The Way Into Mordor - Shire (9/30: Well-earned Comfort & Wonderful Folk)

[Thranduil]

its not bad is very good...

Hence the title... :hey:

Thranduil

[BattleWarg]

It's Not Bad
Event • Maneuver or Regroup
Spot Sam to heal a Ring-bound companion (and remove a burden if Sam has resistance 7 or more).
"‘Nothing ever dampens your spirits, does it Sam?'"

I like it.  Interesting that it allows Sam to be more effective at burden removal when there aren't many there.  It makes sense and allows for burden-heavy shadows to overpower It's Not Bad.

•You Have To Fight It!
Condition
Resistance +1
To play, exert Sam. Bearer must be the Ring-bearer.
Skirmish: Discard this condition to take off The One Ring.
"‘Mr. Frodo! It's alright. I'm here.'"

So...  Resistance O Elbereth Gilthoniel! (that requires Sam to exert...).  Makes great sense with Frodo RB, some with Sam RB, oddly enough Smeagol RB - others...  well not quite enough make sense for them, so it's reasonable.

•Worth Fighting For
Condition • Support Area
Tale. While you can spot Sam, each companion is resistance +1.
Regroup: Exert Sam and discard this condition to remove a burden (or 3 burdens if you cannot spot a twilight token).
"‘But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when he sun shines it will shine out the clearer.'"

This... could be an interesting one to build around...
They do have the warning that you get a massive bonus if there aren't any twilight tokens.  I think it's good, though if you wanted to tone done the ability, I could see it as a start of regroup effect.  Still, I think it's prevented from being overpowering by the fact the Shadow player has the warning.

[DáinIronfoot]

Glad that last batch was popular. ALSO very glad that the fact that I haven't been able to get in all day until now seems to be the result of some server troubles rather than additional blocks being put up. Whew!

Since things are still slow and could potentially go down again, I'm going to just post these without much comment. All I'll say is that I realized I hadn't done anything with Frodo signets in this set yet (and not much with some of the other signets, which I'll have to go back and fix), so that led to today's cards. Enjoy!

See Here!
Event • Skirmish
Spot Frodo to make a minion skirmishing a companion with the Frodo signet strength -2 (or add a burden to make that minion -4 instead).
"‘Begging your pardon, Mr. Frodo, but this has gone on long enough. He's no right to talk to you so.'"

I had toyed with -2/-3 or perhaps -2/-4, but ended up upping the ante a bit.

Good and True
Event • Fellowship
Reveal the bottom X cards of your draw deck, where X is the number of Frodo signets you can spot. Place each Free Peoples card revealed this way on top of your draw deck in order and return the rest in any order.
"‘...there is something strange about you, Frodo...an elvish air, maybe.'"

An elvish air indeed. Seems like a very -ish ability, but it's perfectly in line with some cards from my sets AND Decipher's (including another Frodo signet card that this happens to pair quite nicely with: Dear Friends). This also ties in with a handful of cards (from the culture, especially) in this set that put cards under your deck. A yet-to-be-spoiled pipeweed will also work quite well with this.

[Thranduil]

I'd prefer the first at -2/-4, but it's a solid card.

The second one seems a little bit bad. Or perhaps you've worded it incorrectly? Do you mean to take the Free Peoples cards into hand?

Thranduil

[DáinIronfoot]

I'd prefer the first at -2/-4, but it's a solid card.

Like I said, I went back and forth (and forth and back) on the numbers. I'd be happy going to -2/-4, but I'll hold off on another review or two first.

The second one seems a little bit bad. Or perhaps you've worded it incorrectly? Do you mean to take the Free Peoples cards into hand?

Weeeell...I had considered it, but I thought that might be too good, seeing as how you could have 7, 8, even 9 cards being manipulated here. But if you think it's too weak as is, I'm certainly open to something like that. Perhaps take all FP cards into hand and shuffle the rest into the deck, or place them on top of the deck? I dunno...you tell me. My brain's already begun the long weekend.

[FM]

I think a variation of Servant of the Secret Fire (one of the msot powerful skirmish events) that is actually BETTER most of the time (you can pack the appropriate Ring-bearer and that's it, no need for Gandy at all) might be a bit too much. But, then again, there's nothing that says a card CAN'T be surpassed by another one, I just think this would pretty much kill SotSF in any deck with non-alternate Ring-bearers. I'd cut the resistance part and trade the bigger bonus for adding a burden instead (do not reward their ring-bearer for "not playing against corruption").
I think the second one is fine as it is, take a look at a MtG card called Congregation at Dawn (and keep in mind MtG has a draw ratio of 1 card a turn). It was VASTLY played when it was Standard legal, and very similar.

[DáinIronfoot]

I like that burden idea, FM. Consider it done. I also dropped it to -2/-4, since you both think -3 is too good. (And I'm inclined to agree, upon further consideration.)

[Thranduil]

Weeeell...I had considered it, but I thought that might be too good, seeing as how you could have 7, 8, even 9 cards being manipulated here. But if you think it's too weak as is, I'm certainly open to something like that. Perhaps take all FP cards into hand and shuffle the rest into the deck, or place them on top of the deck? I dunno...you tell me. My brain's already begun the long weekend.

Sorry, completely misread the card! I thought you looked at the top X cards of your draw deck! I think it's fine then.

Thranduil

[DáinIronfoot]

Ugh. I've had a headache for almost 24 hours now, so my brain is shot right now. I wanted to put off these guys for a while, but since I simply have no brain power to create new cards, I'm going to post them earlier than I intended. I don't want to keep you guys waiting forever for new cards.

So, here are the second versions of Frodo and Sam. As you'll see, these are meant to work more with companions from cultures other than and (unlike their first versions at the beginning of this thread), but they're still more than serviceable in that role too. Enjoy!

•Frodo, Little Stranger
Companion • Hobbit
Strength: 3
Vitality: 4
Ringed Resistance: 10
Ring-bearer. Ring-bound.
Fellowship: Play a companion whose race you cannot spot to heal Frodo or remove a burden.
Skirmish: Exert Frodo and add a burden to make a roaming minion strength -1.
"And here he was a little halfling from the Shire, a simple hobbit of the quiet countryside expected to find a way where the great ones could not go, or dared not go."

If I understand it right, the first line will NOT work with Smeagol, since he has no race to spot...so no easy burden/threat removal with the discarding-and-replaying Smeagol strategy. It WILL, however, work with rangers, which (if you recall) have a few stealth cards of their own that take them back into hand to be replayed later. Yes, I had that in mind all along.

•Sam, Worthy Halfling
Companion • Hobbit
Strength: 3
Vitality: 4
Signet: Aragorn
Ring-bound.
While you can spot a Ring-bound ranger, Sam cannot be overwhelmed unless his strength is tripled.
Each time the fellowship moves during the regroup phase, you may exert Sam to heal another Ring-bound companion.
Response: If Frodo is killed, make Sam the Ring-bearer (resistance 5).
"‘The Shire must truly be a great realm, Master Gamgee, where gardeners are held in high honor.'"

His synergy with rangers is a little more obvious. But the "each time the fellowship moves" ability makes him just fine in plenty of other decks, too.

[Aragorn_Ellessar]

•Frodo, Little Stranger
Companion • Hobbit
Strength: 3
Vitality: 4
Ringed Resistance: 10
Ring-bearer. Ring-bound.
Each time you play a companion whose race you cannot spot, you may heal Frodo or remove a burden.
Skirmish: Exert Frodo twice to make another companion strength +2 (or +3 if that companion is Ring-bound).
"And here he was a little halfling from the Shire, a simple hobbit of the quiet countryside expected to find a way where the great ones could not go, or dared not go."

Maybe change the first line to...Each time you play a Ring-bound companion...

•Sam, Worthy Halfling
Companion • Hobbit
Strength: 3
Vitality: 4
Signet: Aragorn
Ring-bound.
While you can spot a Ring-bound ranger, Sam cannot be overwhelmed unless his strength is tripled.
Each time the fellowship moves during the regroup phase, you may exert Sam to heal another Ring-bound companion (and remove a burden if you can spot a roaming minion).
Response: If Frodo is killed, make Sam the Ring-bearer (resistance 5).
"‘The Shire must truly be a great realm, Master Gamgee, where gardeners are held in high honor.'"

I like this one

His synergy with rangers is a little more obvious. But the "each time the fellowship moves" ability makes him just fine in plenty of other decks, too.

[FM]

•Frodo, Little Stranger
Companion • Hobbit
Strength: 3
Vitality: 4
Ringed Resistance: 10
Ring-bearer. Ring-bound.
Each time you play a companion whose race you cannot spot, you may heal Frodo or remove a burden.
Skirmish: Exert Frodo twice to make another companion strength +2 (or +3 if that companion is Ring-bound).
"And here he was a little halfling from the Shire, a simple hobbit of the quiet countryside expected to find a way where the great ones could not go, or dared not go."

More than that, it'll work with starting fellowships, meaning a rainbow deck can simply start with 2 "free" burdens to bid (and nab a Ranger through The Prancing Pony "for free" if they are playing Three Hunters or whatever. I'd make it a fellowship action to prevent such abuse.

•Sam, Worthy Halfling
Companion • Hobbit
Strength: 3
Vitality: 4
Signet: Aragorn
Ring-bound.
While you can spot a Ring-bound ranger, Sam cannot be overwhelmed unless his strength is tripled.
Each time the fellowship moves during the regroup phase, you may exert Sam to heal another Ring-bound companion (and remove a burden if you can spot a roaming minion).
Response: If Frodo is killed, make Sam the Ring-bearer (resistance 5).
"‘The Shire must truly be a great realm, Master Gamgee, where gardeners are held in high honor.'"

He seems awesome, I'd make a hybrid A Promise deck with Ring-Bound rangers just for him.

[Thranduil]

•Frodo, Little Stranger
Companion • Hobbit
Strength: 3
Vitality: 4
Ringed Resistance: 10
Ring-bearer. Ring-bound.
Each time you play a companion whose race you cannot spot, you may heal Frodo or remove a burden.
Skirmish: Exert Frodo twice to make another companion strength +2 (or +3 if that companion is Ring-bound).
"And here he was a little halfling from the Shire, a simple hobbit of the quiet countryside expected to find a way where the great ones could not go, or dared not go."

Yep, FM is right - you should sort that out. I really don't think he needs the second ability though: the first one already makes him very appealing and powerful to me (any RB with built-in burden removal seems very solid to me), an built-in strength pump just seems seriously over the top.

•Sam, Worthy Halfling
Companion • Hobbit
Strength: 3
Vitality: 4
Signet: Aragorn
Ring-bound.
While you can spot a Ring-bound ranger, Sam cannot be overwhelmed unless his strength is tripled.
Each time the fellowship moves during the regroup phase, you may exert Sam to heal another Ring-bound companion (and remove a burden if you can spot a roaming minion).
Response: If Frodo is killed, make Sam the Ring-bearer (resistance 5).
"‘The Shire must truly be a great realm, Master Gamgee, where gardeners are held in high honor.'"

I know you like parentheses and abilities that can do 2 things, but I honestly think it is unnecessary in this case, and it means you are running out of room on the card. I think an ability like "Each time the fellowship moves during the regroup phase, you may heal another Ring-bound companion" seems really strong and really simple, and I don't see why he would need anything else. FM is right again - this concept looks like it makes some fun decks, so kudos on that!

Thranduil

[sickofpalantirs]

Thran and FM are all over these.

[DáinIronfoot]

Tweaked the cards a bit. I'm reluctant to drop the second ability from Frodo...so I changed it a bit. I think the new cost helps balance out the whole card and actually makes more sense story-wise. Better?

[Foresight]

Ugh. I've had a headache for almost 24 hours now, so my brain is shot right now. I wanted to put off these guys for a while, but since I simply have no brain power to create new cards, I'm going to post them earlier than I intended. I don't want to keep you guys waiting forever for new cards.

So, here are the second versions of Frodo and Sam. As you'll see, these are meant to work more with companions from cultures other than and (unlike their first versions at the beginning of this thread), but they're still more than serviceable in that role too. Enjoy!

Advil is your best friend!   Always seems to erase my headache problems.  Hmm, sounds like these two might steward a 9 walkers strategy.  Time to see!

•Frodo, Little Stranger
Companion • Hobbit
Strength: 3
Vitality: 4
Ringed Resistance: 10
Ring-bearer. Ring-bound.
Fellowship: Play a companion whose race you cannot spot to heal Frodo or remove a burden.
Skirmish: Exert Frodo and add a burden to make another companion strength +2 (or +3 if that companion is Ring-bound).
"And here he was a little halfling from the Shire, a simple hobbit of the quiet countryside expected to find a way where the great ones could not go, or dared not go."

If I understand it right, the first line will NOT work with Smeagol, since he has no race to spot...so no easy burden/threat removal with the discarding-and-replaying Smeagol strategy. It WILL, however, work with rangers, which (if you recall) have a few stealth cards of their own that take them back into hand to be replayed later. Yes, I had that in mind all along.

Hmm...maybe it's just my opinion but a burden and exertion for essentially a 0 cost universal skirmish event just doesn't balance.  Frodo (as does most hobbits) has a 4 vitality, and if you combine any vitality +2 ring with him you'll have an extra 2 exertions to toy with.  His 10 resistance gives you a lot of leeway with adding burdens.  If used with the pippin engine, this could get very sickening.  I would say Dain, to make it +1 instead of +2 just to make you work harder to bump any companion up.

•Sam, Worthy Halfling
Companion • Hobbit
Strength: 3
Vitality: 4
Signet: Aragorn
Ring-bound.
While you can spot a Ring-bound ranger, Sam cannot be overwhelmed unless his strength is tripled.
Each time the fellowship moves during the regroup phase, you may exert Sam to heal another Ring-bound companion.
Response: If Frodo is killed, make Sam the Ring-bearer (resistance 5).
"‘The Shire must truly be a great realm, Master Gamgee, where gardeners are held in high honor.'"

His synergy with rangers is a little more obvious. But the "each time the fellowship moves" ability makes him just fine in plenty of other decks, too.

Like this one!