Official LR Preview Card for LTR!
Added 2023-06-06 07:38:45 +0000 UTCHere's our preview card for the Lord of the Rings crossover set, it's Horses of the Bruinen! Which aren't really horses in the creature sense, but are quite a powerful effect at uncommon! You get to clear away two creatures (theirs or yours, or a combo depending on the board state), Scry 1 (pretty good at that stage of the game), AND the Ring tempts you so you get to get that whole thing rolling.
If you haven't seen how the Ring works, look here: https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/feature/the-lord-of-the-rings-tales-of-middle-earth-mechanics
Anyway, that's our preview card, what do you think?
Comments
It's a fairly powerful card (probably a B-) but as others say, "the ring tempts you" could have been a bit more flavorful. For example, the last stage could have been a negative effect, something like "creatures you control get -1/-1" (just as how the gaze from the Eye of Sauron weakens the party) or "the ring-bearer doesn't untap during your untap step" (Frodo being unable to move). I'd be very curious to hear Marshall & Luis's take on the ring tempts you mechanic.
Kenji Hayakawa
2023-06-07 22:02:14 +0000 UTCBased on Blogatog asks, it seems that they tried “the ring tempts you” with negative effects in playtesting, and people didn’t want to use it. I think the flavor justification would be that the ring *does* give you power (even if it maybe nudges you to do evil things).
Nate W
2023-06-07 04:30:19 +0000 UTCHard to tell how powerful this ring mechanic will be. But at five mana for this card it'd better be darn good to make it worth it. @John Thought the same about the flavour... Maybe there will be spells that negatively affect the ring bearer either by making it an easier target for your opponent or some downsides on cards that you control?
Peter Sievert
2023-06-06 16:20:11 +0000 UTCThe "tempted by the ring" mechanic is really bizarre. It is a huge flavor fail in a set that should be primarily about flavor (why on earth is getting tempted by the ring a good thing?), and it is yet another token that people will have to track during a game. I already have to track the initiative, the monarch, day/night, fortell cards, and adventure cards. Heaven forbid someone puts attractions or stickers in their deck. I get that it is functional for draft, but is that worth the rules bloat in the long term for a mechanic in a universe beyond set that makes no sense with that universe?
John Baranski
2023-06-06 13:44:28 +0000 UTC
