My Saruman version:

It is in spanish because i am writing an article (in the spanish blog susurrosdelbosqueviejo) about this:

The translation is:

Once per phase. Increase your threat by 2 to flip the top card of the encounter deck faceup and add a resource token. Then, Saruman is considered to have the printed leadership, spirit, tactics and lore icons when spend that resource.

Hmm he can give himself a resource every phase ? Sounds too powerful to me. Put him with Lore Aragorn and get an extra 7 resources on the first turn then reset your threat.

I'm thinking about changing: instead get 1 resources, it can be: to set aside the faceup card until the end of the round, then shuffle into the deck. When it does, you can spend resources as if Saruman got all spheres pools.

Rather than raising your threat, would reducing your threat elimination level be better? That way it minimises the impact of threat reduction like Lore Aragorn, as it won't make much difference. Thematically you could say that Saruman letting slip information that reduces the amount of threat required for Sauron and his forces to discover you.

Oh, interesting.... let me think

Quite similar to my version (Play with the top card of the encounter deck faceup. At the end of the round, raise your thret by an additional two), but I do not get a resource or have a choice to use the ability. I think adding a recourse is too powerful, maybe something like "Raise your threat by two to name enemy, location or treachery. Flip the top card of the encounter deck faceup. If the card is of the named type, draw a card."

I like the seeing the top card of the encounter deck type of ability with Saruman. He is quite similar to Gandalf, but fights Sauron more openly (at least he did fight).

The new Saruman version:

Text is: Saruman is considered to have the printed (leader, tactics....) icons. When you spend a resource this way, reduce your threat elimination level by 2. Then, put faceup the top card of the encounter deck. You may set aside this card out of game till the end of the phase. Once per phase.

There's some incongruences between the spanish and english texts. Spanish says, "When you spend and icon this way", english says "when you spend a resource this way", so in the english version if I play, say, a 2 cost card, I raise my threat by 4?

I would word it this way (in English):

Saruman is considered to have the printed Leadership, Spirit, Tactics and Lore icons.

Forced: When you spend any number of resources from Saruman to play a non-neutral card from your hand, reduce your threat elimination level by 2.

Action: Reduce your threat elimination level by 2 to turn the top card of the encounter deck face up. You may choose to set this card aside, out of play. At the end of the phase, return that card to the top of the encounter deck. (Limit once per round).

I would word it this way (in English):

Saruman is considered to have the printed Leadership, Spirit, Tactics and Lore icons.

Forced: When you spend any number of resources from Saruman to play a non-neutral card from your hand, reduce your threat elimination level by 2.

Action: Reduce your threat elimination level by 2 to turn the top card of the encounter deck face up. You may choose to set this card aside, out of play. At the end of the phase, return that card to the top of the encounter deck. (Limit once per round).

Ok, perfect.

Thanks, this is the idea.

However, only 2 threat elimination level is enough for forced and action at the same time. And it is once per phase

There's some incongruences between the spanish and english texts. Spanish says, "When you spend and icon this way", english says "when you spend a resource this way", so in the english version if I play, say, a 2 cost card, I raise my threat by 4?

"when you spend resources this way" is the correct text for my idea

It seems powerful, but it is not so much:

I aprove that eagle card

But with core Gandalf it returns him to your hand and gives you 6 resources, so this card becomes free Gandalf that gives you one resource, all that at cost of exhausting 1 ally (and eagles are fighters, so they usually can end up not doing nothing anyway, and almost always when Gandalf is on the table). Combined with sneak attack it can also generate sick amounts of resources. I think it can combo better than sneak attack, though it requires some cards in the hand/table to be played

I like the card a lot, and it´s limitations, but shouldn´t it be tactics like the other eagle cards? That would also make a good rescore generation for the sphere.

But with core Gandalf it returns him to your hand and gives you 6 resources, so this card becomes free Gandalf that gives you one resource, all that at cost of exhausting 1 ally (and eagles are fighters, so they usually can end up not doing nothing anyway, and almost always when Gandalf is on the table). Combined with sneak attack it can also generate sick amounts of resources. I think it can combo better than sneak attack, though it requires some cards in the hand/table to be played

Probably could add a limitation: the ally must be non-unique.

However, i donpt mind the combo sneak attack.

Thanks for comments

I like the card a lot, and it´s limitations, but shouldn´t it be tactics like the other eagle cards? That would also make a good rescore generation for the sphere.

The card was designed in my mind to be a good way for changing resources between heroes with different spheres pools.

Good point, the Gandalf combo is broken and even with Sneak Attack it´s too strong. On the normal use of the card, its fine. So adding some kind of way to make it not work with that combo would be advisable.

Another pssible limitation would be: ...to return an ally played from hand.... (to avoid allies put into play by cheap events)

But it would require memory, and sometimes long memory, however could work

I wish there was a version of this card for Elves....

Something like:

Fleet of Foot

2 Lore Resources

Event

Action: Each Silvan or Noldor character gets +1 willpower until the end of the phase. (+2 instead if the active location is a Forest or Road Location)

what do you think?

Good idea, however i think Silvans are enough strongs at this moment. The card could work better in dunedains or ents, now.

Sry for having no card image, but in my mind .. Herugrim should have another wording so it fits better to Théoden:

(3) Herugrim

Attach to a Rohan hero. Restricted.

Reduce the cost to play Herugrim on Théoden by 1.

Response: After attached Hero is declared as a defender exhaust Herugrim to ready attached hero and add attached hero's WIL to its ATK until the end of phase.

That'd make it better for Theoden, but worthless for Eowyn.

Most of the Rohan heroes do not feature high combination of defense and willpower to make use of your version. The only other Rohan hero who could use (hardly still) your version of the sword is Grima.

That would make it way too good for Theoden (or some other options if you use Nor am I a Stranger to play it on anyone), since you've made the ability better and added in a free readying effect for the same cost. And even there, you don't necessarily want Theoden to be your defender, so being unable to trigger his attack boost without him defending first is too limiting.

Too powerful on one side, too limiting on the other. I don't see a good side to your version of the card.

Actually thinking about it further, I might be more tempted to play your version of Herugrim on Erkenbrand than Theoden. Effectively paying 1 for +1 attack and 2 for Unexpected Courage, all in one card, and I won't have issues triggering it because I actually want Erkenbrand to be defending, unlike Theoden.