Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn - DC's Are Exhausting at 4 A.M. (12/23)

[Thranduil]

Haven't you missed a "Weapon: Axe" on that last card? Balance-wise, they all look good. And I really liked Leonardo and I'll give you a for him!

Thranduil

[DáinIronfoot]

•Edward, Blade of Dawn
Companion • Beorc • Swordmaster
Strength: 6
Vitality: 3
Signet: Micaiah
Weapon: Sword
Dawn Brigade.
While Edward is exhausted, he is damage +1.
Regroup: Exert Edward twice to reveal a shadow player's hand. That shadow player must wound a minion for each shadow card revealed.
"They're worse than useless! We'll be glad to help you."
0R8

Always capitalize "Shadow", whether it be a Shadow card, player, phase...whatever. I think he's good other than that little nitpick, though.

Edward, Hasty Rebel
Companion • Beorc • Swordmaster
Strength: 6
Vitality: 3
Signet: Micaiah
Weapon: Sword
Dawn Brigade.
Each time Edward wins a skirmish, you may exert him to discard a minion involved in that skirmish.
"Well, well, well. Look who decided to show up... Begnion soldiers. They certainly took their time, didn't they?"
0U9

Niiiiiice. Shouldn't he he unique, though?

•Caladbolg, Royal Gift
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength: +2
Weapon: Sword
Bearer must be Edward. He is damage +1.
Skirmish: Exert Edward to make him strength + X, where X is his damage bonus.
Given by King Pelleas as a reward for serving Daein...
0U10

I like it. Pairs especially well with the first version thanks to the skirmish-exerting ability.

•Nolan, Wise Axeman
Companion • Beorc • Fighter
Strength: 7
Vitality: 3
Signet: Micaiah
Weapon: Axe
Dawn Brigade.
Each time Nolan wins a skirmish, you may heal a minion to heal another Dawn Brigade companion.
Response: If a minion uses a special ability in a skirmish involving Nolan, you may exert him to cancel that ability.
"I've never seen so much Begnion activity in this area before. Is there...something we should know?"
0U11

Seems awfully good...perhaps require spotting another Dawn Brigade fellow to play him?

•Tarvos, Royal Gift
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength: +2
Weapon: Axe
Bearer must be Nolan. He can take no more than 1 wound in each skirmish.
While at a battleground site, Nolan has muster.
"Crafted by the finest smiths in the king's company..."
0C12

Seems fine to me.

[sickofpalantirs]

NOW we're talking! Maybe cost would be better, though.

Done.

Good stuff. It might make sense storywise, but I MIGHT prefer one of these (probably this version) have an ability that triggers at a different time than simply winning a skirmish. Not strictly necessary, but it would really help set one version apart from the other.

Well, I sorta like the feel of them being in a cycle like that. I can't really think of another ability that fits him, anyway....

Well, sorry to say it, guys, you're gonna be seeing companions and more companions for a while now. There's a whopping 18 unique companions in the culture - plus maybe some more non-unique ones, if I can figure out a theme for them.  Plus multiple copies of some of those unique guys. So bear with me. We can get in two more - plus their toys - right now.

•Edward, Blade of Dawn
Companion • Beorc • Swordmaster
Strength: 6
Vitality: 3
Signet: Micaiah
Weapon: Sword
Dawn Brigade.
While Edward is exhausted, he is damage +1.
Regroup: Exert Edward twice to reveal a shadow player's hand. That shadow player must wound a minion for each shadow card revealed.
"They're worse than useless! We'll be glad to help you."
0R8
fine. though could be one exertion...especially with the first ability...

Edward, Hasty Rebel
Companion • Beorc • Swordmaster
Strength: 6
Vitality: 3
Signet: Micaiah
Weapon: Sword
Dawn Brigade.
Each time Edward wins a skirmish, you may exert him to discard a minion involved in that skirmish.
"Well, well, well. Look who decided to show up... Begnion soldiers. They certainly took their time, didn't they?"
0U9
fine

•Caladbolg, Royal Gift
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength: +2
Weapon: Sword
Bearer must be Edward. He is damage +1.
Skirmish: Exert Edward to make him strength + X, where X is his damage bonus.
Given by King Pelleas as a reward for serving Daein...
0U10
fine by me this could be 1 though IMSO

•Nolan, Wise Axeman
Companion • Beorc • Fighter
Strength: 7
Vitality: 3
Signet: Micaiah
Weapon: Axe
Dawn Brigade.
Each time Nolan wins a skirmish, you may heal a minion to heal another Dawn Brigade companion.
Response: If a minion uses a special ability in a skirmish involving Nolan, you may exert him to cancel that ability.
"I've never seen so much Begnion activity in this area before. Is there...something we should know?"
0U11
fine

•Tarvos, Royal Gift
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength: +2
Weapon: Axe
Bearer must be Nolan. He can take no more than 1 wound in each skirmish.
While at a battleground site, Nolan has muster.
"Crafted by the finest smiths in the king's company..."
0C12

could cost 1 maybe...especially if it was rare...but as common I guess its good.

[Elf_Lvr]

•Laura, Selfless Cleric
Companion • Beorc • Bishop
Strength: 2
Vitality: 5
Signet: Micaiah
Weapon: Staff
Dawn Brigade.
At the start of each skirmish involving Laura, add 2 burdens.
Regroup: Exert Laura to heal another Dawn Brigade companion.
"I couldn't possibly abandon them now, not even if it meant saving myself."
0R13

•Ilyana, Ravenous and Vengeful
Companion • Beorc • Sage
Strength: 7
Vitality: 3
Signet: Micaiah
Weapon: Lightning
Dawn Brigade.
While you can spot another companion, Ilyana is twilight cost -1.
Skirmish: Discard a possession Ilyana bears to exert a minion she is skirmishing.
"I can fight... I'm...very angry... The food here... It was terrible, and...they gave us hardly any... I... will have vengeance."
0C14

And since they don't have specific weapons for themselves, let's get some generic possessions out of the way.

Elthunder
Possession • Ranged Weapon
Strength: +2
Weapon: Lightning
Bearer must be a Beorc.
While skirmishing a Dragon, Dragonmaster, or Dragonlord, bearer is damage +1.
"I give up. You just grabbed at random, didn't you?"
0C15

Iron Sword
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength: +2
Weapon: Sword
Bearer must be a Beorc.
While bearer is at a battleground site, bearer is damage +1.
0C16

•Kard, Rogue's Knife
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength: +2
Weapon: Knife
Bearer must be Sothe.
Skirmish: Discard this possession to wound a minion bearer is skirmishing.
A dagger custom-forged with a serrated edge.
0U17

Throwing Knife
Possession • Ranged Weapon
Strength: +1
Weapon: Knife
Bearer must be a Beorc.
Archery: Discard this possession to wound a minion. If that minion is killed, return this possession to your hand.
0U18

[FM]

Throwing Knife is seriously OP, I believe. "Throwing" weapons, per definition, should be "thrown", like Hand Axe. I, for one, would make it WOUND the minion, and if the minion is killed by any reason (including the wound), THEN return it to your hand (or even attach it to the character again) as a delayed triggered ability, during the regroup phase, for flavor reasons (meaning you throw the weapon, walk over to the corpse after action is over, and grab it back).

[Thranduil]

•Laura, Selfless Cleric
Companion • Beorc • Bishop
Strength: 2
Vitality: 4
Signet: Micaiah
Weapon: Staff
Dawn Brigade.
At the start of each skirmish involving Laura, add 2 burdens.
Regroup: Exert Laura to heal another Dawn Brigade companion.
"I couldn't possibly abandon them now, not even if it meant saving myself."

Not sure why she needs the drawback (compare her to Merry or Pippin, for example). It might be interesting to increase her vitality to 5 or 6 to warrant it, or to give another option for a cost to heal your other companions.

Thranduil

[CarpeGuitarrem]

•Laura, Selfless Cleric
Companion • Beorc • Bishop
Strength: 2
Vitality: 4
Signet: Micaiah
Weapon: Staff
Dawn Brigade.
At the start of each skirmish involving Laura, add 2 burdens.
Regroup: Exert Laura to heal another Dawn Brigade companion.
"I couldn't possibly abandon them now, not even if it meant saving myself."

Pretty nice, reminds me of a follower, although yeah, I'd go with higher vitality to offset the drawback.

•Ilyana, Ravenous and Vengeful
Companion • Beorc • Sage
Strength: 7
Vitality: 3
Signet: Micaiah
Weapon: Lightning
Dawn Brigade.
While you can spot another companion, Ilyana is twilight cost -1.
Skirmish: Discard a possession Ilyana bears to exert a minion she is skirmishing.
"I can fight... I'm...very angry... The food here... It was terrible, and...they gave us hardly any... I... will have vengeance."

Nifty! Reminds me of a ranger

Elthunder
Possession • Ranged Weapon
Strength: +2
Weapon: Lightning
Bearer must be a Beorc.
While skirmishing a Dragon, Dragonmaster, or Dragonlord, bearer is damage +1.
"I give up. You just grabbed at random, didn't you?"

Nice. Lightning is always good. Reminds me of that one Aragorn sword...

Iron Sword
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength: +2
Weapon: Sword
Bearer must be a Beorc.
While bearer is at a battleground site, bearer is damage +1.

Nice and simple. Works.

•Kard, Rogue's Knife
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength: +2
Weapon: Knife
Bearer must be Sothe.
Skirmish: Discard this possession to wound a minion Sothe is skirmishing.
A dagger custom-forged with a serrated edge.

Cool and nifty. That works. Although I'd change "Sothe" to "bearer" the second time.

Throwing Knife
Possession • Ranged Weapon
Strength: +1
Weapon: Knife
Bearer must be a Beorc.
Archery: Discard this possession to wound a minion. If that minion is killed, return this possession to your hand.

I like it. I think it works.

[Elf_Lvr]

More companions. We've gotta get through 'em eventually. I swear, this set is gonna end up being pretty massive.

Oh well.

•Aran, the Unbeliever
Companion • Beorc • Halberdier
Strength: 6
Vitality: 3
Weapon: Lance
Dawn Brigade.
While you can spot Laura, Aran cannot take more than one wound in each skirmish.
Response: If another Dawn Brigade companion is about to take a wound, discard 3 cards from hand to prevent that wound.
"A true Daein? I'm not sure I still am one..."
0U19

•Aimee, Amorous Merchant
Follower
Resistance: +1
Aid -
When you play Aimee, you may play a Staff or Spell from your draw deck.
Maneuver: Exert bearer to discard the top card of your draw deck. If it is a possession of bearer's culture, you may play it.
"You've certainly grown up to be easy on the eyes! I believe I'm a little smitten."
0R20

Note that all Magic ranged weapons are spells. I'm sort of afraid of her being too good - but I think the second ability is obscure enough.

Oh, and she lacks cultural enforcement on purpose - Aimee, and the rest of the traveling merchants, support various groups throughout the game.

Hmm... if you're up to reviewing 3 or so more cards, we can get to some really neat stuff today - still companions, though.

•Volug, Royal Guard
Companion • Laguz • Wolf
Strength: 8
Vitality: 3
Shifted.
Volug may not use his mastery skill unless he bears Satori Sign.
Mastery - Savage 3. Volug is strength +5 and cannot take more than one wound in each skirmish.
"...this is Volug, my loyal servant. Our kingdom lies far east of here."
0C21

Volug is a unique laguz in that he is transformed all the time, and can transform any time he likes. However, this comes at the cost of some of his better talents - in this case his mastery skill. You may have to remind me to make a card for Satori Sign.

•Nailah, the Wolf Queen
Companion • Laguz • Royal Wolf
Strength: 9 (15)
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 8
Formshift 6.
At the start of the maneuver phase, you may exert Nailah to prevent a minion from being assigned to skirmish until the regroup phase. That minion's owner may remove to prevent this.
While Nailah is shifted, she has Mastery - Savage 4. Nailah is strength +5 and cannot take more than one wound in each skirmish.
"Until we met Rafiel, we didn't know there were countries on this side of the desert. After all, no one had ever crossed the Desert of Death and lived to tell of it."
0R22

The Royal Laguz - kings and queens of their respective nations - are, obviously, the most powerful laguz. In the games, they are woefully overpowered - while having physically impossible and god-like stats, they ALSO possess the ability to remain transformed all the time. This is an ability I felt would be a little OP on a card, especially one like this. I think I will make a card later, however, that allows Laguz Royals to remain shifted all the time, for a cost. We'll see how it works out.

And finally, perhaps the most interesting companion yet...

•Rafiel, Eldest Heron Prince
Companion • Laguz • Heron
Strength: 0
Vitality: 2
Resistance: 10
Formshift 2.
To play, spot Nailah or Micaiah and add a burden.
At the start of each of your turns, heal a companion.
While Rafiel is Shifted, if he has resistance 6 or more, each other companion is strength +2.
"Oh, goddess! I'm...not alone. Not anymore..."
0R23

This is probably a guy I'm gonna have to change A LOT to get and keep balanced. Let me give some game-wise explanation for Rafiel: In FE, the heron tribe of laguz have no means of fighting, nor do they have very many hit points. Thusly, if they are exposed to battle, they WILL die... unless you've maxed them out in levels. And then they might get by with only severe damage. In return, however, they have the ability to heal adjacent members of your team each turn, and the ability to allow a unit to move again. There are 3 Herons in the game - and Rafiel here is the first.

The movement part of the Heron's abilities will be explored on later versions - Rafiel isn't the best one for the job, by far.

I *almost* made this guy a follower, but I wanted to express the vulnerability of herons by making him this way.

Also, I'll make sure you can't have all 3 Herons in play at once, unless you want to deal with some freaky spotting requirements.

[DáinIronfoot]

More companions. We've gotta get through 'em eventually. I swear, this set is gonna end up being pretty massive.

Heheh. Believe me, I know EXACTLY where you're coming from.

•Aran, the Unbeliever
Companion • Beorc • Halberdier
Strength: 6
Vitality: 3
Weapon: Lance
Dawn Brigade.
While you can spot Laura, Aran cannot take more than one wound in each skirmish.
Response: If another Dawn Brigade companion is about to take a wound, discard 3 cards from hand to prevent that wound.
"A true Daein? I'm not sure I still am one..."
0U19

Samus? Is it Samus Aran? No? Darn.

Anyway, I think "can take no more than one wound" would be better wording, but seems fine otherwise. Certainly makes everyone much tougher, which is nice.

•Aimee, Amorous Merchant
Follower
Resistance: +1
Aid -
When you play Aimee, you may play a Staff or Spell from your draw deck.
Maneuver: Exert bearer to discard the top card of your draw deck. If it is a possession, you may play it.
"You've certainly grown up to be easy on the eyes! I believe I'm a little smitten."
0R20

I agree that the maneuver ability worries me a bit. Perhaps it would be better if the Staff/Spell played AND the possession be limited to those of Aimee's or bearer's culture. Then she is still sort of a jack-of-all-cultures, but a LITTLE more limited and balanced.

•Volug, Royal Guard
Companion • Laguz • Wolf
Strength: 8
Vitality: 3
Shifted.
Volug may not use his mastery skill unless he bears Satori Sign.
Mastery - Savage 3. Volug is strength +5 and cannot take more than one wound in each skirmish.
"...this is Volug, my loyal servant. Our kingdom lies far east of here."
0C21

Seems okay, though I think would be a better cost based on stats alone.

•Nailah, the Wolf Queen
Companion • Laguz • Royal Wolf
Strength: 9 (15)
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 8
Formshift 6.
At the start of the maneuver phase, you may exert Nailah to prevent a minion from being assigned to skirmish until the regroup phase. That minion's owner may pay to prevent this.
While Nailah is shifted, she has Mastery - Savage 4. Nailah is strength +5 and cannot take more than one wound in each skirmish.
"Until we met Rafiel, we didn't know there were countries on this side of the desert. After all, no one had ever crossed the Desert of Death and lived to tell of it."
0R22

Unless you're planning on changing the wording across the board, it should be "remove " instead of "pay ".

She seems fine otherwise thanks to her high cost.

•Rafiel, Eldest Heron Prince
Companion • Laguz • Heron
Strength: 0
Vitality: 2
Resistance: 10
Formshift 2.
To play, spot Nailah or Micaiah.
At the start of each of your turns, heal a companion.
While Rafiel is Shifted, if he has resistance 6 or more, each other companion is strength +2.
"Oh, goddess! I'm...not alone. Not anymore..."
0R23

I'd still give him SOME strength, like 2, and probably a cost of so he's not super-easy to start with (since, if memory serves, you CAN start with Micaiah, and having an auto-healer from the get-go like that shouldn't come completely free. Either that or make him like Smeagol with some other cost to play, like a burden or two.

MIGHT be okay other than that, but it's awfully hard to judge without playing with it.

[sickofpalantirs]

•Aran, the Unbeliever
Companion • Beorc • Halberdier
Strength: 6
Vitality: 3
Weapon: Lance
Dawn Brigade.
While you can spot Laura, Aran cannot take more than one wound in each skirmish.
Response: If another Dawn Brigade companion is about to take a wound, discard 3 cards from hand to prevent that wound.
"A true Daein? I'm not sure I still am one..."
0U19
maybe if you have initiative and 2 cards...

•Aimee, Amorous Merchant
Follower
Resistance: +1
Aid -
When you play Aimee, you may play a Staff or Spell from your draw deck.
Maneuver: Exert bearer to discard the top card of your draw deck. If it is a possession, you may play it.
"You've certainly grown up to be easy on the eyes! I believe I'm a little smitten."
0R20
play it instead perhaps?

•Volug, Royal Guard
Companion • Laguz • Wolf
Strength: 8
Vitality: 3
Shifted.
Volug may not use his mastery skill unless he bears Satori Sign.
Mastery - Savage 3. Volug is strength +5 and cannot take more than one wound in each skirmish.
"...this is Volug, my loyal servant. Our kingdom lies far east of here."
0C21
I obviously missed what savage and shifted does...refresher course?

•Nailah, the Wolf Queen
Companion • Laguz • Royal Wolf
Strength: 9 (15)
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 8
Formshift 6.
At the start of the maneuver phase, you may exert Nailah to prevent a minion from being assigned to skirmish until the regroup phase. That minion's owner may pay to prevent this.
While Nailah is shifted, she has Mastery - Savage 4. Nailah is strength +5 and cannot take more than one wound in each skirmish.
"Until we met Rafiel, we didn't know there were countries on this side of the desert. After all, no one had ever crossed the Desert of Death and lived to tell of it."
0R22
may remove 2, not pay 2...

•Rafiel, Eldest Heron Prince
Companion • Laguz • Heron
Strength: 0
Vitality: 2
Resistance: 10
Formshift 2.
To play, spot Nailah or Micaiah.
At the start of each of your turns, heal a companion.
While Rafiel is Shifted, if he has resistance 6 or more, each other companion is strength +2.
"Oh, goddess! I'm...not alone. Not anymore..."
0R23

ok this would make a lot more sense if I took the time to read what shifted did, but I will just wait and let you explain

[Elf_Lvr]

Limited the maneuver ability. Gave Rafiel a burden cost, and changed Nailah's wording.  to both of you.

I obviously missed what savage and shifted does...refresher course?

Shifted is unloaded. On every laguz (except this guy) it's a thing that happens when they reach the full amount of formshift tokens and lasts until they run out of formshift tokens. If you don't remember what Formshift X does:

Start of each fellowship phase or skirmish involving this companion, add a formshift token here. Once this companion has X tokens here, it is considered shifted until it has no more formshift tokens here. While shifted, at the start of each fellowship phase or skirmish involving this companion, remove a formshift token here.

It's a lot of text for a (fairly) easy to understand ability.

Mastery - Skill X lets you reveal the top card of your draw deck at the start of a skirmish involving that companion. If the twilight cost of the revealed card is X or more, you trigger the ability listed.

[sickofpalantirs]

got it.
thanks, and GP.

[Elf_Lvr]

More. Companions. Yay.  But I think we're nearing the end of the companion splurge. Note that these don't have the Dawn Brigade keyword.

•Jill, Daein Veteran
Companion • Man • Dracoknight
Strength: 7
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 6
Weapon: Axe
While skirmishing a minion, Jill is damage +1.
Skirmish: Exert Jill to make her strength +1 for each of the following you can spot: Sothe, Ike, Haar.
"Just give the word!"
0C24

Note that both Ike and Haar are companions of different cultures.

•Tauroneo, King's Right Hand
Companion • Man • General
Strength: 7
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 6
Weapon: Sword
Tauroneo is strength +1 for each of the following you can spot: Pelleas, Micaiah, Ike.
"Certainly. Daein needs all the courage we can muster."
0R25

•Zihark, Daein Swordsman
Companion • Man • Swordmaster
Strength: 7
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 6
Weapon: Sword
Zihark is damage +1 for each of the following you can spot: Lyre, Lethe, Mordecai.
"It's time we put these vermin in their place."
0U26

•Izuka, Crazed Revolutionary
Follower
Strength: +1
Aid - Add a burden.
When you transfer Izuka to a companion, you may draw a card (or two cards if bearer is Pelleas).
"What a coincidence! Or is it fate? Or maybe it's my unrivaled skill as a revolutionary organizer?"
0C27

[Thranduil]

•Jill, Daein Veteran
Companion • Man • Dracoknight
Strength: 7
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 6
Weapon: Axe
While skirmishing a minion, Jill is damage +1.
Skirmish: Exert Jill to make her strength +1 for each of the following you can spot: Sothe, Ike, Haar.
"Just give the word!"
0C24

I think I would make the other companions more like this one with 1 minor ability first (perhaps broad culture hate if you feel it's appropriate - I can't comment on the background here at all, I'm afraid).

Thranduil

[sickofpalantirs]

More. Companions. Yay.  But I think we're nearing the end of the companion splurge. Note that these don't have the Dawn Brigade keyword.

•Jill, Daein Veteran
Companion • Man • Dracoknight
Strength: 7
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 6
Weapon: Axe
While skirmishing a minion, Jill is damage +1.
Skirmish: Exert Jill to make her strength +1 for each of the following you can spot: Sothe, Ike, Haar.
"Just give the word!"
0C24
I'm thinking either drop her strength 1 or drop the first ability...

•Tauroneo, King's Right Hand
Companion • Man • General
Strength: 8
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 6
Weapon: Sword
Tauroneo is strength +1 for each of the following you can spot: Pelleas, Micaiah, Ike.
"Certainly. Daein needs all the courage we can muster."
0R25
definitly drop strength 1.

•Zihark, Daein Swordsman
Companion • Man • Swordmaster
Strength: 7
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 6
Weapon: Sword
Zihark is damage +1 for each of the following you can spot: Lyre, Lethe, Mordecai.
"It's time we put these vermin in their place."
0U26
fine

•Izuka, Crazed Revolutionary
Follower
Strength: +1
Aid - Add a burden.
When you transfer Izuka to a companion, you may draw a card (or two cards if bearer is Pelleas).
"What a coincidence! Or is it fate? Or maybe it's my unrivaled skill as a revolutionary organizer?"
0C27

fine