2023 Thematic Saga: Journey to the Crossroads

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TheChad 12616

The Thematic Saga continues with The Journey to the Crossroads

The video about the deck-build can be found here: https://youtu.be/SuGOCa9p_CI The Video of the play-through is here: https://youtu.be/Bm8daXRszt8

In this series I am trying to use as many thematic cards as possible as I play the Lord of the Rings Saga quests in order, in a modified campaign mode. The modification is that I will not be raising my threat if I swap heroes in-between quests

As Frodo Baggins, Sam Gamgee, and Smeagel make their way south through Ithilien they meet some unlikely allies. Faramir, son of the Steward of Gondor and his company of rangers. Stinker slinks off before the Hobbits are put under guard of Mablung. While listening to the rangers speak, Frodo is surprised to learn they are of Dunedain decent.

Suddenly, a Battle erupts in the once peaceful glade. Cruel Haradrim from the south were ambushed by the Fierce Defense of the rangers . Sam is astonished to see an Oliphant as Gondorian Fire rains down on the wicked foe. Sam sees a fallen soldier, and ponders his life. Was he truly evil at heart, or would he have rather stayed home in peace.

For this build I had to go off the theme I had hoped to build. The Ithilien Rangers in this game are unfortunately designed in a way that is opposite to how you survive this quest. This quest can be lost if you leave enemies in the staging area at the end of a planning phase. The rangers are REALLY good at trapping enemies in the staging area. See the issue here? I think if you wanted to build a thematic trap deck you would have to play multiplayer and have another deck helping you with some direct damage/ staging area attack. In true solo, that ranger trap deck is itself...a trap.

So, I thought about it a lot and came up with this build. Of course Faramir is here, his ability to ready an ally when you engage an enemy is great. I had also tried Mablung but found his stats were not helping me enough. Seastan suggested Beravor, and we both noted that the rangers themselves were of Dunedain decent, and it is not a far stretch of the imagination that a Dunedain would travel to Ithilien to aid in the war effort. Since the Rangers in this game do not help us in this quest I brought along some other Gondor allies, Outlands. You need the from the Ethir Swordsman. Ioreth is here as well as our field-medic.

Rounding out the hero line-up is (MotK) Jubayr. Sam ponders the hearts of these Haradrim, are they truly evil? This made me think about the Harad allies and hero we have in the cardpool. It seemed to me that Sam would be correct, and not all Harad were evil. We have many examples in the story of evil humans helping the forces of evil, seemed logical there would be good found within the ranks of Harad. So, Jubayr is a Hardrim spy, helping the Rangers of Ithilien in the hopes that he may return to a life of peace that is not under the oppressive thumb of Sauron. His ability to discard a shadow card and perhaps another if he riding a Armored Destrier is extremely useful. Unexpected Courage also could go on him, just remember the Messenger of the King limits your readying to once a phase, so you must trigger it prior to combat if he is also on the armored steed.

Once your threat hits 40 you can dispatch of those walking houses by using Fierce Defense. Gondorian Fire goes on Faramir and hopefully he can Quick Strike enemies to avoid attacks.

Good luck, this is one of the most difficult solo-quests out there.

Happy Questing!

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