Rapier said:

i think is basically says increase archery for the amount woses in play. i didnt really read the enemy part as there could be 'woses ally' but you make a good point

i also hope they arent all enemies

rich

I am hoping if Woses are made enemies, it will only be a temporary feature, as I think there is nothing in Tolkien's canon to show they were enemies of either Rohan or Gondor. And the only mention of them in the Lord of the Rings would make one thing quite the opposite.

I too think secrecy will be put on hold in this upcoming cycle, battle and siege mechanice, together with the above mentioned mono-sphere allignement will surely take too much card spot to leave anything for secrecy. But I do hope we come back to it soon enough.

Traditionally the Woses are enemies of Man (Gondor/Rohan) but only in the loosest sense.

They don't have a real society, and they're enemies because they do things like steal food. Which they mostly do because man is encroaching on their lands.

They don't really have an agenda beyond being left alone, but their is friction between them and humans.

Rapier said:

Source? I don't remember reading this in any of Tolkien's work, or in the likes of Encyclopedia of Arda.

I also felt weird about the Woses being an enemy. However, perhaps the idea is that the Woses are hostile UNTIL Theoden makes peace with them during their march through the Druadan Forest during the Return of the King. In that way, since our game takes place before ROTK, they could justify the Woses attacking outsiders.

Or maybe we have some way to make "peace" with them during the events of the game and get their help against whoever we're tracking into the forest.

I love the art for the main Wose on the cover though!

to those interested theres an entire chapter for them in the UT…cant remember the details so im going to have a refresh read

Anyone know what this new Prowl mechanic mentioned in the News article is all about?

i think its the first we've heard of it. the packs seem to be all about traps and archery and so on, so im assuming a mix of the two

rich

My concern with all the new mechanics and keywords that are being introduced (siege, battle, archery, prowl?, etc), that some of the old ones that we've been waiting to get more developed (Secrecy, Silvan, etc.) may not see any more traction for a while…. Really hoping FFG proves my doubts unfounded!

benhanses said:

Silvan is definitely not getting love this set, you'll be lucky if you get 1 card. (Possibly a hero?)

Rapier said:

I think the same. As I'd said before, I feel the theme of the player cards is getting more in tune with the theme of the scenarios. Thus I feel this will be mostly Gondor, some Dúnedain or Rohan, and very little of everything else (and hopefully no Dwarves).

If we get a detour, I do hope it is Silvan. Not only that the faction is the least developed (of the big ones) but there is a hint of the Elven blood in Dol Amroth.

There was an Elf haven in southern Gondor called Edhellond, although in the Third Age it had been deserted by the Elves.

Nevertheless the king of all games, MECCG, used Edhellond as one of its four Havens where your fellowship would be safe from all hazards and could heal etc.

So if we're looking for a little Silvan love in this cycle, it may have to come from Edhellond.

That could be an adventure detour. Although I think detours are less likely to occur with the new narrative focus.

Yes, I wouldn't expect a scenario to go there, but it might provide a nice excuse to include a few Silvan or Noldor characters in the packs.