Minions that are not discarded

[chompers]

I would give the keyword to unique minions that you could perhaps build a deck around. Shelob is one of the more significant minions in the book and movie, so as a player it is more interesting to attempt to design a deck around her. This keyword helps facilitate that process.

On that note, perhaps Watcher in the Water is another that could be explored with the Abiding keyword and using the Marsh keyword.

The idea of triggering of the site keyword is simply attempting to represent the fellowships struggle to escape the minion, and their home site "lair, underground, marsh or whatever". However, giving the same text to every minion is a bit bland ... so perhaps it suits The Balrog and Underground sites more than any other minion.

[Cw0rk]

On that note, perhaps Watcher in the Water is another that could be explored with the Abiding keyword and using the Marsh keyword.

This is a very good idea.

[Thranduil]

Chompers makes an excellent point. You can't make too many abiding minions because then you could make a deck just filled with them which would be very difficult to beat.

I think you should choose a few (maybe 4-6) strategies that can revolve around particular individuals and make them distinctively different so that they don't combine.

Thranduil

[ket_the_jet]

I am still not a fan of the concept. Why not just make a series of "stack here" conditions. Or make "location" conditions. Like this:

• Minas Morgul
Location • Support Area
Regroup: Stack a unique minion here.
Shadow: Discard a minion from hand with a higher twilight cost than a stacked minion to play a minion stacked here. It's twilight cost is -3.

Works in theory with Sauron or Wikkie summoning Nazgul.
-wtk

[ket_the_jet]

Elven Magic
Condition • Support Area
At the start of the group phase, if you cannot spot a minion, spot an Elf bearing an artifact to discard a location.

Thoughts?
-wtk

[Cw0rk]

Why not just make a series of "stack here" conditions.

Because this concept already exists and making a serie about that would probably be pretty boring. I don't think there is a need for 'location' cards, there are already sites and condition that represent this.

A keyword like Abiding creates something new, something refreshing.

•Watcher in the Water, Water-dwelling creature
Minion • Creature
Strength: 11
Vitality: 4
Site: 4
While at a marsh, Watcher in the Water is abiding.
Discard all other minions (except tentacles). Watcher in the Water cannot bear possessions.
Each time the fellowship moves, shuffle a tentacle from your discard pile into your draw deck.

If anyone wants to submit a Balrog, Shelob or any other abiding minion, please go ahead.

[chompers]

What about this ...

[14] * The Balrog ... All My Eggs in One Basket OR Goblins for Breakfast
Minion * Balrog
Stength: 16
Vitality: 5
Site: 5
While at an underground site, The Balrog gains Abiding.
Maneuver: Discard three orcs to make the Balrog strength +2 and fierce until end of turn.
Skirmish: Exert The Balrog twice to make him Damage +1 .

I don't know what else I can do with him .... perhaps there are better Balrogs, but this one hangs around!

[MR. Lurtzy]

Discard The Balrog if not underground. While at an underground site, The Balrog gains Abiding.

I like this part, but not the rest.

[Cw0rk]

What about this ...

[14] * The Balrog ... All My Eggs in One Basket OR Goblins for Breakfast
Minion * Balrog
Stength: 16
Vitality: 5
Site: 5
Discard The Balrog if not underground. While at an underground site, The Balrog gains Abiding.
Maneuver: Discard three orcs to make the Balrog strength +2 and fierce until end of turn.
Archery: Discard three orcs to skip the archery phase.
Skirmish: Exert The Balrog twice to make him Damage +1 .

It is probably a bit TOO busy, but essentially the concept here is you need the support minions to make him good, but this Balrog is all about going it alone.

I'd prefer a Balrog that isn't discarded when not at underground sites (the importance of the the underground site is already represented by the abiding keyword). You are right, it is too busy. With Fill with Fear, there is no need for the archery line.

BTW, I edited my previous post, The Watcher in the Water is now shuffling a tentactle each time the fellowship moves which is nice with the abiding keyword.

[chompers]

Abiding with Watcher in the Water might be what is needed to make it a solid deck option. It has always seemed so weak as a concept except perhaps with the addition of the Ages End stuff but I have never used those cards.

Perhaps instead of shuffle ...
Each time the fellowship moves, PLACE a tentacle from your discard pile ON THE BOTTOM OF your draw deck.

This might setup a big site 9 and a few moria players i have played recently have used this skill nicely to their advantage (with orcs).

Also.... do you intend that this game text will be active while he is located in your support area (or wherever) .... because this creates interesting possibilities.

I have also edited my Balrog ....

[Thranduil]

•Watcher in the Water, Water-dwelling creature
Minion • Creature
Strength: 11
Vitality: 4
Site: 4
While at a marsh, Watcher in the Water is abiding.
Discard all other minions (except tentacles). Watcher in the Water cannot bear possessions.
Each time the fellowship moves, shuffle a tentacle from your discard pile into your draw deck.

This is excellent. Part of the point of having abiding minions is so that they can continue to affect the game, so having game text that continues to be relevant is fantastic. I would say, chompers, that you would need something similar for your Balrog (exerting abiding minions isn't nearly as exciting because they keep their wounds).

Thranduil

[chompers]

•Watcher in the Water, Water-dwelling creature
Minion • Creature
Strength: 11
Vitality: 4
Site: 4
While at a marsh, Watcher in the Water is abiding.
Discard all other minions (except tentacles). Watcher in the Water cannot bear possessions.
Each time the fellowship moves, shuffle a tentacle from your discard pile into your draw deck.

This is excellent. Part of the point of having abiding minions is so that they can continue to affect the game, so having game text that continues to be relevant is fantastic. I would say, chompers, that you would need something similar for your Balrog (exerting abiding minions isn't nearly as exciting because they keep their wounds).

Thranduil

Hmmm ... i tend to agree here. My concerns is that The Balrog with Abiding will be TOO powerful and this always worries me, so the exertions is an attempt to tone him down and tempt the shadow player into sacrificing him (in a way) to kill a companion.

Oh well ... back to the drawing board. A skill that continues to affect the game whilst Abiding minions hang around in the support area seems very interesting. I will see what I can come up with ....

[14] * The Balrog ... "Well actually, you shall not pass!" (In Balrog)
Minion * Balrog
Stength: 17
Vitality: 5
Site: 4
Fierce. Damage +1.
While at an underground site, The Balrog gains Abiding.
Each time the fellowship plays a companion, you may make them discard a card at random from their hand.

  I have writers block! The goal here is to try and draw out their events, and whilst The Balrog is around reinforcement should be hard to come by.

[Cw0rk]

Hmmm ... i tend to agree here. My concerns is that The Balrog with Abiding will be TOO powerful and this always worries me, so the exertions is an attempt to tone him down and tempt the shadow player into sacrificing him (in a way) to kill a companion.

Oh well ... back to the drawing board. A skill that continues to affect the game whilst Abiding minions hang around in the support area seems very interesting. I will see what I can come up with ....

[14] * The Balrog ... "Well actually, you shall not pass!" (In Balrog)
Minion * Balrog
Stength: 17
Vitality: 5
Site: 4
Fierce. Damage +1.
While at an underground site, The Balrog gains Abiding.
Each time the fellowship plays a companion, you may make them discard a card at random from their hand.

  I have writers block! The goal here is to try and draw out their events, and whilst The Balrog is around reinforcement should be hard to come by.

I like the idea of 'Each time the fellowship plays a companion...'. Perhaps it could do something else than discard a card from hand, what about adding a burden? maybe 2 burdens? (there are not many underground sites in movie block). It would make a deck with Must Do Without Hope and Goblin Spear (Cards borne by abiding minions are not discarded as well at the end of the turn) possible to play in movie block.

In Standard, things would be more dangerous I guess... there are a lot of underground sites. But isn't Standard filled with powerful cards anyway?

For a better subtitle, let me suggest Nameless Terror.

[Cw0rk]

Let's be honest, Wraith sucks. They need A LOT of help. This is why I've made this powerful card. The idea for the name comes from the TLHH project.

•Lost Army of the Dead Marshes
Minion • Wraith
Strength: 13
Vitality: 3
Site: 4
Twilight.
Each Wraith is Abiding.
While at a marsh, twilight minions may not take wounds (except during skirmish phases).