Dáin’s DC Duos #31
Laketown Banner-bearer
Companion • Man
Strength: 5
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 7
To play, spot a Man.
While bearing Banner of the Lake, this companion is strength +1.
Response: If an opponent plays a minion, discard a hand weapon borne by this companion and add a threat to return that minion to its owner’s hand.
“‘...we bid him consider well the claims that have been urged, or be declared our foe.’”
the lore doesn’t make a lot of sense, but thats nothing new with cards from anyone. Personally I think he is kinda underpowered, either make him base 6 strength, or be +2 while bearing the banner.

Banner of the Lake
Possession • Hand Weapon
Bearer must be a Man companion.
Each time bearer wins a skirmish, spot another Man and a minion to remove a threat.
Response: If bearer wins a skirmish, discard this possession to liberate a site.
“They bore with them...the blue banner of the Lake, and they advanced until they stood right before the wall at the Gate.”
Its does the job, though it would be kinda interesting if you put to add or remove a threat.
Also, keep an eye out for a poll later to see what type of cards you want to see next after Men are done.

Dáin’s DC Duos #32

It’t not even 5:00 and the last Duo already has a couple reviews, so on we go with another!

•Master of Laketown, Cautious Councilor
Companion • Man
Strength: 5
Vitality: 3
Unhasty.
When you play Master of Laketown, you may draw a card for each ally you can spot.
Each time you play a tale or artifact, you may heal a ally.
“...nor did he think much of old songs, giving his mind to trade and tolls, to cargoes and gold, to which habit he owed his position.”

Hm...unhasty..that’s a big drawback. Maybe have some way for him to skirmish

As powerful as the original Master is (creating a sanctuary at site 8, playing allies from your draw deck), this one makes picking one version over the other an agonizing decision. Lots of healing for companions and easy ally drawing, or lots of healing for your allies and nice card drawing? Hmmmm....

Oh, and note that I tweaked the vitality and added unhasty for both versions. The Master would rather cower and run than fight, after all.

•Necklace of Girion
Artifact • Support Area
To play, spot a Dwarf or a artifact.
Each time a Man wins a skirmish, you may exert that Man to place a token here.
At the start of each archery phase, you may remove a token from here to make the fellowship archery total +1.
“...made of five hundred emeralds green as grass....”

Nice. Maybe "spot two men" instead of an exertion. There are many instances I can think of where it may not be advisable to exert (Grimbeorn on a run, for example...)

I know, I know: it’s not a card at all. But it may as well be. I actually have several artifacts planned or already made for Lasting Alliances (mostly from Smaug’s horde), but none that are so useful to another culture. After the spotting requirements, this is ALL Lakemen. Just in case they’re somehow hurting for archery, this gives them a little extra to play with, especially if you get it out early.

One other thing I considered instead of the current archery phase text was this:

Skirmish: Remove 2 tokens from here to make the fellowship archery total +1.

I was afraid that would be overpowered, though. What do you think?

Wrong Phase. But I think that would be good. Definitely not overpowered.

•Master of Laketown, Cautious Councilor
Companion • Man
Strength: 5
Vitality: 3
Unhasty.
When you play Master of Laketown, you may draw a card for each ally you can spot.
Each time you play a tale or artifact, you may heal a ally.
“...nor did he think much of old songs, giving his mind to trade and tolls, to cargoes and gold, to which habit he owed his position.”

•Necklace of Girion
Artifact • Support Area
To play, spot a Dwarf or a artifact.
Each time a Man wins a skirmish, you may exert that Man to place a token here.
At the start of each archery phase, you may remove a token from here to make the fellowship archery total +1.
“...made of five hundred emeralds green as grass....”

•Master of Laketown, Cautious Councilor
Companion • Man
Strength: 5
Vitality: 3
Unhasty.
When you play Master of Laketown, you may draw a card for each ally you can spot.
Each time you play a tale or artifact, you may heal a ally.
“...nor did he think much of old songs, giving his mind to trade and tolls, to cargoes and gold, to which habit he owed his position.”

•Necklace of Girion
Artifact • Support Area
To play, spot a Dwarf or a artifact.
Each time a Man wins a skirmish, you may exert that Man to place a token here.
At the start of each archery phase, you may remove a token from here to make the fellowship archery total +1.
“...made of five hundred emeralds green as grass....”

Laketown Banner-bearer
Companion • Man
Strength: 6
Vitality: 3
Resistance: 7
To play, spot a Man.
While bearing Banner of the Lake, this companion is strength +1.
Response: If an opponent plays a minion, discard a hand weapon borne by this companion and add a threat to return that minion to its owner’s hand.
“‘...we bid him consider well the claims that have been urged, or be declared our foe.’”

Banner of the Lake
Possession • Hand Weapon
Bearer must be a Man companion.
Each time bearer wins a skirmish, spot another Man and a minion to add or remove a threat.
Response: If bearer wins a skirmish, discard this possession to liberate a site.
“They bore with them...the blue banner of the Lake, and they advanced until they stood right before the wall at the Gate.”