Ok, after checking the Black Riders description it seems like we will indeed get only one hero instead of four and only 9 player cards instead of 11. That's disappointing!

Hard to know if it's disappointing or not, we've not seen all the cards! Maybe the remaining will knock our socks off and we won't even notice there are fewer!

Or, we get more fun encounter cards to interact with.

Really, the Sagas (to me) aren't really about the player cards - but the quests/encounter cards and getting to play the books. That's their purpose.

Either way, should be a great expansion!

I have to say I'm a bit disappointed by this news, and that rarely happens for me with this game.

I have no objection to duplicate heroes whatsoever. To me, they just increase your customisation options when you want to play as your favourite hero. At the moment the central heroes are so limited. Only one Legolas and Gimli since the game began. Ever since Lore Aragorn people have been objecting to duplicate heroes, and I feel the designers have neglected this to the detriment of the game. I want every corner of middle earth covered too, but I do not want to take Hirluin the Fair into Helm's deep. I think the game had focused too long on covering everything that the core feel of the books is now missing for me. I hoped this saga expansion would correct this and now I am truly disappointed.

I know we'll probably get every member of the fellowship as allies, and I like this idea, but I don't want them to sidestep the main heroes in the future. All I know is if I can't play a tri sphere three hunters deck by the next Saga box Ill be gutted.

Ps my vote goes to Gandalf as the Hero. Or at least I hope.

Yay! Can't wait for this. Hope there are some other fellowship allies, as others have said. And it looks like our new Ring-bearer is still Frodo. Maybe that is to be expected from here on out: endless versions of Frodo the Ring-bearer, with one version of Sam toward the end. Maybe no "alternate Middle-earth" in which Legolas was the Ring-bearer. Should make rich happy!

Bilbo's ETB is interesting. Will we see more Pipe cards?

Yes - though I would have liked this ability to be on a non unique ally instead. More pipes would be really Cool.

Not gonna lie, couldn't be more bummed we're only getting 1 legitimate hero in this box. I'll obviously still be looking forward to this expansion but the hype for it has dropped significantly for me personally

I hope i am wrong on this, but I am starting to think the 2nd hero will be Boromir. He is the only one of the fellowship other than Gandalf who does not have a hero card represented in the core or BR, and i would be surprised if they made him an ally.

Might be a fitting hero for the Road Darkens, and if he is it will probably be the last version that we see of him, since he is dead after the fellowship breaks, but then we would have a new hero that would not fit thematically for the rest of the saga expansions, but that might not matter since players can do what ever they want in regards to hero selection.

Although, it might be Gandalf, but i think my first guess is more likely then the wizard.

It would make sense... especially as they market the saga as only needing the Core set... however it would be really interesting to see how they would portray him as I think that the current T'Boromir abilities are already a great fit thematically... and you can't just replicate his abilities for the Saga.

Sudden controversial thought... what if the alternative ring bearer is a new Boromir (like an alternative what if universe Boromir, where Frodo HAD given him the ring?) - though that would make for non new non saga heroes.

I agree with Dain. I doubt we get a third version of Boromir (especially one that would likely be out of place in a Lore or Spirit sphere) when we only have one version of Legolas and Gimli - both of whom are Tactics. If anything, my strongest guess goes to a Lore version of Legolas as the other hero card. It is possible that Gandalf could be the other hero but also unlikely since, thematically, he will be defeated at the end of the second quest. Alternatively, FFG could go all crazy on us and reveal a hero that none of us would ever expect (such as Grima in the Voice of Isengard.)

Favorite spoiled card so far goes to the new ally version of Elrond. Wow, I can't wait for this to release.

That Elrond is cool. Yet another nice target for Born Aloft. I don't think that Eagle-heavy builds are too popular anymore. But, if you were running 3x Elrond and 3x Gandalf (Core), it would be a nice synergy.

There's been a minor change to Glamdring's text:

Original Hobbit Saga: "Attach to a hero or Gandalf."

New Version: "Attach to a Warrior hero or Gandalf."

But then the kicker...

Original Version: "Attached character gets +2ATK."

New Version: "Attached hero gets +2ATK."

They reused Treasure Glamdring art!

Thought I'd pop both cards up so everyone can compare them real quick. I do like the new one quite a bit better. It shows off more of Gandalf's epic hat and it's much brighter. I'm still wondering why it didn't receive new artwork altogether though.

First of all, I don't see the point why there are so many people are disappointed bout the number of heroes. We already have nearly 50(!!). It's absolutly unnecessary to throw next bunch of 'em at us players.

Second:

Original Version: "Attached character gets +2ATK."

New Version: "Attached hero gets +2ATK."

THIS is something I hope is just a mistake. I really don't want to see (never in my entire life!!) a Gandalf hero. Really, this wizard is a great guy and he's one of my favourite characters, but he's definetly not a hero.

New Elrond ally becomes the absolute ugliest card in the game (even uglier than brand son of ugly).

Great another deluxe with hardly any player card spoilers. I like the 2 we have seen.. but I really want more player cards please!

First of all, I don't see the point why there are so many people are disappointed bout the number of heroes. We already have nearly 50(!!). It's absolutly unnecessary to throw next bunch of 'em at us players.

Heroes are what make this game unique (besides the co-op thing) It is a major part of it and what drives most of the new deck ideas. This game has a criminally slow growth of player cards compared to the other LCGs. We get 9 cards about per pack, while other games get 20. In our deluxe expansions we get around 11-13+heroes.

Heroes are the MAIN driving force for varience in deck design... more of them are needed asap. Most LCGs get 20 cards a pack and 165 or so for deluxe expansions.

The Glamdring response still just references an attached character. I am betting the developers do not want Gandalf (OHaUH) at 6 attack if you are able to keep him in play for these scenarios, but I guess that did not bother them in Hobbit scenarios.

I'd be pretty shocked to see him as the hero, since playing multiplayer games it would pretty much make any the Gandalfs in other players decks useless, and if all you have is the core, BR, and this, Gandaf from core is going to be a big part of the other decks at the table.

Some things that make me lean slightly toward the possibility of him being a Hero would be that there is only one other hero in the saga which makes it seem like it should be an epic hero, and that it would be pretty cool to have him square off against the Balrog in the 2nd scenario. Glamdring seems to point in that direction too, but even with all this I think it unlikely.

Now Gandalf the White in the next saga as hero or ally is a real possbility.

New Elrond ally becomes the absolute ugliest card in the game (even uglier than brand son of ugly).

Lol, he seems Steven Seagal

I'd be pretty shocked to see him as the hero, since playing multiplayer games it would pretty much make any the Gandalfs in other players decks useless, and if all you have is the core, BR, and this, Gandaf from core is going to be a big part of the other decks at the table.

and that's exactly what would balance an "epic" hero.

As a tracker1 says, Gandalf is good as a hero, BUT, maybe only as a saga hero (like Bilbo in 'The Hobbit', Frodo last and this expansion...) maybe next saga expansion....

Realy great, can´t wait to get this^^

There's been a minor change to Glamdring's text:

Original Hobbit Saga: "Attach to a hero or Gandalf."

New Version: "Attach to a Warrior hero or Gandalf."

But then the kicker...

Original Version: "Attached character gets +2ATK."

New Version: "Attached hero gets +2ATK."

Doesn't this confirm Gandalf as a hero? You obviously wouldn't attach Glamdring to a Gandalf Ally, and I would assume they would leave the language as character if there was no Gandalf hero.

I agree with Dain. I doubt we get a third version of Boromir (especially one that would likely be out of place in a Lore or Spirit sphere) when we only have one version of Legolas and Gimli - both of whom are Tactics. If anything, my strongest guess goes to a Lore version of Legolas as the other hero card. It is possible that Gandalf could be the other hero but also unlikely since, thematically, he will be defeated at the end of the second quest. Alternatively, FFG could go all crazy on us and reveal a hero that none of us would ever expect (such as Grima in the Voice of Isengard.)

Hey! I expected Grima! Even more, I PRAYED it would be Grima!

Totally and utterly dissapointed by only 1 hero in the box. I can't find any excuse for this. Heroes are main engine of the game, and saga boxes were their main provider... and now... Well. My sincere hope is they didn't screwed up with this one hero left.

Also, extremely loved this Fallen into Evil trechery. Turning a hero into the enemy - super cool!

On a side note, ally Elrond and Grima would work extremely well together.

I agree with Dain. I doubt we get a third version of Boromir (especially one that would likely be out of place in a Lore or Spirit sphere) when we only have one version of Legolas and Gimli - both of whom are Tactics. If anything, my strongest guess goes to a Lore version of Legolas as the other hero card. It is possible that Gandalf could be the other hero but also unlikely since, thematically, he will be defeated at the end of the second quest. Alternatively, FFG could go all crazy on us and reveal a hero that none of us would ever expect (such as Grima in the Voice of Isengard.)

Hey! I expected Grima! Even more, I PRAYED it would be Grima!

My apologies, I must have just been speaking for myself! I just always thought of him as a little Wormtongue, now he'll be a hero that I'm excited to use. Hurry up VoI!!!

Cannot wait to link those 2 boxes in campaign mode………..should be very cool! But no Boons cards! i don't like them! They are to powerful and make game to easy! I don't understand it actually…….why this boons cards to broken??????

Anyway see how it goes in Hobbit NM. MAybe then is going to be ok!

Cannot wait to link those 2 boxes in campaign mode………..should be very cool! But no Boons cards! i don't like them! They are to powerful and make game to easy! I don't understand it actually…….why this boons cards to broken??????

Anyway see how it goes in Hobbit NM. MAybe then is going to be ok!

Mithril Shirt is too powerful? Ummm....not really!