The Way Into Mordor - Wraiths (10/9: "Always creeping, creeping.")

[DáinIronfoot]

I know we're not done with the current Shadow culture, the culture in this set, but I've kind of bogged down there right now and have major ADD lately. So let's take a short break from Uruks and Orcs and Men and get to my favorite Shadow race: the Nazgûl.

As with the original Tower block, the culture is not very big in this set. There are a handful of Nazzies and some support cards for them, and unlike the original Tower block culture, there will also be a few non-Nazgûl minions and stuff for them as well. Let's just say it's not a good idea to follow the lights....

Anyway, we'll get to that later. For now, let's dive into the Ringwraiths. Enjoy!

•The Witch-king, Wraith-lord
Minion • Nazgûl
Strength: 14
Vitality: 4
Site: 3
Fierce.
While you can spot 2 other hunters, The Witck-king gains hunter 1.
Each time a twilight minion with strength 8 or less wins a skirmish, you may exert The Witch-king to add a burden.
Each time a Nazgûl wins a fierce skirmish, you may exert The Witch-king twice to add a burden.
"‘He sees. He knows....The Wraiths are searching.'"

Works well with other Nazgûl...and obviously with some others minions we have yet to get to.

•Úlairë Attëa, Winged Hunter
Minion • Nazgûl
Strength: 11
Vitality: 3
Site: 3
Fierce. Hunter 1.
While you can spot 3 Free Peoples cultures (or 5 burdens), each companion skirmishing Úlairë Attëa loses all strength bonuses from possessions.
Each time Úlairë Attëa wins a skirmish, you may spot 3 Free Peoples cultures to make the Free Peoples player return an unbound companion to hand.
"It wheeled and went north, flying at a speed greater than any wind of Middle-earth. The stars fainted before it."

You may or may not remember that this particular version of Attea was a winner in my DC Contest a while back. Here it is in all its glory, with just a minor tweak or two to get it in line with the other Nazgûl.

And another card you've seen before that fits the overall theme:

•Úlairë Toldëa, Winged Sentry (reprint)
Minion • Nazgûl
Strength: 12
Vitality: 3
Site: 3
Fierce.
Each time Úlairë Toldëa wins a skirmish, the Free Peoples player must exert a companion or add a burden.
"‘They are calling for it. Calling for The Precious.'"

[sickofpalantirs]

I know we're not done with the current Shadow culture, the culture in this set, but I've kind of bogged down there right now and have major ADD lately. So let's take a short break from Uruks and Orcs and Men and get to my favorite Shadow race: the Nazgûl.

As with the original Tower block, the culture is not very big in this set. There are a handful of Nazzies and some support cards for them, and unlike the original Tower block culture, there will also be a few non-Nazgûl minions and stuff for them as well. Let's just say it's not a good idea to follow the lights....

Anyway, we'll get to that later. For now, let's dive into the Ringwraiths. Enjoy!

•The Witch-king, Wraith-lord
Minion • Nazgûl
Strength: 14
Vitality: 4
Site: 3
Fierce. Hunter 1.
Each time a twilight minion with strength 8 or less wins a skirmish, you may exert The Witch-king to add a burden.
Each time a Nazgûl wins a fierce skirmish, you may exert The Witch-king twice to add a burden.
"‘He sees. He knows....The Wraiths are searching.'"
fine. I don't like the hunter though...

•Úlairë Attëa, Winged Hunter
Minion • Nazgûl
Strength: 11
Vitality: 3
Site: 3
Fierce. Hunter 1.
While you can spot 3 Free Peoples cultures (or 5 burdens), each companion skirmishing Úlairë Attëa loses all strength bonuses from possessions.
Each time Úlairë Attëa wins a skirmish, you may spot 3 Free Peoples cultures to make the Free Peoples player return an unbound companion to hand.
"It wheeled and went north, flying at a speed greater than any wind of Middle-earth. The stars fainted before it. It was gone."

fine

[Thranduil]

•The Witch-king, Wraith-lord
Minion • Nazgûl
Strength: 14
Vitality: 4
Site: 3
Fierce. Hunter 1.
Each time a twilight minion with strength 8 or less wins a skirmish, you may exert The Witch-king to add a burden.
Each time a Nazgûl wins a fierce skirmish, you may exert The Witch-king twice to add a burden.
"‘He sees. He knows....The Wraiths are searching.'"

I think I'd add another line, something like "Each time the Witch-King wins a skirmish, you may heal him." Twilight minions with strength 8 or less? Do you mean like the Wraiths from Ents of Fangorn? I also don't think he should have hunter as his incarnation in a Two Towers setting - he's not really hunting for anything.

•Úlairë Attëa, Winged Hunter
Minion • Nazgûl
Strength: 11
Vitality: 3
Site: 3
Fierce. Hunter 1.
While you can spot 3 Free Peoples cultures (or 5 burdens), each companion skirmishing Úlairë Attëa loses all strength bonuses from possessions.
Each time Úlairë Attëa wins a skirmish, you may spot 3 Free Peoples cultures to make the Free Peoples player return an unbound companion to hand.
"It wheeled and went north, flying at a speed greater than any wind of Middle-earth. The stars fainted before it."

I'd rather he had his usual strength of 12 and no hunter bonus.

Thranduil

[DáinIronfoot]

A note on hunters on Nazgûl:

In my last set, The Road Ahead, about half of the Nazgûl were hunters...the other half were twilight minions, mostly. I used the keyword (with a little controversy then, as I recall) for the "Black Rider" half, those Nazgûl that were mounted and hunting (quite literally) for The Ring throughout much of the storyline of The Fellowship of the Ring.

(a link to Nazzies from that set over at the CC archive)

For THIS set, I figured hunter made perfect sense again, since the Nazgûl in The Two Towers (especially the film version) were drawn to (and once again hunting for) The Ring. On that point, I respectfully disagree with Thran...I think the Nazgûl in TTT are shown almost exclusively to be actively hunting!

I plan on dropping the keyword for the Nazgûl in the next set, since in Return of the King they are much less Ring hunters and much more battlefield commanders, so in THAT context hunter doesn't make much sense at all. In the context of their actions in The Two Towers, however, I think the exact opposite is true.

Long story short: unless every reviewer hates the idea, I respectfully disagree with SoP and Thran and intend to keep hunter on most of the Nazgûl in this set. I'll consider changing it for Attea, though.

to you both for your reviews and opinions, even if I happen to disagree.

[Elf_Lvr]

I think hunter suits them fine. I actually like the idea quite a lot.

[sickofpalantirs]

2 or 3 nazgul are hunting in TTT, but the WK wasn't one of them he was more gathering armies I think...

bad el, you were supposed to agree with us

(and BTW, where did you find that calvin avatar?

[lem0nhead]

Ive always wondered where he foudn that avatar, its definately the best one ive ever seen on any forum ever. I love the fact he has put the funniest line from DmOTR in his sig as well.  Kudos.

•The Witch-king, Wraith-lord
Minion • Nazgûl
Strength: 14
Vitality: 4
Site: 3
Fierce. Hunter 1.
Each time a twilight minion with strength 8 or less wins a skirmish, you may exert The Witch-king to add a burden.
Each time a Nazgûl wins a fierce skirmish, you may exert The Witch-king twice to add a burden.
"‘He sees. He knows....The Wraiths are searching.'"

I like hunter on a nazgul as it fits perfectly..... on the ones who hunted, but i agree with the others. Wikkie was a musterer not a hunter, hmmm mind you he did stab frodo on weathertop so maybe EL is right.... Ack! This wikkie definately seems powerful, which he would need to be to overwrite some of the older ones... Probably cool overall.

•Úlairë Attëa, Winged Hunter
Minion • Nazgûl
Strength: 11
Vitality: 3
Site: 3
Fierce. Hunter 1.
While you can spot 3 Free Peoples cultures (or 5 burdens), each companion skirmishing Úlairë Attëa loses all strength bonuses from possessions.
Each time Úlairë Attëa wins a skirmish, you may spot 3 Free Peoples cultures to make the Free Peoples player return an unbound companion to hand.
"It wheeled and went north, flying at a speed greater than any wind of Middle-earth. The stars fainted before it."

I hate mass freeps culture hate cos its so meta specific and rare, but as far as he goes he is alright. I do however dislike when the base strength of a nazgul with a well established strength gets changed EVEN with the hunter. It sits ill with me.

[DáinIronfoot]

Alright, I made Wikkie's hunter conditional, though it should still be pretty easily triggered in this set since nearly all other Nazzies are hunters. See below for more examples.

•Úlairë Lemenya, Winged Predator
Minion • Nazgûl
Strength: 9
Vitality: 2
Site: 3
Hunter 1.
Each companion skirmishing a Nazgûl is strength -1 for each resistance that companion has less than 3.
"‘For he was a Nazgûl, one of the Nine, who ride now upon winged steeds.'"

Took me forever to come up with a way of wording his ability. Does it work? Does it make any sense?

•Úlairë Nertëa, Winged Terror
Minion • Nazgûl
Strength: 9
Vitality: 2
Site: 3
Hunter 1. Lurker.
Response: If a Nazgûl wins a skirmish, discard Úlairë Nertëa to add a burden for each wound on a companion in that skirmish.
"But the shadow of horror wheeled and returned, passing lower now, right above them, sweeping the fen-reek with its ghastly wings."

Notice neither are fierce. Hopefully that makes up a little for their rather powerful texts.

[lem0nhead]

•Úlairë Lemenya, Winged Predator
Minion • Nazgûl
Strength: 8
Vitality: 2
Site: 3
Hunter 1.
Each companion skirmishing a Nazgûl is strength -1 for each resistance that companion has less than 3.
"‘For he was a Nazgûl, one of the Nine, who ride now upon winged steeds.'"

I know what youre trying to say so it probably does work, but its one hellishly nasty ability. Thats deqth to #$&*@! of a lot of comps in 1 turn potentially. Problem with you offsetting this with no fierce is his text still works if he isnt assigned during the fierce phase. If this guy doesnt die.... OUCH.

•Úlairë Nertëa, Winged Terror
Minion • Nazgûl
Strength: 9
Vitality: 2
Site: 3
Lurker. Hunter 1.
Response: If a Nazgûl wins a skirmish, you may discard Úlairë Nertëa to add a burden for each wound on a companion in that skirmish.
"But the shadow of horror wheeled and returned, passing lower now, right above them, sweeping the fen-reek with its ghastly wings."

Tis ok.

[DáinIronfoot]

What if I further limited Lemenya by limiting his ability to non-fierce skirmishes? Or changed it to "each resistance that companion has less than 2"?

I THINK he's okay as is since he's a little weaker than the standard Lemenya and has such low vitality, but I'm certainly willing to change it if you faithful reviewers deem it necessary.

[sickofpalantirs]

I like them both...I think he's ok, all you need is a little damage, so direct wounding or one really big beefstick...

[Elf_Lvr]

(and BTW, where did you find that calvin avatar?)

I don't remember.

I think it was from someone on a facebook/myspace type website. I don't really know.

Oh, yeah, Dain's cards!

I think Lemenya would be fine with his usual strength - unless you have the opponent pretty well along in burdens this ability won't see much use. Plus, 8 strength is pretty low for a cost  unique minion, even if he does have a good ability.

I think it'd be fine to keep all the Nazzies original strength even with the addition of a hunter bonus. If you think they're overpowered that way, just look at Enduring Nazgul. No one complains about them being OP, and that ability is often better than a measly 1 hunter.

[Thranduil]

I think it'd be fine to keep all the Nazzies original strength even with the addition of a hunter bonus. If you think they're overpowered that way, just look at Enduring Nazgul. No one complains about them being OP, and that ability is often better than a measly 1 hunter.

Enduring Nazgûl also tend not to have very powerful abilities (like Black Captain, for example). Obviously Enquëa is the exception.

So Lemenya, if he's fighting a guy with resistance 0 they're strength -3? He doesn't seem that bad. Strength 10, however, is crucial in this case because it becomes the difference between overwhelming and not - I would play it safe and remove his hunter bonus or (though I suggest this reluctantly) take his strength back down to 8 so that his strength overall is an odd number.

Thranduil

[menace64]

•Úlairë Nertëa, Winged Terror
Minion • Nazgûl
Strength: 9
Vitality: 2
Site: 3
Lurker. Hunter 1.
Response: If a Nazgûl wins a skirmish, you may discard Úlairë Nertëa to add a burden for each wound on a companion in that skirmish.
"But the shadow of horror wheeled and returned, passing lower now, right above them, sweeping the fen-reek with its ghastly wings."

Nitpicks:
Lurker comes after Hunter.
Take out the 'may' in the response text (technically speaking, if there's a 'may' in an optional ability, you don't have to pay any costs and still get the reward).

[DáinIronfoot]

Just one new card today, and another I desperately tried to recreate but eventually just reprinted. Enjoy!

•Blade of Dol Guldur
Possession • Hand Weapon
Strength: +2
Bearer must be a Nazgûl.
While bearer is Úlairë Attëa, each time he wins a skirmish, the Free Peoples player must exert X companions or add X burdens, where X is the number of cultures in the fellowship.
"Few now have the skill in healing to match such evil weapons...."

This card won along with Úlairë Attëa, Winged Hunter in my DC Contest a while back. I pretty much left it alone (except for making it a little clearer), though I'm sorely tempted to change the lore, seeing as the current lore is from Fellowship of the Ring rather than The Two Towers.

Fell Beast (reprint)
Possession • Mount
Strength: +2
To play, discard 2 cards from hand.
Bearer must be a Nazgûl.
Bearer is fierce.
"‘And these winged creatures that they ride on now, they can probably see more than any other creature. They are like great carrion birds.'"

*sigh*

I tried to rewrite it, I really did. But everything I did kept looking too similiar to the original, so in the end, I simply brought back an old favorite. No better way to make your non-fierce Nazzies into double skirmishers then this.

Okay, changed my mind. Since neither of these are COMPLETELY new, here's an all-new one to make up for it:

•Ring of Coercion
Artifact • Ring
Vitality +1
Bearer must be a Nazgûl.
Assignment: Spot 6 burdens and 2 minions to assign a companion to skirmish bearer. The Free Peoples player may add a burden to prevent this and assign bearer.
Response: If a player reconciles, return bearer to his owner's hand.