http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_news.asp?eidn=5346

First thing I'll note - side quests now have a sphere. So, prepare to get half of the pack's player cards as a side quests.

Way to really work hard to find something negative to say!

To everyone else, man so many new previews!

I'm not sure it was negative, and it is something to be aware of.

This pack does sound exciting. That "night" mechanic looks brutal, from the little bit I can make out.

Anyone else noticed that it says "Angmar Awakened ... [is an] epic nine-scenario adventure"? I first thought that this probably includes the three adventures from the Deluxe expansion but the article explicitly says that this takes place after The Lost Realm.

Way to really work hard to find something negative to say!

To everyone else, man so many new previews!

What? There is nothing negative about my post, just plain facts. If you seen this as something negative, then you just percieve those facts as something negative. What a hypocrite.

Holy ****! Let It Rain Modafuckaahhss! Massive load of content immenent.

I wonder if the hero of this pack is going to have something Valour-related.

The two pieces of cardboard that came with the old packaging were very helpful for organizing cards in the box - I hope they are still included in this new plastic packaging.

Very excited for new Noldor synergy! I think it is interesting that they are choosing to focus on Spirit rather than Leadership or Lore.

Also, Valour = indirect Doomed synergy, wink-wink.

Cool article. Some thoughts:

• The night mechanic looks great. It was awesome in Stone of Erech, so I'm looking forward to it again here.
• I like the valour idea and it feels like an appropriate foil to secrecy. Just imagine the epic stories that can arise from some of these valour actions.
• The more I see about side quests, the more I know I'm never going to include them in my deck.
• Looking forward to more Hobbits. I wonder if there will be another Hobbit hero this cycle.
• The Door is Closed looks like it could be another Test of Will, which would really surprise me.
• This quote intrigues me. I wonder if it's a hint at the Hero. "Finally, Spirit players will be able to explore what it really means to be a Noldor Elf, with cards that introduce a new strategy for the High Elves of Middle-earth."
• I'm not excited about the new packaging, but it doesn't make much difference to me because I throw them out anyway.

I always thought a night/day mechanic is what the game needed from the core rules... but oh well, it's great to see it even if just on a few scenarios. Anyway, great preview yet again FFG! These cards look amazing, it's awesome to see sphered side quests (I just loved the side quests) and the valour keyword is the perfect counterpart to secrecy, something we really needed. The Veteran of Osgiliath is precisely what aggro Leadership Gondor decks needed, that is a heavy hitter. And even without the valour trigger, he's still 3 attach with Boromir! Awesome! The rest of the cards look pretty amazing as well, the only bad this is that they're all blocked! But still, the art looks great, and it's also great to see some new songs. I'm really excited for this cycle.

I am super excited for this cycle! And side quests look great to me, I'll gladly play them.

The cards look great, they all have some new mechanics that have not been explored yet.

I am so happy that Lost Realm + Angmar Awakened is coming. I am totally growing tired of Ringmaker cycle, haven't even played Celebrimbor's Secret yet and I do not like Time mechanic. Glad that I see Battle/Siege coming back on the sidequests.

Good times.

Two more things. Does Honour Gaurd work on Beorn? The wording is different than Dori.

Also, expected release is Q2. Does anyone believe that? I expect July or August.

This looks fantastic! I'm very excited about this cycle. Very nice artwork on the cards as well.

I'm excited! I fell in love with Rangers when they first came out. That neutral one with the Haldir stats looks pretty cool!

Also, It looks like Lore may have some cancellation, if I'm reading The Door is Closed right. Limited, sure, but it's something!

First thing I'll note - side quests now have a sphere. So, prepare to get half of the pack's player cards as a side quests.

It looks like there were 2 neutral cards, and 3 red cards... and at least 2 green cards.

Maybe purple is only to get 1 card, but it looks like, to me, they might just give a single copy of the side quests as a "bonus" rather than 3 copies like with Path of Need.

Plastic? Yuck.

"In addition to its new scenario, The Wastes of Eriador also contains a new hero and three copies each of nine different player cards. In the lands traveled so often by the Rangers of the North, you’ll find new Dúnedain, Hobbits, Scouts, and side quests."

I don't think the side quests are player cards.

• The Door is Closed looks like it could be another Test of Will, which would really surprise me.

If you pay attention, you'll notice that Door is Closed is directly tied to the lore side quest included in the pack.

• The Door is Closed looks like it could be another Test of Will, which would really surprise me.

If you pay attention, you'll notice that Door is Closed is directly tied to the lore side quest included in the pack.

Maybe I'm just being blind, but what makes you think it's tied to the side quest? It looks like Test of Will, except for the clause "if there is a card with _____e in the victory display." I don't have a good guess for what that blank would be.

"In addition to its new scenario, The Wastes of Eriador also contains a new hero and three copies each of nine different player cards. In the lands traveled so often by the Rangers of the North, you’ll find new Dúnedain, Hobbits, Scouts, and side quests."

I don't think the side quests are player cards.

But that quote just listed side quests in the same sentence with other player cards. If anything, I think that confirms that they are player cards.

Is it certain that all the cards are really from this pack, and not from the cycle? The announcement for Dunland trap spoiled some cards from later in the cycle. I'd expect something like 1 side quest per sphere plus a few neutrals for the whole thing. two neutrals in one pack would also be unusual.

• The Door is Closed looks like it could be another Test of Will, which would really surprise me.

If you pay attention, you'll notice that Door is Closed is directly tied to the lore side quest included in the pack.

Maybe I'm just being blind, but what makes you think it's tied to the side quest? It looks like Test of Will, except for the clause "if there is a card with _____e in the victory display." I don't have a good guess for what that blank would be.

My bet would be is that this Lore event cancels a card, copy of which is in the victory display (not just treachery), and if you look at this:

You'll see a Lore side quest that does what? Oh, snap! It lets you add a card from the encounter deck to the victory display!

Two more things. Does Honour Gaurd work on Beorn? The wording is different than Dori.

He certainly would! "Cancel damage," sounds the same as that Doomed tactics event ("Close Call" I think?). Sorry, not in a position to look it up at the moment.

But the moment I saw that Honor Guard I thought, wow! Welcome to your brand new Beorn "cancel 3 damage every round" defense!

WTF? Plastic boxes??

Now there's a bad decision.

Not a very good way to cut on costs.

Us nerds care about collecting boxes ffg.

You should know your customers.

Now I cant stack m all nicely anymore

Ok done whining.

Cycle looks great. Love the valour idea.