The Way Into Mordor - Isengard (12/31: Token Machine Stuff)

[Thranduil]

Uruk Ambusher
Minion • Uruk-hai
Strength: 6
Vitality: 2
Site: 5
Tracker. Fierce. Hunter 1. Ambush .
While the fellowship is at a battleground, you may play this minion any time you could play an assignment event.
Each time you play a tracker (except during a Shadow phase), you may exert an unwounded unbound companion (or wound that companion if he or she bears a search card).
"But they had not gone far on the way back when they were attacked again, by a hundred Orcs at least, some of them very large...."

But when you play this guy in the assignment phase, his ability doesn't take effect because he isn't already in play. I think this strategy needs a cycle of vanilla minions for this strategy, rather this complex guy. Simple cards like 'When you play this minion (except during the Shadow phase), do X...' I'd prefer a fair number of them, then this minion losing a few keywords (there's no precedent for ambush on uruks, for example) and keeping only his 'each time' ability so that he supports those other vanilla minions.

•Mauhúr, Expert Scout
Minion • Uruk-hai
Strength: 8
Vitality: 2
Site: 5
Tracker. Fierce. Hunter 1.
While the fellowship is at a battleground, forest, or plains site, each other tracker gains hunter 1 and you may play Mauhúr any time you could play an assignment event.
Assignment: Exert Mauhúr to play an tracker from your hand. That tracker gains hunter 2 until the regroup phase.
"Then suddenly the answering cries of orc-voices came...from the direction of the forest and the mountains. Mauhúr had apparently arrived...."

Again, I don't know whether these are the only 2 cards you wanted for this theme, but I think you should definitely make at least another 3 or 4 vanilla guys to go with it.

Thranduil

[DáinIronfoot]

There will be more support for it, yes. And I know the Ambusher's ability doesn't work on itself...but it DOES work on OTHER Ambushers. You could potentially load up your hand with Mauhúr and a few Ambushers, play just enough during the Shadow phase to keep the turn going, and then play a slew of minions during assignment. After the first Ambusher is in play, you can use its ability on all the others you play after that.

There will be more support on top of this, though. Don't worry. I'm just sliding around between search cards, capturing, and out-of-phase playing for now as my brain is having a hard time finding enough room to focus on just one for too long.

[Thranduil]

That's fair enough, but I don't think the ambusher should have the in-built playing in the assignment phase as well as an ability that triggers when others do it. Something like that should be reserved for figures like Mauhúr.

Thranduil

[lem0nhead]

Uruk Ambusher
Minion • Uruk-hai
Strength: 6
Vitality: 2
Site: 5
Tracker. Fierce. Hunter 1. Ambush .
While the fellowship is at a battleground, you may play this minion any time you could play an assignment event.
Each time you play a tracker (except during a Shadow phase), you may exert an unwounded unbound companion (or wound that companion if he or she bears a search card).
"But they had not gone far on the way back when they were attacked again, by a hundred Orcs at least, some of them very large...."

Not quite sure i agree with Thran, it doesnt seem to matter that he can do it himself much, but i understand it lessens Mauhurs skill if you dont need his ability to do it.

•Mauhúr, Expert Scout
Minion • Uruk-hai
Strength: 8
Vitality: 2
Site: 5
Tracker. Fierce. Hunter 1.
While the fellowship is at a battleground, forest, or plains site, each other tracker gains hunter 1 and you may play Mauhúr any time you could play an assignment event.
Assignment: Exert Mauhúr to play an tracker from your hand. That tracker gains hunter 2 until the regroup phase.
"Then suddenly the answering cries of orc-voices came...from the direction of the forest and the mountains. Mauhúr had apparently arrived...."

This could become some scary combo, its a major tactic as far as im concerned just like the skirmish appearing dunlendings so id be careful how many other "themes" you implement within trackers DI.

[DáinIronfoot]

Ugh. Been one of THOSE days. More like one of THOSE 48 hours, actually. :-\ I haven't really had a chance to do much DCing the last couple days, though hopefully I'll be able to make up for it this weekend.

I don't want to leave you in the lurch, though, so here's a bonus of sorts. Enjoy!

•Grishnákh, Crook-Legged Captain
Minion • Orc
Strength: 11
Vitality: 3
Site: 6
Tracker. Hunter 1.
The site number of each Orc is -3.
While you can spot an Uruk-hai, each other Orc gains hunter 1 (or hunter 2 if that Orc is a tracker).
Regroup: Spot an Uruk-hai, discard Grishnákh, and spot a tracker to capture an unbound companion with less strength than that tracker. The Free Peoples player may take that companion into his or her hand to prevent this.
"‘Enjoying your nice rest? Or not? A little awkwardly placed, perhaps: swords and whips on one side, and nasty spears on the other!'"

[Thranduil]

He looks good to me all round.

Thranduil

[DáinIronfoot]

Wow. You have me trained to EXPECT you to tell me that such cards are way too complex. But I'll take it.

[Thranduil]

It's a little complex, but for Grishnakh it's fine! For some random Orc that nobody cares about, it's unnecessary!

Thranduil

[lem0nhead]

I echo Thran, lot for a grishnak but ok!

[DáinIronfoot]

Sorry for the delay in new cards. The final push is on for my master's degree, and time is as scarse as it's ever been. :-\

For the time being, we'll stick with trackers. I'll get back to soon enough. For now, enjoy!

•Orc Searcher
Minion • Orc
Strength: 7
Vitality: 3
Site: 6
Tracker. Hunter 1.
The site number of each Orc is -2.
If you have initiative when you play this minion, you may draw a card for each other tracker you can spot (limit 3).
"‘Why don't we search them and find out? We might find something that we could use ourselves.'"

Orc Follower
Minion • Orc
Strength: 6
Vitality: 2
Site: 6
Tracker. Hunter 1.
The site number of each Orc is -1.
If the fellowship has moved more than once this turn, this minion is strength +5 and may be played during the assignment phase.
"‘The other swine are legging it to the forest. You'd better follow.'"

So far, nothing groundbreaking. Most of the old-school trackers had text that made use of initiative, drew extra cards, or gave them ridiculous strength pumps under certain conditions. So these guys (and their comrades to be posted later) do much of the same. There will be a few surprises, though, such as the ability to play during the assignment phase on the second guy (which pairs nicely with a few tracker cards, you may remember) and some force-moving-during-regroup stuff. I may even create some search cards, but I haven't decided for sure yet. We'll see.

[Thranduil]

Not sure about the balance on Orc Searcher. Perhaps I'd feel better if he made the site number -1 or had 1 less strength.

Thranduil

[sickofpalantirs]

make orc searcher one less strength

[lem0nhead]

Both cool though i have a nagging doubt as to the searcher. Not sure why but he seems very good for a little bog standard minion.

[DáinIronfoot]

That's why he's unique, my juicy friend!

More cards soon-ish. My brain is about three steps behind the rest of me today.

[Thranduil]

More cards soon-ish. My brain is about three steps behind the rest of me today.

Wow, that must be quite disgusting...

Thranduil