Voice of Isengard Discussion

By Karlson, in The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game

Works for me. Looks like Haldir.

Or Legolas?

I would think Legolas as well, only Magali has depicted him having black hair, not blonde like in the movies. There are other elves it could be, but if you look at the art on her Haldir ally card, the resemblance is striking.

Any case, we could speculate on this for days. I'm really looking forward to this new expansion, especially playing around with the doomed keyword on player cards. I have lost count how many games I've lost due to threating out. And now players can optionally raise their threat for power cards...seems like a Palantir temptation thematically. I like it!

Works for me. Looks like Haldir.

Or Legolas?

I would think Legolas as well, only Magali has depicted him having black hair, not blonde like in the movies. There are other elves it could be, but if you look at the art on her Haldir ally card, the resemblance is striking.

Any case, we could speculate on this for days. I'm really looking forward to this new expansion, especially playing around with the doomed keyword on player cards. I have lost count how many games I've lost due to threating out. And now players can optionally raise their threat for power cards...seems like a Palantir temptation thematically. I like it!

Well, this whole doomed theme is certainly no good news for tactics decks.

Nice! Christian Petersen is reading...

Nice! Christian Petersen is reading...

as well as ffgjosh and the spaniard

how often do we see ffg members observing topics?

waayyyyyy to much of a coincidence. Haldir is a lock for the second hero, no doubt. (i'll almost certainly be wrong now...although i hope i'm not; love Haldir)

Wow. These new deluxe expansion and ring-maker cycle looks promising. Rohan decks will be interesting to build. I lile how Saruman was designed, it couldn´t be more thematic. I also wonder if Isengard will be a playable trait. Also is it me or is the box of a different color from the previously spoiled one at GenCon. Art of both elves is fantastic (it has to be Magalli´s) if those two were the only cards on the box i would still buy it.

I am digging the art on this card...

orthanc-guard.png

Agreed like the solemn stance and its even better that the face is hidden

Time to give Rich a heart attack: it's Tauriel.

By the way Guard's response effect is worded it seems like you would be able to trigger it from the doomed effect of an encounter card as well. Does this seem plausible?

I know it is less likely to happen, but hey, that would be a nice benefit to be surprised by. And the Keys of Orthanc is even better because you get a resource.

By the way Guard's response effect is worded it seems like you would be able to trigger it from the doomed effect of an encounter card as well. Does this seem plausible?

I would agree with this assessment.

Time to give Rich a heart attack: it's Tauriel.

:angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: haha. no, not a chance, thats not even a creation they could theoretically use (and i still havnt seen the films, so wouldnt know if it was even close to her)

as for the guard, i would say any doomed effect works

Edited by richsabre

Whoa, just finished reading through this whole topic since the beginning, and was most intrigued by the removal of the original banner artwork of the hooded elf.

I'm thinking it's almost definitely the hero version of Haldir. As for sphere, that could go to really any of them except for Tactics (since Eomer will be the Tactics hero of this expansion.)

I am most curious to see what all "Isengard" traited cards come out with this expansion and cycle. To be honest, I never really thought of Isengard as a faction in its own right before (when compared to Rohan or Gondor.) But it looks like it's about to be, and I'm excited to see what it is represented as -- so far, a lot of doom goes with it!

yes, i like the idea of isengard as a faction. in the film it was portrayed as a nice peaceful retreat (until the obvious) where saruman pretty much lived alone, but this certainly was not the case. there were guards, and housing for the guards....it was afterall a numenorian tower, so i think the guard is well chosen

Not sure if any Gondorians were still left living in Orthanc per se, but it's certainly not a stretch to depict the guard as one of them.

Not sure if any Gondorians were still left living in Orthanc per se, but it's certainly not a stretch to depict the guard as one of them.

really? i am almost sure i remember a passage talking about the isengard guards....may be wrong though

You know I have lots to say about this expansion but it is all drowned out with a resounding...

EOMER!!!!!

Whoa, just finished reading through this whole topic since the beginning, and was most intrigued by the removal of the original banner artwork of the hooded elf.

I'm thinking it's almost definitely the hero version of Haldir. As for sphere, that could go to really any of them except for Tactics (since Eomer will be the Tactics hero of this expansion.)

I am most curious to see what all "Isengard" traited cards come out with this expansion and cycle. To be honest, I never really thought of Isengard as a faction in its own right before (when compared to Rohan or Gondor.) But it looks like it's about to be, and I'm excited to see what it is represented as -- so far, a lot of doom goes with it!

As far as sphere placement, I would think Lore makes the most sense although it would be cool if he had decent combat stats and was spirit. As noted tactics isnt happening and i'd be surprised if he was leadership since those are the two spheres we got in HoN.

Also as neat as it is to get isengard cards i hope this expansion/cycle doesnt turn into a outlands/gondor scenario where the seemingly weaker or less popular faction (isengard) becomes radically more playable than the mainstream or popular faction (Rohan)

Whoa, just finished reading through this whole topic since the beginning, and was most intrigued by the removal of the original banner artwork of the hooded elf.

I'm thinking it's almost definitely the hero version of Haldir. As for sphere, that could go to really any of them except for Tactics (since Eomer will be the Tactics hero of this expansion.)

I am most curious to see what all "Isengard" traited cards come out with this expansion and cycle. To be honest, I never really thought of Isengard as a faction in its own right before (when compared to Rohan or Gondor.) But it looks like it's about to be, and I'm excited to see what it is represented as -- so far, a lot of doom goes with it!

As far as sphere placement, I would think Lore makes the most sense although it would be cool if he had decent combat stats and was spirit. As noted tactics isnt happening and i'd be surprised if he was leadership since those are the two spheres we got in HoN.

Also as neat as it is to get isengard cards i hope this expansion/cycle doesnt turn into a outlands/gondor scenario where the seemingly weaker or less popular faction (isengard) becomes radically more playable than the mainstream or popular faction (Rohan)

I doubt Isengard will be even remotely as powerful as Outlands has fleshed out to be (I don't see how they could fit in that many different allies!). But then again, I'm really not on the same page as many players --- I play this game first and foremost because I really like the Lord of the Rings. Additionally, I have a lot fun while playing it with thematic decks rather than the most powerful one.

With that said, I never keep score or have the urge to "beat" my previous best wins or anything like that. So as far as Outlands being way overpowered, I'm not really opposed to it because to me, it's just another theme deck to use.

Overall, however, I do have to find a balance between playability and theme for most quests in order to stand a chance at beating them! I guess what I'm trying to say with all this banter is that I'm not against higher power decks because I'm not playing this competitively; I'm playing it for fun.

Edited by Karlson

The problem with the changed banner is much simpler: they used the banner from the next deluxe box.

I like Saruman, good defensive card. Specially for Tactics.

Also as neat as it is to get isengard cards i hope this expansion/cycle doesnt turn into a outlands/gondor scenario where the seemingly weaker or less popular faction (isengard) becomes radically more playable than the mainstream or popular faction (Rohan)

Outlands are provinces of Gondor and has no intention of seperating from the kingdom.

Isengqrd has been fortified by Saruman as ally of Gondor (therefor ally of Rohan), but Saruman is not serving Gondor and Isengard is certainly not part of Rohan.

So having Isengard as small powerful keyword makes more so than it did for Outlands.

Regarding guards of Orthanc, I think I read it somewhere that thet are mixed breed between gondorian guards that were posted there long ago and local Dunlanders, but can't be certain.

Edited by Ellareth

For solo game deck building in the current game system very limited.

In coop game you have a very big choice of deck building.

This is a bit sad since in solo game there is only 4-5 decks which is playable. Other deck you can play but there is mostly lose then win.

so really big and cool mode for the game is coop.

About new box. I love it! Should be cool! Idea of doom and time is very good effect solo and coop games. Since i play mostly solo i like it.

Westfold Outrider (The Rohan Ally sort of spoiled) seems to have an exhaust to choose and enemy (or location) in the staging area. Will it be an attack? Will we have a tactics ally that can do locations? That seems rather cool.

Its " Discard Westfold Outrider to choose...."

I guess it will deal damage to an enemy or even discard a non unique enemy with no defense or something similar.

The problem with the changed banner is much simpler: they used the banner from the next deluxe box.

I like Saruman, good defensive card. Specially for Tactics.

Haha... I wouldn't be surprised. Those characters would make much more sense with the next saga box.

I also think Saruman isn't bad. His ability is basically: Add one to seven willpower to the quest (unless there's nothing in the staging area). It also gives you time to deal with enemies which is nice.

Oh, I love the art again. Especially the now hidden Elf. But also the two event cards, and especially the Legacy, beautiful.

Saruman is tricky, great design. Word of Command does seem to combo very well with him - though it must be kept reserved for Gandalf, haha.

Just so much to talk about, very intriguing mechanics. Threat reduction has just been given new dimension. Elrond's Counsel works wonders in solo with the new Doomed cards. The Galadhrim's, on the other hand, in 3 or 4 players.

And yeah, I believe we must be getting more Elves in this cycle. It is just about time. Lothlórien is close, and so is Eregion.

Oh, I love the art again. Especially the now hidden Elf. But also the two event cards, and especially the Legacy, beautiful.

Saruman is tricky, great design. Word of Command does seem to combo very well with him - though it must be kept reserved for Gandalf, haha.

Just so much to talk about, very intriguing mechanics. Threat reduction has just been given new dimension. Elrond's Counsel works wonders in solo with the new Doomed cards. The Galadhrim's, on the other hand, in 3 or 4 players.

And yeah, I believe we must be getting more Elves in this cycle. It is just about time. Lothlórien is close, and so is Eregion.

You keep Sneak attack and W of command for both now. Cool! Now you can have 6 wizards in your deck which is very powerful.