A Random Walk to Mordor #1

By Seastan, in The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game

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I am starting a new forum game called A Random Walk to Mordor :) . Here's how it works:


I have a little program that randomly outputs a list of 6 heroes and one scenario. I will post a list of a dozen or so outputs from the program in the opening post of the thread. In a first-come first-serve basis you can claim one of the outputs.


Sometime in the next month, you have to build a pair of decks with those 6 heroes (split them between the decks however you want), and use them against the given scenario, and write up a report telling us all how it went (you can be very brief or very detailed, there are no requirements).


To claim a set of heroes just reply to the forum with your choice. Only one person can claim each option. Finally, if you don't like any of the options, or if you want an extra challenge, you can choose option X, which means I will generate one new set of heroes and a scenario and assign it to you. There is no limit on the number of people who can claim option X.


Here's the list!


1. (tomtom) TSL Frodo Baggins Faramir (Lo) Gimli Elladan Elrohir Boromir (Ta)

2. (Narsil0420) IiC Damrod Hama Eleanor Halbarad Idraen Denethor

3. (Ecthelion III) PtM Theodred Beregond Merry (Ta) Fatty Bolger Gandalf Rossiel

4. (Teamjimby) AtE Dunhere Eomer Grima Dori Denethor Prince Imrahil

5. (Ryodu) TSL Gimli Beregond Gloin Sam Gamgee Erestor Erkenbrand

6. (sappidus) JAtA Legolas Glorfindel (Lo) Idraen Dwalin Gandalf Frodo Baggins

7. (goldensun05) TSoCA Elrond Denethor Eowyn Frodo Baggins Prince Imrahil Gandalf

8. (NathanH) TSL Gimli Theodred Elladan Elrohir Elrond Faramir (Lo)

9. (PocketWraith) FttF Hama Balin Boromir (Ta) Brand Mablung Fatty Bolger

10. (Kjeld) PiP Eleanor Haldir Erkenbrand Aragorn (Ta) Bombur Elrond

11. (CaffeineAddict) OtMMG Beravor Prince Imrahil Halbarad Balin Faramir (Le) Gimli

12. (Autraw) ItP Balin Glorfindel (Lo) Erestor Frodo Baggins Idraen Boromir (Ta)

13. (cmabr002) RtM Damrod Beregond Brand Bard Glorfindel (Lo) Bifur

14. The Fords of Isen Sam Gamgee Erkenbrand Gandalf Bombur Damrod Aragorn (Le)

15. Breaking of the Fellowship Merry (Sp) Grima Thalin Idraen Erestor Gimli

16. The Redhorn Gate Eomer Rossiel Eleanor Bombur Elladan Elrohir

17. A Shadow of the Past Beravor Frodo Baggins Bilbo Baggins Sam Gamgee Beorn Erkenbrand

18. (tomtom) AJtR Merry (Sp) Hama Beregond Fatty Bolger Gloin Dunhere

19. (Bardo el Arquero) II Aragorn (Le) Galadriel Boromir (Ta) Bilbo Baggins Dwalin Balin

20. Encounter at Amon Din Sam Gamgee Beregond Brand Aragorn (Lo) Balin Rossiel

X. Random Random Random Random Random Random Random


Notes:

  • You can choose to do nightmare if you want.
  • If you have a limited card pool, choose the option that you have the most heroes of, and swap out the heroes you don't have for heroes that you do have.
  • Alternatively, I will allow you to just choose 3 of the 6 heroes and make a solo deck, but I think the real spirit of this is to force yourself to use all the heroes, not just the ones you like!
Edited by Seastan
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I choose option 3, as that's the only one I have all the heroes for and own the quest. I will play Nightmare, because it IS Passage Through Mirkwood, after all...

Edited by Ecthelion III
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I'll take #10. I like the idea of Bombur tag-teaming in a bar brawl with Elrond after some harbor thug smashes a stein over Aragorn's head, spilling beer all over the master of Rivendell and upsetting the fat dwarf's third dinner.

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I choose option 3, as that's the only one I have all the heroes for and own the quest. I will play Nightmare, because it IS Passage Through Mirkwood, after all...

Great! I have reserved it for you.

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Can you generate a 3 hero set for me? My wife and I keep our campaign decks together and I usually build my solo decks from the leftovers. I think playing 2-handed would stretch our collection a bit too thin. (Plus I don't have enough deck boxes)

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Can you generate a 3 hero set for me? My wife and I keep our campaign decks together and I usually build my solo decks from the leftovers. I think playing 2-handed would stretch our collection a bit too thin. (Plus I don't have enough deck boxes)

If you would like you can choose one of the above options and just select the first 3 heroes out of the 6.

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I choose X, although I don't have the complete card pool. At the moment I'm missing The Three Trials, all the Angmar Awakened packs (but not The Lost Realm), The Treason of Saruman and The Land of Shadow. So if you get one of those quests or heroes (Idraen, Spirit Merry, Rossiel, Dori, Erestor, Spirit Theoden, Treebeard, Leadership Faramir and Damrod), please pick for me again.

Edited by Estel Edain
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I choose X, although I don't have the complete card pool. At the moment I'm missing The Three Trials, all the Angmar Awakened packs (but not The Lost Realm), The Treason of Saruman and The Land of Shadow. So if you get one of those quests or heroes (Idraen, Spirit Merry, Rossiel, Dori, Erestor, Spirit Theoden, Treebeard, Leadership Faramir and Damrod), please pick for me again.

X. Breaking of the Fellowship Erkenbrand Gimli Beregond Elrond Aragorn (Le) Eomer

Does this work for your card pool?

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Yes, sounds great!

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I choose X as well! I was going to choose Siege of Cair Andros, but I don;t know what the nub I could do with Eowyn! haha

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I choose X as well! I was going to choose Siege of Cair Andros, but I don;t know what the nub I could do with Eowyn! haha

You never know... X could get you worse, like Beorn and Redhorn Gate!

X. The Steward's Fear Dori Denethor Nori Dwalin Bombur Erestor

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I choose X as well! I was going to choose Siege of Cair Andros, but I don;t know what the nub I could do with Eowyn! haha

You never know... X could get you worse, like Beorn and Redhorn Gate!

X. The Steward's Fear Dori Denethor Nori Dwalin Bombur Erestor

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I want 13!

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I'll take #6, since I want a crack at using Lorefindel, and I can't even quite remember what Dwalin does without looking him up. :)

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Can you generate a 3 hero set for me? My wife and I keep our campaign decks together and I usually build my solo decks from the leftovers. I think playing 2-handed would stretch our collection a bit too thin. (Plus I don't have enough deck boxes)

If you would like you can choose one of the above options and just select the first 3 heroes out of the 6.

Good idea, this sounds like fun!

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I'm on #2 Intruders in Chetwood! I love that scenario and the heroes are interesting as well.

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Cool idea. Sign me up for #4!

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All reserved! Glad people are liking the idea :)

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I choose X, as I don´t own any lord of the rings sagas (but the hobbit ones)and the 3rd and 4th of Angmar awakend.

Then I only could choose the seventh level, which I have played most of all the quests I own (together with A journey along the Anduin, but seventh level is the same danger every time I play it, while Anduin is different).

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I'll take 7. I've been meaing to try the nightmare version anyways and thisgives me a fun excuss to do it.

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I'll try 8.

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Not sure when I'll get around to it, but I'll take 11.

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I choose X, as I don´t own any lord of the rings sagas (but the hobbit ones)and the 3rd and 4th of Angmar awakend.

Then I only could choose the seventh level, which I have played most of all the quests I own (together with A journey along the Anduin, but seventh level is the same danger every time I play it, while Anduin is different).

It sounds like 1 might interest you? If you choose X you will not get to pick the quest! :D

I'll take 7. I've been meaing to try the nightmare version anyways and thisgives me a fun excuss to do it.

Nightmare Cair Andros with Eowyn hero? :o You are braver than I! Looking forward to your session report!

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I think I'll take 9.

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THE DECKS


I have two Leadership heroes (Elrohir, Theodred), two Tactics heroes (Gimli, Elladan), and two Lore heroes (Elrond, Faramir). It is obvious what I should choose for one deck: Lore/Spirit!


I want to get plenty of use out of my strong heroes, Elrond in particular. I plan to use Elrond as my main defender, because of Burning Brand. To make him really good, though, I'll want a lot of readying, and Sentinel. So, I want Arwen to boost his defence and give him sentinel. Miruvor, Unexpected Courage, Light of valinor for readying. Test of will and Hasty Stroke, naturally. How do I get spirit? I'll take three Vilyas, as well as Rivendell Minstrel with Song of Travel. With Elrond and Faramir, the Minstrel is affordable and decent in her own right. I pair the Lore heroes with Theodred, who will save up resources until I get the Song, and make sure to feed Elrond a resource most turns. I put in a bunch of sensible 2-cost Lore allies. i don't bother with Stargazer because I'm not looking to make this a dedicated Vilya deck; I'll only use Vilya when there's nothing better to do.




The leadership/tactics deck is relatively straightforward, being based on equipping Elladan with weapons and Elrond with armour, and a collection of defensive allies and Ents to deal with swarms of goblins. This deck I call Deck One below, and it can be seen here http://www.cardgamedb.com/index.php/thelordoftherings/the-lord-of-the-rings-deck-share?p=36878&deck=lotrdeck_5618c29ed236e



THE GAME


Starting hands:


Deck One has an average hand: a couple of chumps, a couple of defenders, and a Cram. Not wonderful, not dreadful. I'll try another.

Steward, feint, Gandalf, 2xRivendell Bow, Gondorian Shield. This looks good.


Deck two has Vilya, some good Lore allies, Hasty Stroke and Miruvor. This is pretty decent, so I'll keep it.


We start with Goblin Tunnels and Cave troll. Goblin tunnels is fine, but we'll have to engage that troll turn 2. Fortunately there's a Gandalf about and along with a Feint that should be fine.


Turn 1:


Deck one draws a Sneak Attack, perfect! Deck 2 draws Arwen, who will be useful eventually.

Turn 1 is about attachments: Gondorian Shield (Elrond), Rivendell Bow (Elladan), Vilya (Elrond), and Miruvor (Elrond) all go down.

We have to quest pretty hard, sending in 10


The hated Watchful Eyes pops up, which goes on Elladan

Plundered Armoury is the other locations, which we travel to immediately.

Engaging the Troll doesn't seem like a good idea, so Elrond is used for Vilya. This pulls Burning Brand out, very handy!


Turn 2:


We need some Willpower, so I choose to Vilya immediately, and use Miruvor to ready and gain a resource. This brings out Henamarth, which isn't that great, but it's still 1 WP. It also gives enough Spirit resources to play Arwen.

I'd like to put Steward on Elrond, but that would leave no resource for Sneak Attack, and Theodred can't pass a resource to Elrohir this turn, so I have to wait.


13 Willpower should be enough for the quest, I just have to hope for not too many goblins!


Orc Horn-blower. Of course. 3 more goblins are revealed. This will not be fun!


Gandalf sneaks in and blows up a Goblin. The Cave-troll is Feinted. Irritatingly, a shadow gets rid of Gandalf. Elladan kills another Goblin.


State of play: Goblin tunnels and Horn-Blower in staging, Plundered armoury the active location, Cave Troll and Goblins Swordsman engaged with Deck One.


Turn 3:


A Black Arrow will help Faramir kill the troll this turn. Steward goes on Elladan: this isn't quite perfect, I'd prefer this on Elrond, but it does allow Elladan to kill lots of goblins and avoid the nasty Watchful Eyes effect, which is more important. A Defender of Rammas will help out too.


On the other side, a Master of the Forge appears, pulling Unexpected Courage which goes on Elrond. He will have Defence 5 and immunity to shadow cards and can defend twice. This will cover most attacks.

willpower is boosted to 12 by Elrond's Counsel.

Out comes a Goblin Scout and a Goblin Spearman. Deck One engages the Spearman.

Elrond defends against the Troll and the Swordsman, and the Defender of Rammas stops the Spearman.

Faramir uses the Black Arrow and his 4 attack to join with Elladan to kill the Troll. Elladan then kills the Swordsman.


State of play: Horn-blower and Scout in staging, Goblin Tunnels the active location, Goblin Spearman engaged with Deck One.


Turn 4:


After some Runes and Forge shenanigans, Light of Valinor goes on Elladan. Quickbeam emerges, and damages himself. Deck One plays Gondorian Spearman.


The Light is immediately discarded to Hidden Threat. Bah! Also, a Goblin Archer comes out, and its defence puts it out of range of Elladan. Double-Bah! At least we explore the Tunnels.


May as well engage the Horn-Blower. the attacks are defended successfully, and the Horn-blower and Spearman die easily.


Turn 5:


A Squire emerges. The Song of Travel shows up, so finally Theodred's resources might start being used. Master of the Forge finds nothing, and Gleowine is played only to give Deck One another copy of Steward. At least the in-play copy can be discarded if necessary.


Another Goblin Tunnels and another Archer. This is very annoying. Hopefully Elladan will get a Rivendell Blade soon.


The Scout is killed. Vilya reveals Test of Will. Bah!


Turn 6


Gandalf shows up to destroy an Archer. Hopefully we can get through the quest this round.


We succeed, although another Troll pops up, along with a Scout. Deck 1 engages them both. We can't quite muster enoug to kill the Troll, but we get fairly close.


Turn 7


Elrond gets another attachment, this time Elven Mail. He can't quest without exhausting any more, though, so questing will be trickier.


Elrohir gets a watchful eyes. Lovely. the other stuff is fairly inconsequential. I kill all enemies I can engage.


State of play: Goblin Archer and Goblin Tunnels in staging. Plundered Armoury active location. 7 progress on quest. Theats 39 and 37. No enemies engaged. Watchful eyes brings out a Goblin Scout.


Turn 8


Time to make a push. Light of Valinor, Gandalf, Naith Guide, Derndingle Warrior, and Miner of the Iron Hills show up. 25 willpower is committed to the quest. Gandalf kills the Scout.


Undisturbed Bones kills off a couple of pointless characters. Another Watchful Eyes goes on Elrond, but it shouldn't matter. The quest pulls out a Goblin Spearman.


With only 4 threat in staging, I win by 21, exploring Plundered armoury and placing 19 progress on the quest and winning the game!



ROUNDUP:


Elladan and Elrond are the most important parts. Elrohir, Gimli, and Theodred did nothing apart from questing. Faramir once more shows he can be more effective than his reputation suggests, being nice and versatile and usually having 3--4 attack. Deck 1 seems to have too many defensive allies, so some of these should be dropped. Another set of weapons, perhaps Daggers of Westernesse, would have improved the chances of getting Elladan to the important 4 attack that can hit the Archers and the Spearmen. Rivendell Bow wasn't very useful except in the turn where we got swarmed, but this is the most dangerous moment so I think it deserves its place. Errand-Rider would be a good choice, so the Steward can go to one of the brothers and the errand-rider spreads the resources around.


I was a bit surprised that Deck Two worked so smoothly, but I guess 3 Vilyas, 3 Minstrels, and 1 Song make the chance of getting a Spirit symbol by at least turn 2 quite high. I should probably shuffle the Stewards over to Deck Two, so Theodred has something to do with his resources for more of the game.


An interesting thing I didn't notice on creation is that, apart from Faramir and the relatively unnecessary Quickbeam, Deck Two is completely made from the first two cycles of the game!


And finally...



QUEST TOO EASY, I PLAY NIGHTMARE!


I was reminded this is one of the few quests I own a nightmare deck for. I've never played it before, so I thought I'd give it a go, even though I expected to lose quite quickly. This proved the case in the first game, which gave me a lovely 4 cards in the staging area after setup. This didn't last a turn.


The second game went much better and I managed to win without feeling under too much pressure, although one turn when a Goblin got a big shadow-chain and ended up with 8 attack was scary! Faramir continues to be a useful member of the team, and Elrohir managed to do some actual defending this time.