...And when you have two Goblin Snipers in the staging area at the same time - especially if you don't have any direct damage/attacking the staging area options.

Coming from a guy with 14 years of marriage to a very understanding and gamer friendly wife, don't get your hopes up on a playing partner. She will likely play because she loves you. But unless she's really into games in her own right, it's not going to happen. My wife is a hardcore Star Trek fan. She could not even care one bit for any Star Trek game I brought her. She will play them to humor me and because she know I got them thinking of her, but it is not her thing.

Actually I just remembered another question: there is a card (sorry can't remember name but must be an ally) that allows you to engage an enemy when it is played. Does this mean that you initiate an attack against it straight away (ala Dunhere) or that you just bring it from the staging area to your side in front of your heroes?

The latter. You only get to attack enemies after they attack you in the combat phase (unless a card effect specifically allows you to make an attack). Also the card you're thinking of is Son of Arnor.

Ah thats a shame. I guess it would have cost a lot more resources if that were the case. Thanks for the examples of uses for Son of Arnor people. Much appreciated.

Goblin King, I know what you mean. That is my niggling fear too. I have one hope in that we regularly play a game of some sort on the weekend. Hoping the complexity of this is offset by the awesome theme and gameplay!

...And when you have two Goblin Snipers in the staging area at the same time - especially if you don't have any direct damage/attacking the staging area options.

Now thats a good point, as each sniper would keep the other from being selectively engaged during combat phase gosh thats fiendish. So Son of Arnor, Gandalf or staging-damage would be the only options. Very good point you made there.

Red-Die, dont worry, i play this game completely solo and love it. At later dates I expect to get new fun from playing two handed. So even if she tires of it, you will not be stopped from enjoying this game (and rheres always other stuff you and wife can do together.... not meaning to sound rude there).

I have so many games in my collection, card, board and tabletop. Almost all of them need multiple players so i am very restricted on when i can get a chance/opponent to play. The vwry few that have solo rules almost all feel like the solo rules were an afterthought of how the game could be squeezed into a sub-standard solo version. Lotr lcg is probably the only game ive had that feels like solo play was included as a design variant from day-1. Sure 2/3/4 player will play out differently, but solo play doesnt feel forced or tacked-on. It feels like a core integral game aspect and purpose-designed.

As a result, if i have spare time, i dont need another pkayer, i can just play. Its awesome, and a factor that attracted me to this game. I love it.

So its great if she plays, but you can still enjoy solo if she doesnt

Haha! Yes we can do other things together. There are actually a load of light board and card games we play so no worries there. It would just be *nice* to share a complex game experience.

Speaking of playing solo - I got Dead Marshes in the post yesterday and wow! Boromir seems excellent! I can really imagine him selling his life dearly to end a quest. Great stuff. Can't wait to try it out. Only downside is I'm not a fan of Tactics (might be okay 2 player) but I could dual-deck Boromir into another another sphere. Not sure on the other cards in the AP, as I do not yet have experience with deck building but I am sure there are some nice ones there.

Any advice on which AP to get next? I'll stick with Shadows of Mirkwood cycle and buy all packs eventually before moving on. I just have Journey to Rhosgobel and Dead Marshes. I probably won't buy anything for a while as I havne't used these yet but its nice to plan.

Well, Journey to Rohsgobel I found needed careful specific deck construction. Dead Marshes I am only just about to play.

Personally, ive enjoyed playing in order. I would say get Hunt for Gollum next. Not just because it is first, but because when I played that scenario I found that I won it more often than I lost it, which was nice after the losses of anduin and dol-guldur, but each of those wins I also felt I had to work for, so it was a good sense of achievement.

At the same time, hunt/gollum felt it had a good all round spread of strategy, questing, fighting etc.. wheras some of the other Mirkwood packs can quite concentrate on one main aspect.

So i would say get Hunt/Gollum next.

The only success I've had with my wife involving a constructible deck game involved removing the construction aspect.

This was years ago when I was a competitive player in Legend of the Five Rings CCG.

I built her a deck, which she learned how to play, and enjoyed but then she never wanted to change it.

Basically, I had to construct a deck to play against her, one that is on the same power level and then leave both decks static.

We still have those two decks and play periodically. I quit L5R about a decade ago. Those two decks are now the only cards I own from the game.

Honestly we have a much better time just playing boardgames together. She also has a lady's Mah Jongg group and plays in tournaments so its not like she isn't a gamer.

I have my LotR collection and I play solo and enjoy deck building as a solitary activity. Deck building games are a big investment in time to learn. They can be frustrating for someone being dropped into them. Why don't you set up a solitaire game and invite her to come watch your play through. Show her the hero cards. Who are her favorite heroes from the movies or books? Show her those cards that you have, explain how their abilities work.

If she has no real interest, she will let you know.

Well, Journey to Rohsgobel I found needed careful specific deck construction. Dead Marshes I am only just about to play.

Personally, ive enjoyed playing in order. I would say get Hunt for Gollum next. Not just because it is first, but because when I played that scenario I found that I won it more often than I lost it, which was nice after the losses of anduin and dol-guldur, but each of those wins I also felt I had to work for, so it was a good sense of achievement.

At the same time, hunt/gollum felt it had a good all round spread of strategy, questing, fighting etc.. wheras some of the other Mirkwood packs can quite concentrate on one main aspect.

So i would say get Hunt/Gollum next.

Thanks Alex, I will get Hunt for Gollum next. Makes perfect sense really! Sounds like it will be interesting too. I haven't even tried anduin or dol-guldur yet so will be a while anyway.

The only success I've had with my wife involving a constructible deck game involved removing the construction aspect.

This was years ago when I was a competitive player in Legend of the Five Rings CCG.

I built her a deck, which she learned how to play, and enjoyed but then she never wanted to change it.

Basically, I had to construct a deck to play against her, one that is on the same power level and then leave both decks static.

We still have those two decks and play periodically. I quit L5R about a decade ago. Those two decks are now the only cards I own from the game.

Honestly we have a much better time just playing boardgames together. She also has a lady's Mah Jongg group and plays in tournaments so its not like she isn't a gamer.

I have my LotR collection and I play solo and enjoy deck building as a solitary activity. Deck building games are a big investment in time to learn. They can be frustrating for someone being dropped into them. Why don't you set up a solitaire game and invite her to come watch your play through. Show her the hero cards. Who are her favorite heroes from the movies or books? Show her those cards that you have, explain how their abilities work.

If she has no real interest, she will let you know.

Okay so we played this together for the first time last night...

Hmmm. How to describe the outcome? Not dead in the water but not exactly sensational. It didn't help that I said 'Oh it'll only take half an hour then we can watch Dare Devil." Whoops. 30 mins later and we had just done the 1B. I think if we had carried on then it would have flown by as 2B is nothing and 3 is potentially really quick if you get Angoliants Spawn (she had mono tactics deck).

Her literal words were: "Why can't the cards just say +1 attack / +2 defense or something?"

Yeah, card games can be a bit overwhelming with their text. Dang it.

She definitely liked the theme and I think she got a kick from coming to my rescue when I was taking about to become brown bread from a king spider, dol guldur orcs and a forest spider (I used mono lore and had higher threat!). A timely use of rain of arrows(?) and Legolas' ranged was awesome. (Not that I probably would have died as I had snare trap and healing cards in hand but shhh).

She managed to draw two dwarven axes right from the initial set up draw and then citadel plate 2 turns later which I advised to put onto Gimli to make him godlike but funnily enough he never took any damage.

All in all in *might* make a return to games night but I do not hold my breath!

Goblin King, can you kindly tell me if the ladies Mahjongg is online or local? My wife loves Mahjongg!

I cant remember but dwarvern axe and citadel plate may be restricted... so two allowed, so two axes and a plate would be one too many (others correct my newbyness if wrong).

I think the game xan be slow to get into, so she may not grab it... but you sound like you have and soloness means much adventures, keep with it.

Man you are going yo be slaughtered by anduin and goldur.... but with time you will master anduin (probably not so mych guldur, i cant do that one at all).

This game is awesome, hang on to it!!

Yes dwarven axe and citadel plate are both restricted.. its one of the reasons why the dunedain Signals are so useful... not being restricted

You confirm something about my experiance. The most important thing when playing with casual players is making sure the game doesn't take very long. That's the main reason to be familiar with the quest and also avoid potentially long or complicated quests. For instance, escape from Moria is a brutal quest to throw on a newb unless you know exactly how to play it. I have gone into that quest unprepared and have it suddenly balloon into over an hour of play time. An experiance like that just kills any interest in playing again. In fact, even if she is having fun and ASKS to play another quest, turn her down unless you KNOW it will turn out well. That's my advice, from similar situations.

Escape from Moriarty?

Has FFG released a new Sherlock Holmes crossover scenario for LotR? ;-)

I use my smartphone to post and some pretty strange autocorrects come out. I usually catch and fix them, but a few slip through :-)

You confirm something about my experiance. The most important thing when playing with casual players is making sure the game doesn't take very long. That's the main reason to be familiar with the quest and also avoid potentially long or complicated quests. For instance, escape from Moria is a brutal quest to throw on a newb unless you know exactly how to play it. I have gone into that quest unprepared and have it suddenly balloon into over an hour of play time. An experiance like that just kills any interest in playing again. In fact, even if she is having fun and ASKS to play another quest, turn her down unless you KNOW it will turn out well. That's my advice, from similar situations.

I love auto-corrects!! Especially reading other peoples at least!

...and failing that create Dr Watson and Sherlock intervention cards... that get played after 30 mins ;P

Ah, I thought restricted meant you could only have up to 2 on one character? In our case Gimli just had citadel plate and dwarven axe. The other axe was with Thalin.

So does restricted mean only 2 for your entire party? If so that seems harsh!

Really looking forward to trying Anduin. I might experiment dual deck too. Lore with either Spirit or Leadership I think.

You are correct. Restricted is a per character limit. It may have been unclear that you meant the attachments were split between Gimli and Thalin in the initial post, but what you just said is 100% by the book.

Many thanks entMoot. I probably wasn't very clear originally.

Phew! I think I would have struggled if this were not the case. In fact I struggle anyway but thats by the by (have yet to add shadow effects). Can't wait to get kicked by Anduin. Will prob do Journey through mirkwood with shadow effects first maybe.

Which deck best combo's with Lore? I like spirit for the anti shadow effects/treachery cards but I think Leadership is generally more appealing. Maybe try Aragorn with Spirit/Lore deck but add in Celebrian's Stone. Although I'm think that might be too risky with just one core copy. Hmmm.

Many thanks entMoot. I probably wasn't very clear originally.

Phew! I think I would have struggled if this were not the case. In fact I struggle anyway but thats by the by (have yet to add shadow effects). Can't wait to get kicked by Anduin. Will prob do Journey through mirkwood with shadow effects first maybe.

Which deck best combo's with Lore? I like spirit for the anti shadow effects/treachery cards but I think Leadership is generally more appealing. Maybe try Aragorn with Spirit/Lore deck but add in Celebrian's Stone. Although I'm think that might be too risky with just one core copy. Hmmm.

Apologies about the misunderstanding with the restricted cards, my bad

As to teaming up, eek, my own newbie experience is that usually I play a tri-sphere deck and still end up wanting cards from the other sphere, they all are so well defined with their own strengths. One scenario (wont say which) I used songs to get an extra sphere-icon so I could quad-sphere (thats how bad at dedicated deck building I am).

I think you have a good grasp that Leadership does go well with Lore (in core situations) as its more the all-round sphere. Each of the other three spheres are best at something, but also lacking at something, whereas Leadership seems middle of the road Jack of all trades to an extent.

My first (of only ever two) Anduin victory was Lore/Leadership. Its a great quest for variety of theme in its story have fun.

Hmmm… All this makes me curious as to how much "easier" it might be to take on Dol Guldur without shadow cards. You'll have to try and let us know (after you're done with Anduin, of course), Red Die Guy. :-)

Apologies about the misunderstanding with the restricted cards, my bad

As to teaming up, eek, my own newbie experience is that usually I play a tri-sphere deck and still end up wanting cards from the other sphere, they all are so well defined with their own strengths. One scenario (wont say which) I used songs to get an extra sphere-icon so I could quad-sphere (thats how bad at dedicated deck building I am).

I think you have a good grasp that Leadership does go well with Lore (in core situations) as its more the all-round sphere. Each of the other three spheres are best at something, but also lacking at something, whereas Leadership seems middle of the road Jack of all trades to an extent.

My first (of only ever two) Anduin victory was Lore/Leadership. Its a great quest for variety of theme in its story have fun.

No, the fault was mine. I really wasn't at all clear since I did not mention Thalin in that post.

I like the idea of a tri-sphere deck so thats something for further down the road. More options is always good. Just means resource management becomes more necessary I suppose.

Excellent. Lore/Leadership it is! Bring on Anduin!

Hmmm… All this makes me curious as to how much "easier" it might be to take on Dol Guldur without shadow cards. You'll have to try and let us know (after you're done with Anduin, of course), Red Die Guy. :-)

Sure! I'll try Anduin then go straight onto Dol guldur (so Lore/Leadership). I have no idea if thats a mistake but I'll have fun finding out!

Will let you know

Have great fun

Yes resource management in Tri-Sphere is certainly more key, but there are cards to help with that as you will no doubt find during your exciting learning curve. Some give extra resources, some allow you to transfer resources, some simply give additional sphere-icons to your heroes so they can spend on multiples.

It has its plusses of a more varied deck, and its minuses of managing those resources. All simply extra additional depth to a great game.

PS: hehe you are so gonna hate Hill Trolls pretty soon *huge grin*

**Update**

I played Journey down the Anduin last night (w/ gold threat cards, no extra starting resource but no treachery cards - baby steps ) with dual Lore/Leadership deck but added in about 6 Spirit cards (Galadhrims Greeting, Will of the West, For Gondor) as I had Aragorn so wanted to draw Celebrian Stone. This was a big mistake! I never drew the **** Stone! Haha!

Heroes: Aragorn, Beravor & Glorfindel. Massive threat total but hoped to mitigate with Gandalf and Greeting then use Will of the west to draw again - didn't work quite like that as I mentioned but still had 2 sneak attacks which I used for Gandalf in the planning phase.

I really struggled early on with resource management and that **** Hill Troll! Alex, yeah its nuts. I took a ton of threat but drew snare and had enough threat the turn after to trap it. Typically I was whacking away at it prior to drawing snare and had it down to 1 wound! When I drew infighting (I chucked in some new cards because hey, fun right?) I knew exactly what to do with that - when a nasty chieftain guy turned up (Ulfak?) Wham, infighting killed him. Phew.

Once I got my economy going by getting Steward of Gondor onto Aragorn since he was the only Leadership character and constantly needing his resource to stand, I was away. Man that cards is great. I also got self preservation onto him which although anathema to his character really helped taking hits as he was my main blocker.

From this point on I got loads of ally cards out and never looked back. I came very close to losing at the beginning with the Hill Troll wailing on me, all of my hero's were close to death. I was having to spend Glorfindel's resource to keep people standing so I couldn't get Daughter of Nimrodel out when I drew it. When I did she got ganked by a treachery!

By the way - Quick question - when a card says assign damage to so and so (not infighting but say Dol Guldur orcs, Necromancers reach and Gandalf), is this damage reduced by defense? I don't think so but just wanted to check. Its just after the game I looked at some gold enemy cards for Mirkwood and Hummerhorns look absolutely deadly! If your threat is high and you have no counter to enemy text ability (can't think of any at mo) then one of your heroes is dead! Seems harsh for a core game card. Oh well such is life and games.

Also, I realised half way through that I was playing wrong. At the beginning of a turn I have been activating character abilities, exhausting cards and then playing allies/attachments. I realised last night that's the wrong way around. Whoopsie.

Lesson learnt: Don't rely on a single card being drawn. Stupid mistake. I had 5 spirit cards in hand at the end with no use. Also, I think Aragorn may be best with another Leadership character for extra early resource. I'm thinking of running dual Leadership/Spirit next Anduin adventure. Eowyn for obvious reasons.

To the River!

Direct damage (such as Hummerhorns) is not reduced by defense.

Yeah, the only way to have all your heroes survive engaging the Hummerhorns is if one of them has more than 5 hit points - so hero Beorn (From the first Hobbit box) or hit points boosted by attachments (Citadel Plate, Boots from Erebor, Ring Mail, Hardy Leadership, Elven Mail, Ent Draught).

Oh, or if you have a way of cancelling some or all of the damage that also works - Frodo could engage the Hummerhorns and just take 5 threat instead.

And relying on a specific card being drawn can work out alright, but if you want it to be reliable you want to have 3 copies of that card and decent card draw (plus possibly mulligan for it). With Celebrian's Stone being a x1 in the Core Set... that's not going to work out so well without some decent way of digging it out of your deck.

Another way to survive hummerhorns is to have Frodo as a hero. He solves a lot of problems by soaking damage, if you can take the threat.