Preotet's Play-throughs

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

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I found out I quite enjoy doing these little "battle reports", so I decided I'll send my 3 Hunters across the vast and rich land of adventures we've got available in this brilliant game. And maybe for some, it will be a fun and interesting read. I know many know these quests by heart, however, I have decided to attach stats and text to every card, except for player cards. Some folk might need to refresh their memory, some don't know the cards so well, or are completely new to the game. And there will be no unreleased material here. Which will be an obsolete statement in a few months. 😄

Well, on with the show.

QUEST 1

Peril in Pelargir, or It’s All Beregond’s Fault

Contract: Forth, the Three Hunters!

Lineup: Gandalf , Éowyn , Glorfindel

Starting threat = 25

Initial draw: Test of Will, Silver Lamp, Rivendell Blade, 2x A Test of Will, Feint.

Mulligan: Light of Valinor, Gondorian Shield, 2x Quick Strike, Dagger of Westernesse, Golden Belt.

THE LEAPING FISH, 1A

Setup: Search the encounter deck for The Leaping Fish and Alcaron’s Scroll. Make The Leaping Fish the active location and attach Alcaron's Scroll to a hero.

The Leaping Fish , 6 quest points

If Alcaron’s Scroll is attached to a hero, The Leaping Fish gains: “Forced: At the beginning of the quest phase discard X cards from the top of the encounter deck where X is the number of players in the game. Add each enemy discarded by this effect to the staging area.” Victory 3.

Alcaron’s Scroll (Objective)

If unattached, return Alcaron's Scroll to the staging area and it gains: “Action: Exhaust a hero to attach Alcaron's Scroll to that hero.”

Forced: When the hero with Alcaron's Scroll attached is damaged by an enemy attack, attach Alcaron's Scroll to that enemy.

Attaches Alcaron’s Scroll to Glorfindel .

THE LEAPING FISH , 1B

6 ques points

Battle. (Characters use their attack-med.png instead of willpower-med.png when questing.)

When Revealed: Each player must search the encounter deck for a copy of Harbor Thug and add it to the staging area. Shuffle the encounter deck.

Adds Harbor Thug to the staging area (25 engagement cost, 2 threat-med.png , 3 attack-med.png , 1 defense-med.png , 3 heart-med.png . Forced: When the player whose hero has Alcaron’s Scroll attached raises his threat, Harbor Thug engages that player.) and shuffles the encounter deck.

ROUND 1

RP. Cards in hand: Light of Valinor, Gondorian Shield, 2x Quick Strike, Dagger of Westernesse, Golden Belt. Draws Firefoot.

PP. Plays Light of Valinor and Dagger of Westernesse on Glorfindel (now 4-5 attack-med.png ), Gondorian Shield on Gandalf (now 4 defense-med.png ), and Golden Belt on Éowyn .

QP. 2 threat-med.png in the staging area.

“Forced: At the beginning of the quest phase discard X cards from the top of the encounter deck where X is the number of players in the game. Add each enemy discarded by this effect to the staging area.”

Discards Collateral Damage .

Quests with Éowyn and Glorfindel for 5 attack-med.png .

Reveals Local Trouble with the text, When Revealed: Attach this card to the hero with the highest threat cost without a copy of Local Trouble attached. (Counts as a Condition attachment with the text: “When attached hero exhausts, readies, or triggers an ability, raise its controller's threat by 1.”)

Attaches Local Trouble to Glorfindel . [ Should've put it on Gandalf. Highest threat hero! ]

Off to a great start! Good thing I put Power of Orthanc in my ... sideboard.

After staging: Harbor Thug (2 threat-med.png )

Uses Éowyn ’s ability ( Action: Raise your threat by 3 to ready Éowyn. She gets +9 attack-med.png until the end of the phase. (Limit once per game for the group.))

Raises threat by 3 (28) and boosts attack-med.png from 5 to 14.

Harbor Thug engages because of "Forced: When the player whose hero has Alcaron’s Scroll attached raises his threat, Harbor Thug engages that player."

14 attack-med.png vs 0 threat = 14 progress . 6 on The Leaping Fish (6/6), and 8 on the main quest (8/6).

FIGHTING IN THE STREETS, 2B

13 quest points.

Battle. (Characters use their attack-med.png instead of willpower-med.png when questing.)

The players cannot advance to the next stage unless Alcaron's Scroll is attached to a hero.

When Revealed: Attach Alcaron's Scroll to the highest engagement cost enemy in play, if able. Otherwise, add Alcaron's Scroll to the staging area.

Attaches Alcaron’s Scroll to the engaged Harbor Thug .

TP. /

EP. /

CP. Deals a shadow card.

Gandalf defends Harbor Thug , no shadow. 3 attack-med.png vs 4 defense-med.png = 0 damage.

Exhausts Glorfindel to kill it. +1 threat because of Local Trouble (29).

Alcaron’s Scroll unattached. Exhausts Éowyn to attach the scroll to her.

RP. Raises threat by 2 (31).

ROUND 2

RP. Cards in hand: 2x Quick Strike, Firefoot. Draws Foe-hammer.

PP. Plays Firefoot on Éowyn (now 2 attack-med.png ).

QP. 0 threat in the staging area.

Quests with Éowyn and Glorfindel for 6 attack-med.png .

Reveals Pelargir Docks (4 threat-med.png , 3 quest points) with the text, While Pelargir Docks is the active location, enemies get +1 attack-med.png and +1 defense-med.png .

6 attack-med.png vs 4 threat = 2 progress on the main quest (2/13).

TP. Travels to Pelargir Docks .

EP. /

CP. /

RP. Raises threat by 1 (32).

ROUND 3

RP. Cards in hand: 2x Quick Strike, Foe-hammer. Draws Silver Lamp.

PP. Plays Silver Lamp on Glorfindel . Shadows give way!

QP. 0 threat in the staging area.

Quests with Éowyn and Glorfindel for 6 attack-med.png .

Reveals Zealous Traitor (17 engagement cost, 2 threat-med.png , 3 attack-med.png , 2 defense-med.png , 2 heart-med.png . Forced: After Zealous Traitor engages a player, that player must deal 1 damage to each ally he controls. (2 damage instead if Zealous Traitor was not optionally engaged.))

6 attack-med.png vs 2 threat = 4 progress . 3 on Pelargir Docks (3/3) and 1 on the main quest (3/13).

TP. /

EP. Engages Zealous Traitor . His forced effect fizzles.

CP. Deals a shadow card, which is Any damage dealt by this attack is dealt to the hero with Alcaron’s Scroll attached, if able.

Gandalf defends. 3 attack-med.png vs 4 defense-med.png = 0 damage

Exhausts Glorfindel to kill it, +1 threat (33), and plays Foe-hammer (exhausts Dagger). Draws Unexpected Courage, Golden Belt, and The Galadhrim’s Greeting.

RP. Raises threat by 2 (35).

ROUND 4

RP. Cards in hand: 2x Quick Strike, Unexpected Courage, Golden Belt, The Galadhrim’s Greeting. Draws Gandalf’s Staff.

PP. Plays Gandalf’s Staff on Gandalf and Golden Belt on Glorfindel .

QP. 0 threat in the staging area.

Quests with Éowyn and Glorfindel for 6 attack-med.png .

Reveals Pickpocket (28 engagement cost, 3 threat-med.png , 1 attack-med.png , 0 defense-med.png , 2 heart-med.png . Forced: When Pickpocket attacks, the defending player discards 1 resource from one of his heroes’ resource pools and 1 card at random from his hand).

6 attack-med.png vs 3 threat = 3 progress on the main quest (6/13).

TP. /

EP. Engages Pickpocket .

CP. Deals a shadow card, which is Any damage dealt by this attack is dealt to the hero with Alcaron’s Scroll attached, if able.

Plays Quick Strike and kills it with Glorfindel . +1 threat (36)

RP. Raises threat by 2 (38).

ROUND 5

RP. Cards in hand: Quick Strike, Unexpected Courage, The Galadhrim’s Greeting. Draws Song of Travel.

PP. Plays Song of Travel and Unexpected Courage on Gandalf . Plays The Galadhrim’s Greeting and lowers threat by 6 (32).

QP. 0 threat in the staging area.

Quests with Éowyn and Glorfindel for 6 attack-med.png .

Reveals Pickpocket (28 engagement cost, 3 threat-med.png , 1 attack-med.png , 0 defense-med.png , 2 heart-med.png )

6 attack-med.png vs 3 threat = 3 progress on the main quest (9/13).

TP. /

EP. Engages Pickpocket .

CP. Deals a shadow card, which is Return attacking enemy to the staging area after it attacks.

Plays Quick Strike and kills it with Gandalf .

RP. Raises threat by 1 (33).

ROUND 6

RP. No cards in hand. Draws Rivendell Blade.

PP. Plays Rivendell Blade on Glorfindel .

QP. 0 threat in the staging area.

Quests with Éowyn and Glorfindel for 6 attack-med.png .

Reveals Zealous Traitor (17 engagement cost, 2 threat-med.png , 3 attack-med.png , 2 defense-med.png , 2 heart-med.png )

6 attack-med.png vs 2 threat = 4 progress on the main quest (13/13).

ESCAPE TO THE QUAYS, 3A

When Revealed: Each player searches the encounter deck and discard pile for 1 enemy and adds it to the staging area.

Adds to the staging area Harbor Thug (25 engagement cost, 3 attack-med.png , 1 defense-med.png , 3 heart-med.png ) and shuffles the encounter deck.

ESCAPE TO THE QUAYS, 3B

15 quest points

Enemies cannot be optionally engaged.

Forced: The first enemy revealed from the encounter deck each round makes an immediate attack against the player who controls Alcaron's Scroll from the staging area.

The players cannot defeat this stage unless Alcaron's Scroll is attached to a hero. If the players defeat this stage, they have won the game.

TP. /

EP. Engages Zealous Traitor (3 attack-med.png , 2 defense-med.png , 2 heart-med.png ) and Harbor Thug (3 attack-med.png , 1 defense-med.png , 3 heart-med.png )

CP. Deals shadow cards. Harbor Thug has Defending player discards 1 of his attachments. (Discard all of his attachments instead if undefended) . Zealous Traitor has no shadow effect.

Exhausts Gandalf’s Staff to discard Thug’s shadow.

Gandalf defends twice, 0 damage.

Exhausts Glorfindel to kill Zealous Traitor . +1 threat (34)

RP. Raises threat by 2 (36).

ROUND 7

RP. No cards in hand. Draws Herugrim.

PP. Plays Herugrim on Éowyn . (I only now realised I’m playing Gandalf, not Beregond.) Reveals the top card of the deck and immediately plays Dagger of Westernesse from the top on Glorfindel .

QP. 0 threat in the staging area.

Quests with Éowyn and Glorfindel for 7 willpower-med.png .

Reveals Harbor Thug (25 engagement cost, 3 attack-med.png , 1 defense-med.png , 3 heart-med.png ) [ How many of these guys are in the deck? Checks Hall of Beorn. Ah, 5. ]

“Forced: The first enemy revealed from the encounter deck each round makes an immediate attack against the player who controls Alcaron's Scroll from the staging area.”

Deals it a shadow card, which is Attacking enemy gets +2 attack.

Gandalf defends and suffers 1 damage (1/5).

7 willpower-med.png vs 2 threat = 5 progress on the main quest (5/15).

TP. /

EP. Engages Harbor Thug.

CP. Deals shadow cards.

Harbor Thug 1 has Defending player discards his hand . Harbor Thug 2 has Any damage dealt by this attack is dealt to the hero with Alcaron’s Scroll attached, if able.

Exhausts Gandalf’s Staff to discard shadow card on Harbor Thug 2 .

Gandalf defends Harbor Thug 1 , 3 attack-med.png vs 4 defense-med.png = 0 damage.

Harbor Thug 2 attack goes undefended, Glorfindel suffers 3 damage (3/5).

Exhaust Glorfindel to kill Thug 1 . +1 threat (37)

RP. Raises threat by 2 (39) and flips the contract. Gandalf (5 willpower-med.png ), Éowyn (6 willpower-med.png ), and Glorfindel (6 willpower-med.png ).

ROUND 8

RP. No cards in hand. Draws Herugrim.

PP. Plays Shadowfax from the top of the deck on Gandalf . Exhausts the contract to heal Gandalf (0/5), Glorfindel (2/5).

QP. 0 threat in the staging area.

Quests with Éowyn , Glorfindel , and Gandalf (readies him with Shadowfax) for 17 willpower-med.png .

Reveals Lurking in Shadows with the text, When Revealed: Return all Brigands enemies engaged with players to the staging area. If this effect returned no Brigands enemies to the staging area, Lurking in Shadows gains surge.

Harbor Thug is 
 well, a Thug. Surge it is.

Reveals Lossarnach Bandit (24 engagement cost, 3 threat-med.png , 3 attack-med.png , 3 defense-med.png , 3 heart-med.png . Forced: When Lossarnach Bandit engages a player, that player discards 1 resource from each of his heroes’ resource pools. (2 resources instead if Lossarnach Bandit was not optionally engaged.))

Deals it a shadow card, which is Any damage dealt by this attack is dealt to the hero with Alcaron’s Scroll attached, if able.

Gandalf defends, 3 attack-med.png vs 4 defense-med.png = 0 damage.

17 willpower-med.png vs 3 threat = 14 progress on the main quest (19/15).

GAME OVER

Edited by Preotet
Posted at

These are nice.

Just in the beginning, Local Trouble goes on the highest threat cost hero, I believe, so it should not have been Glorfindel.

Posted at

Oh, bummer. Gotta read the cards more thoroughly. Thanks for pointing that out. I would've ended up with 47 threat instead of 39, if I had put Local Trouble on Gandalf.

Posted at

Well, you do an amazing job reporting with such clarity, no wonder a mistake might creep in whilst doing that.

Posted at

This is great! Very clear and well formatted. I look forward to seeing more!

I tried something similar a couple of times, but I found it painfully slow to record while playing 2-handed. I did pick possibly one of the worst scenarios to try first, in terms of expected game length; Flight from Moria. (I also tried The Seventh Level which was faster, but probably took me around 2 and 1/2 hours instead of about 1 hour to play. I think Flight from Moria took me about 4 hours while recording it in detail, but it was a 13 round game that I played in 2 sessions)

How much longer do you think this took you than it would have done to play without recording it in detail?

(Perhaps you record all your scenarios to this level, in which case ignore the question)

Posted at

QUEST 2

Into Ithilien

Initial draw: 2x Wizard Pipe, Herugrim, Gondorian Shield, Quick Strike, Warrior Sword. Top card Light of Valinor.

That's a keeper.

SETUP

You are playing Nightmare mode.

Setup: Set both copies of Mûmak Elite aside, out of play.

Forced: When quest stages 2A or 4A are revealed, add 1 of the previously set aside copies of Mûmak Elite to the staging area.

Mûmak Elite (38 engagement cost, 5 threat-med.png , 7 attack-med.png , 5 defense-med.png , 12 heart-med.png )

Cannot have attachments. Archery X.

X is the number of players in the game.

Mûmak Elite cannot take more than 3 damage each round.

AMBUSH IN ITHILIEN , 1A

Setup: Add Celador to the staging area. Search the encounter deck for a copy of Ithilien Road and make it the active location. Each player must search the encounter deck for a copy of Southron Company and add it to the staging area. Shuffle the encounter deck.

Celador (2 willpower-med.png , 2 attack-med.png , 2 defense-med.png , 3 heart-med.png )

While Celador is in the staging area, he is committed to the current quest.

Forced: After players quest unsuccessfully or a character leaves play, deal 1 damage to Celador.

If Celador leaves play, remove him from the game.

Ithilien road (4 threat-med.png , 4 quest points)

While Ithilien Road is the active location, the engagement cost of each enemy in the staging area is 0.

Southron Company (34 engagement cost, 1 threat-med.png , 3 attack-med.png , 1 defense-med.png , 5 heart-med.png )

Southron Company gets +2 threat-med.png and +2 attack-med.png while the current quest card has the battle or siege keyword.

AMBUSH IN ITHILIEN, 1B

15 quest points

Battle. (Characters quest using attack-med.png instead of willpower-med.png . )

If the players complete this stage with Celador in the staging area, advance to stage 3A (bypassing stage 2).

ROUND 1

RP. Cards in hand: 2x Wizard Pipe, Herugrim, Gondorian Shield, Quick Strike, Warrior Sword. Draws Light of Valinor.

PP. Plays Light of Valinor from hand and Dagger of Westernesse from the top of the deck on Glorfindel (4-5 attack-med.png ), Wizard Pipe and Gondorian Shield on Gandalf (4 defense-med.png ).

QP. 3 threat in the staging area.

Quests with Éowyn and Glorfindel (+ Celador ) for 7 attack-med.png .

Reveals Haradrim Elite (27 engagement cost, 3 threat-med.png , 4 attack-med.png , 3 defense-med.png , 3 heart-med.png . Forced: When Haradrim Elite enters play, it makes an immediate attack from the staging area against the first player.)

Deals a shadow card. Gandalf defends.

Reveals shadow: This enemy attacks again after this attack resolves. (Deal a new shadow card for that attack.)

4 attack-med.png vs 4 defense-med.png = 0 damage

Deals and reveals a new shadow card: Attacking enemy gets +X attack-med.png . X is that enemy’s archery value .

4 attack-med.png undefended. Glorfindel suffers 4 damage (4/5 heart-med.png ).

7 attack-med.png vs 6 threat = 1 progress on Ithilien Road (1/4).

TP. /

EP. Engages Southron Company and Haradrim Elite because of Ithilien Road.

CP. Deals shadow cards.

Raises threat by 3 (28) to trigger Éowyn ’s ability. Plays Quick Strike to immediately kill Southron Company .

No shadow effect on Haradrim Elite . Attack undefended. Gandalf suffers 4 damage (4/5 heart-med.png ).

Glorfindel hits with 4 attack-med.png and deals it 1 damage (1/3 heart-med.png ).

RP. Raises threat by 1 (29).

Stellar first round!

ROUND 2

Engaged with Haradrim Elite.

RP. Cards in hand: Wizard Pipe, Herugrim, Warrior Sword. Draws The Galadhrim’s Greeting.

PP. Plays Song of Travel from the top of the deck on Gandalf . Wizard Pipe to put Galadhrim’s Greeting on top of the deck and get Gandalf’s Staff in hand. Plays Staff on Gandalf and Warrior Sword on Glorfindel .

QP. 0 threat in the staging area.

Quests with Éowyn and Glorfindel (+ Celador ) for 7 attack-med.png .

Reveals Lost Companion (When Revealed: Each player removes 1 character he controls from the quest, if able. Then, if any player has no characters committed to the quest, remove all characters from the quest.)

Removes Éowyn from the quest.

6 attack-med.png vs 0 threat = 6 progress . 3 on Ithilien Road (4/4), 3 on the main quest (3/15).

TP. /

EP. /

CP. Deals a shadow card to Haradrim Elite and exhausts Staff to discard it.

Gandalf defends. 4 attack-med.png vs 4 defense-med.png = 0 damage.

Glorfindel swings for 5 and kills the enemy (3/3 heart-med.png ).

RP. Raises threat by 1 (30).

ROUND 3

RP. Cards in hand: Wizard Pipe, Herugrim. Draws The Galadhrim’s Greeting.

PP. Plays Herugrim on Éowyn .

QP. 0 threat in the staging area.

Quests with Glorfindel (+ Celador ) for 6 attack-med.png . Éowyn needs to be ready for fighting.

Reveals Morgul Spide r (25 engagement cost, 3 threat-med.png , 4 attack-med.png , 1 defense-med.png , 5 heart-med.png . When Revealed: Until the end of the round, Morgul Spider gets +1 attack-med.png for each character not currently committed to the quest.)

Plays A Test of Will from the top of the deck. Spider stays on 4 attack-med.png , otherwise it would kill Gandalf .

6 attack-med.png vs 3 threat = 3 progress on the main quest (6/15).

TP. /

EP. Engages Morgul Spider .

CP. Deals a shadow card and exhausts Staff to discard it.

Gandalf defends, no damage. Glorfindel and Éowyn kill it.

RP. Raises threat by 1 (31).

ROUND 4

RP. Cards in hand: Wizard Pipe, The Galadhrim’s Greeting. Draws War Axe.

PP. Plays War Axe on Éowyn (3 attack-med.png ).

QP. 0 threat in the staging area.

Quests with Glorfindel (+ Celador ) for 6 attack-med.png .

Reveals Southron Support (Doomed 3. When Revealed: Each player must search the encounter deck and discard pile for 1 Harad enemy and add it to the staging area, if able. Shuffle the encounter deck.)

Raises threat by 3 (34).

Adds to the staging area Haradrim Captain (44 engagement cost, 4 threat-med.png , 4 attack-med.png , 3 defense-med.png , 6 heart-med.png . Each Harad enemy in the staging area gains archery 1. Each engaged Harad enemy gets +1 defense-med.png .)

6 attack-med.png vs 4 threat = 2 progress on the main quest (8/15).

TP. /

EP. Engages Haradrim Captain .

CP. Deals a shadow card and exhausts Staff to discard it.

Gandalf defends, no damage. Glorfindel and Éowyn attack and kill it (12 attack-med.png vs 4 defense-med.png + 6 heart-med.png ) .

RP. Raises threat by 1 (35) and flips the contract. Gandalf (5 willpower-med.png ), Éowyn (6 willpower-med.png ), Glorfindel (5 willpower-med.png ).

ROUND 5

RP. Cards in hand: Wizard Pipe, The Galadhrim’s Greeting. Draws Ancestral Armor.

PP. Plays Snowmane from the top of the deck on Éowyn (7 willpower-med.png , 4 attack-med.png ). Exhausts contract to heal Gandalf (3/5 heart-med.png ) and Glorfindel (3/5 heart-med.png ).

QP. 0 threat in the staging area.

Quests with Éowyn and Glorfindel (+ Celador ) for 10 attack-med.png .

Reveals Blocking Wargs (Surge. When Revealed: Deal 1 damage to each character committed to the quest.)

Deals 1 damage to Éowyn (1/3 heart-med.png ), Glorfindel (4/5 heart-med.png ) and Celador (1/3 heart-med.png ).

Reveals Savage Fray (Doomed 2. When revealed: If the current quest has a keyword, until the end of the round, switch that keyword from battle to siege, or siege to battle, if able. If the current quest does not have a keyword, Savage Fray gains surge.)

Raises threat by 2 (37) and switches keyword from battle to siege.

4 defense-med.png vs 0 threat = 4 progress on the main quest (12/15). Readies Éowyn .

TP. /

EP. /

CP. /

RP. Raises threat by 1 (38) and exhausts Staff to give Gandalf 1 resource.

ROUND 6

RP. Cards in hand: Wizard Pipe, The Galadhrim’s Greeting, Ancestral Armor. Draws The Galadhrim’s Greeting.

PP. Wizard Pipes Ancestral Armor to the top of the deck to play it on Gandalf (6 willpower-med.png , 6 defense-med.png ). Exhausts the contract to heal Gandalf (2/5 heart-med.png ), Éowyn (0/3 heart-med.png ), and Glorfindel (3/5 heart-med.png ). Plays The Galadhrim’s Greeting to lower threat by 6 (32).

QP. 0 threat in the staging area.

Quests with Éowyn and Glorfindel (+ Celador ) for 10 attack-med.png .

Reveals Obsidian Arrows (When Revealed: The current quest gains archery 2 until the end of the round. Then, assign all archery damage to characters in play as if it were the beginning of the combat phase.)

Deals 2 damage to Éowyn (2/3 heart-med.png ).

10 attack-med.png vs 0 threat = 10 progress on the main quest (22/15). Readies Éowyn .

“If the players complete this stage with Celador in the staging area, advance to stage 3A (bypassing stage 2).”

THE HIDDEN WAY, 3B

12 quest points

When Revealed: The first player takes control of all Ranger objectives in the staging area. Enemies do not make engagement checks and cannot be optionally engaged.

Takes control of Celador (2 willpower-med.png , 2 attack-med.png , 2 defense-med.png , 3 heart-med.png )

TP. /

EP. /

CP. /

RP. Raises threat by 1 (33) and exhausts Staff to give Gandalf 1 resource.

ROUND 7

RP. Cards in hand: Wizard Pipe, The Galadhrim’s Greeting, Quick Strike. Draws Will of the West. Wizard Pipes The Galadhrim’s Greeting on top of the deck to lower threat by 6 (27).

PP. Plays Golden Belt from the top of the deck and Firefoot from hand on Éowyn (8 willpower-med.png , 6 attack-med.png ). Exhausts the contract to heal Gandalf (1/5 heart-med.png ), Éowyn (1/3 heart-med.png ), and Glorfindel (2/5 heart-med.png ).

QP. 0 threat in the staging area.

Quests with Éowyn for 8 willpower-med.png . [ Here I was stalling a bit because I didn't have any readying for Gandalf. ]

Reveals Mûmak (38 engagement cost, 4 threat-med.png , 7 attack-med.png , 3 defense-med.png , 12 heart-med.png . No attachments can be attached to Mûmak. Mûmak cannot take more than 3 damage each round.)

8 willpower-med.png vs 4 threat = 4 progress on the main quest (4/12). Readies Éowyn .

TP. /

EP. "Enemies do not make engagement checks and cannot be optionally engaged."

CP. /

RP. Raises threat by 1 (28) and exhausts Staff to give Gandalf 1 resource.

ROUND 8

RP. Cards in hand: Wizard Pipe, Quick Strike, Will of the West. Draws Strider.

PP. Plays Steward of Gondor from the top of the deck on Gandalf (7 defense-med.png ) and Strider on Éowyn (10 willpower-med.png , 6 attack-med.png ). Exhausts the contract to heal Gandalf (0/5 heart-med.png ), Éowyn (0/3 heart-med.png ), and Glorfindel (1/5 heart-med.png ).

QP. 4 threat in the staging area.

Quests with Éowyn and Glorfindel for 15 willpower-med.png .

Reveals Haradrim Marksman (36 engagement cost, 2 threat-med.png , 2 attack-med.png , 2 defense-med.png , 5 heart-med.png . While the current quest has battle, Haradrim Marksman gets +2 threat-med.png and gains archery 2. While the current quest has siege, Haradrim Marksman gets +2 attack-med.png and allies cannot be declared as defenders against its attack.)

Staging area: Mûmak (4 threat-med.png ), Haradrim Marksman (2 threat-med.png )

15 willpower-med.png vs 6 threat = 9 progress on the main quest (13/12). Readies Éowyn .

“Forced: When quest stages 2A or 4A are revealed, add 1 of the previously set aside copies of MĂ»mak Elite to the staging area.”

Adds Mûmak Elite (38 engagement cost, 5 threat-med.png , 7 attack-med.png , 5 defense-med.png , 12 heart-med.png ) to the staging area.

APPROACHING CAIR ANDROS, 4B

15 quest points

If any player’s threat is 37 or higher, Approaching Cair Andros gains siege.

Forced: At the end of each round, raise each player’s threat by 2.

If the players defeat this stage, they have won the game.

TP. /

EP. Engages Mûmak Elite .

CP. Archery 1. Deals 1 damage to Éowyn (1/3 heart-med.png ).

Deals a shadow card and exhausts Staff to discard it.

Gandalf defends. 7 attack-med.png vs 7 defense-med.png = 0 damage.

Éowyn deals it 3 damage.

RP. Raises threat by 3 (31).

ROUND 9

Engaged with Mûmak Elite.

RP. Cards in hand: Wizard Pipe, Quick Strike, Will of the West. Draws Foe-hammer.

PP. /

QP. 6 threat in the staging area.

Quests with Éowyn and Glorfindel for 15 willpower-med.png .

Reveals Cormallen Fields (3 threat-med.png , 5 quest points) with the text, While the current quest has battle, Cormallen Fields gets +2 threat-med.png . While the current quest has siege, when faced with the option to travel, the players must travel to Cormallen Fields, if able.

Staging area: Mûmak (4 threat-med.png ), Haradrim Marksman (2 threat-med.png ), Cormallen Fields (3 threat-med.png )

15 willpower-med.png vs 9 threat = 6 progress on the main quest (6/15). Readies Éowyn .

TP. Travels to Cormallen Fields .

EP. Engages Haradrim Marksman (2 threat-med.png , 2 attack-med.png , 2 defense-med.png , 5 heart-med.png )

CP. Archery 1. Deals 1 damage to Gandalf (1/5 heart-med.png ).

Deals shadow cards.

Exhausts the contract to completely heal all heroes.

Wizard Pipes Quick Strike on the top of the deck and plays it to kill Haradrim Marksman with Éowyn . Exhausts Firefoot to deal 3 damage to MĂ»mak Elite . Plays Foe-hammer and exhausts War Axe to draw 3 cards (Light of Valinor, Shadowfax, Firefoot). Discards MĂ»mak Elite’s shadow card with Staff.

Gandalf defends Mûmak Elite . No damage.

RP. Raises threat by 3 (33).

ROUND 10

Engaged with Mûmak Elite.

RP. Cards in hand: Wizard Pipe, Will of the West, Steward of Gondor, Light of Valinor, Shadowfax, Firefoot. Draws Wizard Pipe.

PP. Plays Shadowfax from hand and Unexpected Courage from the top of the deck on Gandalf .

QP. 6 threat in the staging area.

Quests with Gandalf , Éowyn , Glorfindel , and Celador for 23 willpower-med.png .

Reveals Ithilien Overlook (3 threat-med.png , 4 quest points) with the text, Archery 2. When assigning archery damage to a character, you must continue assigning archery damage to that character until that character is destroyed or there is no more archery damage to assign.

Staging area: Mûmak (4 threat-med.png ), Ithilien Overlook (3 threat-med.png )

23 willpower-med.png vs 7 threat = 16 progress . 5 on Cormallen Fields (5/5) and 11 on the main quest (17/15).

GAME OVER

Edited by Preotet
Posted at
Just now, Adaepholn said:

This is great! Very clear and well formatted. I look forward to seeing more!

Thank you. I appreciate it.

Just now, Adaepholn said:

How much longer do you think this took you than it would have done to play without recording it in detail?

(Perhaps you record all your scenarios to this level, in which case ignore the question)

I actually do record my plays. Then I go through the recording and just describe what is happening on the board. I haven't the equipment or the confidence to do YT or Twitch videos, so this kind of format suits me just fine. 😄

Posted at

I too wondered about that, and guessed right. That seems like a good way, and it certainly is a good read. I did, a long time ago, enjoyed a video or two, but I have to say for every good one there were (are) many unwatchable (for me) ones. But I understand people have different tastes, of course.

Posted at

I decided that after the fact approach is the best for me, otherwise I would be constantly interrupting the flow of the game and probably forgetting even more stuff.

Posted at

QUEST 3

The Weather Hills

Initial draw: Round Shield, Foe-hammer, Unexpected Courage, Gondorian Shield, Steward of Gondor, Ancestral Armor. Top card Golden Belt. [Too much armor.]

Mulligan: Song of Travel, Light of Valinor, A Test of Will, Gandalf’s Staff, Round Shield, Wizard Pipe. Top card Ancestral Armor. [Sigh.]

SCATTERED AMONG THE HILLS, 1A

Setup: Setup: Set Orc Ambush and Amon Forn aside, out of play. Create the Orc deck (see insert) and set it next to the quest deck. Make Exposed Ridge the active location. Add Hunting the Orcs and 1 Weather Hilltop to the staging area. Shuffle the encounter deck.

Hunting the Orcs (Mission objective)

Forced: After an enemy is defeated, place 1 resource token here. Then, if there are at least X resource tokens here, flip Hunting the Orcs and place each resource token that was on it on Savage Counter-attack . X is 3 more than the number of players in the game.

In the staging area:

Weathered Hilltop (1 threat-med.png , 5 quest points)

Weathered Hilltop gets +1 threat-med.png for each resource token on it.

Forced: After a Weather treachery is revealed from the encounter deck, place 1 resource token here.

Active location:

Exposed Ridge (3 threat-med.png , 3 quest points)

While Exposed Ridge is the active location, it gains: “ Forced: At the end of the refresh phase, each player deals 1 damage to a character he controls.”

SCATTERED AMONG THE HILLS, 1B

The first Weathe r treachery card revealed each round gains surge.

Forced: After the active location is explored, reveal the top card of the Orc deck and resolve it as if it was just revealed from the encounter deck (reveal the top 2 cards instead if there are 3 or more players in the game).

ROUND 1

Threat = 25

RP. Cards in hand: Song of Travel, Light of Valinor, A Test of Will, Gandalf’s Staff, Round Shield, Wizard Pipe. Draws Ancestral Armor.

PP. Plays Light of Valinor on Glorfindel , Song of Travel and Round Shield on Gandalf .

QP. 1 threat in the staging area.

Quests with Éowyn and Glorfindel for 7 willpower-med.png .

Reveals:

Tragic Discovery

When Revealed: Raise each player’s threat by the threat-med.png of the active location.

Raises threat by 3 (28).

7 willpower-med.png vs 1 threat = 6 progress. Enough to explore Exposed Ridge (3/3).

[Hunting the Orcs: “After the active location is explored, reveal the top card of the Orc deck and resolve it as if it was just revealed from the encounter deck.”]

Reveals:

Angmar Marauder ( 30 , 3 threat-med.png , 3 attack-med.png , 2 defense-med.png , 4 heart-med.png )

Forced: When Angmar Marauder attacks and destroys an ally, return it to the staging area.

TP. Travels to Weathered Hilltop .

EP. Engages Angmar Marauder .

CP. Deals a shadow card.

Gandalf defends, shadow is: Attacking enemy gets +1 attack-med.png . If this attack destroys a character, the defending player raises his threat by 2.

Round Shield to the rescue! 4 attack-med.png vs 5 defense-med.png = 0 damage.

Glorfindel attacks for 3 and deals it 1 damage (1/4 heart-med.png ).

RP. Raises threat by 1 (29).

ROUND 2

Engaged with Angmar Marauder.

RP. Cards in hand: A Test of Will, Gandalf’s Staff, Wizard Pipe, Ancestral Armor. Draws Unexpected Courage.

PP. Plays Wizard Pipe and Staff on Gandalf . Exhausts Pipe to put Unexpected Courage on top of the deck and plays it on Gandalf . Gets Quick Strike in hand.

QP. 0 threat in the staging area.

Quests with Éowyn and Glorfindel for 7 willpower-med.png .

Reveals:

Exposed Ridge (3 threat-med.png , 3 quest points)

While Exposed Ridge is the active location, it gains: “ Forced: At the end of the refresh phase, each player deals 1 damage to a character he controls.”

7 willpower-med.png vs 3 threat = 4 progress on Weathered Hilltop (4/5).

TP. /

EP. /

CP. Deals a shadow card to Angmar Marauder .

Gandalf defends and readies with Unexpected Courage, no shadow. 3 attack-med.png vs 3 defense-med.png = 0 damage.

Gandalf and Glorfindel swing for 6 and deal it 4 damage (5/4 heart-med.png ). That’s a dead orc.

Places 1 resource token on Hunting the Orcs (1/4).

RP. Raises threat by 1 (30).

ROUND 3

RP. Cards in hand: A Test of Will, Ancestral Armor, Quick Strike. Draws Snowmane.

PP. Plays Rivendell Blade from the top of the deck on Glorfindel . Plays Snowmane on Éowyn . Exhausts Pipe to put A Test of Will on top of the deck. Gets in hand Shadowfax and plays it on Gandalf .

QP. 3 threat in the staging area.

Quests with Éowyn and Glorfindel for 7 willpower-med.png .

Reveals:

Cornered Orc ( 20 , 2 threat-med.png , 2 attack-med.png , 1 defense-med.png , 2 heart-med.png )

Forced: After Cornered Orc engages a player, it makes an immediate attack.

After staging: Exposed Ridge (3 threat-med.png ), Cornered Orc (2 threat-med.png )

7 willpower-med.png vs 5 threat = 2 progress . Enough to explore Weathered Hilltop (5/5). Readies Éowyn .

[Hunting the Orcs: “After the active location is explored, reveal the top card of the Orc deck and resolve it as if it was just revealed from the encounter deck.”]

Reveals:

Angmar Orc ( 25 , 2 threat-med.png , 3 attack-med.png , 3 defense-med.png , 3 heart-med.png )

When Revealed: Either discard 1 ally from play, or reveal an additional encounter card.

[I decide to risk it and don’t play A Test of Will from top of the deck, even though that is precisely why I put it there. What can go wrong?]

Reveals: Freezing Blast (Weather treachery)

Doomed 2. When Revealed: Remove each damaged character from the quest.

Raises threat by 2 (32).

[2B: “The first Weathe r treachery card revealed each round gains surge.”]

Reveals:

Make Camp (6 quest points)

Surge.

Characters cannot be healed.

Response: After Make Camp is defeated, each player heals up to 3 damage from a hero he controls.

Reveals: Freezing Blast (Doomed 2. When Revealed: Remove each damaged character from the quest.)

Raises threat by 2 (34).

[See? It could’ve been a lot worse. 😄 ]

TP. Travels to Exposed Ridge .

EP. Engages Cornered Orc and Angmar Orc .

Deals a shadow card to Cornered Orc. Gandalf defends, shadow Attacking enemy gets +1 attack-med.png (+2 attack-med.png instead if the defending character is damaged.) 3 attack-med.png vs 3 defense-med.png = 0 damage.

CP. Deals shadow cards.

Gandalf defends both attacks.

Angmar Orc , shadow Defending player either raises his threat by 3, or this attack is considered undefended. Raises threat by 3 (37). 3 attack-med.png vs 3 defense-med.png = 0 damage.

Cornered Orc , shadow Attacking enemy gets +1 attack-med.png . If this attack destroys a character, the defending player raises his threat by 2. 3 attack-med.png vs 3 defense-med.png = 0 damage.

Exhausts Staff to give Gandalf 1 resource.

Exhausts Éowyn and Glorfindel to kill Angmar Orc. 4 attack-med.png vs 3 defense-med.png – 2 defense-med.png = 3 damage (3/3 heart-med.png ).

Puts 1 resource token on Hunting the Orcs (2/4).

RP. Raises threat by 1 (38) and deals 1 damage to Glorfindel (1/5 heart-med.png ) because of the active location (“Forced: At the end of the refresh phase, each player deals 1 damage to a character he controls.”).

ROUND 4

Engaged with Cornered Orc.

RP. Cards in hand: Ancestral Armor, Quick Strike. Draws A Test of Will.

PP. Exhausts Pipe to put Ancestral Armor on top of the deck and plays it on Gandalf (5 defense-med.png ) . Gets Dagger of Westernesse in hand and plays it on Glorfindel (4-5 attack-med.png ).

[1 more restricted attachment on Éowyn and the contract will be fulfilled.]

QP. 0 threat in the staging area.

Quests with Gandalf , Éowyn and Glorfindel for 10 willpower-med.png on Make Camp .

Reveals:

Find Shelter (6 quest points)

Surge. Time 4.

Forced: After the last time counter is removed from this quest card, each player deals 4 damage to a hero he controls. Then, place 4 time counters on this quest card.

Reveals:

Ancient Causeway (3 threat-med.png , 2 quest points)

Forced: When Ancient Causeway is explored, raise each player’s threat by 2.

After staging: Make Camp, Find Shelter, Ancient Causeway (3 threat-med.png )

10 willpower-med.png vs 3 threat = 7 progress . 3 progress on Exposed Ridge (3/3) and 4 on Make Camp (4/6). Readies Éowyn .

[Hunting the Orcs: “After the active location is explored, reveal the top card of the Orc deck and resolve it as if it was just revealed from the encounter deck.”]

Reveals:

Angmar Orc ( 25 , 2 threat-med.png , 2 attack-med.png , 3 defense-med.png , 3 heart-med.png )

When Revealed: Either discard 1 ally from play, or reveal an additional encounter card.

[Nope. Not gonna play it.]

Weathered Hilltop (1 threat-med.png , 5 quest points)

Weathered Hilltop gets +1 threat-med.png for each resource token on it.

Forced: After a Weather treachery is revealed from the encounter deck, place 1 resource token here.

TP. Travels to Weathered Hilltop .

EP. Engages Angmar Orc .

CP. Deals shadow cards.

Gandalf defends both attacks.

Angmar Orc , shadow Attacking enemy gets +1 attack-med.png . If this attack destroys a character, the defending player raises his threat by 2 . 3 attack-med.png vs 5 defense-med.png = 0 damage.

Cornered Orc , no shadow. 3 attack-med.png vs 5 defense-med.png = 0 damage.

Exhausts Staff to give Gandalf 1 resource.

Exhausts Glorfindel to kill Angmar Orc. 4 attack-med.png vs 3 defense-med.png – 2 defense-med.png = 3 damage (3/3 heart-med.png ).

Puts 1 resource token on Hunting the Orcs (3/4).

RP. Raises threat by 1 (39) and removes 1 time counter from Find Shelter (4/3).

ROUND 5

Engaged with Cornered Orc.

RP. Cards in hand: Quick Strike, A Test of Will. Draws Snowmane.

PP. Plays Strider from the top of the deck on Éowyn . (6 willpower-med.png ). Exhausts Pipe to put A Test of Will on top of the deck. Gets War Axe in hand and plays it on Éowyn (3 attack-med.png ).

[The contract will finally be fulfilled.]

QP. 3 threat in the staging area.

Quests with Gandalf , Éowyn and Glorfindel for 10 willpower-med.png on Find Shelter .

Reveals:

Biting Winds (Weather treachery)

When Revealed: Assign X damage among characters committed to the quest. X is the number of characters committed to the quest.

Plays A Test of Will from the top of the deck to cancel When Revealed and places 1 resource on Weathered Hilltop [not that it matters, but still].

[2B: “The first Weather treachery card revealed each round gains surge.”]

Reveals:

Biting Winds [Again!]

Places 2 damage on Glorfindel (3/5 heart-med.png ), and 1 damage on Éowyn (1/3 heart-med.png ) and places 1 resource token on Weathered Hilltop.

After staging: Make Camp, Find Shelter, Ancient Causeway (3 threat-med.png )

10 willpower-med.png vs 3 threat = 7 progress . 5 progress on Weathered Hilltop (5/5) and 3 on Take Shelter (3/6). Readies Éowyn .

[Hunting the Orcs: “After the active location is explored, reveal the top card of the Orc deck and resolve it as if it was just revealed from the encounter deck.”]

Reveals:

Angmar Captain ( 35 , 2 threat-med.png , 5 attack-med.png , 2 defense-med.png , 5 heart-med.png )

Forced: After Angmar Captain attacks and destroys an ally, discard the top card of the defending player’s deck. If the discarded card is an ally, Angmar Captain makes an additional attack against the defending player.

[I just love encounter cards that deal with allies.]

TP. Travels to Ancient Causeway .

EP. Engages Angmar Captain .

CP. Deals shadow cards.

Gandalf defends both attacks.

Angmar Captain , shadow Attacking enemy gets +1 attack-med.png (+2 attack-med.png instead if the defending character is damaged.) Round Shield to the rescue! 6 attack-med.png vs 7 defense-med.png = 0 damage.

Cornered Orc , exhausts Staff to discard shadow card (side quest). 2 attack-med.png vs 5 defense-med.png = 0 damage.

Exhausts Glorfindel to attack Angmar Captain 4 attack-med.png vs 2 defense-med.png – 2 defense-med.png = 4 damage (4/5 heart-med.png ).

[I don’t want to progress just yet. Next round. Maybe?]

RP. Raises threat by 1 (40), removes 1 time counter from Take Shelter (4/2), and flips the contract Gandalf (5 willpower-med.png ), Éowyn (8 willpower-med.png ), Glorfindel (5 willpower-med.png ).

ROUND 6

Engaged with Cornered Orc and Angmar Captain.

RP. Cards in hand: Quick Strike, Snowmane. Draws Foe-hammer. Plays The Galadhrim’s Greeting form the top of the deck and lowers threat by 6 (34).

PP. /

QP. 0 threat in the staging area.

Quests with Éowyn and Glorfindel for 13 willpower-med.png on Find Shelter .

Reveals:

Sheltered Valley (2 threat-med.png , 4 quest points)

While Sheltered Valley is the active location, it gains: “ Forced: When Sheltered Valley is explored, heal all damage from 1 character.”

Travel : Remove 1 resource token from the Mission objective.

10 willpower-med.png vs 2 threat = 8 progress . 2 progress on Ancient Causeway (2/2) and 6 on Take Shelter (9/6). Readies Éowyn and raises threat by 2 (36) because of “Forced: When Ancient Causeway is explored, raise each player’s threat by 2.”

[Hunting the Orcs: “After the active location is explored, reveal the top card of the Orc deck and resolve it as if it was just revealed from the encounter deck.”]

Reveals: Angmar Captain (35, 2 threat-med.png , 5 attack-med.png , 2 defense-med.png , 5 heart-med.png )

TP. Travels to Sheltered Valley and removes 1 resource token from the Hunting the Orcs (2/4).

EP. Engages Angmar Captain .

CP. Deals shadow cards, then exhausts Pipe to put Quick Strike on top of the deck.

Gandalf defends all attacks.

Plays Quick Strike and exhausts Glorfindel to kill already damaged Angmar Captain. Places 1 resource on Hunting the Orcs (3/4). Plays Foe-hammer and exhausts Rivendell Blade to draw 3 cards (A Test of Will, Gondorian Shield, The Galadhrim’s Greeting)

Angmar Captain , shadow Assign X damage among characters you control. X is the number of quest cards in play . Deals 1 damage to Gandalf (1/5 heart-med.png ) and 1 damage to Éowyn (2/3 heart-med.png ). 5 attack-med.png vs 5 defense-med.png = 0 damage.

Cornered Orc , exhausts Staff to discard shadow card. 2 attack-med.png vs 5 defense-med.png = 0 damage.

Exhausts Gandalf and Éowyn to attack Angmar Captain. 6 attack-med.png vs 2 defense-med.png = 4 damage (4/5 heart-med.png ).

RP. Raises threat by 1 (37).

ROUND 7

Engaged with Cornered Orc and Angmar Captain.

RP. Cards in hand: Snowmane, 2x A Test of Will, Gondorian Shield, The Galadhrim’s Greeting. Draws Wizard Pipe.

PP. Plays Gondorian Shield on Gandalf (6 willpower-med.png , 6 defense-med.png ). Plays Herugrim from the top of the deck on Éowyn (9 willpower-med.png , 4 attack-med.png ). Exhausts Staff to give Gandalf 1 resource, then exhausts Pipe to put A Test of Will on top of the deck. Gets Quick Strike in hand.

QP. 0 threat in the staging area.

Quests with Éowyn and Glorfindel for 14 willpower-med.png on Make Camp .

Reveals:

Ice Storm (Weather treachery)

When Revealed: Each player assign X damage among characters he controls, where X is the number of quest cards in play. Then, exhausts each damaged character.

Plays A Test of Will from the top of the deck to cancel When Revealed.

[2B: “The first Weathe r treachery card revealed each round gains surge.”]

Reveals:

Cold from Angmar (Weather treachery)

When Revealed: Each player deals 1 damage to a hero he controls. Attach Cold from Angmar to the current quest. (Counts as a Condition attachment with the text: “Treat each damaged character’s printed text box as if it were blank, except for keywords and Traits .)

Places 1 damage on Glorfindel (4/5 heart-med.png ) and attaches Cold from Angmar to Make Camp.

14 willpower-med.png vs 0 threat = 14 progress . 4 progress on Sheltered Valley (4/4) and 10 progress on Make Camp (13/6). Readies Éowyn .

Completely heals Glorfindel because of “Forced: When Sheltered Valley is explored, heal all damage from 1 character.”, and Éowyn because of “Response: After Make Camp is defeated, each player heals up to 3 damage from a hero he controls.”

[Hunting the Orcs: “After the active location is explored, reveal the top card of the Orc deck and resolve it as if it was just revealed from the encounter deck.”]

Reveals:

Angmar Marauder ( 30 , 3 threat-med.png , 3 attack-med.png , 2 defense-med.png , 4 heart-med.png )

Forced: When Angmar Marauder attacks and destroys an ally, return it to the staging area.

TP. No travel. Exhausts the contract to heal Gandalf (0/5 heart-med.png ).

EP. Engages Angmar Marauder .

CP. Deals shadow cards.

Plays Quick Strike and exhausts Éowyn to immediately kill Angmar Captain.

Puts 1 resource token on Hunting the Orcs (4/4).

“Then, if there are at least X resource tokens here, flip Hunting the Orcs and place each resource token that was on it on Savage Counter-attack .”

Flips the mission objective:

Savage Counter-attack

Forced: After Savage Counter-attack enters play, advance to stage 2A.

Forced: After an enemy attacks and destroys a character, discard 1 resource token from Savage Counter-attack.

If there are no resource tokens here, the players lose the game.

CORNERED ANIMALS, 2A

When Revealed: End the current phase. Shuffle the encounter discard pile and the Orc deck into encounter deck. Reveal Orc Ambush and Amon Forn and add them to the staging area.

Reveals:

Orc Ambush (4 quest points)

Each Orc enemy gets +1 threat-med.png , +1 attack-med.png , +1 defense-med.png .

When Revealed: Each player must search the encounter deck and discard pile for an Orc enemy and put it into play engaged with him. Shuffle the encounter deck.

Puts into play Angmar Orc (now 3 threat-med.png , 3 attack-med.png , 4 defense-med.png , 3 heart-med.png )

In the staging area:

Amon Forn (4 threat-med.png , 6 quest points)

Immune to player cards effect.

While Amon Forn is the active location, it gains: “ Forced: After an Orc enemy is added to the staging area, it makes an immediate attack against the first player.”

The players cannot win while Amon Forn is in play.

CORNERED ANIMALS, 2B

20 quest points

Each damaged character gets -1 willpower-med.png .

Forced: At the beginning of the quest phase, either discard 1 resource token from Savage Counter-attack, or reveal an additional encounter card this phase.

If the players defeat this stage, they win the game.

RP. Raises threat by 1 (38).

ROUND 8

Engaged with Cornered Orc, Angmar Captain, and Angmar Orc.

RP. Cards in hand: Snowmane, A Test of Will, The Galadhrim’s Greeting, Wizard Pipe. Draws Dagger of Westernesse.

PP. Plays Dagger of Westernesse on Glorfindel (6 willpower-med.png , 5-7 attack-med.png ). Exhausts Pipe to put A Test of Will on top of the deck. Gets Light of Valinor in hand.

QP. 4 threat in the staging area. Discards 1 resource token form Savage Counter-attack (3 left).

Quests with Éowyn and Glorfindel for 15 willpower-med.png on Orc Ambush .

Reveals:

Angmar Orc ( 25 , now 3 threat-med.png , 3 attack-med.png , 4 defense-med.png , 3 heart-med.png )

When Revealed: Either discard 1 ally from play, or reveal an additional encounter card.

Plays A Test of Will from the top of the deck to cancel When Revealed. [Otherwise, discarding 1 resource from Mission objective was all for nothing.]

15 willpower-med.png vs 4 threat = 11 progress on Orc Ambush (11/4). [Orcs lose their buffs.] Readies Éowyn .

TP. Travels to Amon Forn .

EP. Engages Angmar Marauder .

CP. Deals shadow cards.

Cornered Orc , undefended, no shadow. Glorfindel suffers 2 damage (2/5 heart-med.png ).

Exhausts Staff to discard shadow card from Angmar Captain.

Gandalf defends 3 attacks.

Angmar Captain , no shadow. 5 attack-med.png vs 6 defense-med.png = 0 damage.

Angmar Marauder 1 , shadow Attacking enemy gets +1 attack-med.png for each ally the defending player controls . 3 attack-med.png vs 6 defense-med.png = 0 damage.

Angmar Marauder 2 , no shadow. 3 attack-med.png vs 6 defense-med.png = 0 damage.

Exhausts the contract to heal Glorfindel (1/5 heart-med.png ).

Glorfindel kills Angmar Marauder 1, Éowyn kills Angmar Captain.

RP. Raises threat by 1 (39).

ROUND 9

Engaged with Cornered Orc and Angmar Orc.

RP. Cards in hand: Snowmane, The Galadhrim’s Greeting, Wizard Pipe, Light of Valinor. Draws Gandalf’s Staff.

PP. Exhausts the contract to heal Glorfindel (0/5 heart-med.png ).

QP. 0 threat in the staging area. Discards 1 resource token form Savage Counter-attack (2 left).

Quests with Éowyn and Glorfindel for 15 willpower-med.png on the main quest.

Reveals:

Tragic Discovery

When Revealed: Raise each player’s threat by the threat-med.png of the active location.

Raises threat by 4 (43).

15 willpower-med.png vs 0 threat = 15 progress . 6 progress on Amon Forn and 9 progress on the main quest (9/20).

TP. /

EP. /

CP. Deals shadow cards.

Exhausts Staff to discard shadow card from Angmar Marauder.

Gandalf defends both attacks.

Angmar Marauder , no shadow 3 attack-med.png vs 6 defense-med.png = 0 damage.

Cornered Orc , shadow: Attacking enemy gets +1 a for each damaged character the defending player controls . 2 attack-med.png vs 6 defense-med.png = 0 damage.

Glorfindel kills Cornered Orc, Éowyn kills Angmar Marauder.

RP. Raises threat by 1 (44).

ROUND 10

RP. Cards in hand: Snowmane, The Galadhrim’s Greeting, Wizard Pipe, Light of Valinor, Gandalf’s Staff. Draws Light of Valinor.

PP. /

QP. 0 threat in the staging area. Discards 1 resource token form Savage Counter-attack (1 left).

Quests with Gandalf , Éowyn and Glorfindel for 21 willpower-med.png on the main quest.

Reveals:

Exposed Ridge (3 threat-med.png , 3 quest points)

21 willpower-med.png vs 3 threat = 18 progress on the main quest (27/20).

GAME OVER

Edited by Preotet
Posted at

I really enjoyed the report on Ithilien. It has been years since I played it (in 2013). It wasn’t a nightmare version then, of course, yet I still took great pride in beating it with the cardpool of then. And here you are still using Glorfindel as I did, and I really wonder why some seem to shy away from him because I find him to be among the best heroes in the game, probably my favourite, though I would also like to see another version (Tactics) with a great ability (would be even better now with Thorongil). The ally is also amazing but the Lore version...

Posted at

As I've gathered from reading the forums and listening to some podcasts, he was overplayed. He's powerful and cheap for his stats and was therefore in every deck. That's why players shied away from him. Then came new characters, new combos, new jank. Anyway, that's just the feeling I got, so I could be wrong. But I'm still new to the game so I don't find him boring yet. 😃

The funny thing about Into Ithilien, I always thought it was the easiest of the three and never had any real big problems with beating it. Well, at first I did, because of my limited cardpool. But at that time, the majority of the quests seemed difficult. I only played Escape from Dol Goldur for the first time a couple of months ago, for example. It gained such a reputation it was almost the last quest I played (not counting unreleased packs from the last cycle).

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And I agree, he's one of the best heroes in the game. Right there beside Eowyn and Gandalf. 😃 😃

Posted at

I always found it hard but not as annoying as some. I think Pelargir is easier but can get some really nasty combos. Ithilien basically had the Wargs and the Watcher that could destroy the swarms of the time but I hardly ever swarmed. Then Wargs got the positive errata I believe, and it changed things a little bit.

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Oh the Wargs. Ruined plenty of promising games. What kind of errata did they get?

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I believe they used to have a conditional reshuffle: "If the current quest has the battle or siege keyword, shuffle this card back into the encounter deck", which was completely removed in the errata.

I've only ever played with the post-errata version which is punishing enough, so having to shuffle them back into the deck and potentially draw them again sounds awful. I also think this could create a loop, where if the only cards left in the deck were Blocking Wargs you would just endlessly reveal and reshuffle them, while also killing all non-immune questing characters.

Posted at

I believe originally you shuffled them back to the encounter deck right after reveal and now you don’t any longer but I am by no means certain by this.

Let us talk some of the heroes as I used to in the past but have not done so in years.

I really like the design of Gandalf but I have not built that many good decks with him as others seem to achieve. I do not always shy away from higher threat lineups but the only good decks I ever had with Gandalf ran either Spirit Beregond or Glorfindel.

I find it interesting that the original Eowyn and Beregond were both staple heroes already but received new versions (in opposite sphere) in the Flame of the West which are even much better I would say. Yes, perhaps not always that much better but in general definitely more versatile: low threat cost in Tactics with high willpower is amazing and keeping the threat level (as Beregond usually does) is great too.

I believe what people dislike about Spirit Glorfindel is the lack of positive ability. And I do agree that such a major character, or such an iconic character, and certainly one of the mightiest of the era, should have a card with a mighty ability (and stats... which seem fine as they are). But as I said earlier, I really enjoy the Spirit version, I just wish we would have another powerful version, and the Lore one is a total miss.

Edited by lleimmoen
Posted at

Hey, we seemed to have write it simultaneously, ok, so they probably shuffled when the stage was a battle or siege, makes sense. It indeed could leave a few of them at the bottom of the encounter deck and you were stuck.

Edited by lleimmoen