Site Control

Site Control

Site control is a mechanic that thematically represents the Shadow Player occupying or overrunning a location. The Comprehensive Rules 4.1 state:

"Shadow players may use effects to take control of sites on the adventure path. When you take control of a site, place that site in your support area, lengthwise.

A controlled site, once placed in a player's support area, is no longer a site on the adventure path.

A Shadow player may only take control of a site on the adventure path if all player markers are on sites with higher site numbers.

When all player markers are at site 2 or higher, you may take control of site 1. When a Shadow player takes control of a site, the site on the adventure path with the lowest site number must be selected.

An opponent controls site 1 and all player markers are at site 3 or higher, so you must take control of site 2. The game text of a controlled site cannot be used by any player. Exception: The keywords of a controlled site still apply.

A player may "control a battleground." When your opponent controls a site from your adventure deck, it's still your site. Some cards can replace a controlled site. Move any cards stacked on the site being replaced to the new site, then return the old site to its owner's adventure deck."

This mechanic was introduced in The Two Towers and is a playable mechanic in Isengard, Sauron(specifically the besieger subculture), Dunland, Men, and Uruk-Hai. The Raider culture has a few cards that deal with site control, but these are few and far between and only one, Southron Archer (4R245) , is of any real worth.

The counter to controlling sites would be Liberating them. Certain Free Peoples cultures are adept at this, namely Elven and Gondor, with That Is No Orc Horn (5C14) and Elendil, The Tall (9R+32) , respectively.