With transfix no longer dropping fight value on a target unless it is channeled I have been considering whether it is better to bring Gildor or a Stormcaller as a support caster/assassin for Rivendell. The elves' high fight mean that they can, with kings guard, reliably take one most heroes and some monsters in a fight but they have a hard time killing. With either call winds or transfix the possibility of a counter attack is negated and I typically feel more comfortable trying two-handed swords and feinting. Plus, with trapping the odds are even better. Six elves have a good chance to take a cave troll down in one turn. Of course, either spell is going to let them deal with mordor trolls or eagles every handily anymore but it is better than nothing. Now the question I have been pondering is which caster and spell is going to be more useful generally. On the side of Gildor we have his being Gildor and all but his transfix is good when the target is already in combat where as call winds takes out the whole fight. Gildor has more will and a point of might to use of a channeled transfix once a game. Thus, a counter mordor trolls. On the side of the stormcaller we have a minor hero with a staff. He is not a great fighter but the staff can help keep a monster down if you get a lucky stun off. Of course that mean he has to go into combat when the beasty is still wide a wake. Call winds does offer a trapping effect without needing to surround, unlike transfix. It can unseat cavalry and it can get rid of banners and supporters if I need to tilt the odds when fighting a hero in the lines too. I recall both spells working very well in the right situations before but I would like to know if anyone has had much experience with the new versions. Which seems like the better choice generally?

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"Draw your sword with a heavy heart, but swing it with a heavy hand"

Sorry for being blunt but I would Arwen !
Nature wrath "protects" you and help you score wounds.

"trying two-handed swords and feinting"
You will never roll a one, only a 2-6. +1 on to wound rolls...
I would use Gildor, as he is only 10 points more and can do a lot more. Combat, a cloak, 4 will, etc...

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By all that you hold dear on this good Earth,
I bid you stand, men of the West!

Your right. I should have written or rather than and.

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"Draw your sword with a heavy heart, but swing it with a heavy hand"

I agree, Gildor is great much more versatile

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Soon Master Elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Dwarves! Roaring fires, malt beer, red meat off the bone!

What's the exact wording there? The same argument used to be given for Serpent Riders and their poisoned lances, but that has I believe now been clarified to say it's about the natural roll of a 1, regardless of the eventual resulting number after modifiers.

Ooh, that's good to know...

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By all that you hold dear on this good Earth,
I bid you stand, men of the West!

I checked the faqs and the wording for both feint and two-handed weapon but I did not see anything that clarifies whether 2-handed weapons can feint. The two-handed weapon entry says that the +1 to wound makes a role of 3 into a role of 4. Whether that mean that the role is a 1 but is counted as when checked against the chart only or if it means that a role of 1 is treated as showing a 2 on the die I can't say. I does look like it might be a bug. The ME Team would have know about it from last edition though so if they meant to fix it I would have figured the new edition would have added an entry under feint to account for it in the same way the clansman's broadsword does.

Also, that you all for your replies concerning Gildor and the stormcaller.

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"Draw your sword with a heavy heart, but swing it with a heavy hand"

Personally, I’d take Círdan, Lindir (only if you’re taking Elrond) and Arwen before either of these and I feel they all bring more to the table than either Gildor or a storm caller do.

I agree. I can't believe how much the stormcaller is been nerfed in this edition

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Conversation/Ideas over painting etc, can check here:
http://www.one-ring.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=29455

Yeah.. stormcallers took a nose dive. So did sentinels.
On a side note, made a thread for the 2-handed weapon.

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By all that you hold dear on this good Earth,
I bid you stand, men of the West!