 unbound Hobbits and exert each unbound Hobbit twice (or once if at a river) to heal each Ent and liberate a site.
“‘Break the dam! Release the river!’”
I'm not quite sure I'm feeling the concept of this card. I would remove the parentheses anyway because it doesn't scan too well.
Thranduil
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Tweaked both cards. Let me know if they're any better. :up: or :down:?
In the meantime, here are some more random Entish (and Treeish) cards. Enjoy!
[2]•Nut and Acorn, Root and Twig [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
Each time a Tree takes a wound (except during the archery phase), you may make an Ent strength +2 until the regroup phase.
Each time an Ent takes a wound (except during the archery phase), you may make a Tree strength +2 until the regroup phase.
“‘Many of these trees were my friends....They had voices of their own.’”
I figured that Ents and Trees could use a little more help working together. Hopefully, this is a big enough potential boost to make mixing them worth it.
[4]•Not Our War [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
Toil 1. To play, spot 3 Ents.
At the start of the regroup phase, make a Shadow player wound a minion for each Ent that was not involved in a skirmish this turn.
“‘The Ents cannot hold back this storm. We must weather such things as we have always done.’”
A long-awaited answer to Thran's suggestion of rewarding unhasty Ents for NOT fighting. Tried desperately to make it powerful yet balanced...how'd I do?
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[2]•Nut and Acorn, Root and Twig [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
Each time a Tree takes a wound (except during the archery phase), you may make an Ent strength +2 until the regroup phase.
Each time an Ent takes a wound (except during the archery phase), you may make a Tree strength +2 until the regroup phase.
“‘Many of these trees were my friends....They had voices of their own.’”
Weird, but lots of fun!
[4]•Not Our War [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
Toil 1. To play, spot 3 Ents.
At the start of the regroup phase, make a Shadow player wound a minion for each Ent that was not involved in a skirmish this turn.
“‘The Ents cannot hold back this storm. We must weather such things as we have always done.’”
I think I'd prefer it to cost about [2] and have a discarding ability, but it's balanced as is.
Thranduil
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[2]•Nut and Acorn, Root and Twig [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
Each time a Tree takes a wound (except during the archery phase), you may make an Ent strength +2 until the regroup phase.
Each time an Ent takes a wound (except during the archery phase), you may make a Tree strength +2 until the regroup phase.
“‘Many of these trees were my friends....They had voices of their own.’”
Cool but im not sure if it would work both ways round, i.e. the trees wouldnt be stronger cos of the ents taking wounds.
[4]•Not Our War [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
Toil 1. To play, spot 3 Ents.
At the start of the regroup phase, make a Shadow player wound a minion for each Ent that was not involved in a skirmish this turn.
“‘The Ents cannot hold back this storm. We must weather such things as we have always done.’”
Its ok mate certainly balanced, but maybe not useful enough for unhasty dudes.
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[2]•Nut and Acorn, Root and Twig [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
Each time a Tree takes a wound (except during the archery phase), you may make an Ent strength +2 until the regroup phase.
Each time an Ent takes a wound (except during the archery phase), you may make a Tree strength +2 until the regroup phase.
“‘Many of these trees were my friends....They had voices of their own.’”
Very... different. I don't think there's ever been much gained from Losing skirmishes. I like it.
[4]•Not Our War [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
Toil 1. To play, spot 3 Ents.
At the start of the regroup phase, make a Shadow player wound a minion for each Ent that was not involved in a skirmish this turn.
“‘The Ents cannot hold back this storm. We must weather such things as we have always done.’”
Neat.
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Alright, back to some good old-fashioned beatdowns before we get back to some more precise actions by our Ents. At least one of you was looking for some ways to get Ents matched up against multiple minions and make them truly enraged (especially by the loss of their comrades), so here are my best efforts. Enjoy! :twisted:
[1] Striding and Storming [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
At the start of the maneuver phase, you may spot an Ent or Tree in the dead pile to make an Ent lose unhasty until the regroup phase.
Skirmish: Discard this condition to make an Ent strength +1 for each companion in the dead pile.
“‘I thought that they had been really NOLINKroused before; but I was wrong. I saw what it was like at last. It was staggering. They roared and NOLINKboomed and trumpeted, until stones began to crack and fall at the mere noise of them.’”
Way back in the first post of this thread (http://lotrtcgdb.com/forums/index.php?topic=471.0), I teased the potential of making Ents tougher and nastier if some of their fellow Ents kicked the bucket with Beechbone. This makes that sort of "strategy" all the better. Saved From The Fire becomes an even better card, but I may have another DC very soon that speeds up the process of killing your Ents too. (No, not today.)
[4] Positively Hasty [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Toil 2.
If a wounded Ent is not assigned to a skirmish, have that Ent replace an unbound companion in a skirmish.
“‘He let out a great ‘hoom-hom’, and a dozen more Ents came striding up.’”
Here's a fun one that lets your Ents jump from skirmish to skirmish and beat down multiple minions the same turn. This is a very good way to save any smaller companions (like unbound Hobbits) you have in tow with your Ents. It's also another way to bring your unhasty Ents into battle. :up:
[4] Set To Work [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
Toil 2.
Exert an Ent 3 times (or 2 times if you can spot a [Gandalf] companion in the dead pile) to make that Ent strength +6, damage +1, defender +1, and lose unhasty until the regroup phase.
“‘They pushed, pulled, tore, shook, and hammered; and clang-bang, crash-crack, in five minutes they had these huge gates just lying in ruin....’”
Basically Down From The Hills for Ents, though with a little more strength, a little less damage, no wound prevention, but on the plus side, the loss of unhasty. Turn even your more passive Ents into absolute one-companion wrecking crews...just add water! :hey:
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[2]•Striding and Storming [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot 2 Ents.
At the start of each maneuver phase, you may spot X companions in the dead pile to make X Ents lose unhasty until the regroup phase.
Skirmish: Discard this condition to make an Ent strength +3 for each companion in the dead pile (limit +9).
“‘I thought that they had been really roused before; but I was wrong. I saw what it was like at last. It was staggering. They roared and NOLINKboomed and trumpeted, until stones began to crack and fall at the mere noise of them.’”
"the" manuever phase not "each". Should be dead ents or trees, they said themselves the war is not their war, they care little for the humas etc... its only when their kin die when they get angry. And change it to +2 and limit +8.
[4] Positively Hasty [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Toil 2.
If a wounded Ent is not assigned to a skirmish, have that Ent replace an unbound companion in a skirmish.
“‘He let out a great ‘hoom-hom’, and a dozen more Ents came striding up.’”
Cool beans.
[4] Set To Work [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
Toil 2.
Spot a [Gandalf] or [Shire] companion in the dead pile and exert an Ent twice to make that Ent strength +6, damage +1, defender +1, and lose unhasty until the regroup phase.
“‘They pushed, pulled, tore, shook, and hammered; and clang-bang, crash-crack, in five minutes they had these huge gates just lying in ruin....’”
Again make gandalf companion an ent or tree. id make this cost 5 with toil 2.
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Changed Striding and Storming, but I left Set To Work working with any [Gandalf] companion (for now, at least). Didn't want it to be too restrictive, since it DOES require you to actually kill a companion to get working in the first place.
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[2]•Striding and Storming [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
At the start of the maneuver phase, you may spot X Ents and Trees in the dead pile to make X Ents lose unhasty until the regroup phase.
Skirmish: Discard this condition to make an Ent strength +2 for each companion in the dead pile (limit +8).
“‘I thought that they had been really NOLINKroused before; but I was wrong. I saw what it was like at last. It was staggering. They roared and NOLINKboomed and trumpeted, until stones began to crack and fall at the mere noise of them.’”
Very entertaining. I think I'd prefer it to be non-unique with a lesser skirmish ability (maybe +1 for each) and spotting 1 Ent/Tree in the discard pile to make an Ent lost unhasty, so that it stacks. At the moment, this is seeming like a too easy solution to all your unhasty issues, given that if you have a few Ents in your dead pile, the number of Ents in your fellowship is going to be smaller.
[4] Positively Hasty [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Toil 2.
If a wounded Ent is not assigned to a skirmish, have that Ent replace an unbound companion in a skirmish.
“‘He let out a great ‘hoom-hom’, and a dozen more Ents came striding up.’”
This is awesome!
[4] Set To Work [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
Toil 2.
Spot a [Gandalf] companion in the dead pile and exert an Ent twice to make that Ent strength +6, damage +1, defender +1, and lose unhasty until the regroup phase.
“‘They pushed, pulled, tore, shook, and hammered; and clang-bang, crash-crack, in five minutes they had these huge gates just lying in ruin....’”
I think I would prefer something which did not require a dead companion but instead gave you most of the bonuses, then additional bonuses if you can spot a dead companion.
Thranduil
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[2]•Striding and Storming [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
At the start of the maneuver phase, you may spot X Ents and Trees in the dead pile to make X Ents lose unhasty until the regroup phase.
Skirmish: Discard this condition to make an Ent strength +2 for each companion in the dead pile (limit +8).
“‘I thought that they had been really NOLINKroused before; but I was wrong. I saw what it was like at last. It was staggering. They roared and NOLINKboomed and trumpeted, until stones began to crack and fall at the mere noise of them.’”
Very entertaining. I think I'd prefer it to be non-unique with a lesser skirmish ability (maybe +1 for each) and spotting 1 Ent/Tree in the discard pile to make an Ent lost unhasty, so that it stacks. At the moment, this is seeming like a too easy solution to all your unhasty issues, given that if you have a few Ents in your dead pile, the number of Ents in your fellowship is going to be smaller.
Done and done!
[4] Set To Work [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
Toil 2.
Spot a [Gandalf] companion in the dead pile and exert an Ent twice to make that Ent strength +6, damage +1, defender +1, and lose unhasty until the regroup phase.
“‘They pushed, pulled, tore, shook, and hammered; and clang-bang, crash-crack, in five minutes they had these huge gates just lying in ruin....’”
I think I would prefer something which did not require a dead companion but instead gave you most of the bonuses, then additional bonuses if you can spot a dead companion.
I'm afraid that that would get very clumsy, very fast. I did something similiar but different...let me know if that's any better.
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Good stuff! :up:
Thranduil
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[1] Striding and Storming [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
At the start of the maneuver phase, you may spot an Ent or Tree in the dead pile to make an Ent lose unhasty until the regroup phase.
Skirmish: Discard this condition to make an Ent strength +1 for each companion in the dead pile.
“‘I thought that they had been really NOLINKroused before; but I was wrong. I saw what it was like at last. It was staggering. They roared and NOLINKboomed and trumpeted, until stones began to crack and fall at the mere noise of them.’”
Nice. But beside SftF, there's really no way that this boost would be worth dumping your companions.
[4] Positively Hasty [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Toil 2.
If a wounded Ent is not assigned to a skirmish, have that Ent replace an unbound companion in a skirmish.
“‘He let out a great ‘hoom-hom’, and a dozen more Ents came striding up.’”
Neat.
[4] Set To Work [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
Toil 2.
Exert an Ent 3 times (or 2 times if you can spot a [Gandalf] companion in the dead pile) to make that Ent strength +6, damage +1, defender +1, and lose unhasty until the regroup phase.
“‘They pushed, pulled, tore, shook, and hammered; and clang-bang, crash-crack, in five minutes they had these huge gates just lying in ruin....’”
Good lord. I guess it's okay, but WOW.
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[1] Striding and Storming [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
At the start of the maneuver phase, you may spot an Ent or Tree in the dead pile to make an Ent lose unhasty until the regroup phase.
Skirmish: Discard this condition to make an Ent strength +1 for each companion in the dead pile.
“‘I thought that they had been really NOLINKroused before; but I was wrong. I saw what it was like at last. It was staggering. They roared and NOLINKboomed and trumpeted, until stones began to crack and fall at the mere noise of them.’”
Nice. But beside SftF, there's really no way that this boost would be worth dumping your companions.
Well, it DOES make Shadow of the Wood into a useful card for a change. And there's also this:
[4] Scorched and Blistered [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Place an Ent in the dead pile to discard each minion skirmishing that Ent and make each other wounded Ent damage +1 until the regroup phase.
“‘One of them, Beechbone I think he was called...got caught in a spray of some liquid fire and burned like a torch: a horrible sight. That sent them mad.’”
Is THAT enough, do you think?
If it's any consolation, I also plan on having a card that can remove [Gandalf] companions in the dead pile from the game, allowing you to potentially do this over and over. We won't get there for a while though...not until we get to Gandalf himself. But just an FYI for now.
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I think the heal each other ent is excessive, as the ent could be losing the fight about to be killed anyway and all of a sudden the minions have been discarded AND the rest of the tree shepherds are fightin fit! Maybe tone that bit down IF you see my point?
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I do, but I figured the high cost offset that, especially since this is an event you have to hold in your hand for the right moment (rather than a condition like Sent Back). Maybe raise the cost even further and add a little toil?
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I would reduce the cost to make it just discard the minions. I was expecting a card like this, and I'm glad of it!
Thranduil
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[4] Scortched and Blistered [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Place an Ent in the dead pile to discard each minion skirmishing that Ent and heal each other Ent.
“‘One of them, Beechbone I think he was called...got caught in a spray of some liquid fire and burned like a torch: a horrible sight. That sent them mad.’”
I'm not sure if the healing is OP, but it just doesn't seem to fit a card like this. A card about ents burning probably shouldn't heal them. I think strength or damage bonuses would be better. The damage bonuses especially might warrant a higher cost (potentially with some toil.)
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Alright, I left the cost as is, but dropped the healing in favor of some selective damage bonuses. I was reluctant to do more strength, since Beechbone and other cards like Striding and Storming already center around strength, but I like EL's idea about damage. So, is it okay now?
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It's fine, but I'd still prefer a card with lower cost that just discarded the minions - I'd be much more likely to put into a deck, I think.
Thranduil
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Okay, time for some simple events, ones that bring Trees back into the discussion. Two of these are easy pumps, and two do...something else that can greatly benefit your Trees and Ents. :roll: Enjoy!
(0) Queer and Wild [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Exert an Ent or Tree to make it strength +3.
“‘They can move very quickly, if they are angry.’”
[1] Grey and Menacing [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Make a [Gandalf] companion strength +2 (or +3 if skirmishing an Orc or Uruk-hai).
“Wailing they passed under the waiting shadow of the trees; and from that shadow none ever came again.”
[1] A Land Changed [Gandalf]
Event • Fellowship or Maneuver
Spot 2 Trees to replace the fellowship's current site with a forest site from your adventure deck.
“‘It is not wizardry, but a power far older, a power that walked the earth, ere elf sang or hammer rang.’”
[1] Stone-Cracking and Earth-Gnawing [Gandalf]
Event • Fellowship or Regroup
Spot 2 Ents or 3 Trees to replace a site in the fellowship's current region with a forest, river, or marsh site from your adventure deck.
“‘Ents and Huorns were digging great pits and trenches, and making great pools and dams, gathering all the waters of the Isen and every other spring and stream that they could find.’”
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[1] Queer and Wild [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Exert an Ent or Tree to make it strength +3.
“‘They can move very quickly, if they are angry.’”
Ok enough.
[1] Grey and Menacing [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Make a [Gandalf] companion strength +2 (or +4 if skirmishing an Orc or Uruk-hai).
“Wailing they passed under the waiting shadow of the trees; and from that shadow none ever came again.”
Id like to see the reasoning behind this its quite a good +2/+4 pump.
(0) A Land Changed [Gandalf]
Event • Fellowship or Maneuver
Spot 2 Trees to replace the fellowship's current site with a forest site from your adventure deck.
“‘It is not wizardry, but a power far older, a power that walked the earth, ere elf sang or hammer rang.’”
Id choose fellowship or manuever, both seems to flexible for trees but not the end of the world.
[1] Stone-Cracking and Earth-Gnawing [Gandalf]
Event • Fellowship or Regroup
Spot 2 Ents or 3 Trees to replace a site in the fellowship's current region with a forest, river, or marsh site from your adventure deck.
“‘Ents and Huorns were digging great pits and trenches, and making great pools and dams, gathering all the waters of the Isen and every other spring and stream that they could find.’”
Is the formula for all your ent card titles "'adjective ' and 'adjective'"? :P Sound.
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[1] Grey and Menacing [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Make a [Gandalf] companion strength +2 (or +4 if skirmishing an Orc or Uruk-hai).
“Wailing they passed under the waiting shadow of the trees; and from that shadow none ever came again.”
Id like to see the reasoning behind this its quite a good +2/+4 pump.
Because Trees (and Ents) HATE Orcs and Uruks, as I tried to emphasize (without going overboard, hopefully) on my Tree companions. I figured this was balanced enough since it relies entirely on the Shadow player for that +4 bump.
[1] Stone-Cracking and Earth-Gnawing [Gandalf]
Event • Fellowship or Regroup
Spot 2 Ents or 3 Trees to replace a site in the fellowship's current region with a forest, river, or marsh site from your adventure deck.
“‘Ents and Huorns were digging great pits and trenches, and making great pools and dams, gathering all the waters of the Isen and every other spring and stream that they could find.’”
Is the formula for all your ent card titles "'adjective ' and 'adjective'"? :P
Once again, blame Tolkien, not me. :P Most of my card titles are pulled directly from the text of the novels, word for word...and that includes all the "and"s. :roll:
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Because Trees (and Ents) HATE Orcs and Uruks, as I tried to emphasize (without going overboard, hopefully) on my Tree companions. I figured this was balanced enough since it relies entirely on the Shadow player for that +4 bump.
Yeah but youve made it any gandalf companion so i presumed you had more reason. In that case id rather you change it to ent or tree not just hat companions.
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[1] Queer and Wild [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Exert an Ent or Tree to make it strength +3.
“‘They can move very quickly, if they are angry.’”
To be honest, [1] for these events is too expensive. I'd see it at (0) or with an option for +4.
[1] Grey and Menacing [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Make a [Gandalf] companion strength +2 (or +4 if skirmishing an Orc or Uruk-hai).
“Wailing they passed under the waiting shadow of the trees; and from that shadow none ever came again.”
Given the range and power of [Gandalf] companions, there's a good argument that this should cost [2] or give a maximum +3.
(0) A Land Changed [Gandalf]
Event • Fellowship or Maneuver
Spot 2 Trees to replace the fellowship's current site with a forest site from your adventure deck.
“‘It is not wizardry, but a power far older, a power that walked the earth, ere elf sang or hammer rang.’”
AWESOME! Really clever text, but perhaps should cost [1].
[1] Stone-Cracking and Earth-Gnawing [Gandalf]
Event • Fellowship or Regroup
Spot 2 Ents or 3 Trees to replace a site in the fellowship's current region with a forest, river, or marsh site from your adventure deck.
“‘Ents and Huorns were digging great pits and trenches, and making great pools and dams, gathering all the waters of the Isen and every other spring and stream that they could find.’”
I don't see the need for 2 of these types of cards. Perhaps this one should play the fellowship's next site if it's a forest, river etc.
Thranduil
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[1] Stone-Cracking and Earth-Gnawing [Gandalf]
Event • Fellowship or Regroup
Spot 2 Ents or 3 Trees to replace a site in the fellowship's current region with a forest, river, or marsh site from your adventure deck.
“‘Ents and Huorns were digging great pits and trenches, and making great pools and dams, gathering all the waters of the Isen and every other spring and stream that they could find.’”
I don't see the need for 2 of these types of cards. Perhaps this one should play the fellowship's next site if it's a forest, river etc.
I had considered that, but I figured playing the next site is better left to cultures like [Gollum] and [Gondor]. Considering the differences between this and A Land Changed, I think there's room for both.
I did make the other changes you recommended. :gp:
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Alright, a few more mostly-random Ent cards today. Assuming I don't get another bout of inspiration with these guys, I think we'll move on to a certain Wizard beginning tomorrow. For now...enjoy!
[3] Break Into Splinters [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Toil 1.
Spot 3 Ents to discard an engine, machine, or possession.
“‘We are made of the bones of the earth. We can split stone like the roots of trees, only quicker, far quicker, if our minds are NOLINKroused!’”
Sort of specific with the engines and machines, but possessions could be a lifesaver against many Shadow strategies, especially corsairs. :twisted: Mwaha!
[3] A Wizard Should Know Better! [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
While you can spot 3 Ents, the twilight cost of each Shadow spell is +1.
Skirmish: Discard this condition to wound a minion skirmishing an Ent (twice if that minion is an Orc, Uruk-hai, or Wizard).
“‘It is the orc-work, the wanton hewing – rárum – without even the bad excuse of feeding the fires, that has so angered us; and the treachery of a neighbour, who should have helped us.’”
I figured I had to splash in at least a LITTLE anti-Saruman stuff for our Ents. They just loathe him so much....
[2] The Tree-killer! [Gandalf]
Event • Response
If an Ent wins a skirmish, you may exert that Ent to capture a minion in that skirmish.
“‘There was a pale figure hurrying away in and out of the shadows of the pillars, and it had nearly reached the stairs to the tower-door. But it was a near thing. Quickbeam was so hot after him, that he was within a step or two of being caught and strangled....’”
If you don't know or have forgotten my capturing/rescuing concept, here's a brief review:
You may capture an opponent's character much like controlling an opponent's site. Captured characters go in your support area. Captured characters cannot be used by their owner, and the player who captured them can get some benefits from them. Companions, allies, and minions can all be captured, though it usually isn't terribly easy to do so, especially for Shadow players.
Captured characters can become "un-captured" when their owner rescues them somehow, but that's not the only way to get them back....
Captured companions/allies remain captured ONLY while there are minions in play. As soon as the last minion is killed or discarded, all captured companions/allies are automatically rescued...which makes a lot of sense if you think about it. Captured minions, however, remain captured indefinately...which also makes sense, since there are obviously always companions in play to keep those minions captured. If the fellowship chooses to end their turn, they may hold onto captured minions or choose for them to be discarded (as any minions in play would be) on a case-by-case basis.
However, each time the fellowship moves, each player must pay twilight equal to the total printed cost of all characters they have captured. Any character NOT paid for in this way is automatically rescued.
Rescued companions/allies are automatically returned to the fellowship (or support area...wherever they were before), and rescued minions return to play, free to harass the fellowship again. This is true whether automatically rescued as described above, or if some other type of card is played or effect takes place that rescues a character.
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[3] Break Into Splinters [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Toil 1.
Spot 3 Ents to discard an engine, machine, or possession.
“‘We are made of the bones of the earth. We can split stone like the roots of trees, only quicker, far quicker, if our minds are NOLINKroused!’”
Cool.
[2] A Wizard Should Know Better! [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
Each time a Shadow spell is played, you may exert an Ent to return that spell to its owner's hand.
Skirmish: Discard this condition to wound a minion skirmishing an Ent (twice if that minion is an Orc, Uruk-hai, or Wizard).
“‘It is the orc-work, the wanton hewing – rárum – without even the bad excuse of feeding the fires, that has so angered us; and the treachery of a neighbour, who should have helped us.’”
I dont think this does what its supposed to, i think you need to say and cancel the effects or else this way they get the effect and then get the card to hand again ready for replaying!
[2] The Tree-killer! [Gandalf]
Event • Response
If an Ent wins a skirmish, you may exert that Ent to capture a minion in that skirmish.
“‘There was a pale figure hurrying away in and out of the shadows of the pillars, and it had nearly reached the stairs to the tower-door. But it was a near thing. Quickbeam was so hot after him, that he was within a step or two of being caught and strangled....’”
Fair enough.
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[2] A Wizard Should Know Better! [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
Each time a Shadow spell is played, you may exert an Ent to return that spell to its owner's hand.
Skirmish: Discard this condition to wound a minion skirmishing an Ent (twice if that minion is an Orc, Uruk-hai, or Wizard).
“‘It is the orc-work, the wanton hewing – rárum – without even the bad excuse of feeding the fires, that has so angered us; and the treachery of a neighbour, who should have helped us.’”
I dont think this does what its supposed to, i think you need to say and cancel the effects or else this way they get the effect and then get the card to hand again ready for replaying!
Yes, but eventually they'll run out of twilight to do so. I didn't want to simply cancel it and make it TOO easy, since Ents ARE still vulnerable to Saruman's wizardry to a degree.
I changed it to something else that hopefully makes it a bit nastier. :twisted:
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Still not getting why you want to return it to their hand? For hand clog?
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Partially, and also partially because it makes it so they CAN still try to use that spell, but it's going to cost them. How much twilight are they willing to shell out to use just one spell?
I think giving Ents the ability to outright cancel spells would be a bit too good, and also wouldn't make complete sense. Makes much more sense to me to leave THAT sort of thing to Gandalf and instead make spells tougher to use against Ents, but not necessarily impossible.
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Hold on i think theres a confusion. I read your card like they play it, it takes effect AND they get it back, which is what im saying you need need to edit your card wording in order to change this. Are you saying you want it to have the effect presented and returned so they can try again?
Cos that was my original point, you still need to say cancel the effect but not discard it, instead return it to hand.
Or have in made it even more confusing? :D
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[3] Break Into Splinters [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Toil 1.
Spot 3 Ents to discard an engine, machine, or possession.
“‘We are made of the bones of the earth. We can split stone like the roots of trees, only quicker, far quicker, if our minds are NOLINKroused!’”
Fair enough.
[2] A Wizard Should Know Better! [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
Each time a Shadow spell is played, you may exert an Ent to remove [2] and cancel all effects of that spell and return it to its owner's hand.
Skirmish: Discard this condition to wound a minion skirmishing an Ent (twice if that minion is an Orc, Uruk-hai, or Wizard).
“‘It is the orc-work, the wanton hewing – rárum – without even the bad excuse of feeding the fires, that has so angered us; and the treachery of a neighbour, who should have helped us.’”
I don't think it needs to be so extensively anti-spell - it just feels like a lot of text, and I wouldn't be willing to exert, even for more benfit. I would make it cost [1], spot a few Ents to play and just remove [2] every time a Shadow spell is played, a bit more like Betrayal of Isengard, for example.
[2] The Tree-killer! [Gandalf]
Event • Response
If an Ent wins a skirmish, you may exert that Ent to capture a minion in that skirmish.
“‘There was a pale figure hurrying away in and out of the shadows of the pillars, and it had nearly reached the stairs to the tower-door. But it was a near thing. Quickbeam was so hot after him, that he was within a step or two of being caught and strangled....’”
Fair enough.
Thranduil
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[2] A Wizard Should Know Better! [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
Each time a Shadow spell is played, you may exert an Ent to remove [2] and cancel all effects of that spell and return it to its owner's hand.
Skirmish: Discard this condition to wound a minion skirmishing an Ent (twice if that minion is an Orc, Uruk-hai, or Wizard).
“‘It is the orc-work, the wanton hewing – rárum – without even the bad excuse of feeding the fires, that has so angered us; and the treachery of a neighbour, who should have helped us.’”
I don't think it needs to be so extensively anti-spell - it just feels like a lot of text, and I wouldn't be willing to exert, even for more benfit. I would make it cost [1], spot a few Ents to play and just remove [2] every time a Shadow spell is played, a bit more like Betrayal of Isengard, for example.
What about simply making the twilight cost of each Shadow spell +1? Then it could be stackable and REALLY make spells tough to use. :twisted:
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Yeah, that's great! :up:
Thranduil
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[3] Break Into Splinters [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Toil 1.
Spot 3 Ents to discard an engine, machine, or possession.
“‘We are made of the bones of the earth. We can split stone like the roots of trees, only quicker, far quicker, if our minds are NOLINKroused!’”
Nice.
[2] A Wizard Should Know Better! [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
Each time a Shadow spell is played, you may exert an Ent to remove [2] and cancel all effects of that spell and return it to its owner's hand.
Skirmish: Discard this condition to wound a minion skirmishing an Ent (twice if that minion is an Orc, Uruk-hai, or Wizard).
“‘It is the orc-work, the wanton hewing – rárum – without even the bad excuse of feeding the fires, that has so angered us; and the treachery of a neighbour, who should have helped us.’”
I'd make it unique. The wounding ability warrants that, probably. Also with 4 of these out, you could stack the each time ability to remove [8]... that's a bit much, really.
[2] The Tree-killer! [Gandalf]
Event • Response
If an Ent wins a skirmish, you may exert that Ent to capture a minion in that skirmish.
“‘There was a pale figure hurrying away in and out of the shadows of the pillars, and it had nearly reached the stairs to the tower-door. But it was a near thing. Quickbeam was so hot after him, that he was within a step or two of being caught and strangled....’”
It's okay.
Can you remind me why I would keep a captured minion in my support area instead of discarding it, since I'd have to add twilight for it when I move? Is there really any reason for that, besides some of your cards that get benefits from captured characters (which I don't believe I have seen much of yet)?
Personally, I'd like to see a LOT more of this capture/rescue idea. It's REALLY cool, but I'm not seeing much support for it. Is there a set of cards you've posted that includes a lot of this?
Hah, sorry for the big thing on capture/rescue, the cards look good! :up:
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[2] A Wizard Should Know Better! [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
Each time a Shadow spell is played, you may exert an Ent to remove [2] and cancel all effects of that spell and return it to its owner's hand.
Skirmish: Discard this condition to wound a minion skirmishing an Ent (twice if that minion is an Orc, Uruk-hai, or Wizard).
“‘It is the orc-work, the wanton hewing – rárum – without even the bad excuse of feeding the fires, that has so angered us; and the treachery of a neighbour, who should have helped us.’”
I'd make it unique. The wounding ability warrants that, probably. Also with 4 of these out, you could stack the each time ability to remove [8]... that's a bit much, really.
You can't stack them, I don't think...at least, not how you're thinking. Even with four out, you'd need four exertions to get the [8] removed. Granted, it IS possible to get that [8], but I think four exertions makes it worth it.
That all being said, I plan to change it to "The twilight cost of each Shadow spell is +1, and probably make it cost [3]. How's that?
Can you remind me why I would keep a captured minion in my support area instead of discarding it, since I'd have to add twilight for it when I move? Is there really any reason for that, besides some of your cards that get benefits from captured characters (which I don't believe I have seen much of yet)?
Personally, I'd like to see a LOT more of this capture/rescue idea. It's REALLY cool, but I'm not seeing much support for it. Is there a set of cards you've posted that includes a lot of this?
Well, you don't HAVE to hold onto them. If the fellowship stops moving the turn they capture a minion, that minion is discarded as any minion in play would be...and you don't have to worry about any nasty fierceness or regroup actions it might have, since it can't make use of them while captured. :up:
There any many benefits to be gained from captured minions, though. You can finish them off with wounding, use them to pump up your own characters, and other fun stuff. Most of the capturing and rescuing stuff so far was in my first set, Lasting Alliances (http://lotrtcgdb.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=3262). Since the original idea seemed to be overpowered, I moved away from it a bit after that...but I'll get back into it more fully in my next set, The End Of All Things, making a nice bookend to Lasting Alliances.
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You can't stack them, I don't think...at least, not how you're thinking. Even with four out, you'd need four exertions to get the [8] removed. Granted, it IS possible to get that [8], but I think four exertions makes it worth it.
Yes this is true.
That all being said, I plan to change it to "The twilight cost of each Shadow spell is +1, and probably make it cost [3]. How's that?
Nah leave it its good as it is.
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I'm likely not QUITE done with Ents, as I imagine another idea or two will hit me before the [Gandalf] culture is completely done. But for now, it's time for the
Man Wizard himself. ;D
[4]•Gandalf, Stormcrow [Gandalf]
Companion • Wizard
Strength: 7
Vitality: 4
Signet: Théoden
Valiant.
Each time Gandalf wins a skirmish, you may choose one: heal a companion with the Gandalf signet or bearing a [Gandalf] condition; or discard a condition borne by a character.
“‘No counsel have I to give to those that despair. Yet counsel I could give, and words I could speak to you.’”
I know "Stormcrow" is technically already taken, but since it's only taken by a virtual card that never really existed, I figured it was alright to use it. If you disagree, how about "Herald of Strange Events"?
This Gandalf becomes one of a very small handful of non-[Rohan] characters (along with one version of Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli in this set and possibly one or two characters in the next set) to be valiant, which makes a lot of sense to ME, at least. Other than that, pretty typical Gandalf-type text.
[4]•Gandalf, Captain and Banner [Gandalf]
Companion • Wizard
Strength: 7
Vitality: 4
Signet: Aragorn
While you can spot another hunter, Gandalf's twilight cost is -1 (or -2 if that hunter has the Aragorn or Gandalf signet).
While you can spot 3 other hunters, Gandalf gains hunter 1.
While you can spot 5 other hunters, Gandalf is damage +1.
“‘We will go where he leads.’”
This, however, is probably the strangest Gandalf ever. Considering his close ties with the Three Hunters in the story, though, as well as his ties to Eomer/Erkenbrand and their riders (mostly hunters as well in this set), I figured a true hunter-supporting Gandalf made a lot of sense. :up: Hopefully it makes at least a little bit to you as well.
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[4]•Gandalf, Stormcrow [Gandalf]
Companion • Wizard
Strength: 7
Vitality: 4
Signet: Théoden
Valiant.
Each time Gandalf wins a skirmish, you may choose one: heal a companion with the Gandalf signet or bearing a [Gandalf] condition; or discard a condition borne by a character.
“‘No counsel have I to give to those that despair. Yet counsel I could give, and words I could speak to you.’”
Seems slightly overshadowed by other gandys but hes ok.
I know "Stormcrow" is technically already taken, but since it's only taken by a virtual card that never really existed, I figured it was alright to use it. If you disagree, how about "Herald of Strange Events"?
Nah lol.
[4]•Gandalf, Captain and Banner [Gandalf]
Companion • Wizard
Strength: 7
Vitality: 4
Signet: Aragorn
Hunter 1.
Each time another hunter companion is about to lose a skirmish, you may exert Gandalf to make that companion strength +2 (or +3 if that companion bears an artifact) until the end of that skirmish.
“‘The Dark Lord has Nine. But we have One, mightier than they: the White Rider. He has passed through the fire and the abyss, and they shall fear him.’”
Again ok, but overshadowed his gametext triggers when youre losing which isnt good to start with and then he has nothing else up his sleeve. I guess the hunter 1 makes it ok.
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[4]•Gandalf, Stormcrow [Gandalf]
Companion • Wizard
Strength: 7
Vitality: 4
Signet: Théoden
Valiant.
Each time Gandalf wins a skirmish, you may choose one: heal a companion with the Gandalf signet or bearing a [Gandalf] condition; or discard a condition borne by a character.
“‘No counsel have I to give to those that despair. Yet counsel I could give, and words I could speak to you.’”
Seems good, though I'd probably take out the [Gandalf] condition bit.
[4]•Gandalf, Captain and Banner [Gandalf]
Companion • Wizard
Strength: 7
Vitality: 4
Signet: Aragorn
Hunter 1.
Each time another hunter companion is about to lose a skirmish, you may exert Gandalf to make that companion strength +2 (or +3 if that companion bears an artifact) until the end of that skirmish.
“‘The Dark Lord has Nine. But we have One, mightier than they: the White Rider. He has passed through the fire and the abyss, and they shall fear him.’”
You know that lore text was used for Mithrandir, right? Wouldn't it be so much easier (and basically the same thing) to say "Skirmish: Exert Gandalf to make another hunter companion strength +2...."? Why would you use it unless you were losing?
EDIT: Ah, I've just realised that you can only use his text once. Makes more sense then...
Thranduil
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[4]•Gandalf, Captain and Banner [Gandalf]
Companion • Wizard
Strength: 7
Vitality: 4
Signet: Aragorn
Hunter 1.
Each time another hunter companion is about to lose a skirmish, you may exert Gandalf to make that companion strength +2 (or +3 if that companion bears an artifact) until the end of that skirmish.
“‘The Dark Lord has Nine. But we have One, mightier than they: the White Rider. He has passed through the fire and the abyss, and they shall fear him.’”
You know that lore text was used for Mithrandir, right?
Blast! *mumble grumble* No, I missed that. I'll have to come up with something else, I guess.
Wouldn't it be so much easier (and basically the same thing) to say "Skirmish: Exert Gandalf to make another hunter companion strength +2...."? Why would you use it unless you were losing?
EDIT: Ah, I've just realised that you can only use his text once. Makes more sense then...
Right. Also, allowing it at any time would be a bit OP, I think. Only letting it trigger when the companion is already losing keeps it in check, methinks. Makes him an excellent way to keep those hunters from getting overwhelmed.
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I'm not sure I'd play either one of them, though.
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Why is that, FM? Just better options out there?
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I'd play stormcrow...but not captain and banner EXCEPT in block format.
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Upped Captain and Banner to hunter 2. Better, or should I just go with something else entirely?
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Upped Captain and Banner to hunter 2. Better, or should I just go with something else entirely?
I don't know. A hunter Gandalf doesn't feel right to me... he never really "hunts" anything in the way that the three hunters or Faramir do, although he DOES have a connection to them. I might drop his hunter entirely, but give him an ability similar to Heir to the Throne of Gondor, one that triggers by spotting multiple cultures.
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Upped Captain and Banner to hunter 2. Better, or should I just go with something else entirely?
I was thinking some twilight reduction so that it would be possible to start him in your starting fellowship if you have hunters. Maybe like LoM but needs to spot a hunter?
Thranduil
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Okay, kind of combined Thran's and EL's ideas. How is he now? Bloody awful? :P
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Very interesting. I think he's good.
Thranduil
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Well if you thought that the original Captain and Banner got hunter too easily, then you're going to LOVE this. Not. :P
[2]•NOLINKShadowfax, Prince of Horses [Gandalf]
Possession • Mount
Resistance +1
Bearer must be Gandalf. He gains hunter 1.
At the start of each skirmish involving Gandalf, each minion skirmishing him must exert.
Response: If a Free Peoples mount is about to be discarded, exert Gandalf to take that mount into hand instead.
“...the great horse came striding up the slope towards them; his coat was glistening and his mane flowing in the wind of his speed. The two others followed, now far behind.”
Here, I think the hunter makes perfect sense for several reasons:
- Many Riders of Rohan (those that follow Eomer and NOLINKErkenbrand) are hunters in this set, and as NOLINKShadowfax is a horse from their ranks (albeit the greatest of them), I think it only makes sense he give a small hunter bonus. (This connection is also what inspires the exert-during-skirmish text, which was present on the original Shadowfax and on Greatheart).
- It was on NOLINKShadowfax that Gandalf did most of his "hunting", at Helm's Deep, at Minas Tirith, etc.
- I really want the potential of a hunter Gandalf! :P Albeit one that isn't TOO easy to get.
The only other comment is on the response action, which is inspired by NOLINKShadowfax returning to Rohan (and then Gandalf) after Gandalf's death and return, AND NOLINKShadowfax coming back to the Three Hunters with Hasufel and Arod in tow after they were seemingly lost. The one time the ability can't be used is when the bearer is in the process of being killed, but otherwise you can use the action on any FP mount, including NOLINKShadowfax himself.
Too much, do you think?
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It looks good, but seems overshadowed by many other versions of Shadowfax, even though this is the only one that really works well with [Rohan] specifically.
Perhaps limit the bearer to Gandalf (I think that makes more sense anyway) and add a vitality bonus?
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Really? And here I thought it was OVERpowered.
I'll hold off for at least one more review before changing it, but if I get even a hint of an agreement, consider it done, EL. :up:
Oh, and check your PMs in a sec. I want to send you a Shadowfax I already posted in my last set that's even MORE connected to [Rohan]. ;)
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Hum... If you want a more [Rohan] version of Shadowfax, why don't you simply MAKE it in that culture? I think a [Rohan] Shadowfax herding horses and giving hunter bonuses would make more sense. Perhaps then Théoden would get to ride him as well? ;)
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I would agree with FM, and also point out that other Shadowfaxes have amazing abilities because they discard other possessions borne by Gandalf and therefore I think this one is fine.
Thranduil
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[2]•NOLINKShadowfax, Prince of Horses [Gandalf]
Possession • Mount
Resistance +1
Bearer must be a [Gandalf] Wizard. Bearer gains hunter 1.
At the start of each skirmish involving bearer, each minion skirmishing bearer must exert.
Response: If a Free Peoples mount is about to be discarded, exert bearer to take that mount into hand instead.
“...the great horse came striding up the slope towards them; his coat was glistening and his mane flowing in the wind of his speed. The two others followed, now far behind.”
For a start id change ti to bearer must be Gandalf. Shadowfax only let gandalf ride him so i woudlnt let radagast even if he was good with animals. and i think hes fine definately not OP.
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Alright, since two reviewers recommended it, I've changed Prince of Horses from being bear-able by any [Gandalf] Wizard to being bear-able only by Gandalf.
And since a couple people asked about it, I'm ALSO going to re-post the NOLINKShadowfax from my Fellowship of the Ring-centric set, The Road Ahead. (Yes, my FotR set has a small number of [Rohan] cards. If you think that sounds interesting/silly/whatever, then check out the bottom of this page (http://lotrtcgdb.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=4717).) Anyway, keep in mind that this card has already been posted, reviewed, and finalized, but if you see something glaring that you think stands it being subject to review again, go for it. :up:
[2]•NOLINKShadowfax, Surpassingly Swift [Rohan]
Possession • Mount
Vitality +1
Resistance +1
To play, spot a [Rohan] Man. Bearer must be a unique [Rohan] Man or a Wizard.
If bearer is a Wizard, each time the fellowship moves during the regroup phase, you may heal bearer or remove a threat.
“‘And there is one among them that might have been foaled in the morning of the world....By day his coat glistens like silver; and by night it is like a shade, and he passes unseen. Light is his footfall!’”
Alright, on to the new cards. Gandalf may not NEED much more than NOLINKShadowfax throughout The Two Towers, but he DOES make good use of his staff and still has NOLINKGlamdring...though how he got it back after being "sent back" is never really explained.... ???
[2]•NOLINKGlamdring, Forged In Goldolin [Gandalf]
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +2
Bearer must be Gandalf.
He is damage +1.
Each time the fellowship moves to a site in region 2 or region 3, you may play this weapon from your draw deck or discard pile.
“‘NOLINKGlamdring it is called, for the Elves made it long ago. Now let me pass.’”
The text comes directly from the way NOLINKGlamdring myteriously reappears in The Two Towers. Doesn't do much other than that, but the fact that you can grab it any time you want (and re-grab it if it's discarded) makes it a very useful version, I think. Do you agree, faithful reviewer?
[2]•NOLINKGandalf’s Staff, Dangerous Instrument [Gandalf]
Artifact • Staff
Vitality +1
Bearer must be Gandalf.
The twilight cost of each [Gandalf] spell is -1.
Regroup: Exert Gandalf and discard a Free Peoples spell with a twilight cost of X from hand or from play to discard a Shadow condition with a twilight cost of X or less.
“He raised his staff. There was a NOLINKroll of thunder. The sunlight was blotted out from the eastern windows; the whole hall became suddenly dark as night. The fire faded to sullen embers. ”
I always loved the spell cost reduction of the original Gandalf's Staff, so that comes back here. If you hold onto that spell instead, though, you can turn it into a nice way to discard conditions later in the turn.
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Spells... from PLAY? Is this possible? Wow, I'm rusty.
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Alright, on to the new cards. Gandalf may not NEED much more than NOLINKShadowfax throughout The Two Towers, but he DOES make good use of his staff and still has NOLINKGlamdring...though how he got it back after being "sent back" is never really explained.... ???
He had it when he was fighting the Balrog on the mountain-top, then Gwaihir took him (and presumably his sword) to Lothlórien. That would be my guess anyway... 8-)
[2]•NOLINKGlamdring, Forged In Goldolin [Gandalf]
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +2
Bearer must be Gandalf.
He is damage +1.
Each time the fellowship moves, you may play this weapon from your draw deck or discard pile.
“‘NOLINKGlamdring it is called, for the Elves made it long ago. Now let me pass.’”
It's exceedingly weird for this weapon to have a text which is active even when in your draw deck. And for that it could also be far too good; you start Gandalf then you're guaranteed Glamdring the first time you move. Maybe a bigger cost like exerting Gandalf or only playing it in region 2 or something.
[2]•NOLINKGandalf’s Staff, Dangerous Instrument [Gandalf]
Artifact • Staff
Vitality +1
Bearer must be Gandalf.
The twilight cost of each [Gandalf] spell is -1.
Skirmish: Exert Gandalf and discard a spell with a twilight cost of X from hand or from play to discard a Shadow condition with a twilight cost of X or less.
“He raised his staff. There was a roll of thunder. The sunlight was blotted out from the eastern windows; the whole hall became suddenly dark as night. The fire faded to sullen embers. ”
Fair enough.
Thranduil
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[2]•NOLINKGlamdring, Forged In Goldolin [Gandalf]
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +2
Bearer must be Gandalf.
He is damage +1.
Each time the fellowship moves, you may play this weapon from your draw deck or discard pile.
“‘NOLINKGlamdring it is called, for the Elves made it long ago. Now let me pass.’”
I agree with Thran. Limit it to a specific region, probably region 2. Or at least exclude region 1.
[2]•NOLINKGandalf’s Staff, Dangerous Instrument [Gandalf]
Artifact • Staff
Vitality +1
Bearer must be Gandalf.
The twilight cost of each [Gandalf] spell is -1.
Skirmish: Exert Gandalf and discard a spell with a twilight cost of X from hand or from play to discard a Shadow condition with a twilight cost of X or less.
“He raised his staff. There was a roll of thunder. The sunlight was blotted out from the eastern windows; the whole hall became suddenly dark as night. The fire faded to sullen embers. ”
Drop the "from play." To use this card, you ought to have to clog yourself a bit keeping the spell in hand, instead of playing it and getting some use out of it first, otherwise, such a powerful ability doesn't have a lot of a downside. Now, I know that there aren't a lot of spells that play to your support area (especially not with high twilight costs) but my elven intuition tells me you probably have made/will make some in this set.
Plus, [Gandalf] has Brooding on Tomorrow (which this combos with astoundingly for mass-discard) and Beorning Axe to recur spells, so I'm sort of unsure of how balanced this card is. Galadriel, Lady Redeemed was banned for a reason, and Spells to [Gandalf] are as events are to [Elven], though admittedly your card is more balanced than that (mostly due to the exertion).
I'd change the action to the regroup phase as well, come to think of it, to stop Brooding/Beorning Axe making a lot of combo with this, along with Into Dark Tunnels, which could again manipulate initiative to discard conditions en masse, esp. with the help of this card.
Gee, I really seem to have gone on about your card. Sorry about that. I guess it's more a problem about how your card combos with some existing stuff than the card itself. I love the idea of a Staff that uses spells for fuel.
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Changed Forged In Gondolin's text to only region 2 or 3.
As for Dangerous Instrument, I changed it to a regroup ability (and limited it to [Gandalf] spells), but otherwise left it alone. EL makes a very valid point about spells in play, but I checked carefully after his review, and here's what I found:
Decipher has only 4 FP spells that play to the support area, and all but one of them cost (0). (The other costs [1].) Then I checked my sets, and found that I had created only 2 spell conditions more expensive than that. Each of them costs [3], but one auto-discards at the beginning of regroup and the other either exerts Gandalf or auto-discards at the start of regroup. So I think those are okay with this, since they'd either be gone anyway or basically force Gandalf to exert twice.
The main point of allowing spells in play to be discarded is that I plan on creating a handful of spells that play on characters, sort of like Hearken To Me and Salve. It is THOSE cards that I envision this potentially being comboed with.
If you still think I should change it, I'll do so. But I think it works as is (at least now that it's a regroup ability), and I will pay special mind to this in the future to make sure I don't create any out-of-whack spells that could have unintended, overpowered combo potential with this staff.
:gp: to both of you. :)
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Works for me! :up:
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[2]•NOLINKGlamdring, Forged In Goldolin [Gandalf]
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +2
Bearer must be Gandalf.
He is damage +1.
Each time the fellowship moves to a site in region 2 or region 3, you may play this weapon from your draw deck or discard pile.
“‘NOLINKGlamdring it is called, for the Elves made it long ago. Now let me pass.’”
Sound but im not even sure how playing a card from your draw deck would work as its unprecedented. There are no rules for activeness in your deck. Its fine but im not sure if its do-able (yes i no theyre DREAM cards).
[2]•NOLINKGandalf’s Staff, Dangerous Instrument [Gandalf]
Artifact • Staff
Vitality +1
Bearer must be Gandalf.
The twilight cost of each [Gandalf] spell is -1.
Regroup: Exert Gandalf and discard a Free Peoples spell with a twilight cost of X from hand or from play to discard a Shadow condition with a twilight cost of X or less.
“He raised his staff. There was a roll of thunder. The sunlight was blotted out from the eastern windows; the whole hall became suddenly dark as night. The fire faded to sullen embers. ”
Cooooool.
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[2]•NOLINKGlamdring, Forged In Goldolin [Gandalf]
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +2
Bearer must be Gandalf.
He is damage +1.
Each time the fellowship moves to a site in region 2 or region 3, you may play this weapon from your draw deck or discard pile.
“‘NOLINKGlamdring it is called, for the Elves made it long ago. Now let me pass.’”
Sound but im not even sure how playing a card from your draw deck would work as its unprecedented. There are no rules for activeness in your deck. Its fine but im not sure if its do-able (yes i no theyre DREAM cards).
Well, if an ability says it can be used from your deck, I think it can - because the card would override the rules. Although cards in-deck can't be spotted, I assume they are active, in a sense, because they can be drawn/discarded. It's not like the "void" created by your shadow cards during your fellowship phase.
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Well, I wanted to post some [Gandalf] conditions that play on characters today, but I'm just not feeling it. So instead, let's pass the time with some skirmish events. Enjoy! :)
[1] Secret Ways [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Make Gandalf strength +2 (or +4 if in a fierce skirmish).
“‘In that despair my enemy was my only hope, and I pursued him, clutching at his heel....until we came to the Endless Stair.’”
I know most events that pump Gandalf to a potential of 4 (or more) cost at least [2], but since this one is reliant on the opponent playing fierce minions, I figured it was alright at [1]. If you disagree, speak now or forever hold your peace! :P
[3] Beyond All Light and Knowledge [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Spell.
Exert Gandalf to remove the game text (except card type and race) from a minion skirmishing Gandalf until the regroup phase.
“‘We fought far NOLINKunder the living earth, where time is not counted. Ever he clutched me, and ever I hewed him....’”
Really, it's about time Gandalf have an event like this, don't you think? How's the balance, though?
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[1] Secret Ways [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Make Gandalf strength +2 (or +4 if in a fierce skirmish).
“‘In that despair my enemy was my only hope, and I pursued him, clutching at his heel....until we came to the Endless Stair.’”
No i think this is fine.
[3] Beyond All Light and Knowledge [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Spell.
Exert Gandalf to remove the game text (except card type and race) from a minion skirmishing Gandalf until the regroup phase.
“‘We fought far NOLINKunder the living earth, where time is not counted. Ever he clutched me, and ever I hewed him....’”
I think its cool. I also *think* the balance is ok, but id feel better if it just affected gandalfs skirmish cos after all if the minion then goes off to fight someone else gandalf isnt having an effect anymore. So maybe drop to 2 and remove until the regroup so it lasts for his fight alone? Otherwise its really gonna pwn shelob, roggy, sauron etc...
EDIT: That might make it a far less useful card overall, scrap that idea, its cool! :up:
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both are good.
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Still no new conditions (stupid brain...it's all your fault!), but here's a fun little card. Gandalf doesn't have a whole lot of healing potential, and what he DOES have is usually pretty expensive. Here's an attempt to remedy that...though it still comes at a cost. Enjoy!
[1] By Strange Roads I Came [Gandalf]
Event • Regroup
Heal Gandalf twice. If you do not move again this turn, wound Gandalf.
“‘I tarried there in the ageless time of that land where days bring healing not decay. Healing I found, and I was clothed in white. Counsel I gave and counsel took.’”
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Hehe cool, but could cost 1 as its bad to keep this in your hand for the entire round.
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so if you played it on your second move, and were out of move limit you would still have to wound him right?
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Awesome. :up:
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so if you played it on your second move, and were out of move limit you would still have to wound him right?
Correct, which is one reason I think lem0n's suggestion about reducing the cost to [1] was spot on. :up: It's awesome healing, but only REALLY great if you double move. If you don't, it's pretty so-so.
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Well, they aren't great--I'm having a lot more trouble with this than I anticipated!--but I finally have some [Gandalf] conditions that play on companions. Enjoy!
(0)•Hearken To Me [Gandalf] (reprint)
Condition
Strength +2
Vitality +1
Spell. To play, spot Gandalf. Bearer must be Théoden.
He gains the Gandalf signet.
Discard all Shadow conditions on Théoden. Shadow conditions may not be played on Théoden.
“‘Not all is dark. Take courage, Lord of the Mark; for better help you will not find.’”
I simply HAD to reprint it, even though Theoden is not his old Tower Block 6/2 weakling self in this set, because I LOVE this card. The only change is that it now adds the Gandalf signet.
(0) Salve [Gandalf] (reprint)
Condition
Spell. To play, spot a [Gandalf] Wizard. Bearer must be a companion. Limit 1 per bearer.
Response: If bearer is about to take a wound that would kill him or her, discard this condition to prevent that wound.
“‘Now Théoden son of Thengel, will you NOLINKhearken to me? Do you ask for help?’”
Not one I love like the last, but still a great card and one that makes a lot of sense in this set. :up:
Now, some new stuff....
[2]•All In White [Gandalf]
Condition
Resistance +1
Spell. Bearer must be Gandalf.
While you cannot spot a threat, Gandalf is strength +1.
While you cannot spot a twilight token, Gandalf is damage +1.
While you cannot spot a burden, Gandalf may not be overwhelmed unless his strength is tripled.
“‘Yes, I am white now. Indeed I am Saruman, one might almost say, Saruman as he should have been.’”
Been wanting to do a card that rewards Gandalf for a lack of remaining twilight for a while now, since he seems to have so many cards that reward for heaping on the twilight instead. The rest just seemed to flow, and I ended up with this.
[1] Hearken All! [Gandalf]
Condition
Resistance +1
To play, spot Gandalf. Bearer must be an unbound companion with the Gandalf signet. Limit 1 per bearer.
Each time Gandalf wins a skirmish, you may choose one: add [1] to heal bearer; or make bearer strength +1 until the regroup phase.
“‘Here now I name my guest, Gandalf Greyhame, wisest of counsellors; most welcome of wanderers, a lord of the Mark, a chieftain of the Eorlingas while our kin shall last....’”
I know the title is very close to Hearken To Me, but again, I pulled it directly from the text of The Two Towers...right before the lore, actually. Anyway, too cheap? Too much for one card? All of the above? :P
If nothing else, it's very nice support for G for Grand, right? ;)
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I simply HAD to reprint it, even though Theoden is not his old Tower Block 6/2 weakling self in this set, because I LOVE this card. The only change is that it now adds the Gandalf signet.
It is a cool card.
[2]•All In White [Gandalf]
Condition
Resistance +1
Spell. Bearer must be Gandalf.
While you cannot spot a threat, Gandalf is strength +1.
While you cannot spot a twilight token, Gandalf is damage +1.
While you cannot spot a burden, Gandalf may not be overwhelmed unless his strength is tripled.
“‘Yes, I am white now. Indeed I am Saruman, one might almost say, Saruman as he should have been.’”
Awesome. Id prefer it to not give res one and play to support area.
[1] Hearken All! [Gandalf]
Condition
Resistance +1
To play, spot Gandalf. Bearer must be a Man companion.
Each time Gandalf wins a skirmish, you may choose one: add [1] to heal bearer; or make bearer strength +1 until the regroup phase.
“‘Here now I name my guest, Gandalf Greyhame, wisest of counsellors; most welcome of wanderers, a lord of the Mark, a chieftain of the Eorlingas while our kin shall last....’”
Wow this would be really cool on multiple companions, but i would make it limit one per bearer.
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[2]•All In White [Gandalf]
Condition
Resistance +1
Spell. Bearer must be Gandalf.
While you cannot spot a threat, Gandalf is strength +1.
While you cannot spot a twilight token, Gandalf is damage +1.
While you cannot spot a burden, Gandalf may not be overwhelmed unless his strength is tripled.
“‘Yes, I am white now. Indeed I am Saruman, one might almost say, Saruman as he should have been.’”
Awesome. Id prefer it to not give res one and play to support area.
The point was to get a condition on Gandalf, to pair with my earlier NOLINKStormcrow and a couple other cards I'll be posting later. But I can drop the resistance bonus if you wish....
[1] Hearken All! [Gandalf]
Condition
Resistance +1
To play, spot Gandalf. Bearer must be a Man companion.
Each time Gandalf wins a skirmish, you may choose one: add [1] to heal bearer; or make bearer strength +1 until the regroup phase.
“‘Here now I name my guest, Gandalf Greyhame, wisest of counsellors; most welcome of wanderers, a lord of the Mark, a chieftain of the Eorlingas while our kin shall last....’”
Wow this would be really cool on multiple companions, but i would make it limit one per bearer.
Whoops! :-[ It was supposed to have that limit already. #-o
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[2]•All In White [Gandalf]
Condition
Resistance +1
Spell. Bearer must be Gandalf.
While you cannot spot a threat, Gandalf is strength +1.
While you cannot spot a twilight token, Gandalf is damage +1.
While you cannot spot a burden, Gandalf may not be overwhelmed unless his strength is tripled.
“‘Yes, I am white now. Indeed I am Saruman, one might almost say, Saruman as he should have been.’”
Very nice design, but I think this could probably cost [1] as you're unlikely to have 2 let alone 3 of the abilities. It could be that the resistance bonus should also go, but I'm quite impartial on the matter.
[1] Hearken All! [Gandalf]
Condition
Resistance +1
To play, spot Gandalf. Bearer must be a Man companion. Limit 1 per bearer.
Each time Gandalf wins a skirmish, you may choose one: add [1] to heal bearer; or make bearer strength +1 until the regroup phase.
“‘Here now I name my guest, Gandalf Greyhame, wisest of counsellors; most welcome of wanderers, a lord of the Mark, a chieftain of the Eorlingas while our kin shall last....’”
Very nice. But I don't think the bearer should be just a Man, but any unbound companion (or at least any companion with the Gandalf signet - in fact, that might be best).
Thranduil
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[1] Hearken All! [Gandalf]
Condition
Resistance +1
To play, spot Gandalf. Bearer must be a Man companion. Limit 1 per bearer.
Each time Gandalf wins a skirmish, you may choose one: add [1] to heal bearer; or make bearer strength +1 until the regroup phase.
“‘Here now I name my guest, Gandalf Greyhame, wisest of counsellors; most welcome of wanderers, a lord of the Mark, a chieftain of the Eorlingas while our kin shall last....’”
Very nice. But I don't think the bearer should be just a Man, but any unbound companion (or at least any companion with the Gandalf signet - in fact, that might be best).
As do I. Good idea! :up:
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[2]•All In White [Gandalf]
Condition
Resistance +1
Spell. Bearer must be Gandalf.
While you cannot spot a threat, Gandalf is strength +1.
While you cannot spot a twilight token, Gandalf is damage +1.
While you cannot spot a burden, Gandalf may not be overwhelmed unless his strength is tripled.
“‘Yes, I am white now. Indeed I am Saruman, one might almost say, Saruman as he should have been.’”
The last one is OP, I think, because of the Gandalf R-B (it's easy enough to keep burdens off him if you try) and for the fact that if you're playing against anything besides corruption and you just bid 0 this works easy. Gandalf is way to good at managing burdens.
I'd drop the twilight token thing, because, heck, it doesn't FIT Gandalf, at all! Look at all this followers, plus cards of his that require a certain number of twilight tokens to be played, or add strength for twilight tokens... it's totally out of culture.
I'd change the no burden thing to pair with the damage bonus. The last one, IMO, should be "While Gandalf is unwounded..." because then you could really only pull it off once, because if you REALLY needed it, you'd probably be taking a wound.
Been wanting to do a card that rewards Gandalf for a lack of remaining twilight for a while now, since he seems to have so many cards that reward for heaping on the twilight instead.
Since I just now read this part of the post I just have to chuckle to myself a bit.
[1] Hearken All! [Gandalf]
Condition
Resistance +1
To play, spot Gandalf. Bearer must be an unbound companion with the Gandalf signet. Limit 1 per bearer.
Each time Gandalf wins a skirmish, you may choose one: add [1] to heal bearer; or make bearer strength +1 until the regroup phase.
“‘Here now I name my guest, Gandalf Greyhame, wisest of counsellors; most welcome of wanderers, a lord of the Mark, a chieftain of the Eorlingas while our kin shall last....’”
I think we learned from Erkenbrand's Shield that adding twilight during a skirmish for any beneficial effect is just OP. Even if it has to trigger from a skirmish being won, I don't like it. Healing is WAY better than strength +1. Change that bit and it's fine.
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Perhaps then the resistance bonus should be taken off the card and added to one of the three lines of the burrito to replace the overwhelming.
Thranduil
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I'll get back to conditions shortly, but since the short-lived
Balrog Moria culture for this set is coming to a close, let's send it off with some related [Gandalf] cards, eh? Enjoy!
[1] Smote In His Ruin [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Spell.
Make a minion skirmishing Gandalf strength -1 for each twilight token you can spot.
“‘I NOLINKthrew down my enemy, and he fell from the high place and broke the mountain-side....’”
Obviously inspired by Threw Down My Enemy, but goes with the twilight pool theme that so many people seem to like with Gandalf. :roll: Need a cap, do you think? Or does the Shadow player deserve to be punished if they leave tons of twilight for you to work with?
[2] Time Not Counted [Gandalf]
Event • Fellowship
Spell.
Spot Gandalf to reveal the top or bottom X cards of an opponent's draw deck, where X is Gandalf's vitality. Discard a Shadow card and a Free Peoples card revealed. That opponent may reshuffle that deck.
“‘Then we plunged into the deep water and all was dark. Cold it was as the tide of death: almost it froze my heart.’”
Ah, nothing like a little Gandalf telepathy. Well, kind of. This is a wonderful counter to the Foundations of Stone/Darken the Light of Day cycle I just posted over in the [Moria] thread (http://lotrtcgdb.com/forums/index.php?topic=566.15), and while I designed it with that specifically in mind, it's certainly plenty helpful the rest of the time, too.
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[2] Smote In His Ruin [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Spell.
Make a minion skirmishing Gandalf strength -1 for each twilight token you can spot.
“‘I NOLINKthrew down my enemy, and he fell from the high place and broke the mountain-side....’”
OK I know there have been rulings on this, but does the twilight from the event count? I'm too lazy to look it up
[2] Time Not Counted [Gandalf]
Event • Fellowship
Spell.
Spot Gandalf to reveal the top or bottom X cards of an opponent's draw deck, where X is Gandalf's vitality. Discard a Shadow card and a Free Peoples card revealed. Your opponent may reshuffle that deck.
“‘Then we plunged into the deep water and all was dark. Cold it was as the tide of death: almost it froze my heart.’”
fine
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[2] Smote In His Ruin [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Spell.
Make a minion skirmishing Gandalf strength -1 for each twilight token you can spot.
“‘I NOLINKthrew down my enemy, and he fell from the high place and broke the mountain-side....’”
OK I know there have been rulings on this, but does the twilight from the event count? I'm too lazy to look it up
Whoops...yes it does. (link (http://lotrtcgdb.com/pages/LOTR04105.html)) Guess I should probably drop the cost some, huh? Maybe even to (0)?
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1 would be fine.
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Obviously inspired by Threw Down My Enemy
This is so weird: I have never seen that card before! And it's an uncommon! :o
Your cards are fine, by the way... :roll:
Thranduil
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[1] Smote In His Ruin [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Spell.
Make a minion skirmishing Gandalf strength -1 for each twilight token you can spot.
“‘I NOLINKthrew down my enemy, and he fell from the high place and broke the mountain-side....’”
Very nice.
Obviously inspired by Threw Down My Enemy, but goes with the twilight pool theme that so many people seem to like with Gandalf. :roll:
Hey! Blame Decipher, not me!
[2] Time Not Counted [Gandalf]
Event • Fellowship
Spell.
Spot Gandalf to reveal the top or bottom X cards of an opponent's draw deck, where X is Gandalf's vitality. Discard a Shadow card and a Free Peoples card revealed. Your opponent may reshuffle that deck.
“‘Then we plunged into the deep water and all was dark. Cold it was as the tide of death: almost it froze my heart.’”
Very interesting. Not sure how worthwhile it is... but [gandalf] certainly has a lot of fun stuff like this already, and this one fits right in.
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[1] Smote In His Ruin [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Spell.
Make a minion skirmishing Gandalf strength -1 for each twilight token you can spot.
“‘I NOLINKthrew down my enemy, and he fell from the high place and broke the mountain-side....’”
Hmmm ok.
[2] Time Not Counted [Gandalf]
Event • Fellowship
Spell.
Spot Gandalf to reveal the top or bottom X cards of an opponent's draw deck, where X is Gandalf's vitality. Discard a Shadow card and a Free Peoples card revealed. Your opponent may reshuffle that deck.
“‘Then we plunged into the deep water and all was dark. Cold it was as the tide of death: almost it froze my heart.’”
Id state "that opponent" or similar, as in multiplayer you have more than 1 opponent.
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[2] Time Not Counted [Gandalf]
Event • Fellowship
Spell.
Spot Gandalf to reveal the top or bottom X cards of an opponent's draw deck, where X is Gandalf's vitality. Discard a Shadow card and a Free Peoples card revealed. Your opponent may reshuffle that deck.
“‘Then we plunged into the deep water and all was dark. Cold it was as the tide of death: almost it froze my heart.’”
Id state "that opponent" or similar, as in multiplayer you have more than 1 opponent.
Done. :up: I always forget about multiplayer....
Just one new card today, but it's a pretty unusual one, so it's likely to generate plenty of comments even all by its lonesome. :P Keep in mind that this is now the 4th character I've made with this title and stats, and the others all passed reviews, so that aspect is pretty rigid at this point. Try and just judge the text and such, if you can. Thanks, and enjoy!
[6]•Gwaihir, Friend At Need [Gandalf]
Ally • Home 5 [LA] & 3 [FotR] • Eagle
Strength: 11
Vitality: 4
Signet: Gandalf
Unhasty. Damage +1. Each companion bearing a [Gandalf] follower is strength +1.
Response: If no card is stacked here and an unbound Wizard is about to be killed or discarded, stack that Wizard here.
Fellowship: Exert Gwaihir twice to play a Wizard stacked here.
“‘Light as a swan's feather in my claw you are....Indeed I do not think you need me any more: were I to let you fall you would float upon the wind.’”
Like I said, the stats are the same as the other Gwaihirs (two allies and one companion) I've already made, and there ARE still ways (mostly from my first set Lasting Alliances, which had several Eagle-related cards) to get Gwaihir into battle, so I think the high stats (plus the toil that other versions thus far lack) make up for the high cost. It's awfully nice to be able to grab a dead Wizard back so easily too! :mrgreen:
The [Gandalf] follower thing was a last-minute addition. While my sets tend to shy away from followers and favor allies (though they have a good mix of both), I don't want to leave all of Decipher's post-Shadows strategies and ideas in the dust. So this rewards those that combine him with more "traditional" Eagles like Misty Mountain Eagle and handful of Eagle followers I'll have in my next set, The End Of All Things.
If you're interested in seeing my other Gwaihirs (most of which are of a fighting variety), check here (http://lotrtcgdb.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=3262) and here (http://lotrtcgdb.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=4717). ;)
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Toil seems a bit much on him is my only comment.
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Oh? Would you drop it, you're saying? Toil 1 or just no toil at all?
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Well i always reckon toil 1 is a useless as no toil as i would never exert to save 1 cost. No exertion is generically worth 1 twilight saved when making a deck imho.
So it makes no odds to me, by all means lower to toil 1 if it doesnt bother you. Toil has to 2 to me to make it worth using for the freeps.
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I think it has too much going on at the same time, I'd also lose Toil completely. Wordy cards are nice, sure, but I think an Ally with so much game text is bound to slow down play, as he's gonna linger in the Support Area, making it necessary for other players to keep reading him, since they're gonna be scared by that many words on his text.
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[6]•Gwaihir, Friend At Need [Gandalf]
Ally • Home 5 [LA] & 3 [FotR] • Eagle
Strength: 11
Vitality: 4
Signet: Gandalf
Unhasty. Damage +1. Toil 1.
Each companion bearing a [Gandalf] follower is strength +1.
Response: If an unbound Wizard companion is about to be killed or discarded, if you cannot spot a card stacked here, stack that Wizard here instead.
Fellowship: Exert Gwaihir twice to play a Wizard stacked here as if from hand.
“‘Light as a swan's feather in my claw you are....Indeed I do not think you need me any more: were I to let you fall you would float upon the wind.’”
Not to mention the fact that so many words would never, ever fit on a single card. If you were wanting all of this on one ally (which as previously stated is rather clunky), I think your best bet would be to word it as such:
Damage +1. Unhasty. Each companion bearing a [Gandalf] follower is strength +1.
Response: If no card is stacked here and an unbound Wizard is about to be killed or discarded, stack him or her here.
Fellowship: Exert Gwaihir twice to play a Wizard stacked here.
Trimming each action down to its bear roots of wordiness should net you the space required. I'm also a big lore-nut so I'd like to see yours make it onto the card, but I think you'd need to trim it quite a bit first. Sometimes a brief snippet of lore is cooler than a sentence or two anyways:
"'...were I to let you fall you would float upon the wind.’”
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Just out of interest, why is he home site 3?
Thranduil
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I changed Gwaihir according to Menace's wording. :gp: As for why he has the home sites he has, they are both leftovers from my previous two sets. Gwaihir in my first set Lasting Alliances had home sites of 5 and 8 on that set's sitepath ([LA]) while Gwaihir in my second set The Road Ahead had the same home sites as this one. Of course, being unhasty kind of nullifies that, but still. :P
Okay, some Gandalf fun with possessions and borne conditions today. Enjoy!
[1]•Gandalf’s Cloak, Grey Cloak [Gandalf]
Possession • Cloak
Resistance +1
Bearer must be a Wizard.
Fellowship: Discard this possession to take a spell of bearer's culture into hand from your draw deck or discard pile.
“Casting his tattered cloak aside, he stood up and leaned no longer on his staff; and he spoke in a clear cold voice.”
The original Gandalf's Cloak (found in Lasting Alliances) is similiar: it lacks the resistance bonus, negates weather cards, and can exert Gandalf and discard itself to play a [Gandalf] event from the draw deck or dicard pile...during the maneuver phase. I figured this one was close but different enough to warrant a new version, especially with the spell conditions in this set.
[2] Suddenly Changed [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
Spell.
Exert Gandalf to heal a companion for each [Gandalf] card borne by that companion (limit 3).
“There the darkness seemed to clear, and through the opening could be seen, high and far, a patch of shining sky.”
Too good? That's my real worry here.... [-o<
[2] Remember Their Strength [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
Exert Gandalf to choose one: discard a Shadow possession; or play a possession from your draw deck on a companion with the Gandalf signet or bearing a [Gandalf] condition.
“‘Nor does age lie so heavily on your shoulders as some would have you think. Cast aside your prop!’”
A new and improved Roll Of Thunder...I hope. Also gives you a very nice way to pull what you need from your deck.
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[1]•Gandalf’s Cloak, Grey Cloak [Gandalf]
Possession • Cloak
Resistance +1
Bearer must be a Wizard.
Fellowship: Discard this possession to take a spell of bearer's culture into hand from your draw deck or discard pile.
“Casting his tattered cloak aside, he stood up and leaned no longer on his staff; and he spoke in a clear cold voice.”
Of very limited use, could find a place in a deck but im sure many more cards would make the cut before this.
[2] Suddenly Changed [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
Spell.
Exert Gandalf to heal a companion for each [Gandalf] card borne by that companion (limit 3).
“There the darkness seemed to clear, and through the opening could be seen, high and far, a patch of shining sky.”
Not at all, im actually worried its UP! Costs 2 and exertion on gandalf which is a premium cost anyway and its limited and there isnt that many gandalf borne cards.
[2] Remember Their Strength [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
Exert Gandalf to choose one: discard a Shadow possession or Shadow artifact; or play a possession from your draw deck on a companion with the Gandalf signet or bearing a [Gandalf] condition.
“‘Nor does age lie so heavily on your shoulders as some would have you think. Cast aside your prop!’”
Alright i guess, just seems slightly too costly.
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[1]•Gandalf’s Cloak, Grey Cloak [Gandalf]
Possession • Cloak
Resistance +1
Bearer must be a Wizard.
Fellowship: Discard this possession to take a spell of bearer's culture into hand from your draw deck or discard pile.
“Casting his tattered cloak aside, he stood up and leaned no longer on his staff; and he spoke in a clear cold voice.”
Of very limited use, could find a place in a deck but im sure many more cards would make the cut before this.
There will be a LITTLE more incentive for bearing this when I post one of tomorrow's cards. (Probably.)
[2] Suddenly Changed [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
Spell.
Exert Gandalf to heal a companion for each [Gandalf] card borne by that companion (limit 3).
“There the darkness seemed to clear, and through the opening could be seen, high and far, a patch of shining sky.”
Not at all, im actually worried its UP! Costs 2 and exertion on gandalf which is a premium cost anyway and its limited and there isnt that many gandalf borne cards.
Yes, but a few things seperate this from other [Gandalf] healing cards:
- It plays during the assignment phase, meaning it can be used to heal wounds right until skirmish time, unlike other cards like Have Patience and Citadel To Gate that do their healing only during the fellowship phase.
- This is more combo-intensive, yes, but it can potentially heal more than Have Patience and Peace Of Mind, which are both more expensive (though lack the exertion).
[2] Remember Their Strength [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
Exert Gandalf to choose one: discard a Shadow possession or Shadow artifact; or play a possession from your draw deck on a companion with the Gandalf signet or bearing a [Gandalf] condition.
“‘Nor does age lie so heavily on your shoulders as some would have you think. Cast aside your prop!’”
Alright i guess, just seems slightly too costly.
I dropped the cost to [1] and made the first part only add an additional [1], so it's [2] for the discarding text and only [1] for the drawing text. Better?
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I changed Gwaihir according to Menace's wording. :gp: As for why he has the home sites he has, they are both leftovers from my previous two sets. Gwaihir in my first set Lasting Alliances had home sites of 5 and 8 on that set's sitepath ([LA]) while Gwaihir in my second set The Road Ahead had the same home sites as this one. Of course, being unhasty kind of nullifies that, but still. :P
No, I meant why is his home Rivendell?
[1]•Gandalf’s Cloak, Grey Cloak [Gandalf]
Possession • Cloak
Resistance +1
Bearer must be a Wizard.
Fellowship: Discard this possession to take a spell of bearer's culture into hand from your draw deck or discard pile.
“Casting his tattered cloak aside, he stood up and leaned no longer on his staff; and he spoke in a clear cold voice.”
Fair enough.
[2] Suddenly Changed [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
Spell.
Exert Gandalf to heal a companion for each [Gandalf] card borne by that companion (limit 3).
“There the darkness seemed to clear, and through the opening could be seen, high and far, a patch of shining sky.”
Why assignment? Why not maneuver or skirmish? If it was fellowship, then adding [2] and exerting Gandalf would definitely be enough to ignore the limit. Even as it is, I would be tempted to remove the limit because (though it may be powerful) it's the kind of card you need to build a deck around.
[1] Remember Their Strength [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
Exert Gandalf to choose one: add [1] to discard a Shadow possession or Shadow artifact; or play a possession from your draw deck on a companion with the Gandalf signet or bearing a [Gandalf] condition.
“‘Nor does age lie so heavily on your shoulders as some would have you think. Cast aside your prop!’”
I preferred it the way it was for 2 reasons: 1) it's cleaner and 2) because I think such good fetching of possessions should also warrant a cost of [2], especially after the fellowship phase.
Thranduil
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Gwaihir is Home 3 on the FotR sitepath because it seemed to make sense, since his tale is recounted by Gandalf at Rivendell. *shrug* I contemplated Site 4 to coincide with some the site number of Saruman and most [Isengard] Orcs, but I wanted it a little earlier. That's something I'd be willing to go back and change if you think it should be, though.
Remember Their Strength is back at [2]. I have a confession to make, though: I didn't intend for it to be an assignment event, but rather a maneuver event. Oops. :-[ But now that I think about it, I really like the smart mistake I made. In fact, I think I'll make the assignment phase a Gandalf specialty in this set from here on out. :whistle:
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Remember their Strength looks far too good to me.
Roll of Thunder was very playable (especially versus Corsairs) but having a card this flexible would make it too much of an automatic 4 of. The fact that it can pull Sting for your Ringbearer at a crucial moment is good enough. Personally, I would make this two different cards. One that discards in the Assignment phase, and one that plays cards in the assignment phase. Both powerful effects, but a bit much to have both on a single card.
Anvar
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NO DISCARDING ARTIFACTS. ;) all I have to say.
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Remember their Strength looks far too good to me.
Roll of Thunder was very playable (especially versus Corsairs) but having a card this flexible would make it too much of an automatic 4 of. The fact that it can pull Sting for your Ringbearer at a crucial moment is good enough. Personally, I would make this two different cards. One that discards in the Assignment phase, and one that plays cards in the assignment phase. Both powerful effects, but a bit much to have both on a single card.
I respectfully disagree on one major point. Splitting them into two seperate cards means you could, in theory, pack 4 of the card that let you discard possessions/artifacts and 4 that let you pull your own stuff from your deck. Combining them into one card limits you to 4 total between those two distinct abilities. Yes, it makes the card itself more flexible, but I think it also helps keep it MORE balanced by prohibiting you from having 4 of each in the same deck.
That all being said, looks like I should probably dumb it down a bit, eh? How about if I restrict the first part to possessions/artifacts borne by characters?
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[1]•Gandalf’s Cloak, Grey Cloak [Gandalf]
Possession • Cloak
Resistance +1
Bearer must be a Wizard.
Fellowship: Discard this possession to take a spell of bearer's culture into hand from your draw deck or discard pile.
“Casting his tattered cloak aside, he stood up and leaned no longer on his staff; and he spoke in a clear cold voice.”
Fine.
[2] Suddenly Changed [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
Spell.
Exert Gandalf to heal a companion for each [Gandalf] card borne by that companion (limit 3).
“There the darkness seemed to clear, and through the opening could be seen, high and far, a patch of shining sky.”
It seems alright to me. But in all honesty, I'd still use Have Patience.
Although it IS very good in a spell-intensive deck that exerts Gandalf a lot... it's a spell itself, and if you exert Gandalf you can still heal him 3 times... in fact, it'd be easiest to get the 3 cards on Gandalf. Or anyone, actually, with followers...
Hmm... Pallando combo?
I'm liking this card more as I talk about it!
[2] Remember Their Strength [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
Exert Gandalf to choose one: discard a Shadow possession or Shadow artifact; or play a possession from your draw deck on a companion with the Gandalf signet or bearing a [Gandalf] condition.
“‘Nor does age lie so heavily on your shoulders as some would have you think. Cast aside your prop!’”
Don't let it discard Artifacts. With that, it seems more balanced to me.
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Alright, Remember Their Strength no longer discards artifacts. Hopefully everyone can approve now. [-o<
A couple semi-random events today. One of them continues the inadvertant :roll: theme of Gandalf wreaking havoc in the little-used-to-date assignment phase, and the other is a promised card that makes the cloak at least a little better. Enjoy!
[2] Be Silent [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
Spell.
Exert Gandalf to spot a minion with strength less than Gandalf. That minion cannot be assigned to a skirmish until the regroup phase.
“‘I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crude words with a witless worm.’”
[3] Towering Above Them [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Toil 2.
Make Gandalf strength +1 for each [Gandalf] card he bears.
“Then suddenly he threw back his grey cloak, and cast aside his hat, and leaped to horseback. He wore no helm nor mail. His snowy hair flew free in the wind, his white robes shone dazzling in the sun.”
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[2] Be Silent [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
Spell.
Exert Gandalf to spot a minion with strength less than Gandalf. That minion cannot be assigned to a skirmish until the regroup phase.
“‘I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a serving-man till the lightning falls.’”
I want some strength boosts that last until the regroup phase to get the most out of this card, but it looks solid.
[3] Towering Above Them [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Toil 1.
Make Gandalf strength +1 for each [Gandalf] card he bears.
“Then suddenly he threw back his grey cloak, and cast aside his hat, and leaped to horseback. He wore no helm nor mail. His snowy hair flew free in the wind, his white robes shone dazzling in the sun.”
I think toil 2 would be fine: [1] for an exertion is not a very good tradeoff.
Thranduil
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go with thran
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[2] Be Silent [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
Spell.
Exert Gandalf to spot a minion with strength less than Gandalf. That minion cannot be assigned to a skirmish until the regroup phase.
“‘I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crude words with a witless worm.’”
Niiiiice, very powerful so maybe undercosted but certainly sweet as is.
[3] Towering Above Them [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
Toil 2.
Make Gandalf strength +1 for each [Gandalf] card he bears.
“Then suddenly he threw back his grey cloak, and cast aside his hat, and leaped to horseback. He wore no helm nor mail. His snowy hair flew free in the wind, his white robes shone dazzling in the sun.”
Id lower cost to 2 as its not THAT amazing it needs 3.
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A couple more spells revolving around Gandalf wrenching Theoden from Grima and Saruman's control. Enjoy!
[2] Drawn Out Like Poison [Gandalf]
Event • Maneuver
Spell.
Spot Gandalf to discard a Shadow follower or a Shadow card borne by a companion or ally.
“‘I release you from this spell.’”
(0) Not All Is Dark [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
Spell.
Exert Gandalf and discard a card from hand to remove all twilight tokens from the twilight pool.
“‘Too long have you sat in the shadows....’”
I have no idea about the costing on these, and the second one especially. They seem alright?
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[1] Drawn Out Like Poison [Gandalf]
Event • Maneuver
Spell.
Spot Gandalf to discard a Shadow follower or a Shadow card borne by a companion or ally.
“‘I release you from this spell.’”
Sound, *maybe* should cost 2.
(0) Not All Is Dark [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
Spell.
Exert Gandalf and discard a card from hand to remove all twilight tokens from the twilight pool.
“‘Too long have you sat in the shadows....’”
Wow could be insanely powerful. As it is it seems fine but thinking of the applications it could be put to.... Flood pool with maneuever and skirmish events and in 1 fierce assignment ,empty it for the double? There is no cost associated with it in terms of pool to make it fair as it would make the cards pointless. Im not sure what im suggesting though. lets see if Anvar or someone replies.
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(0) Not All Is Dark [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
Spell.
Exert Gandalf and discard a card from hand to remove all twilight tokens from the twilight pool.
“‘Too long have you sat in the shadows....’”
Wow could be insanely powerful. As it is it seems fine but thinking of the applications it could be put to.... Flood pool with maneuever and skirmish events and in 1 fierce assignment ,empty it for the double? There is no cost associated with it in terms of pool to make it fair as it would make the cards pointless. Im not sure what im suggesting though. lets see if Anvar or someone replies.
Yeah, that was about my thinking. It's really hard to judge, I know, since the only comparable card is Gandalf's Hat, which works quite differently (and AFTER skirmishes, at that). We'll see what others say about it, eh?
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Well i will stick my neck out and say its under costed at the very least. Cos 2 burdens is way worse than an exertion on gandalf plus it removes pool the shadow can use in the skirmish this go so its possibly even stronger.
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How about I discard more cards along with that exertion, then? Like two or three?
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Im not sure cos you get the choice so it is potentially not only helping you to filter but could use the loss of initiative to your advantage to.
Youre right; lets get another opinion lol.
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I think the first could be [2] - Gandalf likes expensive cards anyway.
Second is very interesting. Perhaps discarding cards is not a good cost (burdens on Gandalf's Hat is better). Perhaps exerting Gandalf and adding some burdens?
Thranduil
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[1] Drawn Out Like Poison [Gandalf]
Event • Maneuver
Spell.
Spot Gandalf to discard a Shadow follower or a Shadow card borne by a companion or ally.
“‘I release you from this spell.’”
Awesome.
(0) Not All Is Dark [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
Spell.
Exert Gandalf and discard a card from hand to remove all twilight tokens from the twilight pool.
“‘Too long have you sat in the shadows....’”
I think it's well-costed, in fact, it seems underpowered to me, because it doesn't remove twilight from events (unless your opponent has a fierce minion).
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[1] Drawn Out Like Poison [Gandalf]
Event • Maneuver
Spell.
Spot Gandalf to discard a Shadow follower or a Shadow card borne by a companion or ally.
“‘I release you from this spell.’”
This could just say discard a follower since you wouldn't ever want to discard your own. Otherwise I think this is a useful card, but should cost 2.
(0) Not All Is Dark [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
Spell.
Exert Gandalf and discard a card from hand to remove all twilight tokens from the twilight pool.
“‘Too long have you sat in the shadows....’”
As I understand it, this would stop the Shadow player from using Skirmish events, and help with the double move. As such, it is better than Gandalf's Hat. On the other hand, the hat is a possession, and this is just an event. My inclination is to give the Shadow player a way out. eg. Exert Gandalf to remove all twilight from the twilight pool. Your opponent may discard a minion to prevent this.
Alternatively, adding threats is always a good cost for something like this, where burdens would seem a bit much.
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I was going to suggest adding threats, but Anvar beat me to it. However, when needing to add an additional cost to a card, I try to keep it as flavorful as possible. Obviously, burdens are out here (it irks me that Gandalf's Hat adds burdens... how does the hat make Frodo's journey more difficult?). Threats could work, since Gandalf was revealing his true power to Saruman and basically pushing him into a corner.
But, given the scene in question, maybe a specific kind of card discarded from your hand would fit the bill? What if the cost is "...and discard 2 spells from hand" to help demonstrate just how hard is was to free Theoden from Saruman's hold?
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On that account, Theoden claimed for Herugrim when he was released, so the cost could be to actually PLAY Herugrim on Theoden? Or DISCARD Herugrim either from play (limiting the card) or from hand (allowing you to simply toss in Herugrim in a deck to make this work, althgouh I don't know why someone would do this). These are not really good ideas, I know, but I'm just following M64's point about flavor.
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Wow, that's a lot more discussion than I anticipated. ;D I'll raise the cost of Drawn Out Like Poison to [2], but it looks like Not All Is Dark might take more thought than a quick fix. I'd be more inclined to go with threats than tying it specifically to Herugrim or Theoden (though I'm all about story-inspired flavor and do LOVE that idea), but we'll see. I'll update on when I've tweaked the card, and probably just repost the modified version later since so many folks weighed in on it. Thanks, everyone. :gp: for all!
These might be a little controversial as well, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. :roll: Neither is entirely new, as the concepts of each have been used on other cards, but these go about it in new and hopefully interesting ways. Enjoy!
[1] A Faint Light Growing [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
Spell.
Response: If the twilight pool has fewer than 3 twilight tokens and a companion with the Gandalf signet or bearing a [Gandalf] condition is about to take a wound, spot Gandalf and add [2] to prevent that wound.
“‘Dark have been my dreams of late, but I feel as one new-awakened. I would now that you had come before, Gandalf.’”
[2] He Is Come Again [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
If you cannot spot a twilight token, you may play this event from your discard pile.
Spot Gandalf to make an unbound companion bearing a [Gandalf] condition strength +1 for each Gandalf signet you can spot (limit +4).
“There suddenly upon a ridge appeared a rider, clad in white, shining in the rising sun.”
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[1] A Faint Light Growing [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
Spell.
Response: If the twilight pool has fewer than 3 twilight tokens and a companion with the Gandalf signet or bearing a [Gandalf] condition is about to take a wound, spot Gandalf and add [2] to prevent that wound.
“‘Dark have been my dreams of late, but I feel as one new-awakened. I would now that you had come before, Gandalf.’”
uh...intimidate is so much better...maybe and wound a minion and your talking
[2] He Is Come Again [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
If you cannot spot a twilight token, you may play this event from your discard pile.
Spot Gandalf to make an unbound companion bearing a [Gandalf] condition strength +1 for each Gandalf signet you can spot (limit +4).
“There suddenly upon a ridge appeared a rider, clad in white, shining in the rising sun.”
after replaying once I'd remove it from the game. than you could maybe cut to 1 twilight
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Neither is entirely new, as the concepts of each have been used on other cards, but these go about it in new and hopefully interesting ways. Enjoy!
We'll do things that are quite new, in interestin' ways!
[1] A Faint Light Growing [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
Spell.
Response: If the twilight pool has fewer than 3 twilight tokens and a companion with the Gandalf signet or bearing a [Gandalf] condition is about to take a wound, spot Gandalf and add [2] to prevent that wound.
“‘Dark have been my dreams of late, but I feel as one new-awakened. I would now that you had come before, Gandalf.’”
It's fine, especially since it pretty much prevents the transfer of followers if you want to use it. Makes Not All is Dark a bit more playable.
[2] He Is Come Again [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
If you cannot spot a twilight token, you may play this event from your discard pile.
Spot Gandalf to make an unbound companion bearing a [Gandalf] condition strength +1 for each Gandalf signet you can spot (limit +4).
“There suddenly upon a ridge appeared a rider, clad in white, shining in the rising sun.”
I know the replaying won't happen often, but I'd be a bit more comfortable if it removed itself from the game afterwards.
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I think it's AWESOME as it is, after all, it IS pretty conditional.
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[1] A Faint Light Growing [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
Spell.
Response: If the twilight pool has fewer than 3 twilight tokens and a companion with the Gandalf signet or bearing a [Gandalf] condition is about to take a wound, spot Gandalf and add [2] to prevent that wound.
“‘Dark have been my dreams of late, but I feel as one new-awakened. I would now that you had come before, Gandalf.’”
Yeah fair enough. SoP, this is better than Intimidate because it's a condition.
[2] He Is Come Again [Gandalf]
Event • Skirmish
If you cannot spot a twilight token, you may play this event from your discard pile.
Spot Gandalf to make an unbound companion bearing a [Gandalf] condition strength +1 for each Gandalf signet you can spot (limit +4).
“There suddenly upon a ridge appeared a rider, clad in white, shining in the rising sun.”
I would take out the limit just for funsies! Also because it's quite limited.
Thranduil
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Alright, we've obviously been focused on [Gandalf] stuff that plays on companions recently, but now it's time for a whole new theme. :)
I've been wanting to represent how Gandalf leaves the others occasionally to conduct important business related to the quest of the Fellowship, and racking my brain on how to do so. In the end, I decided to just go with the easiest route and have some fun with the discard pile, much like the infamous discarding Hobbits from the original Tower Block. So here are my first efforts...enjoy!
[2] A Swift Errand [Gandalf]
Event • Regroup
Discard Gandalf to discard a condition for each Gandalf signet you can spot.
“‘The Gray Pilgrim, that’s what they used to call me. Three hundred lives of men I have walked this earth and now I have no time.’”
[3] Need of Haste [Gandalf]
Event • Regroup
Discard Gandalf to make the move limit +1 for this turn. You may draw a card for each other [Gandalf] card borne by Gandalf that is discarded in this way.
“He spoke a word to NOLINKShadowfax, and like an arrow from the bow the great horse sprang away.”
[2] In the Hour of Need [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
Play Gandalf from your discard pile to discard a minion with vitality 2 or less.
“NOLINKThe White Rider was upon them, and NOLINKthe terror of his coming filled the enemy with madness.”
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[3] A Swift Errand [Gandalf]
Event • Regroup
Discard Gandalf to discard a condition for each Gandalf signet you can spot.
“‘The Gray Pilgrim, that’s what they used to call me. Three hundred lives of men I have walked this earth and now I have no time.’”
cut to 2 IMSO...
[3] Need of Haste [Gandalf]
Event • Regroup
Discard Gandalf to make the move limit +1 for this turn. You may draw a card for each other [Gandalf] card discarded in this way.
“He spoke a word to NOLINKShadowfax, and like an arrow from the bow the great horse sprang away.”
fine
[2] In the Hour of Need [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
Play Gandalf from your draw deck or discard pile to discard a minion with viality 3 or less.
“NOLINKThe White Rider was upon them, and NOLINKthe terror of his coming filled the enemy with madness.”
vitality...maybe make the shadow player discard a minion
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I like the discarding theme a lot, makes a fine point to FINALLY play a lot of copies of the same companion, just keep it in check so it won't get too broken, since Gandalf is a nice little wound cushion. Perhaps, for powerful effects, add some exertions BEFORE discarding him, so as to force the FP player to discard a Gandalf with high vitality.
[3] A Swift Errand [Gandalf]
Event • Regroup
Discard Gandalf to discard a condition for each Gandalf signet you can spot.
“‘The Gray Pilgrim, that’s what they used to call me. Three hundred lives of men I have walked this earth and now I have no time.’”
Fine
[3] Need of Haste [Gandalf]
Event • Regroup
Discard Gandalf to make the move limit +1 for this turn. You may draw a card for each other [Gandalf] card discarded in this way.
“He spoke a word to NOLINKShadowfax, and like an arrow from the bow the great horse sprang away.”
Not sure how the last part works. Could you explain it?
[2] In the Hour of Need [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
Play Gandalf from your draw deck or discard pile to discard a minion with viality 3 or less.
“NOLINKThe White Rider was upon them, and NOLINKthe terror of his coming filled the enemy with madness.”
I think this one is too powerful, you bring in a HUGE companion, at the peak of a fight, burning away MOST minions (specially tossing in some archery wounds, which generally get soaked by high vitality minions anyway) while not letting the Shadow player benefit AT ALL from all the twilight added... Not sure what you could do to it, but it's just too much.
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[3] A Swift Errand [Gandalf]
Event • Regroup
Discard Gandalf to discard a condition for each Gandalf signet you can spot.
“‘The Gray Pilgrim, that’s what they used to call me. Three hundred lives of men I have walked this earth and now I have no time.’”
Fine, I guess. Could stand to cost less.
[3] Need of Haste [Gandalf]
Event • Regroup
Discard Gandalf to make the move limit +1 for this turn. You may draw a card for each other [Gandalf] card discarded in this way.
“He spoke a word to NOLINKShadowfax, and like an arrow from the bow the great horse sprang away.”
Fair enough, but again its cost could be lower. I assume the "other cards" would be cards borne by Gandalf when he's discarded?
[2] In the Hour of Need [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
Play Gandalf from your draw deck or discard pile to discard a minion with viality 3 or less.
“NOLINKThe White Rider was upon them, and NOLINKthe terror of his coming filled the enemy with madness.”
Agree with Felipe. Limit it to discard pile and it'd be fine, and still fit with your other cards.
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I LOVE these cards, overpowered or not!
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[2] A Swift Errand [Gandalf]
Event • Regroup
Discard Gandalf to discard a condition for each Gandalf signet you can spot.
“‘The Gray Pilgrim, that’s what they used to call me. Three hundred lives of men I have walked this earth and now I have no time.’”
Coolio.
[3] Need of Haste [Gandalf]
Event • Regroup
Discard Gandalf to make the move limit +1 for this turn. You may draw a card for each other [Gandalf] card borne by Gandalf that is discarded in this way.
“He spoke a word to NOLINKShadowfax, and like an arrow from the bow the great horse sprang away.”
Nice.
[2] In the Hour of Need [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
Play Gandalf from your discard pile to discard a minion with viality 3 or less.
“NOLINKThe White Rider was upon them, and NOLINKthe terror of his coming filled the enemy with madness.”
Need a t in vitality, also seems a bit harsh to the shadow to do it in assignment when theyve missed the pool for shadow and maneuver.
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[2] In the Hour of Need [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
Play Gandalf from your discard pile to discard a minion with viality 3 or less.
“NOLINKThe White Rider was upon them, and NOLINKthe terror of his coming filled the enemy with madness.”
This now looks a lot better but still seems a bit too powerful. How about vitality 2 or less? Or make it a skirmish action so Gandalf can't fight as well.
Anvar
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Reduced the vitality (not "viality" #-o) of the minion targetted with In the Hour of Need to 2 or less. Hopefully it's better now.
No new cards today...just been too busy the last couple days and I've exhausted my [Gandalf] "reserve". But :gp: to all for the helpful comments on the last batch. I'll have some new stuff up tomorrow. :up:
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Two new cards in the same theme today, and probably the last ones like this before we move on to something else. For now, enjoy! :)
[3] In a Tremendous Hurry [Gandalf]
Event • Regroup
Discard Gandalf to take up to 3 other [Gandalf] cards (except characters) into hand from your discard pile.
“‘This is a perilous night, and I must ride fast. But the dawn may be brighter; and if so, we shall meet again.’”
Is 3 too many, do you think? Perhaps 2 would be better?
(0) Beyond Wonder, Joy, and Fear [Gandalf]
Event • Fellowship
Play Gandalf from your discard pile and add [X] to heal X companions with the Gandalf signet or bearing a [Gandalf] condition.
“‘Be merry! We meet again. At the NOLINKturn of the tide. The great storm is coming, but the tide has turned.’”
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[3] In a Tremendous Hurry [Gandalf]
Event • Regroup
Discard Gandalf to take up to 3 [Gandalf] cards into hand from your discard pile.
“‘This is a perilous night, and I must ride fast. But the dawn may be brighter; and if so, we shall meet again.’”
Holy crap thats powerful, no no leave it at 3 for sure.
(0) Beyond Wonder, Joy, and Fear [Gandalf]
Event • Fellowship
Play Gandalf from your discard pile and add [X] to heal X companions with the Gandalf signet or bearing a [Gandalf] condition.
“‘Be merry! We meet again. At the NOLINKturn of the tide. The great storm is coming, but the tide has turned.’”
Seems quite strong but probably ok.
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Tweaked the first one, as I realized I was creating a potentially OP loop by allowing you to snag a discarded Gandalf as one of the 3 [Gandalf] cards. Now it's limited to non-characters.
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[3] In a Tremendous Hurry [Gandalf]
Event • Regroup
Discard Gandalf to take up to 3 other [Gandalf] cards (except characters) into hand from your discard pile.
“‘This is a perilous night, and I must ride fast. But the dawn may be brighter; and if so, we shall meet again.’”
I'd say that it's fine, since the usefulness of [Gandalf] cards is stricken once you get rid of Gandalf himself.
(0) Beyond Wonder, Joy, and Fear [Gandalf]
Event • Fellowship
Play Gandalf from your discard pile and add [X] to heal X companions with the Gandalf signet or bearing a [Gandalf] condition.
“‘Be merry! We meet again. At the NOLINKturn of the tide. The great storm is coming, but the tide has turned.’”
Clunky wording. To make it clearer:
"Play Gandalf from your discard pile and add [X] to heal X companions with the Gandalf signet or companions bearing a [Gandalf] condition."
It's amazing what one word can do for a sentence.
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Both look fine now.
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And now for some (0)-cost [Gandalf] cards that are a little more normal. Well, kind of. :roll: Enjoy!
(0) Opened Clearly [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
You may add [2] to play this event during the fellowship phase.
Spot Gandalf to reveal each player's hand. Choose an opponent to discard a card from your hand, then discard a card from each opponent's hand.
“‘I have forgotten much that I thought I knew, and learned again much that I had forgotten. I can see many things far off....’”
Nothing like a little [Gandalf] telepathy, eh?
(0) Speaking In Riddles [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
Riddle.
Each time you play a [Gandalf] spell, you may exert Gandalf to remove a burden or a threat.
Each time the fellowship moves, add a burdens or 2 threats or discard this condition.
“‘A habit of the old: they choose the wisest person present to speak to; the long explanations needed by the young are wearying.’”
Most reviewers probably have no idea what a "riddle" is, so a very brief explanation.... My first set, Lasting Alliances, was centered mostly in The Hobbit, which features the rather famous "riddle game" between Gollum and Bilbo. I created several riddles (events and conditions) to represent that battle of wits. (I had a lot of fun with it, actually, and I'd strongly encourage anyone interested to go back to the Lasting Alliances spoiler list (http://lotrtcgdb.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=3262) and check them out.) Since that set, riddle is a very infrequently used unloaded keyword that I mostly just put on cards for fun. This, I figured, was a good opportunity to dust it off and use it again, even if it doesn't particularly do anything with it.
Now, with that out of the way, how's the balance on this one? I envision it at being best held in your hand until you have a couple spells to play with, meaning that it's only most effective when you intentionally clog your hand. Is that enough for such a powerful ability, though? Should it also have something like "to play, add a burden or 2 threats" or a high twilight cost?
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(0) Opened Clearly [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
You may add [2] to play this event during the fellowship phase.
Spot Gandalf to reveal each player's hand. Choose an opponent to discard a card from your hand, then discard a card from each opponent's hand.
“‘I have forgotten much that I thought I knew, and learned again much that I had forgotten. I can see many things far off....’”
Very [gandalf]-esque. I love it, it's very versatile.
(0) Speaking In Riddles [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
Riddle.
Each time you play a [Gandalf] spell, you may exert Gandalf to remove a burden or a threat.
Each time the fellowship moves, add 2 burdens or 2 threats or discard this condition.
“‘A habit of the old: they choose the wisest person present to speak to; the long explanations needed by the young are wearying.’”
I think the balance is fine - it certainly does make Gandy, PG more powerful, but the moving cost balances it out nicely. Two threats is a high cost to pay for [gandalf], they don't have much to remove them (besides Citadel to Gate, of course) but the burdens are manageable.
I would, however, make it unique, because I could see someone discarding it and loading it back into their deck with Fireworks, then having 4 copies out at site 8. That could get a bit out of hand...
I don't know, it probably doesn't need uniqueness, but I think I could find a way to make it broken if I tried. It is [gandalf] culture, after all.
Now that I think about it, Shadowfax, GotM makes this fairly obsolete, so... it's probably fine as is.
Wow, kinda long review to say "It looks good, Dain!" but I guess I don't really start thinking about what I'm saying 'till mid-review.
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(0) Opened Clearly [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
You may add [2] to play this event during the fellowship phase.
Spot Gandalf to reveal each player's hand. Choose an opponent to discard a card from your hand, then discard a card from each opponent's hand.
“‘I have forgotten much that I thought I knew, and learned again much that I had forgotten. I can see many things far off....’”
(0) Speaking In Riddles [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
Riddle.
Each time you play a [Gandalf] spell, you may exert Gandalf to remove a burden or a threat.
Each time the fellowship moves, add 2 burdens or 2 threats or discard this condition.
“‘A habit of the old: they choose the wisest person present to speak to; the long explanations needed by the young are wearying.’”
Great cards. I think that Speaking in Riddles has too much text. I would choose a cost for moving and stick with it. I would probably go for add 2 burdens or discard this condition.
Anvar
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And now for some (0)-cost [Gandalf] cards that are a little more normal. Well, kind of. :roll: Enjoy!
(0) Opened Clearly [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
You may add [2] to play this event during the fellowship phase.
Spot Gandalf to reveal each player's hand. Choose an opponent to discard a card from your hand, then discard a card from each opponent's hand.
“‘I have forgotten much that I thought I knew, and learned again much that I had forgotten. I can see many things far off....’”
fine
Nothing like a little [Gandalf] telepathy, eh?
(0) Speaking In Riddles [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
Riddle.
Each time you play a [Gandalf] spell, you may exert Gandalf to remove a burden or a threat.
Each time the fellowship moves, add 2 burdens or discard this condition.
“‘A habit of the old: they choose the wisest person present to speak to; the long explanations needed by the young are wearying.’”
I'd stick with the old add a threat or discard this condition...but thats up to you.
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(0) Opened Clearly [Gandalf]
Event • Assignment
You may add [2] to play this event during the fellowship phase.
Spot Gandalf to reveal each player's hand. Choose an opponent to discard a card from your hand, then discard a card from each opponent's hand.
“‘I have forgotten much that I thought I knew, and learned again much that I had forgotten. I can see many things far off....’”
Nice but really punishing for 2, id make this cost 1 on its own and 3 in the fellowship as youre potentially discarding a few players best cards in their hand before ths shadow in multiplayer and if not in fellowship youre revealing all the hands for free AND getting a benefit.
(0) Speaking In Riddles [Gandalf]
Condition • Support Area
Riddle.
Each time you play a [Gandalf] spell, you may exert Gandalf to remove a burden or a threat.
Each time the fellowship moves, add 2 burdens or discard this condition.
“‘A habit of the old: they choose the wisest person present to speak to; the long explanations needed by the young are wearying.’”
Way way way UP, so in 1 turn you have to play three spells and exert gandalf three times to get a net bonus (a threat isnt worth a burden so that part is completely overlooked)? Or otherwise, if you plan on discarding it you still need to be exerting gandalf which is a painful cost at the best of times. Not really useful enough to ever comandeer a place on any of my decks.
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That's what I thought when I read it, lemon. At the very cheapest use, you can exert Gandalf once or twice during the phase you play it, then ditch it when you move. At that point I still don't think it's worth it.
The only real reason to put a movement-penalty clause on a card is either, A) if there's no inherent cost in the previous lines of text; or, B) if the cost in the previous lines of text is nowhere near balanced enough for the ability it provides.
I think you should either make the card unique and drop the movement-penalty, or you should make it spot Gandalf instead of exerting him and *keep* the movement penalty.
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Speaking In Riddles has a lot of potential with your discarding Gandalf theme. I think exerting and a movement penalty is the way to go, but it could perhaps be only 1 burden. Or a burden and a threat to really put some pressure on Gandalf.
Thranduil
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Changed the moving penalty to 2 burdens OR the option I imagine would be chosen more often than not: a burden and a threat. Still too harsh? Some mixed opinions on this, I see.... At least my DCs are generating good discussion lately! :mrgreen:
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Doesn't that make the original change from "2 burdens or 2 threats" to "2 burdens" a bit irrelevant? I would still go for 1 choice, not 2.
Thranduil
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Sorry DI but my review has barely changed with this amendment. m64 backs up my point really well and i agree with him still.
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You could try it without the combos, having just: "Fellowship: Exert Gandalf to remove a burden or a threat." That could be very interesting with the movement penalty.
Thranduil
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I kind of like Thran's idea, but I was trying to specifically reward players who took the time to load up on spells, so that would make for a completely different card (and possibly be a little too good when comboed with cards like Have Patience and Moment of Respite...especially with BoO!).
So, last chance for this card with a movement penalty: I changed it to 1 burden or 2 threats. How is that? Maybe even nerf it to 1 burden or 1 threat and make it unique?
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The part that me and menace have the bugbear with though DI is the exert gandalf. Its just to costly and would never be used. I get what youre trying to do and by all means stick with the reward spells bit but dont exert gandy for each burden. Its just not viable whilst it requires such a harsh execution.
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works for me...gives the ents some damage which I am not sure is good...but hey...
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works for me...gives the ents some damage which I am not sure is good...but hey...
What the heck are you talking about? lol
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sorry I was looking back several pages accidentally...I think the card should be each time the fellowship moves add a threat or discard, like swept away.