Merry's Sword and Sting Bane of the Eight Legs

[Gwaihir]

So two questions, both about swords oddly enough.

First how does Merry's Sword work?  Say you can spot five companions.  Do you get to distribute 5 exertions amongst however many minions happen to be there in any way you want or to you get to exert one minion five times or is there some other way of doing it?  My thought is that you can place 5 exertions on one minion, but maybe I am wrong.

Second, if you use Sting, Bane of the Eight Legs, does that mean that if you are about to lose the skirmish, you don't have to take wounds or be overwealmed or whatever bad thing is about to happen?  My thought is that you lose the skirmish, take your wounds, but get to toss the minion anyway.  Then if you want to double or something, that is one less bad guy to worry about.  

What happened here is that my Nelya RIT was going to win and wound Frodo twice, but my opponent used the sword and said Nelya gets tossed and Frodo doesn't take his two wounds.  Doesn't sound right to me.

[Sam, Great Elf Warrior]

There's a clarification that says that Merry's Sword lets you exert multiple minions (effectively, "Exert Merry twice to exert a minion and do it once for each companion you spot.").

I'm pretty sure "when the skirmish is about to end" is after the wounds, etc., when the skirmish phase itself is about to end.

[ket_the_jet]

Sting, Bane of the Eight Legs discards minions after the wounds are placed and the skirmish is resolved.

If the Ring-Bearer is overwhelmed and no eligible Sam to take it, well, game over.
-wtk

[putridbreath]

How come it is worded "about to end" instead of "when a skirmish involving the Ring-bearer resolves"? I thought that the wording implies that once all skirmish actions are played and both players pass, then the phase is "about to end." (Wounds haven't been placed yet). This allows skirmish events (like Whirling Strike) and other cards/game texts to be used before the minion is discarded. If someone can clarify why "about to end" = "after the wounds are placed and the skirmish is resolved" please do. (It's important for me to know because I just traded for this card and I am using it in a match tomorrow)

[Kralik]

The skirmish phase ends when everything involved (wounds, overwhelming, deaths, discarding, threats, responses, etc) is resolved. So it is "about to end" after all responses are finished.

[Sam, Great Elf Warrior]

Skirmishes are similar to any other phase.

For example, the archery phase goes:
1. Archery phase begins.
2. Archery actions.
3. Archery totals calculated and wounds placed.
4. Archery phase ends.

Similarly each skirmish phase (remember, each skirmish is its own phase) goes:
1. Skirmish begins.
2. Skirmish actions.
3. Skirmish resolved and wounds placed (and overwhelmed characters discarded or put in the dead pile).
4. Skirmish ends.

BotEL goes immediately before step 4 (after step 3).

[putridbreath]

Thanks for clearing things up for me!

[itjunkie]

dang. bought this card thinking it can save me from those fierce nazguls. looks like im going back to baggins heirloom

[ket_the_jet]

dang. bought this card thinking it can save me from those fierce nazguls. looks like im going back to baggins heirloom

It is still a very nice card if you are planning to double move or something of the sorts. I don't use the game text of the card too often, but it can come in handy and be a game changer on a double move to nine.
-wtk

[itjunkie]

well, i figure if the fierce minion can't overwhelm a 6 str Frodo.. then my companions can definitely kill that minion. hehe

[ket_the_jet]

With the help of a trusty copy of The Tale of the Great Ring or a Bounder in play, you have a fantastic opportunity to discard a Witch-King or Cave Troll.

Anyways, Frodo should be seven (there is no reason not to use either Answer to All Riddles or Such a Weight to Carry in Movie Block) at least. And keep in mind that Sam can use Bane of the Eight Legs as well.

Like I said, I wouldn't count on it to be your godsend to win games; however, it does have a nifty little ability that can make life easier for you in the late game.
-wtk

[itjunkie]

Tale of the Great Ring is among the C/U im currently looking for but have no luck of finding so far..   it's supposed to save me from those #$&*@! moria orcs! anyways, i got bounder in my deck... also, the ring from reflections is the only ring i have other than ruling ring (poor me )

i see what you mean,  i'll have to weigh it vs baggins heirloom... stinker can get big sometimes + shelob freezes durin which can cause problems

[ket_the_jet]

They are both good cards. I happen to prefer Baggins Heirloom, but that doesn't take away from my opinion of Bane of the Eight Legs.
-wtk

[hrcho]

Bane of the Eight Legs saved my opponent when he discarded my Lord of the Nazgul on Fell Beast and ran on site 9. I again played Lord of the Nazgul, but I just missed that Fell Beast to finish him off.