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: 1-4
Rating: .5
Premise
As the first entry into my thematic contracts series, we have Fellowship. Building a thematic deck for this contract is both easy (since it is clear which characters to put into your deck) and tricky (since you need ways to get all of them onto the table). Aragorn and Frodo Baggins needed to be two of the heroes (with no ally versions existing of them), as the third hero I settled for Gandalf. I choose the grey wizard because he partially gets around the problem of playing off-sphere allies, because he can tutor allies to ensure a quick fellowship forming (through Word of Command) and because he really makes the deck jell through his amazing draw and resource acceleration (with Gandalf's Staff).
How To Play
Starting off, you want to see some resource acceleration. Having Gandalf's Staff in your opening hand is hugely valuable, as is Steward of Gondor (either together with Wizard Pipe or A Good Harvest). Once you get resources going, play down your powerful attachments (most go on Gandalf) and allies to start forming your Fellowship of the Ring! Word of Command is hugely important for this deck, early on to find the pieces for a quick Steward of Gondor, later on for finding the allies. Early questing can be a bit of an issue so a Sam Gamgee can often be clutch in the first few rounds.
Considerations
In higher player counts, running Desperate Alliance to give other players your Aragorn is often hugely impactful. It can also allow you to run the underappreciated 10th member of the Fellowship in Bill the Pony (by giving one of your heroes away in the planning phase and thus being able to play one more ally). Dúnedain Remedy is a tech card since this deck lacks healing, with only Magic Ring helping you out in that regard. The One Ring can be included for thematic reasons, however I prefer to have a little threat leeway which is why it only made the sideboard.
Enjoy!!!