Yeah, since Legolas was released as Silvan, it has seemed pretty clear that FFG was going to stick with just two Elf factions, Silvan and Noldor, and treat Sindar = Silvan. While this isn't accurate, it makes sense from gameplay perspective, as they would be hard-pressed to develop three separate factions. Since the main Sindar characters we get to know in LOTR seem to all lead Silvan Elves, it makes sense that they would share the trait. We can think of Legolas and Celeborn as not being Silvan, but having the trait because they are part of the same "kingdoms" as Silvan Elves.

Cool new stuff! Finaly "more Silvan"^^

My elves deck (which is my favorite to play) is excited. I hope we see a neutral elven card or two.

But... Celeborn Silvan? What am I missing?

Also, I hope they tie off the few loose ends of the Dunedain cards.

Great job FFG!

I was thinking the exact same thing. I guess I should have suspected this would happen, when Legolas was included in the core set with the Silvan trait. Granted, Legolas even calls himself a Silvan in the books, but I guess they didn't want to include Sindarin as a trait. Now that Celeborn will be released with the Silvan trait, it is safe to say that Sindarin and Teleri will not be traits in this game. Oh well, it's a small price to pay for what look to be some great cards.

a price to pay?

isn't an elf just an elf?

I am so excited I cannot find a proper way to express myself, I waited Celeborn (and Galadriel) to be in but from though to reality. He could have been spirit cause he was supposed t be the wisest of eleves, but he was a leader also so I guess they mixed leadership with high questing power ... If we manage to get some more elven weapons and also a couple of very strong elve allies then it is enough for me to be quite happy about the cycle

PS: Guys , Celeborn was leading silvan elves , I guess thats the reason he has that trait, in order to be connected to the people he was ruling. There is no Sindar or Galahdrim trait to give him and I guess it would be clever to create another elven trait

I think it should be noted that there was an old Demo hero card for Celeborn in the spirit sphere. Apparently he was ditched for this new design.

Oh my gosh. Amazing. I think I'm more excited for this than I am for Voice of Isengard! And Rumil! YES! That means we'll see an Orophin! And possibly a Haldir hero that will combo nicely with their abilities. You could have all three brothers out at the same time! And more mounts! And more secrecy! And more... Smattering of Middle-Earth! Congratulations to the designers. I couldn't be happier.

Also, looks like we're getting the third minstrel!

Not exactly sure why that's important... But, oh well.

This expansion and cycle are just blowing away expectations so far, such a great time to be a fan of this game. The way the cycle is described I wouldn't be surprised if we saw each AP focus on a particular gameplay style. Much more preferable to the old way of waiting for the max potential (or maybe I just harbor bad memories of waiting forever for Anborn and Visionary Leadership).

Cannot wait to play with the silvan elves, looks like an incredibly fun deck archetype to run, the only question now is who the accompanying two heroes will be with Celeborn. A tri-sphere with Elrond and spirit Glorfindel could probably work.

Love that Caleb is hitting his stride here,

I see 3 tactics cards spoiled. that means that they are either changing the AP pack format, or they spoiled a card for a different pack. I feel like the Doomed event is actually supposed to be in VoI.

I also noticed that each of the spoiled player cards has a quote/excerpt on it. I wonder if they are putting more emphasis on that now.

I see 3 tactics cards spoiled. that means that they are either changing the AP pack format, or they spoiled a card for a different pack. I feel like the Doomed event is actually supposed to be in VoI.

There's already a precedent for this: both Foundations of Stone and Shadow and Flame had 3 (non-Hero) Lore cards. In FoS there was no Neutral player card, and S&F only had 1 Tactics card.

Galadriel seems like a sure bet now (I'm guessing as a Gandalf-esque ally). Maybe we'll even see a new Legolas hero...

Very interesting. Lovely art as usual, not only the characters but the Tree People especially.

Now for the Tactics doomed card, I think it fits well. I too had thought Tactics may not be given doomed cards since they have no threat reduction and high threat cost in general, but then I remembered Tactics Boromir. As for this particular event, I believe it can prevent damage dealt to Beorn hero which may be super useful.

I'd bet my Erebor Boots that Haldir gets his hero debut in the Ring-maker Cycle. While he is a Lore ally already, I'm thinking he'll receive a Tactics hero incarnation to pair up with the spoiled ally card of his brother, Rumil. I'm really excited to see the diversity of this cycle come forth too. While I enjoyed the Dwarf centered Dwarrowdelf Cycle and Gondor centered Against the Shadow, I'm ready to receive a good variety of cards that are unique and bolster both old and newly forming traits. It's going to be a long wait, I fear!

Wow! So happy that Silvan are getting into the spot light this cycle - they are my favourite Middle Earth race thematically.

Guys, this is amazing, I am so excited!! Finally elves, and then the whole theme and design of this AP, I want this even more than the VoI Expansion now

Plus, I think there have been super good cards spoiled as well with Celeborn, Rumil and of course:

I can't wait to combo this with Silvan Refugee to dump high-cost Silvan allies on the battlefield :-)

Puh, I think I have to meditate on this now to lower my heart-rate back to healthy levels

That's a lot of cool stuff. Yummmy!

Playing a Silvan deck should be interesting. So far their focus was on healing Silvan characters, thus ensuring to keep them in play as long as possible. Now they're popping in and out of the woodwork like crazy, so there is no real need for playing Silvan Tracker. And Silvan Refugee also has, uh, absolutely zero synergy with their fellow elven comrades...

Ok , a thought

You play with Celeborn, Glorfindel (spirit) with Light of Valinor and a Lore Hero (chose one)

You have imladrize stargazer in play looking the five cards coming

You play Naith guide which quests for 2 cause of Celeborn, you chose Calaborn to quest without exhausting , you have Glorfindel who does the same (you quest for 8 at least), and then play The tree people to take Naith guide back and put in play an expensive ally you know is coming (Haldir, Gildor or whatever) ... so you have Celeborn, Glorfindel and at least that ally ready for combat

I am in love..........

PS- i have absolutely no idea what was in the article...best go back and read it....

Ohhhh, i have just fallen in love....

Well, Silvan Tracker has so far not been very useful since many Silvan allies only have 1hp and there is no way of increasing it. And I think it shall be reoccurring theme that Silvan fragility. Still, the Tracker works better on heroes perhaps and Celeborn seems a very good candidate with 2 defence.

As for the Silvan Refugee, she seems a great candidate for the returning to hand Silvan ally (a feat the new cards seem to share), still, it is probably only useful to have one in play unless you take advantage of Horn of Gondor, for instance - but that should feature in a different deck perhaps.

As for the line-up, it again feels like a good idea to have Spirit Glorfindel with Celeborn, at least unless we get a good Spirit Silvan hero to combo. But once you have Celeborn and Glorfindel, it is probably a good idea to have Elrond as well, to get some of those more expensive allies into play cheap with Vilya. Starting threat 29 may not be too bad in such a deck of totally awesome hero stats.

Now for Galadriel? She will be Noldor though.

As for the line-up, it again feels like a good idea to have Spirit Glorfindel with Celeborn, at least unless we get a good Spirit Silvan hero to combo. But once you have Celeborn and Glorfindel, it is probably a good idea to have Elrond as well, to get some of those more expensive allies into play cheap with Vilya. Starting threat 29 may not be too bad in such a deck of totally awesome hero stats.

.

Those are the heroes i had in my head for a deck could be very cool.

As for the line-up, it again feels like a good idea to have Spirit Glorfindel with Celeborn, at least unless we get a good Spirit Silvan hero to combo. But once you have Celeborn and Glorfindel, it is probably a good idea to have Elrond as well, to get some of those more expensive allies into play cheap with Vilya. Starting threat 29 may not be too bad in such a deck of totally awesome hero stats.

.

Those are the heroes i had in my head for a deck could be very cool.

Can't wait for you to make it and me to steal it!

Just a thought, i put Silvan Refugee into play and he gets +1 willpower, 1+ Attack & 1+ Defense until the end of the round via Celeborn. Then i use the Event The Tree People and move Silvan Refugee to my hand and i do all this during the planning phase. Could i then pay 1 resource and put Silvan Refugee again into play triggering Celeborn's effect a second time giving Silvan Refugee another 1+ W,A & D?

Basically through this effect or any other is it possible to gain more than 1+ W,A & D through Celeborn's effect?

Or is not possible since the the Event Action window comes after i have finished playing all my allies & attachments?

Basically through this effect or any other is it possible to gain more than 1+ W,A & D through Celeborn's effect?

Or is not possible since the the Event Action window comes after i have finished playing all my allies & attachments?

There is nothing prohibiting you from playing events in the planing phase. But, I don't think this combo would work. I assume once the Refugee is brought back into hand any bonus to stats are removed once it is out of play. But I could be wrong, but very surprised if it was allowed.

Yes, the stat increases would be removed once the card is taken back into hand.

one word sums it up for me: HALLELUJAH!

I SO wanted elves! I already love this pack. I want this more then VoI now!

This made me happy too:

The Ring-maker provide more of a smattering of Middle-earth in order to introduce several new strategies and revive a few older ones too (Secrecy, anyone?).

Guess FFG does read the forums eh?