Fantasy Flight just released some really nice preview articles as well as the new homepage for the next LotR Deluxe Expansion, the Voice of Isengard!

I really think the new Time component will be a blast to play with, but the Doomed player cards are going to be a knife in the ribs for me because I typically start with beefier heroes and a higher threat.

And it looks like Saruman will be an ally after all. I predict he slowly turns evil over the course of the Ring-maker cycle. I'm particularly excited about 9 different encounter sets in this expansion, as well. That's going to offer a lot of variety, so I'm assuming each quest is totally different.

I'm really excited! I love how the player cards are really powerful, but they come at a great cost in threat gain. Lore Aragorn is going to be really good, I'm thinking, with those new player cards!

I wonder if there's going to be any more Rohan stuff in it besides the spoiled Tactics Hero? However, the art in the set is really cool! Love shadowy figures in armor!

check out the description page- there is another rohan ally spoiled.....in general this looks to be the best pack yet- amazing design ffg

so many great cards spoiled so far....

I've said it before, but I'm really excited for this box, like it's the one I've been waiting for the entire game! Very excited at getting to see Rohan and Orthanc, and of course, my favourite character from the saga, Saruman! Quite pleased with what they've done with him anyway, and all these Doomed cards are pretty thematic for doing a deal with the devil.

yes-using doomed in that way is great....it gives yet another strategic dimension to the game, especially good for those who want more choices in their play

SPOILER ALERT!!

ok look at the description page.....WHO IS IT??!! clue ....its a woman, she looks like she's pretty angry....she had a sword......the answer is....

Eowyn!!

actually..is it? i cannot remember if the text says she had blonde hair or if thats just a film thing....

Wow!!!! When i see those cards and so on.... what can i say!!! I really love it! Amazing! As a Tolkien fan i happy. As a player i can say Saruman will be very playable 100%.

SPOILER ALERT!!

Yeah over at the About/Description page for the game there are Two Allies or Heroes (presumably) in the background, the one mentioned by rich (which I don't think is Eowyn; check the ears they look like elf-ears), and a male elf (maybe a new Haldir?). Looks like a great expansion.

ah - your are correct there John- very elf like....which makes me ask...who is it then?

as for the second i think haldir could be correct- it certainly has a similarity to the film version

I think we're going to see more elf heroes by the looks of the pictures. Those Orthanc Keys combined with Legacy of Numenor is going to be crazy. I wonder what the tactics and spirit doomed event is going to be.

Lore Aragorn just got even better than he already was.

well it seems pretty standard so far- leadership = resources, lore = cards....so tactics= damage to enemy and spirit = willpower boost

as for the female elf....well, its not galadriel, i doubt its arwen, there isnt really many more...so im guessing its a made up hero (unless im having a major brainfart and forgetting somone)....and with art like that, who can complain?

rich

It looks like Theoden and Eomer have the makings of a great Rohan team...

edit: nevermind!

Can anyone comment on how easy it would be to get into this expansion if one does not have the Numenor expansion (and associated decks) ??

That Orc (or whatever) at the top kind of has a Darkseid/Apocalypse look to him, no?

I don't care if your threat is 47.

I am playing Saruman every chance i get XD.

Can anyone comment on how easy it would be to get into this expansion if one does not have the Numenor expansion (and associated decks) ??

I think it should be fairly easy. You'll need the Core, but that will be the only thing needed for the quests. I don't think the player cards from AtS are game changing enough to make it too difficult in the future cycle.

Can anyone comment on how easy it would be to get into this expansion if one does not have the Numenor expansion (and associated decks) ??

I think it should be fairly easy. You'll need the Core, but that will be the only thing needed for the quests. I don't think the player cards from AtS are game changing enough to make it too difficult in the future cycle.

Sweeeeeet

i am hoping that this deluxe pack and cycle will be the polar opposite of AgS and HoN. not difficult in hoardes of enemies charging towards you, with battle and siege, but clever difficult...so you really get the feel of an intriguing and deep quest, one with plenty of options that are all worth exploring (whereas many 'option' quests really only have 1 or 2 choices that would ever make sense)

is it just me, or does saruman on his card look exactly like gandalf from the movies?

The quest setup card in the article has the player set aside 20 cards as an "out-of-play deck" and it appears you mix in some encounter cards with it. This is an interesting, new game mechanic. I'm curious what it is for...

is it just me, or does saruman on his card look exactly like gandalf from the movies?

im not seeing it. it looks rather nasmith to me

is it just me, or does saruman on his card look exactly like gandalf from the movies?

im not seeing it. it looks rather nasmith to me

I see it.

The quest setup card in the article has the player set aside 20 cards as an "out-of-play deck" and it appears you mix in some encounter cards with it. This is an interesting, new game mechanic. I'm curious what it is for...

i think the encounter cards are 'Mogosh's guard' who i assume is the orc lounging about in the pictures

What I can't see is the new characters on the description page you guys are talking about. Can someone link me? Pretty please?