Okay, we’re done with Thorin’s Company for now, so let’s move on to something else for a while. I ended Duo #7 with the Lasting Alliances version of Gandalf, so let’s focus on him and his fellow wizards for a while, shall we?

Dáin’s DC Duos #8

Yes, I did say Wizards. Though neither is actually seen in The Hobbit, both Saruman and Radagast are prominently mentioned and have an impact on Gandalf’s journey; Radagast indirectly helps Beorn trust Gandalf and the Dwarves, and in the background, Saruman (or should I say Curunír) finally agrees to let Gandalf lead the charge against Sauron at Dol Guldur. So I thought they both deserved a spot in Lasting Alliances. Enjoy!

•Curunír, Head of the White Council
Ally • Home 3 [LA] • Wizard
Strength: 8
Vitality: 4
Signet: Elrond
At the end of each shadow phase, if you can spot Saruman, add or discard Curunír.
Each other Wizard’s twilight cost is -2.
At the start of each maneuver phase, you may exert Curunír and add either a threat or a burden to draw a card for each Wizard you can spot.
“...Gandalf had been to a great council of the white wizards, masters of lore and good magic....”
the gandalf signet might be a better choice how can you play them for only one? reduce the saruman penalty to 2 or 3 IMO



•Radagast, Gandalf’s Cousin
Companion • Wizard
Strength: 7
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 7
Radagast is strength +1 for each Tree, Eagle, and Free Peoples mount you can spot (limit +3).
Fellowship: Exert Radagast and discard a card from hand to heal an Eagle, Tree, or Ent.
“‘...not a bad fellow as wizards go, I believe.’”
he is has a potential to get very large. its fine.

But that’s for another time. For now, we’ll stick to Gandalf and his "cousins" in Lasting Alliances, continuing throughout the week with some possessions and spells. Stay tuned!

the gandalf signet might be a better choice how can you play them for only one? reduce the saruman penalty to 2 or 3 IMO

he is has a potential to get very large. its fine.

•Curunír, Head of the White Council
Ally • Home 3 [LA] • Wizard
Strength: 8
Vitality: 4
Signet: Elrond
At the end of each shadow phase, if you can spot Saruman, add or discard Curunír.
Each other Wizard’s twilight cost is -2.
At the start of each maneuver phase, you may exert Curunír and add either a threat or a burden to draw a card for each Wizard you can spot.
“...Gandalf had been to a great council of the white wizards, masters of lore and good magic....”

•Radagast, Gandalf’s Cousin
Companion • Wizard
Strength: 7
Vitality: 4
Resistance: 7
Radagast is strength +1 for each Tree, Eagle, and Free Peoples mount you can spot (limit +3).
Fellowship: Exert Radagast and discard a card from hand to heal an Eagle, Tree, or Ent.
“‘...not a bad fellow as wizards go, I believe.’”

I like it. However, you did say that the first ability is so that Saruman can be played basically for free - just keep in mind that the twilight would be added at the end of the Shadow phase, where it won’t be as useful.

Also, his twilight reduction for the Wizards applies to Saruman, so it probably evens out.

Wait, one more thing: are allies supposed to have signets?

Very cool, but I’m tempted to say that you should discard 2 cards with his fellowship ability. Also, why the sudden change from a signet-character to a character with resistance?

Dáin’s DC Duos #9

As promised, here’s a couple Wizard possessions from Lasting Alliances, and we’re going old-school...with pipes. Enjoy!

•Gandalf’s Pipe, Toy of Fire and Smoke
Possession • Pipe
Bearer must be Gandalf.
Fellowship: Discard a pipeweed possession to remove or to discard a Shadow condition from a character bearing a pipe.
“‘You might find that smoke blown out cleared your mind of shadows within.’”
I like it. A traditional pipe-like ability, but slightly better than the old ones.

•Curunír’s Pipe
Possession • Pipe
Bearer must be a Wizard companion or Wizard ally. If bearer is Curunír, the twilight cost of Curunír’s Pipe is -1.
Fellowship: Discard a pipeweed possession and spot X pipes to reveal X cards from an opponent’s hand.
“Now truth to tell, observing Gandalf’s love of the herb that he called ‘pipe-weed’...Saruman had affected to scoff at it, but in private he made trial of it, and soon began to use it....”
You could just say, "Bearer must be a wizard." Allies can normally bear possessions. You just can’t replay them between companions and allies. The fellowship ability is cool, but I doubt I’d use it in comparision to something like that Gandalf’s Pipe, Toy of Fire and Smoke.

I know allies normally can’t have possessions, but I figured that since Curunír is not your standard ally, I could make an exception here, too. (Do I need to say "Wizard" twice, though? Can I just say "Wizard companion or ally" instead?) Since Curunír’s whole theme is about card drawing and revealing, I figured the fellowship ability worked out nicely. What do YOU think?

More stuff tomorrow!

•Gandalf’s Pipe, Toy of Fire and Smoke
Possession • Pipe
Bearer must be Gandalf.
Fellowship: Discard a pipeweed possession to remove or to discard a Shadow condition from a character bearing a pipe.
“‘You might find that smoke blown out cleared your mind of shadows within.’”

•Curunír’s Pipe
Possession • Pipe
Bearer must be a Wizard companion or Wizard ally. If bearer is Curunír, the twilight cost of Curunír’s Pipe is -1.
Fellowship: Discard a pipeweed possession and spot X pipes to reveal X cards from an opponent’s hand.
“Now truth to tell, observing Gandalf’s love of the herb that he called ‘pipe-weed’...Saruman had affected to scoff at it, but in private he made trial of it, and soon began to use it....”

You could just say, "Bearer must be a wizard." Allies can normally bear possessions. You just can’t replay them between companions and allies. The fellowship ability is cool, but I doubt I’d use it in comparision to something like that Gandalf’s Pipe, Toy of Fire and Smoke.