Review Summary: A highly cost-effective threat-reduction card; this powerful event is a major boost to hobbit decks

This card was a major boost to the hobbit archetype and is one of the top threat-reduction cards in the game. It is comparable in power to Elrond's Counsel, arguably even better, since it does not require any particular sphere to use. This is arguable the most powerful threat reduction in the game. This card is a major contributor to hobbit decks and is one of the key cards responsible for making hobbits a playable archetype; since it has no sphere eforcement, it should be an auto-include in any hobbit deck.

Hobbit decks tend to start the game with fairly low threat due to the low threat-cost of their heroes. Combining this with other forms of threat-reduction in a hobbit deck can easily get you down near zero threat where enemy characters have higher engagement cost than your threat. If you get it in your opening hand it will usually put you down to twenty threat or less, which allows you to immediately play your secrecy cards (e.g., first-turn use of Resourceful). This card combines well with Hobbit Pipe and Spare Pipe if playing with spirit. It also combines well with a wide range of hobbit effects that operate when you are engaged with an enemy with higher engagement cost than your threat (e.g., Pippin, Pippin, Tom Cotton, Gaffer Gamgee, Bywater Shirriff, Hobbit Cloak, Staff of Lebethron, Taste it Again!, In the Shadows).

I'm not a fan of over-powered fan cards --- this one is ludicrously over-powered and should not have been made. I agree with the other review here that identifies him as more powerful than Elrond, which is damning in itself. The ability is a stronger version of the already broken Vilya, which players regularly talk about banning. I really don't see why people get excited by fan-cards that are so obviously over-powered --- they exhibit poor design and a lack of respect for the game. A big thumbs-down from me. (But nice art.)

A great card for any deck that attacks enemies in the staging area. Heroes such as Éomer and Dúnhere really love the 2 boost from the card when attacking enemies in the staging area, and the cheap cost of one resource is nice too. This card works well with Dagger of Westernesse (to improve you chances of drawing an useful weapon attachment), and really makes staging area decks a lot more consistent. Of course, the card is restricted and is limited to Rohan characters, but that's alright because the only other characters that attack enemies in the staging area are Haldir of Lórien and maybe Bard the Bowman with a Great Yew Bow.

In single player, attacking enemies in the staging area is rather niche because only one encounter card is revealed each round, making it unlikely that an enemy will appear on a regular basis. However, in multiplayer these decks are far better (and really fun) due the the greater number of enemies revealed. Not the most splashable weapon in the world, but it the right deck, it works very well. Give it a try, it might surprise you.

Not much to talk about with this card, but I'll try. In any normal deck, this card isn't very good at all. However, in a Silvan deck, this card is great. It only costs 1 resource and pays itself off after the first use, and from that point on it just eases paying for Silvan allies. Being part of is nice because its the same sphere as Silvan staples such as Celeborn, Thranduil, and The Elvenking. Its unique, so only one copy of the card is allowed at a time. Its nice that the attachment can be attached to any hero instead of just Silvan heroes, so it can be used with Lothíriel with an Elf-friend or other heroes for some creative Silvan decks. Lastly, it has the Song trait, which can come in handy for Love of Tales or Rivendell Minstrel or even Burst into Song. Overall, a great card with very little to complain about (and great artwork too).

This card is very underrated. For only one resource (in , a sphere with many extra resources lying around) you get the ability to customize your staging area. This allows you to swap out locations that give off nasty effects while in the staging area, and swapping for a more manageable location. Of course, since its only the top 5 cards of the encounter deck, you will have a limited selection of locations to choose from (probably 2 on average). However, you will only be swapping out the worst locations in play, so even worst case scenario, you will swap the location with another that's equally terrible. But a lot of the time, you will swap it out for something better, such as lower . This card is especially useful in , because there are so few location control cards in , increasing this cards value.

This card works well on any combat focused character because it allows the character to perform a useful action if no enemy is going to engage you. Some prime targets for this card are Lindon Navigator because she can quest and then navigate with the compass, Forlong in a Outlands deck (because of his built in readying effect), Rider of Rohan, Rammas Lookout, Ceorl (and is in sphere), Haldan, Idraen, Lanwyn, Angbor the Fearless, Knight of Dale, Orthanc Guard, Wandering Exile (for the same reasons as the navigator), Halbarad, and especially North Realm Lookout (because it activates his ability and synergizes with Dale decks). It works the best with characters such as those, but it can really work well with any or Scout character.

And that's the beauty of the card, its really flexible and provides a useful effect at a cheap cost (and that's without considering that this card lets you instantly obtain your guarded cards such as The Arkenstone by swapping out the location). This card isn't going to hold your team together but it does provide some useful location management for decks that need it.