Basic concept

This is a questing deck with active location shenanigans, as well as anti-encounter deck tech.

The basic idea is to build up the victory display with encounter cards, stifling the encounter deck and limiting the outpouring of enemies. We do this while boosting Rossiel, and enabling Halfling Bounder and location threat nullification thanks to Explore Secret Ways.

How to play the deck

• The first priority is to complete Scout Ahead, ideally in turn 1. This side-quest is the perfect launching pad for this deck. East Road Ranger is good as a first buy just for the purpose of completing it turn 1.
• Dump Folco Boffin as soon as you have cards such as Out of the Wild and Risk Some Light to play. This will activate secrecy. Folco should only stick around in the first few turns for his questing power and the extra-resource every turn.
• Discard, ignore or put out of play enemies with cards such as Ranger Spikes, Out of the Wild, Ithilien Lookout (note that this only costs 1 in secrecy) and Firyal
• If you manage to complete Explore Secret Ways, use Thror's Map and Distant Stars to nullify the threat of locations in the staging area.
• Mirkwood Explorer and Asfaloth are used to snipe locations outside questing

Starting hand

For your starting hand, look for Out of the Wild and Risk Some Light, or even Ithilien Lookout. It is important to put the clamps on the encounter deck ASAP in order to be able to quest “peacefully”. East Road Ranger is great for early side-questing.

Test scenario

I tested and fine-tuned this mostly solo against The Redhorn Gate Nightmare.

Improvements

I think the Explore Secret Ways shenanigans were quite rare, though very nice when they clicked. This should be more impactful in multiplayer play, where this side-quest addresses location lock. One could also include more copies of The Road Goes Ever On to make it more reliable, or even start off with it instead of Scout Ahead as the starting side-quest.