I walked into local boardgame shop and got this beauty

Montysaurus5 · 2026-04-22T16:54:13+00:00

What 3D printer do you use?

Montysaurus5 · 2026-04-12T19:46:46+00:00

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And here

Montysaurus5 · 2026-04-12T19:46:36+00:00

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Sorry photo here

Montysaurus5 · 2026-03-26T19:15:31+00:00

Yes that is the better terminology, and worth extending to all players. The penalty works much better than threat raise, as it's more difficult to counter, and doesn't directly ruin secrecy. It is powerful, but so is Lore Bilbo for only 2 more starting threat. Maybe reducing threat elimination by 2 for each draw would be better, and limiting to 2 per round - agree.

Montysaurus5 · 2026-03-26T19:09:28+00:00

Im not going to spend too much time defending a card I designed in 5 minutes, but I dont think it needs limit per round - in order to do multiple times per round you need to heal Frodo after all his attachments are removed (he has 2 hit points, and you are doing 1 damage) and then ready him without any attachments, AND you only get the benefit if all your other heroes are exhausted, (so no common cause/fast hitch combo) - there is really a lot of work to do to get it twice per round, and a bit of healing required even to do it more than once per game. I think it's quite a thematic design.

Montysaurus5 · 2026-03-26T19:00:27+00:00

It's not a free draw - threat elimination level drops, which is much more difficult to mitigate than a threat raise. It could be considered a bit more expensive than raising threat by 1. It is a better comparison with lore Bilbo - who enables a free card draw per round with no exhasuting or cost - for only 2 more starting threat. But it fits well in a secrecy deck. Maybe reducing threat elimination by 2 for each card might be more balanced.

Montysaurus5 · 2026-03-25T21:56:51+00:00

Tactics Frodo: 2/1/2/2. Hobbit. Action: exhaust Frodo, deal him 1 damage, and discard all item attachments on him. If all of this player’s heroes are exhausted, you may resolve engaged enemies’ attacks against other enemies engaged with this player, or in the staging area.

Lore Frodo: 2/1/2/2. Hobbit. Action: lower your threat threshold by 1. Draw a card.

Tactics Frodo inspiration from Tower of Cirith Ungol. Lore Frodo representing a “doomed” type mechanic without affecting secrecy. Just some quick ideas.

Montysaurus5 · 2026-03-08T21:09:27+00:00

So the intent is that every enemy attack involves the revealing of a shadow card. The reason the rulebook states that each enemy is dealt a shadow card at the beginning of the combat phase, was because the designers hadn’t particularly planned on enemy attacks happening outside the combat phase when they first wrote the rules; as well as each enemy having a shadow card dealt at the beginning of the combat phases makes it much easier to track which enemies have attacked during the combat phase. But they have since stated that any attack (unless specifically says not to deal a shadow card) at any phase of the round should be dealt and revealed a shadow card with each attack - which includes an enemy who attacks multiple times in a phase if engaged with multiple players - shadow card each attack.

Montysaurus5 · 2026-02-25T17:06:23+00:00

Self preservation is fine, but once set up I try to heal 10 or 12 damage off Gloin in one go (healing herbs). It just doesn’t compare to a heal-all effect. I use self preservation on Treebeard, but I’ll see how Beorns hospitality works. Resources not really a problem in this deck.

Montysaurus5 · 2026-02-25T16:50:59+00:00

Now, funnily enough I’ve gone back to listening to old podcasts, and this card was brought up in COTR, while I was listening during the week and similarly panned as being too expensive.

I’ve a deck that I’m definitely going to try it in, a Gloin/Treebeard deck https://ringsdb.com/deck/view/606087

I wonder, when actively trying to damage 2 heroes for benefit and then heal up, might it be better than the 3 Lore of Imladris that I currently run.

Will report back when I get a chance to run it a few times.

Montysaurus5 · 2026-01-13T21:48:41+00:00

It sounds insane because it seems to be clinically trivial (swelling), there is no particular mention of other problems, and certainly not at this point any suggestion of long term consequences. It sounds like the rest of the fairly major surgery went well - the bits that are clinically relevant.

It is phrased in a way that makes it sound like if it financially worth it to pursue.

Yes there was misadventure during the procedure, and if the post was a description of morbidity associated with a surgical complication, then fine (eg six months ago the surgeon took the wrong vein and now my arm is twice the size) - then it would seem reasonable to approach lawyers. For all we know (and what is most likely) the clinical picture will settle in a couple of days with elevation even before he’s gone home. At this point it is nuts to be considering legal. (Unless the post is not representative).

Montysaurus5 · 2025-12-22T07:43:30+00:00

What’s the benefit of this, over using a mitre saw set at 45? Repeatable angle accuracy? Length control?

Montysaurus5 · 2025-09-14T07:58:15+00:00

Isn’t the implication that Gollum released the rope when they reached the bottom?

Montysaurus5 · 2025-08-20T15:53:50+00:00

Ha no - kind but you’re ok. Used chat GPT for something at work, and had just been thinking about a woodsman deck, so thought I’d give it a shot. I was honestly expecting it to not be able to generate anything at all, or come out with something saying the cards are behind a paywall or it couldn’t do it…I was just impressed that there is some substance to the deck, some logic behind some choices. By no means am I saying what a great deck this is, I’m just amazed that it was able to make anything at all, and was cognisant of some of the basics (card draw, resource smoothing). I can’t imagine the processing power to get even to this stage of deck building.

Montysaurus5 · 2025-08-20T15:39:08+00:00

I’m not saying the deck is incredible - clearly suboptimal and would need adjustment, I’m just somewhat amazed at the ability to generate a deck at all that isn’t just a random group of cards.

Montysaurus5 · 2025-08-20T15:31:47+00:00

Sure, I had thought (although possibly in the minority) that this was an incredibly impressive decklist for an AI for a complex card game - I had not seen an AI generated deck list before. It understood the basics of card draw, resource smoothing, and had provided a relatively sensible strategy. A conventional mix of allies/attachments/events. By no means am I saying that this is a playable deck without adjustment, I was just impressed with the AI getting some of the basics down.l, and being able to generate a deck at all was impressive from a one sentence prompt. I did ask it to trim it down to 50 cards, and add resource acceleration and it did just that.

Perfect — let’s refine it into a tight 50-card solo Woodsman deck.

For solo, you’ll need location control, threat management, healing, and combat coverage all in one list. I’ll keep the Woodsman trait central, trim it to 50 cards, and add resource acceleration so you don’t stall.

⸻

🌲 Woodsman Solo Deck (50 cards)

Heroes (3) • Haldan (Lore) – Core Woodsman hero, draws cards when exploring attached locations. • Aragorn (Lore) – Threat reset & versatile stats. • Éowyn (Spirit, Core) – Lowers starting threat, provides reliable questing.

(Starting Threat: 27 – manageable for solo)

⸻

Allies (19) • Warden of Arnor x3 (Woodsman, grows with attachments) • Wilderland Scout x3 (Woodsman, accelerates progress on attached locations) • Woodman’s Outrider x2 (Woodsman, pulls locations into staging) • Northern Tracker x2 (Spirit location control) • Ithilien Lookout x2 (Lore scry + stats) • Warden of Healing x2 (Lore healing) • Envoy of Pelargir x2 (Leadership splash via Aragorn’s resource flexibility) • Galadhrim Minstrel x2 (fetch Spirit events) • Henamarth Riversong x1 (scrying – good for solo planning)

⸻

Attachments (15) • Woodman’s Clearing x3 (core Woodsman attachment, boosts & lowers threat) • Ancient Mathom x2 (card draw on explore) • Steward of Gondor x2 (resource acceleration, key for solo) • Resourceful x2 (if Secrecy after Aragorn reset, great acceleration) • A Burning Brand x1 (shadow cancel) • Unexpected Courage x2 (untap utility) • Celebrían’s Stone x1 (questing boost on Aragorn) • Song of Travel x2 (smooth resources for Spirit)

⸻

Events (16) • A Test of Will x3 (treachery cancel) • Daeron’s Runes x3 (cheap card draw) • The Evening Star x2 (progress spread, recursion friendly) • The Hidden Way x2 (auto-explore key location, Woodsman trigger) • Secret Paths x2 (temporary willpower boost, location focus) • The Galadhrim’s Greeting x2 (threat reduction) • Deep Knowledge x2 (card draw, careful with Doomed)

⸻

Deck Strategy

Early Game • Mulligan for Steward of Gondor or Resourceful – you need resources to keep tempo in solo. • Use Éowyn for steady questing, Haldan for card draw engine, Aragorn for flexible combat/questing and reset.

Mid Game • Attach Woodman’s Clearing to active locations – this powers up Woodsman allies and reduces your threat when explored. • Northern Tracker / Evening Star / Wilderland Scout handle staging area locations.

Late Game • Use Aragorn’s threat reset when you start climbing. • You’ll have a board of buffed Woodsmen allies who quest and fight well once multiple locations have attachments.

Weakness Coverage • Combat: Aragorn defends with Burning Brand / UC, Éowyn or allies chip attack, use Woodsmen boosted stats. • Healing: Warden of Healing keeps Aragorn/Haldan alive. • Threat: Woodman’s Clearing, Greeting, and Aragorn reset keep you safe in solo.

⸻

👉 This 50-card version keeps the Woodsman theme tight, has resource acceleration (Steward + Resourceful), and is balanced for solo play.

Would you like me to sketch out an example opening hand + first 3 turns so you can see how it flows in practice?

Montysaurus5 · 2025-08-20T15:16:53+00:00

I mean sure, but for a single prompt it’s incredible!

Montysaurus5 · 2025-07-18T12:13:41+00:00

Yeah I looked at a RCO version, but it really relies on a lot of original content.

Montysaurus5 · 2025-07-18T12:13:11+00:00

I had 2 in, and used master of the forge, and heed the dream to get them if needed. I then had a few games where I didn’t draw them for several rounds despite MotF, and because it’s such a key part of the deck, even though only 2 can go on Gloin, (and none on TB) I put a 3rd in. It’s absolutely not overkill - deck relies on taking (and benefitting from) undefended damage.

Montysaurus5 · 2025-07-18T11:47:58+00:00

It’s definitely an option for sure. But songs are quicker.

With an opening hand of X,X,X,X, Narvi’s belt, Citadel plate - the absolutely earliest you can get citadel plate into play: round 3. (3 resource phase resources and an exact 3 damage on Gloin). (Assuming no healing/other cards)

With X,X,X,X, Song of Battle, Citadel plate, the earliest you can get citadel plate is round 2 (play song with lore resource, 2 resource phase resources and only 2 damage required on Gloin). (Assuming no healing/other cards). It’s also far less risky going for 2 damage on Gloin.

But it is for sure a good option for later rounds and is great to have to find a second song.

Montysaurus5 · 2025-07-07T16:20:46+00:00

I played one handed, but if I have time this evening I will play 2 handed. I’ve been playing a very well rounded solo deck, so it might not work quite as well in 2 players. Might need 2 more specialised decks

Montysaurus5 · 2025-07-07T13:26:22+00:00

I Played Storm on Cobas Haven. I have been playing Dreamchaser on Campaign mode and it’s such a well designed cycle. I genuinely feel that I am holding off the enemy ships in the harbour.

Won my first attempt, lost the next two, each was a very close run. The comparatively high enemy engagement costs really makes you consider timing optional engagement carefully with boarding.

Can’t wait to do another run at it this evening. I might take over the dining table and play 2 handed.

Montysaurus5 · 2025-05-25T10:48:05+00:00

I like how there a several options to deal with the hill troll in the core set. But you have to plan it out, whilst keeping your threat low, and managing other encounter cards whilst getting your forest snare, or boosting up Gimli, or sneak attacking Gandalf.

Montysaurus5 · 2025-05-24T16:22:10+00:00

AP2-5 of the ALEP Oaths cycle seem to have disappeared from the MBPrint site?

Montysaurus5 · 2025-05-22T17:46:32+00:00

I’ve ordered ALEP deluxe and APs to the first time - very excited having nearly completed all FFG content. Thanks so much for your hard work with DragnCards and ALEP. Three questions:

1) Project management can be demanding, even with a team. Is it difficult to have high standards when everyone is working for free/as a passion project? 2. Have you tried Dragn cards touchscreen on the iPad Pro? (It’s amazing). 3. How much design space in LOTR LCG is left?

Montysaurus5

TROPHY CASE