Eomer would actually make sense in this cycle. He could be either Tactics or Spirit in order to provide a monosphere Rohan deck. I suspect he won't show up before a Rohan Deluxe Expansion or the first Two Towers Saga Expansion, though.

Anyone think we have a possibility of seeing Lord Alcaron as the hero? (or even an objective-ally again?) On the post-victory section of the story for assault on osgiliath...

(CAUTION: POSSIBLE SPOILERS)

Lord Alcaron is featured prominently in that text as going with you (the player) and Faramir into Ithilien to track down the remaining forces of mordor. I dont know if that would be reason enough to make a hero out of him, but it would at least be nice to have another gondor character and if they keep his objective ally stats from Amon Din he'd have a respectable 8 starting threat. Plus even though he would be a "custom-created" character, hes been in enough of FFG's lore for this cycle that he is at least familiar to the players and seems to have a place within their vision of middle earth. He wouldnt be my first choice but he would be an interesting one...

----CONTINUATION of POSSIBLE SPOILERS----

I just finished the Assault on Osgiliath quest this morning and really enjoyed the narrative. However, at the end when Alcaron and Faramir are with you at the campfire and Alcaron is really gung-ho to invade Ithilien and Faramir is not, I got a certain feeling that Alcaron might actually die in either the next AP or the final one at Morgal Vale. Faramir is very reserved and doesn't like the idea of leading a forward offensive into the forest against Sauron's forces, but Alcaron knows no bounds it seems and could perhaps be reckless.

Anyways, that's just an idea; I guess we'll see in time. I definitely wouldn't mind having Alcaron as an ally card, but I'm not sure about a hero. With that said, I really like Faramir! I crafted a mono-Lore ranger deck using Faramir, Strider, and Mirlonde (to drop the starting threat down just a bit,) and it was a blast trapping enemies and picking them off.

On a totally unrelated topic, responding to the above line-up, what was the deck you used? I find it hard to make a mono-Lore deck actually do things. It all seems nice, and Lore is really my favourite sphere, but it seems to lack resources, willpower, action advantage, just quite a few important things. But I am eager to get such a deck going...

Anyone think we have a possibility of seeing Lord Alcaron as the hero? (or even an objective-ally again?) On the post-victory section of the story for assault on osgiliath...

(CAUTION: POSSIBLE SPOILERS)

Lord Alcaron is featured prominently in that text as going with you (the player) and Faramir into Ithilien to track down the remaining forces of mordor. I dont know if that would be reason enough to make a hero out of him, but it would at least be nice to have another gondor character and if they keep his objective ally stats from Amon Din he'd have a respectable 8 starting threat. Plus even though he would be a "custom-created" character, hes been in enough of FFG's lore for this cycle that he is at least familiar to the players and seems to have a place within their vision of middle earth. He wouldnt be my first choice but he would be an interesting one...

----CONTINUATION of POSSIBLE SPOILERS----

I just finished the Assault on Osgiliath quest this morning and really enjoyed the narrative. However, at the end when Alcaron and Faramir are with you at the campfire and Alcaron is really gung-ho to invade Ithilien and Faramir is not, I got a certain feeling that Alcaron might actually die in either the next AP or the final one at Morgal Vale. Faramir is very reserved and doesn't like the idea of leading a forward offensive into the forest against Sauron's forces, but Alcaron knows no bounds it seems and could perhaps be reckless.

Anyways, that's just an idea; I guess we'll see in time. I definitely wouldn't mind having Alcaron as an ally card, but I'm not sure about a hero. With that said, I really like Faramir! I crafted a mono-Lore ranger deck using Faramir, Strider, and Mirlonde (to drop the starting threat down just a bit,) and it was a blast trapping enemies and picking them off.

That wouldn't surprise me either. When I read the narrative to my friend after we beat it he said the same thing. It certainly would kick up the drama and emotional factor for their custom stories! They could put his grave near Amon Din in honor of all the villagers he helped save there lol

On a totally unrelated topic, responding to the above line-up, what was the deck you used? I find it hard to make a mono-Lore deck actually do things. It all seems nice, and Lore is really my favourite sphere, but it seems to lack resources, willpower, action advantage, just quite a few important things. But I am eager to get such a deck going...

This was the first time I've tinkered with making a mono-Lore deck, but I liked several of the mechanics I got going throughout my game.

To begin with, I used nearly all of the new trap cards as well as the old forest snare ones too. These cards are great for seizing up enemies in the staging area as well as boosting Faramir's attack. I put all the new ranger/gondor themed allies in as well and a couple Haldir's. I really wanted to like the new Ranger Bow attachment, but I really dislike the fact that it makes you exhaust the character as well as the attachment; if it was exhaustion of only the bow, I would love the effect as well as the artwork instead of just the artwork.

I left out event/attachment healing cards; however I put three copies of Warden of Healing in and got one in play. Then, from my other set of Leadership/Tactics heroes, I played Steward of Gondor on Mirlonde to give her a resource boost, which in turn allowed the Warden to exhaust/refresh to quickly heal everyone after they took damage.

I also put several different cards in to accelerate card draw, such as Mithrandir's Advice, so I could get allies out quick because in the beginning, the low amount of questing willpower was definitely a problem. After several Gondorian allies came into play, though, it was not so bad. Finally, I put three Watch Tower Watchmen in to round out the allies and was actually able to use their card effect for the first time ever.

The thing I like best about mono-sphere decks is not having to worry about getting cards that you can't afford because nearly all cards can be purchased relatively quickly (especially if one of your heroes has the Steward of Gondor attachment.) Lore might not be the best sphere to have a mono-deck with, but if you have another deck in play to give them a few boosts, they perform much better.

On a totally unrelated topic, responding to the above line-up, what was the deck you used? I find it hard to make a mono-Lore deck actually do things. It all seems nice, and Lore is really my favourite sphere, but it seems to lack resources, willpower, action advantage, just quite a few important things. But I am eager to get such a deck going...

I find lore to be the most poweful mono sphere. Mirlonde is shining here, her bonus drops the starting threat by 3, and her synergy with the Silvan Tacker offers an additional healing bonus. I often play her together with Bilbo and Denethor. That is a starting threat of 22. Haldir and Gildor can be played early in the game, you have the traps, healers, card draw, encounter deck manipulation with Risk some Light, shadow effect cancellation and, as a last resort, Protector of Lorien.

Another good deck is Mirlonde, Aragor and Elrond. The Elrond/Vilya/Gildor combo is powerful enough to beat every scenario.

Agree 100% mirlonde very powerfull.

But try to beat SF you will be surprise.......almost impposible with lore deck.

I also got the feeling that Lord Alcaron is not long for this world. It would be interesting how it plays out if that is the case. I hope it's not just part of the narrative, and they actually find some way to have him sacrifice himself as part of the quest mechanics.

On the other hand, I also wouldn't mind getting him as a hero.

Agree 100% mirlonde very powerfull.

But try to beat SF you will be surprise.......almost impposible with lore deck.

Lol, I just learned that the hard way. Started with Mirlonde, Faramir and Aragorn. Got smacked. Subsituted Faramir with Glorfindel. Got smacked. Tomorrow I'll try it with Elrond for Mirlonde.

I accidently spoiled myself and found out part of the future narrative. If you're German be careful when you watch for the "Das Morgul-Tal" expansion on milan-spiele.de. They tell you the after math of the "Das Blut von Gondor" expansion pretty much with the first sentence.

Spoiler Speculation Ahead

Interesting, I suspect one will not be able to use Faramir in the Morgul Vale.

naturally i went on that site and looked then immediately regretted that decision. i wonder how they've attained the narrative on it so early considering that pack likely wont be released until about october

Be VERY CAREFUL!!!!!!!!!!

The whole cycle came at the same time to Germany...

Cause of this we had to wait for the 3rd Pack to get the first 3 ones.

The good side effect is, that we get the last 3 Packs very fast after the FFG-release.

I could imagine that some informations to the other Packs got out...

bill the pony!!!! a 5 attack, 10 defence monster of a pony

Not a chance.

... they're saving him as the unrevealed 4th hero from Black Riders... lol

Anyone think we have a possibility of seeing Lord Alcaron as the hero? (or even an objective-ally again?) On the post-victory section of the story for assault on osgiliath...

(CAUTION: POSSIBLE SPOILERS)

Lord Alcaron is featured prominently in that text as going with you (the player) and Faramir into Ithilien to track down the remaining forces of mordor. I dont know if that would be reason enough to make a hero out of him,

Isn't that basically how they sprung Elrond on us in DD? He was the quest-giver early in the cycle, then showed up in the later AP's...

I accidently spoiled myself and found out part of the future narrative. If you're German be careful when you watch for the "Das Morgul-Tal" expansion on milan-spiele.de. They tell you the after math of the "Das Blut von Gondor" expansion pretty much with the first sentence.

SPOILER COMMENT AHEAD:

.....................

Lol, I find it interesting but a bit ridiculous... I'm pretty sure that if Faramir had been captured in Minas Morgul earlier in the story that would have made its way into the trilogy some way or another... something like that just doesn't go unreferenced.

So maybe Lord Alcaron = the evil mastermind, a Black Numenórean. He's playing the good guy, but setting Faramir up.

I think it would be like Lord Alcaron trusted the wrong people and when he shows up with Faramir they turn on him. He gets stabbed in the process, he is able to find the heroes and asks them to save Faramir with his dying breath.

I am not captured with you.

You are captured with me.

Lord Alkaron???? I hope not........We need some real Tolkien character.

Welp, si it seems the hero fo this AP is gonna be a female gondorian created by FFG... Here's hoping she's good at least.

guessing you wont be pleased glaurung ha

Her ability MAY be decent, but I'll wait to see her stats.

edit: deleting post since there is now a new topic about her