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

[FM]

•Champion of Orthanc
Minion • Uruk-hai
Strength: 12
Vitality: 3
Site: 5
Damage +1. Fierce.
To play, spot 2 minions.
Assignment: Exert Champion of Orthanc to assign it to a companion with strength 6 or higher. The Free Peoples player may exert 2 companions (or the Ring-bearer) to prevent this.
"‘This is no parley.'"

Ouch! He's good, sure, but... isn't his price a bit TOO harsh? I mean, for 4 measily burdens you got to assign a site 3, 12 strength Toldea to anyone twice, and that was just by spending 6 twilight, nothing else required.

•Orthanc Commander
Minion • Uruk-hai
Strength: 10
Vitality: 3
Site: 5
Damage +1.
Maneuver: Exert Orthanc Commander to make an Uruk-hai fierce or strength +2 until the regroup phase.
"‘Do you wish to see the greatness of our army? We are the fighting Uruk-hai.'"

REALLY cool. Can definitely see him being heavily played. Kinda reminds me of Orthanc Assassin, you know, without sucking.
[/quote]

[DáinIronfoot]

Well I guess I don't need glasses.

Ha! Well played.

•Champion of Orthanc
Minion • Uruk-hai
Strength: 12
Vitality: 3
Site: 5
Damage +1. Fierce.
To play, spot 2 minions.
Assignment: Exert Champion of Orthanc to assign it to a companion with strength 6 or higher. The Free Peoples player may exert 2 companions (or the Ring-bearer) to prevent this.
"‘This is no parley.'"

He prolly should exert twice for his special ability.

Hmmm. I'll do something similiar and allow the FP player not only to prevent, but specifically assign it as well. Then its ability can still be used for the fierce skirmish, though.

Ouch! He's good, sure, but... isn't his price a bit TOO harsh? I mean, for 4 measily burdens you got to assign a site 3, 12 strength Toldea to anyone twice, and that was just by spending 6 twilight, nothing else required.

Yes and no. 4 burdens takes at least a little bit of work, though I agree Ulaire Toldea, Messenger of Morgul is probably a little easier. HOWEVER, keep in mind that unlike Toldea, this guy is also damage +1. In my mind, that makes a BIG difference.

Oh, that and the fact that this guy could theoretically get assigned to the RB if the FP player is using Boromir BoC or Gandalf BoO or something.

Still...do you think I should drop the exerting the Ring-bearer clause and allow only exerting 2 companions in the get-out clause?

Gonna take a wild guess that these were posted in the Member's lounge?

Nope. Good guess, though. You both still get gold for reviewing, at least.

[FM]

Btw, I'm pretty sure they were posted in either the RP Forum or the Open Discussion... Can't remember exactly now, but I'd go with open Discussion.

I like the champion now. His text shnould read to assign it to another companion, shouldn't it?

[DáinIronfoot]

Btw, I'm pretty sure they were posted in either the RP Forum or the Open Discussion... Can't remember exactly now, but I'd go with open Discussion.

It's not Open Discussion. Again, good guess though.

I like the champion now. His text shnould read to assign it to another companion, shouldn't it?

Yes, it probably should. Fixed.

Alright, time for mucho possession stuff. We'll do some today and get into more tomorrow. Enjoy!

Armor of Orthanc
Possession • Armor
The fellowship archery total is -1.
Response: If bearer is about to take a wound, discard this possession to prevent that wound.
"‘Their armor is thick, and their shields broad.'"

Remember the pikesman? Here are some pikes for him to play with. Pike will be an unbound keyword slapped on certain possessions across several Shadow and Free Peoples cultures. Some cards (like the pikesman) will specifically spot them, but for the most part, they're usually just weapons with above-average damage to mounts. Like these!

Uruk-hai Gisarme
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +2
Pike. Bearer must be an Uruk-hai.
While bearer is skirmishing a mounted character, bearer is damage +1.
The pikes and long spears of the Uruks made up in lethality what they lacked in appearance.

Uruk-hai Pike
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +1
Pike. Bearer must be an Uruk-hai.
While bearer is skirmishing a mounted character, bearer is strength +2.
Skirmish: Exert bearer and discard this possession to discard an armor, shield, or mount borne by a character skirmishing this minion.

[MR. Lurtzy]

Btw, I'm pretty sure they were posted in either the RP Forum or the Open Discussion... Can't remember exactly now, but I'd go with open Discussion.

It's not Open Discussion. Again, good guess though.

I like the champion now. His text shnould read to assign it to another companion, shouldn't it?

Yes, it probably should. Fixed.

Alright, time for mucho possession stuff. We'll do some today and get into more tomorrow. Enjoy!

Armor of Orthanc
Possession • Hand Weapon
The fellowship archery total is -1.
Response: If bearer is about to take a wound, discard this possession to prevent that wound.
"‘Their armor is thick, and their shields broad.'"
Armor as a hand weapon? Is it a shield? Otherwise it's good.

Remember the pikesman? Here are some pikes for him to play with. Pike will be an unbound keyword slapped on certain possessions across several Shadow and Free Peoples cultures. Some cards (like the pikesman) will specifically spot them, but for the most part, they're usually just weapons with above-average damage to mounts. Like these!

Uruk-hai Gisarme
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +2
Pike. Bearer must be an Uruk-hai.
While bearer is skirmishing a mounted character, bearer is damage +1.
The pikes and long spears of the Uruks made up in lethality what they lacked in appearance.
Good.

Uruk-hai Pike
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +1
Pike. Bearer must be an Uruk-hai. Bearer is damage +1.
While bearer is skirmishing a mounted character, bearer is strength +1.
Skirmish: Exert bearer and discard this possession to discard a mount borne by a character skirmishing this minion.

Seems good, but prolly doesn't need to cost .

[FM]

Armor of Orthanc
Possession • Armor
The fellowship archery total is -1.
Response: If bearer is about to take a wound, discard this possession to prevent that wound.
"‘Their armor is thick, and their shields broad.'"

Pretty simple, yet useful. You can play it on unused twilight left over, and it might save you TWO wounds on an important minion. Simple, yet elegant. Loved it.

Uruk-hai Gisarme
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +2
Pike. Bearer must be an Uruk-hai.
While bearer is skirmishing a mounted character, bearer is damage +1.
The pikes and long spears of the Uruks made up in lethality what they lacked in appearance.

Again, pretty simple concept. I'm curious as to how many horses actually see play nowadays, but still, pretty simple design, straightforward as it may be.

Uruk-hai Pike
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +1
Pike. Bearer must be an Uruk-hai. Bearer is damage +1.
While bearer is skirmishing a mounted character, bearer is strength +1.
Skirmish: Exert bearer and discard this possession to discard a mount borne by a character skirmishing this minion.

NOW I think you messed up the Pike idea. If it's supposed to work as a regular pike, like readying it against a charge, then stick with damage bonuses against mounted companions, do not swtich them around for a better weapon. Or simply put in TWO damage clauses, a regular one AND one against mounted companions. Sweetness! Don't quite see ability as being relevant, though, pretty hard to use effectively, and probably won't work very well when you DO get the random chance to use it. Not sure where to go with it, though. Perhaps making their mounts lose their game text?

[DáinIronfoot]

Tweaked the Uruk-hai Pike. No damage now, but the strength offered is potentially higher and the ability is more useful now. Better?

[FM]

Much better, yeah.

[DáinIronfoot]

Good. Thanks, man. I hope you're able to continue reviewing even when lem0n, Thran, and SoP finally return next week, as your reviews have been very insightful and helpful.

Anyway, I promised more possession stuff next time, and right now...is "next time". So here we go. Enjoy!

•Ghastly Hand of Isengard
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot an minion.
While the fellowship is at a battleground site, the twilight cost of each possession is -1.
Shadow or Skirmish: Discard this condition to play an possession from your discard pile on your Uruk-hai.
"...boiling and crawling with black shapes, some squat and broad, some tall and grim, with high helms and sable shields."

Orthanc Swordsman
Minion • Uruk-hai
Strength: 5
Vitality: 3
Site: 5
Damage +1.
This minion is strength +1 (or +2 if at a battleground site) for each possession it bears.
"...some tall and grim, with high helms and sable shields."

And to stick with the battleground theme (and the "theme", apparently )...a bonus card, since I likely won't get any new ones up during tomorrow's holiday.

•Crawled and Clambered
Condition • Support Area
Each time you play an Uruk-hai at a battleground site, if you cannot spot 4 tokens here, you may remove to add an token here.
Skirmish: Remove an token from here to make an Uruk-hai strength +2.
"They streamed down from Helm's Gate until all above the Dike was empty of them, but below it they were packed like swarming flies."

[FM]

I'll try to stick around, yeah, it's good to get the rust off by writing some reviews!

•Ghastly Hand of Isengard
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot an minion.
While the fellowship is at a battleground site, the twilight cost of each possession is -1.
"...boiling and crawling with black shapes, some squat and broad, some tall and grim, with high helms and sable shields."

I think it might be a bitt too narrow. It's unique, you see, so you won't play a lot of them in a deck and risk a hand clog. But then, you won't see it early enough in most games to matter. Perhaps you could give it a secondary ability, like discarding it from hand during a skirmish to give a bonus to a minion? Oh, make it a condition/event! So cool!

Orthanc Swordsman
Minion • Uruk-hai
Strength: 6
Vitality: 2
Site: 5
Damage +1.
This minion is strength +1 (or +2 if at a battleground site) for each possession it bears.
"...some tall and grim, with high helms and sable shields."

Pretty cool! At a battleground, you could easily "tank" him up, but I'd either raise his vitality (making it a utility minion as well, and perhaps lowering his strength a bit), or make it fierce, making him a double-edged blade, since he'd either be dead (losing both skirmishes at a low strength) or killing ("tanking" twice), and perhaps then raise his cost to . Either way, I'd make him strength 5, I think.

•Crawled and Clambered
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot an minion.
Each time you play an Uruk-hai at a battleground site, if you cannot spot 4 tokens here, you may remove to add an token here.
Skirmish: Remove an token from here to make an Uruk-hai strength +2.
"They streamed down from Helm's Gate until all above the Dike was empty of them, but below it they were packed like swarming flies."~

Seems good, but I'd lose the spotting requirement.

[MR. Lurtzy]

Good. Thanks, man. I hope you're able to continue reviewing even when lem0n, Thran, and SoP finally return next week, as your reviews have been very insightful and helpful.

Anyway, I promised more possession stuff next time, and right now...is "next time". So here we go. Enjoy!

•Ghastly Hand of Isengard
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot an minion.
While the fellowship is at a battleground site, the twilight cost of each possession is -1.
"...boiling and crawling with black shapes, some squat and broad, some tall and grim, with high helms and sable shields."
This should prolly have some other ability, like discarding to boost minions or play possesions.

Orthanc Swordsman
Minion • Uruk-hai
Strength: 6
Vitality: 2
Site: 5
Damage +1.
This minion is strength +1 (or +2 if at a battleground site) for each possession it bears.
"...some tall and grim, with high helms and sable shields."
Fierce would be a nice addition to this guy.
And to stick with the battleground theme (and the "theme", apparently )...a bonus card, since I likely won't get any new ones up during tomorrow's holiday.

•Crawled and Clambered
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot an minion.
Each time you play an Uruk-hai at a battleground site, if you cannot spot 4 tokens here, you may remove to add an token here.
Skirmish: Remove an token from here to make an Uruk-hai strength +2.
"They streamed down from Helm's Gate until all above the Dike was empty of them, but below it they were packed like swarming flies."

What FM said.

[FM]

Gee, thanks.

[Thranduil]

Orthanc Pikesman
Minion • Uruk-hai
Strength: 8
Vitality: 3
Site: 5
This minion is strength +1 if bearing a pike.
Skirmish: Exert this minion X times to wound a mounted character he is skirmishing X times.
Saruman's armies came fully prepared for battle with the horseman of Rohan.

I would make him strength +2 while bearing a pike and base strength 7.

Berserk Brute
Minion • Uruk-hai
Strength: 9
Vitality: 2
Site: 5
Damage +1. Hunter 1.
This minion is strength +1 for each wound on each character in its skirmish.
While exhausted, this minion is fierce.
Incited into a mad rage, berserkers are thrown at the enemy and carve a foothold for the army. have a few new tricks as well...like hunter.

Berserk Swordsman
Minion • Uruk-hai
Strength: 12
Vitality: 2
Site: 5
Damage +1. Enduring. Hunter 2.
To play, spot an minion.
This minion is strength +1 for each wound on each character in its skirmish.
Each time this minion wins a skirmish, you may exert a companion not assigned to a skirmish.
Berserkers of Saruman's Uruk armies are bred and armed to cause as much death as possible before their own end.

I think one of these guys should get hunter 1 for each wound on each character in its skirmish. Otherwise seem fine, though I think the second one should spot an Uruk-hai instead.

•Wave Upon Wave
Condition • Support Area
Each time you play an Uruk-hai with Berserk or Berserker in its title, you may place an token here.
Maneuver: Remove X tokens from here to play an Uruk-hai from hand; that minion's twilight cost is -X.
For every assaulter struck down or thrown from the walls, it seemed two more took its place.

This seems rather too good. I think I would make it non-unique and make the ability discard the condition.

•Defenses Swept Away
Condition • Support Area
Each time an Uruk-hai wins a skirmish, you may place an token here (or 2 tokens if that Uruk-hai has Berserk or Berserker in its title).
Regroup: Spot 2 tokens here and discard an Uruk-hai to take control of a site (or 2 sites if you can spot at least 5 tokens here). Discard this condition.
"Over the wall and under the wall the last assault came sweeping like a dark wave upon a hill of sand."

This one looks good, but how about you increase the number of tokens required so that you can decrease the twilight cost?

•Blasting Fire
Condition • Support Area
Machine.
Each time an Uruk-hai wins a skirmish, you may exert that Uruk-hai to add an token here.
Shadow or Maneuver: Discard this machine to make the Free Peoples player place X wounds on their characters, where X is the number of tokens here.
"Then there was a crash and a flash of flame and smoke."

A 'Blasting Fire' is not quite a machine but rather the result of a machine, but okay. I think it should be a regroup ability which also fits better with strategies as well as being a bit more balanced.

Crept In the Culvert
Event • Shadow
Discard an machine with X tokens on it to play an Uruk-hai; that minion's twilight cost is -X.
"...a gaping hole was blasted in the wall. A host of dark shapes poured in."

I like this one. More of this type stuff, like a skirmish pump, and I'll be very happy!

•Champion of Orthanc
Minion • Uruk-hai
Strength: 12
Vitality: 3
Site: 5
Damage +1. Fierce.
To play, spot 2 minions.
Assignment: Exert Champion of Orthanc to assign it to a companion with strength 6 or higher. The Free Peoples player may exert 2 companions (or the Ring-bearer) to assign it to another companion instead.
"‘This is no parley.'"

I would make the strength 7 or higher thereby decreasing the likelihood of this guy being too nasty against Ring-bearers. I think I would also prefer him not to be fierce so that he can't do it twice, even if that reduces his cost.

•Orthanc Commander
Minion • Uruk-hai
Strength: 10
Vitality: 3
Site: 5
Damage +1.
Maneuver: Exert Orthanc Commander to make an Uruk-hai fierce or strength +2 until the regroup phase.
"‘Do you wish to see the greatness of our army? We are the fighting Uruk-hai.'"

I think it should definitely be 'another Uruk-hai' like the original Lurtz.

Armor of Orthanc
Possession • Armor
The fellowship archery total is -1.
Response: If bearer is about to take a wound, discard this possession to prevent that wound.
"‘Their armor is thick, and their shields broad.'"

This is excellent stuff.

Remember the pikesman?

Someone carrying a pike is called a Pikeman, not a Pikesman.

Uruk-hai Gisarme
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +2
Pike. Bearer must be an Uruk-hai.
While bearer is skirmishing a mounted character, bearer is damage +1.
The pikes and long spears of the Uruks made up in lethality what they lacked in appearance.

Uruk-hai Pike
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +1
Pike. Bearer must be an Uruk-hai.
While bearer is skirmishing a mounted character, bearer is strength +2.
Skirmish: Exert bearer and discard this possession to discard an armor, shield, or mount borne by a character skirmishing this minion.

I have to say that I don't feel the need for a special pike keyword. I would have no problem with the original Pikeman getting his bonus from carrying a hand weapon instead and it just seems a bit unnecessary. Also, in warfare the pike was pretty much as deadly against infantry as cavalry. The cards themselves though I have no problem with.

•Ghastly Hand of Isengard
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot an minion.
While the fellowship is at a battleground site, the twilight cost of each possession is -1.
"...boiling and crawling with black shapes, some squat and broad, some tall and grim, with high helms and sable shields."

Sounds fun! But compared to Saruman's Ambition, it seems a bit underpowered. I would probably either give it a minor discarding ability or make it non-unique and bring the cost down to or even .

Orthanc Swordsman
Minion • Uruk-hai
Strength: 6
Vitality: 2
Site: 5
Damage +1.
This minion is strength +1 (or +2 if at a battleground site) for each possession it bears.
"...some tall and grim, with high helms and sable shields."

This one looks nice. I think I would perhaps be more likely to use him as a strength 7 card though. Or perhaps you could reduce his vitality to 1 and increase his strength to 7?

•Crawled and Clambered
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot an minion.
Each time you play an Uruk-hai at a battleground site, if you cannot spot 4 tokens here, you may remove to add an token here.
Skirmish: Remove an token from here to make an Uruk-hai strength +2.
"They streamed down from Helm's Gate until all above the Dike was empty of them, but below it they were packed like swarming flies."

I think the removing is probably unnecessary, but otherwise looks good.

Thranduil

[DáinIronfoot]

Welcome back, Thran! How was your trip?

After your massive review (and yes, you get too ), as well as FM's and Lurtzy's latest reviews, I've made several changes to the cards dating back to the Pikeman (no longer Pikesman ).

And with Thran being back and lem0n (I think) returning sometime this weekend, I'll post a slew of new cards now to take us through the long weekend and into Monday. Enjoy!

Siege Machine
Possession • Support Area
Machine. To play, spot an minion.
Shadow: Play an Uruk-hai to place an token on a machine that already has a token on it.
Response: If another machine is about to be discarded by an opponent, discard this machine to prevent that.
"Ropes with grappling hooks were hurled over the parapet...."

A very close rewrite of Siege Engine, but with some key differences. With these new machines no longer being conditions, I didn't want to make it TOO hard for the FP player to potentially discard them, so I nerfed both the Shadow and response abilities here a tiny bit. Compare to Siege Engine to see what I mean.

Heavy Timber
Possession • Support Area
Machine. To play, spot 2 minions or another machine.
Shadow: Exert an Uruk-hai to add an token here.
Skirmish: Spot X tokens here (minimum 1) and discard this machine to discard a fortification or support area possession with a twilight cost of X or less. The Free Peoples player may exert X companions to prevent this.
"Again and again the great rams swung and crashed."

Remember, the Rohirrim get several fortifications in this set, so this may not be as useless as it first appears.

War Ladder
Possession • Support Area
Machine.
Shadow: Exert an Uruk-hai to add an token here.
Skirmish: Remove X tokens here to make an Uruk-hai strength +X (limit +5). Then, if you control a site, make that minion damage +1. Discard this machine.
"...a hundred ladders were raised against the battlements."

Nothing fancy here, but hopefully helpful.

Orthanc Ballista
Possession • Support Area
Machine.
Maneuver: Exert an archer to add an token here. That minion loses archer until the regroup phase.
Archery: Remove an token from here to make the minion archery total +2. Discard an machine.
"Some found a mark. The assault on Helm's Deep had begun...."

Not much to say here. Basically turns one archery into two, but at the cost of losing the ability to spot a archer. As we'll see later, that may or may not matter depending on how you play things.

One last thing: note that I've made these machines as possessions rather than their original conditions. I figured that made more sense from a realism standpoint, and also helps keep cards like Namarie from trashing them, turning this into more of a corsair type pain in the back of the lap.

[Thranduil]

Welcome back, Thran! How was your trip?

It was not bad, very enjoyable. Though it's a little weird going to a country where the main tourist attraction is no more than ancient ruins. But don't get too used to me being here again, I'm going away on Sunday again!

Siege Engine (reprint)
Possession • Support Area
Machine.
Shadow: Play an Uruk-hai to place an token on a machine.
Response: If one or more machines are about to be discarded by an opponent, discard this machine to prevent that.
"Ropes with grappling hooks were hurled over the parapet...."

I would argue against making machines into possessions. In many ways, machines are the antithesis of fortifications, and therefore while fortifications are conditions machine possessions don't sit comfortably with me.

Heavy Timber
Possession • Support Area
Machine. To play, spot 2 minions and another machine.
Shadow: Exert an Uruk-hai to add an token here.
Skirmish: Spot X tokens here (minimum 1) and discard this machine to discard a fortification or support area possession with a twilight cost of X or less. The Free Peoples player may exert X companions to prevent this.
"Again and again the great rams swung and crashed."

You could definitely take the spotting requirement down anyway to 1 minion and no machine, or just 1 machine.

War Ladder
Possession • Support Area
Machine.
Shadow: Exert an Uruk-hai to add an token here.
Skirmish: Remove X tokens here to make an Uruk-hai strength +X (limit +5). Discard this machine.
"...a hundred ladders were raised against the battlements."

Looks good. Maybe 'and damage +1 if you control a site/at a battleground...' or something.

Orthanc Ballista
Possession • Support Area
Machine.
Maneuver: Exert an archer and make that minion lose archer until the regroup phase to add an token here.
Archery: Remove an token from here to make the minion archery total +2. Discard an machine.
"Some found a mark. The assault on Helm's Deep had begun...."

This one's quite interesting. Are there any Uruk Crossbowmen types with more than 2 vitality? If so, it makes this card exceedingly interesting. I think perhaps you should have the option to discard an Uruk-hai to keep it in play?

Thranduil