DC Starter: Sanctuary Elves / Isengard Men

[Cw0rk]

OK. If you just started to follow this thread, let me explain you what is going on because I edited my first post. At first I wanted to create a new keyword:

Sanctuary +X or -X.: While the fellowship is at a sanctuary, you may heal X additional wounds from companions or must heal X less wounds from companions.

After further discussions, I decided to just make a bunch of new cards working with Sanctuaries.

Here are the ones I made so far:

•Elrond, Skillful Healer
Ally • Home 3 • Elf
Strength: 8
Vitality: 4
At the start of the turn, if the fellowship is at a sanctuary, you may heal up to 2 wounds from companions.
Fellowship: Exert Elrond to discard a shadow card borne by an exhausted companion.
"By the skills of Lord Elrond, you're beginning to mend."

Elven Healer
Companion • Elf
Strength: 5
Vitality: 3
While the fellowship is at a sanctuary, Elven Healer cannot be overwelmed unless his strength is tripled.

•Galadriel, Sanctuary Keeper from Lothlorien
Ally • Home 6 • Elf
Strength: 3
Vitality: 3
Each time the fellowship moves to a sanctuary, heal Galadriel.
Fellowship or Regroup: Exert Galadriel to make an opponent play the fellowship's next site or exert her twice to play the fellowship's next site (replacing the opponent's site if necessary).

Stronger After the Cure
Event • Skirmish
Spot an Elf to make an unwounded companion strength +2 (or +4 at a sanctuary).

Valinor
Condition
To play, spot 2 elves. Plays on a site.
This site is a Sanctuary.
"I Aear can ven na mar."

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The starter decklist so far is:

Frodo, Rescued by his Fellows
The One Ring, The Ruling Ring (C)

9 Sites (UC)

Fellowship (25)
1x Arwen, Lady of Imlaris (AI)
1x Elrond, Skillful Healer (P)
1x Galadriel, Keeper of the Lothlorien (P)
2x Hobbit Sword (C)
3x Elven Horse (C)
3x Elven Healer (C)
2x Stronger after the Cure (UC)
3x Courage (C)
2x Spirits of Valinor (UC)
1x In Need of Elven Medicine (UC)
2x Aragorn, Guardian of the Shire (C)
1x Severed on his Bond (C)
2x Elven Sword (C)
1x Pathfinder (C)

Shadow (25)
1x Théoden Bewitched (AI)
2x Unferth, Grima's Bodyguard (C)
1x Grima, Son of Galmod (C)
3x Hostile Bodyguard (C)
3x Rohirrim Betrayer (C)
3x Rohirrim Traitor (C)
2x Weaponless (C)
2x Poisoned (C)
2x Desertion (UC)
1x Wizened (AI)
1x Inhospitality (UC)
2x Men Will Fall (UC)
2x Dagger and Chain (C)

[Sam, Great Elf Warrior]

Stronger after the cure
Event • Skirmish
Spot a Sanctuary +X elf to make a companion strength +X (until the regroup phase if that companion is unwounded).

Elven Healer
Companion • Elf
Strength: 5
Vitality: 3
Sanctuary +1.

These two are a bit weak. The event can give you at best +2, with a conditional +2, so that even if you have Elrond out it's no better than a generic skirmish event. The only advantage I can see is that it can be played on anyone. Meanwhile, the companion is 1 weaker than a typical 2-6-3 companion, and has a game text that only heals 2 wounds over the course of the game.

[Cw0rk]

Can anyone suggest me a better conditional effect for my event? I'd like to keep 'if that companion is unwounded'.

I have to agree that Elven Healer is a bit weak. However most non-unique Elven companion who cost 2 are 2-5-3. Maybe I could add 'When the Fellowship is at a sanctuary, Elven Healer is strength +1.' or something like that.

[Sam, Great Elf Warrior]

How about:
Elven Healer
Companion • Elf
Strength: 5
Vitality: 3
Sanctuary +1.
At the end of each turn, you may exert this companion to heal another companion once (or twice if the fellowship is at a sanctuary).

Stronger After the Cure
Event • Skirmish
Spot a Sanctuary +X Elf to heal another companion. If that companion is then unwounded, make that companion strength +X.

[Cw0rk]

I'll be honest, I'm not a fan of adding more or fewer heals at a sanctuary. Especially since I don't see this being particularly prevalent anyways, you could always just have the line, "At the start of the fellowship phase, heal a companion if at a sanctuary" on the, I don't know, three companions this would apply to.

I'm just not a huge fan of adding a ton of healing to the game, especially if it is semi-permanent.
-wtk

Yeah, I agree that it can be replaced by the line you proposed. However, what I like about this idea here is that its related to the movie. Rivendell wouldn't be a sanctuary if it wasn't for Elrond and the same thing happens with the Lothlorien. Inhospitality is meant to represent the fact that Theoden isn't very nice to Gandalf and the others when they arrive to Golden Hall, another sanctuary. Denethor isn't nice at all with Gandalf when he gets to Minas Tirith, site 6 ROTK sanctuary.

Sam, I liked your idea for Stronger after the cure so I edited the first post. I also changed Elven Healer.

[Cw0rk]

Here are two new original suggestion regarding sanctuaries. However they do not have the keyword.

He needs elvish medecine
Event - Response
If the fellowship is about to move during the regroup phase, spot a ranger, an elf and an exhausted companion to move back to the closest sanctuary instead.

Retreat from Osgiliath
Event - Regroup
If no minions have lost a skirmish during this turn, spot 3 minions and a companion in the dead pile to make the fellowship move back to the closest sanctuary.

[Cw0rk]

Why would anyone ever use the Denethor you proposed? There are plenty of other 8-3 Denethors that don't take away heals at a sanctuary.
-wtk

This one doesn't require to spot 2 Gondor Men and the negative effect is a bit like Denethor, SotC. It also has the Gandalf signet. For , it is still quite a good companion.

[MR. Lurtzy]

Retreat from osgiliath is severely overpowered.

[Thranduil]

Sanctuary +X or -X.: While the fellowship is at a sanctuary, you may heal X additional wounds from companions or must heal X less wounds from companions.

I'm not sure I like the specific keyword, but the concept has potential.

I would take it in 1 of 2 directions:

1) Make it a keyword that means "At the start of each turn, heal X companions" called perhaps Healer X to simulate sancturaries. A Shadow equivalent can be a card like You Bring Great Evil - a keyword like Cursed which means that that companion does not heal at sanctuaries.

2) Make a looser mechanical unit - cards that interact with sanctuaries, but you don't need a specific keyword for it.

Elven Healer
Companion • Elf
Strength: 5
Vitality: 3
Sanctuary +1.
While the fellowship is at a sanctuary, Elven Healer is strength +1.

This is exactly what I mean with my second point. A vanilla 5/3 companion that gets strength +2 or something at a sanctuary.

•Elrond, Healer from Rivendell
Ally • Home 3 • Elf
Strength: 8
Vitality: 4
Sanctuary +2.
Fellowship: Exert Elrond to discard a shadow card borne by a companion.

And this is a great example of my first point. He could easily have the same sort of text as other Elronds "At a sanctuary, Elrond gains healer 2. (At the start of the fellowship phase, you may heal 2 companions)."

•Galadriel, Sanctuary Keeper from Lothlorien
Ally • Home 6 • Elf
Strength: 3
Vitality: 3
Sanctuary +1.
Fellowship or Regroup: Exert Galadriel to look at an opponent's hand. You may discard a shadow condition revealed.

Repeat. Not a bad ability though. Might steal it!

Stronger after the cure
Event • Skirmish
Spot a Sanctuary +X Elf to heal another companion. If that companion is then unwounded, make him or her strength +X.

This is one thing I really don't like - why would you spot those sanctuary values? Doesn't make any sense to me. I would make this an event that benefits from being at a sanctuary for my 2nd point: "Spot an Elf to make a companion strength +2 (or +4 at a sanctuary)."

Inhospitality
Condition
To play, spot Saruman or a Man.
Bearer must be a Free Peoples man (limit 1 per companion).
Bearer gains Sanctuary -1.

Again, I like this better as following You Bring Great Evil. Could be keyworded or not, but I just feel like there's a better mechanic for this already.

•Denethor, Unwelcoming Steward
Companion • Man
Strength: 8
Vitality: 3
Signet: Gandalf
Sanctuary -1.

And yeah, he needs some advantage or he's not worth playing, but the idea of a companion with massive power but something like "This companion does not heal at sanctuaries" or "At the start of each fellowship phase, exert a companion" is not a bad idea.

He needs elvish medecine
Event - Response
If the fellowship is about to move during the regroup phase, spot a ranger, an elf and an exhausted companion to move back to the closest sanctuary instead.

Retreat from Osgiliath
Event - Regroup
If no minions have lost a skirmish during this turn, spot 3 minions and a companion in the dead pile to make the fellowship move back to the closest sanctuary.

I think other people have made my feelings on these clear. The concept is good, but I would never use the FP card and the SH card is a little bit broken - even if it is hard to pull off. If you do, you have just straight won. Rather, I would make a card that simulates sanctuaries. Something like:

Elvish Medicine
Event • Fellowship
Spot an Elf to heal up to 5 companions.

Hope those thoughts help.

Thranduil

[Cw0rk]

Thanx for your comments guys. After reading all the comments (especially the one from the DC Master ), I have to agree that the keyword isn't a necessity. What I might do is create a bunch of Elven DC's related to sanctuaries instead. Even the 'Healer 2' keyword wouldn't be a necessity.

For the two other cards I posted regarding moving backward. Why would the FP player want to move back to a sanctuary? Sometimes when you are about to move, you know that you are in a situation in which you are probably going to die. Moving back to a sanctuary allows you to survive with your FP and be able to attempt a shadow kill (like a Southron Archery Bomb at site 9). If you guys don't see the utility of the card, I'll make it even easier to play. The shadow card may be overpowered, I'll make it even more difficult to play.

In Needs of Elvish Medecine
Event • Response
If the fellowship is about to move during the regroup phase, spot a ranger and an exhausted companion to move back to the closest uncontrolled sanctuary instead.
"This is beyond my skill to heal. He needs Elvish medicine."

Retreat from Osgiliath
Event • Regroup
If no minions have lost a skirmish during this turn, spot 5 minions and a companion in the dead pile to make the fellowship move back to the closest uncontrolled sanctuary. Discard those minions.

[Sam, Great Elf Warrior]

In needs of elvish medicine
Event • Response
If the fellowship is about to move during the regroup phase, spot a ranger and an exhausted companion to move back to the closest uncontrolled sanctuary instead.
"This is beyond my skill to heal. He needs Elvish medicine."

I can see a lot of people using this with a FP side that's basically just a pawn for setting up a shadow kill (e.g. LttG).

Retreat from Osgiliath
Event - Regroup
If no minions have lost a skirmish during this turn, spot 5 minions and a companion in the dead pile to make the fellowship move back to the closest sanctuary. Discard those minions.

If the Fellowship is at site 6, will this move them to site 3? That still seems pretty powerful. Maybe just make it move back one.

[Thranduil]

On second thoughts, I'm not sure that forcing your opponent to move back is that overpowered if the cost is right. It does outright win the game, but so does Shapes Slowly Advancing, Despair etc.

But the problem with the FP card is the fact that you play it in Fellowships that are only there to survive to get a Shadow kill. Might be ridiculous for them.

Thranduil

[Cw0rk]

I modified these cards:

Elven Healer
Companion • Elf
Strength: 5
Vitality: 3
While the fellowship is at a sanctuary, Elven Healer cannot be overwelmed unless his strength is tripled.

Stronger After the Cure
Event • Skirmish
Spot an elf to make an unwounded companion strength +2 (or +4 at a sanctuary).


Here is a new card without a name:

Need a name
Condition
To play, spot 2 elves. Plays on a site.
This site is a Sanctuary.

I'm going to try to make around 10 cards working with sanctuaries. It will include an Elrond, a Galadriel and an Arwen. I'm still not sure if I want to make Elrond and Galadriel as allies. One of the cards will be called 'In Needs of Elvish Medecine' but will probably have a different text than the one I proposed before about moving backward.

[Thranduil]

Need a name
Condition
To play, spot 2 elves. Plays on a site.
This site is a Sanctuary.

I love this! Ket's suggestion would be interesting, but that might make it rather too good. For a title, how about "Rest for the Weary"?

Thranduil

[Cw0rk]

•Elrond, Skillful Healer
Ally • Home 3 • Elf
Strength: 8
Vitality: 4
At the start of the turn, if the fellowship is at a sanctuary, you may heal up to 2 wounds from companions.
Fellowship: Exert Elrond to discard a shadow card borne by an exhausted companion.
"By the skills of Lord Elrond, you're beginning to mend."

Okay, I basically recopied the first Elrond I made, added a quote from the movie. The first sentence may need to be reworded. If you have a cooler abillity to suggest, good ahead.

 Any ideas for a potential name for this sanctuary card? 'Na Mar' means home in Elvish (I found that reading the script), maybe it could be a nice name. I think there is already a card named rest for the weary (No rest for the weary). I will create a card like Pathfinder to play the fellowship's next site.