general pondering

[jdizzy001]

I was thinking about the companions from age's end.  I really thought they were pretty cool. especially WTG.  In fact when i bought the set, I built deck after deck of aragorn defender.  However, after obtaining a copy of thorongil, and comparing the two, I've come to the conclusion that the text of WTG should not be ring bearer conditional, at least not all of it.  I think his subtitle should be valiant guide, (in honor of the card valliant man of the west) and his text should be activate at all times.  But, if decipher were to do that, he should not be an archer, or the archer portion should be conditional.  What do you think?

[ket_the_jet]

Ages End is just another example of a group of people who have a lost product trying to get a few more dollars before the product is dissolved.
-wtk

[Kralik]

And then there's Aragorn, Heir of Elendil.

[jdizzy001]

The only reason I think it should be active at all times is because it is the last set.  Heck the last star wars set was WAY over powered, why not LOTR?  Besides aragorn is the best, he should be OP

[MR. Lurtzy]

It really depends on what deck you're putting him in.

[Malachi]

Well, some Aragorns are perfect splash companions, other can work only in a specific deck. WTG is definitely not the worst.

Ranger of the North - the defender bonus ability is nice, but not always useful. A Ranger, which is definitely good in Fellowship block.
King in Exile - the healing ability is nice, but requires a specific choice of companions. Ranger.
Heir to the White City - Ranger and removes per move! Definitely the best splash Aragorn in FOTR block, so good that he had to be banned in subsequent formats.
Heir of Elendil - permanent defender +1, no Ranger, which is prerogative of Faramir's company in Tower block. Not great, but he can still bear the bow and fits nicely in movie block Elven archery deck.
Wingfoot - potentially killer ability, but requires a full deck to be build around it.
Defender of Free Peoples - token manipulator, works great in TTT rainbow token decks.
Captain of Gondor - a knight with a nice healing ability, that finds place in every post-TTT knight deck, especially with Isildur as RB.
Driven by need - threat manipulator, who only works in specific decks (usually Wraiths).
Elessar Telcontar - more expensive, but a strong companion with healing potential. Perfect splash for a rainbow movie deck.
Guide and Protector - very difficult to put his limited ability to some use. One of the two worst versions of Aragorn, which never sees play other than in draft. Ranger.
Strider - he can be started for a mere or even using Faramir, Captain of Gondor, which can be very powerful. Adding per move has its drawbacks though.
Isildur's Heir - does wonders in token decks.
Swift Hunter - Hunter with a nice ability, who, however, is completely overshadowed by the next version. Second worst version which never seems non-draft play.
Thorongil - the best version of Aragorn for Standard or Expanded. A Hunter, basic strength 10 except against Uruks, and he has a wounding ability, even more boosted by his bow.
Defender of Rohan - the only cross-cultured companion, he is best in the fighting RB Rohan deck, but can be splashed into any other one. However, there aren't as many Rohan decks out there these days.
Heir to the Throne of Gondor - Hunter, high strength, defender bonuses. Usually is used in Aragorn-Smeagol-Frodo or similar choking decks.
Well-Traveled Guide - has its potential when paired with RB Boromir or Faramir. The choke decks, however, are difficult to get to use.

That said, even though WTG is not the star of Thorongil's size, he has his uses, just like most other versions out there.

[jdizzy001]

Next pondering.  Why is skeptic guides text as it stands?  Why not reflect the new aragorn's bow?  Add a threat to wound the weakest minion.  This would have more accurately reflected the bowyer abilities of the archer from mirkwood.

[Elrohir]

I think Skeptical Guide 's Abiltiy is great - and he is the best Legolas ever, as he has resistance 7. Otherwise, I would vote for of the grey company.

To wound any minion is far better than to wound just the weakest, I think. But it depends on the decks.

But who knows what Lady of the Mark is good for?  I do not.

[Elessar's Socks]

I think Skeptical Guide's ability is too costly at 2 threats, but it'd be ridiculous at 1 threat. He just maxes out too fast compared to guys like Rumil SE and Orophin SE. Personal favorites in archery/wounding is Legolas WE (with LoI) or Legolas OtWR (for the extra hunter).

But his hair is shiny. Very shiny.

[Elessar's Socks]

Sure. Not saying he should be tossed in every archery deck, but Woodland Emissary has some good things going for him:

- He becomes an archer soon enough with the deck packing Elven Bow x4, Legolas' Bow, and Dinendal MA. Sometimes I draw more bows than there are available companions, so he's one more (useful) place to park one as well.

- His ability is "At the start of the archery phase," which is great. The FP player gets the first archery action so the combination is enough to kill minions like Gorgoroth Servitor before they can use their own abilities. Likewise, "At the start" can also make Rumil SE gain archer without using up resources.

- His ability doesn't require that he himself exert (leaving extra vitality for Nocked) or add threats (so no conflict with the Silvan Elves).

- The exertion can get past cards like Easterling Polearm, for example to limit who's in danger of getting hit by Red Wrath.

[Anautikus]

Woodland Emissary + Unheeded

[jdizzy001]

lego WE is a great companion. The down side is that he is nearly as situational as WTG.  WE is one of my favorite legolas cards