There was some similar thread some time ago, but now I decided to make it into "flesh".

So, what would I do if FFG tasked me with revising player cards of the core set to bring them up to par with modern cards:

Omg, I want them!

Nice work man!

I'd love to see some more cards, like longbeard orc slayer. Maybe just for the art because there is a dead Dwarf in the picture, while the card's name is Orc Slayer..

Most of these are pretty good and I agree with them. But I have some additional opinions:

- Silverlode Archer should cost 2

- Making Gandalf not 'sneakable' makes me sad. It's sensible, but sad. Another solution might just be to lower the numbers on his ability: 2 cards, 2 damage, or 3 threat.

- Unexpected Courage should cost 3 (which may be something good for Steward of Gondor too)

- Thematically, I really like the changes to Fortune or Fate, but it really kills Caldara decks and makes her so much less useable. Restricted the card from being reused by Dwarven Tomb is probably a good idea, but limiting it to 1 per deck will kill its chances of seeing the light of day.

Great Job. Blade mastery seems a bit OP and there's a bit of sphere mixing(Spirit event with drawing cards), but I love it all

joezim007

-With new Silvan synergy going on and potential to utilize it's willpower, Silverlode archer would be too much for the cost of 2.

-What makes me more sad is fact of the Leadershit sphere getting unfair advantage by allowing it to get Gandalf's bonuses just for 1 resource. What makes me even more sad is the fact that it destroys any gameplay Sneak Attack can offer, no one will use it on anything but Gandalf unless situation is dire.

-The main problem of Courage was that a lot of courages were slapped onto one hero (like Beregond) which then wrecked. Limiting it to 1 per hero fixes this problem, no need for increasing the cost in my eyes.

-You may be right, restricting to 1 per deck might be too much. Most players wouldn't notice, though, as there is only 1 copy in the core set available

Spurries

Note that Blade Mastery can only target warriors and is restricted to once per phase... and where else you're gonna use it if not in the combat phase?

As for spirit event drawing cards, I think you're talking about an attachment, and there is already official Ancient Mathom (spirit attachment that draws cards) and several more.

Nice job overall, but don't like the nerfing of Caldara.

For the guy who asked for Longbeard Orc Slayer:

joezim007

-With new Silvan synergy going on and potential to utilize it's willpower, Silverlode archer would be too much for the cost of 2.

-What makes me more sad is fact of the Leadershit sphere getting unfair advantage by allowing it to get Gandalf's bonuses just for 1 resource. What makes me even more sad is the fact that it destroys any gameplay Sneak Attack can offer, no one will use it on anything but Gandalf unless situation is dire.

-The main problem of Courage was that a lot of courages were slapped onto one hero (like Beregond) which then wrecked. Limiting it to 1 per hero fixes this problem, no need for increasing the cost in my eyes.

- While I agree that moving him to 2 resources puts him at a higher power rating than most of the new Silvan cards (stat-wise), I also think that his 3 cost makes him weaker than most of the Silvan allies. Since he has no "enters play" ability, he likely won't be targeted by the Silvan events, so he'll likely only get the stat boost once. If you compare him to Orophin, who also costs 3 and has ranged, Silverlode archer is losing by 2 stat points. Orophin being unique is a factor here, but Orophin also has an "enters play" ability. If he costs 3, I'm not likely going to play Silverlode Archer. If he costs 2, I almost assuredly will.

- Yea I totally agree that Leadership has a ridiculous advantage with Sneak Attack. It's just that Gandalf has been on the decline lately, and this just shoves him out the door almost completely.

- I don't really see that as an issue. In 3 or 4 player games where only 1 deck has a decent defender, then I can see that coming up, but in 1 and 2 player games, that's pretty rare. In the instance of a 3 or 4 player game, I kinda view this as a decent strategy that allows each deck to focus on their role better, even if it feels a little cheap; you're still giving yourself a single point of failure, which is a problem in itself. My biggest issue with Unexpected Courage right now is that its cost is low for its ability when compared to other readying abilities. Many other readying effects are 1-time effects and cost 0 or 1. Rohan Warhorse is some strong restrictions, so its cost of 1 seems appropriate. Steed of the Mark costs 1 each time you use it and also has some restrictions. Just to make it comparable to most other readying effects, I'd say making it cost 3 would be fair because you generally get 3 or more uses out of it per game.

Those cards are absolutly amazing, but some of them i would edit:

-Brok ironfist´s cost should be 5 to make it´s ability more usefull

-Beorn´s hospitalitys art (i myself don´t like it, but it´s just my opinion of this card)

-Gandalf´s search should be 1 (i think it would be too op otherwise)

-Blade of Gondolin should have the old art, i like it more than the new one

-Blade mastery should have cost of 1 instead of 0.

And please do more of these they are so cool

joezim007

-Leadershit is a resource-rich sphere and stuff of that sphere tends to be on the pricier side sometimes. Also, Orophin is an unique ally, unique allies are known for getting away with doing more for less cost. This archer main aim is to give leadershit some multiplayer finesse, he was not meant for the Silvan synergy, but want it or not, he can be a part of it, just not as good as guys designed specificly for it.

-Well, I, for one, think that Steed of the Mark should have costed 0 in the first place Rohan Warhorse it tactics, let's not forget it. If Unexpected Courage would cost 3, then it would be hard to play it in non-monospirit decks, and in monospirit ones it would take away entire turn worth of resources. Sorry, but right now I consider Unexpected Courage as a strong, but not overpowered card to give it such cost.

Dwarf king Bronze beard

-The thing with Brok is that designers originally wanted for him to be put into play due to his response, hence such big printed cost. What I was trying to achieve here is an unique ally with decent enough stats-to-cost ratio to be a valid option to play from hand AND a conditional way to put him into play for free, if it happens.

-Beorn's Hospitality art was intended as a joke, because it depicts exactly the opposite of the card's meaning Just couldn't helped myself when I saw it.

-Why? It lends just 1 card and some reorganizing stuff, too conditional to put a price tag on it. Think like Daeron's Runes.

-A good elven blade was extremely hard to find, that's the best I could muster. If I had access to old art, I would definetely use it.

-Blade Mastery sort of costs 1, it's also inferior to other stat-giving events present around.

I love the irony on Beorn's Hospitality.

I think the Blade Mastery is good. If it were +2 At AND +2 Df it would be overpowered on Boromir.

Wow, really good ideas

PD: except Fate-Fortune. I have 3 copies of it into a Caldara's Decks ^^

joezim007

-Leadershit is a resource-rich sphere and stuff of that sphere tends to be on the pricier side sometimes. Also, Orophin is an unique ally, unique allies are known for getting away with doing more for less cost. This archer main aim is to give leadershit some multiplayer finesse, he was not meant for the Silvan synergy, but want it or not, he can be a part of it, just not as good as guys designed specificly for it.

-Well, I, for one, think that Steed of the Mark should have costed 0 in the first place Rohan Warhorse it tactics, let's not forget it. If Unexpected Courage would cost 3, then it would be hard to play it in non-monospirit decks, and in monospirit ones it would take away entire turn worth of resources. Sorry, but right now I consider Unexpected Courage as a strong, but not overpowered card to give it such cost.

- The only reason Silverlode Archer is better than the Silvan card designed for the synergy is because he has 1 more stat point than most of the 2-cost Silvan allies. The reason for that is because those Silvan allies are designed to pop in and out and consistently receive Celeborn's bonus stats. Silverlode Archer is specifically designed to stick around (especially with that cost of 3), so he won't be getting that constant stat boost. The only other 3-cost Leadership ally with such low stats is Son of Arnor, who is largely a dud. His ability is good enough that you want it on a higher-cost character, so I guess instead of lowering his cost to 2, I say throw him another hit point. He's in a small minority of 3-cost allies with only 1 hit point.

- Even if Steed of the Mark did cost 0, it'd end up having a higher cost than Unexpected Courage most of the time anyway due to its ability's cost. Rohan Warhorse being Tactics should actually command a higher cost (supply and demand). The reason I want to nerf Unexpected Courage is because I think it's overplayed and gives us no reason to want to use the alternatives. Yes, 3 resources is difficult for a 2-sphere deck to pay for, but far from impossible. It actually can become easier if you pair it with Leadership and send Steward of Gondor over to a Spirit Hero. Unexpected Courage is a powerful card and in my opinion it totally deserves a cost of 3, with or without the "limit 1 per character" restriction.

Good job. I agree with most of your changes. Make sense!

Ok, ok, I'll remove "limit 1 per deck". Adding it to the victory display is punishing enough, I guess.

As for the Silverlode Archer, adding 1 hit point makes most sense to me because there is too dam few Silvan allies who can benefir from Silvan Tracker. And both Silverlode Archer and Silvan Tracker hailing from the first cycle, it would make most of the sense if Silverlode Archer could utilize Tracker's ability.

Yeah, that Longbeard will definitly slay some Orcs! Thanks fot that!

For the rest, I really agree a lot woth joezim about Silverlode. I think it cool that Gadnalf and Leadership have a combo, because it is his sign that belongs to the LeadershiP sphere.

I do not really understand why you insist on typing **** but I guess you don't like the sphere or it is meant as a joke.

Yeah, the combo might be "cool" from the flavor viewpoint and all that stuff, but it's definitely not from the game health viewpoint.

Not that I don't like leadershit for any bad reason, I don't like it because it's most suitable sphere for solo, thus being most frequently used all around. And don't get me wrong, I use it, I don't like it in a good way.

I just wanted to say also that I find it very cool that you do these things! My bguess is also that it takes a loooott of time to find the art, so thanks actually.

I just wanted to say also that I find it very cool that you do these things! My bguess is also that it takes a loooott of time to find the art, so thanks actually.

Great work on these!

Makes me laugh that the best version of Gandalf is Gandalf. Nevermind! I see the change. That does add some more balance in.

I agree with some of the comments about Blade Mastery. I would take out the option to return it to hand. I could see some great combos with Eomer/Boromir possible with it as is.

I also think Blade of Gondolin needs some curbing. Either cost 2 or just keep it as it was. What if it was the reverse of the old one? 1 cost, +1 attack, but only +1 progress if you kill an orc?

But I love this. Thanks for the time you put (and are putting) in. I will be very tempted to print out a set of these.

The problem with current blade mastery is that it gives insufficient stats to the most of the crowd and costs whopping 1 while doing that. Just to compare it with a few other stat givers even from the same sphere:

-Behind the Strong Walls - it restricted to Gondor characters, but it gives +1 Defnese and +X, where X is the stat you're going to use with next action of that character, as he just got readied;

-Halfling Determination - restricted to hobbits, but grants +2 of every stat, including Willpower, so craved by Tactics sphere;

-Khazad! Khazad! - restricted to Dwards, but grants +3 of attack and is free.

So, what Blade Mastery does is gives one of the Warriors +2 Attack OR +2 Defense ONCE per phase, meaning no overstacking. If you're gonna play it each round and trigger it's return-to-hand ability, you're essentially bringing yourself down to 2 resources per turn instead of 3.

As for the Blade of Gondolin, it's fine in comparison to other modern weapons. Modern weapons usually cost 1 and give +1 attack upfront, and either +1 conditional one (like enemy's engagement cost must be higher than your threat) or some bonus effect (like Dwarrowdelf Axe), and thats exactly where Blade of Gondolin falls in. Don't look at the Dwarven Axe, it died as soon Dwarrowdelf Axe got released. And lowering it's cost won't even help, as even then Dwarrowdelf Axe will do it's work better, it'll be a tough one to rework Dwarven Axe so it can fit as a valid choice into the modern arsenal of weapons.

Okay, I buy the argument for Blade Mastery! Especially with resource-scare tactics, it would be a hard choice to lose 1 resource/round.

For the Blade: Each of the 1-cost weapons has a trait restriction or a conditional cause (like higher threat for the enemy). I just think it needs either a trait restriction or the change I suggested above to match what is currently out there.

These 3 versions are closest things to what I can bring myself to nerfing the Blade of Gondolin:

I like the exhaust requirement. We need make sure not to get too many attachments restricted to warriors.