Saga Quest 10: The Ring Goes South

Victory on the fourth attempt!

It's been a long time. Not only since I posted, but since I had time to sit down and complete one of the new (to me) quests in my collection. I'll save more for the recap, but it was worth the wait and I had a blast!

The Deck

Being allowed the ability to freely switch out characters made the deck-building wide open for this quest. At first, I tried keeping Merry & Sam, switching only Pippin out for Aragorn (Watcher in the Water). It didn't work. In fact, I got slaughtered twice in a row. In hindsight, I would suggest switching out Merry for Legolas.

Then I read on a forum (sorry, it's been a while and I can't remember which post) the opinion that this quest wanted to steer you towards Gandalf, Sam, and Aragorn (Core). I'm not sure how Sam figured into that equation, but questing for four (having the Noble Hero boon attached) gave him an automatic spot in any deck I was going to go for. I just wasn't tickled about the idea of a starting threat of 34.

I looked over my leadership cards (since this build would necessitate at least the majority of cards coming from here) and saw two cards I never really used to their full ability: Grave Cairn and Rear Guard. Grave Cairn + Sneak Attack + Gandalf (Core) is a great combination, but not viable if I'm using hero Gandalf. After my two defeats, I knew some serious questing power would be needed for this one and thus Rear Guard would be a perfect fit to include.

Next I thought about attachments. There were so many I wanted to include! But so many of those were unique, or limited to 1/character (Wizard's Pipe). Could I get away with including x1 of such great cards? If I included Galadriel x3, maybe so. Master of the Forge would be great for that strategy as well, but I would have to move him to the top of my deck and wait until Gandalf had two resources. But wait! Why not include Herald of Anorien? Going for Doomed 2 with an already high threat is risky, but this deck was meant to be fun so let's have fun.

Even with high willpower, there are some terrible high-threat locations and enemies that can come jumping out. Enemies I can at least take care of in one turn. Locations might build up in the staging area. In goes Secret Paths. Once again, can I guarantee getting it to the top of my deck for Gandalf to use (ironically, it ended up in exactly that spot during attempts 3 and 4)? Let's put in one copy of Song of Wisdom as a back-up.

I think we're ready to rumble.

Heroes
Gandalf (The Road Darkens)
Sam Gamgee
Aragorn (Core)

Ally (21)
Galadriel (The Road Darkens) x3
Master of the Forge x2
Bill the Pony x3
Envoy of Pelargir x3
Herald of Anorien x3
Naith Guide x3
Snowborn Scout x3
Faramir x1

Attachment (17)
Wizard Pipe x1
Sword that was Broken x1
Good Meal x3
Gandalf's Staff x1
Celebrain's Stone x1
Heir of Mardil x1
Dunedain Mark x3
Dunedain Warning x2
Steward of Gondor x1
Song of Kings x1
Song of Wisdom x1
A Burning Brand x1

Event (12)
Flame of Arnor x3
Secret Paths x3
Frodo's Intuition x3
Rear Guard x3

Sets Used
Core
The Hunt for Gollum
Conflict at the Carrock
The Hills of Emyn Muil
The Redhorn Gate
The Watcher in the Water
Shadow and Flame
Heirs of Numenor
The Black Riders
The Road Darkens
The Dunland Trap
Trouble in Tharbad
Celebrimbor's Secret

Note: Master of the Forge is definitely an all-star here,  working great with Gandalf's abilities and Galadriel (before or after she is played). 



The Journey

Set starting threat to 34

Campaign Set-up
Switch out Merry and Pippin for Gandalf and Aragorn (Core).
Add Anduril to my hand. Shuffle Sting, Mithril Shirt, and Glamdring into my deck.

Quest Set-up
Set Lust for the Rings, Redhorn Pass, Doors of Durin, and Watcher in the Water to the side. Shuffle encounter.

Starting Hand
Naith Guide x2, Wizard Pipe, Mithril Shirt, Good Meal
Top card: Bill the Pony
I considered doing a mulligan, but Wizard Pip + Anduril is going to be a great combination during stage 1. And two rounds of Naith Guides is nothing to sneer at.
Flip to side 1B

Round 1
After getting Anduril on Aragorn for free, I blaze past Redhorn Pass and take out both of the Hound of Sauron's that pursued me.


Resource Phase
+1 Gandalf (1), +1 Sam (1), +1 Aragorn (1), +1 Frodo (1)
Draw: Bill the Pony
Top Card: Naith Guide
Well, three rounds of an unexhausted Gandalf will be nice.

Planning Phase
Play: Naith Guide from top of deck (Sam -1, Gandalf -1). Choose Gandalf to not exhaust to quest this round.
Top Card: Herald of Anorien
Play: Bill the Pony
Play: Good Meal. Attach to Frodo.

Play: Wizard Pipe (Frodo -1). Attach to Gandalf.
Exhaust Wizard Pipe to switch Anduriel (from hand) with Herald of Anorien (from deck)

Stage 1B Forced Effect: Put Anduril face-up in front of me. Choose to play it for 0 cost. Attach to Aragorn.
Top Card: Glamdring
Choose to shuffle Lust for the Ring into the encounter deck.
Threating out is what did me in during attempt #3. While any boon is one to regret, I'll just have to work around it.
Proceed to stage 2. Make Redhorn Pass the active location.
Reveal (encounter): Hound of Sauron. Surge.
Reveal: Hound of Sauron. Surge.
Reveal: Storm of Howls. Choose to give each Warg enemy -20 engagement cost.
Flip to side 2B.

Quest Phase
Commit Gandalf (does not exhaust), Sam, Aragorn, Frodo to the quest. Total willpower: 12.
Ready Aragorn (Aragorn -1).
Reveal: Eregion. Total threat: 5
Place 6 progress on Redhorn Pass, exploring it and adding it to the victory display (1). No damage on card.
Place 1 progress on stage 2B (1/8).

Travel Phase
Travel to Eregion.

Encounter Phase
Engage Hound of Sauron #1. Place 1 damage on Eregion (1).
Engage Hound of Sauron #2. Place 1 damage on Eregion (2).

Combat Phase
Deal shadow cards to Hound of Sauron x2.
Hound of Sauron #1 attacks. Naith Guide defends. Shadow: Howling Warg (+1 attack, 1 damage on active location if character is destroyed). Naith Guide is destroyed. Place 1 damage on Eregion (3).
Hound of Sauron #2 attacks. Aragorn defends. Shadow: Howling Warg (+1 attack, 1 damage on active location if character is destroyed). Two damage dealt to Aragorn. Exhaust Anduriel to declare an attack on Hound of Sauron #2 with Aragorn, destroying it.

Gandalf and Bill the Pony declare an attack on Hound of Sauron #1, destroying it.

Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 35.


Round 2
Holding back allies to avoid loosing them via Eregion's leave-play effect, I make a little progress on the quest and take out one of the two additional Hounds that came at me this turn.

Resource Phase
+1 Gandalf (1), +1 Sam (1), +1 Aragorn (1), +1 Frodo (1)
Draw: Glamdring
Top Card: Dunedain Mark

Planning Phase
Play Dunedain Mark from top of deck (Gandalf -1). Attach to Gandalf.
Top Card: Bill the Pony
Play: Glamdring (Sam -1, Frodo -1). Attach to Gandalf.

Quest Phase
Commit Sam, Aragorn, Frodo, Bill. Total willpower: 10
Ready Aragorn (Aragorn -1).
Reveal: Hound of Sauron. Surge.
Reveal: Hound of Sauron. Surge.
Reveal: Hills of Holin.
Total threat: 4
Place 4 progress on Eregion, exploring it. Must discard 3 allies. Discard Bill the Pony (no other allies in play).
Place 2 progress on stage 2B (3/8).

Travel Phase
Travel to Hills of Hollin

Encounter Phase
Engage Hound of Sauron. Place 1 damage on Hills of Holin (1). Ready Sam (+1 willpower, attack, defense).

Combat Phase
Deal shadow card to Hound of Sauron. Attacks! Gandalf defends. Shadow: Crebain from Dunland (no effect). Place 1 damage on Gandalf.
Aragorn declares an attack on Hound of Sauron, destroying it.

Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 36


Round 3
Trying to balance strong questing vs. holding back enough blockers to handle Great Warg Chief + Hound of Sauron + one additional warg, I fail advancing the quest by 1 progress. I compensate by taking out the Hound of Sauron.

Resource Phase
+1 Gandalf (1), +1 Sam (1), +1 Aragorn (1), +1 Frodo (1)
Draw: Bill the Pony
Top Card: Envoy from Pelargir

Planning Phase
Play: Envoy from Pelargir (Gandalf -1, Frodo -1). Add 1 resource to Sam's pool (2).
Top Card: Dunedain Warning.
Play: Bill the Pony
Play: Naith Guide (Sam -2). Choose Gandalf to not exhaust to quest this round.

Quest Phase
Commit Gandalf (does not exhaust), Sam, Aragorn, Frodo, Naith Guide. Total willpower: 13
Ready Aragorn (Aragorn -1).
Reveal: Redhorn Foothills. Total threat: 5
No! I knew there would be a risk of a 4-threat location or enemy, but I was really hoping for a 3 at most. It was risk between questing with one more ally vs. having one more ally to defend during stage 3.
Place 4 progress on Hills of Hollin, exploring it. Raise threat by 1 to 37.
Place 4 progress on stage 2B (7/8)

Travel Phase
Travel to Redhorn Foothills.

Encounter Phase
Engage Hound of Sauron. Place 1 damage on Redhorn Foothills (1). Ready Sam (+1 willpower, attack, defense).

Combat Phase
Deal shadow card to Hound of Sauron. Attacks! Bill the Pony defends. Shadow: Hills of Holin (no effect). Bill is destroyed.
Aragorn declares an attack on Hound of Sauron, destroying it.

Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 38

Round 4
Questing heavily, I advance to stage 3 and defend against Great Warg Chief + Howling Warg with no ability to damage them this time round. Master of the Forge makes it into play and the mining of attachments + re-arranging of the player deck begins!

Resource Phase
+1 Gandalf (1), +1 Sam (1), +1 Aragorn (1), +1 Frodo (1)
Draw: Dunedain Warning
Top Card: Master of the Forge
Exhaust Wizard Pipe to exchange Mithril Shirt for Master of the Forge.

Planning Phase
Play: Mithril Shirt (Frodo -1). Attach to Frodo.
Top Card: Secret Paths
Play: Herald of Anorien (Sam -1, Aragorn -1). Give Doomed 2 (raise threat to 40) to put Master of the Forge into play.

Quest Phase
Commit Gandalf, Sam, Aragorn, Frodo. Total willpower: 12
Reveal: Tree-Crowned Hill. Total threat: 3
Place 5 progress on Redhorn Foothills, exploring it. Randomly discard (put both cards face down and used a dice program, assigning even/odd): Dunedain Warning
Place 4 progress on stage 2B, clearing it. Advance to stage 3.
Search encounter deck and add Great Warg Chief.

Travel Phase
Travel to Tree-Crowned Hill

Encounter Phase
Engage Great Warg Chief. Place 1 damage on Tree-Crowned Hill (1). Discard (encounter): Snowdrifts, Storm of Howls, Howling Warg. Put Howling Warg into play, engaged with me. Add 1 damage to Tree-Crowned Hill (2).

Combat Phase
Deal shadow cards to Howling Warg, Great Warg Chief.
Howling Warg attacks. Place 1 damage on Tree-Crowned Hill. Herald of Anorien defends. Shadow: Hills of Holin (no effect). Herald is destroyed.
Great Warg Chief attacks. Bill the Pony defends. Shadow: Redhorn Foothills (no effect). Bill the Pony is destroyed.
Exhaust Master of the Forge to look at my top 5 cards and add Dunedain Mark to my hand. Shuffle deck.
Top Card: Sword That Was Broken


Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 41

Round 5
Aragorn becomes the Steward of Gondor and I take out the Great Warg Chief. 

Resource Phase
+1 Gandalf (1), +1 Sam (1), +1 Aragorn (1), +1 Frodo (1)
Draw: Sword That Was Broken
Top Card: Steward of Gondor

Planning Phase
Play: Steward of Gondor (Gandalf -1, Sam -1). Attach to Aragorn.
Top Card: Frodo's Intuition
Exhaust Steward of Gondor. +2 Aragorn (3).
Play: Naith Guide (Aragorn -2). Choose Gandalf to not exhaust to quest this round.

Quest Phase
Commit Gandalf (Does not exhaust), Sam, Aragorn, Frodo. Total willpower: 12.
Ready Aragorn (Aragorn -1).
Reveal: Redhorn Foothills. Place 1 damage on it (1). Total threat: 4
Play: Frodo's Intuition (discard Good Meal to lower cost by 2 to 0). Updated willpower: 16. Draw: Rear Guard, Rear Guard.
Top Card: Flame of Arnor.
Place 6 progress on Tree-Crowned Hill, exploring it. Exhaust 3 characters: Naith Guide x2, Envoy of Pelargir.
Place 6 progress on The Hunt Is Up! (2/12).

Travel Phase
Travel to Redhorn Foothills.

Encounter Phase
No engagements.

Combat Phase
Deal shadow cards to Howling Wargs, Great Warg Chief.
Add Mr. Underhill to the victory display (2). Choose Great Warg Chief not to attack this round.
Howling Wargs attack. Place 1 damage on Redhorn Footills (2). Gandalf defends. Shadow: Regiments of Crows (undefended damage goes on active location). No damage dealt.
Play: Flame of Arnor from top of deck (Frodo -1). Ready Gandalf. Discard: Bill the Pony to give Gandalf +2 attack.
Top Card: Herald of Anorien.
Gandalf + Aragorn declare an attack on Great Warg Chief, destroying it.
Exhaust Master of the Forge to search the top 5 cards of my deck and add nothing to my hand. Shuffle deck.
Top Card: Snowbourn Scout

Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 41

Round 6
Galadriel + Sword That Was Broken makes a great combo. Advancing to stage 4, I temporarily lose Frodo and then lose two allies to Howling Wargs x2. Ignoring the wargs, I get six damage on the Watcher and Frodo rejoins the gang.

Resource Phase
+1 Gandalf (1), +1 Sam (1), +1 Aragorn (1), +1 Frodo (1)
Draw: Snowbourn Scout
Top Card: Good Meal
Exhaust Steward of Gondor. +2 Aragorn (3).
Exhaust Master of the Forge. Search top 5 cards of my deck and add Gandalf's Staff to my hand. Shuffle.
Top Card: Galadriel.
Yes! Exactly what I was hoping for. Attempt #3 featured Sword That Was Broken + Galadriel as well.

Planning Phase
Exhaust Wizard Pipe to switch Sword That Was Broken with Galadriel.
Play: Galadriel (Sam -1, Aragorn -2). Look at top 5 cards. Attach Sword That Was Broken to Aragorn. Put remaining cards back in the following order (top to bottom): Envoy of Pelargir, Galadriel, Good Meal, Master of the Forge.
Play: Envoy of Pelargir (Gandalf -1, Frodo -1). Add 1 resource to Sam's pool.

Quest Phase
Commit Sam, Aragorn, Frodo, Galadriel. Total willpower: 16
Ready Aragorn (Aragorn -1). 
Reveal: Howling Wargs. Total threat: 2.
Place 5 progress on Redhorn Foothills, exploring it.  Discard 2 random cards (using dice again for 5 cards, rerolling on 6): Gandalf's Staff, Rear Guard.
Place 9 progress on stage 3B, clearing it. Advance to stage 4.
Make Doors of Durin the active location.
Add Watcher in the Water to the staging area. Flip Frodo (+attachments) upside down and add under Watcher in the Water.
Flip to side 4B

Travel Phase
No travel

Encounter Phase
Engage Howling Wargs. Place 1 damage on Doors of Durin (1).

Combat Phase
Deal shadow card to Watcher in the Water, Howling Wargs x2.
Watcher in the Water attacks. Envoy of Pelargir #1 defends. Shadow: Eregion (discard attachment). Discard Wizard Pipe. Envoy of Pelargir is destroyed.
Howling Wargs #1 attacks. Place 1 damage on Doors of Durin (2). Envoy of Pelargir defends. Shadow: Snowdrifts (no effect). Envoy of Pelargir is destroyed.
Howling Wargs #2 attacks. Place 1 damage on Doors of Durin (2). Naith Guide #2 defends. Shadow: Lust for the Ring (no effect). Naith Guide is destroyed.
Gandalf + Aragorn + Naith Guide #1 declare an attack on Watcher in the Water, dealing 6 damage (11 attack vs. 5 shield).
Regain control of Frodo, exhausted with 1 damage on him.

Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 42.
Discard Galadriel from play.

Round 7
Sword That Was Broken + Rear Guard x2 (goodbye Snowbourn Scouts!) allows me to blow past the staging area and place 22 progress tokens on the Doors of Durin. Victory!


Resource Phase
+1 Gandalf (1), +1 Sam (2), +1 Aragorn (1), +1 Frodo (1)
Draw: Galadriel
Top Card: Good Meal
Exhaust Steward of Gondor. +2 Aragorn (3).
Exhaust Master of the Forge. Look at top 5 cards and add Good Meal to hand. Shuffle deck.
Top Card: Rear Guard.

Planning Phase
Play: Galadriel (Sam -2, Aragorn -1). Look at top 5 cards. Put Song of Wisdom into play, attached to Aragorn. Put remaining cards back in the following order (top to bottom): Snowbourn Scout, Rear Guard, Galadriel, Envoy of Pelargir.
Play: Snowbourn Scout from top of deck (Gandalf -1).
Play: Snowbourn Scout from hand (Aragorn -1).
Play: Good Meal. Attach to Sam.

Quest Phase
Commit: Gandalf, Sam, Aragorn, Frodo, Galadriel, Naith Guide. Total willpower: 22
Play: Rear Guard (Aragorn -1). Discard Snowbourn Scout to give each hero +1 willpower. Updated willpower: 26.
Play: Rear Guard (discard Good Meal to lower cost to 0). Discard Snowbourn Scout to give each hero +1 willpower. Updated willpower: 30.
Reveal: Eregion. Total threat: 8.
Place 22 progress on Doors of Durin, exploring it and clearing the stage.

Final Scoring
6 Completed Rounds x10: 60
Ending Threat: 42
Total Damage on Heroes: 4 (1 Gandalf, 2 Aragorn, 1 Frodo)
Threat of Defeated Heroes: 0
Victory Display: -2
Total Score: 10

Campaign Resolution
Boon's Anduril, Mithril Shirt, Sting, and Glamdring earned (one added to hand and the rest shuffled into player deck each quest)
Lust for the Ring is not attached to a hero and thus not earned!

Previous Campaign Resolutions
Boon: Mr. Underhill attached to Frodo Baggins
Boon: Noble Hero attached to Sam Gamgee
Burden: Gandalf's Delay added to staging area
Burden: Overcome by Terror shuffled into the encounter deck

Sweet victory!

With this sight being especially sweet.

The Recap

What's not to love? A great helping hand to start with (a boon-in-hand and a card in play for solo players). two rounds of vicious fights against the wargs, and a face-off against the Watcher and the Doors of Durin. Plenty of variety and fun for this player! And it was challenging. After getting destroyed twice, I had to sit back and put some good thought into the right deck. Once I had that, it wasn't a guaranteed win but I wasn't slaughtered either.

Thematically? I think this was a home-run. The first stage features tough decisions for multiplayer or simply a great bonus for solo players. Looking at the perspective of the fellowship vs. the perspective of Frodo, that fits. The next two stages have locations that increase in danger the longer you hang around, with wargs making those locations only more threatening. The wargs themselves seem well-balanced to me (I'm much more inclined to think a evil wolf from the forest could possibly take Aragorn out vs. some shady thug in a bar). But the fourth stage is really where the designers were tested. They already tackled the Watcher before. Yet this time, having only one stage to work with, I think they got much closer to the mark.

The riddles in the original Watcher in the Water quest required a very specific build, deck/encounter manipulation, or good luck to win. Likewise, you could go all-out and simply kill the watcher (or you can cheat with Black Arrow + The Fall of Gil-Galad + Flame of Arnor for the most unthematic victory ever!). Was that ever really a realistic option for the fellowship? No. Here, you have to rescue Frodo from the Watcher (thematic) without being able to kill the watcher (thematic) and overcome the challenge of the doors (thematc). It would have added more theme to remove all warg enemies, have Frodo start taking damage, and still incorporate some sort of riddle into the Doors. But you can't have it all and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

The Black Riders had a great opening followed by two quests that were okay. The Road Darkens likewise has opened strong and I'm eager to see how good the follow-up is.

The Journey Ends

A little under four months ago I decided to embark on a journey to play through my (growing) backlog of The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game quests. Before investing any more in the game, I wanted to enjoy what I had.

Forty quests into 43 quests I own, it is clear to me that the game is worth at least a little more of my investment. The next two Adventure Packs for the Ring-Maker Cycle, plus The Road Darkens, are on their way to me as I type. The final Ring-Maker AP will be coming out soon and will be ordered ASAP. In light of that, I decided to end the challenge prior to starting the newest cycle and instead play through it with the full player card-pool (which is how the cycles are play-tested). This will be done at a more casual pace alongside my wife.

There have been a lot of mistakes along the way (Conflict at the Carrock, which will need to be re-done at some point) and much growth in my skill as a player and deckbuilder. While I am still not an expert player, I guarantee the lessons learned over these past few months will make the game much more enjoyable for my family in the future. And that was the whole point, after all.

J.R.R. Tolkien created a rich world and the team at Fantasy Flight Games has crafted a truly enjoyable way to enter that world. While there are misses (Voice of Isengard), the hits (The Black Riders) outweigh them. I look forward to many more years of selecting my heroes, gathering my allies, and exploring the riches of Middle-earth. And I hope this blog will aid you in our own journey!

Looking Back: The Voice of Isengard

Just as I was surprised that I enjoyed the Against the Shadow cycle, I was surprised that I did not enjoy this box. There were new mechanics and creative ideas, but the quests just did not come together for me. The Ford of Isen and Into Fangorn were mediocre quests for me. I might come back to them, but they won't be at the top of the list. But To Catch and Orc actually came off as broken to me. I would put it as low as Escape from Dol Guldur in terms of victory being primarily dependent on luck (but also requiring a good deck and skill).

Design wise, I have to give big round of applause that 1) all encounter sets were used among the three quests 2) all three quests could be assembled at the same time. That was a fantastic decision I hope to see repeated again!

Quest 30: Into Fangorn

Victory on the third attempt!

The Deck

After two attempts with a Rohan Lore/Tactics Doomed deck (trying to utilize Grima and Eomer), I switched tactics and quested for all I was worth.

That Old Fangorn Spirit

Heroes
Glorfindel (Foundations of Stone)
Eowyn
Frodo (Conflict at the Carrock)

Allies
Emery x2
Envoy of Pelargir x3
Escort from Edoras x3
Ethir Swordsman x3
Gandalf x3
Silvan Refugee x3
West Road Traveler x3
Westfold Horse-breeder x3

Attachments
Good Meal x3
Light of Valinor x3
Ancient Mathom x2
Leaf Brooch x3

Events
Astonishing Speed x3
Children of the Sea x3
Courage Awakened x3
Eldrond's Counsel x3
The Galadhrim's Greeting x3
Dwarven Tomb x2

Sets Used
Core
Conflict at the Carrock
A Journey to Rhosgobel
Return to Mirkwood
The Redhorn Gate
The Watcher in the Water
Foundations of Stone 
Over Hill and Under Hill
Heirs of Numenor
The Steward's Fear
The Druadan Forest
The Blood of Gondor
The Voice of Isengard
Trouble in Tharbad
The Three Trials

I highly suggest leaving out Leaf Brooch and throwing in Stand and Fight. Dark-Hearted Huron is a great enemy to choose with this deck (when given a choice), but eliminates any hope of long-term secrecy. Whereas Stand and Fight is a great addition to Emery and Eowyn.


The Journey

And uneventful jog through the woods.

Player Setup
Starting Threat: 21
Draw: Emery, Dwarven Tomb, Silvan Refugee, Astonishing Speed, Escort From Edoras, Dwarven Tomb

Encounter Setup
Add Edge of Fangorn to the staging area with Mugash attached.
Flip to side B. Add 4 Time Counters to stage 1B.

Round 1

Resource Phase
+1 Glorfindel (1), +1 Eowyn (1), +1 Frodo (1).
Draw: Envoy of Pelargir

Planning Phase
Play: Emery. Discard: Escort from Edoras, Silvan Refugee, Pelargir Shipwright
Dwarven Tomb is a great fit for a deck with Emery, but why did I not include Stand and Fight as well? Next time!
Play: Envoy of Pelargir (Frodo -1, Glorfindel -1). Add 1 resource to Eowyn's pool (2).
Play: Silvan Refugee (Eowyn -1).

Quest Phase
Commit: Glorfindel (Raise threat to 22), Eowyn, Frodo, Emery, Envoy of Pelargir, Silvan Refugee.
Total willpower: 13
Reveal: Ancient Forest
Total threat: 6
Place 7 progress on stage 1B (7/9)

Travel Phase
Travel to Edge of Fangorn. Search deck and add Dark-Hearted Huron to the staging area.

Encounter Phase
Engage Dark-Hearted Huron.

Combat Phase
Hinder 1. Remove 1 progress from stage 1B (6/9)

Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 23.
Remove 1 Time Counter from stage 1B (3).

Round 2

Resource Phase
Raise threat to 25
+1 Glorfindel (1), +1 Eowyn (2), +1 Frodo (1).
Draw: Astonishing Speed

Planning Phase
Play: Escort from Edoras (Eowyn -2).

Quest Phase
Commit: Glorfindel (Raise threat to 26), Eowyn, Frodo, Emery, Envoy of Pelargir, Silvan Refugee.
Total willpower: 13
Reveal: Heart of the Forest
Total threat: 7
Place 2 progress on Edge of Fangorn, exploring it and adding it to the victory display (1). Add Mugash to the staging area.
Place 4 progress on stage 1B (10/9)

Travel Phase
Travel to Heart of Fangorn

Encounter Phase
No engagements.

Combat Phase
Hinder 1. Remove 1 progress from stage 1B (9/9).

Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 27.
Exhaust Glorfindel to claim Mugash.
Advance to stage 2. Search encounter deck and add Dark-Hearted Huron to the staging area. Shuffle.
Flip to side B. Place 4 Time Counters on stage 2B.
Remove 1 Time Counter from stage 2B (3).

Round 3

Resource Phase
Raise threat to 29
+1 Glorfindel (2), +1 Eowyn (1), +1 Frodo (2).
Draw: West Road Traveler

Planning Phase
Play: West Road Traveler (Glorfindel -2).

Quest Phase
Commit: Eowyn, Frodo, West Road Traveler, Emery, Envoy of Pelargir, Silvan Refugee, Escort from Edoras
Total willpower: 16
Play: Astonishing Speed (Eowyn -1, Frodo -2). +6 total willpower.
Updated willpower: 22
Reveal: Heart of Fangorn
Total threat: 9
Place 3 progress on Heart of Fangorn, exploring it
Place 10 progress on stage 2B (10/12).
Discard Escort from Edoras from play.
Discard Silvan Refugee from play.

Travel Phase
Travel to Heart of Fangorn

Encounter Phase
Engage Dark-Hearted Huron

Combat Phase
Hinder 2. Remove 2 progress from stage 2B (8/12).

Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 30.
Remove 1 Time Counter from stage 2B (2).

Round 4

Resource Phase
Raise threat to 36
+1 Glorfindel (1), +1 Eowyn (1), +1 Frodo (1).
Draw: Elrond's Counsel

Planning Phase
Play none.

Quest Phase
Commit: Glorfindel (raise threat to 37). Eowyn, Frodo, Emery, Envoy of Pelargir, West Road Traveler.
Total willpower: 13
Play: Elrond's Counsel. Reduce threat to 34. Give Glofindel +1 willpower.
Updated willpower: 14
Play: Astonishing Speed (Glorfindel -1, Eowyn -1, Frodo -1). +4 total willpower. Updated willpower: 18.
Reveal: Tangled Woods
Total threat: 6
Place 3 progress on Heart of Fangorn, exploring it.
Place 9 progress on stage 2B, clearing it and winning the game!

Final Scoring

3 Completed Rounds x10: 30
Ending Threat: 37
Total Damage on Heroes: 0
Threat of Defeated Heroes: 0
Victory Display: -1
Total Score: 66


The Recap

In a set that should be accessible to new players, this quest is a perfect fit. But after so much creativity and challenge lately, it was strange to find a quest where I could just quest like a madman with no challenge. Besides the Time mechanic, there was the addition of enemies doing things during the Resource Phase, but that did not seem like too much of a challenge to deal with. I may come back here to test out questing decks (instead of The Hills of Emyn Muil, the other option for that type of deck). A location-handling and high-enemy tackling deck might be worth a shot as well, but I'll likely be spending my deck-building effort on other quests.

Quest 29: To Catch an Orc

Victory on the sixth attempt!

The Deck

Wanting to use either Grima or Eomer, I ended up going for both of them and making a little bit of a Rohan deck here (at least with the heroes).

Tri-Rohan!!!

Heroes
Grima
Eomer
Eowyn

Allies
Henamarth Riversong x2
Minas Tirith Lampwright x3
Vassal of the Windlord x3
Westfold Horse-breeder x3
Gandalf (Over Hill and Under Hill) x3
Isengard Messenger x3
Envoy of Pelargir x3
Knights of the Swan x3

Attachments
Firefoot x2
Rohan Warhorse x3
Ranger Spikes x3
Unexpected Courage x2
Keys of Orthanc x3
Horn of Gondor x2


Events
Deep Knowledge x3
Astonishing Speed x3
Feint x3
The Galadhrim's Greeting x3

Sets Used
Core
Return to Mirkwood
The Dead Marshes
Heirs of Numenor
The Steward's Fear
Encounter at Amon Din
The Voice of Isengard
The Dunland Trap


The Journey

A long, tedious journey with many close calls and a fudge at the end.

Player Setup
Starting Threat:28
Draw: Westfold Horse-breeder, Vassal of the Windlord, Gandalf, Envoy of Pelargir, Vassal of the Windlord, Knights of the Swan

Encounter Setup
Place top 20 cards of player deck out of play. Shuffle in Mugash and Mugash's Guard x1.
Flip to side 1B. Search encounter deck and add Orc Cave to the staging area. Shuffle.
Advance to stage 2. Flip to side B. Place 2 Time Counters on stage 2B

Round 1
Resource Phase
+1 Grima (1), +1 Eomer (1), +1 Eowyn (1)
Draw: Knights of the Swan

Planning Phase
Play: Envoy of Pelargir (Grima -1, Eowyn -1). Add 1 resource to Eowyn's pool (1).
Play: Westfold Horse-breeder (Eowyn -1). Search top 10 cards and put Firefoot into hand.
Play: Knights of the Swan. Use Grima's ability (Doomed 1; raise threat to 29).

Quest Phase
Commit: Grima, Eowyn, Horse-breeder. Total willpower: 7
Reveal: Orc Territory. Search encounter deck and put Orc Cave into play. No Orc enemies in play.
Total threat: 6.
Add 1 Time Counter to stage 2B (3).

Travel Phase
Travel to Orc Cave. Discard (encounter): Orc Cave.

No engagements or combat.

Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 30.
Remove 1 Time Counter from stage 2B.
Remove 1 Time Counter from stage 2B (2).

Round 2
Resource Phase
+1 Grima (1), +1 Eomer (2), +1 Eowyn (1)
Draw: Ranger Spikes

Planning Phase
Play: Gandalf (Grima -1, Eomer -2, Eowyn -1). Use Grima's ability (Doomed 1; raise threat to 31).

Quest Phase
Commit: Grima, Eowyn, Gandalf (does not exhaust), Horse-breeder. Total willpower: 11
Reveal: Methedras Orc
Total threat: 6
Place 4 progress on Orc Cave, exploring it. Place 1 Time Counter on stage 2B (3).
Search 5: Keys of Orthanc, Henamarth Rivesong, The Galadhrim's Greeting, Rohan Warhorse, Astonishing Speed. Add The Galadhrim's Greeting to hand.

Travel Phase
Travel to Orc Cave. Discard (encounter): Take Cover!

Encounter Phase
Engage Methedras Orc.

Combat Phase
Deal shadow card to Methedras Orc. Attacks! Randomly shuffle Vassal of the Windlord into Out-of-Play deck. Envoy of Pelargir defends. Shadow: Orc Skirmisher (+1 attack). Envoy is destroyed (+2 attack to Eomer).
Eomer + Gandalf declare an attack on Methedras Orc, destroying it.

Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 32.
Raise threat to 34 to keep Gandalf in play.

Round 3
Resource Phase
+1 Grima (1), +1 Eomer (1), +1 Eowyn (1)
Draw: Horn of Gondor

Planning Phase
Play: Horn of Gondor (Eomer -1). Attach to Eowyn.
Play: Knights of the Swan. Use Grima's ability (Doomed 1; raise threat to 35).

Quest Phase
Commit: Eowyn, Gandalf (does not exhaust). Total willpower: 8.
Reveal: Prowling Wolf
Total threat: 3
Place 4 progress on Orc Cave, exploring it. Place 1 Time Counter on stage 2B (3).
Search 5: Rohan Warhorse, Minas Tirith Lampwright, Feint, Isengard Messanger, Keys of Orthanc. Add Rohan Warhorse to hand.

Travel Phase
No travel.

Encounter Phase
Engage Prowling Wolf.

Combat Phase
Deal shadow card to Prowling Wolf. Attacks! Grima defends. Shadow: Methedras Orc (remove 1 Time Counter if character destroyed). No damage dealt.
Gandalf declares an attack on Prowling Wolf, destroying it.

Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 36.
Raise threat to 38 to keep Gandalf in play.
Remove 1 Time Counter from stage 2 (2).

Round 4
Resource Phase
+1 Grima (2), +1 Eomer (1), +1 Eowyn (2)
Draw: Keys of Orthanc

Planning Phase
Play: Keys of Orthanc (Grima -1). Attach to Eomer.
Play: Firefoot (Eomer -1). Use Grima's ability (Doomed 1; raise threat to 39).

Quest Phase
Commit: Eowyn, Gandalf (does not exhaust). Total willpower: 8.
Reveal: Take Cover! Choose to remove 1 Time Counter from stage 2 (1). Surge.
Reveal: Orc Skirmisher.
Total threat: 4
Place 1 Time Counter on stage 2 (3).

Travel Phase
No travel

Encounter Phase
Engage Orc Skirmisher. Choose to remove 1 Time Counter from stage 2 (1).

Combat Phase
Deal shadow card to Orc Skirmisher. Attacks! Gandalf defends. Shadow: Methedras (no effect). No damage dealt.
Gandalf + Eomer declare an attack on Orc Skirmisher, destroying it.

Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 40.
Raise threat to 42 to keep Gandalf in play.
Remove final Time Counter.
Reveal 1: Orc Hunter.
Additional reveal: Orc Hunting Party. Deal shadow card to Orc Hunter.
Reveal 2: Orc Hunter
Additional reveal: Orc Hunting Party. Deal shadow cards to Orc Hunter x2.
Place 2 Time Counters on stage 2. 

Round 5
Resource Phase
+1 Grima (2), +1 Eomer (1), +1 Eowyn (3)
Draw: Knights of the Swan

Planning Phase
Play: Rohan Warhorse (Eomer -1). Attach to Eomer.
Play: Knights of the Swan. Use Grima's ability (Doomed 1; raise threat to 43). Exhaust Keys of Orthanc. +1 resource Eomer (1).
Play: Vassal of the Windlord (Eomer -1).
Play: The Galadhrim's Greeting (Eowyn -3). Lower threat to 37.
Play: Ranger Spikes (Grima -2).

Quest Phase
Commit: Eowyn, Gandalf (does not exhaust). Total willpower: 8.
Reveal: Prowling Wolf. Attach to Ranger Spikes.
Total threat: 5
Add 1 Time Counter to stage 2 (3).

Travel Phase
No travel

Encounter Phase
Engage Orc Hunter x2, Prowling Wolf

Combat Phase
Deal shadow cards to Orc Hunter x2, Prowling Wolf
Orc Hunter #2 attacks. Grima defends. Shadow 1: Mugash's Lair. Discard Keys of Orthanc. Shadow 2: Methedras (no effect). Deal 1 damage to Grima.
Orc Hunter #1 attacks. Gandalf defends. Shadow 1: Broken Lands (no locations in staging area; no added attack). Shadow #2: Take Cover! (no effect). Shadow #3: Mugash's Lair (Discard Horn of Gondor).
Prowling Wolf attacks. Undefended. Shadow: Orc Skirmisher (+1 attack). Place 2 damage on Eowyn (2/3).
Eomer declares an attack on Orc Hunter #1, destroying it. Exhaust Firefoot to deal 1 excess damage to Orc Hunter #2. Exhaust Rohan Warhorse to ready Eomer.
Eomer declares an attack on Prowling Wolf, destroying it.
Knights of Swan #1 declares an attack on Orc Hunter #2, destroying it.

Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 38.
Raise threat to 40 to keep Gandalf in play.
Remove 1 Time Counter from stage 2 (2).

Round 6

Resource Phase
+1 Grima (1), +1 Eomer (1), +1 Eowyn (1)
Draw: Unexpected Courage

Planning Phase
Play none.

Quest Phase
Commit: Eowyn, Gandalf. Total willpower: 8.
Reveal: Methedras.
Total threat: 3.
Place 1 Time Counter on stage 2 (3).

Travel Phase
Travel to Methedras

No engagements or combat.
Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 41.
Raise threat to 43 to keep Gandalf in play.
Remove 1 Time Counter from stage 2 (2).

Round 7

Resource Phase
+1 Grima (2), +1 Eomer (2), +1 Eowyn (2)
Draw: Henamarth Riversong

Planning Phase
Play: Henamarth (Grima -1).
Play: Unexpected Courage (Eowyn -2). Attach to Eomer.

Quest Phase
Commit: Eowyn, Gandalf. Total willpower: 8
Reveal:  Orc Hound. Surge.
Reveal: Orc Hound. Surge.
Reveal: Orc Territory. Put Methedras into play. Shuffle. No Orc enemies in play.
Total threat: 5
Place 3 progress on Methedras, exploring it. Search 3: Astonishing Speed, Mugash's Guard, Gandalf. Add Mugash's Gard to the staging area. Add Astonishing Speed to hand.


Travel Phase
Travel to Methedras.

Encounter Phase
Engage Orc Hound. Exhaust Vassal of the Windlord.
Engage Orc Hount. Exhaust Knights of Minas Tirith.
Engage Mugash's Guard.

Combat Phase
Deal shadow cards to Mugash's Guard, Orc Hound x2
Orc Hound #1 attacks. Gandalf defends. Shadow: Broken Lands (no locations in staging area; no attack boost). No damage dealt.
Orc Hound #2 attacks. Grima defends. Shadow: Methedras Orc (remove 1 Time counter if character destroyed). No damage dealt.
Mugash's Guard attacks. Henamarth Riversong defends. Shadow: Orc Hunter (enemy makes additional attack). Henemarth destroyed (+2 attack to Eomer).
Mugash's Guard attacks. Deal shadow. Westfold Horse-breeder defends. Shadow: Broken Lands (no locations in staging area; no attack boost). Horse-breeder is destroyed.
Eomer declares an attack on Orc Hound, destroying it. Exhaust Firefoot to deal 5 excess damage to Orc Hound #2, destroying it. Exhaust Rohan Warhorse to ready Eomer.
Eomer + Knights  of the Swan #1 declare an attack on Mugash's Guard, destroying it and adding it to the victory display (3). 

Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 44.
Raise threat to 46 to keep Gandalf in play.
Remove 1 Time Counter from stage 2 (1). 

Round 8

Resource Phase
+1 Grima (2), +1 Eomer (2), +1 Eowyn (1)
Draw: Deep Knowledge.

Planning Phase
Play: None.

Quest Phase
Commit: Eowyn, Gandalf. Total willpower: 8.
Reveal: Prowling Wolf.
Total threat 3
Place 3 progress on Methedras, exploring it. Add 1 Time Counter to stage 2B (2).
Search 3: The Galadhrim's Greeting, Vassal of the Windlord, Ranger Spikes
Add The Galadhrim's Greeting to hand.

Travel Phase
No travel

Encounter Phase
Engage Prowling Wolf.

Combat Phase
Shuffle encounter discard into encounter deck. Deal shadow card to Prowling Wolf. Attacks! Gandalf defends. Shadow: Prowling Wolf. Exhaust Vassal of the Windlord. No damage dealt.
Eomer declares an attack on Prowling Wolf, destroying it.

Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 47.
Discard Gandalf from play. 
Remove 1 Time Counter from stage 2 (1).

Round 8

Resource Phase
+1 Grima (3), +1 Eomer (3), +1 Eowyn (2)
Draw: Deep Knowledge

Planning Phase
Play: The Galadhrim's Greeting (Eowyn -2). Use Grima's ability (Doomed 1; raise threat to 48). Lower threat to 42.
Play: Deep Knowledge (Doomed 2; raise threat to 44). Draw: Minas Tirith Lampwrigt, Westfold Horse-breeder

Quest Phase
Commit: Eowyn, Grima. Total willpower: 6
Reveal: Methedras.
Total threat: 3.
Place 1 Time Counter on stage 2 (2).

Travel Phase
Travel to Methedras.

No engagements or combat.

Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 45.
Remove 1 Time Counter from stage 2 (1).

Round 9

Resource Phase
+1 Grima (3), +1 Eomer (3), +1 Eowyn (1)
Draw: Ranger Spikes

Planning Phase
Play: Ranger Spikes (Grima -2).
Play: Westfold Horse-breeder (Eowyn -1). Search top 10 cards and add Rohan Warhorse to hand.

Quest Phase
Commit: Grima, Eomer, Eowyn. Total willpower: 7
Reveal: Methedras Orc. Attach to Ranger Spikes.
Total threat: 1
Place 3 progress on Methedras, exploring it. Add 1 Time Counter to stage 2 (2).
Search 3: Feint, Unexpected Courage, Deep Knowledge. Add Feint to hand.

Travel Phase
No travel

No engagements or combat

Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 46.
Remove 1 Time Counter from stage 2 (1).

Round 10

Resource Phase
+1 Grima (2), +1 Eomer (4), +1 Eowyn (1)
Draw: The Galadhrim's Greeting

Planning Phase
Play: None.

Quest Phase
Commit: Eowyn, Grima, Eomer. Total willpower: 7
Reveal: Orc Skirmisher.
Total threat: 4
Place 1 Time Counter on stage 2 (2).

Travel Phase
No travel

Encounter Phase
Engage Orc Skirmisher. Remove 1 Time Counter from quest (1).

Combat Phase
Deal shadow card to Orc Skirmisher. Attacks! Vassal of the Windlord defends. Shadow: Methedras Orc (remove 1 Time Counter if character destroyed). Vassal destroyed (+2 attack to Eomer). Remove final Time Counter.
Reveal 1: Orc Cave
Reveal 2: Orc Hound. Surge.
Reveal: Orc Hunting Part. Deal shadow card to Methedras Orc, Orc Skirmisher.
Add 2 Time Counters to stage 2B.
Knights of the Swan x2 declare an attack on Orc Skirmisher, destroying it. 

Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 47.
Remove 1 Time Counter from stage 2 (1).

Round 11

Resource Phase
+1 Grima (3), +1 Eomer (5), +1 Eowyn (2)
Draw: Isengard Messanger

Planning Phase
Play: Isengard Messanger (Grima -2)
Play: The Galadhrim's Greeting (Eown -2). Use Grima's ability (Doomed 1; raise threat to 48). Lower threat to 42. +2 willpower to Isengard Messanger.

Quest Phase
Commit: Grima, Eomer, Eowyn, Isengard Messanger. Total willpower: 9
Reveal: Methedras. Total threat: 8
Place 1 Time Counter on stage 2 (2).

Travel Phase
Travel to Methedras.

Encounter Phase
Engage Orc Hound.
Exhaust Unexpected Courage to ready Eomer.

Combat Phase
Deal shadow Orc Hound. Attacks! Shadow: Methedras (no effect).
Knights of the Swan #1 attacks Orc Hound, destroying it.

Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 43.
Remove 1 Time Counter from stage 2B (1).

Round 12

Resource Phase
+1 Grima (2), +1 Eomer (6), +1 Eowyn (1)
Draw: Gandalf

Planning Phase
Play: Gandalf (Grima -1, Eomer -4).

Quest Phase
Commit: Grima, Eowyn, Gandalf, Isengard Messanger. Total willpower: 11.
Reveal: Methedras
Total threat: 8
Discard Rohan Warhorse to give Eowyn +1 willpower. Updated willpower: 12.
Place 3 progress on Methedras, exploring it. Place 1 Time Counter on stage 2 (2).
Search 3: Horn of Gondor, Minas Tirith Lampwright, Mugash. Add Mugas to the staging area. Add Horn of Gondor to my hand.

Travel Phase
Travel to Methedras

Encounter Phase
Engage Mugash

Combat Phase
Deal shadow card to Mugash.
Play: Feint (Eomer -1). Choose Mugash to not attack.
Eomer + Knights of the Swan x3 declare an attack on Mugash, destroying him. Exhaust Rohan Warhorse to ready Eomer. Attach Mugash to Eomer, exhausting Eomer.


Refresh Phase
Ready all (except Eomer). Raise threat to 44.
Raise threat to 46 to keep Gandalf in play.
Remove 1 Time Counter from stage 2B (1)

Round 13

Resource Phase
+1 Grima (2), +1 Eomer (2), +1 Eowyn (2)
Draw: Envoy of Pelargir

Planning Phase
Play: Envoy of Pelargir (Grima -2). Add 1 resource to Eowyn's pool.
Play: Minas Tirith Lampwright (Eowyn -1).
Play: Horn of Gondor (Eomer -1). Attach to Eowyn.

Quest Phase
Commit: Grima, Eowyn, Gandalf (does not exhaust), Westfold Horse-breeder, Envoy of Pelargir.
Total willpower: 12
Reveal: Orc Hunter. Choose to remove 1 Time Counter from quest (1).
Total threat: 6
Place 3 progress on Methedras, exploring it. Advance to stage 3.
Search 3: Westfold Horse-breeder (add to hand). Out-of-Play deck exhausted.

Travel Phase
No travel

Encounter Phase
Engage Orc Hunter, Methedras Orc

Combat Phase
Deal shadow cards to Orc Hunter, Methedras Orc.
Orc Hunter attacks. Minas Tirith Lampwright defends. Shadow: Orc Territory (no effect). Minas Tirith Lampwright is destroyed. +1 resource to Eowyn (Horn of Gondor).
Knights of the Swan x2 attack Orc Hunter, destroying it


Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 47.
Remove 1 Time Counter from stage 3B (2)
Raise threat to 49 to keep Gandalf in play. 
Remove 1 Time Counter from stage 3B (2).  

Round 14
Resource Phase
+1 Grima (1), +1 Eomer (2), +1 Eowyn (4)
Draw: Isengard Messanger

Planning Phase
Play: Westfold Horse-breeder. Search top 10 cards and add Firefoot to hand.

Quest Phase
Commit: Grima, Eowyn, Westfold Horse-breeder x2, Envoy of Pelargir, Isengard Messenger, Gandalf (does not exhaust). Total willpower: 14
Discard Rohan Warhorse to give Eowyn +1 willpower (15).
Play: Astonishing Speed (Eowyn -3). +8 total willpower (23).
Reveal: Take Cover. Remove 1 Time Counter from quest (1). Surge.
Reveal: Orc Hunter. Choose to reveal additional card: Prowling Wolf.
Total threat: 9
Place 14 progress on stage 3B (14/15).

Loss by 1 progress point!


Alright, here's the deal: it really seems like there is a massive luck factor in this quest (see The Recap) and I'm a bit tired of playing it. I don't want to throw myself at another three playthroughs to get the right combination showing up allowing me to search for and locate Mugash. So, I'm going to fudge this one and back up to the point where I had to decide about keeping Gandalf or not (a decision I debated).

Return Take Cover!, Orc Hunter, Prowling Wolf to the encounter deck. Shuffle.
Return Isengard Messanger, Firefoot to the player deck. Shuffle.
Return Astonishing Speed Westfold Horse-breeder to hand.
Discard Gandalf from play.


Round 14(b)
Resource Phase
+1 Grima (1), +1 Eomer (2), +1 Eowyn (4)
Draw: Envoy of Pelargir

Planning Phase
Play: Envoy of Pelargir (Eomer -2). Add 1 resource to Eowyn's pool (5).
Play: Westfold Horse-breeder. Search top 10 cards and add Firefoot to hand.

Quest Phase
Commit: Grima, Eowyn, Westfold Horse-breeder x2, Envoy of Pelargir x2, Isengard Messanger. Total willpower: 12
Reveal: Mugash's Lair
Total threat: 8
Play: Astonishing Speed (Eowyn -3). +8 total willpower. Updated willpower: 21
Discard Firefoot to give Eowyn +1 willpower. Updated willpower: 22.
Play: Deep Knowledge (Doomed 2; raise threat to 49). +1 willpower to Isengard Messanger. Updated willpower: 23.
Place 15 progress on stage 3B, winning the game!

The Recap

Despite being an enemy-heavy quest, this felt like The Hills of Emyn Muil all over again: sitting around and waiting for the right locations. For many of the attempts I had solid draws and a good force building, only to run into a lack of Search keywords before threating out. Without threat reduction, pure luck is needed to get Search locations + draw Mugash early on. Allowing the player to discard one card from the Out-of-Play deck every time they destroyed an enemy (even limiting that to Orc enemies) would have been a great fix for this one. As it is, the quest seems simply broken to me. The idea of the out-of-play deck, a hiding enemy, and Search keywords sounds like a fantastic idea, but the execution did not work out.

Print On Demand 1: The Massing at Osgiliath

Victory on the eighth attempt!

The Deck

After a few attempts of bashing decks against this quest and not seeing a glimmer of hope once I reached stage 4, I figured there was something fundamentally wrong with my strategy. This was especially frustrating since many view this quest as fairly easy in light of the current available card pool. I cried "Uncle!" and decided to go against it with a deck that has already proven successful (of which there are many), hopefully learning something useful for my own future attempts. Looking at a few options on BoardGameGeek, I settled on Stephen Valkyser's Rohan deck and road on to victory.


The Journey

A slow and steady burn ending dramatically with a 58 willpower quest phase in round 11.

Player Setup
Starting Threat: 25
Draw: Elfhelm, Dunadain Watcher, The Favor of the Lady, Elfhelm, Astonishing Speed, Gandalf
Mulligan: The Galadhrim's Greeting, Dunadain Watcher, Astonishing Speed, Northern Tracker, Astonishing Speed, Elfhelm

Encounter Setup
Set The Witch-king to the side
Add Wolves From Mordor x1, Snaga Scouts x1, and Wainriders x1 to the staging area. Shuffle.

Round 1
Resource Phase
+1 Theodred (1), +1 Dunhere (1), +1 Eowyn (1)
Draw: Dunedain Mark

Planning Phase
Play: Dunedain Mark (Theodred -1). Attach to Dunhere.

Quest Phase
Commit: Theodred, Eowyn. Add 1 resource to Dunhere's pool (2). Total willpower: 5.
Reveal: Cut Off. Doomed 1 (raise threat to 26). Discard all allies from hand: Elfhelm, Northern Tracker, Dunedain Watcher.
I almost gave up right here. That is quite a blow to take early on, especially when I was hoping to build up a small band of forces.
Total threat: 4
Place 1 progress on stage 1B (1/7)

Travel Phase
No travel

Encounter Phase
Engage Shaga Scouts

Combat Phase
Deal shadow card to Shaga Scouts. Attack! Undefended. Shadow: Uruk Vanguard (+1 attack). Deal 2 damage to Eowyn (2/3).
Dunhere declares an attack on Wolves From Mordor, destroying them.

Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 27.

Round 2
Resource Phase
+1 Theodred (1), +1 Dunhere (3), +1 Eowyn (2)
Draw: Faramir

Planning Phase
Play: The Galadhrim's Greeting (Dunhere -3). Lower threat to 21.

Quest Phase
Commit: Eowyn. Total willpower: 4
Reveal: Uruk Vanguard.
Total threat 4. No progress placed.

Travel Phase
No travel.

Encounter Phase
No engagements.

Combat Phase
Deal shadow card to Shaga Scouts. Attack! Theodred defends. Shadow: Wolves From Mordor (deal 2 damage to defending character; 2/4 damage on Theodred). No combat damage dealt.
Dunhere declares an attack on Shaga Scouts, destroying them.

Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 22.

Round 3
Resource Phase
+1 Theodred (2), +1 Dunhere (1), +1 Eowyn (3)
Draw: Northern Tracker

Planning Phase
Play: Northern Tracker (Dunhere -1, Eowyn -3).

Quest Phase
Commit: Theodred, Eowyn. Add 1 resource to Theodred's pool (3). Total willpower: 5
Reveal: Snaga Scouts.
Total threat: 5. No progress placed.

Travel Phase
No travel

Encounter Phase
Engage Snaga Scouts.

Combat Phase
Deal shadow card to Snaga Scouts. Attack! Undefended. Shadow: Cut Off (discard Faramir). Deal 1 damage to Theodred (3/4).
Northern Tracker declares an attack on Snaga Scouts, destroying them.
Dunhere declares an attack on Wainriders, dealing 3 damage (3/4).

Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 23.

Round 4
Resource Phase
+1 Theodred (4), +1 Dunhere (1), +1 Eowyn (1)
Draw: West Road Traveler

Planning Phase
Play: West Road Traveler (Dunhere -1, Eowyn -1).

Quest Phase
Commit: Theodred, Eowyn, West Road Traveler. Add 1 resource to Eowyn's pool (1). Total willpower: 7
Reveal: Morgulduin
Total threat: 5
Place 2 progress on stage 1B (3/7)

Travel Phase
No travel.

Encounter Phase
No engagements.

Combat Phase
Dunhere declares an attack on Wainriders, destroying them.

Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 24.

Round 5
Resource Phase
+1 Theodred (5), +1 Dunhere (1), +1 Eowyn (2)
Draw: The Favor of the Lady

Planning Phase
Play none.

Quest Phase
Commit: Theodred, Eowyn, Northern Tracker. Add 1 resource to Eowyn's pool (3). Place 1 progress on Morgulduin (1/3). Total willpower: 6
Reveal: Ranger of Ithilien. Gain control of Ranger, exhausted and committed to the quest.
Total willpower: 8
Reveal: Captured Watchtower.
Total threat: 4
Place 4 progress on stage 1B, clearing it. Advance to stage 2, flip to side B.

Travel Phase
No travel

Encounter Phase
No engagements

Combat Phase
Dunhere declares an attack on Uruk Vanguard, dealing 3 damage (3/8).

Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 25.

Round 6
Resource Phase
+1 Theodred (6), +1 Dunhere (2), +1 Eowyn (4)
Draw: Astonishing Speed
All three? If I can pull of playing them all, this will be epic.

Planning Phase
Play none.

Quest Phase
Commit: Theodred, Eowyn, Northern Tracker. Add 1 resource to Eowyn's pool (5). Place 1 progress on Morgulduin (2/3). Place 1 progress on Captured Watchtower (1/2). Total willpower: 6
Reveal: Pelennor Fields.
Total threat: 5
Place 1 progress on stage 2B (1/5).

Travel Phase
Travel to Pelennor Fields

Encounter Phase
No engagements

Combat Phase
Dunhere declares an attack on Uruk Vanguard, dealing 3 damage (6/8).

Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 26.

Round 7
Resource Phase
+1 Theodred (7), +1 Dunhere (3), +1 Eowyn (6)
One copy of Parting Gifts might be a good fit for this deck.
Draw: Elfhelm

Planning Phase
Play: Elfhelm (Eowyn -4).

Quest Phase
Commit: Theodred, Eowyn, Northern Tracker, West Road Traveler, Ranger of Ithilien. Add 1 resource to Eowyn's pool (3). Place 1 progress on Morgulduin, exploring it. Place 1 progress on Captured Watchtower, exploring it. Total willpower: 10.
Reveal: Wolves From Mordor.
Total threat: 3.
Place 7 progress on Pelennor Fields, exploring it and adding it to the victory display (1).

Travel Phase
No travel.

Encounter Phase
No engagements.

Combat Phase
Dunhere declares an attack on Wolves From Mordor, destroying them.

Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 27.

Round 8
Resource Phase
+1 Theodred (8), +1 Dunhere (4), +1 Eowyn (4)
Draw: Dunedain Mark

Planning Phase
Play: Dunedain Mark (Theodred -1). Attach to Dunhere.

Quest Phase
Commit: Theodred, Eowyn. Add 1 resource to Eowyn's pool (5). Total willpower: 5
Reveal: Snaga Scouts
Total threat: 3
Place 2 progress on stage 2B (3/5)

Travel Phase
No travel.

Encounter Phase
Engage Snaga Scouts.

Combat Phase
Deal shadow card to Snaga Scouts. Attack! Elfhelm defends. Shadow: Ranger of Ithilien. Deal 2 damage to Snaga Scouts, destroying them. Exhaust West Road Traveler to gain control of Ranger of Ithilien.
Dunhere declares an attack on Uruk Vanguard, destroying it.

Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 28.

Round 9
Resource Phase
+1 Theodred (8), +1 Dunhere (5), +1 Eowyn (6)
Draw: Snowbourn Scout

Planning Phase
Play: Snowbourn Scout (Theodred -1).

Quest Phase
Commit: Theodred, Eowyn, West Road Traveller. Add 1 resource to Eowyn's pool (7). Total willpower: 7.
Reveal: Cut Off. Doomed 1 (raise threat to 29; reduce back to 28 due to Elfhelm's ability). No allies to discard.
Place 7 progress on stage 2B, clearing it. Advance to stage 3, flip to side B.

No travel, engagements, or combat.

Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 29.

Round 10
Resource Phase
+1 Theodred (8), +1 Dunhere (6), +1 Eowyn (8)
Draw: Steward of Gondor

Planning Phase
Play: Steward of Gondor (Theodred -2). Attach to Eowyn.
Exhaust Steward of Gondor. Eowyn +2 (10).

Quest Phase
Discard Ranger of Ithilien #2 to commit characters to the quest.
Commit: Theodred, Eowyn. Add 1 resource to Eowyn's pool (11). Total willpower: 7.
Reveal: Captured Watchtower.
Total threat: 1
Place 6 progress on stage 3B, clearing it. Advance to stage 4, flip to side B.
Add The Witch-king to the staging area.

Travel Phase
No travel.

Encounter Phase
Engage The Witch-king.

Combat Phase??
Deal shadow card to The Witch-king. Attacks! Ranger of Ithilien defends. Shadow: Ruins of Osgiliath (no effect). Ranger of Ithilien is destroyed.
Why not toss the Snowbourn Scout to him? Because the Scout is Rohan and Rohan has a big turn coming up next.
Raise threat by 3 to keep The Witch-king engaged (raise threat to 32).
Elfhelm's ability would lower this, right? I didn't think about that until the write-up, and it didn't end up mattering, but I'll keep that in mind next time.

Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 33.

Round 11
Resource Phase
+1 Theodred (7), +1 Dunhere (7), +1 Eowyn (12)
Draw: Dwarven Tomb
Exhaust Steward of Gondor. +2 Eowyn (14).

Planning Phase
Play none.

Quest Phase
Commit: Theodred, Dunhere, Eowyn, West Road Traveler, Elfhelm, Snowbourn Scout. Add 1 resource to Eowyn's pool (15). Total willpower: 9.
Play: Astonishing Speed (Eowyn -3). +12 total willpower. Updated willpower: 21.
Play: Astonishing Speed (Eowyn -3). +12 total willpower. Updated willpower: 33.
Play: Astonishing Speed (Eowyn -3). +12 total willpower. Updated willpower: 45.
Play: Dwarven Tomb (Eowyn -1). Return Astonishing Speed to hand.
Play: Astonishing Speed (Eowyn -3). +12 total willpower. Updated willpower: 57.
Discard Favor of the Lady to give Eowyn +1 willpower. Updated willpower: 58.
Reveal: Captured Watchtower.
Total threat: 8.
Place 50 progress on stage 4B, clearing it and winning the game!

Final Scoring
10 Completed Rounds x10: 100
Ending Threat: 33
Total Damage on Heroes: 5 (Theodred 3, Eowyn 2)
Threat of Defeated Heroes: 0
Victory Display: -1
Total Score: 137


The Recap

Variety and the necessity to have a well-rounded approach? Love it. But I was not able to crack the quest on my own, so we'll hold it back from Favorite Quests right now and let it grow on me.

Having just beating The Morgul Vale, I wonder if that same deck would have any effect on this quest? Maybe not. Taking out the Nazgul is a big challenge, but getting 15 points of progress on stage 4 while not being able to travel is an even bigger one!

Looking Back: Against the Shadow

I honestly did not expect to enjoy this cycle as much as I did.

Four of the six quests included ranked in the "Favorite Quest" category for me, with the remaining two proving fairly easy. And an easy quest that was not a top one will most likely be returned to in the future. (Now, it's true I took the easy way out on Assault on Osgiliath and could have made that more of a challenge by not including Tactics Boromir).

This cycle did bring some challenges, but more often brought creativity and freshness to the table. As the card pool continues to expand, I look forward to returning here with a variety of approaches.