The Way Into Mordor - Sméagol (5/13: Pitifully Anxious To Please)

[Gerontius]

All are great! I would use all of them except Go Away, but it has its purposes.

[lem0nhead]

•On The Precious
Condition • Support Area
Each time a burden is added, you may exert Sméagol to add a token here.
Skirmish: Remove a token from here to make a Ring-bound companion strength +1.
Regroup: Remove a token from here to reinforce another token.
"‘We swears to serve the master of the Preciousss. We swears on... on the Precious!'"

It would need a lot of reinforcing to be made useful.

Master Looks After Us Now
Condition
Resistance +1
To play, spot a non-[Gollum] Ring-bearer. Bearer must be Sméagol.
Response: If Sméagol wins a skirmish, discard this condition to heal a Ring-bound companion and reinforce a token of that companion's culture.
"‘We...we told him to go away! And away he goes, Preciousss!'"

I dont think it would be op to fetch it as its not that useful a a one off.

Go Away
Event • Maneuver
Maneuver: Spot Sméagol and remove a Shadow culture token (or add a threat) to reinforce a token.
Response: If a Shadow card is played, discard that card.
"‘Leave now and never come back!'"

Could be free really, however you might wanna enforce the second bit otherwise its an anti gollum splash card.

[DáinIronfoot]

Dropped Go Away to being a freebie. Thanks!

Just a couple random cards today. Sorry for the delay, but at least it's not as long as last time, right?

You Keep Nasty Chips
Event • Response
If a card is about to be placed in the discard pile, exert Sméagol to return that card to your hand instead.
"‘Even you couldn't say no to that....'"

If I understand the rules right, this would also work with other events, right? I hope so, because that's kind of what I wanted to emphasize with this....

We Must Go Now?
Event • Response
If the fellowship moves during the regroup phase, spot Sméagol and a Ring-bound Hobbit to take up to 2 stealth cards into hand from your discard pile. Then add a threat for each companion you can spot over 2.
"‘Nice Master! Nice hobbit, come back to poor Sméagol. Good Sméagol comes. Now let's go, go quickly, yes.'"

This one has been a bear for me to balance. I must have rewritten it a dozen times, and I'm still not completely happy. Thoughts?

[Thranduil]

You Keep Nasty Chips
Event • Response
If a card is about to be placed in the discard pile, exert Sméagol to return that card to your hand instead.
"‘Even you couldn't say no to that....'"

Seems like hand clog, but yeah it works. If you said "If a card is discarded" then no it wouldn't.

We Must Go Now?
Event • Response
If the fellowship moves during the regroup phase, spot Sméagol and a Ring-bound Hobbit to take up to 2 stealth cards into hand from your discard pile. Add a threat for each unbound companion you can spot.
"‘Nice Master! Nice hobbit, come back to poor Sméagol. Good Sméagol comes. Now let's go, go quickly, yes.'"

I like this, but I think I would change it a little to "Add a threat for each other companion you can spot" - this incorporates the Sam/Sméagol dynamic in the flavour.

Thranduil

[DáinIronfoot]

You Keep Nasty Chips
Event • Response
If a card is about to be placed in the discard pile, exert Sméagol to return that card to your hand instead.
"‘Even you couldn't say no to that....'"

Seems like hand clog, but yeah it works. If you said "If a card is discarded" then no it wouldn't.

Right. I tried to be real tricksy (but not false) with the wording.

We Must Go Now?
Event • Response
If the fellowship moves during the regroup phase, spot Sméagol and a Ring-bound Hobbit to take up to 2 stealth cards into hand from your discard pile. Add a threat for each unbound companion you can spot.
"‘Nice Master! Nice hobbit, come back to poor Sméagol. Good Sméagol comes. Now let's go, go quickly, yes.'"

I like this, but I think I would change it a little to "Add a threat for each other companion you can spot" - this incorporates the Sam/Sméagol dynamic in the flavour.

You know, I had almost exactly that in a previous rewrite, and decided against it. But you're right...it makes sense, and seems balanced enough unless you're using a huge fellowship (in which case stealth doesn't make sense anyway, right?). So consider it done.

[Thranduil]

I'm not sure the threat-adding needs to be part of the cost, though. I think the card is clearer with the threats as an afterthought, and I don't think it's too powerful not to have to add threats if you're maxed out.

Thranduil

[lem0nhead]

You Keep Nasty Chips
Event • Response
If a card is about to be placed in the discard pile, exert Sméagol to return that card to your hand instead.
"‘Even you couldn't say no to that....'"

Coolio.

We Must Go Now?
Event • Response
If the fellowship moves during the regroup phase, spot Sméagol and a Ring-bound Hobbit and add a threat for each other companion you can spot to take up to 2 stealth cards into hand from your discard pile.
"‘Nice Master! Nice hobbit, come back to poor Sméagol. Good Sméagol comes. Now let's go, go quickly, yes.'"

Sounds about right.

[sickofpalantirs]

Dropped Go Away to being a freebie. Thanks!

Just a couple random cards today. Sorry for the delay, but at least it's not as long as last time, right?

You Keep Nasty Chips
Event • Response
If a card is about to be placed in the discard pile, exert Sméagol to return that card to your hand instead.
"‘Even you couldn't say no to that....'"
fine.

We Must Go Now?
Event • Response
If the fellowship moves during the regroup phase, spot Sméagol and a Ring-bound Hobbit and add a threat for each other companion you can spot to take up to 2 stealth cards into hand from your discard pile.
"‘Nice Master! Nice hobbit, come back to poor Sméagol. Good Sméagol comes. Now let's go, go quickly, yes.'"

uh...fine I guess.  kinda confusing wording.

[DáinIronfoot]

Tweaked the wording of We Must Go Now? so that it's not part of the cost and not nearly as confusing. The solution was so simple I can't believe I didn't think of it before. :doh: Good now?

[sickofpalantirs]

I was going to suggest but actually felt that'd be kinda awkward...but now that I see it it really isn't.  Happy days.

[DáinIronfoot]

Cool beans.

Well, after a brief delay, I've got some tales to squeeze in before a busy weekend begins...along with some Sméagol/Hobbit synergy. Enjoy!

•Of The River Folk
Condition
Resistance +1
Tale. To play, spot a Ring-bound Hobbit. Bearer must be Sméagol.
This condition's twilight cost is -1 for each Ring-bound companion you can spot.
Each time Sméagol wins a skirmish, you may reinforce a or token.
"‘You were not so very different from a hobbit once, were you... Sméagol?'"

Pity and Mercy
Event • Maneuver
Tale. Exert a Ring-bound Hobbit to make Sméagol resistance +3 until the regroup phase, or exert Sméagol to make a Ring-bound Hobbit resistance +3 until the regroup phase.
"‘Deserves death! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death. And some die that deserve life.'"

Poor Sméagol Is Lost Now
Condition • Support Area
Tale. To play, add a burden.
Response: If a Ring-bound companion is about to be overwhelmed in a skirmish, exert Sméagol and discard this condition to make that companion strength +4.
Response: If a Ring-bound companion is about to be captured, exert Sméagol and discard this condition to prevent that.
"‘Leave me alone, gollum! You hurt me. O my poor hands, gollum! I, we, I don't want to come back. I can't find it. I am tired. I, we can't find it, gollum, gollum, no, nowhere.'"

[Thranduil]

•Of The River Folk
Condition
Resistance +1
Tale. To play, spot a Ring-bound Hobbit. Bearer must be Sméagol.
This condition's twilight cost is -1 for each Ring-bound companion you can spot.
Each time Sméagol wins a skirmish, you may reinforce a or token.
"‘You were not so very different from a hobbit once, were you... Sméagol?'"

I'd prefer going the other way, so make it cost then "This condition's twilight cost is +1 for each unbound companion you can spot." Seems to fit the flavour better.

Pity and Mercy
Event • Maneuver
Tale. Exert a Ring-bound Hobbit to make Sméagol resistance +3 until the regroup phase, or exert Sméagol to make a Ring-bound Hobbit resistance +3 until the regroup phase.
"‘Deserves death! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death. And some die that deserve life.'"

Yeah, fair enough. Not sure how useful this is, but it's fair enough.

Poor Sméagol Is Lost Now
Condition • Support Area
Tale. To play, add a burden.
Response: If a Ring-bound companion is about to be overwhelmed in a skirmish, exert Sméagol and discard this condition to make that companion strength +4.
Response: If a Ring-bound companion is about to be captured, exert Sméagol and discard this condition to prevent that.
"‘Leave me alone, gollum! You hurt me. O my poor hands, gollum! I, we, I don't want to come back. I can't find it. I am tired. I, we can't find it, gollum, gollum, no, nowhere.'"

Interesting. I feel like the first ability is really powerful, though I suppose it is all offsetted by the adding a burden. I reckon it's fine.

Thranduil

[lem0nhead]

•Of The River Folk
Condition
Resistance +1
Tale. To play, spot a Ring-bound Hobbit. Bearer must be Sméagol.
This condition's twilight cost is -1 for each Ring-bound companion you can spot.
Each time Sméagol wins a skirmish, you may reinforce a or token.
"‘You were not so very different from a hobbit once, were you... Sméagol?'"

Think its fine as it is. Maybe even should cost 3.

Pity and Mercy
Event • Maneuver
Tale. Exert a Ring-bound Hobbit to make Sméagol resistance +3 until the regroup phase, or exert Sméagol to make a Ring-bound Hobbit resistance +3 until the regroup phase.
"‘Deserves death! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death. And some die that deserve life.'"

Make it free.

Poor Sméagol Is Lost Now
Condition • Support Area
Tale. To play, add a burden.
Response: If a Ring-bound companion is about to be overwhelmed in a skirmish, exert Sméagol and discard this condition to make that companion strength +4.
Response: If a Ring-bound companion is about to be captured, exert Sméagol and discard this condition to prevent that.
"‘Leave me alone, gollum! You hurt me. O my poor hands, gollum! I, we, I don't want to come back. I can't find it. I am tired. I, we can't find it, gollum, gollum, no, nowhere.'"

Awesome.

[DáinIronfoot]

Not much in the way of skirmishing for Sméagol so far, so here are a couple potent events to help out in that department. Enjoy!

Don't Look At Us!
Event • Skirmish
Spot Sméagol and add a burden to make a minion skirmishing a Ring-bound companion strength -3 (or -4 if that minion is a or minion).
"‘I can't find it. Ach!' He got up and clenched his long hand into a bony fleshless knot, shaking it towards the East. ‘We won't!' he cried. ‘Not for you.'"

Stiffening and Listening
Event • Assignment
Stealth. Exert Sméagol twice to spot a minion; that minion cannot be assigned to a skirmish until the regroup phase. Any Shadow player may remove 2 burdens or 2 threats to prevent this.
"...his uneasiness grew, and every now and again he stood up to his full height, craning his neck eastward and southward."

Are these TOO powerful?

[FM]

I actually think the second one is... "meh". Two exertions and 3 twilight for a "cancelling" that can (and most likely WILL whenever it is good enough to do so, it's more of a bluff card) be prevented? I think it's too much. Also, I always say this when people discuss MtG cards with me, cards that give your opponent the choice are NOT good. They surely might seem so, and some of them might make the cut in certain decks/formats, but ultimately, you have to keep in mind when creating such a card that, barring bad opponents and huge bluffs, players will be paying the full cost of the card for the worst effect EVERY TIME.