Here is a review of the whole cycle composed of quick looks at each adventure pack and some general thoughts.
The Hunt for Gollum - :star::star::star::star::nostar:
Scenario - 6/10 - Nice thematic introduction to the whole cycle. Not too easy, not hard. One of the few which gives players great impact on encounter deck output.
Hero - Bilbo Baggins - Very nice passive effect even if stats are less then impressive.
Player Cards - Great introductions to the Song cyle (first song and minstrel). First Dunedain card. Start of Eagle cylce for tactics is just ok at this point.
Conflict at the Carrock - :star::star::star::star::nostar:
Scenario - 7/10 - Thematic detour seems a bit weak. Scenario is a very challenging one until you figure out how to approach it. After that it feels a bit like one trick pony but still can make you sweat.
Hero - Frodo Baggins - Very strong hero, decent stats and ability to convert damage to threat is very strong for Spirit center decks.
Player Cards - New song, Dunedain Warning and burning brand are worth mentioning. Rest is so so. Rohan and Eagles are still very weak at this point.
A Journey to Rhosghobel - :star::star::star::star::nostar:
Scenario - 8/10 - I like it mostly for the fact that most standard decks are not as strong against this one. You need a good splash of Lore to have a decent win ratio.
Hero - Prince Imrahil - Good stats and ability. For some reason though I do not seem to be using him much. He seems better in multiplayer.
Player Cards - Excellent spirit cards (Ancient Mathom and Escort from Edoras). Eagle decks start to take initial shape (also due to Radagast). Lore gets his strongest fighter.
The Hills of Emyn Muil - :star::star::nostar::nostar::nostar:
Scenario - 3/10 - Fairly weak scenario. Probably easiest solo (location lock is more probable in the multiplayer game). Although we return to looking for Gollum story here is quite weak.
Hero - Brand son of Bain - very weak hero, despite his stats, especially for solo. Although 2 will power is good for tactics his ability then goes to waste.
Player Cards - Continue of the song cycle is always good. Decent Rohan cards and another fighter for Lore. Eagles are getting half decent. Many cards that only make sense in multiplayer.
The Dead Marshes - :star::star::star::star::halfstar:
Scenario - 7/10 - Search for Gollum finally is back for good. Interesting "keep your eyes" on the price mechanics with escape tests. Fairly easy though.
Hero - Boromir - Another tactics hero. Decent stats and two abilities. One very useful and one very thematic (and life saving at times).
Player Cards - Conclusion of song cycle (two of them). Good mix of cards for all spheres.
Return to Mirkwood - :star::star::star::star::star:
Scenario - 8/10 - VERY hard solo but avoids typical approach of stalling the game to build your team. Really thematic - feels like a mad escape.
Hero - Dain Ironfoot - Corner stone of dwarven decks. Makes many of KD cycle cards great.
Player Cards - Eagle cycle concluded and decks based on the become playable. Good end of Rohan cycle and very fine cards for Lore.
Overall Opinion
It is a good cycle. There is only one excellent scenario but almost all the rest are good. As far as player cards there are quite a few that are useless (especially solo) but several that are very powerful/useful (songs, Dunedain attachments and others). As far as heroes go three are very good and only one is weak.
As for themed player cards my opinion are as follows:
- Eagle decks are not developed enough in my opinion. You miss some more middle tier allies. I do see them becoming more powerful in the future (Vassal of the Windlord and Winged Guardian seem to be very strong for Heirs of Numenor). As far as events go they are ok.
- Rohan decks seem to look a bit better (at least on paper as I have not tried it much). There is a decent set of allies available and you can even add Rohan trait to other characters. Such deck is oriented towards exploring locations and questing.
- Dunedain attachments are good period.
- Songs are useful especially if you are into tri-sphere decks.
I often see recommendation to new player to skip Shadows of Mirkwood cycle and going straight for Khazda Dum. In my opinion you do miss out going this route.
You will loose:
- Very good heroes.
- Some very strong player cards and your deck building options are limited greatly (no songs).
- Decent scenarios.
You will gain:
+ You play the game closer to current realeses
I have not played the whole Dwarrowdelf cycle yet so look for the comparison in the future.
How about you? What are your feelings on the cycle? Particular scenarios?
The Hunt for Gollum - :star::star::star::star::nostar:
Scenario - 6/10 - Nice thematic introduction to the whole cycle. Not too easy, not hard. One of the few which gives players great impact on encounter deck output.
Hero - Bilbo Baggins - Very nice passive effect even if stats are less then impressive.
Player Cards - Great introductions to the Song cyle (first song and minstrel). First Dunedain card. Start of Eagle cylce for tactics is just ok at this point.
Conflict at the Carrock - :star::star::star::star::nostar:
Scenario - 7/10 - Thematic detour seems a bit weak. Scenario is a very challenging one until you figure out how to approach it. After that it feels a bit like one trick pony but still can make you sweat.
Hero - Frodo Baggins - Very strong hero, decent stats and ability to convert damage to threat is very strong for Spirit center decks.
Player Cards - New song, Dunedain Warning and burning brand are worth mentioning. Rest is so so. Rohan and Eagles are still very weak at this point.
A Journey to Rhosghobel - :star::star::star::star::nostar:
Scenario - 8/10 - I like it mostly for the fact that most standard decks are not as strong against this one. You need a good splash of Lore to have a decent win ratio.
Hero - Prince Imrahil - Good stats and ability. For some reason though I do not seem to be using him much. He seems better in multiplayer.
Player Cards - Excellent spirit cards (Ancient Mathom and Escort from Edoras). Eagle decks start to take initial shape (also due to Radagast). Lore gets his strongest fighter.
The Hills of Emyn Muil - :star::star::nostar::nostar::nostar:
Scenario - 3/10 - Fairly weak scenario. Probably easiest solo (location lock is more probable in the multiplayer game). Although we return to looking for Gollum story here is quite weak.
Hero - Brand son of Bain - very weak hero, despite his stats, especially for solo. Although 2 will power is good for tactics his ability then goes to waste.
Player Cards - Continue of the song cycle is always good. Decent Rohan cards and another fighter for Lore. Eagles are getting half decent. Many cards that only make sense in multiplayer.
The Dead Marshes - :star::star::star::star::halfstar:
Scenario - 7/10 - Search for Gollum finally is back for good. Interesting "keep your eyes" on the price mechanics with escape tests. Fairly easy though.
Hero - Boromir - Another tactics hero. Decent stats and two abilities. One very useful and one very thematic (and life saving at times).
Player Cards - Conclusion of song cycle (two of them). Good mix of cards for all spheres.
Return to Mirkwood - :star::star::star::star::star:
Scenario - 8/10 - VERY hard solo but avoids typical approach of stalling the game to build your team. Really thematic - feels like a mad escape.
Hero - Dain Ironfoot - Corner stone of dwarven decks. Makes many of KD cycle cards great.
Player Cards - Eagle cycle concluded and decks based on the become playable. Good end of Rohan cycle and very fine cards for Lore.
Overall Opinion
It is a good cycle. There is only one excellent scenario but almost all the rest are good. As far as player cards there are quite a few that are useless (especially solo) but several that are very powerful/useful (songs, Dunedain attachments and others). As far as heroes go three are very good and only one is weak.
As for themed player cards my opinion are as follows:
- Eagle decks are not developed enough in my opinion. You miss some more middle tier allies. I do see them becoming more powerful in the future (Vassal of the Windlord and Winged Guardian seem to be very strong for Heirs of Numenor). As far as events go they are ok.
- Rohan decks seem to look a bit better (at least on paper as I have not tried it much). There is a decent set of allies available and you can even add Rohan trait to other characters. Such deck is oriented towards exploring locations and questing.
- Dunedain attachments are good period.
- Songs are useful especially if you are into tri-sphere decks.
I often see recommendation to new player to skip Shadows of Mirkwood cycle and going straight for Khazda Dum. In my opinion you do miss out going this route.
You will loose:
- Very good heroes.
- Some very strong player cards and your deck building options are limited greatly (no songs).
- Decent scenarios.
You will gain:
+ You play the game closer to current realeses
I have not played the whole Dwarrowdelf cycle yet so look for the comparison in the future.
How about you? What are your feelings on the cycle? Particular scenarios?