The Way Into Mordor - Elves (1/16: "Fæste, stille nú." / "A red sun rises....")

[DáinIronfoot]

Nothing too fancy today. Just a couple more Elves that work with tokens. Enjoy!

•Feleandier, Naith Commander
Companion • Elf
Strength: 7
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 6
To play, spot an Elf.
Skirmish: Remove an token to make a minion skirmishing an unbound Elf strength -1 (or -2 if that Elf has resistance 6 or more).
An experienced swordsman and Haldir's lieutentant at Helm's Deep, Feleandier led the heroic charge on the invading Uruk-hai after the wall was breached.

Certain participants in Realms of Middle-earth or other long-time CC RPGers may recognize the name. This guy is very rare in that he's the ONLY Elf in the set thus far to cost more than . More reason to consider Ordulus or Orolonn with their cost along with this guy, perhaps...?

•Elvarion, Naith Marksman
Companion • Elf
Strength: 5
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 7
Hunter 1. To play, spot an Elf.
At the start of the archery phase, you may remove an token to make Elvarion an archer until the regroup phase.
Long a scout and hunter in Lothlórien and under the gloomy canopy of Mirkwood, Elvarion had little problem finding targets in the stormy darkness of the Deeping-coomb.

We've already traded away archery for tokens with cards like Seek Some Arrows. Now we can turn tokens into archery, too!

[Elf_Lvr]

•Feleandier, Naith Commander
Companion • Elf
Strength: 7
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 6
To play, spot an Elf.
Skirmish: Remove an token to make a minion skirmishing an unbound Elf strength -1 (or -2 if that Elf has resistance 5 or more).
An experienced swordsman and Haldir's lieutentant at Helm's Deep, Feleandier led the heroic charge on the invading Uruk-hai after the wall was breached.

Pretty nifty. However, I don't think there's been another companion that works so well at pumping with tokens, ever. Arwen, She-Elf, Aragorn, DoFP, and Gloin, SoG are all specific to themselves. Cards like Heavy Axe and Agility stop at -1. Unless you're facing corruption, the -2 is gonna be pretty easy to get. He probably wouldn't be too bad - it's just unprecedented.

•Elvarion, Naith Marksman
Companion • Elf
Strength: 5
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 7
Hunter 1. To play, spot an Elf.
At the start of the archery phase, you may remove an token to make Elvarion an archer until the regroup phase.
Long a scout and hunter in Lothlórien and under the gloomy canopy of Mirkwood, Elvarion had little problem finding targets in the stormy darkness of the Deeping-coomb.

Maybe drop his resistance by 1.

Anyways, I love the guy. He turns tokens into archery without being too powerful.

[DáinIronfoot]

•Feleandier, Naith Commander
Companion • Elf
Strength: 7
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 6
To play, spot an Elf.
Skirmish: Remove an token to make a minion skirmishing an unbound Elf strength -1 (or -2 if that Elf has resistance 5 or more).
An experienced swordsman and Haldir's lieutentant at Helm's Deep, Feleandier led the heroic charge on the invading Uruk-hai after the wall was breached.

Pretty nifty. However, I don't think there's been another companion that works so well at pumping with tokens, ever. Arwen, She-Elf, Aragorn, DoFP, and Gloin, SoG are all specific to themselves. Cards like Heavy Axe and Agility stop at -1. Unless you're facing corruption, the -2 is gonna be pretty easy to get. He probably wouldn't be too bad - it's just unprecedented.

I upped it to resistance 6 or more for the second part, which puts it a little more out of reach. Hopefully makes it slightly more balanced.

[Thranduil]

•Feleandier, Naith Commander
Companion • Elf
Strength: 7
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 6
To play, spot an Elf.
Skirmish: Remove an token to make a minion skirmishing an unbound Elf strength -1 (or -2 if that Elf has resistance 6 or more).
An experienced swordsman and Haldir's lieutentant at Helm's Deep, Feleandier led the heroic charge on the invading Uruk-hai after the wall was breached.

Fair enough. I think I'd prefer rather than a small bonus for anyone to have a large bonus only for him which seems to be more fitting of some random guy who we don't care about.

•Elvarion, Naith Marksman
Companion • Elf
Strength: 5
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 7
Hunter 1. To play, spot an Elf.
At the start of the archery phase, you may remove an token to make Elvarion an archer until the regroup phase.
Long a scout and hunter in Lothlórien and under the gloomy canopy of Mirkwood, Elvarion had little problem finding targets in the stormy darkness of the Deeping-coomb.

Yeah he doesn't need resistance 7. On the other hand, he's probably not OP as he is.

Thranduil

[sickofpalantirs]

6 is probably better...though I think just leave it at -1 and cut the second part.
elvarion is fine.

[DáinIronfoot]

Even MORE token stuff to bring in the new year. Enjoy!

•Lamalas, Naith Sentry
Companion • Elf
Strength: 5
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 6
Hunter 1.
Lamalas is strength +1 for each condition that has a culture token on it.
Lamalas had long stood watch atop the flets of Caras Galadhon before finding himself standing atop the Deeping Wall, watching for the Uruks' approach.

Simple but effective, eh? Should he start with 5 strength?

•Warriors of Old
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot 2 Elves.
Each time you play a possession on your Elf, you may add an token here.
Skirmish: Remove 2 tokens from here to make a companion bearing an weapon gain berserker 1.
Armed and armored as they had not been since the latter wars of the Second Age, the Naith warriors at Helm's Deep harkened back to the very height of the age of Elves in Middle-earth.

Berserker X. (This character is strength +X for each wound on each character in its skirmish.)

Not overly keen about the title, but I was struggling to come up with something better. Any suggestions?

I had a lot of fun designing this one, though. Brings the fighting fury of the Elves to bear, while sticking with their well-established love of wounded minions and--as of this set--weapons. Personally, I like how it all ties together nicely here. Sometimes these DCs just write themselves.

Dago Hon!
Event • Archery
Exert an Elf archer to reinforce or remove 2 culture tokens; he or she does not add to the fellowship archery total.
"‘Bring him down, Legolas!'"

Very nice for reinforcing your own tokens (in the same vein as Seek Some Arrows, which also turns archery into tokens), but also nasty in how it can bugger up your opponent's tokens...like those found on machines, perhaps?

[Gate Troll]

•Warriors of Old
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot 2 Elves.
Each time you play a possession on your Elf, you may add an token here.
Skirmish: Remove 2 tokens from here to make a companion bearing an weapon gain berserker 1. Limit once per skirmish.
Armed and armored as they had not been since the latter wars of the Second Age, the Naith warriors at Helm's Deep harkened back to the very height of the age of Elves in Middle-earth.

Berserker X. (This character is strength +X for each wound on each character in its skirmish.)

Not overly keen about the title, but I was struggling to come up with something better. Any suggestions?

How about Armed for War? 

[Elf_Lvr]

•Lamalas, Naith Sentry
Companion • Elf
Strength: 4
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 6
Hunter 1.
Lamalas is strength +1 for each condition that has a culture token on it.
Lamalas had long stood watch atop the flets of Caras Galadhon before finding himself standing atop the Deeping Wall, watching for the Uruks' approach.

I think he should start with 5. Perhaps his ability does need a cap, though. I think he needs to be a little less Pippin and little more Gloin.

•Warriors of Old
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot 2 Elves.
Each time you play a possession on your Elf, you may add an token here.
Skirmish: Remove 2 tokens from here to make a companion bearing an weapon gain berserker 1. Limit once per skirmish.
Armed and armored as they had not been since the latter wars of the Second Age, the Naith warriors at Helm's Deep harkened back to the very height of the age of Elves in Middle-earth.

I understand why it's restricted, but I really think that since it's unique and rather more difficult to put tokens on, it doesn't need to be limited to once per skirmish. I mean, your guys need to be seriously wounded to make this work to full potential anyways.

Dago Hon!
Event • Archery
Exert an Elf archer to reinforce or remove 2 culture tokens; he or she does not add to the fellowship archery total.
"‘Bring him down, Legolas!'"

I really like it. However, I'd like to see some reinforcement that doesn't center on archery as much.

[Thranduil]

•Lamalas, Naith Sentry
Companion • Elf
Strength: 4
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 6
Hunter 1.
Lamalas is strength +1 for each condition that has a culture token on it.
Lamalas had long stood watch atop the flets of Caras Galadhon before finding himself standing atop the Deeping Wall, watching for the Uruks' approach.

I think he's fine. Strength 5 + hunter would be a bit too much, methinks.

•Warriors of Old
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot 2 Elves.
Each time you play a possession on your Elf, you may add an token here.
Skirmish: Remove 2 tokens from here to make a companion bearing an weapon gain berserker 1. Limit once per skirmish.
Armed and armored as they had not been since the latter wars of the Second Age, the Naith warriors at Helm's Deep harkened back to the very height of the age of Elves in Middle-earth.

Why is the skirmish action so limited? I would either make it 1 token with the limit or 2 tokens without limit. Or make it non-unique.

Dago Hon!
Event • Archery
Exert an Elf archer to reinforce or remove 2 culture tokens; he or she does not add to the fellowship archery total.
"‘Bring him down, Legolas!'"

Yeah it's fine, but EL's right, reinforcing doesn't have to focus on archery. Though maybe that's a good thing to restriction reinforcement.

Thranduil

[lem0nhead]

•Lamalas, Naith Sentry
Companion • Elf
Strength: 4
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 6
Hunter 1.
Lamalas is strength +1 for each condition that has a culture token on it.
Lamalas had long stood watch atop the flets of Caras Galadhon before finding himself standing atop the Deeping Wall, watching for the Uruks' approach.

Just ok.

Simple but effective, eh? Should he start with 5 strength?

I think so.

•Warriors of Old
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot 2 Elves.
Each time you play a possession on your Elf, you may add an token here.
Skirmish: Remove 2 tokens from here to make a companion bearing an weapon gain berserker 1.
Armed and armored as they had not been since the latter wars of the Second Age, the Naith warriors at Helm's Deep harkened back to the very height of the age of Elves in Middle-earth.

Cool. Could cost 1 i reckon.

Dago Hon!
Event • Archery
Exert an Elf archer to reinforce or remove 2 culture tokens; he or she does not add to the fellowship archery total.
"‘Bring him down, Legolas!'"

Could cost 1 as youre exerting.

[sickofpalantirs]

Even MORE token stuff to bring in the new year. Enjoy!

•Lamalas, Naith Sentry
Companion • Elf
Strength: 4
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 6
Hunter 1.
Lamalas is strength +1 for each condition that has a culture token on it.
Lamalas had long stood watch atop the flets of Caras Galadhon before finding himself standing atop the Deeping Wall, watching for the Uruks' approach.
I think its fine. flets?

•Warriors of Old
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot 2 Elves.
Each time you play a possession on your Elf, you may add an token here.
Skirmish: Remove 2 tokens from here to make a companion bearing an weapon gain berserker 1.
Armed and armored as they had not been since the latter wars of the Second Age, the Naith warriors at Helm's Deep harkened back to the very height of the age of Elves in Middle-earth.
fine.


Dago Hon!
Event • Archery
Exert an Elf archer to reinforce or remove 2 culture tokens; he or she does not add to the fellowship archery total.
"‘Bring him down, Legolas!'"

should cost 1 IMSO.

[DáinIronfoot]

Flets: http://www.tuckborough.net/otherbuildings.html#Flets

Anyway, I tweaked Lamalas and Dago Hon!, as recommended. Lamalas might be a touch powerful now, but the reviews were mixed on whether to go with 4 or 5 strength, so I opted to go with the more fun option.

I'm kind of in a rut with Helm's Deep Elves right now--it's so hard when you have ONLY the film to rely on for material!--so on to something else for the time being.

Other than those Elves at Helm's Deep, the Fellowship's contact with Elves is pretty much non-existant in The Two Towers. Yes, their presense is felt, especially by Aragorn during his dreams, but there is no direct contact. So while old favorites like Elrond, Arwen, and Galadriel make their mark, they don't make much sense as companions in this set. Allies are even a bit of a stretch, since allies are usually still characters that cross paths with the companions but don't really travel with them. So what does that leave? One of few things I have to thank the later Decipher sets for....

•Elrond, Lord of Imladris
Follower
Strength +1
Vitality +1
Resistance +1
Aid – .
When you play Elrond, you may take an companion, follower, or tale into hand from your draw deck.
While bearing Elrond, bearer gains the Elrond signet.
Each time bearer wins a skirmish, you may heal a companion bearing an follower or tale.
"‘An alliance once existed between Elves and Men. Long ago we fought and died together....'"

Yep...followers. Tough to balance such a costly follower as Elrond, so I decided to give him some serious benefits. He initially had a spotting requirement of spotting an Elf or an follower, but I opted to drop that, instead making him an easy way to set things up for your other Elves and followers. The only thing I'm not really happy with is his lore. It's not even spoken by him! But none of the lines he actually utters in the film seem to fit, either. Hmmmm. Any ideas?

•Arwen, Lady of Rivendell
Follower
Aid – .
To play, spot Elrond, Aragorn, or 3 Elves.
Each time you transfer Arwen to a companion bearing an tale or artifact, you may heal bearer.
Each minion skirmishing bearer is strength -1 for each wound on that minion.
"‘There is still hope.'"

The lore HERE was easy. Her actual text is certainly above average for a follower, but I figured that the strict spotting requirements helped make up for that. Agreed?

•Galadriel, Lady in the Golden Wood
Follower
Resistance +1
Aid – .
To play, spot 2 Elves (or an follower).
When you play Galadriel, you may play an possession or artifact from your draw deck.
Each time you transfer Galadriel to a companion bearing an tale or artifact, you may draw a card. If that card is an card, you may reveal it to reinforce or remove a culture token.
"‘Do we leave Middle-Earth to its fate? Do we let them stand alone?'"

As long-time reviewers know, I HATE designing Galadriel cards. I've just never really grasped her like I have other characters. But I think I've borrowed from past versions here with a little resistance, a little card drawing, and a little possession/artifact love, mixed with a little token manipulation into one super-follower.

[Gate Troll]

•Elrond, Lord of Imladris
Follower
Strength +1
Resistance +1
Aid – .
When you play Elrond, you may take an companion, follower, or tale into hand from your draw deck.
Each time bearer wins a skirmish, you may heal bearer or exert a minion.
"‘An alliance once existed between Elves and Men. Long ago we fought and died together....'"

I love seeing followers that aren't minor characters! I think you should make him cheaper, he has a serious case of twilightitis that renders him a bit useless. I'd probably give him some culture specificness, ie- "Each time you attach Elrond to a non [elvish] companion add " or something like that. So, cut his cost to and add the culture  penalty and he should be fine.  

•Arwen, Lady of Rivendell
Follower
Resistance +1
Aid – .
To play, spot Elrond, Aragorn, or 3 Elves.
Each minion skirmishing bearer is strength -1 for each wound on that minion.
Skirmish: If bearer is not assigned to a skirmish, discard an card from hand to make a wounded companion strength +2 (or +3 if that companion bears an condition or artifact). Limit once per skirmish.
"‘There is still hope.'"

Seem okay, my only quibble is that you once again gave a resistance bonus. Believe it or not, all followers don't need to give resistance bonuses to be viable in a deck. Give corruption a chance man! 

•Galadriel, Lady in the Golden Wood
Follower
Resistance +2
Aid – .
To play, spot 2 Elves (or an follower).
When you play Galadriel, you may play an possession or artifact from your draw deck.
Each time you transfer Galadriel to a companion, you may heal bearer.
"‘Do we leave Middle-Earth to its fate? Do we let them stand alone?'"

Aack, another resistance bonus. And its bigger. I don't mind her, she seems okay otherwise but you could really
do well with some vitality adders. Not all follower bonuses have to be resistance. 

[DáinIronfoot]

•Elrond, Lord of Imladris
Follower
Strength +1
Resistance +1
Aid – .
When you play Elrond, you may take an companion, follower, or tale into hand from your draw deck.
Each time bearer wins a skirmish, you may heal bearer or exert a minion.
"‘An alliance once existed between Elves and Men. Long ago we fought and died together....'"

I love seeing followers that aren't minor characters! I think you should make him cheaper, he has a serious case of twilightitis that renders him a bit useless. I'd probably give him some culture specificness, ie- "Each time you attach Elrond to a non [elvish] companion add " or something like that. So, cut his cost to and add the culture  penalty and he should be fine.  

I know it's restrictive, but I'm reluctant to change the cost. It's already a major change to go from a companion/ally to a follower...I wanted SOMETHING to feel familiar about him. If anything, I'd be more open to reducing his aid cost. But I'll wait and see what other reviewers say....

•Arwen, Lady of Rivendell
Follower
Resistance +1
Aid – .
To play, spot Elrond, Aragorn, or 3 Elves.
Each minion skirmishing bearer is strength -1 for each wound on that minion.
Skirmish: If bearer is not assigned to a skirmish, discard an card from hand to make a wounded companion strength +2 (or +3 if that companion bears an condition or artifact). Limit once per skirmish.
"‘There is still hope.'"

Seem okay, my only quibble is that you once again gave a resistance bonus. Believe it or not, all followers don't need to give resistance bonuses to be viable in a deck. Give corruption a chance man! 

•Galadriel, Lady in the Golden Wood
Follower
Resistance +2
Aid – .
To play, spot 2 Elves (or an follower).
When you play Galadriel, you may play an possession or artifact from your draw deck.
Each time you transfer Galadriel to a companion, you may heal bearer.
"‘Do we leave Middle-Earth to its fate? Do we let them stand alone?'"

Aack, another resistance bonus. And its bigger. I don't mind her, she seems okay otherwise but you could really
do well with some vitality adders. Not all follower bonuses have to be resistance. 

True, and I certainly see the merits in occasional vitality bonuses on followers. (The culture has a prime example in this set, actually.) Rarely would I create three prominent followers and give them ALL resistance bonuses, but in this case, with these three characters, it makes perfect sense to me. It's because of those characters, and not just because they're followers, that I chose to slap a resistance boost onto all of them.

I might consider a viality boost on Elrond...what do you think?

[sickofpalantirs]

Flets: http://www.tuckborough.net/otherbuildings.html#Flets

Anyway, I tweaked Lamalas and Dago Hon!, as recommended. Lamalas might be a touch powerful now, but the reviews were mixed on whether to go with 4 or 5 strength, so I opted to go with the more fun option.

I'm kind of in a rut with Helm's Deep Elves right now--it's so hard when you have ONLY the film to rely on for material!--so on to something else for the time being.

Other than those Elves at Helm's Deep, the Fellowship's contact with Elves is pretty much non-existant in The Two Towers. Yes, their presense is felt, especially by Aragorn during his dreams, but there is no direct contact. So while old favorites like Elrond, Arwen, and Galadriel make their mark, they don't make much sense as companions in this set. Allies are even a bit of a stretch, since allies are usually still characters that cross paths with the companions but don't really travel with them. So what does that leave? One of few things I have to thank the later Decipher sets for....

•Elrond, Lord of Imladris
Follower
Strength +1
Resistance +1
Aid – .
When you play Elrond, you may take an companion, follower, or tale into hand from your draw deck.
Each time bearer wins a skirmish, you may heal bearer or exert a minion.
"‘An alliance once existed between Elves and Men. Long ago we fought and died together....'"
I'd cut the aid to 1.


•Arwen, Lady of Rivendell
Follower
Resistance +1
Aid – .
To play, spot Elrond, Aragorn, or 3 Elves.
Each minion skirmishing bearer is strength -1 for each wound on that minion.
Skirmish: If bearer is not assigned to a skirmish, discard an card from hand to make a wounded companion strength +2 (or +3 if that companion bears an condition or artifact). Limit once per skirmish.
"‘There is still hope.'"
I'd cut the resistance boost. It just isn't necessary

•Galadriel, Lady in the Golden Wood
Follower
Resistance +2
Aid – .
To play, spot 2 Elves (or an follower).
When you play Galadriel, you may play an possession or artifact from your draw deck.
Each time you transfer Galadriel to a companion, you may heal bearer.
"‘Do we leave Middle-Earth to its fate? Do we let them stand alone?'"

I'd cut the resistance boost to 1