This deck is part of Mormegil’s Deckbox, an effort to create an extensive catalogue of decks for the different archetypes, themes and playing styles available to players. Click here to check out the whole project.
Preferred Player Count: 2-4, (1)
Rating:
Premise
You only own the Revised Core Set and still want to go to a convention or play with friends who already own the game? This is the deck for you! You not only bring decent willpower to start with, you also run a vast array of tools that can support yourself as well as other players (such as Beravor, Théodred, The Galadhrim's Greeting or Gléowine), quickly ensuring that you will be a very popular member of your fellowship.
How To Play
The card I usually mulligan for is Steward of Gondor to give you great resource acceleration. There are other hands I am also inclined to keep (like having Sneak Attack and Gandalf both in your opening hand), but Steward is the card you need the most since your deck is on the expensive side (which is hard to avoid with one Core Set). From there on, you play down whatever you draw, keeping a close eye all game where your supporting effects are needed most around the table. Someone struggling with resources? Help them out with Théodred. Someone starved for card draw? Send Beravor their way. Someone facing an unexpected attack? Wandering Took can help out!
Overall, you might not run the strongest deck out there due to your limited card pool but the immense flexibility you bring to the table will still make you a worthwhile contributor in most settings!
Considerations
Miner of the Iron Hills is great tech if you are facing nasty condition attachments, which are not that prevalent during most quests but very present in the Core Set quests. Son of Arnor can be a life-saver in some situations, as can Forest Snare. Grim Resolve is of course very strong but its cost is too much of a drawback for me. Will of the West can be included in longer quests where people might run out of cards.
Enjoy!!!