Reflections Gold - forgotten for over a YEAR - is now finished. WOOOO!

[gk1964]

Why not just amend the tomb texts to "while you can spot a unique (race) in you dead pile" and ditch the stacking thing.

I understand that you want to try and give the cultures something they don't normally have but it hard then to find other cards from there culture to play off them.

What about changing The Tomb of Balin to something like "each dwarf at an underground site takes only one wound each skirmish".

Similarly the Elf one could be somthing like "when an Elf moves from a forest site in the regroup phase, heal that Elf."

You could also do ones for other cultures such as The White Tree of Minas Tirith or the Golden Hall of Meduseld.

Artifacts should have a big impact because they are artifacts and these don't realy do it for me.


gk

[Stormcrow]

I'm honestly not a fan of Balin's tomb since it's kindof useless... I do agree with gk.
Bolg is awesome!  

[menace64]

Why not just amend the tomb texts to "while you can spot a unique (race) in you dead pile" and ditch the stacking thing.

For flavor, of course 

What about changing The Tomb of Balin to something like "each dwarf at an underground site takes only one wound each skirmish".

That would work a ton better, I think, and you've just inspired me to change all of my tomb cards...  is your reward!

Similarly the Elf one could be somthing like "when an Elf moves from a forest site in the regroup phase, heal that Elf."

Done and done!

You could also do ones for other cultures such as The White Tree of Minas Tirith or the Golden Hall of Meduseld.

I have one for each of those cultures (which I'll hold off on showing for now). Today, it's more Orcs!

Goblins of the Grey Mountains
Minion * Orc
Strength-9
Vitality-4
Site Number-4
When you play this minion, you may remove X Orcs in your discard pile from the game to make it strength +X until the regroup phase.
"…and already many were on the slopes above the Gate, and others were streaming down recklessly, heedless of those that fell screaming… Victory now vanished from hope. They had only stemmed the first onslaught of the black tide."
20R32

This minion's power is tied in with Bolg's (seen in my previous post). I wanted to, in only those two cards, establish a flavor for 'Grey Mountain orcs' as a subculture, and I decided that out-of-gaming cards would work fine. This guy, of course, is extremely basic, but its otherwise-blandness would be offset by some super-cool Weta-designed card image.

Stricken Skies
Condition * Site
To play, discard 2 cards from hand.
While the fellowship is in this region and you can spot an minion, wounds and exertions may not be healed or prevented (except at a sanctuary).
"And beneath the thunder another blackness could be seen whirling forward; but it did not come with the wind, it came from the North, like a vast cloud of birds, so dense that no light could be seen between their wings."
20R35

Again, pretty simple.

*Mithril-coat, Kingly Gift
Artifact * Armor
Bearer must be Bilbo or Frodo.
Each minion skirmishing bearer loses all damage bonuses.
Response: If bearer is about to take a wound, discard 3 cards from hand to prevent that wound.
"With that he put on Bilbo a small coat of mail, wrought for some young elf-prince long ago. It was of silver-steel…"
20R+48

I figure a Mithril-coat like this was bound to show up in the cardpool eventually. Nothing really to note here... I suppose this post was all about simplicity!

[macheteman]

i like them. like you said, simple and straightforward.

[Stormcrow]

Yep, nice and simple. 

[menace64]

Well I'd better follow up those cards with something a bit more complex.

*Arwen, Bearer of Swift Courage
Companion * Elf
Strength-6
Vitality-3
Ringed Resistance-4
Ranger.
While bearing a mount or hand weapon, Arwen is resistance +2 (or +3 if bearing both).
If Arwen bears The One Ring, at the start of each of her skirmishes, discard 2 cards from hand or add 3 burdens.
Emboldened by the death of Frodo Baggins at the Ford of Bruinen, Arwen took up the task to carry The One Ring into Mordor.
20R+8

The initial gimmick with ARBs back during Reflections was "what if...?" What if Gimli took the Ring instead? What if Galadriel accepted it from Frodo? This Arwen's take it a step further: what if Frodo died on the borders of Rivendell? How would Arwen fare?

*Saruman, Sharkey
Minion * Wizard
Strength-6
Vitality-3
Site Number-4
Lurker.
While you can spot another minion, Saruman may not take wounds.
Regroup: Exert Saruman and discard a possession from hand to take control of a site. If that site is a dwelling site, heal Saruman.
"'Still I have already done much that you will find it hard to mend or undo in your lives. And it will be pleasant to think of that and set it against my injuries.'"
20R+29

As I did with Frodo and Sam, this version of Saruman represents him at his lowest point, the end of his days. He's lost a point of vitality to symbolize his loss of power, but he can still work some deadly tricks if given the slightest chance. This Saruman has to fight, but get him to the regroup phase unharmed and you can potentially rack up a bunch of sites. I'm considering changing "discard a possession" to "discard a Shadow card."

*Grond, The Wolf of War
Artifact * Support Area
To play, spot an minion.
Each time you play a Troll, add an token here.
Regroup: Remove X tokens here and spot a Free Peoples card (except a Ring-bound companion). Unless the Free Peoples player places X wounds amongst his or her companions, discard Grond and the spotted card.
20R+33

to drop, this Grond requires a few Trolls to really get moving (go figure!). But you can really wreak some havoc if, say, you get up to 5 tokens. Remove all 5 at once and then the FP player has to decide to discard the card you spotted (Aragorn, maybe?) or divvy out 5 wounds. Personally, I think this card is pretty-well balanced, but I want to know what y'all think.

[TheJord]

This Grond would be the only reason to use War Preparations.

Perhaps Saruman should be unwoundable if you can spot a Hobbit?

[gk1964]

Agree with The jord, spotting a hobbit would be better text for Sharkey.

Suggest that his site number is dropped to 3 and his cost likewise.

Grond text needs a tidy up as it currently reads that placing X wounds on companions also prevents Grond from being discarded.

I also like stricken skies and mithril-coat.

gk.

[sickofpalantirs]

Well I'd better follow up those cards with something a bit more complex.

*Arwen, Bearer of Swift Courage
Companion * Elf
Strength-6
Vitality-3
Ringed Resistance-4
Ranger.
While bearing a mount or hand weapon, Arwen is resistance +2 (or +3 if bearing both).
If Arwen bears The One Ring, at the start of each of her skirmishes, discard 2 cards from hand or add 3 burdens.
Emboldened by the death of Frodo Baggins at the Ford of Bruinen, Arwen took up the task to carry The One Ring into Mordor.
20R+8

So compared to Galadriel she was roughly the same Resistance (assuming following the rule of 5) is stronger, but significantly more vulnerable to corruption, as possessions can be discarded, meaning one skirmish without Elven cards in hand and your on the brink.  I would knock it down to 2 burdens a time. 


Dude, Arwen and Aragorn taking the ring into Mordor would've been so awesome!

but anyway

*Saruman, Sharkey
Minion * Wizard
Strength-6
Vitality-3
Site Number-4
Lurker.
While you can spot another minion, Saruman may not take wounds.
Regroup: Exert Saruman and discard a possession from hand to take control of a site. If that site is a dwelling site, heal Saruman.
"'Still I have already done much that you will find it hard to mend or undo in your lives. And it will be pleasant to think of that and set it against my injuries.'"
20R+29

Discard a Shadow card is much preferable in my opinion.

*Grond, The Wolf of War
Artifact * Support Area
To play, spot an minion.
Each time you play a Troll, add an token here.
Regroup: Remove X tokens here and spot a Free Peoples card (except a Ring-bound companion). Unless the Free Peoples player places X wounds amongst his or her companions, discard Grond and the spotted card.
20R+33
to drop, this Grond requires a few Trolls to really get moving (go figure!). But you can really wreak some havoc if, say, you get up to 5 tokens. Remove all 5 at once and then the FP player has to decide to discard the card you spotted (Aragorn, maybe?) or divvy out 5 wounds. Personally, I think this card is pretty-well balanced, but I want to know what y'all think.

Is the Ring a Free Peoples card?

[Haszor]

The ring is neither shadow nor Free peoples.

[Doom]

I'd add this text to Arwen:

While you can spot Aragorn, Arwen is Strength +1 and Resistance +2. AKA She-Elf.
Gives it a bit more flavor, and a few more options as well.

[Stormcrow]

I agree with sickofpalantirs and Doom on Arwen. Two burdens seems more reasonable, and I like the spotting Aragorn idea.

[macheteman]

at least gimli hit the ring with his axe in the movie... arwen never came close to touching it.

anyways, i might do one of those burrito things. i.e.

While You can spot Aragorn, Arwen is resistance +1.
While Arwen is mounted, she is resistance +1.
While bearing a hand weapon, Arwen is resistance +1.

you know, something like that.

i don't really see why you are messing with saruman's stats. other than that it seems fine. i think possession is really good though. first off, it helps not letting the ability run wild, second it helps get rid of that extra aragorn's bow you have clogging your hand.

i like grond. i like how hes pretty troll specific and i like how it always discards grond itself. no "or a minion" loophole.

good work.

[menace64]

Back on track:

*Pippin, In the Service of Denethor
Companion * Hobbit
Strength-5
Vitality-4
Resistance-8
While you can spot Denethor (or another knight), Pippin is a knight.
Each time another companion is assigned to skirmish a minion, make Pippin strength +2 until the beginning of the regroup phase.
"To his face men were gravely courteous, saluting him after the manner of Gondor… those out of doors cried to others within to come and see the Prince of the Halflings, the companion of Mithrandir."
20R+25

Rather straightforward, it's the Pippin of Gondor we all wanted but never got. His strength-booster is based on his heroism at the Black Gate, having watched all his friends already go to war and finally stepping up to bat against a Troll. I went ahead and limited each round of strength enhancements to the next skirmish, but if it doesn't seem too strong I'd like to change that last bit to "until the regroup phase" in order to let Pippin really get tanking for a fierce skirmish.

*Merry, In the Service of Theoden
Companion * Hobbit
Strength-5
Vitality-4
Resistance-8
While you can spot Theoden (or another valiant companion), Merry is valiant.
Each time Merry is assigned to skirmish a minion of higher strength, make Merry strength +3 until the end of that skirmish.
"‘Come, Master Meriadoc… you shall not stand. You shall sit beside me, as long as I remain in my own lands…'"
20R+42

Similar to Pippin, this Merry reflects his attack on the Witch-king. Merry probably lacks a bit of power, but I'm not really sure what to do with him that wouldn't be too over-the-top. Maybe keep the +3 until the regroup phase?

EDIT: Made the change to regroup phase.

Figure this is a logical third card for the night:

Barrow-blade
Artifact * Hand Weapon
Strength +2
Bearer must be an unbound Hobbit.
Any minion that loses a skirmish to bearer is discarded.
"…these blades were forged many long years ago by Men of Westernesse: they were foes of the Dark Lord, but they were overcome by the evil king of Carn Dûm in the Land of Angmar."
20R45

Both Merry and Pippin can make great use of this weapon with Nazgul about.

EDIT: Changed the anti-[Wraith] text entirely, from an additional +2 to the discard.

[Haszor]

*Pippin, In the Service of Denethor
Companion * Hobbit
Strength-5
Vitality-4
Resistance-8
While you can spot Denethor (or another knight), Pippin is a knight.
Each time another companion is assigned to skirmish a minion, make Pippin strength +2 until the end of his next skirmish.
"To his face men were gravely courteous, saluting him after the manner of Gondor… those out of doors cried to others within to come and see the Prince of the Halflings, the companion of Mithrandir."
20R+25

Very nice, finally a Pippin that works well in a knight deck.

*Merry, In the Service of Theoden
Companion * Hobbit
Strength-5
Vitality-4
Resistance-8
While you can spot Theoden (or another valiant companion), Merry is valiant.
Each time Merry is assigned to skirmish a minion of higher strength, make Merry strength +3 until the end of that skirmish.
"‘Come, Master Meriadoc… you shall not stand. You shall sit beside me, as long as I remain in my own lands…'"
20R+42

A bit to weak, I'd change the strength to the regroup phase.

Barrow-blade
Artifact * Hand Weapon
Strength +2
Bearer must be an unbound Hobbit.
While skirmishing a minion, bearer is strength +2 and no opponent may play skirmish events or use skirmish special abilities.
"…these blades were forged many long years ago by Men of Westernesse: they were foes of the Dark Lord, but they were overcome by the evil king of Carn Dûm in the Land of Angmar."
20R45

Not sure why neither player can use abilities.  I guess it makes it a bit more balanced, but I'd make it either no player can use events or no player can use abilities.  Other than that