[UEP, Withdrawn] Strident Spawn : Non-Unique

[Bandobras Took]

Name: Strident Spawn : Non-Unique

Status: Withdrawn

Proposal maintainer: Bandobras Took

Categories: Balance

Errata: Current CRF reads: Card Erratum: Add "Unique."  Remove the CRF Errata.

Problem:  Strident Spawn already requires a Protected Wizardhaven and 6 Stage Points; in order to make a deck that uses it, you need it to come early.  By being Unique, you can only put one in the deck, and if your FW opponent plays it before you, you're SOL.

Solution:Return it to "May not be duplicated by a given player."

Pros:Bumps Fallen Saruman a bit in options.

Cons:Would it make Fallen Pallando too strong?

Rationale:The card may be strong, but making it Unique weakens it too severely.  The play of Half-Orc factions at a Haven is already counterbalanced by the high rolls required and the 1 Stage Point per faction (full Half-Orc faction play adds 6 to your total).  The play of Half-Orc characters is also pretty good, but again, you're looking at a Protected Haven and 6 Stage Points (not to mention putting the characters in the discard), so the effects aren't strong enough to warrant uniqueness.

Discussion:

Voting started at: 02/29

Voting ends at: 03/29

[Thorsten the Traveller]

hmm, still thinking on it, but inclined to say no.

1) ICE errataed the card, they must have had good reason for it. Most likely it wasn't really playtested and they found out later it was too strong. And so I can imagine, especially for Pallando who gets two MP's for the Half-orcs.

2) The card's uniqueness really is a bummer I agree, but there are ways around it if you really crave for it. Token of Goodwill effectively gives you almost 3 copies of it.

3) Power of it is rather big. With Saruman's Robes he can get a Lordly Presence every turn, the Orcs are peanuts basically. Pallando can get the Voice or some Gifts. The mind reduction is very nice too. Only counterbalance, apart from the SP's and haven requirement (which isn't that big either if you start with a hidden haven), is the timing.

So all in all, I think not.

[Bandobras Took]

Yes, one problem is that it can make Pallando too strong.

[Bandobras Took]

I just played a game in which I drew an early Strident Spawn -- but I hadn't based the deck on Half-Orc characters.  I put my Half-Orcs in the discard (you're just asking for trouble with Saruman if you stick them straight up in the deck) and didn't draw Great Army until late.

Pallando solves this problem with Stave of Pallando where he can get one faction/turn.  Perhaps they made it Unique strictly for Pallando and screwed Fallen Saruman once again in so doing?

[Bandobras Took]

I played a game last night that convinced me that early Strident Spawn is good to the point of being too powerful, so I'm withdrawing this UEP.