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

[Thranduil]

•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....'"

He may cost but he is darn powerful. I think I would reduce his aid cost to but would prefer if some part of his bonus was lost as well like the resistance bonus or the exerting a minion option (which makes a lot less sense than healing).

•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.'"

Yep, agree with SoP - resistance bonus is completely unnecessary. I think overall this card has too much text and I'd be in favour of lowering the aid cost for losing either the strength reduction or skirmish ability.

•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?'"

Not sure whether the resistance bonus snould be +1 or +2, I might be leaning towards +1. But I say you did a pretty good job on this Galadriel!

Thranduil

[lem0nhead]

•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....'"

Seems ok to me.

•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.'"

Seems a bit overkill. Does too many things.

•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?'"

Looks ok.

[DáinIronfoot]

Okay, I went back and rewrote all three to varying degrees. Arwen and Galadriel have seen the most extensive rewrites, Arwen because she was too good before and Galadriel because I wanted to make all three more thematic and better tie her in with today's trio of cards....

The Lady's Message
Condition
Tale. To play, spot 2 followers (or Galadriel). Bearer must be a ranger. Limit 1 per bearer.
Bearer gains hunter 1.
The site number of each minion skirmishing bearer is +1 for each Free Peoples culture you can spot.
"‘Where now are the Dúnedain, Elessar, Elessar? / Why do thy kinsfolk wander afar? /  Near is the hour when the Lost should come forth, / And the Grey Company ride from the North.'"

This works just fine with or rangers (or even the small handful of rangers and one particular ranger I have throughout my sets), but with the text it's probably best with .

As you'll see with these cards, they generally complement something these characters already do well, adding a little incentive for tossing Elves (and specifically Galadriel and the new followers) in with fellowships where they might not normally appear.

The Lady's Comfort
Condition
Tale. To play, spot 2 followers (or Galadriel). Bearer must be an unbound Elf companion. Limit 1 per bearer.
While at a sanctuary, forest, or river site, bearer gains hunter 1 and is resistance +1.
"‘Legolas Greenleaf long under tree / In joy thou hast lived. Beware of the Sea! / If thou hearest the cry of the gull on the shore, / Thy heart shall then rest in the forest no more.'"

Not much new to say here. I didn't realize until after I finished that this was awfully similiar to Legolas CotR, but that's purely incidental, I assure you.

The Lady's Greeting
Condition
Tale. To play, spot 2 followers (or Galadriel). Bearer must be a Dwarf. Limit 1 per bearer.
If bearer is Gimli, he is resistance +1 (and strength +1 if at a forest or river site).
Each time bearer wins a skirmish, you may draw a card (or 2 cards if bearer is a hunter).
"‘Lock-bearer, wherever thou goest my thought goes with thee. But have a care to lay thine axe to the right tree!'"

Again, thematic with something Dwarves are already well-known to be proficient in. I figured that 2 cards would be okay since this is the skirmish rather than fellowship phase we're talking about, and there aren't a ton of hunters anyway...even in my sets!

Oh, and certainly if you have time to go back and look at the three followers from the last post, please do so. They're basically new cards now, and I'm tempted to even repost them....

[Thranduil]

You need to add a clause on the new Galadriel so that you have to reveal the card to get the token stuff - otherwise you could be cheating! I like them all better now, by the way.

•The Lady's Message
Condition
Resistance +1
Tale. To play, spot 2 followers (or Galadriel). Bearer must be a ranger. Bearer gains hunter 1.
The site number of each minion skirmishing bearer is +1 for each Free Peoples culture you can spot.
"‘Where now are the Dúnedain, Elessar, Elessar? / Why do thy kinsfolk wander afar? /  Near is the hour when the Lost should come forth, / And the Grey Company ride from the North.'"

I want this to do less and be non-unique (with a limit 1 per bearer) - I want this card on Arwen, Aragorn, Glorfindel, Elladan & Elrohir, Halbarad etc. not just 1 of them. I think I'd take out the resistance bonus. Then, this card is the building block of an / ranger deck, and that's awesome, but with only 1 of this card it doesn't quite have the same effect.

•The Lady's Comfort
Condition
Tale. To play, spot 2 followers (or Galadriel). Bearer must be an unbound Elf companion.
While at a sanctuary, forest, or river site, bearer gains hunter 2 and is resistance +2.
"‘Legolas Greenleaf long under tree / In joy thou hast lived. Beware of the Sea! / If thou hearest the cry of the gull on the shore, / Thy heart shall then rest in the forest no more.'"

Again I want this to do less and be non-unique (again with a limit 1 per bearer). Hunter 1 and resistance +1 would be fine in that case, and I think it's not such a huge problem for the card to be on Galadriel (though with resistance +2, it would be a much bigger problem I feel).

•The Lady's Greeting
Condition
Resistance +1
Tale. To play, spot 2 followers (or Galadriel). Bearer must be a Dwarf.
Each time bearer wins a skirmish, you may draw a card (or 2 cards if bearer is a hunter).
"‘Lock-bearer, wherever thou goest my thought goes with thee. But have a care to lay thine axe to the right tree!'"

This one's alright, doesn't need to cost . And why any Dwarf? For this one I would just go ahead and say: "Bearer must be Gimli" and leave it unique.

Thranduil

[DáinIronfoot]

Changed all the conditions to non-unique versions, following your suggestions, Thran. I also tweaked Galadriel. Thanks!

[Elf_Lvr]

The Lady's Message
Condition
Tale. To play, spot 2 followers (or Galadriel). Bearer must be a ranger. Limit 1 per bearer.
Bearer gains hunter 1.
The site number of each minion skirmishing bearer is +1 for each Free Peoples culture you can spot.
"‘Where now are the Dúnedain, Elessar, Elessar? / Why do thy kinsfolk wander afar? /  Near is the hour when the Lost should come forth, / And the Grey Company ride from the North.'"

I'm sort of agreeing with Thran - but I've never liked cards played on companions that cost more than 1 for any effect - save really good ones like Anduril. Since this only benefits multi-culture and yet has a pretty solid spotting requirement, I'd lose unique and drop the cost to , then tag on a limit one per bearer. If you feel it'd be too good, then it can do without the resistance bonus.

The Lady's Comfort
Condition
Tale. To play, spot 2 followers (or Galadriel). Bearer must be an unbound Elf companion. Limit 1 per bearer.
While at a sanctuary, forest, or river site, bearer gains hunter 1 and is resistance +1.
"‘Legolas Greenleaf long under tree / In joy thou hast lived. Beware of the Sea! / If thou hearest the cry of the gull on the shore, / Thy heart shall then rest in the forest no more.'"

Again, I'd love a more balanced way to make this cost . It might be able to manage it now. But I don't know. I can' tell you're going for a cycle of -costing stuff here, but I don't think I'd use them as they are.

The Lady's Greeting
Condition
Tale. To play, spot 2 followers (or Galadriel). Bearer must be a Dwarf. Limit 1 per bearer.
If bearer is Gimli, he is strength +1 and resistance +1.
Each time bearer wins a skirmish, you may draw a card (or 2 cards if bearer is a hunter).
"‘Lock-bearer, wherever thou goest my thought goes with thee. But have a care to lay thine axe to the right tree!'"

Hmm. If you dropped the hunter clause, then maybe this could cost . But this is one I honestly like as-is.

[Thranduil]

As a FP player, I have no huge problem paying for stuff on my companions because you can always do it. On the other hand there is something to be said for EL's thoughts on how to make each of those conditions cost which might make them particularly awesome.

Thranduil

[lem0nhead]

The Lady's Message
Condition
Tale. To play, spot 2 followers (or Galadriel). Bearer must be a ranger. Limit 1 per bearer.
Bearer gains hunter 1.
The site number of each minion skirmishing bearer is +1 for each Free Peoples culture you can spot.
"‘Where now are the Dúnedain, Elessar, Elessar? / Why do thy kinsfolk wander afar? /  Near is the hour when the Lost should come forth, / And the Grey Company ride from the North.'"

Thats really really useful but specific enough for it to be balanced.

The Lady's Comfort
Condition
Tale. To play, spot 2 followers (or Galadriel). Bearer must be an unbound Elf companion. Limit 1 per bearer.
While at a sanctuary, forest, or river site, bearer gains hunter 1 and is resistance +1.
"‘Legolas Greenleaf long under tree / In joy thou hast lived. Beware of the Sea! / If thou hearest the cry of the gull on the shore, / Thy heart shall then rest in the forest no more.'"

Not quite as useful as the previous so im not sure id bother packing any of these in a deck for 2 cost.

The Lady's Greeting
Condition
Tale. To play, spot 2 followers (or Galadriel). Bearer must be a Dwarf. Limit 1 per bearer.
If bearer is Gimli, he is strength +1 and resistance +1.
Each time bearer wins a skirmish, you may draw a card (or 2 cards if bearer is a hunter).
"‘Lock-bearer, wherever thou goest my thought goes with thee. But have a care to lay thine axe to the right tree!'"

Fine as obviously youd only bother playing it on gimli.

[DáinIronfoot]

What would you suggest to get them all down to ? I think The Lady's Comfort can probably get away with it without any rewriting, and The Lady's Greeting likely can by dropping the Gimli line, but what about The Lady's Message? I'm loathe to drop the hunter bonus since it's a theme with the others...but if I don't I don't see how I can reduce it to . Perhaps leave it the sole exception at since it's particularly useful?

[Thranduil]

What would you suggest to get them all down to ? I think The Lady's Comfort can probably get away with it without any rewriting, and The Lady's Greeting likely can by dropping the Gimli line, but what about The Lady's Message? I'm loathe to drop the hunter bonus since it's a theme with the others...but if I don't I don't see how I can reduce it to . Perhaps leave it the sole exception at since it's particularly useful?

With the hefty spotting requirement and limited bearer of The Lady's Message, I think your job could be done! I also don't think you should lose all the Gimli-ness of The Lady's Greeting, maybe only lose the resistance bonus.

Thranduil

[DáinIronfoot]

Okay, they all now cost . For Gimli, I preserved the resistance bonus instead (since that was one of the main points of the card...it's especially nice with Gimli BoG, eh? ) and made the strength conditional on some unusual-for-Dwarves conditions. How're they now?

Finally, Galadriel cards I'd really consider using!

[Thranduil]

Okay, they all now cost . For Gimli, I preserved the resistance bonus instead (since that was one of the main points of the card...it's especially nice with Gimli BoG, eh? ) and made the strength conditional on some unusual-for-Dwarves conditions. How're they now?

Finally, Galadriel cards I'd really consider using!

I would lose one of the parentheses on The Lady's Message, but otherwise I would say "Kudos, my dear dwarf!"

Thranduil

[DáinIronfoot]

Alright, on to the next follower: Arwen.

•Gift of the Evenstar, Symbol of Trust
Artifact • Pendant
Resistance +1
To play, spot Arwen. Bearer must be Aragorn.
Each time an follower is transferred to Aragorn, you may remove (or if that follower is Arwen or Elrond).
Each time Aragorn wins a skirmish, you may exert Arwen (or transfer her to your support area if Arwen is a follower) to heal Aragorn or another Elf.
"‘Ae ú-esteliach nad...estelio han. Estelio ammen.'"

Pretty self-explanatory, really. Uh...yeah. Moving on....

A Good Dream
Event • Maneuver
Transfer an follower from an unbound companion to your support area to heal that companion (and remove a burden or a threat if that companion has resistance 6 or more).
"‘You told me once this day would come.'"

Elves removing burdens? Hey, it's not completely unprecedented. You've got Elf-song and Songs of the Blessed Realm, after all....

Still Hope
Event • Response
If a burden or wound is about to be added by a Shadow card, spot Arwen or Elrond to prevent that. Then you may discard 2 cards from hand to shuffle this event into your draw deck.
"‘This is not the end...it is the beginning.'"

Same verse, different from the first. Less powerful since it prevents rather than removes (and thus can clog a bit more), better because it can recycle itself.

[sickofpalantirs]

Alright, on to the next follower: Arwen.

•Gift of the Evenstar, Symbol of Trust
Artifact • Pendant
Resistance +1
To play, spot Arwen. Bearer must be Aragorn.
The aid cost of each follower transferred to Aragorn is -1 (or -2 if that follower is Arwen or Elrond).
Each time Aragorn wins a skirmish, you may exert Arwen (or transfer her to your support area if Arwen is a follower) to heal Aragorn or another Elf.
"‘Ae ú-esteliach nad...estelio han. Estelio ammen.'"
what if the aid cost is add 2 burdens? or exertions?

•Arwen's Choice
Condition • Support Area
Tale. When you play this condition, add an token here for each of the following you can spot: Arwen, Elrond, Aragorn.
Response: If Aragorn or an Elf is about to take a wound, remove an token from here or discard this condition to prevent that wound.
"‘I have made my choice....'"
I'd prefer a kings legacy like thing


A Good Dream
Event • Maneuver
Transfer an follower from an unbound companion to your support area to heal that companion (and remove a burden or a threat if that companion has resistance 6 or more).
"‘You told me once this day would come.'"
fine

Still Hope
Event • Response
If a burden or wound is about to be added by a Shadow card, spot Arwen or Elrond to prevent that. Then you may discard 2 cards from hand to shuffle this event into your draw deck.
"‘This is not the end...it is the beginning.'"

cut cost to 1

[DáinIronfoot]

•Gift of the Evenstar, Symbol of Trust
Artifact • Pendant
Resistance +1
To play, spot Arwen. Bearer must be Aragorn.
The aid cost of each follower transferred to Aragorn is -1 (or -2 if that follower is Arwen or Elrond).
Each time Aragorn wins a skirmish, you may exert Arwen (or transfer her to your support area if Arwen is a follower) to heal Aragorn or another Elf.
"‘Ae ú-esteliach nad...estelio han. Estelio ammen.'"

what if the aid cost is add 2 burdens? or exertions?

Fortunately, all followers in Decipher's sets AND my own DC sets have an aid cost of twilight, and twilight only. Trust me...I checked. I'll just have to make sure that continues, and then we've got no problems.