I have just started out with the core game but am already thinking about the next purchase !

what is the best extension pack to get first? Do I need to get a delux pack ? If so which one and if not what is the other option?

thanks

Hello

Well they come out with expansions by first coming out with a duluxe expansion and then 6 smaller Adventure Packs. This is called a cycle. So far there is the Mirkwood cycle, the Dwarrowdelf cycle and the Against the Shadow cycle. The Against the Shadow cycle has some hard quests and is a lot newer and only has the Duluxe expansion and 2 out of the 6 Adventure packs out so far so I would skip getting those for a while. The Mirkwoood cycle was the first cycle of expasnions they made and they are all pretty much out of stock so you won't be able to get any of those expansions for a while until they are reprinted (Around December of 2013) That leaves the the Dwarrowdelf cycle. The Dwarrowdelf cycle is probably the best cycle of expansions and is a great place to start. The Dwarrowdelf cycle looks like this:

Khazad-Dum - This is the Duluxe expansion for this cycle and is needed to buy any of the following Adventure Packs in the cycle.

Adventure Packs for Dwarrowdelf Cycle

1. The Redhorn Gate - Good expansion. I'd say about 7/10

2. Road To Rivendell - Good expansion. Nice quest. 7.5/10

3. The Watcher In The Water - Great expansion. Very good cards in this one and very fun quest. 8.5/10

4. The Long Dark - Nice Easy Quest. So-so player cards. 6.5/10

5. Foundations of Stone - Very fun quest. AMAZING player cards. 9.5/10

6. Shadow and Flame - Many people do not like this quest. OK player cards. 6.5/10

If I were you I would get Khazad-Dum and start getting the Adventure packs above in order. Although it wouldn't be a bad Idea to grab Foundations of Stone before since that is a very good one. But this is not all. You have yet more choices. There are also Saga exapansions that follow Tolkien's books. These Saga expansions do not go along with any cycle or anything so they can be bought alone. So far they have come out with 2 Duluxe expansion sized Saga Expansions covering the Hobbit book. Here they are:

Hobbit Expansions

The Hobbit: Over Hill and Under Hill - Great expansion. Not super hard quests. Good player cards. 9/10

The Hobbit: On the Doorstep - Harder quests. But very fun. Good player cards. 9/10

And there are even a few more expansions but I would not reccomend those to you due to being too hard for starting off.

So if I were you I would buy Khazad-Dum and start buying the following Adventure Packs. Then After you have bought all those (If you do) Then I would go for the Hobbit Expansions or see if the Mirkwood expansions are in Stock yet. Let me know if you have any more questions. Sorry if this is confusing or you already know this. And one more thing. This site is a great place to figure out what to buy although remember that all the Mirkwood cycle is unavalible. http://talesfromthecards.wordpress.com/2012/12/17/new-player-buying-guide/

Hope this helps,

Khamul

i would go with what khamul says- khazad dum then go in order with the dwarrowdelf cycle

there is a thread on here, perhaps a page or so back on the main page, which lists a store which has mirkwood cycle in stock. try there first

rich

Thanks,That's an excellent detailed explanation which is really helpful.

I will keep my open for the Mirkwood packs but meanwhile go with Kazhad-Dum expansion.

Many thanks and sorry for the multiple posting

Phil

So it was helpfull and not confusing? (YES!!!) No problem. I find it quite fun helping people figure out what new expansion to buy. Looks like it wasn't nonsense too since Rich ( the most active person on the forums and played the game since it was released) agreed with what I said. Well at least some of it.

Forgot to do a rating on Khazad-Dum Here it is:

Khazad-Dum - Great way to start off. All 3 of the quests are very beatable even with the cardpool you will have. They are very fun quests too. Player cards are mostly for Gimli and other dwarfs. But they are good. I would reccomend using a deck with Thalin, Eowyn, and Dwalin (Dwalin is a hero that comes in Khazad- Dum.) That deck worked quite well for me when I did the same thing you did, had just the core and Khazad-Dum. 8/10

Khamul

I too am relatively new to the game and just got Khazad-Dûm and almost all of the Dwarrowdelf adventure packs. I was thinking - Khazad-Dûm (naturally) adds a lot of dwarf-related cards, and then there's The Hobbit expansions and The Heirs of Númenor. Will there be an elf-themed expansion anytime soon? I'm playing a Glorfindel/Elrond deck and would love to have some more Noldor or Silvan characters.

Olorin93 said:

each race will eventually get their own 'cycle' eventually. elves (silvan at least) will naturally be centered around a lothlorien cycle….men have the current one, dwarves have the hobbit packs and khazad, and the hobbits have the trilogy cycle and hopefully their own through the shire

rich

There was some elves in the MIrkwood cycle. 4-5 I think.