I looked at Rumil more closely and it looks like he has number 30, so he is from 2nd AP but I may be wrong.

I think none of this cards belong to the first AP...

The Encounter-Cards don't have the same symbol and the card-numbers of the Player-Cards are to high (first number can't be a 1, if you ask me)

Also it would be very boring and cruel if we knew nearly all Player-Cards 3 months before we can get them.

I said it because there was discussion, if this AP includes 3 tactics cards.

And now, let's discuss the eagles. What eagles will we get? Will we get non-tactics eagles?

What do you think?

You're right. Those numbers should all be single-digit numbers. I hate it when they do that! They did the same thing when they announced The Steward's Fear. They talk a bit about the pack, then move on to talking about the cycle and that's when they send in a picture featuring cards from throughout the cycle, just to tease you even more.

Well, as long as they don't do what they did for the AtS cycle: reveal the first pack in October 2012, release it in May 2013. Seven months is a ridiculous wait in this game.

Look at that Boar Clan Stalker. That art.

I may exaggerate because of the rush of feelings, but that is THE BEST ENEMY ART IN THIS GAME.

And now, let's discuss the eagles. What eagles will we get? Will we get non-tactics eagles?

What do you think?

I think it would definitely be cool if the eagles expanded out of the Tactics sphere. In my opinion, Spirit seems like a good fit for them. In The Hobbit, the eagles save the day by rescuing the Company of Thorin from the wild wargs and then proceed to fly them to safety. Eagles already bolster some serious attack power with their presence in Tactics; so now I'd like to see them represented more as saviors (Landroval already has a great hero saving ability; more effects like his is what I'm thinking.) Perhaps location management could be a new eagle role as well since they are capable of flying great distances. These are just a few ideas I have, but in reality it might make eagles too powerful. Even where they stand now, though, I greatly enjoy making eagle decks, but they more or less serve one role since they're only present in the Tactics sphere.

And straying a little off topic here (but still on the note of birds of MIddle-earth,) I was really bummed that the On the Doorstep Saga Expansion did not include an ally card of Roac the Raven, who aids the Company of Thorin in the novel. Though we did get the Ravens of the Mountain Lore card, we didn't get the old bird himself, so I'd love to see him pop up somewhere even if it is exceedingly unlikely now! I'm a bit partial to birds, though, so I'd be happy to see any new ones show up in the game... and yes, even the deadly Craven Eagle!

Look at that Boar Clan Stalker. That art.

I may exaggerate because of the rush of feelings, but that is THE BEST ENEMY ART IN THIS GAME.

It's not Jim Pavelec art so it's not the best enemy art in the game

As for Roac and Carc, Karlson, yeah, I thought about that recently. Would players like a Roac hero? I certainly would!

I'm not sure if Rumil and Pursuing enemy are from Dunledings trap, as encounter cards shown with them aren't.

I'm not sure if Rumil and Pursuing enemy are from Dunledings trap, as encounter cards shown with them aren't.

Yea, all the cards in that image are from different packs sadly. That means that they can re-spoil them when they preview that pack and annoy us because we already about those cards.

Yeah, the lower bunch of cards are most likely from future expansions: just the same happened with the Steward's Fear announcement. It is probably because they merged the cycle and first pack announcements together (we used to get both in the past for Dwarrodelf, for instance).

Did not notice the numbers, thanks for pointing it out, I was fully expecting to see all those cards when i got the pack, a little disappointed, but at least whole pack is not spoiled.

The White Council indeed gets stronger the more players are around the table.

Yet the cost increases 1 per player, making it quite expensive with 3 - 4 players,

as the difference between 2 to 4 cost is huge in this game.

Though it already feels like a very strong utility card, like Gandalf himself & Miruvor with many options on them.

And the best part is that it's neutral, so it's always usable.

Somehow this card themeaticly feels very spirit-sphere to me, but neutral is even better playability wise.

The White Council indeed gets stronger the more players are around the table.

Yet the cost increases 1 per player, making it quite expensive with 3 - 4 players,

as the difference between 2 to 4 cost is huge in this game.

Though it already feels like a very strong utility card, like Gandalf himself & Miruvor with many options on them.

And the best part is that it's neutral, so it's always usable.

Somehow this card themeaticly feels very spirit-sphere to me, but neutral is even better playability wise.

I'm going to put it into a mono tactics solo deck, which needs some readying effects after the quest phase.

The White Council indeed gets stronger the more players are around the table.

Yet the cost increases 1 per player, making it quite expensive with 3 - 4 players,

as the difference between 2 to 4 cost is huge in this game.

Though it already feels like a very strong utility card, like Gandalf himself & Miruvor with many options on them.

And the best part is that it's neutral, so it's always usable.

Somehow this card themeaticly feels very spirit-sphere to me, but neutral is even better playability wise.

I'm going to put it into a mono tactics solo deck, which needs some readying effects after the quest phase.

Yea, readying effects are always useful and we need more of them outside of Spirit. Rohan Warhorse was a nice addition, but being restricted makes it painful to use because you lose the ability to hold another weapon. When playing solo, I like to reword the cards to say "Limit one mount attachment per character" and remove the other limitations (except for ones like "Attach to a tactics or Rohan hero" obviously).

I just read it again (it is so beautiful, haha ) and saw things I overlooked before:

The Dunland Trap also provides more support for the Mount trait, as well as the Time X and Doomed X mechanics featured in The Voice of Isengard, and players will also discover thematic ties to Saruman and the White Council.

I just read it again (it is so beautiful, haha ) and saw things I overlooked before:

The Dunland Trap also provides more support for the Mount trait, as well as the Time X and Doomed X mechanics featured in The Voice of Isengard, and players will also discover thematic ties to Saruman and the White Council.

More support for the Mount trait. Will we only see Mounts, or even allies or events working with them? I would really like the latter option.

And another thing- "...players will also discover thematic ties to Saruman..". WHAT IS THIS? I have not got any ideas. But maybe...Palantiri ?! Or what? Please share your thoughts.

As I've said a million times, and I won't get tired of it, maybe Palantiri, magic rings, other wizards, and the White Council (we already saw the card). And mostly, more magic and spells!!

look like the eagle deck will be making a comeback. Things like Born Aloft suddenly look playable...

I expect more to come... still I think a Eagle Deck might be on the comeback trail.

Some card coming to mind are also..

Looks like this might even get into the initial draft of a deck design...

Bouncing is always a really fun thing in card game, something I really like. I expect this will form some VERY strong decks. When you consider there will be a full cycle adding to this effect and all the threat reduction I expect may come along with the new DOOMed keyword...

I dunno.. looks like some power decks are a coming.

I would like player cards with Time mechanic. Maybe with Ents... "While this super-strong Ent has Time token on it, he can't exhaust"

There is a effect called "fated" in COC, were it is "Fated: X"... each time you activate the action or response or w/e it gets a token.. after X tokens you place it at the bottom of your deck. Pretty cool, and kind of similar to what you mean. Allows very powerful card to come and go... I think it could find a home in LoTR.

Yes, that mechanic fits into this game.