BN: Gandalf

3P: Beregond

Sam and Gandalf? I...I just can't choose

I just find "he's had a long journey" an odd comment to make in support of it.

Sam had to walk, while Gandalf just flew on an eagle.

Well Gandalf flew, rode and walked a TON, long before Sam ever left the Shire.

Yikes... didn't think my comment would cause controversy.

A long journey within this bracket means Sam defeated Glorfindel, Galadriel, and Frodo. All of which were tough (symbolically or otherwise). This is also his third championship and he's done well in all of them.

With regard to the lore, as a ring bearer, wouldn't each of Sam's steps with the ring count for, say, 1000 miles traversed by Gandalf?

BN: Gandalf
3P: Théoden (S)

BN: Gandalf
3P: Beregond

BN: Sam Gamgee v Gandalf
3P: Beregond v Théoden (S)

There have been a lot of tough choices in this tournament - but not in the last two rounds. Sam is an excellent hero that can fit into a wide variety of decks... any deck Gandalf is in becomes a Gandalf deck (sure, you can change up the cards... but Gandalf is always the most important one). Theoden (S) enables an entire deck type, while Beregond is the definition of a one dimensional hero.

It's sort of strange to me that people hate Glorfindel because he is so ubiquitous, but then people in here vote for Sam for the very same reason I wonder why Sam gets a pass but Glorfindel does not.

Sam is an excellent hero that can fit into a wide variety of decks... any deck Gandalf is in becomes a Gandalf deck (sure, you can change up the cards... but Gandalf is always the most important one).

Not true.

It's sort of strange to me that people hate Glorfindel because he is so ubiquitous, but then people in here vote for Sam for the very same reason I wonder why Sam gets a pass but Glorfindel does not.

There are other problems with Glorfindel than his ubiquity. Also, if you find Sam to be as ubiquitous as Glorfindel then your experience is decidedly not the norm.

It's sort of strange to me that people hate Glorfindel because he is so ubiquitous, but then people in here vote for Sam for the very same reason I wonder why Sam gets a pass but Glorfindel does not.

There are other problems with Glorfindel than his ubiquity. Also, if you find Sam to be as ubiquitous as Glorfindel then your experience is decidedly not the norm.

All I see is conjecture. Do you have Glorfindel statistics versus Sam statistics? My limited experience with public groups is that Sam was in each of the 4-player games at both fellowship events I've attended. Glorfindel was not. Yet, all I could hear was the tables who had Glorfindel complaining about Glorfindel being in every game...

BN: Sam. Go Sam! Win the whole thing! I like Gandalf a lot, but Sam deserves this title.

3P: Theoden. Really tough call here, but I'll give the nod to the muster of the Rohirrim over the wall of Gondor.

All I see is conjecture. Do you have Glorfindel statistics versus Sam statistics? My limited experience with public groups is that Sam was in each of the 4-player games at both fellowship events I've attended. Glorfindel was not. Yet, all I could hear was the tables who had Glorfindel complaining about Glorfindel being in every game...

I would actually love to see a statistical analysis of hero usage over time--I've considered doing it myself a few times but I never seem to find the time.

I'm not quite sure where the data would come from though. Cardgamedb, perhaps? Maybe the Strategy and deck-building forum?

All I see is conjecture. Do you have Glorfindel statistics versus Sam statistics? My limited experience with public groups is that Sam was in each of the 4-player games at both fellowship events I've attended. Glorfindel was not. Yet, all I could hear was the tables who had Glorfindel complaining about Glorfindel being in every game...

I would actually love to see a statistical analysis of hero usage over time--I've considered doing it myself a few times but I never seem to find the time.

I'm not quite sure where the data would come from though. Cardgamedb, perhaps? Maybe the Strategy and deck-building forum?

It would be very hard to get an unbiased sample, unfortunately. Not all players use the forums and such being the main problem. Regardless, I agree it would be fun to see such stats of forum users.

--- FINAL ROUND CLOSED ---

We have a winner!

Beating Gandalf 23 to 17, our 2015 Champion is

Sam Gamgee

That puts Gandalf in second.

Beregond is third, beating Théoden (S) by 2 votes.

Many thanks to all those who participated. We had 78 unique voters over 7 rounds. More on this later - I'll be posting a few statistics in the next couple of days.

Woohoo! Congrats Sam!

2015 Sam

2014 Legolas

2013 ? If i dont forget, was Sam too?

Legolas won 2013 and Galadriel won 2014.

Well deserved!

Also nice to see Beregond taking down Théoden, proving more or less, that flexability is higher valued than faction boosting.

Uffff, thanks GSpleen

My brain really fails...., perhaps too much decks in mind?^^

Wooooo Beregond!

Way to go Sam!

Beating Gandalf like that.

Next year a lore hero gets to be the champ tho.

We've had every sphere but lore now

Way to go Sam!

Beating Gandalf like that.

Next year a lore hero gets to be the champ tho.

We've had every sphere but lore now

Elrond missed his chance. He is "old news" now. He may eventually win if people choose to vote against previous winners because they don't want to have the same hero win twice. This happened to Galadriel this year so it wouldn't surprise me if it happens to each successive winner. Although, I have a feeling Sam will be immune to this effect due to people voting for him because they see him as the "underdog" even though he is evidently the top dog.

We also will never have a Dwarf winner (unless they release a new, relatively strong one right around the time this tournament is hosted). People seem to be bored with Dwarves around these parts.

Dori 2016.

Can't hurt to start early.