Light & Shadow Block Review

[Cw0rk]

Sam, The Stout-hearted has a pretty inovative gametext, but I'm not sure I understand it very well. Can you give actual exemples with cards?

So you CAN'T use Abiding Evil on him, Whistling Death him, or Treachery him. You CAN Discovered conditions borne by him, Broken in Defeat the minion he is skirmishing, and kill him with Unseen Foe. Reasonably clear?

The Sting +2 bonus looks a bit too high for me. I'd rather see +1.

Yeah I was wondering the same. I think I want a slightly different bonus. Maybe limit the number of wounds he can take? Make him damage +1? Make Shadow events more expensive?

Thanx. It is more clear. For Sting, I would suggest to make him damage +1.

[Cw0rk]

Are there any P cards in your set for eventual starters?

[Thranduil]

Are there any P cards in your set for eventual starters?

They would be S cards following the model of Shadows. And not currently – I thought about it too late and I couldn't be bothered to incorporate it. But I could...

Perhaps now that we've seen all the FP cards, we could vote on who should be the starter characters. It should probably be 1 companion 1 minion (given it's Light & Shadow) for each set. Would you guys be up for that?

Thranduil

[Sam, Great Elf Warrior]

What happens with Boundless Courage if Frodo is facing Gollum and a Moria Scout?

Always with the difficult questions! I think Gollum's strength does not count to the total strength counted when you check overwhelming. But if the Moria Scout's strength was enough to overwhelm Frodo, then he would still die.

I remember reading a clarification for The Ring's Oppression that said that "a Orc kills a companion" means "a companion is killed in a skirmish involving a Orc." In that case Boundless Courage, would prevent Frodo from ever being overwhelmed in any skirmish involving a [gollum] or minion, regardless of how strong the other minions were.

[Thranduil]

What happens with Boundless Courage if Frodo is facing Gollum and a Moria Scout?

Always with the difficult questions! I think Gollum's strength does not count to the total strength counted when you check overwhelming. But if the Moria Scout's strength was enough to overwhelm Frodo, then he would still die.

I remember reading a clarification for The Ring's Oppression that said that "a Orc kills a companion" means "a companion is killed in a skirmish involving a Orc." In that case Boundless Courage, would prevent Frodo from ever being overwhelmed in any skirmish involving a [gollum] or minion, regardless of how strong the other minions were.

Yeah now that I think about it you might be right about that. I might just word it that way in the first place "(or unable to be overwhelmed if skirmishing a or minion)."

Thranduil

[Thranduil]

We're going to do some sites before Shadow cards (sites are always a drag to end on).

L&S (8, 0/8/0)
•Amon Hen
Battleground. Corrupted companions cannot be assigned to a skirmish by the Free Peoples player (companions with resistance 0 are corrupted).
L U 203

•Anduin Shores
River. When the fellowship moves to this site, each player may foresee 2. (To foresee 2, look at the top 2 cards of your draw deck; place any number of those cards on top of your draw deck in any order and the rest beneath your draw deck in any order).
L U 204

•Frodo's Chambers
Dwelling. Each companion (except the Ring-bearer) is resistance +2.
L U 205

•Galadriel's Glade
Forest. Each player must keep the top card of their draw deck face up.
L U 206

•The Golden Wood
Forest. Each time a companion with resistance 7 or more is about to take his or her first wound in a skirmish, prevent that wound.
L U 207

•Isen Banks
Battleground. River. Skirmish: Exert your minion (except an enduring minion) to add .
L U 208

•The Redhorn Gate
Underground. When the fellowship moves to this site, each player must place 2 cards from his or her hand on top of his or her draw deck.
L U 209

•Pelennor Battlefield
Battleground. Plains. Each card is twilight cost -1 during the skirmish phase.
L U 210


TW (4, 0/3/1)
•Pelennor Grassland
Plains.
Each card gains toil 1.
T U 117

•Shelob's Lair
Battleground. Underground.
Shadow: Discard a minion to play Shelob from your draw deck or discard pile; her twilight cost is -X, where X is the discarded minion's twilight cost.
T R 118

•Silverlode Banks
River.
When the fellowship moves to and from this site, each player shuffles his or her draw deck.
T U 119

•Stairs of Cirith Ungol
Mountain.
When the fellowship moves to this site, exert the Ring-bearer X times (where X is the current region number).
T U 120



BL (4, 0/4/0)
•Bree Gate
Shadow: Spot a companion with resistance 5 or less and exert your traitor minion to reveal a player's hand.
B U 117

•Helm's Deep
Battleground.
Valiant companions with resistance 3 or more are strength +2.
B U 118

•Morgul Vale
While you can spot 3 burdens, each twilight card is twilight cost -2.
B U 119

•Slopes of Amon Hen
Battleground.
When the fellowship moves to this site, you may spot your ranger or tracker to foresee 3. (To foresee 3, look at the top 3 cards of your draw deck; place any number of those cards on top of your draw deck in any order and the rest beneath your draw deck in any order).
B U 120

[Cw0rk]

Amon Hen could have a cost of 1. I guess that corrupting companions is hard to achieve.

Galadriel's Glade is cool.

I like Shelob's Lair as well. Looks like a Bridge of Kazak-Dun for Spiders hehe.

Wow, Stairs of Cirith Ungol is dangerously strong in region 3. Is there any Ring-bearer wounding after Shadows and in your set?

[Thranduil]

Wow, Stairs of Cirith Ungol is dangerously strong in region 3. Is there any Ring-bearer wounding after Shadows and in your set?

I'm not sure there's RB wounding (though we'll see later - maybe we should remember this point), but I think there is RB exertion and taking advantage of wounds on the RB.

Thranduil

[Thranduil]

I'm bored of sites - let's see some cards!

L&S (8, 3/3/2)
Cruel Little Hobbitses (SH)
Spot Gollum to make a minion strength +2 (or +4 if the Ring-bearer is exhausted).
"‘But that would kill us, kill us…'"
L U 49

Filthy Little Thieves (SH)
Event • Maneuver
Search.
Spot Gollum to exert the Ring-bearer (or exert the Ring-bearer twice if he or she has resistance 6 or less).
L C 51

•Gollum, Corrupted by the Ring (SH)
Minion
Str: 5
Vit: 4
Sit: 3
Traitor.
While the Ring-bearer is wearing The One Ring, Gollum is strength +5 and fierce.
"‘Where iss it, where iss it: my Precious, my Precious? It's ours, it is, and we wants it.'"
L R 52

•Gollum, Duplicitous Creature (SH)
Minion
Str: 5
Vit: 4
Sit: 3
Traitor.
Each time Gollum wins a skirmish, you may exert Gollum to wound the Ring-bearer.
"‘Throttle us in our sleep, that's his plan.'"
L C 53

Grisly Ambitions (SH)
Event • Response
When you play this card, you may foresee 2 (look at the top 2 cards of your draw deck; you may replace them on top of or beneath your draw deck in any order).
If the Ring-bearer is about to take a wound (or a burden in place of a wound), exert Gollum or Sméagol to add a burden.
"‘But if we was master, then we could help ourselfs, yes, and still keep promises.'"
L U 54

•My Precious (SH)
Condition • Support Area
To play, spot Gollum.
While you can spot a Ring-bearer, Gollum is an aggressor. (For each of your aggressor minions assigned to a skirmish, each Shadow card you play is twilight cost -1).
Skirmish: Discard this condition and exert Gollum twice to make the Ring-bearer wear The One Ring until the regroup phase.
"‘The thieves, the filthy little thieves. Where are they with my Precious? Curse them! We hates them.'"
L R 55

We Wants It! (SH)
Event • Skirmish
Make Gollum strength +2 (or strength +4 if the Ring-bearer is wearing The One Ring).
"‘Lord Sméagol? Gollum the Great? The Gollum?'"
L C 62

Wickedness (SH)
Condition • Support Area
Search.
When you play this condition, you may reveal the top card of your draw deck. If it is a event, you may take it into hand.
While the Ring-bearer has resistance 6 or less, Gollum's twilight cost is -2.
L U 63


TW (8, 3/2/2)
Craving the Ring (SH)
Event • Response
(You choose the value of . Except when you play this card, its twilight cost is ).
Search. Twilight.
If the Ring-bearer puts on The One Ring, spot Gollum to exert the Ring-bearer X times and make Gollum strength +X until the regroup phase.
T R 24

Dirty Tricks (SH)
Event • Regroup
When you play this card, you may exert any number of characters to make this card's twilight cost -2 for each character you exerted in this way.
Make the move limit -1.
T U 25

Searching for the Precious (SH)
Event • Shadow
Search.
Choose one: play Gollum from your draw deck or discard pile; or spot Gollum to take into hand a search card from your discard pile.
T U 30

•Shelob, Guardian of Cirith Ungol (SH)
Minion • Spider
Str: 8
Vit: 8
Sit: 8
Fierce.
Skirmish: Discard a minion from play or from hand to make Shelob strength +2 (or +3 if she is skirmishing a companion with resistance 6 or less).
T C 31

•Shelob, Terror of the Mountains (SH)
Minion • Spider
Str: 8
Vit: 8
Sit: 8
Fierce.
Skirmish: Spot another card and remove a minion in your discard pile from the game to make Shelob strength +2.
Skirmish: Discard a skirmishing minion to play Shelob from your hand. If the minion you discarded was unique, you may have Shelob replace it in that skirmish.
T R 32

Wicked Masster! (SH)
Condition • Support Area
Search.
Regroup: Exert Gollum twice to foresee 2. Then reveal the top card of your draw deck. If it is a or card, you may add a burden. (To foresee 2, look at the top 2 cards of your draw deck; place any number of those cards on top of your draw deck in any order, and the rest on the bottom of your draw deck in any order).
T C 34

You Haven't Got Any Friends! (SH)
Event • Skirmish
Make a character strength +2 (and wound a character he or she is skirmishing).
T C 35


BL (7, 2/1/1)
A Difficult Burden (SH)
Event • Maneuver
Toil 2.
Spot a card to make the Free Peoples player choose to add 2 burdens or discard 3 cards from their hand.
B U 35

Secret Plots (SH)
Condition • Support Area
Shadow: Exert Gollum and either a or minion to add a token here.
Regroup: Remove a token here to foresee 2. (To foresee 2, look at the top 2 cards of your draw deck; place any number of those cards on top of your draw deck in any order, and the rest on the bottom of your draw deck in any order).
B C 36

Shelob's Web (SH)
Possession • Support Area
Response: If your minion is killed or discarded and you cannot spot 3 cards stacked here, exert a minion to stack that minion here.
Skirmish: Discard a minion stacked here to choose one: make a minion strength +2; or play a minion from your discard pile.
B C 39

•Treacherous Deeds (SH)
Condition • Support Area
Search.
To play, spot Gollum.
The Free Peoples player plays with the top card of his or her draw deck faceup.
Skirmish: Discard this condition to wound a companion skirmishing Gollum with the same twilight cost as the top card of the Free Peoples player's draw deck.
B R 40

[legolas3333]

All the cards in L&S seem really overpowered. Maybe it's just me.

[Cw0rk]

My Precious would be nasty in Expanded.

Craving the Ring is very cool.

Why not Toil 2 on Dirty tricks?

Shelob, Guardian of Cirith Ungol looks very dangerous. What about a strength +2 (or +3) instead? Or maybe there should be a limit. The other Shelob looks fun hehe.

A Difficult Burden, 2 burdens may be a bit too much. Why not only 1 like DDotR?

The rest is nice. It isn't too overpowered.

[Thranduil]

Why not Toil 2 on Dirty tricks?

This question gets asked every time I post this card and its FP equivalent! Compare it to what Toil 2 would say: (When you play this card, you may exert any number of your characters to make this card's twilight cost -2 for each character you exerted in this way).

Shelob, Guardian of Cirith Ungol looks very dangerous. What about a strength +2 (or +3) instead? Or maybe there should be a limit.

I have a feeling that she was fixed when I originally posted it and somehow I forgot. So I've brought down the strength bonus to +2/3. I'm not adverse to giving "Limit +8" instead of or as well as :hey:

A Difficult Burden, 2 burdens may be a bit too much. Why not only 1 like DDotR?

As a one-shot ability, I wasn't sure 1 burden was good enough. But I'm willing to be proved wrong!

All the cards in L&S seem really overpowered. Maybe it's just me.

I think they're all very playable, and that's mainly because I didn't have many card slots and I had to replace a lot of strategy lost from RotK rotating out. But this is definitely something to watch out for.

Thranduil

[Cw0rk]

I just had an idea for your starter, what about a P Smeagol with a P Gollum (Light and Shadow).

[Thranduil]

I just had an idea for your starter, what about a P Smeagol with a P Gollum (Light and Shadow).

That's actually a really cool idea! Nice one! I'm not seeing either of the two pairs I've got now working so well - perhaps I should make a new one of each? Doesn't sound like a terrible idea given I was worried there weren't enough versions of them in the block, and more specifically, in draft, so I could conceivably push one of the existing pairs into later sets (I might actually spread them out, Gollum in the Twilight World and Sméagol in Back to the Light).

Then The Twilight World, I'd like to use Frodo, Under the Lidless Eye, and one of the Nazgûl perhaps? The uncommon is Lemenya which looks good to me.

For Back to the Light I want 2 culture-shifted characters. How about Witch-King and Haldir?

[Thranduil]

Traitor (Traitor is unloaded).


L&S (20, 9/6/5)
•Bill Ferny, Man of Bree
Minion • Man
Str: 4
Vit: 1
Sit: 2
Traitor.
While you can spot a companion with resistance 5 or less, Bill Ferny cannot be assigned to a skirmish by the Free Peoples player.
Each companion skirmishing Bill Ferny (except the Ring-bearer) is resistance -3.
"‘They will no all the news now, for they have visited Bill Ferny...'"
L R 81

Breeland Herald
Minion • Man
Str: 6
Vit: 1
Sit: 2
Traitor.
At the start of each skirmish involving this minion, you may reveal the top card of your draw deck. If it is a card, you may make each companion (except the Ring-bearer) resistance -2 until the regroup phase.
"The Men of Bree were brown-haired, broad, and rather short…"
L U 82

Breeland Rogue
Minion • Man
Str: 8
Vit: 1
Sit: 2
Traitor.
While skirmishing a companion with resistance 5 or less, this minion is strength +2.
"He wondered why the man was so suspicious, and whether anyone had been asking for news of a party of hobbits."
L C 83

Breeland Scoundrel
Minion • Man
Str: 6
Vit: 2
Sit: 2
Traitor.
When you play this minion, you may discard a possession borne by a companion with resistance 5 or less.
"‘A poor old half-starved creature it is,' said Bob; ‘but he won't part with it for less than thrice its worth, seeing how you're placed...'"
L C 84

Breeland Spy
Minion • Man
Str: 6
Vit: 2
Sit: 2
Traitor.
This minion's twilight cost is X, where X is the current region number.
"‘But you'll find maybe that more folk than old Harry at the gate will be asking you questions. There's queer folk about.'"
L R 85

Breeland Traitor
Minion • Man
Str: 9
Vit: 2
Sit: 2
Traitor.
This minion is strength +1 for each Shadow culture you can spot.
"… they belonged to nobody but themselves..."
L C 86

Cunning Men
Condition • Support Area
When you play this condition, you may foresee 1. (to foresee 1, look at the top 1 card of your draw deck; place that card on top of or beneath your draw deck).
Skirmish: Discard this condition to make a minion strength +2 (and add if you can spot 6 companions).
"The strangers, especially those that had come up the Greenway, stared at them curiously."
L C 87

Dunland Ambusher
Minion • Man
Str: 10
Vit: 2
Sit: 4
Tracker.
When you play this minion, you may spot another minion to make an unbound companion resistance -3.
Skirmish: Exert a minion to play this minion from your hand.
L C 88

Dunland Herald
Minion • Man
Str: 8
Vit: 2
Sit: 4
At the start of each skirmish involving this minion, you may reveal the top card of your draw deck. If it is a card, you may make each minion strength +1 until the regroup phase.
L U 89

Dunland Outrider
Minion • Man
Str: 9
Vit: 3
Sit: 4
Tracker. Aggressor. (For each of your aggressor minions assigned to a skirmish, each Shadow card you play is twilight cost -1).
Each time you play a tracker minion, you may foresee 1. (To foresee 1, look at the top 1 card of your draw deck; place that card on top of or beneath your draw deck).
L U 90

Dunland Runner
Minion • Man
Str: 9
Vit: 2
Sit: 4
Tracker.
While you can spot a companion with resistance 5 or less, this minion is an aggressor. (For each of your aggressor minions assigned to a skirmish, each Shadow card you play is twilight cost -1).
L C 91

Forgetful of Danger
Condition • Unbound Companion
Res: -2
To play, spot a minion. Limit 1 per bearer.
Skirmish: Play this condition from your hand on a companion skirmishing a minion.
"‘… if I were you, I should stop your friends from talking too much.'"
L C 92

•Harry Goatleaf, Gate-warden
Minion • Man
Str: 6
Vit: 2
Sit: 2
Traitor.
To play, spot a or card.
Each minion is site number -2.
"‘What do you want, and where do you come from?'"
L R 93

Savage Strength
Event • Skirmish
Spot a minion to wound a skirmishing companion. If that companion has resistance 5 or less, wound that companion again.
L C 94

Sinister Inquiries
Condition • Support Area
Search.
When you play this condition, you may spot another card to foresee 2. (To foresee 2, look at the top 2 cards of your draw deck; place any number of those cards on top of your draw deck in any order, and the rest beneath your draw deck in any order).
Maneuver: Discard this condition and spot a companion with resistance 5 or less to take into hand a event from your draw deck.
"‘What may your names be, might I ask?'"
L U 95

Spies Everywhere
Condition • Support Area
Stealth.
Response: If a minion is played, remove to make that minion gain the culture and traitor until the regroup phase.
"‘The Enemy has many spies in his service...'"
L R 96

Spies From the South
Event • Response
Search.
If the Ring-bearer puts on The One Ring, spot a minion to discard the Free Peoples player's hand or the top 5 cards of their draw deck.
"‘There's a party that came up the Greenway from down South last night - and that was strange enough to begin with.'"
L U 97

Under the Ringwraiths' Sway
Event • Shadow
If the fellowship is in region 1, spot a card to take into hand a Shadow card from your draw deck.
If the fellowship is in region 2 or 3, spot a card to make an unbound companion resistance -2 until the regroup phase.
"‘… already some in Bree are in their clutch.'"
L U 98

The Wrong Attention
Event • Skirmish
This event's twilight cost is -1 for each Shadow culture you can spot.
Discard a companion with resistance 5 or less skirmishing a minion.
"‘Why did you do that? Worse than anything your friends could have said! You have put your foot in it! Or should I say your finger?'"
L R 99

•Wulf, Warrior of Dunland
Minion • Man
Str: 10
Vit: 2
Sit: 4
Fierce.
While you can spot a minion, Wulf's twilight cost is -2 during the skirmish phase.
Response: If a minion wins a skirmish, play Wulf from your hand; he is damage +1 until the regroup phase.
L C 100


TW (10, 4/3/3)
•Castamir of Umbar, Corsair Vandal (reprint)
Minion • Man
Str: 14
Vit: 4
Sit: 4
Fierce. Toil 1.
Each wounded minion is strength +2.
T R 51

•Desert Lord, Southron Captain
Minion • Man
Str: 11
Vit: 3
Sit: 4
Archer. Besieger.
While you can spot a companion with resistance 5 or less, each other and besieger minion is strength +1 (and an archer if that companion is corrupted). (Companions with resistance 0 are corrupted).
T R 52

Dismay
Event • Regroup
Toil 3.
Exert each companion with resistance 5 or less (or wound that companion if he or she is corrupted). (Companions with resistance 0 are corrupted).
T U 53

Dunlending Assailant
Minion • Man
Str: 8
Vit: 1
Sit: 4
Besieger.
While you can spot a companion with resistance 5 or less, this minion cannot take wounds.
T C 54

•Freca, Dunlending Chieftain
Minion • Man
Str: 9
Vit: 1
Sit: 4
Aggressor. Besieger. Fierce. (For each of your aggressor minions assigned to a skirmish, each Shadow card you play is twilight cost -1).
Each time Freca wins a skirmish, you may play a minion from your hand; that minion is fierce until the regroup phase.
T C 55

•Great Mûmak of Harad
Possession • Mount
Str: +3
Vit: +1
Bearer must be a minion or Southron.
Each companion (except the Ring-bearer) is resistance -2.
If this possession is discarded, wound bearer and each companion bearer was skirmishing.
T R 56

Harrying of Gondor
Event • Skirmish
Engine.
Make a minion strength +2 (and discard a possession).
T C 57

Mûmakil Towers
Event • Maneuver
(You choose the value of X. Except when you play this card, its twilight cost is 0).
Engine.
Spot a minion to add X threats.
T U 58

Southron Assaulter
Minion • Man
Str: 6
Vit: 2
Sit: 4
Besieger.
While you can spot a companion with resistance 5 or less, this minion is an archer (and an aggressor if that companion is corrupted). (For each of your aggressor minions assigned to a skirmish, each Shadow card you play is twilight cost -1. Companions with resistance 0 are corrupted).
T C 59

Southron Freebooter
Minion • Man
Str: 8
Vit: 2
Sit: 4
Besieger.
When you play this minion, reveal the top card of your draw deck. If it is a or card, you may discard a possession borne by a companion.
T U 60


BL (10, 4/3/3)
Betrayed
Condition • Unbound Companion
Res: -2
To play, spot a or traitor minion.
B C 56

Collusion with the Shadow
Event • Skirmish
Toil 2.
Spot a minion to make the Ring-bearer wear The One Ring until the regroup phase. The Free Peoples player may add a burden to prevent this.
B U 57

Death From Above
Event • Archery
Spot a card to reveal the top X cards of your draw deck where X is the number of companions with resistance 5 or less. Make the minion archery total +1 for each Shadow card revealed.
B R 58

Informers of the Enemy
Condition • Support Area
When you play this condition, you may foresee 2. (To foresee 2, look at the top 2 cards of your draw deck; place any number of those cards on top of your draw deck in any order, and the rest beneath your draw deck in any order).
Maneuver: Spot a traitor character and discard this condition to reveal the top card of your draw deck. If that card is a Shadow card, reveal the Free Peoples player's hand and discard a revealed Free Peoples card.
B R 59

Planned Ambush
Condition • Support Area
Shadow: Exert a minion and either an or minion to add a token here.
Skirmish: Remove a token here to add .
B C 60

Southron Ambusher
Minion • Man
Str: 5
Vit: 2
Sit: 4
Aggressor. Ambush . (For each of your aggressor minions assigned to a skirmish, each Shadow card you play is twilight cost -1).
B C 61

Southron Assaulter
Minion • Man
Str: 5
Vit: 3
Sit: 4
Aggressor. Besieger. (For each of your aggressor minions assigned to a skirmish, each Shadow card you play is twilight cost -1).
Skirmish: Exert this minion to play a minion from your hand. If that minion is an minion, you may discard a condition.
B U 62

•Southron Champion
Minion • Man
Str: 7
Vit: 2
Sit: 4
Aggressor. Ambush . Besieger. (For each of your aggressor minions assigned to a skirmish, each Shadow card you play is twilight cost -1).
While there is a card in your discard pile, Southron Champion is strength +1 for each twilight token.
B R 63

Traitor of Edoras
Minion • Man
Str: 9
Vit: 2
Sit: 3
Traitor.
When you play this minion, you may foresee 2. (To foresee 2, look at the top 2 cards of your draw deck; place any number of those cards on top of your draw deck in any order, and the rest beneath your draw deck in any order).
B C 64

•Úlairë Attëa, Khamûl
Minion • Nazgûl
Str: 12
Vit: 3
Sit: 3
Fierce. Traitor.
At the start of each skirmish involving Úlairë Attëa, you may remove to add a burden.
B U 65