New Keywords in Lost Lands: Shroud and Transform

[Veles]

Hi all!

We are adding few new abilities in this last batch of Lost Lands set and I wanted to take an opportunity to summarize what they are all about.

Shroud

Shroud is a new passive ability with keyword. Definition of shroud is: When hero or ally with shroud is targeted by an opposing ability, that ability has no effect and that hero or ally loses shroud.

Example of an ally with shroud is Aldreides the Aged:



Shroud is meant to work as in built temporary protection against abilities. You can kill the ally in combat like any other ally. Players can play around shroud without having specific tech by using cheaper abilities to remove shroud before using their actual ally removal. For example, you can use ping from Death Mage Thaddeus, both on summon and his active while he is in play. It will, however, stop the first use of stuff like hero ability, Fireball, Crippling Blow, on summon targeted abilities like Layarian Seductress and Crusher of the Weak and so on. Multitarget abilities like Zaladar's hero ability or Lighting Strike are canceled in their entirety. That goes for Banebow as well because shroud doesn't cancel damage from Banebow's ability, but ability itself. It won’t protect the ally nor be removed by untargeted abilities like Supernova or Forgotten Horror's on summon ability. Unless it is specified otherwise on the card, once shroud is removed, it is gone for good.

You can watch Aldreides reveal video where we talk more about shroud and Aldreides himself:

[Veles]

Transform

Transform = This artifact becomes an Aldmor ally with 3 base attack, 3 health and no abilities.



We are adding several artifacts that will have this effect of changing card types. From lore perspective they are Aldmor Golems. Golems are mostly mechanical beings that are infused with the souls of ancient fallen Aldmor warriors. They were mentioned in Ipshtuer lore bit, but we already have one in the game and it is Clockwork Soldier. Like Clockwork Soldier, all of them will have in common the ability to change their type from artifact to an ally. Although, how that change happens will be different from card to card and it can, but not necessary, bring additional abilities to the card.

Clockwork Soldier will require a rewording, but it will keep the same function.

1SE: If Clockwork Soldier is an artifact, it is transformed and gains "While Clockwork Soldier is an ally, it is returned to play as an artifact when killed".

I guess you can say Golems have 2 modes. One "passive" mode while they are artifacts and "active" mode while they are allies. Another interesting lore bit is that Barrabus is special case of Golem that has been tampered with (hence Tainted in his name) and who is always "active".

You can watch a video where we spoiled Scrap Cannoneer and discuss more about transform ability.



A little disclaimer is that all of these new cards are still in testing and are open for further balance changes. I do hope that eventually they will bring about new strategies to the game and update existing ones.

Cheers!

[Chuck Morrison]

I think allies with shroud need their body to be adjusted, 6cc 3/8 is just too much. 3/6 would be better but still very strong in my opinion. Also consider that it's a neutral ally (therefore theoretically a bit weaker than faction- or class-restricted allies) and that it has more than just the shroud as passive and active abilities. Way too much stuff for a 3/8.

[Gondorian]

Clockwork Soldier new wording won’t need “If Clockwork Soldier is an artifact” as all abilities are lost when it becomes the ally in line with “transforms” definition.

I still don’t like that the stats and Aldmor alignment are part of the definition of “transforms” but hey you can always update it later if you change your mind.