"The beacons are lit!" (9/2: "A summons long expected, and yet dreadful....")

[Thranduil]

I'm not sure what I think about the first line of the Beacon of Halifrien - I'm not getting the flavour... As I usually end up complaining about, this card seems to have too much going on, and I really don't understand why you only shuffle your deck after playing a card - you see your entire draw deck, and leaves the game open to cheating!

Thranduil

[DáinIronfoot]

Changed Halifirien to reshuffling regardless of culture.

What if I just dropped the line about threats and drawing? Less complicated then?

[Thranduil]

Very much so! As we know, I'm a big fan of most cards doing 1 thing!

Thranduil

[DáinIronfoot]

Done. I also made a major change to how Beacon of Halifirien is played AND how it works, so check it out. It's like a whole new card!

Basically, it only requires spotting three beacons to play now; I justify this story-wise because originally there WERE only three beacons (Amon Dîn, Eilenach, and Min-Rimmon), and except in dire emergency (like during the Siege of Gondor), only three other beacons were typically lit (Amon Dîn, Eilenach, and Nardol, while the smaller ones like Erelas and Calenhad were not bothered with). Gameplay-wise...well, I think it's obvious to everyone why I decided to make the switch.

But there's a new cost that still encourages using all the beacons: you add twilight whenever you move unless you CAN spot all seven. The less beacons you have in play, the more twilight you have to toss out. I thought about making it start at and go backwards by for each beacon instead of the current / ...what do you think, guys?

[Thranduil]

I think it's fine, but it's worth noting that for gameplay it no longer needs to spot any beacons to play.

Thranduil

[DáinIronfoot]

I think it's fine, but it's worth noting that for gameplay it no longer needs to spot any beacons to play.

Huh? Maybe it's just the late hour, but I'm pretty sure it requires no less than three beacons to play....

Anyway, time for some long-overdue support cards. And since we're up REALLY late packing for a little vacation (leaving sometime tomorrow and returning Wednesday), I may as well get them up now. Enjoy!

•Beacons Alight
Condition • Support Area
When you play this condition, add a token here for each beacon you can spot.
Skirmish: Remove a token from here or discard this condition to make a minion skirmishing an unbound Man lose a game text keyword until the end of that skirmish.
"‘See, there is the fire on Amon Dîn, and flame on Eilenach; and there they go speeding west: Nardol, Erelas, Min-Rimmon, Calenhad, and the Halifirien on the borders of Rohan.'"

As I've mentioned before, I am very conscious of how a beacon-heavy deck could make it difficult to use other support cards. So I've decided to make all-new support cards that use those beacons...and mostly ones in the form of conditions, so you can play them and not have your hand any further clogged with events and such.

This one obviously helps with skirmishing, helping to keep nasty keywords like damage and fierce from ruining your day. There will be others shortly that more directly help with skirmishes.

•Call For Aid
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot a Man and a Man.
While the fellowship is at site X and you can spot X beacons, the move limit is +1.
"...mile by mile the long road wound away, and the beacon hills marched past: Calenhad, Min-Rimmon, Erelas, Nardol."

I think, if I end up keeping this, I'll go back and change Beacon of Eilenach to something else. So, with that in mind, does this work? Does it make sense, at least?

Red Fire
Event • Skirmish
Make a or companion strength +1 for each beacon you can spot.
"‘For I saw the beacons last night and the errand-riders...it was a sign that war had begun.'"

Okay, I had to toss in ONE event. This was just too good to pass up.

•War Is Kindled
Condition • Support Area
While you can spot 2 beacons, each Free Peoples Man is resistance +1.
While you can spot 4 beacons, each Free Peoples Man is strength +1.
While you can spot 6 beacons, each Free Peoples Man cannot be overwhelmed unless his or her strength is tripled.
"‘The beacons of Gondor are alight, calling for aid.'"

And now here's a condition that gets better and better the more beacons you have. Obviously the last line is the real killer, but the others ain't bad for decks that don't quite get that many beacons out. Or does it need a little more oomph?

[Beregond25]

Red Fire is a Condition and way too good for that.
Did you mean to make it an event

[DáinIronfoot]

Red Fire is a Condition and way too good for that.
Did you mean to make it an event

Yes. Yes I did.

[Thranduil]

I think it's fine, but it's worth noting that for gameplay it no longer needs to spot any beacons to play.

Huh? Maybe it's just the late hour, but I'm pretty sure it requires no less than three beacons to play....

No, not what I meant. I mean for balance reasons, it no longer needs any spotting requirement - I wouldn't use it without a good number of beacons to start with.

•Beacons Alight
Condition • Support Area
When you play this condition, add a token here for each beacon you can spot.
Skirmish: Remove a token from here or discard this condition to make a minion skirmishing an unbound Man lose a game text keyword until the end of that skirmish.
"‘See, there is the fire on Amon Dîn, and flame on Eilenach; and there they go speeding west: Nardol, Erelas, Min-Rimmon, Calenhad, and the Halifirien on the borders of Rohan.'"

To be honest, I think it might as well remove all game text keywords. And/or make it non-unique.

•Call For Aid
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot a Man and a Man.
While the fellowship is at site X and you can spot X beacons, the move limit is +1.
"...mile by mile the long road wound away, and the beacon hills marched past: Calenhad, Min-Rimmon, Erelas, Nardol."

I love this! Very swish. I would not have a spotting requirement, but instead "While you can spot a Man and a Man and the fellowship is at site X..." Do you need to say "any site X"?

Red Fire
Event • Skirmish
Make a or companion strength +1 for each beacon you can spot.
"‘For I saw the beacons last night and the errand-riders...it was a sign that war had begun.'"

Nothin' wrong. Could be .

•War Is Kindled
Condition • Support Area
While you can spot 2 beacons, each Free Peoples Man is resistance +1.
While you can spot 4 beacons, each Free Peoples Man is strength +1.
While you can spot 6 beacons, each Free Peoples Man cannot be overwhelmed unless his or her strength is tripled.
"‘The beacons of Gondor are alight, calling for aid.'"

Nice. Interesting to help the Woses as well. Though surely the last one should be for 7 beacons? And it doesn't really need to be unique. If it weren't, then I can see a beacon strategy working quite nicely.

Thranduil

[menace64]

•Beacons Alight
Condition • Support Area
When you play this condition, add a token here for each beacon you can spot.
Skirmish: Remove a token from here or discard this condition to make a minion skirmishing an unbound Man lose a game text keyword until the end of that skirmish.
"‘See, there is the fire on Amon Dîn, and flame on Eilenach; and there they go speeding west: Nardol, Erelas, Min-Rimmon, Calenhad, and the Halifirien on the borders of Rohan.'"

It's an interesting concept, and I can't see anything wrong with it. has such a limited selection of mechanics that adding this to its repertoire certainly wouldn't hurt.

A quick thought: this kind of deck - based almost entirely on artifacts and conditions, seemingly - would need some good condition protection. I'd consider writing a card that gets tokens like Beacons Alight does, and then removes its tokens to prevent conditions from being burned.

•Call For Aid
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot a Man and a Man.
While the fellowship is at site X and you can spot X beacons, the move limit is +1.
"...mile by mile the long road wound away, and the beacon hills marched past: Calenhad, Min-Rimmon, Erelas, Nardol."

Yes, it makes sense. I'm on the fence though. One part of me wants to say "change the cost to " and the other wants to say "it needs to exert both of those Men." And I have no idea which side is right lol. Bring this card up again towards the end of your spoilings and we'll see if my mind has settled.

Red Fire
Event • Skirmish
Make a or companion strength +1 for each beacon you can spot.
"‘For I saw the beacons last night and the errand-riders...it was a sign that war had begun.'"

As opposed to... green fire?

It's boring. But that alone can't kill a card. I don't have a problem with it.

•War Is Kindled
Condition • Support Area
While you can spot 2 beacons, each Free Peoples Man is resistance +1.
While you can spot 4 beacons, each Free Peoples Man is strength +1.
While you can spot 6 beacons, each Free Peoples Man cannot be overwhelmed unless his or her strength is tripled.
"‘The beacons of Gondor are alight, calling for aid.'"

No more oomph required. But allow me to offer you an alternative:

While you can spot 4 beacons, each Free Peoples Man is strength +1.
While you can spot 6 beacons, each Free Peoples Man cannot be overwhelmed unless his or her strength is tripled.
While you can spot a Shadow beacon, each Free Peoples Man is resistance -1.

That makes it feel more like war to me. Your move, dwarf!

[sickofpalantirs]

I think it's fine, but it's worth noting that for gameplay it no longer needs to spot any beacons to play.

Huh? Maybe it's just the late hour, but I'm pretty sure it requires no less than three beacons to play....

Anyway, time for some long-overdue support cards. And since we're up REALLY late packing for a little vacation (leaving sometime tomorrow and returning Wednesday), I may as well get them up now. Enjoy!

•Beacons Alight
Condition • Support Area
When you play this condition, add a token here for each beacon you can spot.
Skirmish: Remove a token from here or discard this condition to make a minion skirmishing an unbound Man lose a game text keyword until the end of that skirmish.
"‘See, there is the fire on Amon Dîn, and flame on Eilenach; and there they go speeding west: Nardol, Erelas, Min-Rimmon, Calenhad, and the Halifirien on the borders of Rohan.'"
fine.  though with all the token reinforcing gondor has, you pretty much just need one beacon and your set....should be fine though.

•Call For Aid
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot a Man and a Man.
While the fellowship is at site X and you can spot X beacons, the move limit is +1.
"...mile by mile the long road wound away, and the beacon hills marched past: Calenhad, Min-Rimmon, Erelas, Nardol."
fine.

Red Fire
Event • Skirmish
Make a or companion strength +1 for each beacon you can spot.
"‘For I saw the beacons last night and the errand-riders...it was a sign that war had begun.'"
I honestly think 1 cost could be fine.

•War Is Kindled
Condition • Support Area
While you can spot 2 beacons, each Free Peoples Man is resistance +1.
While you can spot 4 beacons, each Free Peoples Man is strength +1.
While you can spot 6 beacons, each Free Peoples Man cannot be overwhelmed unless his or her strength is tripled.
"‘The beacons of Gondor are alight, calling for aid.'"

blanket bonuses, balanced by its condition form.  its fine.

[DáinIronfoot]

We are long overdue for more cards. Unfortunately, I've gone off on a tangent in my DC design: been working on and cards revolving around the scouring of the Shire recently. I might make that my next little side trip after this thread is done, but for now, let's get back to the business at hand.

Today we switch gears a little and look at the side of things. Yes, has already been tied in that last batch and the Beacon of Halifirien. But they have their own cards to play with as part of this overall strategy, too...and they also bring their own artifact to the party. Enjoy!

•The Red Arrow, Token of War
Artifact • Arrow
Plays to your support area.
Maneuver: Exert an unbound companion twice (or once if he or she has resistance 6 or more) to play a valiant companion from your draw deck. Discard a or artifact.
"In his hand he bore a single arrow, black-feathered and barbed with steel, but the point was painted red."

As I've said elsewhere recently, I've never been a big fan of the current version of The Red Arrow. It has its uses, yes, and the general premise of its text--using to pull some stuff--is spot on. But it seems rather boring for a card that should have great impact in tying those two cultures together. This new version does something far more powerful: pulling Rohirrim from your deck! But it also has a steeper cost, as you must then discard an artifact (like Token of War itself or, I don't know, a beacon? ). Still, I see this having a lot more use than the old one, personally. Hopefully you do too.

These next couple really speak for themselves, so I'll just post them and let you form your own thoughts on them.

•Gondor Still Has Friends
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot a beacon or The Red Arrow.
Each time a Man is played, he or she is strength +1 for each Man you can spot until the regroup phase.
Each time a Man is played, he or she is strength +1 for each Man you can spot until the regroup phase.
"‘You are not alone in this fight. Send word to Théoden of Rohan. Light the beacons.'"

With All Strength and Speed
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot a beacon or The Red Arrow.
At the start of the maneuver phase, you may exert a Man to play a or possession from your draw deck.
"‘If the beacons of Gondor are lit, Rohan must be ready for war.'"

[Thranduil]

•The Red Arrow, Token of War
Artifact • Arrow
Plays to your support area.
Maneuver: Exert an unbound companion twice (or once if he or she has resistance 6 or more) to play a valiant companion from your draw deck. Discard a or artifact.
"In his hand he bore a single arrow, black-feathered and barbed with steel, but the point was painted red."

Obviously the principle is fine, but I have a couple of mechanical problems with this card. You know I don't like parentheses, and there seems to be quite a lot of useless text going around. Why does it have to be unbound? Why does it have to be valiant? And why does the Red Arrow discard artifacts? These things don't make any sense to me. I would go for something like:

To play, spot a and card.
Maneuver: Exert a companion twice to play a companion from your draw deck.

Simple, easy, awesome, fine. I just feel like it's very cluttered.

•Gondor Still Has Friends
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot a beacon or The Red Arrow.
Each time a Man is played, he or she is strength +1 for each Man you can spot until the regroup phase.
Each time a Man is played, he or she is strength +1 for each Man you can spot until the regroup phase.
"‘You are not alone in this fight. Send word to Théoden of Rohan. Light the beacons.'"

Good stuff. I'm not sure it needs that spotting requirement, however. Obviously this card is simply much better with beacons and the Red Arrow (you can play guys after the moves).

With All Strength and Speed
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot a beacon or The Red Arrow.
At the start of the maneuver phase, you may exert a Man to play a or possession from your draw deck.
"‘If the beacons of Gondor are lit, Rohan must be ready for war.'"

I would make this a maneuver event, with the text: "Play a or possession from your draw deck" and costing less, so that it becomes like a Simbelmyne for HiDaN decks. As a condition, it just seems a bit too game-impacting and expensive, and I'm not a fan of the spotting requirement here either - it makes deck-building too hard, I think.

Thranduil

[lem0nhead]

•The Red Arrow, Token of War
Artifact • Arrow
Plays to your support area.
Maneuver: Exert an unbound companion twice (or once if he or she has resistance 6 or more) to play a valiant companion from your draw deck. Discard a or artifact.
"In his hand he bore a single arrow, black-feathered and barbed with steel, but the point was painted red."

Why is it an artifact arrow?; so completely devoid of use even if it is one! Seems fairly powerful, i think id have to do away with tradition of 0 cost to allow this.

•Gondor Still Has Friends
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot a beacon or The Red Arrow.
Each time a Man is played, he or she is strength +1 for each Man you can spot until the regroup phase.
Each time a Man is played, he or she is strength +1 for each Man you can spot until the regroup phase.
"‘You are not alone in this fight. Send word to Théoden of Rohan. Light the beacons.'"

Sweeeeeet i likey muchly.

With All Strength and Speed
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot a beacon or The Red Arrow.
At the start of the maneuver phase, you may exert a Man to play a or possession from your draw deck.
"‘If the beacons of Gondor are lit, Rohan must be ready for war.'"

Strong card.