Just making a list of those named characters that still don't have a hero or ally card. Hopefully we'll see a bunch of them during this cycle. Comment if I missed any!

Círdan
Ioreth
Bergil
Tom Bombadil*
Goldberry*
Iorlas
Targon
Rosie Cotton
Leaflock
Ghan-buri-Ghan
Hirgon
Thranduil
Thorin III Stonehelm
Grimbold
The Blue Wizards (less likely)
Robin Smallburrow
Lindir
Galdor
Duinhir
Derufin
Duilin
Dervorin
Hamfast Gamgee
Beechbone

Húrin the Tall

Meneldor


Characters life the monts and dogs I think would be better as attachments.


*Much less likely to see as player cards, but I'd really love to have them. A perfect and thematic way to make them IMO would be to make them neutral allies with the encounter keyword and an event to shuffle him into the encounter deck. It keeps their erratic and uncontrollable nature and it would be awesome when they appear. Then again I guess they could go the strictly thematic route and just make them unavailable as player cards, but if they wanted to give players the choice if they want to have him in the Morgul Vale or not, that'd be the way to do it.

There is Galdor of Imladris, from the council of Elrond,

Galdor was from the Grey Havens actually.

How about Grip?

Just making a list of those named characters that still don't have a hero or ally card. Hopefully we'll see a bunch of them during this cycle. Comment if I missed any!

Círdan

Ioreth

Bergil

Tom Bombadil*

Goldberry*

Iorlas

Targon

Gamling

Rosie Cotton

Skinbark

Leaflock

Ghan-buri-Ghan

Hirgon

Thranduil

Thorin III Stonehelm

Grimbold

The Blue Wizards (less likely)

Robin Smallburrow

Lindir

Galdor

*Much less likely to see as player cards, but I'd really love to have them. A perfect and thematic way to make them IMO would be to make them neutral allies with the encounter keyword and an event to shuffle him into the encounter deck. It keeps their erratic and uncontrollable nature and it would be awesome when they appear. Then again I guess they could go the strictly thematic route and just make them unavailable as player cards, but if they wanted to give players the choice if they want to have him in the Morgul Vale or not, that'd be the way to do it.

There are a couple in your list I just don't think we'll see either because they are just such peaceful harmless folk that would be very hard to make into an ally card or because they are too minor/unthematic for player cards.

I really don't think we will see Bergil, Tom, Goldberry, Iorlas, or Targon.

Bergil is a ten year old kid, Tom and Goldberry would never leave their area of Middle Earth and Iorlas and Targon are just way too minor I think.

I'm also not really sure about Rosie Cotton or Robin Smallburrow but there are very few other named Hobbits they can release so these two may get player cards. Maybe Rosie could reduce threat or buff other hobbits somehow (especially Sam!!), not sure about Robin Smallburrow.

As for the Druedain I really don't think we will see player cards for them or their leader Ghan-Buri-Ghan. They are simply far too reclusive and untrusting of almost all other races in Middle Earth. If this is the reason we don't get Tom and Goldberry it is the same reason we will not get Druedain. I personally actually really hope we do not get Tom, Goldberry or Druedain as it would be extremely unthematic and I feel would not gel well with the game as it exists. Even Tom and Goldberry would not be so bad but Druedain just does not make sense. Pretty much all the others I am very excited to see however! I really want hero versions of all the unique characters we have as only allies as well, Gildor, Arwen etc. Nice allies for a handful of characters we only have heroes for would be great too. Bring on a neutral 5 cost Aragorn ally that can have attachments that only attach to heroes!

The Gaffer.

How about Grip?

This one. I want Wolf, Grip, Fang attachments for Maggot.

*Much less likely to see as player cards, but I'd really love to have them.

I would add Cirdan to this category. If anything he should be like Galadriel, where he has a strong ability but is severely limited. I mean the dude has been sitting on the beach for a few eons!

Bard II.

Hasufel.

Bumpkin, Sharpears, Whitesocks, Swish-tail, Wise-nose.

Feralóf

Lightfoot

Snowmane

Roheryn

Stybba

Strider

Windfola

Beechbone

Fimbrethil

Gollem

King of the Dead

Gil-Galad.

Lobelia, Lotho and Otho Sackville-Baggins.

Nain II

Morwen

Gilraen

Othar

Helm Hammerhand

Grimbeorn

Really like the idea of a Farmer Maggot Hero with 3 unigue dog allies Grip, Fang & Wolf.

Put it no your to-do list Caleb!

Really like the idea of a Farmer Maggot Hero with 3 unigue dog allies Grip, Fang & Wolf.

Put it no your to-do list Caleb!

+1 for that!

There are a couple in your list I just don't think we'll see either because they are just such peaceful harmless folk that would be very hard to make into an ally card or because they are too minor/unthematic for player cards.

I really don't think we will see Bergil, Tom, Goldberry, Iorlas, or Targon.

Bergil is a ten year old kid, Tom and Goldberry would never leave their area of Middle Earth and Iorlas and Targon are just way too minor I think.

I'm also not really sure about Rosie Cotton or Robin Smallburrow but there are very few other named Hobbits they can release so these two may get player cards. Maybe Rosie could reduce threat or buff other hobbits somehow (especially Sam!!), not sure about Robin Smallburrow.

As for the Druedain I really don't think we will see player cards for them or their leader Ghan-Buri-Ghan. They are simply far too reclusive and untrusting of almost all other races in Middle Earth. If this is the reason we don't get Tom and Goldberry it is the same reason we will not get Druedain. I personally actually really hope we do not get Tom, Goldberry or Druedain as it would be extremely unthematic and I feel would not gel well with the game as it exists. Even Tom and Goldberry would not be so bad but Druedain just does not make sense. Pretty much all the others I am very excited to see however! I really want hero versions of all the unique characters we have as only allies as well, Gildor, Arwen etc. Nice allies for a handful of characters we only have heroes for would be great too. Bring on a neutral 5 cost Aragorn ally that can have attachments that only attach to heroes!

Wow, I'm kinda sorry to say this but I disagree with almost everything you said. How boring! Targon and Iorlas too obscure/peaceful? Both were men of Gondor, probably soldiers, if we get Dúnhere in the very first release of the game and now that we just got Ingold I don't see any reason not to see Targon or Iorlas. Surely they're not the designer's most urgent characters to make, but just coming out and plainly saying they shouldn't be done... I just disagree. And what about Bergil? He was a favorite character of mine in ROTK, he was there in the houses of healing and went to find the Athelas to heal Éowyn and Faramir, not to mention he was brave and lively, which could translate in a high willpower. That just screams "Spirit ally that fetches attachment", and that would be awesome. I just can't understand how you say Targon and Bergil are too peaceful to get player cards and then say that Rosie Cotton could get one. And about the Druédain and Bombadil + Goldberry? They greatly helped the main characters in their chapters and yes, they are both reclusive and could be unthematic in most quests but come on! This is an LCG/TCG, we want to see all our favorite characters and factions represented. We can already take the Eagles into Moria and Treebeard to Mordor, it's pretty clear the designers want to make thematic cards but also give the players the choice of whether they consider Bombadil unthematic to bring him along or not. I could understand if they never made cards for these 2 characters, but your statement just seems to be all about restricting the game and closing opportunities for some cool stuff. Don't be such a stick in the mud!

I agree, I think that they should, and might eventually have to, make player cards for a lot of the people mentioned on the list. Personally, I think that Ghan-Buri-Ghan will be a hero. They could start an entire Druedain mechanic, with something like they are hard to get into play but they pay off if you can.

Also, they really should make player cards of all the Outlands Captains. I know that some think that the mechanic is broken, but I don't, and I find it frustrating that we get the Lord of Morthond card and no Duinhir to put it on!

Yes, Duinhir! Thanks for reminding me. I'll update the OP.

The reason I'm personally skeptical about them ever giving us a Bergil card (and I don't think I'm alone) is that I think the designers may not be entirely comfortable with the prospect of someone chump-blocking with a ten-year-old...

The same company who sells AGOT, which has lots of kid character and which I imagine can be easy to kill in the game? Nah.

They are not only comfortable with it, they give us money when we do it.

There are a couple in your list I just don't think we'll see either because they are just such peaceful harmless folk that would be very hard to make into an ally card or because they are too minor/unthematic for player cards.

I really don't think we will see Bergil, Tom, Goldberry, Iorlas, or Targon.

Bergil is a ten year old kid, Tom and Goldberry would never leave their area of Middle Earth and Iorlas and Targon are just way too minor I think.

I'm also not really sure about Rosie Cotton or Robin Smallburrow but there are very few other named Hobbits they can release so these two may get player cards. Maybe Rosie could reduce threat or buff other hobbits somehow (especially Sam!!), not sure about Robin Smallburrow.

As for the Druedain I really don't think we will see player cards for them or their leader Ghan-Buri-Ghan. They are simply far too reclusive and untrusting of almost all other races in Middle Earth. If this is the reason we don't get Tom and Goldberry it is the same reason we will not get Druedain. I personally actually really hope we do not get Tom, Goldberry or Druedain as it would be extremely unthematic and I feel would not gel well with the game as it exists. Even Tom and Goldberry would not be so bad but Druedain just does not make sense. Pretty much all the others I am very excited to see however! I really want hero versions of all the unique characters we have as only allies as well, Gildor, Arwen etc. Nice allies for a handful of characters we only have heroes for would be great too. Bring on a neutral 5 cost Aragorn ally that can have attachments that only attach to heroes!

Wow, I'm kinda sorry to say this but I disagree with almost everything you said. How boring! Targon and Iorlas too obscure/peaceful? Both were men of Gondor, probably soldiers, if we get Dúnhere in the very first release of the game and now that we just got Ingold I don't see any reason not to see Targon or Iorlas. Surely they're not the designer's most urgent characters to make, but just coming out and plainly saying they shouldn't be done... I just disagree. And what about Bergil? He was a favorite character of mine in ROTK, he was there in the houses of healing and went to find the Athelas to heal Éowyn and Faramir, not to mention he was brave and lively, which could translate in a high willpower. That just screams "Spirit ally that fetches attachment", and that would be awesome. I just can't understand how you say Targon and Bergil are too peaceful to get player cards and then say that Rosie Cotton could get one. And about the Druédain and Bombadil + Goldberry? They greatly helped the main characters in their chapters and yes, they are both reclusive and could be unthematic in most quests but come on! This is an LCG/TCG, we want to see all our favorite characters and factions represented. We can already take the Eagles into Moria and Treebeard to Mordor, it's pretty clear the designers want to make thematic cards but also give the players the choice of whether they consider Bombadil unthematic to bring him along or not. I could understand if they never made cards for these 2 characters, but your statement just seems to be all about restricting the game and closing opportunities for some cool stuff. Don't be such a stick in the mud!

Yeah sorry I still very strongly disagree. I actually think that the designers just making a card for every single character that is mentioned by name (no matter how small a part or unimportant they are) is really stupid. Three different allies for each of Farmer Maggots dogs? Robin Smallburrow? Goldberry? I think people are being far too optimistic and are asking for characters that are so extremely minor in the story it would make little sense to get cards for them. Yes we can take Ents and Eagles everywhere but they are iconic and integral races and characters to the stories and lands of middle earth. Yes Tom is iconic too but would NEVER leave his lands (the Ents begrudgingly do so to attack Isengard and the eagles help out several different times in both the Hobbit and LOTR), has nothing to do with the story after his appearance and we already have him as an objective ally in both The Old Forest and Fog on the Barrow Downs. Similarly the Druedain whilst important are an ancient race that have completely isolated themselves and have cut themselves off from the rest of Middle Earth. Hell I'm pretty sure (if I remember correctly) that the Rohirrim even hunt them for sport in the third age. They were once great allies of men but now are just hidden away in their forest avoiding everyone. Yes they help Rohan reach Pelennor Fields in time and hold off orcs pursuing the Rohirrim but do they leave the forest and join the battle? Afterwards what happens? Do they rejoin the rest of Middle Earth now that Sauron is defeated? No Aragorn grants them the forest they live in forbidding anyone else to enter without permission and they eventually apparently fade into history or myth.

I have no intent on restricting the game but think that if FFG have to create cards for every single character that is named it will be really cheesy and wont work. I feel like they are constantly trying to create a very balanced mix of mechanics and theme, and this would totally upset this balance. Instead I would love a few more FFG created characters, far far more non-unique allies for every race, more hero versions of characters we only have ally cards for and vice versa. There are also still all the other named characters we have not seen yet that you listed.

I guess we have two different ideas of what this card game should be. To me, this game always had a strong emphasis for being encyclopedic, in that it likes to take the obscure characters and details of the story and expanding upon them. We see that from the Core Set with Gleowine and Dunhere and in the cycles where they expand upon a small mission like capturing Gollum or the gondorian conflicts prior to the war. I think it's safe to say that much of the appeal of the game comes from seeing not only the main Frodo story but also the side stories and places we read very little about. Considering that, it makes absolute sense for me to see every character I listed as a player card, either ally or hero. It just fits with the whole concept behind the game IMO. I mean, even the two previous Lotr card games missed just a few of these. I get your point though, I would also doubt they will make cards for Maggot's dogs or stuff like a Farmer Maggot hero or the developing of the Woodmen trait in the life of this game, but then again ally cards for Bergil or Iorlas are totally possible to me. The thing is, this game already has characters as obscure as the ones I listed, and even an Erestor hero would be stretching it IMO. Characters like Bombadil and Goldberry are less likely as I said, but still possible. And if even the game based on the movies had Bombadil and Goldberry, it'd be rather weird that the game based on the books alone failed to do that.

I understand the thematic difficulty with Tom (and Goldberry) but I just want to play them so much, I need to have them as real player cards, haha. I think the encounter keyword would not be a bad idea? This may also be a wishful thinking but I feel that Tom Bombadil would leave his house if the dire need (but was he ever to feel it?) was upon him. He had no problem going as far as the Downs and toward the road, and he probably went to Buckland or the Marish every now and then.

We have Grima hero. Everything is possible.

I all in favor of every little character, idea or history being include in some way.

Decipher LOTR TCG had Ghan-Buri-Ghan as a companion (basically hero) and no one saw problem with that.

Meneldor!

The Eagle that helped Frodo and Sam together Gwaihir and Landroval

I do like the idea of Bergil as an ally who can fetch weapons/armor.

Where is Thranduil? Who will speak to me of dragon's fire? v__v

Yeah he is well overdue at this point, surely we will see him soon!

OP updated.