Shroud

[Thranduil]

Yes, it seems that I've taken to posting random ideas at the moment. Oh well, I'm sure I'll get over it at some point.

I just started playing MTG, and I've been picking up a few things about designing mechanics. So here's one slightly crazy thought:

•Faramir, Silent Captain
Companion • Man
Str: 7
Vit: 3
Res: 7
Ranger. Shroud - (you may reveal this card from hand and play it facedown "shrouded". Shrouded cards cannot be targetted by your opponents' cards, but otherwise act as normal. Shrouded cards are revealed each time their game text takes effect, and once resolved remain faceup).
At the start of your turn, you may add to shroud Faramir and all cards borne by him.
Regroup: Return another shrouded ranger faceup to discard a minion for each shrouded ranger you can spot.

•Damrod, Silent Ranger
Companion • Man
Str: 6
Vit: 3
Res: 6
Ranger. Shroud.
Fellowship: Exert Damrod to shroud a card and all cards borne by that card.
Regroup: If Damrod is shrouded, remove .

Cunning Trap
Condition • Support Area
Shroud. To play, spot a shrouded ranger.
Skirmish: If this condition is shrouded, wound a minion (or a roaming minion twice). Discard this condition.

Swiftly and Silently
Event • Regroup
Return a shrouded ranger faceup to make the move limit +1.

Of course, part of the point of this mechanic is human error; if a card is facedown and doesn't get revealed, there's a good chance your opponent might forget what it does!

Anyway, I'm sure this mechanic could have many improvements, so let's hear your thoughts.

[sickofpalantirs]

wait...so if you used the regroup ability on damrod, would you have to flip him over than?
I don't quite get when you have to flip them over...

[MR. Lurtzy]

Can they be assigned to skirmish, like in MTG?

[Thranduil]

wait...so if you used the regroup ability on damrod, would you have to flip him over than?
I don't quite get when you have to flip them over...

Yes you would, because you used his game text. Same thing with Faramir; you have to flip 2 rangers (Faramir and another ranger) to get the ability.

Can they be assigned to skirmish, like in MTG?

Yes. Their stats and keywords and all that remains the same.

Thranduil

[lem0nhead]

This shroud sounds like Yu-gi-oh, they have face down inactive cards and the flip up and take effects and become active. Have you ever played that?

[Thranduil]

This shroud sounds like Yu-gi-oh, they have face down inactive cards and the flip up and take effects and become active. Have you ever played that?

No. But there are lots of things you can do with cards which LotR hasn't done, for example the orientation (tapped/upside down/face down), something resembling destiny draws, face up cards in the draw deck, etc.

Thranduil

[FM]

I think it's a little clumsy right now, But I've also tampered with flipping cards face up and face down in LotR DCs, and I agree that there's a lot of design space that has not been used. However, I wouldn't group Shroud and Morph together, I'd probably save morphing as a simpler ability, and make Shroud something like the ability of Faramir, Son of Denethor.
Oh, and from personal experience, cards face-up in DECKS tend to create more problems. However, playing with the top card revealed is a totally different issue!