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

[menace64]

I'm surprised that none of us caught that 'until the regroup phase' bit. Still, I made the bonuses last until the end of the skirmish to help keep control over the power levels.

I wanted to hold off spoiling this next duo for a few more days but whatever. Here they come!

•Elladan, Of the Grey Company
Companion • Elf
Strength 7
Vitality 3
Resistance 6
Ranger. Elrohir is twilight cost -2.
Each time you play an unbound companion of another race, you may heal another unbound companion.
Skirmish: Exert Elladan to make an unbound companion strength +1 for each race in the fellowship.
"‘And have you marked the brethren Elladan and Elrohir? Less sombre is their gear than the others', and they are fair and gallant as Elf-lords; and that is not to be wondered at in the sons of Elrond of Rivendell.'"
M1R4

Doing what Elves do best under the flag of race relations! Elladan has a bit of his father's skill at healing, and a whole heap-load of his kin's natural ability to kick butt.

•Elrohir, Of the Grey Company
Companion • Elf
Strength 7
Vitality 3
Resistance 6
Ranger. Elladan is twilight cost -2.
While you can spot 3 races in the fellowship, unbound companions are resistance +2.
While you can spot 5 races in the fellowship, unbound companions gain flanking (If this companion is not assigned to a skirmish, at the start of another of your character's skirmishes, you may exert this companion to replace that character in the skirmish).
"‘From the North we came with this purpose, and from Elrond our father we brought this very counsel. We will not turn back.'"
M1R5

Elrohir is a bit lackluster but his power should not be overlooked. Flanking is no trifle, seeing as it gives you more-or-less a second assignment phase to rearrange troubling minions.

I really like this next guy...

Ranger of the Grey Company
Companion • Man
Strength 6
Vitality 3
Resistance 6
Ranger. To play, spot a companion.
While you can spot a Dwarf, this companion is strength +1.
While you can spot an Elf, this companion may not be overwhelmed unless his strength is tripled.
"The Lady Éowyn greeted them and was glad of their coming; for no mightier men had she seen than the Dúnedain and the fair sons of Elrond."
M1U30

In the right deck, he's nothing to sneeze at. Not much needs to be explained with him.

[lem0nhead]

•Elladan, Of the Grey Company
Companion • Elf
Strength 7
Vitality 3
Resistance 6
Ranger.
Each time you play an unbound companion of another race, you may heal another unbound companion.
Skirmish: Exert Elladan to make an unbound companion strength +1 for each race in the fellowship.
"‘And have you marked the brethren Elladan and Elrohir? Less sombre is their gear than the others', and they are fair and gallant as Elf-lords; and that is not to be wondered at in the sons of Elrond of Rivendell.'"
M1R4

Nowhere near as good as the other one, id need to seem some real rainbow love to justify this guy.

•Elrohir, Of the Grey Company
Companion • Elf
Strength 7
Vitality 3
Resistance 6
Ranger.
While you can spot 3 races in the fellowship, unbound companions are resistance +2.
While you can spot 4 races in the fellowship, unbound companions gain flanking (If this companion is not assigned to a skirmish, at the start of another of your character's skirmishes, you may exert this companion to replace that character in the skirmish).
"‘From the North we came with this purpose, and from Elrond our father we brought this very counsel. We will not turn back.'"
M1R5

See above.

Ranger of the Grey Company
Companion • Man
Strength 6
Vitality 3
Resistance 6
Ranger. To play, spot a companion.
While you can spot a Dwarf, this companion is strength +1.
While you can spot an Elf, this companion may not be overwhelmed unless his strength is tripled.
"The Lady Éowyn greeted them and was glad of their coming; for no mightier men had she seen than the Dúnedain and the fair sons of Elrond."
M1U30

Sweet.

[sickofpalantirs]

I'm surprised that none of us caught that 'until the regroup phase' bit. Still, I made the bonuses last until the end of the skirmish to help keep control over the power levels.

I wanted to hold off spoiling this next duo for a few more days but whatever. Here they come!

•Elladan, Of the Grey Company
Companion • Elf
Strength 7
Vitality 3
Resistance 6
Ranger.
Each time you play an unbound companion of another race, you may heal another unbound companion.
Skirmish: Exert Elladan to make an unbound companion strength +1 for each race in the fellowship.
"‘And have you marked the brethren Elladan and Elrohir? Less sombre is their gear than the others', and they are fair and gallant as Elf-lords; and that is not to be wondered at in the sons of Elrond of Rivendell.'"
M1R4
ooh...lets see you can possible have wraith, man, hobbit, dwarf, elf, wizard, ent, tree.  thats 8...am I missing anything...would no race be a race?
I can see an entire deck built around this guy

•Elrohir, Of the Grey Company
Companion • Elf
Strength 7
Vitality 3
Resistance 6
Ranger.
While you can spot 3 races in the fellowship, unbound companions are resistance +2.
While you can spot 4 races in the fellowship, unbound companions gain flanking (If this companion is not assigned to a skirmish, at the start of another of your character's skirmishes, you may exert this companion to replace that character in the skirmish).
"‘From the North we came with this purpose, and from Elrond our father we brought this very counsel. We will not turn back.'"
M1R5
I would put a twilight reduction for elladan on this guy, to make him better,

Ranger of the Grey Company
Companion • Man
Strength 6
Vitality 3
Resistance 6
Ranger. To play, spot a companion.
While you can spot a Dwarf, this companion is strength +1.
While you can spot an Elf, this companion may not be overwhelmed unless his strength is tripled.
"The Lady Éowyn greeted them and was glad of their coming; for no mightier men had she seen than the Dúnedain and the fair sons of Elrond."
M1U30

fine.

[lem0nhead]

ooh...lets see you can possible have wraith, man, hobbit, dwarf, elf, wizard, ent, tree.  thats 8...am I missing anything...would no race be a race?
I can see an entire deck built around this guy

You cant have elf hes already an elf! But besides that little point, if you are seriously considering making a deck with one companion from every race you need your head examining. It would be rubbish, and just to justify this guy? Cant see the point.

[Thranduil]

•Elladan, Of the Grey Company
Companion • Elf
Strength 7
Vitality 3
Resistance 6
Ranger.
Each time you play an unbound companion of another race, you may heal another unbound companion.
Skirmish: Exert Elladan to make an unbound companion strength +1 for each race in the fellowship.
"‘And have you marked the brethren Elladan and Elrohir? Less sombre is their gear than the others', and they are fair and gallant as Elf-lords; and that is not to be wondered at in the sons of Elrond of Rivendell.'"
M1R4

He is certainly very interesting. But I need a strong starting fellowship for the Grey Company and this guy without a reduction doesn't provide that, though I would definitely want to start him. What do you expect to be the solid starting fellowships for this strategy?

•Elrohir, Of the Grey Company
Companion • Elf
Strength 7
Vitality 3
Resistance 6
Ranger.
While you can spot 3 races in the fellowship, unbound companions are resistance +2.
While you can spot 4 races in the fellowship, unbound companions gain flanking (If this companion is not assigned to a skirmish, at the start of another of your character's skirmishes, you may exert this companion to replace that character in the skirmish).
"‘From the North we came with this purpose, and from Elrond our father we brought this very counsel. We will not turn back.'"
M1R5

I would not complain if these guys had their usual cost reduction (they are not inherently as good as their old versions), but it does give them too much text. I would want to lose some before giving them more.

Ranger of the Grey Company
Companion • Man
Strength 6
Vitality 3
Resistance 6
Ranger. To play, spot a companion.
While you can spot a Dwarf, this companion is strength +1.
While you can spot an Elf, this companion may not be overwhelmed unless his strength is tripled.
"The Lady Éowyn greeted them and was glad of their coming; for no mightier men had she seen than the Dúnedain and the fair sons of Elrond."
M1U30

Certainly interesting. How about another line about companions?

Thranduil

[DáinIronfoot]

•Elladan, Of the Grey Company
Companion • Elf
Strength 7
Vitality 3
Resistance 6
Ranger.
Each time you play an unbound companion of another race, you may heal another unbound companion.
Skirmish: Exert Elladan to make an unbound companion strength +1 for each race in the fellowship.
"‘And have you marked the brethren Elladan and Elrohir? Less sombre is their gear than the others', and they are fair and gallant as Elf-lords; and that is not to be wondered at in the sons of Elrond of Rivendell.'"
M1R4

Agree with the others: you need a way to get him and/or Elohir starting more easily for him to really take off. But he's pretty darn cool.

•Elrohir, Of the Grey Company
Companion • Elf
Strength 7
Vitality 3
Resistance 6
Ranger.
While you can spot 3 races in the fellowship, unbound companions are resistance +2.
While you can spot 4 races in the fellowship, unbound companions gain flanking (If this companion is not assigned to a skirmish, at the start of another of your character's skirmishes, you may exert this companion to replace that character in the skirmish).
"‘From the North we came with this purpose, and from Elrond our father we brought this very counsel. We will not turn back.'"
M1R5

Back to cost reduction for a moment, perhaps just put it on one of them, or give each of them -1 while you can spot another Elf/ranger or something.

As for the text here, I've got no complaints, though giving flanking to just anyone might be a touch overpowered. Perhaps limit it to companions with a certain resistance, like 5?

Ranger of the Grey Company
Companion • Man
Strength 6
Vitality 3
Resistance 6
Ranger. To play, spot a companion.
While you can spot a Dwarf, this companion is strength +1.
While you can spot an Elf, this companion may not be overwhelmed unless his strength is tripled.
"The Lady Éowyn greeted them and was glad of their coming; for no mightier men had she seen than the Dúnedain and the fair sons of Elrond."
M1U30

Yeah, the spotting requirement is probably necessary to keep him from being tossed in with just anyone. But he's pretty darn cool. I'd like hunter 1 instead of strength +1 personally, but that's a very minor thing.

[menace64]

All right, I added their old twilight reduction, allowing both of the to start together.

As for the flanking ability, how easy would it be to have a decent fellowship sporting 4 races? Frodo as the Ring-bearer, Elrohir, Aragorn and... Gimli?

Hmm. I made it take 5 races.

[menace64]

A few more along the same theme.

News from Rivendell
Event • Fellowship
Play an Elf companion and spot Aragorn to reveal the top X cards of your draw deck, where X is the number of races you spot in the fellowship. Take 2 revealed Free Peoples cards into hand and place the other cards beneath your draw deck in any order.
"…and when they had spoken of tidings in the North and in the South, Elrohir said to him: ‘I bring word to you from my father: The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the Paths of the Dead.'"
M1U7

Too good? Too bad? Too complex? Should I drop the Aragorn bit?

Sure-sight of the Elves
Event • Maneuver
Exert an Elf companion and name a Shadow culture. Reveal 2 cards at random from a Shadow player's hand. If either of those cards is of the named culture, discard both cards or heal 2 non-Elf companions.
"Legolas stood before the gate and turned his bright eyes away north and east, and his fair face was troubled. ‘I do not think that any would come,' he answered. ‘They have no need to ride to war; war already marches on their own lands.'"
M1U8

Yes?

•Halbarad, Northern Kinsman
Companion • Man
Strength 7
Vitality 3
Resistance 7
Ranger. While you can spot an unbound companion of another race, Halbarad is twilight cost -1.
Each time Halbarad wins a skirmish, you may heal a companion of another race.
"‘I have thirty with me… That is all of our kindred that could be gathered in haste; but the brethren Elladan and Elrohir have ridden with us, desiring to go to the war. We rode as swiftly as we might when your summons came.'"
M1U24

Not great but not terrible either. This Halbarad, I think, comes into play cheaper than the original version and, like that version, deals entirely with healing. But this Halbard can heal more companions, pending you get him to fight.

[lem0nhead]

News from Rivendell
Event • Response
If you just played an Elf companion, spot Aragorn to reveal the top X cards of your draw deck, where X is the number of races you spot in the fellowship. Take 2 revealed Free Peoples cards into hand and place the other cards beneath your draw deck in any order.
"…and when they had spoken of tidings in the North and in the South, Elrohir said to him: ‘I bring word to you from my father: The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the Paths of the Dead.'"
M1U7

Too good? Too bad? Too complex? Should I drop the Aragorn bit?

No, no, no and no. Well maybe yes, the Gorn bit limits it a tad much so maybe that bit could be cut.

Sure-sight of the Elves
Event • Maneuver
Exert an Elf companion and name a Shadow culture. Reveal 2 cards at random from a Shadow player's hand. If either of those cards is of the named culture, discard both cards or heal 2 non-Elf companions.
"Legolas stood before the gate and turned his bright eyes away north and east, and his fair face was troubled. ‘I do not think that any would come,' he answered. ‘They have no need to ride to war; war already marches on their own lands.'"
M1U8

Yes?

Yes.

•Halbarad, Northern Kinsman
Companion • Man
Strength 7
Vitality 3
Resistance 7
Ranger. While you can spot an unbound companion of another race, Halbarad is twilight cost -1.
Each time Halbarad wins a skirmish, you may heal a companion of another race.
"‘I have thirty with me… That is all of our kindred that could be gathered in haste; but the brethren Elladan and Elrohir have ridden with us, desiring to go to the war. We rode as swiftly as we might when your summons came.'"
M1U24

Meh ok.

[Thranduil]

News from Rivendell
Event • Response
If you just played an Elf companion, spot Aragorn to reveal the top X cards of your draw deck, where X is the number of races you spot in the fellowship. Take 2 revealed Free Peoples cards into hand and place the other cards beneath your draw deck in any order.
"…and when they had spoken of tidings in the North and in the South, Elrohir said to him: ‘I bring word to you from my father: The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the Paths of the Dead.'"
M1U7

I feel like this card would be cleaner as a fellowship event that said: "Spot Aragorn and play an Elf companion to reveal the top X cards of your draw deck..." But it's fine.

Sure-sight of the Elves
Event • Maneuver
Exert an Elf companion and name a Shadow culture. Reveal 2 cards at random from a Shadow player's hand. If either of those cards is of the named culture, discard both cards or heal 2 non-Elf companions.
"Legolas stood before the gate and turned his bright eyes away north and east, and his fair face was troubled. ‘I do not think that any would come,' he answered. ‘They have no need to ride to war; war already marches on their own lands.'"
M1U8

Rather expensive. Not sure it needs the exertion.

•Halbarad, Northern Kinsman
Companion • Man
Strength 7
Vitality 3
Resistance 7
Ranger. While you can spot an unbound companion of another race, Halbarad is twilight cost -1.
Each time Halbarad wins a skirmish, you may heal a companion of another race.
"‘I have thirty with me… That is all of our kindred that could be gathered in haste; but the brethren Elladan and Elrohir have ridden with us, desiring to go to the war. We rode as swiftly as we might when your summons came.'"
M1U24

Yeah, seems fine.

Thranduil

[DáinIronfoot]

News from Rivendell
Event • Response
If you just played an Elf companion, spot Aragorn to reveal the top X cards of your draw deck, where X is the number of races you spot in the fellowship. Take 2 revealed Free Peoples cards into hand and place the other cards beneath your draw deck in any order.
"…and when they had spoken of tidings in the North and in the South, Elrohir said to him: ‘I bring word to you from my father: The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the Paths of the Dead.'"
M1U7

I agree with Thran. I love the flavor of this working when the Elf hits the table, but it creates a potential for serious hand clog while you wait to get this event and that Elf together. I'd like it better as a fellowship event as Thran suggested (albeit one with a slight cost, like or ) or perhaps as a condition that triggers when the Elf is played, then discards itself.

Sure-sight of the Elves
Event • Maneuver
Exert an Elf companion and name a Shadow culture. Reveal 2 cards at random from a Shadow player's hand. If either of those cards is of the named culture, discard both cards or heal 2 non-Elf companions.
"Legolas stood before the gate and turned his bright eyes away north and east, and his fair face was troubled. ‘I do not think that any would come,' he answered. ‘They have no need to ride to war; war already marches on their own lands.'"
M1U8

Definately.

•Halbarad, Northern Kinsman
Companion • Man
Strength 7
Vitality 3
Resistance 7
Ranger. While you can spot an unbound companion of another race, Halbarad is twilight cost -1.
Each time Halbarad wins a skirmish, you may heal a companion of another race.
"‘I have thirty with me… That is all of our kindred that could be gathered in haste; but the brethren Elladan and Elrohir have ridden with us, desiring to go to the war. We rode as swiftly as we might when your summons came.'"
M1U24

He's SO splashable.... I like splashable companions, yes, but this guy just begs to be in an otherwise -free deck. Granted, that's not a bad thing necessarily, but I think there should be SOME incentive to pair him with fellow Gondorians. Hmmm. Perhaps drop the first line, drop his cost to , and require spotting a card or two to play him. Not sure if that would be better, but it sits little better with me, at least.

[sickofpalantirs]

News from Rivendell
Event • Response
If you just played an Elf companion, spot Aragorn to reveal the top X cards of your draw deck, where X is the number of races you spot in the fellowship. Take 2 revealed Free Peoples cards into hand and place the other cards beneath your draw deck in any order.
"…and when they had spoken of tidings in the North and in the South, Elrohir said to him: ‘I bring word to you from my father: The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the Paths of the Dead.'"
M1U7
fine

Sure-sight of the Elves
Event • Maneuver
Exert an Elf companion and name a Shadow culture. Reveal 2 cards at random from a Shadow player's hand. If either of those cards is of the named culture, discard both cards or heal 2 non-Elf companions.
"Legolas stood before the gate and turned his bright eyes away north and east, and his fair face was troubled. ‘I do not think that any would come,' he answered. ‘They have no need to ride to war; war already marches on their own lands.'"
M1U8
I think it shold be or heal 1 non elf...


•Halbarad, Northern Kinsman
Companion • Man
Strength 7
Vitality 3
Resistance 7
Ranger. While you can spot an unbound companion of another race, Halbarad is twilight cost -1.
Each time Halbarad wins a skirmish, you may heal a companion of another race.
"‘I have thirty with me… That is all of our kindred that could be gathered in haste; but the brethren Elladan and Elrohir have ridden with us, desiring to go to the war. We rode as swiftly as we might when your summons came.'"
M1U24

fine by me

[menace64]

Reworded News from Rivendell as suggested (what was I thinking?). As for Halbarad, I was about to add that spotting requirement when it occurred to me that - both as flavor and mechanic - he *should* be highly-splashable. The entirety of his text is about other races, which naturally means other cultures. To add a requirement seems to make him mostly useless (not that he's very useful to begin with).

Since we're talking about Gondor, I think I'll stop working on Elves for now.

(Actually I've spoiling everything in the culture. Ha.)

What better way to start ...

•Aragorn, The King Returned
Companion • Man
Strength 8
Vitality 4
Resistance 9
Aragorn is twilight cost -1 for each race you spot in the fellowship.
Unbound companions of a different culture are strength +1 for each alliance you spot.
"Aragorn stood beneath his banner, silent and stern, as one lost in thought of things long past or far away; but his eyes gleamed like stars that shine the brighter as the night deepens."
M1R20

The rare version of Aragorn in Lands of Shadow, Aragorn gives up his ranger ways to become King. However, I never really liked Elessar Telcontar's boost in stats (and cost) since it wrongfully portrays Aragorn's new ascension to power. He doesn't spend more time at the gym; in fact he stops fighting altogether. What Aragorn does as king is bring the races together, banding them into one force against whatever darkness threatens any one of them.

Thus, this Aragorn loves other cultures. As Gondor grows in power once again, so do the other countries.

Great Need of Aid
Condition • Support Area
Alliance: . To play, spot 3 Man companions.
At the start of the maneuver phase, if you can spot more minions than companions, you may spot a companion to reveal the top 5 cards of your draw deck. You may play a revealed companion and take a card of that companion's culture into hand. Reshuffle your draw deck.
"‘A week!' said Hirgon. ‘If it must be so, it must. But you are like to find only ruined walls in seven days from now, unless other help unlooked-for comes. Still, you may at the least disturb the Orcs and Swarthy Men from their feasting in the White Tower.'"
M1C23

Reminder - Alliance: (You may replace with anywhere in this card's gametext).

When I first wrote this card - months ago - it triggered at the end of each shadow phase and you got to draw a card no matter what. I realized as soon as I saw this card again how mindblowingly horrendous all of that was and tweaked it a bit. Hopefully this is more balanced. If you find yourself being swarmed, you can potentially play a new companion - maybe more if you've got copies of this card in play and suddenly become super-lucky. If you do play a companion, you get to keep an extra card for the fight to come.

The Hour of Men
Condition • Support Area
Alliance: . To play, spot 2 Man companions, each of a different culture.
At the start of the regroup phase, you may exert a Man to heal a Man of another culture.
Skirmish: Exert a Man companion to make another Man companion strength +1 (limit +2) and damage +1 (limit +2).
"…and there fair and desperate was raised the banner of the White Tree and Stars. Upon the other hill hard by stood the banners of Rohan and Dol Amroth, White Horse and Silver Swan. And about each hill a ring was made facing all ways, bristling with spear and sword."
M1R26

And here's the other alliance. This card does away with all pretenses of separation between and , and is aggressively costed for an alliance (nearly all other alliances cost ). I didn't initially have a limit on the skirmish ability; obviously there is one now.

[Thranduil]

•Aragorn, The King Returned
Companion • Man
Strength 8
Vitality 4
Resistance 8
Unbound companions of a different culture are strength +1 for each alliance you spot.
Fellowship: Exert Aragorn to play a companion. That companion is twilight cost -1.
"Aragorn stood beneath his banner, silent and stern, as one lost in thought of things long past or far away; but his eyes gleamed like stars that shine the brighter as the night deepens."
M1R20

I think I would word it like: "Non- unbound companions are strength +1 for each alliance you can spot." The fellowship ability isn't so useful. I might change it to: "Exert Aragorn to play a non- companion; that companion is twilight cost -2", or take it out altogether.

Great Need of Aid
Condition • Support Area
Alliance: . To play, spot 3 Men companions.
At the start of the maneuver phase, if you can spot more minions than companions, you may spot a companion to reveal the top 3 cards of your draw deck. You may play a revealed companion to draw one of those cards and discard the other.
"‘A week!' said Hirgon. ‘If it must be so, it must. But you are like to find only ruined walls in seven days from now, unless other help unlooked-for comes. Still, you may at the least disturb the Orcs and Swarthy Men from their feasting in the White Tower.'"
M1C23

I think I would prefer it as something like: "... reveal the top 5 cards of your draw deck. You may play a revealed companion." I don't think think it needs anything else - it's a bit too complicated.

The Hour of Men
Condition • Support Area
Alliance: . To play, spot 2 Man companions, each of a different culture.
At the start of the regroup phase, you may exert a Man to heal a Man of another culture.
Skirmish: Exert a Man companion to make another Man companion strength +1 (limit +2) and damage +1 (limit +2).
"…and there fair and desperate was raised the banner of the White Tree and Stars. Upon the other hill hard by stood the banners of Rohan and Dol Amroth, White Horse and Silver Swan. And about each hill a ring was made facing all ways, bristling with spear and sword."
M1R26

This one is darn cool!

Thranduil

[lem0nhead]

•Aragorn, The King Returned
Companion • Man
Strength 8
Vitality 4
Resistance 8
Unbound companions of a different culture are strength +1 for each alliance you spot.
Fellowship: Exert Aragorn to play a companion. That companion is twilight cost -1.
"Aragorn stood beneath his banner, silent and stern, as one lost in thought of things long past or far away; but his eyes gleamed like stars that shine the brighter as the night deepens."
M1R20

Each unbound companion.... is the correct phrasing. his fellowship ability isnt worth using. Its companions toil 1 effectively and thats lame, i would never exert to save 1 pool.

Great Need of Aid
Condition • Support Area
Alliance: . To play, spot 3 Men companions.
At the start of the maneuver phase, if you can spot more minions than companions, you may spot a companion to reveal the top 3 cards of your draw deck. You may play a revealed companion to draw one of those cards and discard the other.
"‘A week!' said Hirgon. ‘If it must be so, it must. But you are like to find only ruined walls in seven days from now, unless other help unlooked-for comes. Still, you may at the least disturb the Orcs and Swarthy Men from their feasting in the White Tower.'"
M1C23


Erm ok i guess. Maybe costed a bit much.

The Hour of Men
Condition • Support Area
Alliance: . To play, spot 2 Man companions, each of a different culture.
At the start of the regroup phase, you may exert a Man to heal a Man of another culture.
Skirmish: Exert a Man companion to make another Man companion strength +1 (limit +2) and damage +1 (limit +2).
"…and there fair and desperate was raised the banner of the White Tree and Stars. Upon the other hill hard by stood the banners of Rohan and Dol Amroth, White Horse and Silver Swan. And about each hill a ring was made facing all ways, bristling with spear and sword."
M1R26

The skirmish ability is too good, needs tapering.