The Hobbit TCG

[ket_the_jet]

First half...Free Peoples.

The One Ring, Secret Treasure
Strength +3.
Fellowship: Add two threats to play a Tale from your draw deck.
Maneuver: Add two burdens to wear The One Ring until the regroup phase.
While wearing The One Ring, each time the Ring-Bearer is about to take a wound, add a burden instead.

•Arkenstone, The Heart of the Mountain  
Artifact, Support Area
When you play this Artifact, the Ring-Bearer puts on the One Ring until the regroup phase.
Fellowship: Exert a Dwarf with resistance 5 or more to place a tokens on this card.
Skirmish: Remove 3 tokens from this artifact to make a companion strength +1 for each companion you can spot (limit +3).

•Balin, Lord of Moria  
Companion, Dwarf
Strength 7, Vitality 3.
Resistance 7.
Damage +1
Response: If your condition is about to be discarded by a Shadow card, exert two Dwarf companions to prevent this.

Clap! Snap! The Black Crack!
Event. Maneuver.
Spot a companion to draw a card (or 2 cards if that companion is resistance 7 or higher).

•Gloin, Young Adventurer  
Companion. Dwarf.
Strength 6, Vitality 3
Resistance 6.
Damage +1
Maneuver: Exert Gloin to make a companion defender +1 until the regroup phase. That companion loses all damage bonuses.

•Kili and Fili, Dwarven Brothers  
Companion. Dwarf.
Strength 8, Vitality 2.
Resistance 6.
Damage +1
Response: If Thorin Oakenshield is about to take a wound, place Kili and Fili in the dead pile to prevent that wound.

•The First Army  
Condition. Support Area.
Toil 1.
To play, spot a dwarf.
Maneuver: Spot a , , and companion and discard this condition to make each minion lose all damage bonuses until the regroup phase

Misty Mountain Axe  
Possession. Hand Weapon.
Strength +2.
Bearer must be a  companion.
Each time bearer wins a skirmish you may reinforce a token.

•Orcrist, Orc-Beater  
Possession. Hand Weapon.
Strength +2. Resistance +1.
Bearer must be a  companion.
If bearer is Thorin Oakenshield, at the start of each skirmish, add a threat to wound an minion skirmishing him.

•Thorin Oakenshield, King Under the Mountain  
Companion, Dwarf
Strength 7, Vitality 4.
Resistance 6.
Damage +1, Muster
Response: Each time a companion is killed, you may play a possession or artifact from your discard pile.

•Thorin Oakenshield, Son of Thrain
Companion, Dwarf
Strength 7, Vitality 4.
Resistance 6.
Damage +1
Skirmish: Discard a companion to make Bilbo strength +3 and damage +1.
Regroup: Exert Thorin Oakenshield twice and spot Gandalf to play a   companion from your discard pile. (Limit once per turn).

•Thorin Oakenshield, Treasure Hunter
Companion, Dwarf.
Strength 7, Vitality 4.
Ringed Resistance 4.
Damage +1
While Thorin Oakenshield is the Ring-Bearer, each time the fellowship moves, add two burdens or discard an artifact.
While Thorin Oakenshield bears The One Ring, he is Resistance +1 for each artifact you can spot.

•Elrond, Host of Hobbits and Dwarves  
Companion, Elf.
Strength 8, Vitality 4.
Resistance 8.
Muster
Response: If a companion is about to be overwhelmed in a skirmish, exert Elrond twice to take an event into hand from the discard pile.

Mirkwood Elf  
Companion. Elf.
Strength 5, Vitality 3.
Resistance 6.
Archery: If you can spot more minions than companions, exert Mirkwood Elf to make the Fellowship Archery total +1.

•The Second Army
Condition. Support Area.
Toil 1.
To play, spot a Elf.
Maneuver: Spot a , , and companion and discard this condition to make each minion lose fierce until the regroup phase.


•Thranduil, Elvenking  
Companion, Elf
Strength 6, Vitality 3
Resistance 6
Each time the fellowship moves to a forest site, exert each non-Elven companion.
Each time the fellowship moves to a mountain site, heal a non-Elven companion.

•Thranduil, King of Mirkwood  
Companion, Elf
Strength 5, Vitality 3
Resistance 6
To play, spot an Elf.
Thranduil is strength +1 for each minion assigned to a skirmish (limit +3).

•Army of Dale  
Strength 9, Vitality 4.
Resistance 6.
To play, spot two men.
Archer.
While the fellowship is on at a battleground or marsh, Army of Dale is Defender +1.

•Bard, Chief Negotiator  
Companion. Man.
Strength 6, Vitality 3.
Resistance 7.
Archer.
While skirmishing a Dragon, Bard cannot be overwhelmed unless his strength is tripled.

 •Bard, the Bowman
Companion, Man
Strength 6, Vitality 3
Resistance 7
Archer.
While Bard is exhausted, add 1 to the fellowship archery total.

•Beorn, the Shapeshifter  
Companion, Man
Strength 6, Vitality 4
Maneuver: Discard two cards from hand and exert Beorn twice to make Beorn strength +X until the regroup phase, where X is the combined twilight cost of the cards discarded.

The Eagles Are Coming!  
Event. Fellowship.
To play, spot a or companion.
Play a follower from your draw deck.


•The Emeralds of Girion
Artifact. Support Area.
To play, spot a Man and an Elf.
Fellowship: Stack a Free Peoples card from hand on this artifact.
Archery: Discard a or card stacked here and add to make the fellowship archery total +1 (limit +2).


Fire From the Trees
Event. Skirmish.
Spell.
Spot a Wizard to make a companion strength +2 (or strength +4 if skirmishing a mounted minion).

•Gandalf, Member of the White Council  
Companion, Wizard.
Strength 8, Vitality 4.
Resistance 8.
Ring-Bound. Gandalf is resistance -1 for each wizard you can spot.
Maneuver: Spot three companions to make each minion lose lurker until the regroup phase.

•Gandalf, Trouble Maker  
Companion, Wizard
Strength 7, Vitality 4.
Resistance 7.
At the start of each Fellowship phase, you may exert Gandalf and spot Bilbo to play a companion from your draw deck. That companion's twilight cost is -1.

•Gandalf's Staff, Maian Symbol
Artifact. Staff.
Strength +1, Resistance +1.
Bearer must be a Wizard.
If bearer is Gandalf, each time you play a spell, you may exert Gandalf to heal another companion.

•The Lucky Arrow  
Possession. Ranged Weapon.
Strength +2.
Bearer must be a Man. If bearer is Bard, exert him twice to discard a dragon. The shadow player may discard two minions to prevent this.

•Saruman, Member of the White Council
Companion. Wizard.
Strength 8, Vitality 4.
Resistance 4.
Each time a shadow skirmish event is played, exert a Wizard.
Skirmish: Exert Saruman to make a minion strength -2 and damage +1.

•Saruman's Staff, Maian Symbol
Artifact, Staff.
Strength +2.
Bearer Must Be a Wizard.
Fellowship: Exert twice to discard a Shadow condition (or if bearer is Saruman, discard two Shadow conditions).

•The Third Army
Condition. Support Area.
Toil 1.
To play, spot a  Man.
Maneuver: Spot a , , and companion and discard this condition to make each minion lose hunter until the regroup phase.

•United In Purpose  
Condition, Support Area
When you play this condition, reinforce a token.
Exert Man to reinforce another culture's token.
Discard this condition at the start of the regroup phase.

•Aragorn, Long Hunted
Strength 8, Vitality 4
Resistance 8
Damage +1
Skirmish: Add a threat to make a or man strength +1.

And Beats High Mountains Down
Condition. Support Area.
While Bilbo is the Ring-Bearer, minions cannot be assigned to a skirmish. Discard this condition at the end of the regroup phase.

•Bilbo Baggins, Burgler  
Companion, Hobbit.
Strength 4, Vitality 4.
Ringed Resistance 8.
Ring-Bound.
While Bilbo Baggins is the Ring-Bearer, at the start of each skirmish involving him, each Shadows player may draw two cards.
The twilight cost of each artifact, possession, and tale played on Bilbo Baggins is -1.

•Bilbo, Dragged Into Adventure
Companion, Hobbit
Strength 4, Vitality 4.
Ringed Resistance 8.
Ring-Bound.
While Bilbo is the Ring-Bearer, discard two cards from hand at the start of each skirmish involving him.
Maneuver: Exert Bilbo twice to draw two cards or play an Artifact from your draw deck. The shadow player may remove to prevent this.

Golden Treasure Inside Is Hid
Event. Skirmish.
Exert a Ring-Bound hobbit to make him strength +3 (or strength +4 if skirmishing a minion).

Hobbit Riddles  
Event. Maneuver.
Spot a Ring-Bound hobbit and Gandalf to discard a shadow condition.

Invisible!
Event. Skirmish.
While at an underground site, make a Ring-Bound hobbit strength +2. At any other site, draw a card.

•Mithril-Coat, Kingly Gift  
Artifact. Armor.
Strength +1. Resistance +1
To play, spot a Dwarf. Bearer must be a Ring-Bound Hobbit.
Each minion skirmishing bearer loses strength bonuses from weapons and loses all damage bonuses.
Skirmish: If bearer loses a skirmish, you may add a burden to remove two threats.

•Sting, Newly Found Elf-Knife
Possession, Hand Weapon
Strength +2. Resistance +1.
Bearer must be a Ring-Bound Hobbit.
While bearer is skirmishing a Troll or Spider, bearer is strength +3.

[ket_the_jet]

Bad guys.

•Gollum, Dweller of the Underground Lake
Minion.
Strength 5, Vitality 4.
Site 3.
While skirmishing a Ring-bound hobbit, Gollum is strength +4 and damage +1.
Assignment: Remove  to assign Gollum to a Ring-bound hobbit. The free peoples can discard two conditions to prevent this.

Fleeing Man of Dale  
Strength 3, Vitality 1, Site 4
This minion cannot be assigned to a skirmish.
Each man is strength -1.

 •King of Esgaroth, Master of Lake-Town
Minion. Man.
Strength 10, Vitality 3. Site 4.
While you can spot Smaug, King of Esgaroth Fierce.
While you can spot 2 men, King of Esgaroth is strength +3.

•Traitors of Dale
Strength 9, Vitality 3, Site 4
Assignment: Exert Traitors of Dale to assign this minion to a man. The free peoples player may make this minion fierce to prevent this.


Azog's Revenge
Event. Skirmish.
Make an Orc strength +2 (or strength +4 if skirmishing a dwarf).

Berserk Warg
Posession. Mount.
Strength +2, Vitality +1.
Bearer must be an Orc whose strength is 9 or less.
Skirmish: Discard two mounts to discard an artifact.

•Bolg, Son of Azog
Minion
Strength 12, Vitality 3
Site 4
Shadow: Exert Bolg twice and spot another to draw three cards. The Free Peoples player may add two threats to prevent this.
Skirmish: Remove a threat to make an strength +1.

•Don't Let Your Imagination Run Away With You  
Condition. Support Area.
Unique minions are strength +1.
Response: Each time an minion wins a skirmish, place an  token on this card.
Shadow: Remove five tokens here to play a minion from hand. It's twilight cost is -3.

Goblin of the Mountain
Minion, Orc.
Strength 5, Vitality 1.
Site 4.
Assignment: Discard another Orc to assign this minion to an unbound companion.

•Smaug, Dragon of the Mountain  
Minion.
Strength 14, Vitality 3.
Site 5.
Enduring. Fierce.
While skirmishing a dwarf, Smaug is damage +2.
While skirmishing a Ring-bound hobbit, Smaug is strength -4 and damage +1.
While skirmishing a man, Smaug is Strength +1 and damage +1.

Stone's Throw
Event. Regroup.
Discard two minions to wound the Ring-Bearer.

Taunting Warg  
Possession. Mount.
Strength +4.
Bearer must be an Orc whose strength is 9 or less.
Shadow: Spot three mounts to play a mount from your discard pile. The Free Peoples player may draw a card.

•Ulaire Attea, Khamul  
Minion. Wraith.
Strength 12, Vitality 3. Site 3.
Fierce.
Skirmish: Remove to make this minion Damage +1.


 •The Witch-King, Angmar's Shadow
Minion, Nazgul.
Strength 14, Vitality 4.
Site 3.
Damage +1.
Assignment: Exert the Witch-King to assign him to the companion with the highest strength. The free peoples player may wound that companion to prevent this.

[DáinIronfoot]

At a glance, I like most all of these. Hope you plan on more in the future, when I have more time to review them regularly.

Mind if I do some reviewing when I have time this weekend? Or do you want this to be a pretty closed thread?

[ket_the_jet]

At a glance, I like most all of these. Hope you plan on more in the future, when I have more time to review them regularly.

Mind if I do some reviewing when I have time this weekend? Or do you want this to be a pretty closed thread?

Oh, comments and opinions are certainly appreciated!  I was going to designate a few of the better cards as "Rare" as opposed to "Commons" and "Uncommons." Then, because I want to be just like Decipher, I am going to make three or four really #$&*@! cards and label them "Rare" as well and make the odds of getting them in a pack 1:3.
-wtk

[DáinIronfoot]

* DáinIronfoot cracks his knuckles and settles in with a tall, cold drink.

Okay, let's do this.

The One Ring, Secret Treasure
Strength +3.
Maneuver: Add two burdens to wear The One Ring until the regroup phase.
While wearing The One Ring, each time the Ring-Bearer is about to take a wound, add a burden instead.

Seems like too many burdens to me. But on the flip side, it's nice protection with high-resistance Ring-bearers that need strength help (like Hobbits and Galadriel). Still...hmmm. Perhaps give it vitality +1, or give it a minor ability like the fellowship ability of The Binding Ring. Perhaps something that, I don't know, work with tales?

*Arkenstone, The Heart of the Mountain  
Artifact, Support Area
When you play this artifact, the Ring-Bearer puts on the One Ring until the regroup phase.
Fellowship: Exert a Dwarf with resistance five or more to place a  tokens on this card.
Skirmish: Remove 3  tokens from this artifact to make a companion strength +1 for each companion you can spot (limit +3).

You're missing "" in front of "tokens" in the fellowship and skirmish abilities. "Five" should also be the number "5". With the reinforcement Dwarves have, this is fine.

*Balin, Lord of Moria  
Companion, Dwarf
Strength 7, Vitality 3.
Resistance 7.
Damage +1
Response: If your condition is about to be discarded by a shadow card, exert two dwarf companions to prevent this.

'Twould be best to bold "Response: and capitalize "Dwarf" and "Shadow" (which are both always capitalized), but otherwise this seems fine.

Clap! Snap! The Black Crack!   
Event. Maneuver.
Spot a companion to draw a card.

I think this would be perfectly fine at , or possibly with a second optional bonus...something like "(or 2 cards if that companion has resistance 7 or more)".

*Gloin, Young Adventurer  
Companion. Dwarf.
Strength 6, Vitality 3
Resistance 6.
Damage +1
Maneuver: Exert Gloin to make a companion defender +1 until the regroup phase. That companion loses damage bonuses.

I'd bold "defender +1", and probably say "That companion loses all damage bonuses", but I like him!

*Kili and Fili, Dwarven Brothers  
Companion. Dwarf.
Strength 8, Vitality 2.
Resistance 6.
Damage +1
Response: If Thorin Oakenshield is about to take a wound, place Kili and Fili in the dead pile to prevent that wound.

Nifty!

*The First Army  
Condition. Support Area.
Toil 1.
To play, spot a dwarf.
While you can spot a companion of the following races:  , , , make each minion lose damage bonuses until the regroup phase. Discard this condition at the beginning of the regroup phase.

I'm assuming you mean to spot a companion of EACH of those races, but right now that's not really clear. I'd instead say simply "While you can spot a , , and companion, each minion loses all damage bonuses. Discard this condition at the start of the regroup phase."

Perhaps even better would be "Maneuver: Spot a , , and companion and discard this condition to make each minion lose all damage bonuses until the regroup phase." Saves on a lot of text.

That all being said, this doesn't seem all that great. It COULD be huge against the right deck, like one chock full of Uruks, but even then it just seems too expensive. I'd either up the toil to toil 2 or drop the cost a bit.

Misty Mountain Axe 
Possession. Hand Weapon.
Strength +2.
Bearer must be a  companion.
Each time bearer wins a skirmish you may reinforce a token.

Missing your "" again. But this is brilliant otherwise. I'd LOVE to be able to actually use this.

*Orcrist, Orc-Beater 
Possession. Hand Weapon.
Strength +2. Resistance +1.
Bearer must be a  companion.
If bearer is Thorin Oakenshield, at the start of each skirmish, add a threat to wound an  minion skirmishing him.

Missing your culture icons again. I'm assuming the Shadow one that's missing is something like or , in which case this is fine, except you should put "you may" in front of "add a threat"; it's a required action as written now.

*Thorin Oakenshield, King Under the Mountain 
Companion, Dwarf
Strength 7, Vitality 4.
Resistance 6.
Damage +1, Muster
Response: Each time a  companion is killed, you may play a possession or artifact from your discard pile.

Once again, I suspect there's a icon missing in front of "companion" in the response ability (and "Response:" should still be bolded...I know, I know, I'm a stickler ). With muster, he's okay, but that's a rather so-so ability for such an awesome character, in my humble opinion.

*Thorin Oakenshield, Son of Thrain
Companion, Dwarf
Strength 7, Vitality 4.
Resistance 6.
Damage +1
Skirmish: Discard a  companion to make Bilbo strength +3 and damage +1.
Regroup: Exert Thorin Oakenshield twice and spot Gandalf to play a  companion from your discard pile. (Limit once per turn).

Should that be "Discard a companion..."? "Damage +1" needs bolding. Looks good other than that, though. I like this version a lot more than the last.

*Thorin Oakenshield, Treasure Hunter
Companion, Dwarf.
Strength 7, Vitality 4.
Ringed Resistance 4.
Damage +1
While Thorin Oakenshield is the Ring-Bearer, each time the fellowship moves, add two burdens or discard an artifact.
While Thorin Oakenshield bears The One Ring, he is Resistance +1 for each artifact you can spot.

Ooooo, THREE Thorins. And a Ring-bearer version, too! I like him, but the artifact discarding seems too easy an alternative to me for such a powerful Ring-bearer. Perhaps only increase his resistance for each artifact you can spot. I'd like that much, much better.

*Elrond, Host of Hobbits and Dwarves 
Companion, Man.
Strength 8, Vitality 4.
Resistance 8.
Muster
Response: If a companion is about to be overwhelmed in a skirmish, exert Elrond twice to take an event into hand from the discard pile.

Bold "Response:", pretty please. Very interesting ability. I might recommend changing it slightly to "...take an event of that companion's culture into hand...", but that's not strictly necessary. I like him just fine either way.

Mirkwood Elf 
Companion. Elf.
Strength 5, Vitality 3.
Resistance 6.
Archery: If you can spot more minions than companions, exert Mirkwood Elf to add one to the fellowship archery total.

Might be better to say "...to make the fellowship archery total +1". I generally don't like "more minions than companions" companions, but this pairs so beautifully with Gildor Inglorion that I'm willing to overlook that here. Still...maybe strength 6?

*The Second Army 
Condition. Support Area.
Toil 1.
To play, spot a Elf.
While you can spot a companion of the following races: , , , make each minion lose fierce until the regroup phase. Discard this condition at the beginning of the regroup phase.

Oooo, a little theme. I'd recommend the same wording changes that I did for The First Army, so "Maneuver: Spot a , , and companion and discard this condition to make each minion lose fierce until the regroup phase." Also like The First Army, I'd also increase the toil or drop the cost...and you're missing after the card title. But now that I see this, I like both it and The First Army a bit better, seeing as how you can toss both of them into the right deck and cover damage and fierce minions (and presumably something else with a card I haven't gotten to yet). I'd REALLY recommend lowering the cost somehow, though...I think cost with a toil 2 would be best, as it takes enough work just to get enough

*Thranduil, Elvenking 
Companion, Elf
Strength 6, Vitality 3
Resistance 6
When the fellowship moves to a forest site, exert a  companion.
When the fellowship moves to a mountain site, heal a  companion.

The "when"s would likely be better as "Each time"s. You could probably make him a rare /7/3 companion since he doesn't actually help his own culture.

*Thranduil, King of Mirkwood 
Companion, Elf
Strength 5, Vitality 3
Resistance 6
Thranduil is strength +1 for each minion assigned to a skirmish (limit +3).

He's too easy to splash...I'd use him in just about EVERY deck I have with his lack of cultural enforcement. Spot an Elf or two to play him, and then we're talking. Love him, just don't want him to be so easy to toss in with just anybody.

*Army of Dale 
Strength 9, Vitality 4.
Resistance 6.
To play, spot two dwarves or two men.
Archer.
While the fellowship is on at a battleground or marsh, Army of Dale is Defender +1.

No need for "on". I like it a lot, but for the spotting requirement, I'd probably go with "To play, spot a Dwarf and a Man".

*Bard, Chief Negotiator 
Companion. Man.
Strength 6, Vitality 3.
Resistance 7.
Archer.
While skirmishing a dragon, Bard cannot be overwhelmed unless his strength is tripled.

I'm assuming "Dragon" is a race, so it should be capitalized. Seeing as how he's really just a Dragon deterant, he's fine.

  *Bard, the Bowman
Companion, Man
Strength 6, Vitality 3
Resistance 7
Archer.
While Bard is exhausted, add one to the fellowship archery total.

"One" would be better as "1". But I like him.

*Beorn, the Shapeshifter 
Companion, Man
Strength 6, Vitality 4
Maneuver: Discard two cards from hand and exert Beorn twice to make Beorn strength +X until the regroup phase, where X is the combined twilight cost of the cards discarded.

That's a fun little mechanic. I think I'd like him better with 5 vitality and auto-healing (like Grimbeorn), and make sure to give him a resistance number, but he's good.

The Eagles Are Coming! 
Event. Fellowship.
Play a follower from your draw deck.

I think if you require spotting a or companion to use it (which I'd recommend anyway), you could safely drop the cost, probably all the way to .

The Emeralds of Girion
Artifact. Support Area.
To play, spot a  man and an elf.
Fellowship: Stack a card from hand on this artifact.
Archery: Discard a or card stacked here and add  to make the fellowship archery total +1 (limit +2).

Missing a icon in the first line, I believe, as well as a twilight icon between "and add" and "to make". Hard to fully judge without knowing what the number is, but unless that number is crazy high, this is probably fine.

Fire From the Trees
Event. Skirmish.
Spell.
Spot a Wizard to make a companion strength +2 (or strength +4 if skirmishing a mounted minion).

Looks fine to me.

*Gandalf, Member of the White Council  
Companion, Wizard.
Strength 9, Vitality 4.
Resistance 8.
Ring-Bound. Gandalf is resistance -1 for each wizard you can spot.
Maneuver: Spot three companions to make each minion lose lurker until the regroup phase.

Hmmm. I can see him at 8 strength, but 9 is just too much. Being Ring-bound actually prevents him from using some good cards that only work on unbound companions, but I love the combo potential it creates. I also like how his maneuver ability potentially combos so well with your The _____ Army cards, covering yet another minion keyword.

*Gandalf, Trouble Maker 
Companion, Wizard
Strength 7, Vitality 4.
Resistance 7.
At the start of each Fellowship phase, you may exert Gandalf twice and spot Bilbo to play a companion from your draw deck. That companion's twilight cost is -1.

Since that ability can only be used once per turn, and it also requires spotting Bilbo, I think a single exertion might be alright.

*Gandalf's Staff, Maian Symbol
Artifact. Staff.
Strength +1, Resistance +1.
Bearer must be a Wizard.
If bearer is Gandalf, each time you play a spell, you may exert Gandalf to heal another companion.

Odd stat boosters for Gandalf's Staff, but I like this a lot.

*The Lucky Arrow 
Possession. Ranged Weapon.
Strength +2.
Bearer must be a Man. If bearer is Bard, exert him twice to discard a dragon. The shadow player may discard two minions to prevent this.

Wow. Very specific, but also very, very sweet.

*Saruman, Member of the White Council
Companion. Wizard.
Strength 8, Vitality 4.
Resistance 4.
Each time a shadow skirmish event is played, exert a Wizard.
Skirmish: Exert Saruman to make a minion strength -2 and damage +1.

Bold the "Skirmish:" and "damage +1", my friend. I'd limit his skirmish ability to minions skirmishing unbound companions, but I love how useful and yet dangerous he is to use all at once.

*Saruman's Staff, Maian Symbol
Artifact, Staff.
Strength +2.
Bearer Must Be a Wizard.
Fellowship: Exert twice to discard a Shadow condition (or if bearer is Saruman, discard two Shadow conditions).

"Exert bearer twice...", yes? I want to say it's a bit too good, but eh, what the heck? I like it too much to complain.

*The Third Army
Condition. Support Area.
Toil 1.
To play, spot a  Man.
While you can spot a companion of the following races: , , , each minion loses hunter until the regroup phase. Discard this condition at the beginning of the regroup phase.

Missing your icon. Other than that, same comments as I had for the other Army cards.

*United In Purpose 
Condition, Support Area
When you play this condition, reinforce a token.
Exert Man to reinforce another culture's token.

"Exert a Man..."? You also need a phase. I think this would also be a good candidate to auto-discard at the start of the regroup phase.

*Aragorn, Long Hunted
Strength 7, Vitality 4
Resistance 8
Damage +1
Skirmish: Add a threat to make a or  man strength +1.

I think you've got your culture icons in the wrong places. He's probably okay at 8 strength, or perhaps with some hunter.

And Beats High Mountains Down
Condition. Support Area.
While Bilbo is the Ring-Bearer,  minions cannot be assigned to a skirmish. Discard this condition at the end of the regroup phase.

I'd love to know which culture icon is missing there for those minions (I'm assuming , which would be sweet), but I like this. Perhaps an alternative to discarding would be nice...something that lets you pay some cost to keep it around.

Bilbo Baggins, Burgler 
Companion, Hobbit.
Strength 4, Vitality 4.
Ringed Resistance 8.
Ring-Bound.
While Bilbo Baggins is the Ring-Bearer, at the start of each skirmish involving him, each Shadows player may draw two cards.
The twilight cost of each  artifact, possession, and tale played on Bilbo Baggins is -1.

I think you're missing a icon in there, but I like him. Why isn't he simply "Bilbo", though?

*Bilbo, Dragged Into Adventure
Companion, Hobbit
Strength 4, Vitality 4.
Ringed Resistance 8.
Ring-Bound.
While Bilbo is the Ring-Bearer, discard two cards from hand at the start of each skirmish involving him.
Maneuver: Exert Bilbo twice to draw two cards or play an Artifact. The shadow player may remove to prevent this.

Play an artifact from hand? That's kind of so-so. From your deck? Now that would be pretty cool.

  Golden Treasure Inside Is Hid
Event. Skirmish.
Exert a Ring-Bound hobbit to make him strength +3 (or strength +4 if skirmishing a minion).

"Hobbit" needs to be capitalized. Most people would probably take issue with such a good Ring-bound Hobbit helper, but personally, I love it.

Hobbit Riddles 
Event. Maneuver.
Spot a Ring-Bound hobbit and Gandalf to discard a shadow condition.

Capitalization of race here again, my friend, and also "Shadow", as always. I like it muchly, though.

Invisible!
Event. Skirmish.
While at an underground site, make a Ring-Bound hobbit strength +2. At any other site, draw a card.

I hate to do it, because you really tried, but in this case, the bolding you have is unnecessary. Sorry, man. I think would be fine here...as long as you require spotting a Ring-bound Hobbit to play it in the first place. Otherwise, that second part splashes in with ANY culture, whether you have Hobbits or not. I'm assuming you did NOT intend that.

*Mithril-Coat, Kingly Gift 
Artifact. Armor.
Strength +1. Resistance +1
To play, spot a Dwarf. Bearer must be a Ring-Bound Hobbit.
Each minion skirmishing bearer loses strength bonuses from weapons and loses all damage bonuses.
Skirmish: If bearer loses a skirmish, you may add a burden to remove two threats or add a threat to remove two burdens.

Bold damage, as per usual. I'd pick one or the other for the skirmish ability, because otherwise you're looking at a potential loop that lets you remove all burdens and/or all threats. Lose a skirmish, add a burden to remove 2 threats, then lose again, add a threat to remove 2 burdens (including the one you added before), lose again, add a burden to remove the threat you just added and one more...see where I'm going here?

*Sting, Newly Found Elf-Knife
Possession, Hand Weapon
Strength +2. Resistance +1.
Bearer must be a Ring-Bound Hobbit.
While bearer is skirmishing a Troll or Spider, bearer is strength +3.

Depending on how strong your Spiders are, this could turn bearer into a real Spider killer. Trolls...not so much, but it certainly keeps them from overwhelming you. Some would likely say this is too good. Me? I think that since it's so specific, it's just fine.

Whew! I made it! Okay, sometime soon I'll try and get to the Shadow cards. Looks like a much smaller list, which is good.

[ket_the_jet]

Wow. Yeah, I copied my original lists to MS Word, so I lost a lot of the icons and must've forgotten to put them back in. Check back and they should be fixed.
-wtk

[ket_the_jet]

Regarding Thorin Oakenshield, King Under The Mountain:

he's okay, but that's a rather so-so ability for such an awesome character, in my humble opinion.

Anyways, you have to have the starter deck version!
-wtk

[Thranduil]

The One Ring, Secret Treasure
Strength +3.
Fellowship: Add two threats to play a Tale from your draw deck.
Maneuver: Add two burdens to wear The One Ring until the regroup phase.
While wearing The One Ring, each time the Ring-Bearer is about to take a wound, add a burden instead.

Balance seems perfectly reasonable, but I'm not sure about flavour. Fetching tales is not speaking "The One Ring" to me at the moment...

•Arkenstone, The Heart of the Mountain  
Artifact, Support Area
When you play this Artifact, the Ring-Bearer puts on the One Ring until the regroup phase.
Fellowship: Exert a Dwarf with resistance 5 or more to place a  tokens on this card.
Skirmish: Remove 3  tokens from this artifact to make a companion strength +1 for each companion you can spot (limit +3).

Putting on the ring is very flavourful, but mechanically pointless. I see what you're trying to do, but unless the card itself has something to do with the Ring then the flavour to me is not worth the extra words on the card. You could capture this flavour in another card, something with Bilbo sneaking off to give artifacts to other people. I also don't think it needs a limit with the steep token-adding cost.

n[3] •Balin, Lord of Moria  
Companion, Dwarf
Strength 7, Vitality 3.
Resistance 7.
Damage +1
Response: If your condition is about to be discarded by a Shadow card, exert two Dwarf companions to prevent this.

Would you use this guy over Feared Axeman?

Clap! Snap! The Black Crack!
Event. Maneuver.
Spot a companion to draw a card (or 2 cards if that companion is resistance 7 or higher).

Yeah, seems fine. Not sure about the title though - it seems more like the title of a Shadow card.

•Gloin, Young Adventurer  
Companion. Dwarf.
Strength 6, Vitality 3
Resistance 6.
Damage +1
Maneuver: Exert Gloin to make a companion defender +1 until the regroup phase. That companion loses all damage bonuses.

Now this is very cool, and very cleanly designed. Nice one!

•Kili and Fili, Dwarven Brothers  
Companion. Dwarf.
Strength 8, Vitality 2.
Resistance 6.
Damage +1
Response: If Thorin Oakenshield is about to take a wound, place Kili and Fili in the dead pile to prevent that wound.

Weird. He's okay, but I think I would prefer them as different characters or to make some rules for the fact that they are 2 characters in one (DI has some good ideas on how to do these dual characters, and I've tried my own hand at it in the past exactly for this purpose - so that you could have Bilbo, Gandalf and 13 Dwarves in 9 companions).

•The First Army  
Condition. Support Area.
Toil 1.
To play, spot a dwarf.
Maneuver: Spot a , , and companion and discard this condition to make each minion lose all damage bonuses until the regroup phase

You don't need the line "to play spot a Dwarf" because you already have that implicit in toil and explicit in the maneuver ability. I would also suggest reducing the cost or increasing the toil to 2 or the card is a bit too expensive. Or you could leave it as it is and make minion's lose all gametext keywords?

Misty Mountain Axe  
Possession. Hand Weapon.
Strength +2.
Bearer must be a  companion.
Each time bearer wins a skirmish you may reinforce a token.

Very nice. I'm assuming there's a missing.

•Orcrist, Orc-Beater  
Possession. Hand Weapon.
Strength +2. Resistance +1.
Bearer must be a  companion.
If bearer is Thorin Oakenshield, at the start of each skirmish, add a threat to wound an  minion skirmishing him.

Yeah, seems fine.

•Thorin Oakenshield, King Under the Mountain  
Companion, Dwarf
Strength 7, Vitality 4.
Resistance 6.
Damage +1, Muster
Response: Each time a  companion is killed, you may play a possession or artifact from your discard pile.

Muster is a very good keyword for a King Under the Mountain. You don't need both the response and the each time - you choose one or the other depending on whether you think it should be repeatable, and so in this case it seems to me like it should be "each time".

•Thorin Oakenshield, Son of Thrain
Companion, Dwarf
Strength 7, Vitality 4.
Resistance 6.
Damage +1
Skirmish: Discard a  companion to make Bilbo strength +3 and damage +1.
Regroup: Exert Thorin Oakenshield twice and spot Gandalf to play a   companion from your discard pile. (Limit once per turn).

I think I'd prefer if he discarded companions from hand for his skirmish ability so that he does not also have a built in way of saving any Dwarf from death.

•Thorin Oakenshield, Treasure Hunter
Companion, Dwarf.
Strength 7, Vitality 4.
Ringed Resistance 4.
Damage +1
While Thorin Oakenshield is the Ring-Bearer, each time the fellowship moves, add two burdens or discard an artifact.
While Thorin Oakenshield bears The One Ring, he is Resistance +1 for each artifact you can spot.

I'm being completely honest here - I hate this idea with a passion! Thorin never carried the ring, he never had an opportunity to, and it makes no story sense for him to have that option, and it doesn't really make game sense for the culture to have more than 1 RB. Just make more Dwarves, please!

•Elrond, Host of Hobbits and Dwarves  
Companion, Man.
Strength 8, Vitality 4.
Resistance 8.
Muster
Response: If a companion is about to be overwhelmed in a skirmish, exert Elrond twice to take an event into hand from the discard pile.

... "your discard pile" but otherwise interesting and fine.

Mirkwood Elf  
Companion. Elf.
Strength 5, Vitality 3.
Resistance 6.
Archery: If you can spot more minions than companions, exert Mirkwood Elf to make the Fellowship Archery total +1.

Hardly necessary - it's not like culture is in dire need of more decent non-unique cost companions. Make him into something more interesting.

•The Second Army
Condition. Support Area.
Toil 1.
To play, spot a Elf.
Maneuver: Spot a , , and companion and discard this condition to make each minion lose fierce until the regroup phase.

Oh, I see what you're going for here. I would save design space in the set and but them all on one card called "The Battle of the Five Armies" or something similar and do what I suggested above; make them lose all gametext keywords.

•Thranduil, Elvenking  
Companion, Elf
Strength 6, Vitality 3
Resistance 6
Each time the fellowship moves to a forest site, exert a  companion.
Each time the fellowship moves to a mountain site, heal a  companion.

He's okay, but I don't see many people using him. How about something with a bit more obvious flavour, something like:

"While the fellowship is at a forest site, each other companion cannot take more than 1 wound in a skirmish.
Each time the fellowship moves to a forest site, exert a non-[Elven] companion."

Or something similar that it gives your guys a bonus at forest sites, but harms Dwarves or Hobbits if they try and get the same bonus?

•Thranduil, King of Mirkwood  
Companion, Elf
Strength 5, Vitality 3
Resistance 6
To play, spot an Elf.
Thranduil is strength +1 for each minion assigned to a skirmish (limit +3).

Yeah, nothing wrong.

•Army of Dale  
Strength 9, Vitality 4.
Resistance 6.
To play, spot two men.
Archer.
While the fellowship is on at a battleground or marsh, Army of Dale is Defender +1.

Very smooth. I might suggest making a new terrain keyword "lake" though - marsh is not a good descriptor of Esgaroth.

•Bard, Chief Negotiator  
Companion. Man.
Strength 6, Vitality 3.
Resistance 7.
Archer.
While skirmishing a Dragon, Bard cannot be overwhelmed unless his strength is tripled.

I would give him a different "fighting" subtitle, something like "Dragon Slayer". I also can't see this guy as the most useful in the world, given that he does very little except when skirmishing Smaug. So either I would make him incredibly powerful fighting Dragons (some exert/discard cards to wound ability?) or give him an ability that is generally useful, but particularly useful against Smaug (perhaps just "Bard cannot be overwhelmed unless his strength is tripled").

 •Bard, the Bowman
Companion, Man
Strength 6, Vitality 3
Resistance 7
Archer.
While Bard is exhausted, add 1 to the fellowship archery total.

This guy I love!

•Beorn, the Shapeshifter  
Companion, Man
Strength 6, Vitality 4
Maneuver: Discard two cards from hand and exert Beorn twice to make Beorn strength +X until the regroup phase, where X is the combined twilight cost of the cards discarded.

Yep, no problems. He needs a resistance value.

The Eagles Are Coming!  
Event. Fellowship.
To play, spot a or companion.
Play a follower from your draw deck.

Oooh, very nice!

•The Emeralds of Girion
Artifact. Support Area.
To play, spot a  Man and an Elf.
Fellowship: Stack a Free Peoples card from hand on this artifact.
Archery: Discard a or card stacked here and add  to make the fellowship archery total +1 (limit +2).

Seems fair enough.

Fire From the Trees
Event. Skirmish.
Spell.
Spot a Wizard to make a companion strength +2 (or strength +4 if skirmishing a mounted minion).

I'm not getting the connection of text to title here... Should probably also be given that it saves the RB.

•Gandalf, Member of the White Council  
Companion, Wizard.
Strength 8, Vitality 4.
Resistance 8.
Ring-Bound. Gandalf is resistance -1 for each wizard you can spot.
Maneuver: Spot three companions to make each minion lose lurker until the regroup phase.

Resistance -1 for each Wizard? How many other Wizards are there? (answer: 4, but 3 of them are very rare, so it just seems like he can have a worse penalty, maybe -3 for each Wizard). Otherwise fine.

•Gandalf, Trouble Maker  
Companion, Wizard
Strength 7, Vitality 4.
Resistance 7.
At the start of each Fellowship phase, you may exert Gandalf and spot Bilbo to play a companion from your draw deck. That companion's twilight cost is -1.

Hilarious! I think the twilight reduction might be a bit too much, but otherwise a very nice card.

•Gandalf's Staff, Maian Symbol
Artifact. Staff.
Strength +1, Resistance +1.
Bearer must be a Wizard.
If bearer is Gandalf, each time you play a spell, you may exert Gandalf to heal another companion.

Okay, nice. I think I'd probably prefer its usual vitality bonus rather than its current attribute bonuses.

•The Lucky Arrow  
Possession. Ranged Weapon.
Strength +2.
Bearer must be a Man. If bearer is Bard, exert him twice to discard a dragon. The shadow player may discard two minions to prevent this.

Is this not called "The Black Arrow"?

•Saruman, Member of the White Council
Companion. Wizard.
Strength 8, Vitality 4.
Resistance 4.
Each time a shadow skirmish event is played, exert a Wizard.
Skirmish: Exert Saruman to make a minion strength -2 and damage +1.

I don't like Saruman being culture - after all he is not subservient to Gandalf the way Radagast is, for example - and so I always think he should be culture (like Free Peoples). Very interesting Saruman, though. I would also suggest that you change his name to Curunír, because that way it does not stop your opponent from playing their Sarumans.

•Saruman's Staff, Maian Symbol
Artifact, Staff.
Strength +2.
Bearer Must Be a Wizard.
Fellowship: Exert twice to discard a Shadow condition (or if bearer is Saruman, discard two Shadow conditions).

Yeah, fine.

•The Third Army
Condition. Support Area.
Toil 1.
To play, spot a  Man.
Maneuver: Spot a , , and companion and discard this condition to make each minion lose hunter until the regroup phase.

See my note above. I think better to combine these cards so that you have room for more cards in the set.

•United In Purpose  
Condition, Support Area
When you play this condition, reinforce a token.
Exert Man to reinforce another culture's token.
Discard this condition at the start of the regroup phase.

It needs a phase to activate the ability, but otherwise fun and fine.

•Aragorn, Long Hunted
Strength 8, Vitality 4
Resistance 8
Damage +1
Skirmish: Add a threat to make a or  man strength +1.

I'm not sure where the flavour is coming from here. Did Aragorn ever spend time in Lake-Town?

And Beats High Mountains Down
Condition. Support Area.
While Bilbo is the Ring-Bearer,  minions cannot be assigned to a skirmish. Discard this condition at the end of the regroup phase.

Interesting. Quite a bad at 9 card, but it's probably okay.

•Bilbo Baggins, Burgler  
Companion, Hobbit.
Strength 4, Vitality 4.
Ringed Resistance 8.
Ring-Bound.
While Bilbo Baggins is the Ring-Bearer, at the start of each skirmish involving him, each Shadows player may draw two cards.
The twilight cost of each  artifact, possession, and tale played on Bilbo Baggins is -1.

Entertaining! I like this guy. His title has to be just "Bilbo" though, to fit in with previous versions.

•Bilbo, Dragged Into Adventure
Companion, Hobbit
Strength 4, Vitality 4.
Ringed Resistance 8.
Ring-Bound.
While Bilbo is the Ring-Bearer, discard two cards from hand at the start of each skirmish involving him.
Maneuver: Exert Bilbo twice to draw two cards or play an Artifact from your draw deck. The shadow player may remove to prevent this.

It should say "Any Shadow player..." for multiplayer, but here a very cool and interesting card.

Golden Treasure Inside Is Hid
Event. Skirmish.
Exert a Ring-Bound hobbit to make him strength +3 (or strength +4 if skirmishing a minion).

Nice.

Hobbit Riddles  
Event. Maneuver.
Spot a Ring-Bound hobbit and Gandalf to discard a shadow condition.

Okay. What does Gandalf have to do with riddles?

Invisible!
Event. Skirmish.
While at an underground site, make a Ring-Bound hobbit strength +2. At any other site, draw a card.

You need to phrase it as: "Spot a Ring-bound Hobbit at an underground site to make that Hobbit strength +2 at an underground site. At any other site, spot a Ring-bound Hobbit to draw a card." Or something similar.

•Mithril-Coat, Kingly Gift  
Artifact. Armor.
Strength +1. Resistance +1
To play, spot a Dwarf. Bearer must be a Ring-Bound Hobbit.
Each minion skirmishing bearer loses strength bonuses from weapons and loses all damage bonuses.
Skirmish: If bearer loses a skirmish, you may add a burden to remove two threats.

That ability needs to be a response, but otherwise it seems fine. Not sure about the resistance bonus, I might take that out and it would still be fine.

•Sting, Newly Found Elf-Knife
Possession, Hand Weapon
Strength +2. Resistance +1.
Bearer must be a Ring-Bound Hobbit.
While bearer is skirmishing a Troll or Spider, bearer is strength +3.

Again not sure about the resistance bonus, but otherwise fine.

I'll do Shadow cards another time.

Overall, I'm very much liking what I see.

Thranduil

[ket_the_jet]

The One Ring, Secret Treasure
Balance seems perfectly reasonable, but I'm not sure about flavour. Fetching tales is not speaking "The One Ring" to me at the moment...
My rationale on this is that Tales are something that Dwarves, Elves, and Hobbits are all pretty much in line with. And those are kind of the main races in The Hobbit.

Arkenstone, The Heart of the Mountain
Putting on the ring is very flavourful, but mechanically pointless. I see what you're trying to do, but unless the card itself has something to do with the Ring then the flavour to me is not worth the extra words on the card. You could capture this flavour in another card, something with Bilbo sneaking off to give artifacts to other people. I also don't think it needs a limit with the steep token-adding cost.
Yeah, but the idea is that he did[/d] put on the One Ring to steal it...I'd kind of like to keep that as part of the text. Ideas on how to change it?

Balin, Lord of Moria
Would you use this guy over Feared Axeman?
If you wanted to use Gimli, Bearer of Grudges, then yes.

Clap! Snap! The Black Crack!
Yeah, seems fine. Not sure about the title though - it seems more like the title of a Shadow card.
It was a song the dwarves were singing.

Gloin, Young Adventurer
Now this is very cool, and very cleanly designed. Nice one!

Kili and Fili, Dwarven Brothers
Weird. He's okay, but I think I would prefer them as different characters or to make some rules for the fact that they are 2 characters in one (DI has some good ideas on how to do these dual characters, and I've tried my own hand at it in the past exactly for this purpose - so that you could have Bilbo, Gandalf and 13 Dwarves in 9 companions).
Well...the idea is that you cannot have more than 9 companions, so if you wanted to combine a few of the brothers, make them stronger at the cost of vitality. Like the "Army of" cards.

The First Army
You don't need the line "to play spot a Dwarf" because you already have that implicit in toil and explicit in the maneuver ability. I would also suggest reducing the cost or increasing the toil to 2 or the card is a bit too expensive. Or you could leave it as it is and make minion's lose all gametext keywords?
Maybe I'll drop the cost, but every card set needs five to seven really crappy rares that no one wants getting. Mechanically, if you throw them all out at the same time at site eight or nine, that might be nice though.


Misty Mountain Axe
Very nice. I'm assuming there's a missing.
Yeah, but it should just be "Bearer must be a dwarf."

Orcrist, Orc-Beater
Yeah, seems fine.
Thanks!

Thorin Oakenshield, King Under the Mountain 
Muster is a very good keyword for a King Under the Mountain. You don't need both the response and the each time - you choose one or the other depending on whether you think it should be repeatable, and so in this case it seems to me like it should be "each time".
Thanks! I'm glad you supported the "Muster" idea.

Thorin Oakenshield, Son of Thrain
I think I'd prefer if he discarded companions from hand for his skirmish ability so that he does not also have a built in way of saving any Dwarf from death.
That makes sense. I'll change that.

Thorin Oakenshield, Treasure Hunter
I'm being completely honest here - I hate this idea with a passion! Thorin never carried the ring, he never had an opportunity to, and it makes no story sense for him to have that option, and it doesn't really make game sense for the culture to have more than 1 RB. Just make more Dwarves, please!
Okay, here's my rationale on this...if you are just playing "Hobbit Block" (sets 20-22?), then Bilbo would be your only Ring-Bearer. So there will probably be an elven Ring-Bearer coming (probably another Galadriel) and a Gandalf one too.

Elrond, Host of Hobbits and Dwarves
... "your discard pile" but otherwise interesting and fine.
Gotcha.

Mirkwood Elf 
Hardly necessary - it's not like culture is in dire need of more decent non-unique cost companions. Make him into something more interesting.
I know that among the thousands of already produced cards he is superfluous, but you have to think of this as its own set, too. He's probably a common that you get in a starter. No harm in producing him.

The Second Army
Oh, I see what you're going for here. I would save design space in the set and but them all on one card called "The Battle of the Five Armies" or something similar and do what I suggested above; make them lose all gametext keywords.
I might cut the cost a little, but I'll probably keep it as three cards.

Thranduil, Elvenking
He's okay, but I don't see many people using him. How about something with a bit more obvious flavour, something like:
"While the fellowship is at a forest site, each other companion cannot take more than 1 wound in a skirmish.
Each time the fellowship moves to a forest site, exert a non-[Elven] companion."
Or something similar that it gives your guys a bonus at forest sites, but harms Dwarves or Hobbits if they try and get the same bonus?
Oh, I like that idea of just making it non-Elven.

Thranduil, King of Mirkwood
Yeah, nothing wrong.
Sorry your namesake isn't strength 1000.

Army of Dale
Very smooth. I might suggest making a new terrain keyword "lake" though - marsh is not a good descriptor of Esgaroth.
Lake Keyword would probably be new. He's similar to Rohirrim Army or Garrison of Gondor...just another "Army" guy.

Bard, Chief Negotiator 
I would give him a different "fighting" subtitle, something like "Dragon Slayer". I also can't see this guy as the most useful in the world, given that he does very little except when skirmishing Smaug. So either I would make him incredibly powerful fighting Dragons (some exert/discard cards to wound ability?) or give him an ability that is generally useful, but particularly useful against Smaug (perhaps just "Bard cannot be overwhelmed unless his strength is tripled").
I might do that. He is pretty focused. I was going to have one of my sites be similar to Bridge of Khazad-Dum in Fellowship. It's the only one, play Smaug from your draw deck or discard pile, so he might see more play than you think...but we'll see. This is all a work in progress.

Bard, the Bowman
This guy I love!
Me too!

Beorn, the Shapeshifter 
Yep, no problems. He needs a resistance value.
I'll fix that pronto!

The Eagles Are Coming!
Oooh, very nice!
Thanks!

The Emeralds of Girion
Seems fair enough.
I thought it was neat.

Fire From the Trees
I'm not getting the connection of text to title here... Should probably also be given that it saves the RB.
The idea was when the Wargs attacked and the Dwarves and Bilbo and Gandalf climbed the trees to hide. Gandalf shot fire from his staff at the wargs until they ran away. I think I originally had it as two twilight...don't remember.

Gandalf, Member of the White Council
Resistance -1 for each Wizard? How many other Wizards are there? (answer: 4, but 3 of them are very rare, so it just seems like he can have a worse penalty, maybe -3 for each Wizard). Otherwise fine.
I might do -2, but I liked the White Council deck idea...

Gandalf, Trouble Maker 
Hilarious! I think the twilight reduction might be a bit too much, but otherwise a very nice card.
Thanks! I thought it was fun too!

Gandalf's Staff, Maian Symbol
Okay, nice. I think I'd probably prefer its usual vitality bonus rather than its current attribute bonuses.
Didn't want too much healing. Plus, with the resistance, some people might play it on Saruman rather than Gandalf for other effects. I wanted people to have to choose between which staff to give which wizard.

The Lucky Arrow 
Is this not called "The Black Arrow"?
It is referred to as both; The Lucky Arrow after the shot is made...I think I liked that better, but it doesn't matter either way.

Saruman, Member of the White Council
I don't like Saruman being culture - after all he is not subservient to Gandalf the way Radagast is, for example - and so I always think he should be culture (like Free Peoples). Very interesting Saruman, though. I would also suggest that you change his name to Curunír, because that way it does not stop your opponent from playing their Sarumans.
Changing his name is a good idea, but just because it is called the Gandalf culture doesn't mean he is subservient! Until I actually read the rule-book (I learned to play with a friend without it) I always referred to it as "Wizard" culture. A simple re-name does it. I wanted to make the Lake-Town guys their own race, anyways, but didn't want to shake things up too much!

Saruman's Staff, Maian Symbol
Yeah, fine.
Again, Saruman or Gandalf can bear this.

The Third Army
See my note above. I think better to combine these cards so that you have room for more cards in the set.
I hear you.


United In Purpose
It needs a phase to activate the ability, but otherwise fun and fine.
Ah! A phase! How foolish of me.

Aragorn, Long Hunted
I'm not sure where the flavour is coming from here. Did Aragorn ever spend time in Lake-Town?
It's gonna piss a lot of people off, but word on the street is that Viggo Mortensen is going to play Aragorn in the Hobbit movies...and HAVE FIGHT SCENES! Anyways, might as well just roll with it.

And Beats High Mountains Down
Interesting. Quite a bad at 9 card, but it's probably okay.
My worry is that every deck will have four!

Bilbo, Burgler 
Entertaining! I like this guy. His title has to be just "Bilbo" though, to fit in with previous versions.
Fixing...

Bilbo, Dragged Into Adventure
It should say "Any Shadow player..." for multiplayer, but here a very cool and interesting card.
Thanks!

Golden Treasure Inside Is Hid
Nice.
Just a pump. Common, uncommon. You get it.

Hobbit Riddles 
Okay. What does Gandalf have to do with riddles?
Meh. Nothing. But Gandalf is the wise one in the group and discarding conditions isn't really the 's M.O.

Invisible!
You need to phrase it as: "Spot a Ring-bound Hobbit at an underground site to make that Hobbit strength +2 at an underground site. At any other site, spot a Ring-bound Hobbit to draw a card." Or something similar.
Gotcha.

Mithril-Coat, Kingly Gift
That ability needs to be a response, but otherwise it seems fine. Not sure about the resistance bonus, I might take that out and it would still be fine.
It may be overpowered...I'll think about that one.

Sting, Newly Found Elf-Knife
Again not sure about the resistance bonus, but otherwise fine.
Thanks. The resistance is because Sting was so focused...against Trolls and Spiders...

I'll do Shadow cards another time.

Overall, I'm very much liking what I see.

I really appreciate you taking the time to go through these...I know there are a lot and there are more coming. Either way,  for your efforts. I wish they meant something!
-wtk

[Thranduil]

•Gollum, Dweller of the Underground Lake
Minion.
Strength 5, Vitality 4.
Site 3.
While skirmishing a Ring-bound hobbit, Gollum is strength +4 and damage +1.
Assignment: Remove  to assign Gollum to a Ring-bound hobbit. The free peoples can discard two conditions to prevent this.

Whaoh! This seems like Ring-bearer death. What if they don't have any conditions? Too much of a magic bullet against some decks, I feel. First line is fine, I would make the assignment action something like: Assignment: Remove to assign Gollum to a Ring-bound Hobbit. The Free Peoples player may add a burden to prevent this, and assign Gollum" or something else which the FP player can always do regardless of their deck.

Fleeing Man of Dale  
Strength 3, Vitality 1, Site 4
This minion cannot be assigned to a skirmish.
Each man is strength -1.

Funny. Seems okay.

 •King of Esgaroth, Master of Lake-Town
Minion. Man.
Strength 10, Vitality 3. Site 4.
While you can spot Smaug, King of Esgaroth Fierce.
While you can spot 2 men, King of Esgaroth is strength +3.

He's not the king, is he? Just call him "•The Master of Lake-Town" and leave it at that. And also, from the book you get the impression that he's not much of a fighter - he's a bit more like a Gríma or Bill Ferny sort of minion.

•Traitors of Dale
Strength 9, Vitality 3, Site 4
Assignment: Exert Traitors of Dale to assign this minion to a man. The free peoples player may make this minion fierce to prevent this.

Yeah, sure. Doesn't need to be unique, and you need at the end "... and assign this minion." or you could do it more than once.

Azog's Revenge
Event. Skirmish.
Make an Orc strength +2 (or strength +4 if skirmishing a dwarf).

Yeah, fair enough.

Berserk Warg
Posession. Mount.
Strength +2, Vitality +1.
Bearer must be an Orc whose strength is 9 or less.
Skirmish: Discard two mounts to discard an artifact.

Whoah, I'm not a fan. When do Bolg's armies destroy artifacts? Plus, it's just fairly easy artifact destruction, of which there should be exceedingly little.

•Bolg, Son of Azog
Minion
Strength 12, Vitality 3
Site 4
Shadow: Exert Bolg twice and spot another to draw three cards. The Free Peoples player may add two threats to prevent this.
Skirmish: Remove a threat to make an strength +1.

Yeah, fair enough.

•Don't Let Your Imagination Run Away With You  
Condition. Support Area.
Unique minions are strength +1.
Response: Each time an minion wins a skirmish, place an  token on this card.
Shadow: Remove five tokens here to play a minion from hand. It's twilight cost is -3.

Can't be response, because then it's infinitely repeatable. I'm not getting the connection between the first line and the third line, nor the title and the text.

Goblin of the Mountain
Minion, Orc.
Strength 5, Vitality 1.
Site 4.
Assignment: Discard another Orc to assign this minion to an unbound companion.

Yeah, seems interesting.

•Smaug, Dragon of the Mountain  
Minion.
Strength 14, Vitality 3.
Site 5.
Enduring. Fierce.
While skirmishing a dwarf, Smaug is damage +2.
While skirmishing a Ring-bound hobbit, Smaug is strength -4 and damage +1.
While skirmishing a man, Smaug is Strength +1 and damage +1.

I would recommend making Smaug culture instead (since the whole point of the Hobbit was to stop Smaug joining Sauron in the War of the Ring). Seems okay, just a bit small! Surely a Balrog ain't got nothin' on a Dragon!

Stone's Throw
Event. Regroup.
Discard two minions to wound the Ring-Bearer.

Sure. Regroup RB wounding brings up the issue of whether they can wear the Ring in the regroup phase or not, however...

Taunting Warg  
Possession. Mount.
Strength +4.
Bearer must be an Orc whose strength is 9 or less.
Shadow: Spot three mounts to play a mount from your discard pile. The Free Peoples player may draw a card.

Should probably exert bearer to get that ability, gut otherwise fun.

•Ulaire Attea, Khamul  
Minion. Wraith.
Strength 12, Vitality 3. Site 3.
Fierce.
Skirmish: Remove to make this minion Damage +1.

A bit boring for such an important character. I bet you could make a better card for this guy! I like your idea of taking a ability and throwing it on Khamûl, but you could surely pick a better one!

 •The Witch-King, Angmar's Shadow
Minion, Nazgul.
Strength 14, Vitality 4.
Site 3.
Damage +1.
Assignment: Exert the Witch-King to assign him to the companion with the highest strength. The free peoples player may wound that companion to prevent this.

See, this one is fun and interesting! I'd probably stick with fierce though.

Thranduil

[ket_the_jet]

•Ulaire Attea, Khamul 
Minion. Wraith.
Strength 12, Vitality 3. Site 3.
Fierce.
Skirmish: Remove to make this minion Damage +1.

A bit boring for such an important character. I bet you could make a better card for this guy! I like your idea of taking a ability and throwing it on Khamûl, but you could surely pick a better one![/quote]

Well, the idea did indeed originate because Attea (number 2) was the only named Wraith in all of Tolkien's work (The Witch-King was unique, but just "The Witch-King." The second wraith was named Khamul). Anyways, the idea was that because he was an Easterling, he should work well with . But I couldn't figure anything out except that I wanted him to be named Khamul. So...that's that.

As for the Witch-King...can't have him fierce because that could possibly kill off the character with the highest strength during the fierce skirmish...Just a thought...
-wtk

[Thranduil]

•Ulaire Attea, Khamul 
Minion. Wraith.
Strength 12, Vitality 3. Site 3.
Fierce.
Skirmish: Remove to make this minion Damage +1.

A bit boring for such an important character. I bet you could make a better card for this guy! I like your idea of taking a ability and throwing it on Khamûl, but you could surely pick a better one!

Well, the idea did indeed originate because Attea (number 2) was the only named Wraith in all of Tolkien's work (The Witch-King was unique, but just "The Witch-King." The second wraith was named Khamul). Anyways, the idea was that because he was an Easterling, he should work well with . But I couldn't figure anything out except that I wanted him to be named Khamul. So...that's that.[/quote]
Yeah I understand that, but there are better abilities. How about something that adds twilight?

As for the Witch-King...can't have him fierce because that could possibly kill off the character with the highest strength during the fierce skirmish...Just a thought...

Yeah, but the WK has to have enough vitality - this is unlikely between archery and a previous skirmish phase. It's just that damage +1 is not a usual keyword, and fierce is.

Thranduil

[ket_the_jet]

Very well. for your thoughts!

Keep checking. When I am bored and creative enough, I will make more!
-wtk

[ket_the_jet]

•Ulaire Attea, Khamul
Minion•Wraith
Strength 12, Vitality 3, Site 3
Fierce.
Response: If a Nazgul is about to take a wound, remove a threat to prevent that wound.

What do you think about that?
-wtk

[Thranduil]

Much much cooler. I'd say balanced and fun. Nice one!

Thranduil