http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_news.asp?eidn=4690

I can't wait to go back and update my Eagles deck. Gwaihir with Descendant of Thorondor is going to be awesome.

I suppose this thread will talk about the whole preview rather than just Gwaihir? Anyway, I absolutely love the card. I'm glad to see Gwaihir as an ally and not a hero (at least not before they've done wizard heroes, which is still unlikely), and the ability is great. Great with Descenant, as you said. I would have like a little bit more willpower, but that's just nitpicking.

As for the preview itself, it looks really exciting. I suppose the new silvan hero will be Haldir (remember that old VoI banner art which was removed? I think they'll use it here). The story looks interesting, definately something I would not have guessed, but I'm kinda dissapointed. Tharbad being an ancient city in ruins full of secrets I would have made the heroes investigate the ruins in search of information by themselves with possibly a big reveal at the end of the quest, not just another escort mission with a little twist. But I guess the former idea is a bit hard to do in a card game so I understand. At least the art on Nalir looks great. Also, more Gondor support? Awesome! Hopefully it will be something which will help the gondor deck be more viable (not like the dwarf support in ATS, though dwarves didn't need it). And finally, the art on Free to Choose has become one of my favorites EVER.

Zartan! Apparently, he was a Spy for Mordor before he was a spy for Cobra Commander!

It is shockingly close to Zartan. Hood, shoulder pads, etc.

The eagles are coming!

I'm really jazzed about Gwaihir! Kudos to Caleb & Co. for getting around to some eagle-love! Lets see a little more!

As nice as it would be to see an eagle hero to properly head up an eagle-themed deck, I admit that he's a better fit as an ally. Seems like it's been a while since we've had a 5 cost ally - not counting Citadel Custodian for obvious reasons.

Gwaihir? It looks like they read the forums.

Thus, even as six of the new player cards from Trouble in Tharbad lend further to support the cycle’s Silvanmechanics, another lends strength to the Eagles that last received attention in the Shadows of Mirkwood




Wait... SIX new player cards? 6? Six?

Get the Horn of Gondor warmed up!

Thus, even as six of the new player cards from Trouble in Tharbad lend further to support the cycle’s Silvanmechanics, another lends strength to the Eagles that last received attention in the Shadows of Mirkwood

Wait... SIX new player cards? 6? Six?

We're not only getting six player cards, its just that six of the nine will be Silvan related

Thus, even as six of the new player cards from Trouble in Tharbad lend further to support the cycle’s Silvanmechanics, another lends strength to the Eagles that last received attention in the Shadows of Mirkwood

Wait... SIX new player cards? 6? Six?

We're not only getting six player cards, its just that six of the nine will be Silvan related

Uhhh, that is good. I understood wrongly, sorry

He should be anle to bring back gandalf from discartile also hehehe

Great card

The picture was long time know already….But i was sure Gwaihir will be Hero…..Anyway is awesome i love his ability and cannot wait ti play him!

Gwahir is great! Another target for Elf-Stone, Vilya, and Sneak Attack, another tutoring effect, and an easy way to buff up your Eagles of the Misty Mountains. Also, if your Beorn hero is going to die that turn (or any hero for that matter), you could bring in Landroval and use his ability before Gwahir returns him to your hand.

The two willpower is nice, I guess. With Gwahir, Eagles of the Misty Mountains, Rumil, and Bofur, Tactics will have more allies with two-willpower than Lore (Haldir, Gildor, Rivendel Minstrel). Lore has many questing tricks up its sleeve, but it feels like they're trying to make mono-Tactics a viable solo deck.

Gwahir is great! Another target for Elf-Stone, Vilya, and Sneak Attack, another tutoring effect, and an easy way to buff up your Eagles of the Misty Mountains. Also, if your Beorn hero is going to die that turn (or any hero for that matter), you could bring in Landroval and use his ability before Gwahir returns him to your hand.

well, the eagle that gwaihir "fetches" has to be in the discard pile - not your deck - so that limits gwaihir a bit.

that also makes the landroval trick a bit more difficult (as he can only be used once per game) - and you'll need to have a way to discard him/have him die to make it work.

Gwahir is great! Another target for Elf-Stone, Vilya, and Sneak Attack, another tutoring effect, and an easy way to buff up your Eagles of the Misty Mountains. Also, if your Beorn hero is going to die that turn (or any hero for that matter), you could bring in Landroval and use his ability before Gwahir returns him to your hand.

well, the eagle that gwaihir "fetches" has to be in the discard pile - not your deck - so that limits gwaihir a bit.

that also makes the landroval trick a bit more difficult (as he can only be used once per game) - and you'll need to have a way to discard him/have him die to make it work.

Good call. Misread the text there. The Landroval trick would be more difficult then, but if you're running mono-tactics, Hama or the Watcher of Bruinen would work. If you're running a Spirit-Tactics combo, then it becomes relatively easy. And less common combos of spheres (at least for me) but Lore and Leadership with Tactics would give you a few more ways to do it too.

Great card, great art.

Just have to nitpick on that silly crown though.

Really don't like it.

It's not like he's from some 80's fantasy movie =/

Great card, great art.

Just have to nitpick on that silly crown though.

Really don't like it.

It's not like he's form some 80's fantasy movie =/

Well, Chapter VII of The Hobbit states: "And though the Lord of the Eagles became in after days the King of All Birds and wore a golden crown..."

So, it is appropriate for Gwairhir to have a crown.

Whether or not the art of the crown is good, is subjective, I suppose...

Haha, I did not remember that. Even after reading your quote I did not recall it Matt.

Well, the Hobbit has some weird lines about animals, at Beorn's house too, to be exact.

So it does fit lore-wise, and it is subjective indeed, and I still don't like it

Great card for a mono tactics deck. His 2 WP are great, and his ability looks promising. Not sure if the combo with Descendant of Thorondor is going to work out as good as predicted. The main problem to me seems to be to get Descendant into the discard pile wthout paying that ugly 4 resources before. With all these new high threat enemies Descendant at least more useful than before.

Vasall of the Windlord looks like a good bet though. He's cheap, can block one attack and then return the next turn so that Gwaihir gives you a combined ATT of 6 points.

Shouldn't he be having the Noble key word?

They missed this on Dain Ironfoot aswell.

Just have to nitpick on that silly crown though

He must have a devil of a time getting that thing just right on his head.

He's got an eagless back at his aerie that keeps it in just the right place. (It's good to be the king.)

I was kind of wishing this whole time that Gwaihir would be a hero, but they've designed him to be a very good suitable ally. The 5 cost is a bit off putting but I like his thematic ability and the stats are nice as well. Very happy to be able to put him into action. The one detractor with that cost and ability is I feel like you must be using him in both an eagles deck AND mono tactics (although 1 leadership hero for resource boosting could work) otherwise he is likely too costly or the ability possibly inconsequential.

As for the quest itself it appears very exciting, I also as others have noted, like the "city" theme and I feel especially after the long (and excellent) narratives for the VOI quests the tone for this will be far greater and unique than just a simple "escort" quest like say Road to Rivendell.

One last note, the silvan hero just has to be Haldir....right? RIGHT?

One last note, the silvan hero just has to be Haldir....right? RIGHT?

or a hero made up by FFG!

I was kind of wishing this whole time that Gwaihir would be a hero, but they've designed him to be a very good suitable ally. The 5 cost is a bit off putting but I like his thematic ability and the stats are nice as well. Very happy to be able to put him into action. The one detractor with that cost and ability is I feel like you must be using him in both an eagles deck AND mono tactics (although 1 leadership hero for resource boosting could work) otherwise he is likely too costly or the ability possibly inconsequential.

as for his cost, I think you need to think of him as two allies for the price of one - as that's what you're getting. Kili/Fili cost 3 and have objectively worse stats than does Gwaihir, and mostly likely whomever Gwaihir pulls back from the discard pile. and, if Eagles of the Misty Mountains is in play (as it hopefully would be), that eagle gets even beefier at the end of the round.

The main problem to me seems to be to get Descendant into the discard pile wthout paying that ugly 4 resources before. With all these new high threat enemies Descendant at least more useful than before.

Just discard Descendent to boost Eowyn.