 |
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
 |
|
Expansion Preview 1
Coming in October 2005, the War of the Ring expansion set (titled Battles of The Third Age), will feature many new figures for the game and new rules, cards and events.
This week we introduce to you the first of these new features: Corsairs! The Corsairs are one of the new elements of the game called "factions." Factions will be represented by new models with special rules and will replace story elements which were previously represented by Event cards. The Corsair ships will allow the Southron armies to ravage the Gondor coastline and also menace the Gray Havens, without the need for the Shadow player to wait for that precious event card.
Expansion Preview 2
Battles of The Third Age will not feature only new army units; new characters will also be introduced, to better spotlight some of the most important personalities at the end of the Age.
Lady Galadriel, Queen of the Golden Wood, is certainly one of the most striking characters in the trilogy and she well deserves to be fully featured in the game. Galadriel is without doubt one of the most powerful beings in Middle Earth, with a personal history dating back to the First Age of the World. Bearer of one of the Elven Rings of Power, her wisdom and guidance was instrumental to the success of the Quest of the Ringbearers, and her power protected the Golden Wood from the menace of the Shadow. In game terms, Galadriel will play much the same role, aiding the Fellowship and protecting Lothlorien... but her presence comes fully into play only if Gandalf the White has not yet appeared, representing the support to the Fellowship during the darkest hour of the Companions. Galadriel will provide the Free Peoples player with a precious Action Die, so that you will have a real game alternative: now Gandalf can decide to guide the Fellowship in the dark of Mordor while the Lady helps the Fellowship from afar and supports with her wisdom the defence of the West. Galadriel is only the first of three new characters which will be represented in the War of the Ring expansion with a sculpted game piece and new character cards.
Expansion Preview 3 Siege towers and catapults will be weapons of destruction available to the Shadow to fight the final battles of the War.
The Siege Tower will represent the siege efforts of the besieging Shadow Armies, like tunneling, ramming, blasting and scaling. Catapults will be used as a representation of the defense activity of the besieged. Siege strategy has always been an important feature in War of the Ring: in your first game you may think that it's all luck and throwing bunches of 6's, but good players soon find out that the right combination of cards, units and leaders are essential to move luck out of the scene and maximize your chance of victory. Siege Engines will be another element of this strategy, as they will give to both the attacker and the defender a new critical decision. Like all other elements of the game, mustering Siege Engines will involve an additional choice and an additional way to consume your precious actions.
At the same time, the Free People units defending the strongholds, which in the standard game are often hopeless, only looking forward to a key event to save the day or an incoming army to relieve the siege, now will also have the opportunity to muster Engines and improve their defense. More options, more units and more nice sculpts will be previewed in the next weeks!
Expansion Preview 4The Hillmen of Dunland fought in the War of the Ring in the armies of Saruman due to their long history of enmity with the Rohirrim. Raiding, pillaging, burning the settlements of the Rohirrim or fighting alongside Uruk-Hai and half-orcs in the field, Dunlendings were a fundamental force in Saruman's strategy of total war against the Horse Lords.
These fierce warriors were portrayed in the original game through the effects of certain cards like "Rage of the Dunlendings," and they were assumed to be part of the Regular units in the Isengard army. With the expansion set, the Dunlendings will finally enter the field of battle with a new figure and new special abilities.
The Shadow (or Saruman) player can play the faction of the Hillmen of Dunland through the use of a normal Muster action after Isengard is at war, and the presence of the Hillmen will provide new options and strategy to the assault of Rohan or to menace the northwest of Middle Earth. Differently from other units, the Dunlendings can be mustered directly inside Shadow armies that occupy Rohan regions, representing the pillagers and raiders gathering and flocking to strengthen Saruman's hordes. This of course provides a considerable advantage, as the armies are directly where they are needed - in the Country of the Horse Lords - saving important movement actions. However, while Dunlendings are as effective in combat as any other unit, their will to fight on the side of their evil Master is not fail-safe, and they are quick to disperse under the swords and arrows of the Riders of Rohan. The combination of quick availability for battle and weakness in front of the enemy make the Dunlendings a very interesting addition for the Shadow player, as they will prove to be a useful but sometimes unreliable ally. A "historical" note: the Dunlending figure was originally supposed to appear in War of the Ring to represent Isengard Regulars, but was later discarded in favor of the Uruk-Hai figure. In Battles of the Third Age, this beautiful and dynamic sculpture created by Bob Naismith deservedly takes again its rightful place in the game! |
|
The Shadow will use Muster dice to create Siege Engines directly on the site of the battle, to boost its attack.
