Lands of Shadow - How Insightful. (12/18)

[Thranduil]

All Powers Assembled
Condition • Support Area
Alliance: or (You may replace with or anywhere in this card's gametext). To play, spot 3 Orcs.
Shadow: Play a minion to reveal the top card of your draw deck. If that card is a minion, you may play it; it is twilight cost -2.
"…but Gothmog the lieutenant of Morgul had flung them into the fray; Easterlings with axes, and Variags of Khand, Southrons in scarlet…"
M1C72

Hmmm.... Hefty cost, hefty spotting requirement, but a very good ability. I'm not sure if the cost should come down a little for making minions -1 instead of -2. Or, perhaps it could reduce minion's site numbers instead?

Durthang Sentry
Minion • Orc
Strength 6
Vitality 3
Site Number 6
While skirmishing a Man, this minion is strength +6.
"But as they went his soldiers blew their horns in signal long arranged; and even before they came to the gate Sauron sprang his trap.'"
M1C78

Agree with DI and lem0n, this guy needs to have vitality 2 or 1. Other than that, he's pretty reasonable (very ) - not great, but certainly more useful at .

•Grond, Wrought of Malice
Artifact • Support Area
To play, spot 3 Orcs.
At the end of each of your shadow phases, you may exert 2 Orcs (or exert a Troll twice) to reveal 3 cards at random from the Free Peoples player's hand. Discard any revealed Free Peoples cards.
Each unbound companion is resistance -1 for each race you spot in the fellowship.
"Grond crawled on."
M1R86

Perhaps it should discard 1 revealed Free Peoples card. Otherwise seems good.

Thranduil

[sickofpalantirs]

Duthang now costs and the sword costs nothing but only gives +1 strength. I made Durthang Seeker unique and made the stat change to /8/2.

Good reviews, fellas!

Today are three otherwise-unrelated cards. Enjoy.

All Powers Assembled
Condition • Support Area
Alliance: or (You may replace with or anywhere in this card's gametext). To play, spot 3 Orcs.
Shadow: Play a minion to reveal the top card of your draw deck. If that card is a minion, you may play it; it is twilight cost -2.
"…but Gothmog the lieutenant of Morgul had flung them into the fray; Easterlings with axes, and Variags of Khand, Southrons in scarlet…"
M1C72
I dislike the lore too   but gollum? it seems like that should be a different alliance altogether.  that shadow ability is powerful. I'd prefer a remove 1 to do it...that gives a gambling element too it

Durthang Sentry
Minion • Orc
Strength 6
Vitality 3
Site Number 6
While skirmishing a Man, this minion is strength +6.
"But as they went his soldiers blew their horns in signal long arranged; and even before they came to the gate Sauron sprang his trap.'"
M1C78
I'd say safer as 2...

•Grond, Wrought of Malice
Artifact • Support Area
To play, spot 3 Orcs.
At the end of each of your shadow phases, you may exert 2 Orcs (or exert a Troll twice) to reveal 3 cards at random from the Free Peoples player's hand. Discard any revealed Free Peoples cards.
Each unbound companion is resistance -1 for each race you spot in the fellowship.
"Grond crawled on."
M1R86

fine by me.

[menace64]

All Powers Assembled will make more sense as a / alliance once I find that original lore I wanted to use. Its shadow ability now only reduces the twilight cost of minions by 1. The Sentry now has 2 vitality.

Grond stays powerful. 

Today, three random cards.

In Deepest Dark
Event • Skirmish
Make a companion skirmishing a Orc strength -1 (-2 if you can spot 5 burdens or cannot spot a Free Peoples alliances; -3 if both).
"But far worse than all such perils was the ever-approaching threat that beat upon them as they went: the dreadful menace of the Power that waited, brooding in deep thought and sleepless malice behind the dark veil about its Throne. Nearer and nearer it drew, looming blacker, like the oncoming of a wall of night at the last end of the world."
M1C87

I was very conscious of the fact that one of the culture's natural handicaps is its general lack of skirmish pumps (I think it has 2). Also on my mind was the culture's tendency to hurt companions rather than help its own minions. Thus, In Deepest Dark. It can get very nasty.

Quakes of New War
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot 3 Orcs.
At the start of the assignment phase, add for each of your unwounded minions.
Regroup: Discard each of your non-exhausted Orcs to draw a card for each Orc discarded in this way.
"Along all the roads troops were moving; for the Captains of the West were advancing and the Dark Lord was speeding his forces north."
M1U92

I admit now that the incipience behind this card was my desire to write a title starting with the letter Q. It's a good letter that doesn't get enough attention.
Beyond that, this card is nothing but pure flavor. What forces Sauron lost on the Pelennor he quickly mustered - and then some - for the battle at the Black Gate.

But this next card really is the Mother of Flavor for the entire set:

•Land is Emptied
Condition • Support Area
Each time a Orc is discarded from your hand, you may stack it here.
Shadow: Spot no minions and at least 5 cards here to play all minions stacked here; each is twilight cost -2. Discard this condition and end your shadow phase.
"Down from the hills on either side of the Morannon poured Orcs innumerable… forces ten times and more than ten times their match would ring them in a sea of enemies. Sauron had taken the proffered bait in jaws of steel."
M1R89

This card is my baby and I've been waiting for months to show it off.

[lem0nhead]

In Deepest Dark
Event • Skirmish
Make a companion skirmishing a Orc strength -1 (-2 if you can spot 5 burdens or no Free Peoples alliances; -3 if both).
"But far worse than all such perils was the ever-approaching threat that beat upon them as they went: the dreadful menace of the Power that waited, brooding in deep thought and sleepless malice behind the dark veil about its Throne. Nearer and nearer it drew, looming blacker, like the oncoming of a wall of night at the last end of the world."
M1C87

Mucky wording at the end but i get the idea. Nice.

Quakes of New War
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot 3 Orcs.
At the start of the assignment phase, add for each of your unwounded minions.
Regroup: Discard each of your Orcs that isn't exhausted to draw a card for each Orc discarded in this way.
"Along all the roads troops were moving; for the Captains of the West were advancing and the Dark Lord was speeding his forces north."
M1U92

Wow no way dude. This card says unless freeps have archery, have crap loads of pool for the skirmish. Nice regroup ability but the first bit is sick.

•Land is Emptied
Condition • Support Area
Each time a Orc is discarded from your hand, you may stack it here.
Shadow: Spot no minions and at least 5 cards here to play all minions stacked here; each is twilight cost -3. Discard this condition and end your shadow phase.
"Down from the hills on either side of the Morannon poured Orcs innumerable… forces ten times and more than ten times their match would ring them in a sea of enemies. Sauron had taken the proffered bait in jaws of steel."
M1R89

So you can stack them by discarding them from your hand in regroup or by other cards that require you to discard them? Mental. Id tone it down to -2 otherwise its insane. Nice idea though.

[DáinIronfoot]

In Deepest Dark
Event • Skirmish
Make a companion skirmishing a Orc strength -1 (-2 if you can spot 5 burdens or no Free Peoples alliances; -3 if both).
"But far worse than all such perils was the ever-approaching threat that beat upon them as they went: the dreadful menace of the Power that waited, brooding in deep thought and sleepless malice behind the dark veil about its Throne. Nearer and nearer it drew, looming blacker, like the oncoming of a wall of night at the last end of the world."
M1C87

Not 100% sure on that wording, but it's a lovely card. Unless you're the FP player, in which case it is a HIDEOUS card.

Quakes of New War
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot 3 Orcs.
At the start of the assignment phase, add for each of your unwounded minions.
Regroup: Discard each of your Orcs that isn't exhausted to draw a card for each Orc discarded in this way.
"Along all the roads troops were moving; for the Captains of the West were advancing and the Dark Lord was speeding his forces north."
M1U92

Today's DCs are brought to you by the letter Q.

Limit it to (and perhaps any of their alliances) minions, and change "isn't" to "is not". You could actually simply that regroup ability by saying "Discard X non-exhausted Orcs to draw X cards." I know "non-exhausted" doesn't exist in game text yet, but non-fillintheblank is, so it makes enough sense.

•Land is Emptied
Condition • Support Area
Each time a Orc is discarded from your hand, you may stack it here.
Shadow: Spot no minions and at least 5 cards here to play all minions stacked here; each is twilight cost -3. Discard this condition and end your shadow phase.
"Down from the hills on either side of the Morannon poured Orcs innumerable… forces ten times and more than ten times their match would ring them in a sea of enemies. Sauron had taken the proffered bait in jaws of steel."
M1R89

"play each minion" rather than "play all minions". Also make sure to always capitalize "Shadow". Hey, you point out useful nitpicks on my DCs; turnabout is fair play. I think it might be BARELY okay as is, since only Orcs discarded from hand qualify.

[Thranduil]

In Deepest Dark
Event • Skirmish
Make a companion skirmishing a Orc strength -1 (-2 if you can spot 5 burdens or no Free Peoples alliances; -3 if both).
"But far worse than all such perils was the ever-approaching threat that beat upon them as they went: the dreadful menace of the Power that waited, brooding in deep thought and sleepless malice behind the dark veil about its Throne. Nearer and nearer it drew, looming blacker, like the oncoming of a wall of night at the last end of the world."
M1C87

Yeah it's fun.

Quakes of New War
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot 3 Orcs.
At the start of the assignment phase, add for each of your unwounded minions.
Regroup: Discard each of your Orcs that isn't exhausted to draw a card for each Orc discarded in this way.
"Along all the roads troops were moving; for the Captains of the West were advancing and the Dark Lord was speeding his forces north."
M1U92

I think because of the first ability it should be unique. If so, it could probably cost . Fun card though.

•Land is Emptied
Condition • Support Area
Each time a Orc is discarded from your hand, you may stack it here.
Shadow: Spot no minions and at least 5 cards here to play all minions stacked here; each is twilight cost -3. Discard this condition and end your shadow phase.
"Down from the hills on either side of the Morannon poured Orcs innumerable… forces ten times and more than ten times their match would ring them in a sea of enemies. Sauron had taken the proffered bait in jaws of steel."
M1R89

Funky. Also, you can make it work by cycling Orcs as part of your reconciling! I love how you build up a massive force throughout the course of the game!

Thranduil

[sickofpalantirs]

All Powers Assembled will make more sense as a / alliance once I find that original lore I wanted to use. Its shadow ability now only reduces the twilight cost of minions by 1. The Sentry now has 2 vitality.

Grond stays powerful. 

Today, three random cards.

In Deepest Dark
Event • Skirmish
Make a companion skirmishing a Orc strength -1 (-2 if you can spot 5 burdens or no Free Peoples alliances; -3 if both).
"But far worse than all such perils was the ever-approaching threat that beat upon them as they went: the dreadful menace of the Power that waited, brooding in deep thought and sleepless malice behind the dark veil about its Throne. Nearer and nearer it drew, looming blacker, like the oncoming of a wall of night at the last end of the world."
M1C87
its rather confusing wording...
Quakes of New War
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot 3 Orcs.
At the start of the assignment phase, add for each of your unwounded minions.
Regroup: Discard each of your Orcs that isn't exhausted to draw a card for each Orc discarded in this way.
"Along all the roads troops were moving; for the Captains of the West were advancing and the Dark Lord was speeding his forces north."
M1U92
fine.

•Land is Emptied
Condition • Support Area
Each time a Orc is discarded from your hand, you may stack it here.
Shadow: Spot no minions and at least 5 cards here to play all minions stacked here; each is twilight cost -3. Discard this condition and end your shadow phase.
"Down from the hills on either side of the Morannon poured Orcs innumerable… forces ten times and more than ten times their match would ring them in a sea of enemies. Sauron had taken the proffered bait in jaws of steel."
M1R89

hmm...I guess...I think -2 would be better though

[menace64]

I went back and polished the wording on In Deepest Dark, added more cultural enforcement on Quakes, and changed Land is Emptied from -3 to -2. Quakes also got some wording attention but I didn't change change it to a unique condition. My reasoning is that these new Orcs need some powerful cards to help fight against double-moving; right now they've got high strength and dominate. Adding tokens to the pool really isn't that extreme, really.

*Actually* Dain, a phase name isn't capitalized unless it's succeeded by a colon. Duh.

Four cards today since the first three are basically the same.

•Udûn Prowler
Minion • Orc
Strength 11
Vitality 3
Site Number 6
For each race you spot in the fellowship over 1, Udûn Prowler's twilight cost is -1.
Skirmish: Exert Udûn Prowler to wound a companion it is skirmishing.
"They passed the hours of night in wakefulness and they were aware of many things half-seen that walked and prowled all about them…"
M1R94

Originally I had him as a /10/2 but decided that he was lousy with those stats, since the skirmish ability is nothing new and the twilight discount is completely dependent on match-up. As he is like this, he's worth his weight normally and can turn into something even scarier.

Udûn Sentinel
Minion • Orc
Strength 10
Vitality 2
Site Number 6
For each race you spot in the fellowship over 1, this minion's twilight cost is -1.
"‘…and he has not built up his power by waiting until his enemies are secure, as we have done.'"
M1C95

Udûn Servitor
Minion • Orc
Strength 9
Vitality 2
Site Number 6
For each race you spot in the fellowship over 1, this minion's twilight cost is -1.
"In that dale behind the Morannon were the tunnels and deep armouries that the servants of Mordor had made for the defense of the Black Gate of their land…"
M1C96

After I raised the Prowler's stats these two had to go up as well. I think they're fine like this though.

Mordor Battleaxe
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +2
Bearer must be a Orc.
For each race you spot in the fellowship over 1, bearer is strength +1.
By darkest power is designed darkest tool.
M1C91

Yup. Strait-forward racism. Three Hunters decks and Grey Company decks will fear this subculture.

[sickofpalantirs]

I went back and polished the wording on In Deepest Dark, added more cultural enforcement on Quakes, and changed Land is Emptied from -3 to -2. Quakes also got some wording attention but I didn't change change it to a unique condition. My reasoning is that these new Orcs need some powerful cards to help fight against double-moving; right now they've got high strength and dominate. Adding tokens to the pool really isn't that extreme, really.

*Actually* Dain, a phase name isn't capitalized unless it's succeeded by a colon. Duh.

Four cards today since the first three are basically the same.

Udûn Prowler
Minion • Orc
Strength 11
Vitality 3
Site Number 6
While you can spot 3 or more races in the fellowship, this minion is twilight cost -3.
Skirmish: Exert this minion to wound a companion it is skirmishing.
"They passed the hours of night in wakefulness and they were aware of many things half-seen that walked and prowled all about them…"
M1R94
keep it at -2.IMHO

Udûn Servitor
Minion • Orc
Strength 9
Vitality 2
Site Number 6
While you can spot 3 or more races in the fellowship, this minion is twilight cost -2.
"In that dale behind the Morannon were the tunnels and deep armouries that the servants of Mordor had made for the defense of the Black Gate of their land…"
M1C96
that shtings...

Mordor Battleaxe
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +2
Bearer must be a Orc.
While you can spot 3 or more races in the fellowship, bearer is strength +2.
By darkest power is designed darkest tool.
M1C91

nice and simple

[Thranduil]

*Actually* Dain, a phase name isn't capitalized unless it's succeeded by a colon. Duh.

*Actually*, Dain is entirely right - "Shadow" is always capitalised regardless of context. Take a look at a few cards! (He called me on this a while back - trust me it's true!).

Udûn Prowler
Minion • Orc
Strength 11
Vitality 3
Site Number 6
While you can spot 3 or more races in the fellowship, this minion is twilight cost -3.
Skirmish: Exert this minion to wound a companion it is skirmishing.
"They passed the hours of night in wakefulness and they were aware of many things half-seen that walked and prowled all about them…"
M1R94

I don't like the grinding guys, especially those with 3 vitality or ways to gain more vitality, but it's what does so fair enough. I might make his cost .

Udûn Sentinel
Minion • Orc
Strength 10
Vitality 2
Site Number 6
While you can spot 3 or more races in the fellowship, this minion is twilight cost -2.
"‘…and he has not built up his power by waiting until his enemies are secure, as we have done.'"
M1C95

This guy isn't great: I don't think I'd ever use him in a deck. I don't think it would be too good for him to have the exert to wound ability.

Udûn Servitor
Minion • Orc
Strength 9
Vitality 2
Site Number 6
While you can spot 3 or more races in the fellowship, this minion is twilight cost -2.
"In that dale behind the Morannon were the tunnels and deep armouries that the servants of Mordor had made for the defense of the Black Gate of their land…"
M1C96

Ditto on this one. Lower stats in favour of grind.

Mordor Battleaxe
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +2
Bearer must be a Orc.
While you can spot 3 or more races in the fellowship, bearer is strength +2.
By darkest power is designed darkest tool.
M1C91

Yeah, it's alright. Could be .

Thranduil

[lem0nhead]

Udûn Prowler
Minion • Orc
Strength 11
Vitality 3
Site Number 6
While you can spot 3 or more races in the fellowship, this minion is twilight cost -3.
Skirmish: Exert this minion to wound a companion it is skirmishing.
"They passed the hours of night in wakefulness and they were aware of many things half-seen that walked and prowled all about them…"
M1R94

With his wounding ability id say -2 is more than enough.

Udûn Sentinel
Minion • Orc
Strength 10
Vitality 2
Site Number 6
While you can spot 3 or more races in the fellowship, this minion is twilight cost -2.
"‘…and he has not built up his power by waiting until his enemies are secure, as we have done.'"
M1C95

Fine.

Udûn Servitor
Minion • Orc
Strength 9
Vitality 2
Site Number 6
While you can spot 3 or more races in the fellowship, this minion is twilight cost -2.
"In that dale behind the Morannon were the tunnels and deep armouries that the servants of Mordor had made for the defense of the Black Gate of their land…"
M1C96

Fine.

Mordor Battleaxe
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +2
Bearer must be a Orc.
While you can spot 3 or more races in the fellowship, bearer is strength +2.
By darkest power is designed darkest tool.
M1C91

In contrast to what i said earlier i think this could be +3.

[Elf_Lvr]

Udûn Prowler
Minion • Orc
Strength 11
Vitality 3
Site Number 6
While you can spot 3 or more races in the fellowship, this minion is twilight cost -3.
Skirmish: Exert this minion to wound a companion it is skirmishing.
"They passed the hours of night in wakefulness and they were aware of many things half-seen that walked and prowled all about them…"
M1R94

There's an guy that does the same thing without the twilight reduction. Who's unique. Admittedly, this guy will be roaming longer, but... Okay, looking at this culture, I really think that unless you made something that adds to the number of races you can spot (which you probably have or will), this kills hunters and not much else. Like, if you can spot 3 races, you can dumb 4 of these guys for . Insta-kill, especially against a deck type that normally only runs 4-5 companions anyway.

My point is basically - I'd love to see some way for this strategy to hurt more fellowships without slaughtering one every time.

And this guy needs unique.

Udûn Sentinel
Minion • Orc
Strength 10
Vitality 2
Site Number 6
While you can spot 3 or more races in the fellowship, this minion is twilight cost -2.
"‘…and he has not built up his power by waiting until his enemies are secure, as we have done.'"
M1C95

More uber-swarm potential, but this guy's better. I like it.

Udûn Servitor
Minion • Orc
Strength 9
Vitality 2
Site Number 6
While you can spot 3 or more races in the fellowship, this minion is twilight cost -2.
"In that dale behind the Morannon were the tunnels and deep armouries that the servants of Mordor had made for the defense of the Black Gate of their land…"
M1C96

Ditto.

Mordor Battleaxe
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +2
Bearer must be a Orc.
While you can spot 3 or more races in the fellowship, bearer is strength +2.
By darkest power is designed darkest tool.
M1C91

This is cool.

[DáinIronfoot]

*Actually* Dain, a phase name isn't capitalized unless it's succeeded by a colon. Duh.

And as Thran said, Shadow actually IS, every time. Just scroll through some cards and you'll see what I mean.

Udûn Prowler
Minion • Orc
Strength 11
Vitality 3
Site Number 6
While you can spot 3 or more races in the fellowship, this minion is twilight cost -3.
Skirmish: Exert this minion to wound a companion it is skirmishing.
"They passed the hours of night in wakefulness and they were aware of many things half-seen that walked and prowled all about them…"
M1R94

I agree with others that said -2 is fine on the first part...or to REALLY be interesting, perhaps make his cost (which I might argue is a good idea anyway) and change it to "This minion's twilight cost is -1 for each race in the fellowship over 1", or something like that. Mwaha.

Udûn Sentinel
Minion • Orc
Strength 10
Vitality 2
Site Number 6
While you can spot 3 or more races in the fellowship, this minion is twilight cost -2.
"‘…and he has not built up his power by waiting until his enemies are secure, as we have done.'"
M1C95

This one's probably okay, but if you change the wording of the other, change this guy to be similiar.

Udûn Servitor
Minion • Orc
Strength 9
Vitality 2
Site Number 6
While you can spot 3 or more races in the fellowship, this minion is twilight cost -2.
"In that dale behind the Morannon were the tunnels and deep armouries that the servants of Mordor had made for the defense of the Black Gate of their land…"
M1C96

Ditto.

Mordor Battleaxe
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +2
Bearer must be a Orc.
While you can spot 3 or more races in the fellowship, bearer is strength +2.
By darkest power is designed darkest tool.
M1C91

Fun!

[menace64]

I think for now I'm going to take Dain's advice and change how these fellas get their discount.

Sorry for the delay here... life caught up with me and my creative energy was drained. I'm still pretty mentally racked. So today I'm just throwing out some easy cards that don't require a lot of explanation.

Monumental Works
Event • Shadow
Exert a Orc to play a condition from your discard pile.
"North amid their noisome pits lay the first of the great heaps and hills of slag and broken rock and blasted earth, the vomit of the maggot-folk of Mordor; but south and now near loomed the great rampart of Cirith Gorgor, and the Black Gate amidmost, and the two Towers of the Teeth tall and dark upon either side… The two vast iron doors of the Black Gate under its frowning arch were fast closed."
M1C90

Slaves of Núrn
Event • Shadow
Spot a minion and exert a minion of another culture to make that minion strength +3 and gain dominate until the regroup phase (A companion skirmishing this minion may not be exerted by that companion's owner).
"Neither he nor Frodo knew anything of the great slave-worked fields away south in this wide realm, beyond the fumes of the Mountain by the dark sad waters of Lake Núrnen; nor of the great roads that ran away east and south to tributary lands, from which the soldiers of the Tower brought long waggon-trains of goods and booty and fresh slaves."
M1C93

Udûn Watchman
Minion • Orc
Strength 8
Vitality 2
Site Number 6
When you play this minion, reveal X cards at random from the Free Peoples player's hand, where X is the number of races you spot in the fellowship.
"Upon the battlement nothing could be seen. All was silent but watchful."
M1U97

And I've already posted this card, but now that you've got a good look at the culture I think you should see it again:

Ashen Plains
Plains. Each Orc is strength +1 for each race in the fellowship over 2.
M1U129

I'm pretty sure there are only 3 or 4 cards left to reveal.

[lem0nhead]

Monumental Works
Event • Shadow
Exert a Orc to play a condition from your discard pile.
"North amid their noisome pits lay the first of the great heaps and hills of slag and broken rock and blasted earth, the vomit of the maggot-folk of Mordor; but south and now near loomed the great rampart of Cirith Gorgor, and the Black Gate amidmost, and the two Towers of the Teeth tall and dark upon either side… The two vast iron doors of the Black Gate under its frowning arch were fast closed."
M1C90

Eeek condition recursion. Icky. I can see some DDotR popping back again and stuff. Not sure i like it. Currently only Dead Marshes gets conditions back and id keep it that way.

Slaves of Núrn
Event • Shadow
Spot a minion and exert a minion of another culture to make that minion strength +3 and gain dominate until the regroup phase (A companion skirmishing this minion may not be exerted by that companion's owner).
"Neither he nor Frodo knew anything of the great slave-worked fields away south in this wide realm, beyond the fumes of the Mountain by the dark sad waters of Lake Núrnen; nor of the great roads that ran away east and south to tributary lands, from which the soldiers of the Tower brought long waggon-trains of goods and booty and fresh slaves."
M1C93

Fine.

Udûn Watchman
Minion • Orc
Strength 8
Vitality 2
Site Number 6
When you play this minion, reveal X cards at random from the Free Peoples player's hand, where X is the number of races you spot in the fellowship.
"Upon the battlement nothing could be seen. All was silent but watchful."
M1U97

Ok.

Ashen Plains
Each minion is strength +1 for each race in the fellowship over 2.
M1U129

Fine although it probably should be 1.