The Way Into Mordor - Dwarves (7/18: Warfare That Suits a Dwarf)

[DáinIronfoot]

Alright, in the (now locked) poll I conducted about which FP culture you all wanted next, it looks like and tied. However, since one of the votes was my own , we'll be doing...Dwarves!

Actually, just one Dwarf. (Probably.) And here he is! Gee, can you guess who it might be?

As with the original Towers block (and King block, for that matter), the entire culture in this set revolves around Gimli. That doesn't mean it's a weak or even necessarily small culture, though! Underestimate Gimli, and like his many victims, you'll pay the price for it. He can more than hold his own, and while some of his stuff works best with other Dwarves around, most of it is very easy to toss in with other cultures, and several cards will specifically tie in with others like , , , and others. He's like a hired hitman, and a very good one at that.

Enjoy!

•Gimli, Stout and Strong
Companion • Dwarf
Strength: 6
Vitality: 3
Signet: Thorin
Valiant. Damage +1.
Skirmish: If Gimli is not assigned to a skirmish, exert him to have him replace a companion (except the Ring-bearer) in a skirmish. Gimli gains hunter 2 (or hunter 3 if the companion replaced is valiant or a Dwarf) until the end of that skirmish.
"‘Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!'"

Fun fact: this is one the this set's two "starters", just like most Big D sets have two (Aragorn and Théoden for The Two Towers, Éowyn and Legolas for The Battle of Helm's Deep, and Faramir and The Witch-king for Ents of Fangorn, for examples). Anyway, this is the non-hunter version (even though he can technically BECOME a hunter); Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli each have one "Three Hunters"-style hunter version and one Helm's Deep warrior version. This is the latter.

And he's pretty versatile. His ability works no matter what kind of deck you toss him (no pun intended ) into, but he's especially good with the Rohirrim (thanks to his valiant) and Dwarves (thanks to his signet). But what deck CAN'T benefit from a potential 9-strength damage +1 companion that can hop from skirmish to skirmish, eh?

•Gimli's Battle Axe, Restless Weapon
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +2
Bearer must be a Dwarf. Bearer is damage +1.
If bearer is Gimli, each time he wins a fierce skirmish, you may heal him.
Skirmish: Exert bearer and play a skirmish event with a twilight cost of to make bearer strength +X.
"‘My axe is restless in my hands.'"

And here's the axe he pulls out in large-scale battles, such as at Helm's Deep. The healing obviously pairs nicely with Gimli's ability, or with the skirmish ability on THIS card.

[Thranduil]

•Gimli, Stout and Strong
Companion • Dwarf
Strength: 6
Vitality: 3
Signet: Thorin
Valiant. Damage +1.
Skirmish: If Gimli is not assigned to a skirmish, exert him to have him replace a companion (except the Ring-bearer) in a skirmish. Gimli gains hunter 3 until the end of that skirmish.
"‘Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!'"

Seems perhaps too versatile. I think I would reduce the hunter to 2 or specify him for a specific deck build with a spotting requirement (like some Men or Legolas or something). In fact, I think I might make his signet Théoden instead of all that stuff I just suggested, just so that he seems more firmly placed within a strategy.

•Gimli's Battle Axe, Restless Weapon
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +2
Bearer must be a Dwarf. Bearer is damage +1.
If bearer is Gimli, each time he wins a fierce skirmish, you may heal him.
Skirmish: Exert bearer and play a skirmish event with a twilight cost of to make bearer strength +X.
"‘My axe is restless in my hands.'"

I would take out the healing so that the skirmish ability wouldn't need the exertion thereby saving text and complexity and making it more fun! Plus, there aren't that many skirmish events with (substantial) twilight costs anyway (certainly not that people use). Dwarf-Lords about covers it.

Thranduil

[DáinIronfoot]

•Gimli, Stout and Strong
Companion • Dwarf
Strength: 6
Vitality: 3
Signet: Thorin
Valiant. Damage +1.
Skirmish: If Gimli is not assigned to a skirmish, exert him to have him replace a companion (except the Ring-bearer) in a skirmish. Gimli gains hunter 3 until the end of that skirmish.
"‘Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!'"

Seems perhaps too versatile. I think I would reduce the hunter to 2 or specify him for a specific deck build with a spotting requirement (like some Men or Legolas or something). In fact, I think I might make his signet Théoden instead of all that stuff I just suggested, just so that he seems more firmly placed within a strategy.

Did something similiar. Makes the text a little more complicated, but not overly so, I don't think. The change I made is actually more in line with how I originally had him written.

•Gimli's Battle Axe, Restless Weapon
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +2
Bearer must be a Dwarf. Bearer is damage +1.
If bearer is Gimli, each time he wins a fierce skirmish, you may heal him.
Skirmish: Exert bearer and play a skirmish event with a twilight cost of to make bearer strength +X.
"‘My axe is restless in my hands.'"

I would take out the healing so that the skirmish ability wouldn't need the exertion thereby saving text and complexity and making it more fun! Plus, there aren't that many skirmish events with (substantial) twilight costs anyway (certainly not that people use). Dwarf-Lords about covers it.

Duly noted, but I will have a couple that make the text more worthwhile. I'd rather leave it as is for now, but I will keep your comments firmly in mind...and I think we'll come back and reexamine it after I spoil some more of the culture.

[sickofpalantirs]

Alright, in the (now locked) poll I conducted about which FP culture you all wanted next, it looks like and tied. However, since one of the votes was my own , we'll be doing...Dwarves!

Actually, just one Dwarf. (Probably.) And here he is! Gee, can you guess who it might be?

As with the original Towers block (and King block, for that matter), the entire culture in this set revolves around Gimli. That doesn't mean it's a weak or even necessarily small culture, though! Underestimate Gimli, and like his many victims, you'll pay the price for it. He can more than hold his own, and while some of his stuff works best with other Dwarves around, most of it is very easy to toss in with other cultures, and several cards will specifically tie in with others like , , , and others. He's like a hired hitman, and a very good one at that.

Enjoy!

•Gimli, Stout and Strong
Companion • Dwarf
Strength: 6
Vitality: 3
Signet: Thorin
Valiant. Damage +1.
Skirmish: If Gimli is not assigned to a skirmish, exert him to have him replace a companion (except the Ring-bearer) in a skirmish. Gimli gains hunter 2 (or hunter 3 if the companion replaced is valiant or a Dwarf) until the end of that skirmish.
"‘Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!'"
coolio!

•Gimli's Battle Axe, Restless Weapon
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +2
Bearer must be a Dwarf. Bearer is damage +1.
If bearer is Gimli, each time he wins a fierce skirmish, you may heal him.
Skirmish: Exert bearer and play a skirmish event with a twilight cost of to make bearer strength +X.
"‘My axe is restless in my hands.'"

hum...I agree with thran take out the healing ability, and the exertion. and chance the exertion to add 1 or a threat or sumtin.

[DáinIronfoot]

Well, I don't know what's become of lem0n--was he going on vacation or something and I just missed the memo?--but when he gets back, he's more than welcome to review Gimli. In fact, I'd prefer that.

For now, though, I can't keep everyone else waiting forever, so let's move on. There will be another Gimli later (a Three Hunter version), but for now, let's stick with the Helm's Deep version and get to some good old-fashioned skirmishing. Enjoy!

Khazâd! Khazâd!
Event • Assignment
Toil 2.
Spot a Dwarf that is damage +X to make that Dwarf defender +X (limit +3) until the regroup phase.
"Down from the wall leapt Gimli with a fierce cry that echoed in the cliffs....He soon had work enough."

Pop quiz...how many cards already exist that add defender bonuses? If you guessed one, you're right! Believe it or not, you have to go all the way back to Fellowship block to find it: Disquiet Of Our People. This is unacceptable to me. So here's one that turns a Dwarf's greatest strength (damage) into their greatest weakness (defender bonuses). It's pretty expensive though, either in twilight or exertions. At least you get a choice in the matter.

Sprung Out of the Shadows
Event • Skirmish
Exert a companion (except a Dwarf) to make a Dwarf damage +1 and strength +3 (or +4 if the companion exerted is Aragorn).
"‘I cannot jump the distance! You'll have to toss me!'"

Just your standard pump, with a twist...you exert a NON-Dwarf to pull it off. This obviously fits perfectly into a deck with just one or two Dwarves and a bunch of other companions.

And may as well get a couple of our reprints out of the way....

Khazâd Ai-mênu (reprint)
Event • Skirmish
Make a Dwarf strength +2 (or strength +3 and damage +1 if you can spot Legolas).
"‘The Orcs are behind the wall. Ai-oi! Come, Legolas! There are enough for us both.'"

One of my all-time favorites. I just HAD to have this one back...and I even made an cousin you'll see later.

Best Company (reprint)
Event • Skirmish
Make a Dwarf strength +2 (or +4 if at a battleground).
"An axe swung and swept back. Two Orcs fell headless. The rest fled."

I tried to think of some way to redo this, but it just wasn't working, so I opted to just reprint instead. Dwarves will get a few battleground-related cards in this set, as opposed to the shameful two (only two?!) battleground-related events Big D opted to make for the culture.

[Thranduil]

Khazâd! Khazâd!
Event • Assignment
Toil 2.
Spot a Dwarf that is damage +X to make that Dwarf defender +X (limit +3) until the regroup phase.
"Down from the wall leapt Gimli with a fierce cry that echoed in the cliffs....He soon had work enough."

Personally, I'd just forget about the limit as the card seems to be perfectly costed without it. And if you think about it, since fellowship block only has had defender bonuses, with 1 that I can think of for .

Sprung Out of the Shadows
Event • Skirmish
Exert a companion (except a Dwarf) to make a Dwarf strength +3 and damage +1.
"‘I cannot jump the distance! You'll have to toss me!'"

Yeah looks good.

Khazâd Ai-mênu (reprint)
Event • Skirmish
Make a Dwarf strength +2 (or strength +3 and damage +1 if you can spot Legolas).
"‘The Orcs are behind the wall. Ai-oi! Come, Legolas! There are enough for us both.'"

I always loved that card too!

Best Company (reprint)
Event • Skirmish
Make a Dwarf strength +2 (or +4 if at a battleground).
"An axe swung and swept back. Two Orcs fell headless. The rest fled."

I tried to think of some way to redo this, but it just wasn't working, so I opted to just reprint instead. Dwarves will get a few battleground-related cards in this set, as opposed to the shameful two (only two?!) battleground-related events Big D opted to make for the culture.

I was never a big fan of this one though. I've always thought that it wasn't as useful as the underground one from fellowship block.

Thranduil

[sickofpalantirs]

Well, I don't know what's become of lem0n--was he going on vacation or something and I just missed the memo?--but when he gets back, he's more than welcome to review Gimli. In fact, I'd prefer that.

For now, though, I can't keep everyone else waiting forever, so let's move on. There will be another Gimli later (a Three Hunter version), but for now, let's stick with the Helm's Deep version and get to some good old-fashioned skirmishing. Enjoy!

Khazâd! Khazâd!
Event • Assignment
Toil 2.
Spot a Dwarf that is damage +X to make that Dwarf defender +X (limit +3) until the regroup phase.
"Down from the wall leapt Gimli with a fierce cry that echoed in the cliffs....He soon had work enough."
kinda makes dwarf guards totally pwning...but...really twilight wouldn't make a huge difference...I would make it exert 2-3 dwarves...IDK I guess disquiet of our people isn't that hard to get...now I'm just rambling...I guess it is fine.

Sprung Out of the Shadows
Event • Skirmish
Exert a companion (except a Dwarf) to make a Dwarf strength +3 and damage +1.
"‘I cannot jump the distance! You'll have to toss me!'"

maybe strength +3 and damage +1 if it is aragorn?

[DáinIronfoot]

Sprung Out of the Shadows
Event • Skirmish
Exert a companion (except a Dwarf) to make a Dwarf strength +3 and damage +1.
"‘I cannot jump the distance! You'll have to toss me!'"

maybe strength +3 and damage +1 if it is aragorn?

Did something similiar. Too good now?

[Thranduil]

I suppose I'm not hugely bothered. Cards like Battle Fury, Noble Intentions and A Marvel were never very good, so I guess I can see those parentheses working nicely.

Thranduil

[sickofpalantirs]

yep. looks good now.though it could be +3, or +4 and damage +1 to look more like the 3 thran posted.

[lem0nhead]

Well, I don't know what's become of lem0n--was he going on vacation or something and I just missed the memo?--but when he gets back, he's more than welcome to review Gimli. In fact, I'd prefer that.

Urgh, blocked nose sore throat temperature aching vomiting.... Enough to keep anyone from their DC commitments! Im back now though with only slightly mucusy sinuses!! Yay 

•Gimli, Stout and Strong
Companion • Dwarf
Strength: 6
Vitality: 3
Signet: Thorin
Valiant. Damage +1.
Skirmish: If Gimli is not assigned to a skirmish, exert him to have him replace a companion (except the Ring-bearer) in a skirmish. Gimli gains hunter 2 (or hunter 3 if the companion replaced is valiant or a Dwarf) until the end of that skirmish.
"‘Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!'"

So like a Gandalf the white rider for dwarves eh? Yeah he's pretty cool.

•Gimli's Battle Axe, Restless Weapon
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength +2
Bearer must be a Dwarf. Bearer is damage +1.
If bearer is Gimli, each time he wins a fierce skirmish, you may heal him.
Skirmish: Exert bearer and play a skirmish event with a twilight cost of to make bearer strength +X.
"‘My axe is restless in my hands.'"

Coooool.

Khazâd! Khazâd!
Event • Assignment
Toil 2.
Spot a Dwarf that is damage +X to make that Dwarf defender +X until the regroup phase.
"Down from the wall leapt Gimli with a fierce cry that echoed in the cliffs....He soon had work enough."

Thats a bit ridiculous, Thran is off his head, cost is irrelevant for basically a one site magic bullet to handle a crap load of minions. I have got Thrarin to damage +8 at least before and i know that has been exceeded by others. Site 9 Thrarin takes everything and the rb lives. Either limit it or make it a flat bonus.

Pop quiz...how many cards already exist that add defender bonuses? If you guessed one, you're right! Believe it or not, you have to go all the way back to Fellowship block to find it: Disquiet Of Our People.

That is actually quite interesting!

This is unacceptable to me.

Snigger.

Sprung Out of the Shadows
Event • Skirmish
Exert a companion (except a Dwarf) to make a Dwarf damage +1 and strength +3 (or +4 if the companion exerted is Aragorn).
"‘I cannot jump the distance! You'll have to toss me!'"

Cool.

[Thranduil]

I have to say that defender bonuses have never seemed particularly good to me, except in rare cases like Third Marshall. But if site 9 is a worry, you could always exempt region 3 from the ability.

Thranduil

[lem0nhead]

Do you not see my point though? I agree with you to an extent but this is abuseable as heck. Anything +8 is pretty powerful let alone the ability to have 1 guy take on everything a shadow player can throw at u.

[Thranduil]

I see your point, but I don't think it actually has much gameplay application because it requires you to have this event in hand and your opponent to play a swarm of 14+ minions to start being abusable.

Thranduil

[lem0nhead]

There are a few ways to get dwarven events into hand its not that hard and also playing 4 of it u can get one in your hand for when you need it easy enough. But its not even JUST swarm stopping. It stops swarm and beatdown and pretty much anything, as the one guy takes either crud loads of minions, several nasty medium ones or a giant like the rog or sauron AND anything left.