Reflections II - Complete List

[ket_the_jet]

Why name it Reflections II then? It's probably too big to be Expanded Middle Earth II, but it is the same idea as ordinary-ish minions that really tie cultures together.
-wtk

[Thranduil]

Why name it Reflections II then? It's probably too big to be Expanded Middle Earth II, but it is the same idea as ordinary-ish minions that really tie cultures together.
-wtk

It shares a lot in common with both concepts - that's because the concepts of both sets are quite similar. Reflections dealt with the first time the Ring was forged, which was why it included Sauron, the Lord of the Rings and Elendil, Gil-galad & co. It also took some of what goes on in the story and took it to a new level, for example featuring alternate Ring-bearers, and looking at stuff which didn't make it into the book like Tom Bombadil. Expanded Middle-Earth only dealt with stuff that didn't make it into the film and not LotR's history (even Dain Ironfoot is depicted as he is in the War of the Ring rather than the Hobbit or the War of the Dwarves & Orcs) and had no vast strategy breakthroughs (except arguably Grimbeorn which introduced a different way of building decks).

So just as Reflections I does all of those things, Reflections II also does all of those things - it deals with some backstories, takes followers to a new level, and includes some history of the Third Age. I would say this makes Reflections II precisely the right name.

Thranduil

[ket_the_jet]

Fair enough. But I don't know what this set is really reflecting on...in fact, it is kind of in the midst of the action.
-wtk

[Cw0rk]

What about 'Expanded Reflections about the Middle-Earth'?

[Thranduil]

Fair enough. But I don't know what this set is really reflecting on...in fact, it is kind of in the midst of the action.
-wtk

Only so far. You haven't seen the rest of the cards, I just chose to start with the Army of the Dead.

For example:

•Castamir the Usurper
Minion • Man
Str: 10
Vit: 3
Sit: 6
Enduring 2. Fierce
Maneuver: Exert Castamir twice to reinforce a culture token on each Shadow condition or possession and remove a culture token from each Free Peoples condition or possession.
At the start of each skirmish involving Castamir the Usurper, discard a or condition or possession from play or discard him.
R2 R+ 40

I've been having this problem quite a lot with titles. You see a fair number of titles Decipher used for semi-generic characters are actually from the history of Middle-Earth that I'm now looking at, so this guy is not to be confused with Castamir of Umbar who was around during the war of the ring. You can click on his link to find out more about him.

[ket_the_jet]

•Castamir the Usurper
Minion • Man
Str: 10
Vit: 3
Sit: 6
Enduring 2. Fierce
Maneuver: Exert Castamir twice to reinforce a token on each Shadow condition and remove a token from each Free Peoples condition.
At the start of each skirmish involving Castamir the Usurper, discard a or condition from play or discard him.
R2 R+ 40

First things first, this guy would just be "Enduring," not "Enduring 2." Keep in mind that a rule book associated with this set would errata each card that is "Enduring" to automatically mean "Enduring 2" so it's not necessary to add the "2" there.

The card is pretty well balanced...I might forgo fierce just due to the discarding clause, but that's just my opinion. Reinforcing a token on each shadow condition might be overkill as cards like Shapes Slowly Advancing really become powerful.
-wtk

[Cw0rk]

I would suggest reducing his cost to 5. The regular Castamir cost 7 but has +4 Strength and +1 Vitality. The discarding clause also makes him less interesting to use, another reason why I would reduce the cost to 5.

[Thranduil]

Taken his cost to . I like the aggressive pricing - I was going for a high risk, high reward card, and I think reducing his cost was a good idea. I also hope that he's fun to play and will produce a lot of interesting decks.

Putting corsairs aside, let's move to a different area of history I'm looking at: Helm Hammerhand.

How about this pair? Helm and his Horn:

•Helm, Hammerhand
Companion • Man
Str: 8
Vit: 4
Res: 6
Enduring 1. Valiant.
At the start of each fellowship phase, you may exert Helm to search your draw deck for a fortification card, reveal it and take it into your hand. If you do, shuffle your draw deck.
Helm cannot be healed by sanctuaries.
R2 R+ 60

•Horn of Helm, Herald of Victory
Possession • Support Area
Fortification.
While you can spot a companion in the dead pile, each companion is valiant.
At the start of the maneuver phase, you may exert a valiant companion to exert a minion for each companion in the dead pile.
R2 R+ 62

[legolas3333]

I think on helm it should be "can not heal at sanctuaries" not "does not heal at sanctuaries." as for the horn, it is much better than the original one. i like it.

[ket_the_jet]

He is cheaper and stronger than Gil-Galad and Elendil. I think you should reconsider that and then I will review the cards more.

I will say that I don't see any fort-like values in a horn.
-wtk

[Thranduil]

He is cheaper and stronger than Gil-Galad and Elendil.

Fair point - he doesn't need strength 10. Changed to more of an Aragorn.

I will say that I don't see any fort-like values in a horn.

Well it is a slight stretch, but then again it's built into the battlements and does help the defenders, so I'm willing to buy it.

Thranduil

[Cw0rk]

Is putting a card into hand from the draw deck different from taking a card into hand? (rule of 4)

These 2 cards are very good ideas. The Horn can be a fortification.

[Thranduil]

Is putting a card into hand from the draw deck different from taking a card into hand? (rule of 4)

No it isn't. I was trying a clearer wording (taking some lessons from MTG), maybe I should revert to the standard.

Thranduil

[Gerontius]

For the sake of flavor, I would make Helm unable to bear possessions (or at least hand weapons) from the story that he killed men with his bare hands.

[ket_the_jet]

•Helm, Hammerhand
Companion • Man
Str: 8
Vit: 4
Res: 6
Enduring 1. Valiant.
At the start of each fellowship phase, you may exert Helm to search your draw deck for a fortification card, reveal it and take it into your hand. If you do, shuffle your draw deck.
Helm cannot heal at sanctuaries.
R2 R+ 60

I really like the idea that he cannot heal at sanctuaries...sort of. I like if he can't heal with the regular five heals at a sanctuary site; however, I don't see any reason someone could not use a card like Might of Numenor for some maneuver healing even if he is at a site three or six.

Much better at strength eight, by the way.

•Horn of Helm, Herald of Victory
Possession • Support Area
Fortification.
While you can spot a companion in the dead pile, each companion is valiant.
At the start of the maneuver phase, you may exert a valiant companion to exert a minion for each companion in the dead pile.
R2 R+ 62

Oh, Thranduil...stretching the limits of unbound keywords. I still don't think that a Horn has any reason to be a fortification. What would be quite cool is if it tutored fortifications...like, blow the horn (hehe) for reinforcements.

It works very well with Saved From the Fire, which, alas, will be rotated out of your block. But it is a very neat card otherwise.
-wtk