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| Back to Basics - A Killer Deck Using Cards from 1 Core Set | 1109 | 818 | 70 | 1.0 |
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| I'll Be Back | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2.0 |
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el_tonio 6
The goal was to come up with something I can use at the GenCon 2019 Mines of Moria event (I'm a new player... I own two cores and all the sagas... I don't expect the deck to be great, but I'd like it to be helpful).
I looked at a lot of decks before making this one. But, I'd say these are the two decks that inspired it the most:
https://ringsdb.com/decklist/view/951/back-to-basics-a-killer-deck-using-cards-from-1-core-set-1.0
Plus one I'll post as soon as I find it again (it was one that said the same deck had beaten all core, Khazad-Dum, and Hobbit scenarios I believe).
My favorite part of the deck (from a rookie perspective) is that it includes several cards that let me re-ready heroes or allies (thus it's name... "I'll Be Back"): Aragorn, Cram, Unexpected Courage, Gimli.
It also includes:
Some cards add resources: Théodred, Steward of Gondor.
Some cards add progress tokens: Northern Tracker, Snowbourn Scout, Steward of Gondor.
Some cards cancel card effects: Thrór's Key, A Test of Will, Hasty Stroke.
Some cards that boost willpower, attack, or defense: Celebrían's Stone, The Favor of the Lady, For Gondor!
Wandering Took and Northern Tracker are fillers (I've read good things, but do not love them based on my current understanding of the game). Open to ideas for replacing these, especially if I have anything in these two spheres that I missed that might help me heal. Or, if there are better allies for the price.
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Jul 05, 2019 |
Jul 05, 2019Great suggestions... I will definitely tweak based on this. Quick question... how often do you defend against an enemy with engagement cost higher than your threat? I liked those cards, but wasn't sure how often that happened, so was not sure it was worthwhile. |
Jul 06, 2019Thanks again for the recommendations! I made a bunch of changes to boost defense and so I could reready ready more characters (along with a few of the other great points you raised). Added Northern Tracker, Faramir, Desperate Defense (since Aragorn & Gimli are sentinels), and Taste it Again!. Removed Wandering Took, The Favor of the Ladyy, For Gondor!, Galadriel (though I do have a 15 attachments, I already had a lot of spirit cards). Kept 2 Guard of the Citadel because I wanted more leadership allies to round things out. Kept 3 Celebrían's Stone as I’d like to get it given I have 20 spirit cards, plus a few of the others to make sure I had a good balance of leadership and spirit cards, and allies, attachments, and events. Can always put them toward Eowin's ability if I'm lucky enough to draw several. Feeling better about it, but let me know what you think after reading this. |
Good stuff!
I think Northern Tracker is particularly good in multiplayer, because you're revealing more cards from the encounter deck, and locations can build up in the staging area since you can only travel to 1 at a time.
Wandering Took is OK in combination with some things, but maybe there are better options.
In general, if I'm paying 2 resources for an Ally or Attachment that I expect will help me quest, I want to get 2 willpower out of it each turn. If I'm paying 3, I want to get 3, etc.
So, for something like Guard of the Citadel, Wandering Took, or The Favor of the Lady, I feel like those are a bit weak, because you're paying 2 to get only 1 willpower each turn. Of course, I realize you're limited in your card pool, so maybe they are the best for now.
On the other hand, something like Celebrían's Stone feels great, since it's 2 for 2. Of course, it's not quite as simple as that, since Gimli is great, even at 4 resources, since you'll likely get to quest for 2, and then either attack or defend. I put a similar value on Unexpected Courage.
As I look at the other options available for Allies, maybe you've already considered them, but a few that I like: Bilbo Baggins - 2 willpower for 2 cost, and ignore the pipe. Rosie Cotton - 2 willpower for 2 cost, and ignore the Hobbit stuff. Faramir - can easily add +4 willpower if you quest with 4 characters. Halbarad - Maybe 1 copy of him, so you could draw it later in the game, when you might have a couple enemies engaged.
I also think a card like For Gondor! is fine for 1 copy, or maybe 2, but it feels quite expensive for a single-turn effect. My inclination, if you want to add more attack power to your deck, is to look for permanent attack bonuses, in the form of Allies or Attachments. I'd consider things like: Anborn - not great since it's 4 resources for 3 attack, but has some flexibility. Háma - 3 resources for 2 attack, but also has a good defensive ability.
OK, so those aren't amazing, but they could be worth considering for 1x copy. But here are some better suggestions, since it seems like you intend to use your heroes a lot and want to ready a lot: Desperate Defense (Aragorn is Sentinel) Taste it Again! - Maybe go to 2x Halbarad in that case, for the threat benefit. Ever Vigilant - This card is really good with a Sneak Attack'ed Gandalf, equating to 4 extra quest or attack or defense. Staff of Lebethron - Perhaps too tenuous of a combo, since it requires Steward of Gondor on Aragorn + high engagement enemies to work, but having confidence in defending seems good... Beorn - And if you like combos, you can also Sneak Attack Beorn, attacking for 8, and possibly doing it more than once with Ever Vigilant.
For cards to cut, I think something like Galadriel is a little risky if you end up cutting more Attachments (which I would). She's certainly nice to sneak attack for an extra 3 willpower, but I'd probably wait for Gandalf instead. I think Celebrían's Stone is great, but do you really need 3, since it's unique? I'd go down to 2. Same for Gimli. Probably only need 1x Thrór's Key, and I'd go with 0 The Favor of the Lady. If you have 3x Steward of Gondor, that one I'd keep at max, because it's just so good...
I hope this helps, and obviously feel free to ignore any/all of this! Hope to see you at GenCon!