Next Updates for the Hobbit Draft Game

[-Enola-]

Everything is updated here : http://hobbitdraftgame.free.fr/Next_Updates.html

Sauron
- Sauron, The Necromancer: I don't know yet, your proposition is very interesting. But by removing a doubt to boost a minion, make this card too sensible to counter-draft and Sauron is already hard to pick...
I keep in mind these 2 propositions :
     - Sauron with The Free Peoples player may add 2 doubts or exert that companion to prevent this.
     - Sauron with The Free Peoples player may add a doubt or exert that companion to prevent this. and Danger Wrapped in Shadows with Skirmish: Exert Sauron or remove a doubt to...

- Ring of Thrór: Just an error on the last export, the previous were artifacts .


Nazguls
- Dol Guldur Blade: Ok, we have to pump a bit the Nazguls, maybe it's too much now. We will see it soon.


Bolg's Army
- Hidden Attack: Ok for a cost and "wound 2 Orcs".


Azog's Army
I remove the Were-Worms to put 1 more copy of Demolition Troll and Vicious Warg. 2 important cards in this Shadow.

- Vicious Warg: In the Shadow Wargs, this possession will be too strongat with the Goblin Footman. It will be too much counter-drafted .

- Demolition Troll: The twilight pool is very important in this Shadow, don't know yet. Test will tell us. Ok for "'Send in the War Beasts!'".


Mirkwood Pack
- Old Bitterness: Done! ^^ And [Gundabad] now, avoiding the return of the event with Danger Wrapped in Shadows.


Thorin Pack
- Dwarven Song: Too long, simple cards are the best .


Dain Pack
- Orc Banner: I was thinking about this banner for the card. I can rename it Banner of Command.

[-Enola-]

I change the Arkenstone for your version, I also made a new version of the Orc Banner (now Banner of Command) inspired from your version.

http://hobbitdraftgame.free.fr/Next_Updates.html


I will make the next image exports wednesday, so if you have any comments on cards (especially Nazguls ) tell me soon.

[Durin's Heir]

- Ring of Thrór: Please don't forget to use the artifact template!
- Hidden Attack:
- The Shadow Arkenstone: Great! You even added the +1 Vitality bonus. I feel pleased!
- Banner of Command: Nice change! I like the simplicity in your solution. It sows twilight by spotting allies, and the wound prevention skill can reap it . It even allows you to prevent Orcrist from wounding an Orc who isn't skirmishing Thorin.

I believe the more complicated version I proposed can still be added in another Extension set, under another name (like "Signaling Banner", may be a possession for Azog and Bolg, with a vitality bonus...). But your card is really cool!

- Old Bitterness: Nice catch with Danger Wrapped recovering this card over and over again. Anyway that loop would cost + to exert and Orc, it's ok to avoid that powerful combo.



- Sauron, The Necromancer: So the options are:

#1. Sauron with "The Free Peoples player may add 2 doubts or exert that companion to prevent this".
#2. Sauron with "The Free Peoples player may add a doubt or exert that companion to prevent this", and Danger Wrapped in Shadows with "Exert Sauron or remove a doubt to..."

If we compare them: #1 makes Sauron more powerful, while #2 makes Danger Wrapped in Shadows more powerful. With option #2, Danger Wrapped In Shadows will be completely splashable as won't depend exclusively on Sauron. With option #1 Danger Wrapped In Shadows will still be dependant on Sauron, thus counter-drafting Sauron will destroy the usefulness of both Sauron and Danger Wrapped in Shadows. So I think option 2 balances more the importance of both cards, and that should be good when drafting.

Now, in respect of lore consistency, Sauron wasn't trying to get the One Ring back (corrupt) but to wipe out every trace of opposition by both open war (the Battle of the 5 Armies) and by ambushing the Dwarves (which Sauron's assignment skill does pretty well here). In my opinion, a pump by removing doubts will increase the "open war" flavor. Might be a bit too powerful with Gollum, so he can be added as an exception: "Skirmish: Exert Sauron or remove a doubt to make another minion (except Smaug and Gollum) strength +2 (limit +4)."

- Dol Guldur Blade: I think +2 strength is enough to win 2 skirmishes, if "beatdown by fierce skirmishes" is the goal. But if the goal is "beatdown by overwhelming", +3 will be OK but costing instead (like The Pale Blade or Black Flail). It depends on what is the goal of the Nazgul culture: beatdown by 2 wounds (1 per skirmish), or beatdown by overwhelming (which should cost more twilight). At least we know this will be beatdown .

- Vicious Warg: With "In the Shadow Wargs, this possession will be too strong at 2 with the Goblin Footman", do you mean the Warg Pack in the Beatdown pack 1? If that's the case, that pack already has 1 mount (Warg) which costs , gives +2 strength, +1 vitality and has a better skill for the pack. Shouldn't be a problem.

Besides making the current site a battleground, the attribute bonuses are a bit weak. I'd make it either cost (1 less) or give +3 strength (1 more than the current).

- Demolition Troll: Playtest will tell us, agree. Anyway, my point was in the context of Dark Bats adding at the maneuver phase, which you can make twice per turn if you have Azog in hand (or in discard pile, and Host of Thousands in hand). So twilight shouldn't be a problem.

- Dwarven Song: "Simple cards are the best." Totally agree! But this card will be useless after playing your possessions, so I'd give it an additional simple option: "...to play X possessions from your draw deck or remove ". Or if you like better: "...or to draw X cards." Those are short and simple additions.

A thing I love about this card is the new importance it gives to Bombur. And to Bilbo's Kitchen playing Bombur at the very start. And the lore flavour of playing Bombur at Bilbo's Kitchen!



I (still) owe you the revision of each Nazgul.

[-Enola-]

- Sauron : Ok for option 2. I change it a bit.

- Dol Guldur Blade : Ok for strength +2.

- Vicious Warg : Yes, I mean the Shadow Wargs in the Beatdown pack 1. The other Wargs can be only bear by [Gundabad] Orcs. So I will let the Vicious Warg at , since the Goblin Footman can bear it (kind of culture cost).

- Dwarven Song : Not neccessary. It's a set up card like Saved from the Fire, Simbelymne, AWINL,.... and moreover this card could be used for Ori or Oin .

- Battle Ram : With your PM, I think this card is overpowered, I reduce its strength to be similar as mounts from set 13 in LOTR TCG.

[Durin's Heir]

Nazguls

As a general review, I don't know what's the dynamics you want to have here: to beatdown by fierce skirmishes, or by overwhelming. If is by overwhelming, the cost of minions and/or tricks must be higher.

- Dol Guldur Blade:

- Ulaire Enquea: I have the feeling this one will cause great problems due to his huge potential. I mean, if you return an Orc and play it for free again (with Toldea, Witch King, Attea; or Goblin Runner by itself), you can repeat this skill with ease. 3 times means +6 strength to everyone, which is too much (Witch-King with strength 20, fierce!). And Cantea shares the same trigger, so it is up to +8 to everyone!

Compare it to Ulaire Nertea, Ninth of the Nine Riders (with 6 comps): only +2 strength to everyone, and disapears if he's killed. Those Nazguls are meant to beatdown by fierce skirmishes (not by overwhelming).

What if Cantea gives +1 to everyone, and Enquea gives +2 to only 1 you choose? And a limit like "(limit once per Nazgul)" to avoid a fierce Ringwraith from overwhelming too easily. That is up to +2 to everyone with Cantea, and up to +2 to 3 different guys with Enquea... the maximum a single guy will get is +4. Which seems fine to me; much better than +8 to everyone. And Toldea, Attea and Dol Guldur Blade will add even more strength to that bonus.

"Each time an Orc returns into your hand, you may exert Ulaire Enquea to make each a minion strength +2 until the regroup phase (limit once per Nazgul)." And keep Cantea the way he currently is.

- Ulaire Nelya: I like this one. What about taking to hand a card? If Danger Wrapped In Shadows gets counter-drafted, you will be able to get back Sauron or the Ring of Thrór with this minion (or both if you wait a bit more). Diversification is a good thing against counter-drafting.

"Shadow: Exert Ulaire Nelya and return an Orc to your hand to take a or card from your draw deck or discard pile into your hand."

- "While you cannot spot an Orc, the twilight cost of your Orcs is -3." for The Witch-King, Attea & Toldea: This addition is a very creative way of reducing the cost of having multiple Nazgul on the board. But there are broad chances of abusing the skills of some Orcs (as long as your Nazguls can return them to hand):

- Goblin Footman can pull each Dol Guldur Blade from discard.
- Watchful Orc can add all possible site keywords.
- Orkish Marauder (with 4 followers) can exhaust each Dwarf companion.
- Goblin Runner can add too many times.
- Goblin Sneak can put each Orc in discard pile at the bottom of the deck.
- The Wolves Army can play any card you need from deck or discard.

Besides, at the end you can discard the Orc with He Is Summoning His Servants to get another Nazgul at - . So an option may be to make those Orcs lose their gametext: "While you cannot spot 2 Orcs, the twilight cost of your Orcs is -3 and you cannot use their game text." I don't like it too much, because Goblin Footman is very important to get those Dol Guldur Blades back...

Another option is this: "Shadow: If you cannot spot an Orc, exert a Nazgul to play an Orc at twilight cost -3." That way the loop will be optional and will have a cost. Attea, Toldea and the Witch King have abundant spare vitality as they don't have skills to exert. Goblin Footman, Runner, Sneak, The Wolves Army, Watchful Orc, Orkish Marauder... all will be playable by either an exetion or their normal twilight cost. And as a Shadow ability the cost reduction won't be accumulable by having 2 of these big Nazguls in play. I like this option much better.

- Ulaire Ostea: I don't know if adding for each and minion is a good idea. I mean, with the reduction of 3 offered by the Witchie/Attea/Toldea, and the cost reduction provided by He Is Summoning His Servants, having many Nazguls at the same time won't be really hard, and this Nazgul can exert twice to get a big lot of twilight each time. I'd prefer "add and draw a card" for each and minion you spot. A mechanism to draw cards can be very good to set up faster, to get more resources like Anger or Hatred Rekindled, and to use that twilight with more Orcs.

- Ulaire Nertea: This one seems fine. Can work well to get one of those 3 big Nazgul earlier and use their cost reduction line. But given all that twilight addition and cost reduction, "-6" might be a bit overkill. Playtesting will tell us.



Other cards:

- Sauron: Great!
- Danger Wrapped in Shadows: "an Orc or minion" is much better than "another minion (except Smaug and Gollum)".

- Vicious Warg: I know Goblin Footman can play the Savage Warg on himself, and it's ok to make that combo cost , because triggers Azog the Defiler's dreadful grinding skill. But for a 2-cards combo minion costing , I'd make it str 11 vit 2 fierce instead of str 10 vit 2 fierce. That is, I'd make the Savage Warg add +3 strength instead of +2.

- Dwarven Song: There are 2 strong differences I see between Dwarven Song (Draft format) and AWINL, Simbelmyne or SftF (constructed). First is the format (constructed allows you to add many copies of both the target cards and the set up tricks), and second is the possible targets.

There are few different possession to pick with Dwarven Song (only 2 in Throin's Pack), while SftF, AWINL and Simbelmyne can grab a wide variety of cards. Also, you can add many copies of AWINL / Simbelmyne / SftF to increase the chances of a desired card, but in the HDG you can add at most 2 copies of Dwarven Song, which means you will have much higher chances of getting it late in HDG than in LOTR TCG.

So will be useful to add another option in case it comes late. The twilight cost of the discarded follower sets the limit X of the effect. Only Bombur costs , while only Bofur and Thrain cost . The rest (Bifur, Ori, Óin, Dori and Röac) will give you only 1 possession. Or "remove " or "draw 1 card" in case you add any of my proposals. Or even "draw 1 card and remove " if you add both... doesn't seem too much. And is those are very simple additions, don't make the card intricate at all.

- Battle Ram: I agree that this card was overpowered. Now seems more equilibrated. But for should do a bit more. I mean, it lost 1 strength and 1 vitality bonus. Seems well, but I feel the base strength isn't enough to counter the Boxing Dwarves problem, which the previous version corrected so efficiently (and Dwarven Axe costs 1 less). I'd add a strength bonus to the skirmish skill: "Skirmish: Exert bearer to make him or her strength +2 or damage +1." Or even "strength +1 and damage +1", though I like the previous better. That way bearer will have more chances of winning skirmishes (which is what a weapon does to the "Boxing Dwarves problem"), but not without a cost.


NOTE: I'll be editing this post to add reviews to more cards, mostly Nazguls. No more additions needed.

[-Enola-]

Ok, I just modify a lot of next changes. We will test Dwarven Song first.

The and interaction will be one of the Sauron's goal, not the Shadow's goal. It will be easier for the text.

http://hobbitdraftgame.free.fr/Next_Updates.html

Thanks!!

[Durin's Heir]

- Battle Ram: Cool change! Bearer gets a bit stronger, can be healed by playing followers (powerful with Thorin's active skill) and can support any Dwarf companion in troubles. Anyway, I miss a bit the damage +1 part, which isn't really necessary but would be nice for (movie) lore. I'd change it to "Exert bearer to make a character strength +1 (and damage +1 if at a battleground)."

- Banner of Command: "To play, exert an Orc twice". Nice . I was thinking about wound prevention in the archery phase: "Skirmish or Archery: Remove at a battleground to...". You said while developing Azog's Army that Azog Commander was often killed by directed archery. With this change, having Azog with 2 vitality and will save him: the FP player will be able to wound him only once before you protect him.

The selected Orc won't be able to take arrows but other minions will have to take them. Your text states "to prevent an Orc from taking wounds", that prevent the Orc from being chosen to take wounds, but doesn't prevent the wounds. Won't have the effect of Faramir Wizard's Pupil soaking all threat wounds, which states "to prevent all wounds to Faramir".

- Power Struggle: I'm waiting to see the new picture. But the sole idea of focusing on Alfrid and The Master gives a new meaning to the words "Power Struggle", and the consequences of involving allies in a fight that isn't theirs at first stance. Gives me the feeling of "don't help them, we might lose OUR power" in that Power Struggle.

- Azog's Mace: Very powerful. Azog being damage +2 and discarding possessions is bad news to Dwarves, but now there's no Goblin Reinforcements so followers will be able to support their folk. Seems equilibrated.

- Vicious Warg:


- Underground Lake: "I... found something in the Goblin tunnels... my courage." GREAT! Bilbo Ring-winner will be able to win the Ring (and another tool), but first he'll need to win his skirmish. I'd make it also a river, in absense of a lake keyword.

- Dol Guldur: If Gandalf gets killed before site 5, this card's text will help the Shadow player instead. Seems more equilibrated with only 3 exertions.

- Forest River: Clever change here. Discarding Gandalf is an effect that lasts more than just at site 5, so I'd make this site's Shadow number 8 instead, to give better chances of doing harm while Gandalf can't fight.

[-Enola-]

Thanks , I will do all these changes soon.

I will keep Banner of Command and Battle Ram as they are now. It seems simpler.

[Durin's Heir]

You are welcome my fellow!

The Nazgul seem fine to me. Enquea doesn't have a limit per Nazgul, but that's not so bad since you can still use Dori to prevent overwhelming if the bonuses are focused on the same Nazgul.

About Banner of Command, the only change would be to add "Archery or..." to the current text. If you want to make it even more clear, you may change "prevent an Orc from taking wounds" to "make an Orc may not take wounds".

About Battle Ram, another idea I just thought is "exert bearer to make a companion strength +1 or damage +1". Merely for flavor .

[-Enola-]

Ok, I made all the changes here :
http://hobbitdraftgame.free.fr/Boosters2.html

There are some new modifications. I hope you enjoy them.

[ket_the_jet]

I looked at a few cards and am confused by the flavor.

Discard Smaug if not at a mountain? He spends half the time flying over a lake burning everything in his path.

Half of the Gandalf cards are and the other half . They only play Dwarf companions [not followers as well] and have varying levels of power. For instance, Gandalf, Leader of Dwarves can start with Thorin [who should be or more] and Gloin, Kili, or Fili, for a starting fellowship of Bilbo, two 7/4 companions and a 6/3 companion. That's a lot for a shadow player to overcome.

Galadriel can, in theory, take out 16 (or 24) strength of minions, and I am sure there are card drawing mechanics as well. She and Saruman make Gandalf even more powerful.

Skillful Negotiator is misspelled.

There seem to be a lot of ways to wound and discard minions before battle.

Goblin Swarms does not need the "discard cards and wounds on that orc" clause. Stacking a card does not stack the other cards on it and automatically clears any wounds.

Just a few thoughts. Seems interesting, but probably won't stop back in as there are a lot of unloaded keywords and play mechanics that don't interest me.
-wtk

[-Enola-]

You come with all this too late .

Smaug: the real Balrog can also go out from an underground site, that's not a big problem in FOTR ? Moreover, Smaug can be played at every site with Watchful Orc.

Gandalf: Not so much, all Gandalf were tested and seem pretty well equilibrated. Followers can be play with site 1 or with other events. In LOTR TCG, 2 companions at 7/4 and 1 at 6/3 can be common with for example Faramir 4R+Aragorn 11R+Denethor 10R....  

Galadriel: You read it too fast , need an exert.

Skillful Negotiator: Ok, but not so incorrect.

Goblin Swarms: as the previous one in FOTR, it's just a precaution.

You misread it, there is only one unloaded keyword.....
The Hobbit Draft Game is very interesting to play, you will see it soon if we put it on gemp.

[ket_the_jet]

I think my point with the Gandalf cards would be that you could either start with:

Just a Gandalf, or a Gandalf and a companion, or a Gandalf that lets you play two companions, one of whom is a 7/4 companion. To me, it doesn't matter what the rest of the text is, that is your best Gandalf. The second best one is the other one, since it allows you to also start Thorin who is a beast at . Why would you even want any of the others?

On that note, Thorin has to cost . Comparable companions include Durin III (who can only be if you meet a stipulation), Gandalf, Leader of Men (again, stipulation), and Cirdan, the Shipwright. To that note, all four Gandalf cards should also cost . Gandalf, Leader of Dwarves could just make every Dwarf companion's twilight cost -1, no matter when he is played.

As for reprinting Goblin Swarms, etc., things like Noble Intentions change culture and text, and A Wizard Is Never Late loses all flavor drawing, well, anyone [except a Dwarf]. The Master of Laketown is no wizard.

He Gives Me Courage should be a Fellowship action, as I cannot think of any Maneuver action removing burdens [nor can I speculate how that action would be a good mechanic during that phase]. Bilbo--and Sting, particularly--discarding conditions does not fit the flavor of the card. How is warning of Orcs and Goblins comparable to discarding conditions? There seems to be a lot of condition discarding available to all races, with Ancestral Knowledge and the Acorn being my least favorite [not a or mechanic]. Meanwhile, I didn't really see anything about discarding conditions, but again, quick scans.

Smaug is a really expensive minion with a lot of ways to kill him before he even gets to a skirmish. Exerting Bard twice (with the Black Arrow), or twice normally with Kili...I understand Smaug is killed by an arrow, but maybe more flavorful text [seeing as he murders a bunch of civilians first] might be:

For each companion and ally you can spot, Smaug is twilight cost -1.
At the start of each fierce skirmish involving Smaug, suspend the current phase and begin a second archery phase.

I used A Dark Shape Sprang as a template, but that allows Smaug to kill some folks, then, if you can't kill other baddies who might absorb another round of archery wounds, kill him with arrows. The card looks badass, by the way. You could even lose the regroup text with that.

Thror's Map is a free play of a mountain site. The original errata cost two exertions. I didn't really look at any sites, but it was worth noting.

You could, in theory, play all three Trolls for 12 twilight: for Orcs, then , , and for the other guys.

I think Dwalin should have to exert twice to be defender +1, unless you are looking for him to be a replacement for Aragorn, Ranger of the North for less.

The power curve in this game seems pretty intense. I don't think the cost-to-strength ratio for several companions, minions, events, and possessions seem on point.
-wtk

[-Enola-]

Again, the cards are fully tested and the cost/strength ratio is great for the tested cards. These cards are printed now and we run several tournaments with these cards:

http://hobbitdraftgame.free.fr/Boosters.html

Be careful, the cards from this link are now under test : http://hobbitdraftgame.free.fr/Boosters2.html

Sauron as a condition isn't more attractive .

Look a bit closer on the rules and the cards, you will see how the game works .

[-Enola-]

I don't think so, but it's your opinion. Not sure if your propositions have more flavor, the only way to know is playtesting....

All players who played it (~20 players) help me a lot in the design of the game and now like it a lot.