Wizard's Pupil 1.0

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• 1.0

"For Boromir was loyal to me and no wizard's pupil. He would have remembered his father's need and would not have squandered what fortune gave. He would have brought me a mighty gift." - Denethor, The Return of the King

This is a love story and a deckbuilding story.

This deck was built to build up Faramir as a main attacker in a 2-player game, without building a traps deck. It won't quest much or at all.

First attempt was a lore-tactics build. The main obstacle I encountered was that, if Faramir is meant to be a main attacker in a multiplayer game (where the other deck is primarily questing), he will need to attack multiple times. This means Rohan Warhorse, but it takes a restricted slot and requires Faramir to use Song of Battle. I tried that, it worked OK, but was too conditional on things going your way.

I investigated other ways to ready him next. Merry is another, but he takes a whole hero slot. Certainly I've used him in this way before, but not today. I noticed Heir of Mardil would work for this purpose, so I thought I could perhaps do a lore-leadership build and eschew tactics. After all, Faramir has his own attack boosting ability. I did know from the start that Ranger Spikes would be in the deck, as I consider this as much of a "Faramir tool" as I consider Light of Valinor to be a Glorfindel tool.

So, building lore-leadership, I realized of course Steward of Gondor could trigger the readying effect from Heir of Mardil, but that prevents you from using its resources immediately each planning phase, effectively slowing the deck. I knew Faramir needed additional attack boosts, and Sword of Númenor synergized very nicely with Heir of Mardil, so it went in. But the Sword is conditional and won't always trigger. Then I realized (of course!), the Steward himself, Denethor would trigger the Heir of Mardil card and solve my problem. So he went in.

I don't remember at which point I started thinking about including Gandalf. I only remember a failed attempt at a viable "Wizard's Pupil" deck with leadership Faramir and OHaUH Gandalf in a The Grey Wanderer format. This deck then stole the name, became richly thematic with a Denethor-Faramir-Gandalf feud going on, and became awesome.

--below are the notes I took for myself while I deckbuilt, unedited.--

building with Faramir If he's to be main attacker, at least 2 attacks per round are required,
with atk strength great enough to clear 2 moderate enemies on his own (6-9 health)
NO tactics icon means no Rohan Warhorse w/o Song of Battle.
But that's OK -- the warhorse takes up a restricted attachment
other ways to ready him: Heir of Mardil, give him something that grants resources. Steward? Denethor himself!
Sword of Numenor does, nice synergy, but you need an enemy with 5 health.
Sword of Numenor + 3 Dunedain Marks is a nice atk power, add Ranger Spikes for more, and you don't need tactics. Possibly add Valiant Sword once released (+1 atk. +2 if 40 threat).

-Just now added Gandalf to make this the "Wizard's Pupil" deck. Feud between Gandalf and Denethor can be a theme?!

round 1 end of planning (first testing game):
in hand Heir of Mardil, Knight of the White Tower, Warden of Healing
in play Gandalf's Staff, Wizard Pipe. Steward on Denethor. Ranger Spikes in staging. Sword of Numenor on Faramir.