THE SEIGE OF CAIR ANDROS.

After seven failed attempts with variations on the Elrond/Gandalf/Sporfindel deck I decided to go with something really different.

Player Set Up.

My heroes were Tactics Aragorn, Beregond and Boromir, with 33 threat and a opening hand containing Defender of Rammas, Gondorian Shield, Honor Guard, Knight of Minas Tirith, another Honor Guard and Winged Guardian.

Quest Set Up.

I added The Approach, The Banks and The Citadel to the staging area and shuffled the encounter deck.

ROUND ONE.

I: Resource Phase.

Added resources.

Drew Round Shield.

II: Planning Phase.

Paid 1 from Aragorn and Boromir to play Winged Guardian.

Paid 1 from Beregond to play Gondorian Shield on Boromir.

III: Quest Phase.

Committed Aragorn, Boromir (increasing my threat to 34 to refresh him) and Winged Guardian

Draw #1: The Master's Malice (I selected Tactics so took no damage).

Total Defense: 10.

Total Threat: 6.

Added 4 progress to stage 1B.

IV: Travel Phase.

Travelled to The Banks.

V: Encounter Phase.

No engagements.

VI: Combat Phase.

No combat.

VII: Refresh Phase.

Refreshed all cards.

Increased threat to 35.

ROUND TWO.

I: Resource Phase.

Added resources.

Drew Soldier of Dol Amroth.

II: Planning Phase.

Paid 1 from Aragorn and Boromir to play Soldier of Dol Amroth.

Paid 1 from Beregond to play Defender of Rammas.

III: Quest Phase.

Committed Boromir, Winged Guardian and Defender of Rammas.

Draw #1: Siege Raft, adding it to the staging area and adding 2 damage to The Banks.

Total Defense: 12.

Total Threat: 6.

Added 3 progress to The Banks, exploring it.

Added 3 progress to stage 1B.

IV: Travel Phase.

Travelled to The Approach.

V: Encounter Phase.

Engaged the Siege Raft.

Increased my threat to 36 to refresh Boromir.

VI: Combat Phase.

Added shadow card.

Siege Raft attacked Boromir (shadow card: Orc Assault, adding 2 damage to The Approach and The Citadel), doing no damage.

Aragorn, Boromir and Soldier of Dol Amroth attacked and killed the Siege Raft.

VII: Refresh Phase.

Refreshed all cards.

Increased threat to 37.

ROUND THREE.

I: Resource Phase.

Added resources.

Drew Citadel Plate.

II: Planning Phase.

Played Round Shield on Beregond.

Paid 1 from Beregond and Boromir to play Honor Guard.

III: Quest Phase.

Committed Boromir, Winged Guardian and Defender of Rammas.

Draw #1: Southron Mercenaries, adding it to the staging area.

Total Defense: 12.

Total Threat: 5.

Added 7 progress to The Approach, exploring it.

IV: Travel Phase.

Travelled to The Citadel.

V: Encounter Phase.

Engaged the Southron Mercenaries.

VI: Combat Phase.

The Archery was cancelled by my exhausting the Honor Guard.

Added shadow card.

Southron Mercenaries attacked Beregond (shadow: Orc Vanguard, drew Scourge of Mordor for +1 attack, drew Orc Arbalester for +2, drew Mumak for no effect), doing no damage.

Increased threat to 38 to refresh Boromir.

Exhausted Aragorn and Boromir to kill Southron Mercenaries.

VII: Refresh Phase.

Refreshed all cards.

Increased threat to 39.

ROUND FOUR.

I: Resource Phase.

Added resources.

Drew Soldier of Dol Amroth.

II: Planning Phase.

Paid 2 from Aragorn to play Soldier of Dol Amroth.

Paid 1 from Beregond to play Citadel Plate on Beregond.

III: Quest Phase.

Committed Boromir, Winged Guardian and Defender of Rammas.

Draw #1: Orc Rabble, adding it to the staging area.

Total Defense: 12.

Total Threat: 2.

Added 10 progress to The Citadel.

IV: Travel Phase.

No travel.

V: Encounter Phase.

Engaged the Orc Rabble.

VI: Combat Phase.

Added shadow card.

The Orc Rabble attacked Beregond (shadow: Orc Arsonist for +1, drew Orc Scramblers, doing 2 damage to the Citadel), doing no damage.

Aragorn killed the Orc Rabble.

VII: Refresh Phase.

Refreshed all cards.

Increased threat to 40.

ROUND FIVE.

I: Resource Phase.

Added resources.

Drew White Tower Watchman.

II: Planning Phase.

Paid 2 from Boromir and 1 from Aragorn to play White Tower Watchman.

III: Quest Phase.

Committed Boromir, Winged Guardian and Defender of Rammas.

Draw #1: Orc War Camp, adding it to the staging area.

Total Defense: 12.

Total Threat: 5.

Added 1 progress to The Citadel, exploring it.

Added 4 progress to stage 1B, exploring it.

Stage 5B forced me to draw Orc Assault, which did nothing.

IV: Travel Phase.

Travelled to Orc War Camp.

V: Encounter Phase.

No encounters.

VI: Combat Phase.

No combat.

VII: Refresh Phase.

Refreshed all cards.

Increased threat to 41.

ROUND SIX.

I: Resource Phase.

Added resources.

Drew Legolas.

II: Planning Phase.

Paid 2 from Beregond and 1 from Aragorn and Boromir to play Legolas.

III: Quest Phase.

Committed Aragorn, Beregond, Boromir, Soldier of Dol Amroth x2, Defender of Rammas and Legolas.

Draw #1: The Master's Malice. I selected Tactics and killed the White Tower Watchman.

Total Attack: 13.

Total Threat: 0.

Added 2 progress to Orc War Camp, exploring it.

Added 11 progress to stage 5B.

IV: Travel Phase.

No travel.

V: Encounter Phase.

No encounters.

VI: Combat Phase.

No combat.

VII: Refresh Phase.

Refreshed all cards.

Increased threat to 42.

ROUND SEVEN.

I: Resource Phase.

Added resources.

Drew Winged Guardian.

II: Planning Phase.

Paid 1 from Aragorn, Beregond and Boromir to play Knight of Minas Tirith.

III: Quest Phase.

Committed Aragorn, Beregond, Boromir, Soldier of Dol Amroth x2, Defender of Rammas, Knight of Minas Tirith and Legolas.

Draw #1: Orc Rabble, adding it to the staging area.

Total Attack: 16.

Total Threat: 2.

Added 14 progress stage 5B, exploring it and winning the quest.

My final score was:

Completed Rounds (6): 60.

Total Threat: 42.

Total VP: 6.

Final Score: 96.

After this, I'm thinking it's time to retire my normal deck selection and try out a variant on the deck I used here.

DECK-TESTING: THE MINES OF MORIA (GAME 1).

I decided to use the happy coincidence of working on a new solo deck at about the same time as getting the Moria-based packs to use them for a little fine-tuning.

Player Set Up.

My heroes were Aragorn (Le), Elrond and Glorfindel (Sp), with 30 threat and a opening hand (after a mulligan) containing Arwen Undomiel, Elrond's Counsel, Light of Valinor, Sneak Attack, Steward of Gondor and Unexpected Courage.

Quest Set Up.

I created a deck from sets 1,3, 5, 9, 10, 12 and 14, added The Watcher to the staging area and shuffled the encounter deck.

ROUND ONE.

I: Resource Phase.

I added a resource to each of my heroes, then drew Steed of the North.

II: Planning Phase.

I paid 1 from Glorfindel to play Light of Valinor on himself and paid 1 from Aragorn to play Steed of the North on him.

III: Quest Phase.

I played Elrond's Counsel to buff Aragorn and lower my threat to 27, then committed Aragorn and Glorfindel (without exhausting).

I drew Zigil Mineshaft, adding it to the staging area.

I committed 6 willpower vs 9 threat so put my threat back up to 30.

IV: Travel Phase.

Not unsurprisingly, I travelled to Zigil Mineshaft.

V: Encounter Phase.

No engagements.

VI: Combat Phase.

No combat.

VII: Refresh Phase.

I refreshed everything and increased my threat to 31.

ROUND TWO.

I: Resource Phase.

I added a resource to each of my heroes, then drew Vilya.

II: Planning Phase.

I paid 1 from Aragorn and Elrond to play Vilya on Elrond, then paid 1 from Elrond and Glorfindel to play Arwen Undomiel.

III: Quest Phase.

I committed Aragorn, Arwen (buffing Elrond) and Glorfindel (without exhausting).

I drew Narrow Fissure, adding it to the staging area.

I committed 7 willpower vs 6 threat so added 1 progress to Zigil Mineshaft, then exhausted Elrond and Vilya to reveal Gimli from the top of my deck and put him into play.

IV: Travel Phase.

No travel.

V: Encounter Phase.

No engagements.

VI: Combat Phase.

No combat.

VII: Refresh Phase.

I refreshed everything and increased my threat to 32.

ROUND THREE.

I: Resource Phase.

I added a resource to each of my heroes, then drew Galadriel.

II: Planning Phase.

No planning.

III: Quest Phase.

I committed Aragorn, Arwen (buffing Elrond), Gimli and Glorfindel (without exhausting).

I drew Goblin Tunnels, adding it to the staging area.

I committed 9 willpower vs 8 threat so added 1 progress to Zigil Mineshaft, then exhausted Elrond and Vilya to reveal Ethir Swordsman from my deck and put him into play.

IV: Travel Phase.

No travel.

V: Encounter Phase.

No engagements.

VI: Combat Phase.

No combat.

VII: Refresh Phase.

I refreshed everything and increased my threat to 33.

ROUND FOUR.

I: Resource Phase.

I added a resource to each of my heroes, then drew Hasty Stroke.

II: Planning Phase.

I paid 2 from Aragorn to play Steward of Gondor on him, exhausted SoG to give Aragorn 2 resources, paid 2 from Glorfindel to play Unexpected Courage on Elrond and paid 2 from Aragorn and 1 from Elrond to play Galadriel (searching Elrond's Counsel, Cloak of Lorien, Sneak Attack, A Test Of Will and Galadriel, attaching Cloak of Lorien to Elrond and shuffling the rest back into my deck).

III: Quest Phase.

I committed Aragorn, Arwen (buffing Elrond), Ethir Swordsman, Galadriel, Gimli and Glorfindel (without exhausting).

I drew Swarming Goblins, adding them to the staging area (and refreshing Gimli).

I committed 14 willpower vs 9 threat so added 3 progress to Zigil Mineshaft, exploring it, and added 2 progress to stage 1B.

IV: Travel Phase.

I opted to risk travelling to Narrow Fissure (inflicting 1 damage on Aragorn).

V: Encounter Phase.

I engaged the Swarming Goblins, refreshing Aragorn.

VI: Combat Phase.

After adding a shadow card, the Swarming Goblins attacked Elrond (shadow: Dark and Dreadful, I was forced to discard Sneak Attack from my hand), doing no damage.

Aragorn attacked back, killing the Swarming Goblins before I refreshed Elrond with Unexpected Courage, then exhausted Elrond and Vilya to reveal Arwen Undomiel, then put her on the bottom of my deck.

VII: Refresh Phase.

I discarded Galadriel, refreshed everything and increased my threat to 34.

ROUND FIVE.

I: Resource Phase.

I added a resource to each of my heroes, then drew Vilya.

II: Planning Phase.

I exhausted SoG to give Aragorn 2 resources.

III: Quest Phase.

I committed Aragorn, Arwen (buffing Elrond), Ethir Swordsman, Gimli and Glorfindel (without exhausting).

I drew Dark And Dreadful (discarding Vilya from my hand and adding 2 threat).

I committed 11 willpower vs 8 threat so added 3 progress to Narrow Fissure, exploring it.

IV: Travel Phase.

I travelled to Goblin Tunnel, then exhausted Elrond and Vilya to reveal Warden of Healing and put it into play before exhausting the Warden of Healing to heal the damage on Aragorn.

V: Encounter Phase.

No engagements.

VI: Combat Phase.

No combat.

VII: Refresh Phase.

I refreshed everything and increased my threat to 35.

ROUND SIX.

I: Resource Phase.

I added a resource to each of my heroes, then drew Imladris Stargazer.

II: Planning Phase.

I exhausted SoG to give Aragorn 2 resources, then paid 1 from Elrond and Glorfindel to play Imladris Stargazer.

III: Quest Phase.

I committed Aragorn, Arwen (buffing Elrond), Ethir Swordsman, Gimli and Glorfindel (without exhausting).

I drew Hidden Threat (searching Great Cave-Troll, Goblin Archer, Massing In The Deep, Many-Pillared Hall and another Many-Pillared Hall, randomly selected an eligible card and placed it under stage 1B).

I committed 11 willpower vs 4 threat so added 6 progress to Goblin Tunnels, exploring it (I added Swarming Goblins and the Swarming Goblins in the discard pile to the staging area and shuffled the encounter deck) and added 1 progress to stage 1B.

Hidded Threat triggered, revealing Many-Pillared Hall and adding it to the staging area.

IV: Travel Phase.

I travelled to Many-Pillared Hall.

V: Encounter Phase.

I was forced to engage both Swarming Goblins (refreshing Aragorn).

VI: Combat Phase.

After adding shadow cards the first Swarming Goblins attacked Elrond (shadow: Goblin Archer, for no effect), doing no damage.

I exhausted Unexpected Courage to refresh Elrond before the second Swarming Goblins attacked Elrond (shadow: Goblin Follower, for no effect), doing no damage.

In response, Aragorn and Glorfindel each killed a Swarming Goblins before I exhausted Imladris Stargazer to rearrange the top of my deck.

VII: Refresh Phase.

I refreshed everything and increased my threat to 36.

ROUND SEVEN.

I: Resource Phase.

I added a resource to each of my heroes, then drew Celebrian's Stone.

II: Planning Phase.

I exhausted SoG to give Aragorn 2 resources and paid 2 from Aragorn to play Celebrian's Stone on him.

III: Quest Phase.

I committed Aragorn, Arwen (buffing Elrond), Ethir Swordsman, Gimli and Glorfindel (without exhausting).

I drew another Many-Pillared Hall, adding it to the staging area.

I committed 13 willpower vs 7 threat so added 4 progress to Many-Pillared Hall, exploring it, and added 2 progress to stage 1B. Unfortunately, this meant that I was going to be attacked by the Watcher this round.

IV: Travel Phase.

I travelled to Many-Pillared Hall.

V: Encounter Phase.

No engagements.

VI: Combat Phase.

After adding shadow cards the Watcher attacked Elrond (shadow: Fouled Well, for no effect), doing no damage.

Glorfindel struck back, doing 2 damage to the Watcher before I exhausted Imladris Stargazer to rearrange the top of my deck, exhausted Unexpected Courage to refresh Elrond and exhausted Elrond and Vilya to reveal Ethir Swordsman and put him into play.

VII: Refresh Phase.

I refreshed everything and increased my threat to 37.

ROUND EIGHT.

I: Resource Phase.

I added a resource to each of my heroes, then drew Ethir Swordsman.

II: Planning Phase.

I exhausted SoG to give Aragorn 2 resources and paid 2 from Elrond to play Ethir Swordsman.

III: Quest Phase.

I committed Arwen (buffing Elrond) and Ethir Swordsman x3 and Glorfindel (without exhausting).

I drew Shadow of Fear, then placed it on Aragorn.

I committed 17 willpower vs 0 threat so added 4 progress to Many-Pillared Hall, exploring it, and added 13 progress to stage 1B.

IV: Travel Phase.

No travel.

V: Encounter Phase.

No engagements.

VI: Combat Phase.

After adding shadow cards the Watcher attacked Elrond (shadow: Spider-Burrow, for no effect), doing no damage.

Aragorn, Gimli and Glorfindel struck back, defeating the Watcher and flipping it to Chamber of Mazarbul. This finished stage 1B and advanced to stage 2A (which searched Narrow Fissure, Stairs of Nain, Great Cave-Troll, Spider Broodling and another Spider Broodling, added a Spider Broodling to the staging area and shuffled the rest back into the encounter deck). Stage 2B was The Long Dark Of Moria which forced me to add a Narrow Fissure to the staging area and, once again, shuffle the encounter deck).

I refreshed Elrond with Unexpected Courage, then exhausted Elrond and Vilya to reveal a Warden of Helm's Deep and put it into play.

VII: Refresh Phase.

I refreshed everything and increased my threat to 38.

ROUND NINE.

I: Resource Phase.

I added a resource to each of my heroes, then drew Elrond's Counsel.

II: Planning Phase.

I exhausted SoG to give Aragorn 2 resources.

III: Quest Phase.

I committed Arwen (buffing Elrond) and Ethir Swordsman x3 and Glorfindel (without exhausting).

I drew Cave In, which did nothing but surge to Goblin Follower, which was added to the staging area.

I committed 17 willpower vs 8 threat so added 9 progress to stage 2B.

IV: Travel Phase.

I added 1 damage to Glorfindel to travel to Narrow Fissure.

V: Encounter Phase.

I engaged the Spider Broodling (removing 2 progress from stage 2B) and Goblin Follower.

VI: Combat Phase.

After adding shadow cards the Spider Broodling attacked Elrond (shadow: Swarming Goblins, for no effect), doing no damage.

The Goblin Follower attacked the Warden of Helm's Deep (shadow: Werewolf, for no effect), doing no damage.

Aragorn struck down the Spider Broodling before Glorfindel killed the Goblin Follower.

I exhausted the Imladris Stargazer to arrange the top of my deck, refreshed Elrond with Unexpected Courage, then exhausted Elrond and Vilya to reveal The Galadhrim's Greeting and lower my threat to 32.

VII: Refresh Phase.

I refreshed everything and increased my threat to 33.

ROUND TEN.

I: Resource Phase.

I added a resource to each of my heroes, then drew Faramir (Le)

II: Planning Phase.

I exhausted SoG to give Aragorn 2 resources and paid 4 from Aragorn to play Faramir..

III: Quest Phase.

I exhausted Faramir to buff everyone, then committed Arwen (buffing Elrond) and Ethir Swordsman x3 and Glorfindel (without exhausting).

I drew Grabbed By Spiders, which did nothing but surge to Many-Pillared Hall, which was added to the staging area.

I committed 22 willpower vs 5 threat so added 3 progress to Narrow Fissure, exploring it, and added 14 progress to stage 2B, exploring it. Stage 3A searched Stairs of Nain, Werewolf, Savage Werewolf, Great Cave-Troll and Massing In The Deep, added Great Cave-Troll to the staging area and shuffled the encounter deck). Stage 3B was Drums In The Deep, I pulled 3 copies of Swarming Goblins from the encounter discard pile and shuffled the encounter deck.

IV: Travel Phase.

I discarded Elrond's Counsel to travel to Chamber of Mazarbul.

V: Encounter Phase.

I engaged all three Swarming Goblins.

VI: Combat Phase.

After adding shadow cards the first Swarming Goblins attacked Elrond (shadow: Crumbling Ruin, I exhausted the Imladris Stargazer), doing no damage.

I exhausted Unexpected Courage to refresh Elrond before the second Swarming Goblins attacked him (shadow: Goblin Archer, for no effect), doing no damage.

The third Swarming Goblins made an undefended attack on Aragorn (shadow: Hidden Threat, doing nothing), doing 2 damage.

Aragorn killed 1 Swarming Goblin, Glorfindel killed the next and Gimli and the Warden of Helm's Deep finished off the last before the Warden of Healing healed the damage on Aragorrn and Glorfindel.

VII: Refresh Phase.

I refreshed everything and increased my threat to 36.

ROUND ELEVEN.

I: Resource Phase.

I added a resource to each of my heroes, then drew Gandalf (Core).

II: Planning Phase.

I exhausted SoG to give Aragorn 2 resources and paid 5 from Aragorn to play Gandalf (lowering my threat to 31).

III: Quest Phase.

I exhausted Faramir to buff everyone, then committed Arwen (buffing Elrond), Ethir Swordsman x3, Glorfindel (without exhausting) Imladris Stargazer and Warden of Healing.

I drew Dark and Dreadful (discarding Hasty Stroke and adding 1 to the total threat).

I committed 25 willpower vs 4 threat so added 5 progress to Chamber of Mazarbul, exploring it, and 16 progress to stage 3B.

IV: Travel Phase.

I travelled to Many-Pillarred Hall.

V: Encounter Phase.

I engaged the Great Cave-Troll.

VI: Combat Phase.

After adding shadow cards the Great Cave-Troll attacked Elrond (shadow: Cave In, for no effect), doing 1 damage.

Aragorn, Gandalf, Gimli and Glorfindel then killed the Great Cave-Troll, winning the game.

In the end my final score was:

Completed Rounds (10): 100.

Final Threat: 31.

Damage on Heroes: 1 on Elrond.

Final Score: 132.