Fellowship moving on the Mordor Track

[phatAl]

I was hoping someone could clarify for me whether it is possible for the fellowship to move multiple times on the Mordor track in a single turn? Before the fellowship reach Mordor there is a siginificant and increasing dis-incentive to move multiple times due to the increased likelihood of a successful hunt. Once the Mordor track is started, however, every move results in a draw of a hunt tile regardless, so there is no reason not to move as much as possible assuming this is allowed?

The reason I ask is because with mildly fortuitous dice rolls (and use of all three elven rings) it is very possible for the FP player to run the entire Mordor track in two or even one turn(s), which leaves the SA player with little time to respond, at which time the game is decided almost entirely by the luck of the draws from the hunt pool for each move made.

[Skywalker]

phatAl said:

I was hoping someone could clarify for me whether it is possible for the fellowship to move multiple times on the Mordor track in a single turn? Before the fellowship reach Mordor there is a siginificant and increasing dis-incentive to move multiple times due to the increased likelihood of a successful hunt. Once the Mordor track is started, however, every move results in a draw of a hunt tile regardless, so there is no reason not to move as much as possible assuming this is allowed?

When on the Mordor track each dice used to move the FSP is still added to the Hunt Box. When you draw an Eye Tile in Mordor, you take Corruption equal to the dice in the Hunt Box including the FP dice use to move the FSP.

So each move after the first in single turn increases the potential Corruption damage from an Eye Tile by 1.

[eXistenZ]

phatAl said:

Once the Mordor track is started, however, every move results in a draw of a hunt tile regardless, so there is no reason not to move as much as possible assuming this is allowed?

The reason I ask is because with mildly fortuitous dice rolls (and use of all three elven rings) it is very possible for the FP player to run the entire Mordor track in two or even one turn(s), which leaves the SA player with little time to respond, at which time the game is decided almost entirely by the luck of the draws from the hunt pool for each move made.

I think this is simply a matter of strategy. In the last game I played (as a SP) the company entered Mordor with Gollum as guide ad 0 corruption. I won the game in a single turn drawing two 3's tiles and an eye. Otherwise, once the company won drawing a couple of 0's and using healing event cards. You're right, when the company's in Mordor much depends on the tiles drawing, but you may have more chances keeping companions with you and saving healing cards for the final rush. On the other hand it must be allowed multiple movement into Mordor... don't forget that SP may also get a military victory (usually not so far when the company's in Mordor), so each step closer to Mount Doom is keeping SP one step (or better one die) further from military victory!

[nigel]

phatAl said:

Once the Mordor track is started, however, every move results in a draw of a hunt tile regardless, so there is no reason not to move as much as possible assuming this is allowed?

The reason I ask is because with mildly fortuitous dice rolls (and use of all three elven rings) it is very possible for the FP player to run the entire Mordor track in two or even one turn(s), which leaves the SA player with little time to respond, at which time the game is decided almost entirely by the luck of the draws from the hunt pool for each move made.

Several points:

• You can move multiple times in mordor, but each time you move the character die is added to the hunt dice (bit like outside mordor) but this time if an 'Eye' is drawn the character dice in the hunt box count as eye dice - so each time you move after the first you're increasing corruption from an Eye tile by 1
  
• You can only move if the fellowship is hidden - a 'reveal icon' will let the fellowship advance for that tile draw but then you will have to hide before you can move again (check Gollum's ability - he really helps in Mordor)
  
• You can only use one Elven ring a turn
  
• Once you're in Mordor, chances are you won't have many companions which means the Shadow Player can't allocate many to the hunt, leaving more for 'army' type actions, also the Mouth of Sauron is probably going to enter play, giving another die and also the ability to change a less useful muster result into an army result - which all means the Shadow will really speed up on the military side

My last point is an element of the design I really love - the game builds to a climatic finish as the Fellowship reaches Mordor, with Strongholds falling fast etc, I like games that build to a big finish rather than just 'end'.

Nigel

[phatAl]

Thanks for all the great feedback guys! It is easy to miss some important rules in the first few playings, and they can all effect the balance (I had also forgotten about being able to bring the Mouth of Sauron into play as soon as the fellowship is on the Mordor track for example).

I will look forward to my next game, and you are right about it being great that it builds to a climatic finish ... although that is why I was a little dissappointed that it finished so quickly in the game we played ... with the correct playing of all the rules mentioned here, however, things should definitely be improved!