Hey guys, the Winter Court Podcast has received its very first spoiler! Fortunately for you guys, we won't be recording for another week; so I'm just going to let it out into the community. This one's a Dragon clan event. Let us know what you think!

That's awesome!

Mirumoto Prodigy is pleased, between this and Admit Defeat splash.

wow only 2 influence, seems to be pretty good with both hotaru and toturi, in general looks ok.

also works both on offence and defence so possible splash into crab

cons: 1 fate looks a bit costly, being countered on defence by Admit Defeat

I haven't tried playing yet, but how often do you win controlling a single character in conflict? I know single voltron guys is supposed to be dragon's schtick, but I feel if I roll up with one guy he will be bowed or taken care of somehow.

I'm actually a huge fan of this card. We've already seen the prodigy character that can attack alone and then your opponent can only defend with one character.

If they do indeed have a robust 'Voltron' theme based on their attachments and heavy hitting characters, this event could be fantastic.

The trick will be how to keep that one character readied and in the conflict. I think Lion would be a good clan to splash into Dragon in order to get Ready for Battle to prevent things like the Crane event, Admit Defeat on defense or any other bow effects that may come out.

From how I'm reading this, it appears you only need to have the single character at the end of the battle? If possible, some decks may play with sending multiple characters to battle, and then pulling all but one back when victory becomes apparent. At least, if such cards exist, that's certainly what I'll do. XD

2 minutes ago, JJ48 said:

From how I'm reading this, it appears you only need to have the single character at the end of the battle? If possible, some decks may play with sending multiple characters to battle, and then pulling all but one back when victory becomes apparent. At least, if such cards exist, that's certainly what I'll do. XD

In A Game of Thrones, there were a few "when attacking alone" triggers. It literally only mattered at the time that you're triggering the ability. In this case, after you win the conflict, you react to winning the conflict. However, in Thrones, there is a character (The Hound) that reacts to winning a challenge to return to hand.

So there was this ridiculous combo where you attack with the Hound and a character that wants to win alone, then react with the Hound to leave play and then, suddenly, the other character is "attacking alone" despite there being another character in the resolution of the challenge. This allowed you to trigger that reaction as well (since reactions are triggered sequentially at your will, rather than simultaneously.)

I really really hope they don't repeat that design mistake in this game haha.

I'm not sure, but you might be able to do that with Kitsu Spiritcaller, but I can't check timing window for her shuffling the rezzed characters back into their deck.

4 minutes ago, WHW said:

I'm not sure, but you might be able to do that with Kitsu Spiritcaller, but I can't check timing window for her shuffling the rezzed characters back into their deck.

Yea, that would require we have the rulebook so that we know when "At the end of the conflict" falls, relative to reactions to the conflict's resolution.

My gut feeling is that the "end of the conflict" is after all reactions, bowing to go home and ring effects go off.

But, timing and sequence order is always a confusing thing when it comes to FFG games.

Nice card, thanks.

Dragon really are trying for the "dump tons of attachments on one or two characters and solo provinces" route.

While it's kinda thematic for the Dragon, I'm always wary of 'eggs in one basket' mechanics / themes. It's really hard to make it work well as a faction's major focus. It usually ends up being either over-powered because too much negation and / or protection is given with it, or incredibly fragile because not enough negation and / or protection is given with it. For that matter, they're basically a type of combo deck, and that also tends to require a lot of cards drawing, cycling or deck searching. Too much of this in one deck can make the game big down and feel less interactive, while too little makes it very inconsistent.

All that said, FFG might pull it off just fine. We'll see in just under a week. Also, I'm hoping for a few more cards that fit the 'manipulate the fate on Rings' theme.

14 minutes ago, Joe From Cincinnati said:

In A Game of Thrones, there were a few "when attacking alone" triggers. It literally only mattered at the time that you're triggering the ability. In this case, after you win the conflict, you react to winning the conflict. However, in Thrones, there is a character (The Hound) that reacts to winning a challenge to return to hand.

So there was this ridiculous combo where you attack with the Hound and a character that wants to win alone, then react with the Hound to leave play and then, suddenly, the other character is "attacking alone" despite there being another character in the resolution of the challenge. This allowed you to trigger that reaction as well (since reactions are triggered sequentially at your will, rather than simultaneously.)

Jorah Mormont can also do it if he's about to get his last Traitor token, however I consider this type of play to be a feature not a bug.

If I read the cards properly, there's a delicious combo between Indomitable Will, Kakita Kaezin and Slain in Battle.

15 minutes ago, Kitsu Seinosuke said:

If I read the cards properly, there's a delicious combo between Indomitable Will, Kakita Kaezin and Slain in Battle.

Do you mean fallen in battle? I'm not sure what card Slain in battle is. Regardless, I'm not seeing the combo. Kaezin makes it so you are now (your army) vs 1 (assuming you win the duel). Assuming the conflict is military and you by 5 or more you can play fallen in battle which you either discard their 1 guy or any of your own. Now I'm on the question on what you are doing with Indomitable Will

Ok, I think this looks good. Suggests Dragon will have strong focus on 'solo' combatants which implies they will get other cards that bow or remove opponent characters from the field?

Alternatively we have seen 'synergy' Dragon cards: two differing play styles perhaps? ?

46 minutes ago, Kitsu Seinosuke said:

If I read the cards properly, there's a delicious combo between Indomitable Will, Kakita Kaezin and Slain in Battle.

I think Kaezin and Indomitable are a great combo. The Crane and Dragon both have great attachments that can turn Kaezin into a 1 man powerhouse, and he conveniently isolates himself to fit with Indomitable even if you send a full army for the attack.

I think the Fallen in Battle would be excellent if they kept their champion there as the defender to keep you from breaking the province. If you came up +5 you could kill their champion instead (or possibly both if you boost enough)

I think this pretty much solidifies the Crane w/Dragon splash. The only question left to answer are what do the Dragon duelists look like? Once we have that then it should be clear which Clan will run the best version of the BUD Big Unit Duelist.

Personally I still think Phoenix has the strongest conflict cards for splashing, at this point.

1 hour ago, JRosen9 said:

Do you mean fallen in battle? I'm not sure what card Slain in battle is. Regardless, I'm not seeing the combo. Kaezin makes it so you are now (your army) vs 1 (assuming you win the duel). Assuming the conflict is military and you by 5 or more you can play fallen in battle which you either discard their 1 guy or any of your own. Now I'm on the question on what you are doing with Indomitable Will

Fallen in Battle, yes. Thank you.

If I understand Kakita Kaezin, when he wins a duel then he sends everyone home except himself and his dueling partner. This means that he can turn any battle into a 1v1, which enables Indomitable Will.

I think it might be very useful in those first few turns, if you're focusing on just a few characters. You can essentially attack even with a weak attacker and force the opponent to have to either spend a blocker or cards to win the fight for fear of this card. You're already going to poke to see a province's trap, so a free untap might be worth it too.

It does feel like a Dragon card after seeing the prodigy but also serves as another 3x for their Voltron.

8 minutes ago, Kubernes said:

...a free untap might be worth it too...

I wouldn't quite call it free; it's still 1 Fate and a card from hand.

I like this card, though like Sashimono better. This is certainly more versatile in it's use, and will see way more splash for it, I just like attaching it to a character who has a chance to be around a few turns.

12 hours ago, Joe From Cincinnati said:

In A Game of Thrones, there were a few "when attacking alone" triggers. It literally only mattered at the time that you're triggering the ability. In this case, after you win the conflict, you react to winning the conflict. However, in Thrones, there is a character (The Hound) that reacts to winning a challenge to return to hand.

So there was this ridiculous combo where you attack with the Hound and a character that wants to win alone, then react with the Hound to leave play and then, suddenly, the other character is "attacking alone" despite there being another character in the resolution of the challenge. This allowed you to trigger that reaction as well (since reactions are triggered sequentially at your will, rather than simultaneously.)

I really really hope they don't repeat that design mistake in this game haha.

And you didn't even have to remember to trigger the Hound first, since his reaction is forced, which means it has to be triggered (by the game) before optional reactions.

After much thought concerning this card, I have to say that I fear opposing cards that can simply bow a personality, which would severely remove not only this card's function, but 'ax' Dragon's theme of powerful single characters taking on other personalities during Mil and Pol conflicts. (am not explaining this correctly)

If Dragon personalities have dueling abilities that force 1 vs 1 combat, then this card can be elevated a tad higher in my judgement. As it stands, this card can be shut down too easily, I'm afraid. ?

Maybe I'm just crying wolf...

38 minutes ago, LordBlunt said:

After much thought concerning this card, I have to say that I fear opposing cards that can simply bow a personality, which would severely remove not only this card's function, but 'ax' Dragon's theme of powerful single characters taking on other personalities during Mil and Pol conflicts. (am not explaining this correctly)

If Dragon personalities have dueling abilities that force 1 vs 1 combat, then this card can be elevated a tad higher in my judgement. As it stands, this card can be shut down too easily, I'm afraid. ?

Maybe I'm just crying wolf...

I agree that it's a concern.

Perhaps we'll get a Dragon attachment that straightens its character, or something like that.

I nothing else, I suppose we can just splash Lion's 'Ready For Battle'. It's quite nice, and only costs 1 Influence.