Then what are you saying?

And just like that, mono-tactics became a thing. Even with no ability Eowyn would have seen a lot of play... but her ability (though limited) can be suitably epic. They did a great job thematically with this card, but I can see it being used in almost any deck that includes more than one tactics hero.

She makes a great splash hero too, you don't need 2 Tactics heroes. Merry was previously the best Tactics hero for keeping threat down and getting access to weapons for Haldir, Gondorian shield, etc. Now Merry has some real competition.

That is true - I've used Merry(T) in so many decks to gain access to powerful tactics cards without including a 10+ threat hero... and I would argue that Eowyn(T) will be better than Merry(T) in essentially every such deck. You get 1 extra life and 2 extra willpower (these decks aren't usually built around Merry's ability, and he ends up questing most of the time) and the ability to kill almost anything once per game - all for the same starting threat!

Honestly the only downside I can even think of is that Eowyn(S) is still quite a good hero - but she had been getting competition already from Arwen and Galadriel.

Then what are you saying?

Maybe I'm misunderstanding you?

I'm saying that cards related to events in the books should be principally depicted in Saga expansions, but Gandalf should be left alone because usage of the core set Ally is too ubiquitious.

Yes, I think we have a contender for 2016's best hero. Until all the haters come and make 100 threads saying how much they hate her and won't use her.

Yes, I think we have a contender for 2016's best hero. Until all the haters come and make 100 threads saying how much they hate her and won't use her.

to be honest i think shes to powerful:PP but i still like it. espeacialy in mono tacics

Finally，we got you!

4 willpower(5 with tac Theoden), could start with secrery, end with valour, makes the solo mono-tac solid,wow~~~

Merry as a Rohan Tac character? Synergy. Huge dump trucks of it.

The game is set before Frodo's journey from The Shire begins so Gandalf the White doesn't really exist outside the saga campaign.

While I'm not urging to get a Gandalf the White hero for all the reasons Psychorocka mentioned, I'm not sure if I agree with this argument. By that logic, Tactics Eowyn, aka Dernhelm, shouldn't be a hero either, since she only became a badass warrior in the novels as well (not to mention that, if the game is so strictly set in that 17 year period we shouldn't have adult versions of her.)

Gandalf died and was reborn via magic as something different to what he was.

That's not really the same as Eowyn crossdressing and picking up a sword.

Gandalf the white

Starting threat: 20

Sphere: lore

wp: 5

A: 5

D: 3

Hp: 6

Once per round Exhaust GtW to search your deck for One card add it to your hand. Shuffle your deck.

For the purposes of a card game that must make some thematic concessions, I think it kind of is, actually. I wouldn't mind using Gandalf the White in The Hobbit quests, just as I wouldn't mind using Frodo. And thematically I'd rather believe Gandalf died somewhere before that book and reborn than Frodo being born decades earlier. The game is full of crazy stuff like that, it comes with the territory.

I would not like to see a Gandalf the White hero because I think it's really unnecesary.

the expansion's new heroes and player cards represent the strength of the alliance between the Men of Gondor, the Riders of Rohan, and the Elves and Dúnedain of the Grey Company. Nearly all the new player cards bear either the Gondor, Rohan, or Dúnedain traits

I'm pretty sure we won't see Elladan and Elrohir allies in this box since they don't have the Dúnedain trait. They might show up in the sixth box: unlike Halbarad, they were present at the battle of the Morannon. There's a good chance, however, that we'll get a Grey Company related card that works with Elladan and Elrohir (perhaps attach to a Dúnedain or Noldor ranger).

I said earlier that we probably wouldn't get Merry and Pippin allies in this box, but I was forgetting that they could have the Rohan and Gondor traits. There's also a chance that we get Merry in this box and Pippin (who fought at the Black Gate) in the last box.

Assuming they even out the number of heroes in each sphere in the last two saga boxes, we'll get a Leadership or Spirit hero to go with Éowyn (likely Gondor, so that the box doesn't have a heavy Rohan focus). Denethor, Beregond, and Imrahil are the most likely candidates. Of them, Imrahil plays the largest role in the battle of Pelennor Fields, so my guess is that we'll get a Spirit Imrahil hero. If that's the case, then we'll probably get a Spirit Gondor ally and a Tactics Rohan ally (just like Treabeard got Quickbeam to accompany him, Theoden got Háma, and Faramir and Damrod got Anborn and Mablung). Here's one possible configuration:

Fellowship Aragorn

Tactics Éowyn

Spirit Imrahil

Leadership Éomer

Tactics Merry

Spirit Beregond

Lore Halbarad

There are lots of ways to tweak this (perhaps delay Merry to the last box, making Éomer Tactics and Halbarad Leadership, then add a Lore Denethor or Ioreth ally), and there's also a decent chance that we'll get a Leadership Gondor hero instead of Spirit Imrahil, since Leadership is Gondor's primary sphere (likely with an Imrahil ally). Any other configurations seem likely?

thirty player cards (three copies each of ten different cards) divided between the four spheres of influence

This is probably just the article being unclear, but I hope we're getting a fellowship card. It might be related to the Grey Company, or it could be Arwen's banner for Aragorn.

I'm not sure it's fair to say that Eowyn "became a badass warrior" only after adopting the identity of Dernhelm. She was trained for war, and war was her desire. When she asked Aragorn permission to go with his company she made that clear:

---

"Too often have I heard of duty," she cried. But am I not of the House of Eorl, a shieldmaiden and not a dry-nurse? I have waited on faltering feet long enough. Since they falter no longer, it seems, may I not now spend my life as I will?"

....

"But I am of the House of Eorl and not a serving-woman. I can ride and wield blade, and I do not fear either pain or death."

---

When seeing Aragorn and his company off she was "clad as a Rider and girt with a sword", so Dernhelm was hardly the first time she'd picked up a sword.

In the battle, prior to dispatching the witch-king she rode unharmed in the furious charges into the enemy performed by Theoden, and slew the fell beast with a single blow. "Maiden of the Rohirrim, child of kings, slender but as a steel-blade, fair but terrible. A swift stroke she dealt, skilled and deadly."

If anything, the game is highly unrealistic in only giving her one attack in the first place -- though this makes her more effective for her threat cost, of course.

Eowyn was born in 2995, so she was about 24 at the death of Theoden.

Dernhelm is the biggest game changing card we've had in a long time. Possibly ever.

I won't complain that she is overpowered, because it was going to take a card like that to make solo tactics viable. I reserve the right to get sick of seeing her though. For a while it will be like the early days of the game when Eowyn was in 75% of the decks. Still, for a time, it will be welcome.

The only possible way to use Gandalf the White in our loved game is with Beyond all hope in a situacional quest, seeing the players opinions it seens to me that is beyond all hope that we get a REAL and true Gandalf the white card. I wouldnt like it to be a hero, but an ally with limited use would be fine. Dont know, you guys may be right, but I expected more from one of the most awesome and important characters in the history of the LOTR than just a boon campaing card.

It would need to share a title with Gandalf so you could not have multiple in play, nor include 6 copies of Gandalf in your deck (if they had different card titles you'd be able to do this). The art and ability could set it apart. I'd like to see it. But as an ally and not a hero. Gandalf hero is very rare in multiplayer as is, at least in my experience, since his presence has a noticeable limiting effect on other decks.

I'm not sure it's fair to say that Eowyn "became a badass warrior" only after adopting the identity of Dernhelm. She was trained for war, and war was her desire.

True that. She was already a warrior before her first appearance. But being more objective, in the story we actually see in the books she only technically fights in the battle, that's why I said that.

In any case, I so agree that Eowyn is a game changing card. The variety of decks that will be opened up once she releases is incredible.

The only possible way to use Gandalf the White in our loved game is with Beyond all hope in a situacional quest, seeing the players opinions it seens to me that is beyond all hope that we get a REAL and true Gandalf the white card. I wouldnt like it to be a hero, but an ally with limited use would be fine. Dont know, you guys may be right, but I expected more from one of the most awesome and important characters in the history of the LOTR than just a boon campaing card.

Gandalf is one of the most awesome and important characters in the history of the LOTR. The Gandalf heroes and allies alike say "Gandalf", not "Gandalf the Grey". Gandalf is in the game, and well-used as well. No other character is in so high a percentage of decks.

What I'd like to see is regular versions of the boon/treasure cards in the game. I'd like to see Sting, Glamdring, Orcrist, Anduril and so forth in the game. And the mithril shirt, though at a higher cost and larger effect. It's horribly unthematic to have it be the equivalent of ring mail.

Gandalf The White:

5 cost

4wp

4attack

4defense

4hitpoints

Forced: when it is played, each player search in his deck, and discard pile for each copy of Gandalf, and remove them from the game.

Action: Deal 1 damage to Gandalf The White to deal 1 damage to an enemy in play.

Gandalf The White:

5 cost

4wp

4attack

4defense

4hitpoints

Forced: when it is played, each player search in his deck, and discard pile for each copy of Gandalf, and remove them from the game.

Action: Deal 1 damage to Gandalf The White to deal 1 damage to an enemy in play.

You'd want it to be when he "enters play" so that you can't get around it by using Sneak Attack and other effects. With the current healing cards available he is way too strong especially without some limitations on how many times it can trigger.

I do like his forced ability to remove all other Gandalf's from the game. Without naming him Gandalf, his current attachments won't work on him though - so I'd suggest naming him Gandalf and just giving him "The White" trait or something. It doesn't look as good but it would create less problems with the other Gandalf's and the attachments.

If Gandalf the White would actually be a new hero, I doubt it will be called anything but Gandalf, otherwise we will see two versions of the wizard in play. My guess would be that we would see a non-boon attachment that upgrades our ol' pal. Just look at Strider. We didn't get a Strider hero, as that would've been weird with that and Aragorn on the table. Instead we got an awesome Strider attachment.

I don't think a new Gandalf is unnecessary. If anything the Aragorn spam needs to slow down haha. There are so many hero versions of him, and yes half are Fellowship, but at this rate we would see a new Leadership Aragorn hero before we get a new Gandalf haha. The cycle begins anew. I think we will see a new Gandalf hero or ally sometime on the future.

I meant a new hero Gandalf would be unnecessary. I'd be down for a new Gandalf ally that represents him as the White.

Isn't Gandalf the White represented in campaign mode through the "Beyond All Hope" boon reward card? So, he is there but can't be used outside of the LotR saga sets, isn't that a bit more thematic since none of the other quests take place after LotR?

I guess another thing that could show up is a Gandalf the White Ally that requires the fellowship sphere?

Isn't Gandalf the White represented in campaign mode through the "Beyond All Hope" boon reward card? So, he is there but can't be used outside of the LotR saga sets, isn't that a bit more thematic since none of the other quests take place after LotR?

Actually thinking about it I doubt we'd even see a fellowship Gandalf the white unless he is the hero. Since you could use a Gandalf the White fellowship ally before the Balrog or any sphere/neutral version of him if one was made. I think I'm in the camp that it won't happen and I see why. Might be interesting to get a two sided Gandalf hero but the perfect time for that has passed.

What of the last box, I mean the battle outside the Black Gate? Will it be represented only as a side of a quest with the Ring-bearer the Fellowship hero or are we gonna get two (or even more) Fellowship heroes in the last box? I certainly hope Morannon is one quest of the last three, and given how little there is to choose from (considering the end is the destruction of Barad-dur, and not Scouring of the Shire), it probably will be. A wild option would be to have both Frodo and Sam as Ring-bearers and both Aragorn and Gandalf as the other Fellowship heroes...

For those who wander whether we are getting new Merry and Pip:

you'll find new boons that allow you to swear your fealty to either Gondor or Rohan

So it'll be done same as Beyond all Hope, but I hope we'll see some interesting effects that work really well with them- preferably with both their versions.

Eowin hero was a real shock for me (nice one, still). I firmly believed that we are getting Eomer and Imrahil. Now I hope we'll get Arwen's banner, Beregond, ally/hero Eomer and halbarad. I'm not sure if I want ally twins- I'd prefer to have another hero versions of them (allies are less relliable to get on a table), and I doubt we'll get 3 of them.

Does anybody guess what this Eowin's event Stronger than Steel could do? After you kill opponent ready a hero would work well with her ability, but we have plenty of similar effects already.