| May 10, 1999 | |||||||||
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Power: 17
This card can really provide a Rage boost under the proper conditions. Gaining a point of Rage for each point of Gnosis over their opponent is useful in the obvious condition where you use a high Gnosis character and hunt low Gnosis targets. Combine it with other Rage boosters, and you could be looking at gigantic Rage pools. You'll also find this useful with Theurge characters who do not have big Rage pools, but impressive Gnosis pools. Way back at 1998's DragonCon sealed deck, I managed to more than double Talks-to-Spirits' (R:7, G:8) Rage in a few combats.
Usability: 20
Well, with the requirement simply Garou, every deck could use this, since there is no current way to build a deck without at least one Garou. The only way this card might not fit is if you play with low Gnosis characters.
Limitations: 15
Well, the first balancing factor should be Gnosis cost, but to use this card effectively, you're probably already dealing with a character in the upper ranges of Gnosis value. If you've already got 8 Gnosis, that still gives you 5 Gnosis with which to work. With a requirement of Garou, only the shapeshifters won't be able to use it, so there's no real restriction there. There is a saving limitation in that the opponent cannot be a human. So this card won't find much use in a Victim hunter deck, nor against Allies. Lastly, you have to plan carefully to get the most use out of it. If there are no lower Gnosis targets, this card won't help much. Overall, a little too powerful for the limits, but not a runaway card, considering the effects.
Decks: 20
Right off the bat, the deck ideas started rolling. It should play a part in any Theurge deck, as they tend to have the higher Gnosis, like Annie Quickhand. Even better, build an Umbra Battlefield deck using Uktena and Naomi. Choose a low-Gnosis battlefield target like Boot Hill. Against the Wraiths (G:4) who defend it, Naomi (R:10 in the Umbra; G:10) is looking at a Rage of 16 before any other effects! Toss the Gnosis Blade in a defense deck with Sipple the Unclean, and Sipple gets to use the card twice. Ouch. Build a deck based on Rage dominance, and you get another source of Rage - it comes in handy when using a Combat card like Laugh at Pain, or just the big cards like Rend or Crush.
Flavor: 19
Good artistry. But then, we come to expect it from Brian LeBlanc, who seems to have the grasp of Werewolf imagery. It's a blade, it has that tribal feel, it has glyphs and a wolf's head. Good job. The card title is highly appropriate, matching art, effect, and even flavor text. Nice quote, having a double meaning - related to the card effect and also the mental and political shenanigans the Shadow Lords have a reputation for. Overall, nice card flavor. All aspects of the card mesh together nicely. How it fits into the story itself is a little vague, it seems to be mostly a support card inserted for card ability. But the story isn't lessened by its presence, either. Great job overall.