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Over the course of playing with a few friends, something odd came up, havent actually thought of it: Men from Harrowdale Alternative Cultural Virtue: Ominous Blessing.

The passage in question:

"Whenever you make a die roll and obtain an Sauron result, you may turn it into a Gandalf result instead by gaining a Shadow point. The circumstances surrounding this are up to you to describe, but should involve whenever possible a stroke of misfortune befalling others and favouring you instead."

How would you interpret this? There are a GREAT deal of things in TOR that depend on getting a Gandalf. Including, but not limited to, Horsetail Helm, a Reward that gives bonus dice depending on getting a Gandalf. Then there's piercing shots and the like... And even Fey Mood, the Rohan Cultural Blessing!

The question is: If a Rider rolls a Sauron and takes a temp Shadow point, opting to use Ominous Blessing (which doesnt explicitly state the misfortune has to happen to an ally, could be an enemy...), does that 'artificial' Gandalf count as an actual rolled one or not? Or is there no difference? How about the original Sauron? Will the Eye Awareness rise or not?

I'd play it as if you actually rolled a Gandalf.

Every weapon attack, for instance, will turn into an Edge.
Travel Hazards will be avoided.
Eye Awareness won't rise.
...

The temptation to use it "just one more time" will be sooo strong...

Falenthal wrote:I'd play it as if you actually rolled a Gandalf.

Every weapon attack, for instance, will turn into an Edge.
Travel Hazards will be avoided.
Eye Awareness won't rise.
...

The temptation to use it "just one more time" will be sooo strong...

Agreed. I think it's a Gandalf in all the ways that count.

True, it does invoke the whole 'downward spiral' of Hope, just like how Stiff Neck does with 'Just a bit more bonuses! Just a bit! Just a MADNESS!' Its still a very good deal though, but then again, the stuff that could be terrifying in combination with that is on other cultures, and they dont have access to this, so it's fine. That being said, it does result in much quicker fights, I think. That poor troll never stood a chance...

Falenthal wrote:I'd play it as if you actually rolled a Gandalf.

Every weapon attack, for instance, will turn into an Edge.
Travel Hazards will be avoided.
Eye Awareness won't rise.
...

The temptation to use it "just one more time" will be sooo strong...

You will rise in Eye Awareness regardless, because of the Temp Shadow point...

Indur Dawndeath wrote:

Falenthal wrote:I'd play it as if you actually rolled a Gandalf.

Every weapon attack, for instance, will turn into an Edge.
Travel Hazards will be avoided.
Eye Awareness won't rise.
...

The temptation to use it "just one more time" will be sooo strong...

You will rise in Eye Awareness regardless, because of the Temp Shadow point...

Well, only outside of combat. Then again, the Awareness only increases due to Saurons outside of combat, too...