The Way Into Mordor - Gandalf (8/28: "You still speak in riddles.")

[Thranduil]

Huorn of Fangorn
Companion • Tree
Strength: 5
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 6
To play, spot a character.
While you can spot an Orc or Uruk-hai, this companion is damage +1.
This companion is strength +1 for each Tree and Ent you can spot (limit +4).
"‘...the Ents with all their rustling Huorns behind.'"

Reasonable, but I always prefer giving concrete numbers than limits (like "While you can spot 3 Ents...")

Dark Huorn
Companion • Tree
Strength: 7
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 4
This companion is damage +1 for each Orc and Uruk-hai in its skirmish.
Maneuver: Add to make this companion strength +2 until the regroup phase (limit once per phase).
"‘There is a great power in them, and they seem able to wrap themselves in shadow....'"

My problem is that I can't ever see myself not using the maneuver ability. Perhaps make it conditional on something.

•Trees of Fangorn
Companion • Tree
Strength: 12
Vitality: 5
Resistance: 6
Damage +1. Defender +1. To play, spot 2 Trees or 2 Ents.
Trees of Fangorn's twilight cost is -2 for each Tree you can spot.
Maneuver: Spot an Orc or Uruk-hai and exert Trees of Fangorn and another Tree companion to liberate a site.
"Great trees, bare and silent, stood, rank on rank, with tangled bough and hoary head...."

His maneuver ability is pretty useless. I don't see why his twilight cost isn't reduced by Ents as well and would make the maneuver without the spotting an Orc or Uruk-hai and a regroup action.

•Fangorn Forest
Companion • Tree
Strength: 10
Vitality: 6
Resistance: 5
Damage +2. To play, spot 2 Trees or 2 unique Ents.
Fangorn Forest's twilight cost is -2 for each Ent and Tree you can spot.
Fangorn Forest is strength +2 for each Orc and Uruk-hai in its skirmish.
"‘It is Orcs that they hate....From the deep dales of Fangorn, Gimli, that is whence they come....'"

Sounds a bit more like a site than a companion! Again, not very useful because its usefulness depends entirely on what your opponent plays. I find myself agreeing with EL on most of his judgments as well.

Thranduil

[DáinIronfoot]

•Leaflock, Ancient Ent
Companion • Ent
Strength: 10
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 6
Unhasty. Leaflock's twilight cost is -1 for each Ent and Tree you can spot.
Each Tree is strength +1 (or +2 if you can spot a Wizard).
Assignment: Exert a Tree or 2 Ents to allow Leaflock to skirmish.
"‘Leaflock has grown sleepy, almost tree-ish, you might say...covered with leafy hair, he is.'"

I think the original version of Leaflock had a little bit less strength, didn't it? I might drop this guy's strength by 1, but otherwise he's fine.

Yes, the original had 8 strength, BUT could get up to 12 with enough Ents around. This one is also unhasty whereas Finglas is not, so I think it all balances out.

Dark Huorn
Companion • Tree
Strength: 7
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 4
This companion is damage +1 for each Orc and Uruk-hai in its skirmish.
Maneuver: Add to make this companion strength +2 until the regroup phase (limit once per phase).
"‘There is a great power in them, and they seem able to wrap themselves in shadow....'"

Easy 9 strength for might not be cool. Maybe lower base strength to 6, but have some conditional cost-lowering.

My problem is that I can't ever see myself not using the maneuver ability. Perhaps make it conditional on something.

Hmmmm. The downside was supposed to be discouraging doubling by adding twilight, but...what if it adds a threat to increase the strength instead of adding ? Would that be better? Should I take it a step further and limit it to once per turn?

•Trees of Fangorn
Companion • Tree
Strength: 12
Vitality: 5
Resistance: 6
Damage +1. Defender +1. To play, spot 2 Trees or 2 Ents.
Trees of Fangorn's twilight cost is -2 for each Tree you can spot.
Maneuver: Spot an Orc or Uruk-hai and exert Trees of Fangorn and another Tree companion to liberate a site.
"Great trees, bare and silent, stood, rank on rank, with tangled bough and hoary head...."

His maneuver ability is pretty useless. I don't see why his twilight cost isn't reduced by Ents as well and would make the maneuver without the spotting an Orc or Uruk-hai and a regroup action.

I didn't want to make him TOO easy to get with his base damage and defender bonuses, so that's why Ents don't make him cheaper, too. I'll change his liberation to a regroup action.

•Fangorn Forest
Companion • Tree
Strength: 10
Vitality: 6
Resistance: 5
Damage +2. To play, spot 2 Trees or 2 unique Ents.
Fangorn Forest's twilight cost is -2 for each Ent and Tree you can spot.
Fangorn Forest is strength +2 for each Orc and Uruk-hai in its skirmish.
"‘It is Orcs that they hate....From the deep dales of Fangorn, Gimli, that is whence they come....'"

See above. Base D+2 also make doubling much easier... I have a big problem with heaping such powerful keywords on companions that also have massive strength, plus reduction and other abilities. Massive companions are fine; but if you look at the biggest ents, they lack other keywords and have conditional abilities.

Yes, but I was trying to distinguish these from Ents, especially since you'll find they don't come with a lot of support cards as Ents do.

Sounds a bit more like a site than a companion! Again, not very useful because its usefulness depends entirely on what your opponent plays. I find myself agreeing with EL on most of his judgments as well.

On the flipside, with a base damage +2, I didn't want it to be too easy to pump up his strength higher than 10...hence the very conditional strength bonus. I'm inclined to leave that part alone because I think allowing the FP player to have any way to pump him up on their own would make it OP overall.

What if I leave the conditional strength, take his base strength up to 11 or 12, and drop his damage to just +1?

[Elf_Lvr]

That seems fair. Base D+1 isn't very out of the ordinary.

[Thranduil]

Hmmmm. The downside was supposed to be discouraging doubling by adding twilight, but...what if it adds a threat to increase the strength instead of adding ? Would that be better? Should I take it a step further and limit it to once per turn?

Unfortunately, that's no downside - the Free Peoples player can always add twilight and so it never feels like a cost, which is why I would always do it. I would just change it into a basic conditional strength bonus.

Also, you do know that Fangorn Forest is a towers site, right?

Thranduil

[Olorin]

Hey guys,

do you really know that the starting fellowship must not be higher than 4 twilight cost?

What should be the starting fellowship in an ent deck, if each companion costs about 7 or more?

Make at least one ent like this:

° Lindenroot

Strength: 10
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 7

Damage +1.

Maneuver: exert a tree to heal Lindenroot.
Skirmish: add a threat or exert two trees to wound an orc or Uruk-hai.

And another thing: please keep in mind that the One Ring of Sauron doesen't have any effect to ents or trees - so the vitality should be at least at 7!

Of course, we need to pay attention that ents - even if they are now the weakest fellowship in my opinon - don't get to strong with new cards; so it should hardly be possible to play them in an Elves-deck for example... and for other ents or trees you should spot at least one ent or tree.

° Quickbeam

Strength: 8
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 7

Maneuver: exert Quickbeam to replace the fellowships current site with a site from your adventure path.
Regroup: discard Quickbeam to remove up to three threats or

[15] ° Force of Fangorn

Strength: 12
Vitality: 6
Resistance: 7

Damage +1. Defender +1. Toil 3.

To play spot Treebeard or two ents.
The current site gains forest.

This companion is strength +2 and damage +1 for each two ents or trees you can spot.

[MR. Lurtzy]

do you really know that the starting fellowship must not be higher than 4 twilight cost?

What should be the starting fellowship in an ent deck, if each companion costs about 7 or more?

This deck shows you how to start many different ents.

[DáinIronfoot]

Remember this card?

A Strange and Sad Story
Condition
Vitality +1
Resistance +1
Tale. Bearer must be an unhasty Ent (or Treebeard). Limit 1 per bearer.
Each time an Ent is played, you may heal bearer.
"‘Together we will take the road that leads into the West, / And far away will find a land where both our hearts may rest.'"

Or this one?

•Ta-rûna Rûna Rûna Rom
Condition • Support Area
This condition's twilight cost is -1 for each Ent and unbound Hobbit you can spot.
Each Ent at a battleground is strength +1.
Each Ent at a forest is vitality +1.
Each Ent skirmishing an Orc or Uruk-hai is damage +1.
"‘...with roll of drum, we come, we come; To Isengard with doom we come! With doom we come, with doom we come!'"

There's a theme I've been working on here, one that people questioned a bit (at least with Ta-rûna Rûna Rûna Rom), and that theme comes to fruition today. Let's see if you can figure it out as we move through today's new cards. Enjoy!

•Wandlimb, Fimbrethil
Follower
Strength +1
Vitality +1
Resistance +1
Aid – .
To play, spot a character.
Each time you transfer this to a companion, except an Ent, exert bearer twice.
Each time bearer wins a skirmish, you may heal a companion.
"‘Very fair she was still in my eyes...though little like the Entmaiden of old.'"

Figure it out yet? Why all this extra vitality? The strength makes sense as does the healing and such. But why so much vitality that seems to be temporary (like that on Ta-rûna Rûna Rûna Rom and now Wandlimb)?

Here's the answer. It's time to reward Ents for being so tough in the vitality department.

Search of the Ents
Condition
Resistance +2
Tale. Bearer must be an Ent. Limit 1 per bearer.
Skirmish: Discard this condition to make bearer strength +1 for each vitality he has.
"‘Long we called, and long we searched; and we asked all folk that we met which way the Entwives had gone. Some said they had never seen them; and some said that they had seen them walking away west, and some said east, and others south. But nowhere that we went could we find them.'"

See? Considering the vitality-boosting methods I've created, as well as their staple Ent Draught, you're looking at some potential strength +7 or even +8 boosts here, and you should at least get something like +5 pretty easily. Yes, it takes some work, but as long as you're not too hasty and can work up to it, this, like the Ents' eventual rage, can grow to terrifying levels.

March and Sing
Event • Skirmish
Toil 1.
Make a companion strength +1 for each card borne by that companion. If that companion is an Ent, you may then make him strength +1 for each tale he bears.
"‘But if we stayed at home and did nothing, doom would find us anyway, sooner or later. That thought has long been growing in our hearts; and that is why we are marching now. It was not a hasty resolve.'"

Ditto here. This one definately takes some work, but once you get there...look out! With this set so far adding 3 conditions Ents can bear, and Decipher's sets having several more (Enraged, Ent Moot, Ent Draught, etc.), you're once again looking at potentially a very big boost for your Ents...especially since two of the three conditions I've made for them also happen to be tales.

So again, like the Ents they're based around, it takes some time to get the wheels in motion, but once you do, the power you then bring to the table is immense. Hopefully this turns Ents into the true terrors they should be in the game without making it TOO easy...or too hasty. What do you think?

[Thranduil]

•Wandlimb, Fimbrethil
Follower
Strength +1
Vitality +1
Resistance +1
Aid – .
To play, spot a character.
Each time you transfer this to a companion, except an Ent, exert bearer twice.
Each time bearer wins a skirmish, you may heal a companion.
"‘Very fair she was still in my eyes...though little like the Entmaiden of old.'"

Looks good, though perhaps I would prefer a lower twilight cost and higher aid cost.

Search of the Ents
Condition
Resistance +2
Tale. Bearer must be an Ent. Limit 1 per bearer.
Skirmish: Discard this condition to make bearer strength +1 for each vitality he has.
"‘Long we called, and long we searched; and we asked all folk that we met which way the Entwives had gone. Some said they had never seen them; and some said that they had seen them walking away west, and some said east, and others south. But nowhere that we went could we find them.'"

To be honest, I think the resistance bonus is seriously unnecessary.

March and Sing
Event • Skirmish
Toil 1.
Make a companion strength +1 for each card borne by that companion. If that companon is an Ent, you may then make him strength +1 for each tale he bears.
"‘But if we stayed at home and did nothing, doom would find us anyway, sooner or later. That thought has long been growing in our hearts; and that is why we are marching now. It was not a hasty resolve.'"

[/quote]
This one looks good! You've missed an "i" in the second companion though.

Thranduil

[Elf_Lvr]

I think all of them look fine. I'd prefer some kind of cap on March and Sing, because it seems like such a HUGE event for ents.

[Anvar]

Should Search of the Ents be phrased: "Strength +X where X is his vitality"?

[lem0nhead]

•Wandlimb, Fimbrethil
Follower
Strength +1
Vitality +1
Resistance +1
Aid – .
To play, spot a character.
Each time you transfer this to a companion, except an Ent, exert bearer twice.
Each time bearer wins a skirmish, you may heal a companion.
"‘Very fair she was still in my eyes...though little like the Entmaiden of old.'"


Hmmm seems ok.

Search of the Ents
Condition
Resistance +2
Tale. Bearer must be an Ent. Limit 1 per bearer.
Skirmish: Discard this condition to make bearer strength +1 for each vitality he has.
"‘Long we called, and long we searched; and we asked all folk that we met which way the Entwives had gone. Some said they had never seen them; and some said that they had seen them walking away west, and some said east, and others south. But nowhere that we went could we find them.'"

Wow big! I might cut the res or make it cost 2.

March and Sing
Event • Skirmish
Toil 1.
Make a companion strength +1 for each card borne by that companion. If that companion is an Ent, you may then make him strength +1 for each tale he bears.
"‘But if we stayed at home and did nothing, doom would find us anyway, sooner or later. That thought has long been growing in our hearts; and that is why we are marching now. It was not a hasty resolve.'"

Seems cool.

So again, like the Ents they're based around, it takes some time to get the wheels in motion, but once you do, the power you then bring to the table is immense. Hopefully this turns Ents into the true terrors they should be in the game without making it TOO easy...or too hasty. What do you think?

Id like to see more! Has promise....

[DáinIronfoot]

Just a couple random Entish cards today. I THINK we're winding down with them, but you never know when inspiration might hit me again like a 2x4. Enjoy!

Long Count of Years
Condition • Support Area
Tale. When you play this condition, you may spot an Ent to add a token here for each river and forest site on the adventure path.
Fellowship: Remove X tokens from here to play an Ent at twilight cost -X.
Skirmish: Remove a token from here to make an Ent strength +1 or damage +1.
"‘Only three remain of the first Ents that walked in the woods before the Darkness: only myself, Fangorn, and Finglas and Fladrif – to give them their Elvish names; you may call them Leaflock and Skinbark if you like that better.'"

Release the River
Event • Regroup
Spot an Ent and exert 2 unbound Hobbits twice (or once if at a river) to heal each Ent and liberate a site.
"‘Break the dam! Release the river!'"

[lem0nhead]

Long Count of Years
Condition • Support Area
Tale. When you play this condition, you may spot an Ent to add a token here for each site on the adventure path.
Fellowship: Remove X tokens from here to play an Ent at twilight cost -X.
Skirmish: If the fellowship is at a battleground or forest site, remove a token from here to make an Ent strength +1 and damage +1.
"‘Only three remain of the first Ents that walked in the woods before the Darkness: only myself, Fangorn, and Finglas and Fladrif – to give them their Elvish names; you may call them Leaflock and Skinbark if you like that better.'"

Erm ok.

Release the River
Event • Regroup
Spot 2 unbound Hobbits and exert each unbound Hobbit twice (or once if at a river) to heal each Ent and liberate a site.
"‘Break the dam! Release the river!'"

Seems too costly.

[Elf_Lvr]

Long Count of Years
Condition • Support Area
Tale. When you play this condition, you may spot an Ent to add a token here for each site on the adventure path.
Fellowship: Remove X tokens from here to play an Ent at twilight cost -X.
Skirmish: If the fellowship is at a battleground or forest site, remove a token from here to make an Ent strength +1 and damage +1.
"‘Only three remain of the first Ents that walked in the woods before the Darkness: only myself, Fangorn, and Finglas and Fladrif – to give them their Elvish names; you may call them Leaflock and Skinbark if you like that better.'"

The tokens seem fairly easy to get, considering. And with that second ability (and perhaps some Traveled Leader) you could play this at site 6/7 and easily move for the win with the masses of damage it would give you. I'd change it to only add tokens for each forest/battleground, but maybe be able to remove at any site.

Release the River
Event • Regroup
Spot 2 unbound Hobbits and exert each unbound Hobbit twice (or once if at a river) to heal each Ent and liberate a site.
"‘Break the dam! Release the river!'"

Nice.

[DáinIronfoot]

Changed the first as EL recommended and lowered the cost of the second as lem0n suggested. Better now?