Rule of 6
The Rule of 6 is an informal game term, as opposed to the actual game rules of Rule of 4 and Rule of 9. There is a soft limit of less than six Free Peoples companions, due to the existence of Shadow cards like Úlairë Enquëa, Lieutenant of Morgul (1U231)
and Greed (1R125)
which harshly punish Fellowships of six or more characters. "Shotgun Enquea" and other similar cards are a strong incentive to never have more than five companions out at a time.
This is however a 'rule of thumb' and not a hard and fast game rule. If you can weather the setbacks from these Shadow cards, you can simply carry on with a large Fellowship (as is often done with Ent decks). Also, while most Shadow cards of this sort target six or more companions, some instead spot five or more (e.g. Savagery to Match Their Numbers (1R139)
and Pitiless Orc (12U99)
) and a few spot seven or more (e.g. The Number Must Be Few (1U260)
).
Example cards
- Úlairë Enquëa, Lieutenant of Morgul (1U231)
- Greed (1R125)
- Unending Life (12C181)
- Úlairë Cantëa, Black Assassin (12R174)
