Back to the Light - Review

[Not a Zombie]

I think you have that backwards, this allows you to whereas toil wouldn't. But I get it now.

[Thranduil]

I think you have that backwards, this allows you to whereas toil wouldn't. But I get it now.

Yep, this is right. Toil only allows you to exert your own characters - this way you can exert your opponent's characters as well!

Thranduil

[Thranduil]

Okay, quick aside before moving into the culture.

I had a brainwave about my Ent/Hobbit crisis. You liked the idea of Merry and Pippin in , but not Lindenroot in . And so I've come up with this concept. What do we think?

Old Forest Ent
Companion • Ent
Str: 8
Vit: 4
Res: 6
Unhasty. Unyielding.
Assignment: Exert another or companion with resistance 6 or more to allow this companion to be assigned to a skirmish.
"'They do say the trees can actually move, and can surround strangers and hem them in.'"
B C 96

Now obviously there has never been sighting or confirmation of Ents in the Old Forest, but it is suggested, as shown by the lore (a quote from Merry). And I'm also aware that the Old Forest is supposed to be very sinister, but this is imagining that the Fangorn Ents can tame them. Or do you think it would be better for this to be come kind of Huorn or Tree? How about a spotting requirement? Something like "To play, exert a or companion" to represent the difficulty in herding them?

As an introduction into the culture, let's have some cards in cultures that we've already seen:

Stay at Your Posts!
Condition • Support Area
Fortification. Toil 2.
Maneuver: Discard this condition and spot a companion with resistance 5 or more to discard a possession from play.
B C 30

A Mortal Life
Event • Maneuver
Tale. Toil 2.
Spot a companion with resistance 5 or more to heal up to 2 other companions.
B C 16

[ket_the_jet]

Old Forest Ent
Companion • Ent
Str: 8
Vit: 4
Res: 6
Unhasty. Unyielding.
Assignment: Exert another or companion with resistance 6 or more to allow this companion to be assigned to a skirmish.
"'They do say the trees can actually move, and can surround strangers and hem them in.'"
B C 96

What about the tree near Tom Bombadil's? That could be a Huorn or Tree at the least. Also, in one of the opening chapters of The Fellowship of the Ring it can be suggested that the Entwives are beyond the Shire. Probably not and they are all dead, but it is brought up about the moving tree...

As for the card, it is just fine. I think maybe it could stand to be a little weaker like Ent  Avenger, but it is fine as it is.

Stay at Your Posts!
Condition • Support Area
Fortification. Toil 2.
Maneuver: Discard this condition and spot a companion with resistance 5 or more to discard a possession from play.
B C 30

's Arrow-Slits. Nice card, makes sense.

A Mortal Life
Event • Maneuver
Tale. Toil 2.
Spot a companion with resistance 5 or more to heal up to 2 other companions.
B C 16

Well, could you exert someone for the toil cost and then have that be one of the healed companions?
-wtk

[Thranduil]

Yes you could.

Thranduil

[sickofpalantirs]

Okay, quick aside before moving into the culture.

I had a brainwave about my Ent/Hobbit crisis. You liked the idea of Merry and Pippin in , but not Lindenroot in . And so I've come up with this concept. What do we think?

Old Forest Ent
Companion • Ent
Str: 8
Vit: 4
Res: 6
Unhasty. Unyielding.
Assignment: Exert another or companion with resistance 6 or more to allow this companion to be assigned to a skirmish.
"'They do say the trees can actually move, and can surround strangers and hem them in.'"
B C 96
thats fine.

Stay at Your Posts!
Condition • Support Area
Fortification. Toil 2.
Maneuver: Discard this condition and spot a companion with resistance 5 or more to discard a possession from play.
B C 30
so it gives gondor possession removal...I'm not sure I likey...or is condition removal Gondor isn't supposed to have?

A Mortal Life
Event • Maneuver
Tale. Toil 2.
Spot a companion with resistance 5 or more to heal up to 2 other companions.
B C 16

I'd put it as fellowship and drop the toil

[Thranduil]

It's condition removal - note Nimble Attack for example.

Thranduil

[Not a Zombie]

Okay, quick aside before moving into the culture.

I had a brainwave about my Ent/Hobbit crisis. You liked the idea of Merry and Pippin in , but not Lindenroot in . And so I've come up with this concept. What do we think?

Old Forest Ent
Companion • Ent
Str: 8
Vit: 4
Res: 6
Unhasty. Unyielding.
Assignment: Exert another or companion with resistance 6 or more to allow this companion to be assigned to a skirmish.
"'They do say the trees can actually move, and can surround strangers and hem them in.'"
B C 96

Seems very powerful as an ent, I'd make it a tree, unique (make it old man willow?), or drop the strength a bit.

Now obviously there has never been sighting or confirmation of Ents in the Old Forest, but it is suggested, as shown by the lore (a quote from Merry). And I'm also aware that the Old Forest is supposed to be very sinister, but this is imagining that the Fangorn Ents can tame them. Or do you think it would be better for this to be come kind of Huorn or Tree? How about a spotting requirement? Something like "To play, exert a or companion" to represent the difficulty in herding them?

As an introduction into the culture, let's have some cards in cultures that we've already seen:

Stay at Your Posts!
Condition • Support Area
Fortification. Toil 2.
Maneuver: Discard this condition and spot a companion with resistance 5 or more to discard a possession from play.
B C 30

Nice, I like.

A Mortal Life
Event • Maneuver
Tale. Toil 2.
Spot a companion with resistance 5 or more to heal up to 2 other companions.
B C 16

I like it, but would also think about making it a fellowship event.

[ket_the_jet]

As a Free People's player, I would prefer A Mortal Life as a Maneuver event. As a Shadow player, I would prefer it as a Fellowship Event.

The more that I think about it, how does mortality heal people? I think flavor-wise, an Elf choosing a mortal life should exert to do something...
-wtk

[Thranduil]

The more that I think about it, how does mortality heal people? I think flavor-wise, an Elf choosing a mortal life should exert to do something...

Yeah, I realised the flavour was lacking when I made it... I was just trying to think of a linking title for / , and also a common ability (healing). But I also think that has enough healing in this set, so I will change and repost this concept.

In the meantime, let's have an (I hope) interesting cross-culture pair:

•Aragorn, Estel
Companion • Man
Str: 8
Vit: 4
Res: 8
Ranger.
While you can spot Arwen and she has resistance 7 or more, Aragorn's twilight cost is -2.
Each time you play an event during a skirmish involving Aragorn, you may make a or companion strength +2 until the regroup phase.
B U 9

•Arwen, Queen of Gondor
Companion • Elf
Str: 6
Vit: 3
Res: 7
Ranger.
Each time you play an event during a skirmish involving Arwen, you may make an or companion resistance +2 until the regroup phase.
B U 41

And some kit (also part of our spellshaper cycle - notice the similarity with Elessar Telcontar).

•Elessar
Artifact
Res: +1
To play, spot an card. Bearer must be Aragorn.
At the start of the fellowship phase, you may exert a companion of one culture to heal a companion of a different culture.
"In this hour take the name that was foretold for you, Elessar, the Elfstone of the house of Elendil!"
B R 44

[Not a Zombie]

The more that I think about it, how does mortality heal people? I think flavor-wise, an Elf choosing a mortal life should exert to do something...

Yeah, I realised the flavour was lacking when I made it... I was just trying to think of a linking title for / , and also a common ability (healing). But I also think that has enough healing in this set, so I will change and repost this concept.

In the meantime, let's have an (I hope) interesting cross-culture pair:

•Aragorn, Estel
Companion • Man
Str: 8
Vit: 4
Res: 8
Ranger.
While you can spot Arwen and she has resistance 7 or more, Aragorn's twilight cost is -2.
Each time you play an event during a skirmish involving Aragorn or Arwen, you may make a or companion strength +2 until the regroup phase.
B U 9

Cool! Kinda like the elven brother combo, I like it. One thing I might think about though: make it skirmish involving Arwen only, he'd be less of a splash then.

•Arwen, Queen of Gondor
Companion • Elf
Str: 6
Vit: 3
Res: 7
Ranger.
Each time you play an event during a skirmish involving Arwen or Aragorn, you may heal a or companion.
B U 41

Wow, powerful. Elrond is more of a healer, maybe do a damage or resistance bonus (or both?) instead. Definitely see abouve about who's skirmish.

And some kit (also part of our spellshaper cycle - notice the similarity with Elessar Telcontar).

•Elessar
Artifact
Res: +1
To play, spot an card. Bearer must be Aragorn.
At the start of the fellowship phase, you may exert a companion of one culture to heal a companion of a different culture.
"In this hour take the name that was foretold for you, Elessar, the Elfstone of the house of Elendil!"
B R 44

Cool! Not OP and still useful, very nice card.

[ket_the_jet]

•Aragorn, Estel
Companion • Man
Str: 8
Vit: 4
Res: 8
Ranger.
While you can spot Arwen and she has resistance 7 or more, Aragorn's twilight cost is -2.
Each time you play an event during a skirmish involving Aragorn or Arwen, you may make a or companion strength +2 until the regroup phase.
B U 9

Sweet is right on point. I like the idea that when Aragorn gets stronger, people around him do...but how does Arwen getting stronger make others around her stronger? Also, I would say this is good enough to be a rare, or at least P card.

•Arwen, Queen of Gondor
Companion • Elf
Str: 6
Vit: 3
Res: 7
Ranger.
Each time you play an event during a skirmish involving Arwen or Aragorn, you may heal a or companion.
B U 41

I would rather see a resistance pump that mimics Aragorn's text. Sweet is right...Elrond is the healer in that family!

•Elessar
Artifact
Res: +1
To play, spot an card. Bearer must be Aragorn.
At the start of the fellowship phase, you may exert a companion of one culture to heal a companion of a different culture.
"In this hour take the name that was foretold for you, Elessar, the Elfstone of the house of Elendil!"
B R 44

This card is great. It seems pretty easy to spot cards but it is a nice idea. I think it should be a condition, because I don't see a title as being an artifact. I know artifacts are harder to discard (near-impossible) but a vitality bonus seems like a fair price as a condition.
-wtk

[Thranduil]

This card is great. It seems pretty easy to spot cards but it is a nice idea. I think it should be a condition, because I don't see a title as being an artifact. I know artifacts are harder to discard (near-impossible) but a vitality bonus seems like a fair price as a condition.

It's an artifact because the Elessar is more than just Aragorn's name: it's a real gem.

Made the other changes. Thanks guys!

Thranduil

[sickofpalantirs]

I don't have any complaints with any of them.  Nice cards.

[Thranduil]

Well, if you guys are going to be like that, I might post some more!

Kingsfoil (reprint)
Possession
Bearer must be a Man.
Fellowship: Discard this possession from play to heal a companion and, if that companion is a companion, you may discard a condition he or she bears.
B C 48

I thought about making a new version of this card, but in the end, while there's already a card that does pretty much exactly what I want it to do, why would I change it?

Hands of the King
Condition • Support Area
Fellowship: Exert a companion and either a companion or a companion to add a token here.
Regroup: Remove a token here to heal a companion.
B C 46

So this is the component of the NtFH cycle.

It is Not This Day!
Condition • Unbound Companion
Res: +1
Tale.
To play, spot a companion.
Limit 1 per companion.
Each time bearer wins a skirmish, you may reinforce a Free Peoples culture token or discard a Shadow culture token.
B U 47

One of the themes of this block is obviously resistance, and so there are a series of conditions that play on companions for resistance modifiers. And this also gives me the chance to reinforce one of 's strengths - culture tokens.

•Pippin, Knight of Gondor
Companion • Hobbit
Str: 5
Vit: 4
Res: 8
Knight.
Skirmish: Exert Pippin twice to make him strength +1 for each companion you can spot.
B R 49

And here is another spellshaper. Notice that he's a Pippin, Guard of Minas Tirith that comes with an inbuilt Pippin's Sword!