Revised Quest 016: The Fate of Numenor

Opening Thoughts

Time to leave the seas and head back to land! It's been so many years since I've played this cycle that it is almost fully a re-discovery of something I know I loved in the past, which is super exciting.

The Decks

Sticking with A.C.E. and Bounce House of Healing for this one, but making a few modifications. I don't know if A.C.E. works the way I want it to with just the revised card pool, but let's try another spin and see if the deck shines a bit more.

Heroes
Arwen Undómiel
Círdan the Shipwright
Erestor

Allies
1x  Elladan (MoF)
1x  Elrohir (MoF)
3x  Elven Jeweler
1x  Galdor of the Havens (ToR)
1x  Glorfindel (FotS)
3x  Guardian of Rivendell
3x  Imladris Caregiver
1x  Lindir
3x  Lindon Navigator
3x  Sailor of Lune

Attachments
1x  Lembas (EoL)
3x  Narya
3x  Silver Harp
3x  Steward of Gondor (Core)

Events
3x  A Test of Will (Core)
3x  Daeron's Runes (EoL)
1x  Dwarven Tomb (Core)
3x  Elrond's Counsel (EoL)
3x  Elven-light
3x  Lords of the Eldar
1x  Stand and Fight
3x  Will of the West

A.C.E. - Revised v2

Heroes
Celeborn
Elrond
Galadriel

Allies
3x  Galadhrim Healer
3x  Galadhrim Minstrel (EoL)
3x  Galadhrim Weaver
2x  Greenwood Archer (EoL)
1x  Greenwood Defender
1x  Henamarth Riversong (EoL)
3x  Naith Guide (EoL)
1x  Orophin (EoL)
3x  Silvan Refugee (EoL)
2x  Silvan Tracker (EoL)
3x  Woodland Courier (DR)

Attachments
1x  Dúnedain Remedy
3x  Nenya (EoL)
2x  O Lórien! (EoL)
2x  Vilya (EoL)

Events
2x  A Test of Will (Core)
3x  Elf Guide
3x  Fair and Perilous
3x  Feigned Voices (EoL)
2x  Host of Galadhrim (EoL)
1x  The Houses of Healing
3x  The Tree People (EoL)

Bounce House of Healing - Revised v2

The Quest

setup
Sylvans set as player 1.

Shrine to Morgoth set aside.
Uncharted deck created.
Two copies of Lost Island added to the staging area.
Sylvans take control of Calphon.

existing campaign card additions

Ominous Fate shuffled into the encounter deck.

new campaign card additions

Revenant shuffled into the encounter deck.
Spyglass attached to Galphon.
Advance to 1B.

additional setup

Set starting threat: Sylvans 33, Noldor 31.
Sylvan hand: Some allies and a bounce effect, but no rings and nothing special. Mulligan. Wow, all allies. I guess we're doing this, then.
Noldor hand: Steward, but no rings. Still, Silver Harp as essentially draw. With how many cards I'll draw to start the round, we'll stay with this.

Round 1

Resources & cards!
Sylvans: The Tree People
Noldor: Sailor of Lune, Will of the West, Elrond's Counsel, Silver Harp, Lindir. Discard: Silver Harp. 

Sylvans put down a Galahdrim Minsterl, finding both Elf Guide and A Test of Will in the top 5. Have to stick with Test, right? Yeah
Noldor attaches a Silver Harp to Arwen. Arwen discards Elven Light to give Erestor a resource, then Noldor plays an Imladris Caregiver.

Sylvans commit Galadhrim Minsterl the the quest. Noldor commits Cirdan and Arwen. Total willpower: 9.
Sylvans reveal: Curse of the Downfallen. One damage to each non-objective ally seems fine, since I only have two and one will live. Galadhrim Ministerl is destroyed, lowering willpower to 7. She is placed on the bottom of the Sylvan deck.
Noldor reveals: Lost in the Fog. Each Lost Island in the staging area gets +1 threat OR each player exhausts a character. I have plenty of willpower, so +1 threat it is.
Total Threat: 6. Noldor plays Elrond's Counsel to raise Cirdan's willpower by 1 and lower their threat by 3 (28). 
Successful quest! 

A random Lost Island is traveled to. Flooded Ruins. Contribute's its threat (3) to the staging area. One copy of Lost Island added to the staging area.

Exhaust Spyglass to place one progress on the (active) Flooded Ruins. 

No enemies.

Noldor discard Rivendell Guide to heal a damage on Imladris Caregiver.

Sylvans exhaust Galadriel to lower their threat (32) and draw: Galahdrim Minstrel.

Noldor discards hand and exhausts Silver Harp to return Steward of Gondor to hand. Lords of the Eldar remains on the top of the discard pile. Ready. Raise threat (Sylvan 33, Noldor 29). Pass first player token and control of Calphon to Noldor.

Round 2

Resources & cards! 
Noldor: Steward of Gondor, Elrohir, Lembas, Silver Harp, Daeron's Runes. Discard: Steward of Gondor. 
Sylvans: Host of the Galadhrim.

Noldor play Daeron's Runes, drawing Guradian of Rivendell and Elven Jewler. Guardian of Rivendell is discarded. Then a Silver Harp is played on Cirdan. Little Music Machine going on there. Steward of Gondor and Lembas are discarded to put Elven Jewler into play. Arwent exhausts Silver Harp to return Steward of Gondor to hand.
Sylvans put down Woodland Courier, placing a progress on Flooded Ruins. Then puts down Sylvan Refugee.

Questing: I need ten just to cover (and explore) what I can see. I usually add 6-7 for what I cannot. Sylvans quest with Woodland Courier, Sylvan Refugee (both of which do not need to exhaust) and Celeborn. Noldor quests with all three heroes. Total willpower: 17

Noldor reveals: Soulless Cadaver.
Sylvans reveal: Ominous Fate. I choose to have each player deal 1 damage to their characters. Noldor puts a damage on Imadris Caregiver and Sylvans put a damage on Galadriel. Ominous Fate is added to the victory display.
Total threat: 10. 7 progress is placed on Flooded Ruins, exploring them and adding 5 progress to stage 1B.

Team travels to a random Lost Island: Lush Jungle. Elrond and Galadriel are exhausted in order to keep the location from returning to the staging area. A Lost Island is added to the staging area. 

Arwen discards Steward of Gondor to add a resource to herself. 

Sylvans play The Tree People, returning Silvan Refugee to hand, putting a Galadhrim Weaver into play and shuffling nothing back in from the discard (but both rings were on the top!). 

Noldor engages Souless Cadaver, putting no cards to the bottom of their deck. Shadow card is dealt. Elven Jewler defends. Shadow: No effect. Elven Jewler is destroyed.

Spyglass is exhausted to place a progress on Lush Jungle. Noldor discards their 1 card hand, using Silver Harp to return Elrohir to hand. Ready. Raise (Sylvan 34, Noldor 30). Pass token and Calphorn to Sylvans.

Round 3

Cards & money!
Sylvans draw: Nenya (woot!).
Noldor draws: Imladris Cargiver, Will of the West, A Test of Will, Elven Jewler, Guardian of Rivendell.

Sylvans play Nenya on Galadriel and also play Sylvan Refugee. Arwen discards Will of the West to give herself a resource, using Silver Harp to return the card to hand. Guardian of Rivendell is played, discarding A Test of Will and Imadris Caregiver.

Quest time. Need 13-14 to feel good. Sylvans quest with: Celeborn, Elrond, Sylvan Refugee, and Galadhrim Weaver. Total willpower: 10 (Eowyn waiting in the wings). Noldor does not quest.

Sylvans reveal: Revenant (yay...).
Noldor reveals: Servant of the Deceiver
Total threat: 10. Eowyn exhausts to add her willpower to Celeborn. Total willpower: 14. Successful quest! Lush Jungle is explored and four progress is placed on Stage 1B. 

A random Lost Island is traveled to: Lush Jungle (dag nab it). Noldor exhausts all heroes to keep the jungle from clogging up the staging area. A new Lost Island is added to the staging area. 

Sylvans engage Servant of the Deceiver, revealing Vilya (nooooo) on the top of their deck and moving it to the bottom. +2 attack for Servant. Shadow cards are dealt. 

Servant of the Deceiver attacks and Sylvan Refugee defends. Shadow: No effect. Refugee dies.

Souless Cadaver attacks Noldor and Guardian of Rivendell defends. Shadow: +2 attack. Two damage to the Guardian.

Spyglass is exhausted to put one progress on Lush Jungle. 

Noldor discards their hand. Silver Harp is exhausted to put Elven Jewler back in hand. 

Ready. Raise (Sylvan 35, Noldor 31). Pass token and Calphon to Noldor. 

Well. Hopefully I can stop exhausting all my heroes and began defeating enemies.

Round 4

Cards & money! 
Noldor: Elrond's Counsel, Lindon Navigator, Daeron's Runes, Imadris Caregiver, Elven-Light. Discard: Elven-Light.
Sylvan: The Tree People. 

Noldor: Plays Daeron's Runes, drawing: Elven-Light, Dwarven Tomb. Discard Elven-Light. Arwen discards Imadris Caregiver to give Erestor a resource. Play: Lindon Navigator. Play (paying money): Elvish Jewler. 

Sylvans: Plays Naith Guide, choosing Elrond not to exhaust to quest. Plays The Tree People, targeting Woodland Courier and putting a Galadhrim Weaver into play, shuffling Sylvan Refugee into the deck from the discard. Woodland Courier comes back down, putting two progress on Lush Forest.

Listened along to Cardboard Of the Rings talking about The Three Trials

Okay, four allies down for Sylvan and five for Noldor (besides Calphon). And 11 quest power without exhausting anyone. And we'll just do that. I have Galadriel and Elrond's Counel to add +5 as-needed.

Noldor reveals: Aimless Wandering. I need to reveal up to two willpower from the quest. Removing Naith Guide, going to 9 willpower. Will give it doomed 2 to look at the back of each Lost Island in the staging area (Sylvan 36, Noldor 33). Lost Island 1: Flooded Ruins. Lost Island 2: Drowned Graves.
Sylvan reveals: Mysterious Fog. Exhaust characters or add +2 threat to the staging area. We'll go for threat.

Total threat: 9. Noldor plays Elrond's counsel to give Lindon Navigator +1 willpower, bringing the total to 10, and lowering their threat to 30. Successful quest! Lush Forest gets one progress and is explored, adding 4 more progress to 1B (13 so far). Lindon Navigator is discarded from play.

Travel to Lost Island #1, making Flooded Ruins the active location. Add another Lost Island to the staging area.

Imadris Caregiver discards Dwarven Tomb to heal two damager from Guardia of Rivendell (thanks, Elrond!) and one damage from Galadriel. Arwen exhausts Silver Harp to return the tomb to hand.

Shadow cards are dealt!

Souless Cadaver attacks Noldor, Guardian of Rivendell defends. Shadow: No effect. No damage dealt. 

Servant of the Deceiver attacks the Sylvans. Naith Guide defends. Shadow: No effect. Naith Guide is destroyed. 

Arwen, Cirdan, Erestor, and Elvish Jewler attack Souless Cadaver, destroying it.

Elrond, Cerleborn, and Woodland Courier attack Servant of the Deceiver, doing 2 damage to it (out of 3). 

Galadriel exhausts to lower Sylvan's threat by 1 (35) and draws: O Lorien!

Spyglass is exhausted to put one progress on Flooded Ruins (active). 

Noldor discards their Dwarven Tomb. Cirdan exhausts Sylvan Harp to return it to hand.

Ready. Raise (Sylvan 36, Noldor 31). Pass token and Caphon back to Sylvans.

Round 5

Money up & cards up!
Sylvans draw: Galadhrim Healer.
Noldor draws: A Test of Will, Nenya (finally!), Lindon Navigator, Elven Jewler, Nenya. Discard: that second Nenya.

Sylvans play O Lorien! on Celeborn. O Lorien! exhausts and a Galadhrim Minstrel is found, finding Feigned Voices in the top 5 cards and adding it to hand. 

Noldor slaps down Nenya on Cirdan. Arwen discards Elvish Jeweler to give Erestor a resource. A new Lindon Navigator comes into play.

17 to 18 is my target this time. I have 4 that doesn't exhaust + keeping Galadriel in reserve for 4. Add in the two Galadhrim Weavers, Woodland Courier, Elrohir, Erestor and Arwen. Total willpower: 14.

Sylvans reveal: Curse of the Downfallen. This would wipe out the Sylvan's ally board, so A Test of Will is played to cancel it.
Noldor reveals: Lingering Malevolence. Sylvans discards Host of Galadhrim from the bottom of their deck and nothing from their hand (nothing costs more)!

Total Threat: 12. I forgot the Flooded Ruins add their threat! Good thing nothing that sticks came down, or this could have been an additional round with them as the active location. Galadriel and Neyna exhaust to give Arwen +4 willpower. Success! Flooded Ruins is explored and five progres goes on 1B (18 total). Discard Lindon Navigator from play.

Travel to the Lost Island I haven't seen the back of: Cursed Temple (characters with less than 2wp will not ready during the refresh phase). Another Lost Island is added to the staging area.

A shadow card is dealt to Servant of the Deceiver. Feigned Voices is played to return Woodland Courier to hand and cause Servant to not attack this phase. Discard shadow: No effect. Sylvans delete the Servant.

Spyglass is exhausted to put one progress on the Cursed Temple. 

Cirdand and Narya exhaust to ready both Galadrim Weavers (negating the Cursed Temple's downside).

Noldor discards A Test of Will and Dwarven Tomb, then both Silver Harps are exhausted to return the cards to hand. 

Ready. Raise (Sylvan 37, Noldor 32). Pass 1st player token and Calphon to Noldor.

Round 6

Money & power!

Noldor draws: Galdor of the Havens, Lords of the Eldar, Stand and Fight, Elladan, Sailor of Lune. Discard: Galdor. 

Sylvans draw: Galadhrim Minstrel. 

Noldor plays nothing, but exhausts the Spyglass to put and additional progress on Cursed Temple (2 of 3).

Sylvans play: Woodland Courier, after exhausting O Lorien! Final progress is put on Cursed Temple, exploring it. Final progress is placed on stage 1B. Advancing to stage 2A. Two more Lost Islands are added to the staging area. Shrine to Morgot is added to the staging area, Staging area Lost Island side up. Lost Islands are shuffled and put back down in a random order. Advance to stage 2B. Sylvans then play Galadhrim Minstrel #2, finding no events to add to hand (but a lot of rings). 

Staging area currently has 13 threat, so I want to aim for 19-20. I have 4 that doesn't exhaust plus Galadriel's 4, so time to find 12 more. Arwen, an Elven Jeweler, Elrond, Celeborn and two Galadhrim Minstrels quest and add 12 . Total willpower: 16.

Noldor reveals: Steep Plateau.
Sylvans reveal: Drowned Dead.
Total threat: 16. Even Steven!

Traveling to the middle Lost Island: Forbidden Coast. Each team draws a card and chooses one to put on the bottom of their deck. Noldor draws: Lords of Eldar and puts it on the bottom. Sylvans draw: Greenwood Archer and puts a Galadhrim Healer on the bottom of the deck.

Noldor engages Drowned Dead. Shadow card is dealt. Attack! Guardian of Rivendell defend. Shadow: Same effect as Drowned Dead (put destroyed ally on the bottom of the deck). No damage dealt. Noldor deletes the Drowned Dead. 

Arwen discards a Lords of Eldar to give herself a resource. Dwarven Tomb puts Will of the West in hand. Will of the West is played, shuffling the Noldor encounter deck into the deck and adding it to the victory display. 

Galadriel exhausts to lower Sylvans threat to 36 and draw: Woodland Courier.

Imadris Caregiver discards Stand and Fight to heal a damage from itself. Noldor discards the rest of their hand, exhausting both Silver Harp to put Elladan and A Test of Will back in hand.

Refresh. Raise (Sylvan 37, Noldor 33). Pass 1st token and Calphon to Sylvans. 

Round 7

Cards & money!
Sylvans draw: Fair and Perilous.
Noldor draws: Elrond's Counsel, Lindon Navigator, Elven Light, Steward of Gondor. Discards: Elven-light.

Sylvans: Galadriel exhausts to lower the Sylvan threat to 36 and draw: Sylvan Tracker. O Lorien! is exhausted and Greenwood Archer comes down, readying Galadriel. Woodland Courier #2 comes down, placing a progress on Steep Plateau (staging). 

Noldor: Arwewn discards a Lindon Navigator to give Erestor a resource. Elladan is played.

12 threat in the staging area, 6 progress needed to explore the active location, and 6-7 to plan for. I have 3 that doesn't exhaust + Galadriel's four in the background + an Elrond's counsel in hand. Sylvans quest with: Elrond, Celeborn, Calphon, and Galadhrim Weaver x2. Noldor quests with: Arwen, Cirdan, Elven Jewler. Total willpower; 20. 

Sylvans reveal: Servant of the Deceiver
Noldor reveals: Steep Plateau
Total Threat: 16. Galadriel and Nenya exhaust to raise willpower to 24. Noldor plays Elrond's Counsel to add +1 to the willpower and lower their threat to 30. Total willpower: 25. Quest is successful and Forbidden Coast is explored.

The Steep Plateau with no progress is traveled to.

Noldor engages Servant of the Deceiver. Top card of their deck is: Glorfindel, who goes on the bottom of the deck. No attack bonus for the servant! Shadow card is dealt. Attack! Imadris Caregiver defends. Shadow: No effect. Caregiver is destroyed. Noldor deletes the Servant. 

Spyglass is exhausted to put a progress on the Steep Plateau in the staging area (2 of 3). 

Noldor discards their hand, then uses both Silver Harps to return Steward of Gondor and A Test of Will to hand.

Ready. Raise (Sylvan 37, Noldor 31). Pass 1st player and Calphon to Noldor.

Round 8

Money and cards. 
Noldor draws: Will of the West, Lords of the Eldar x2, Daeron's Runes, Will of the West. Discards: one Will of the West.
Sylvans draw: Orophin.

Noldor: Steward of Gondor goes on Cirdan and is exhausted to add two resources. Daeron's Runes draws Galdor of the Havens and A Test of Will. Discard: a Lords of the Eldar.

Spyglass is exhausted to put the last progress on the Steep Plateau in the staging area, exploring it. The right-most Lost Island is looked at: Shrine to Morgoth. Party time. The Shrine will exhaust every Ally with a cost of 2 or less, so now I know to go all-in questing with those at the very least. 

Sylvans exhaust O Lorien! and play Orophim, returning Naith Guide from the discard to hand.

Important quest time. Noldor has a Lords of the Eldar to play. Sylvans have 3 wp that doesn't exhaust. Total quest of all 2 cost allies is 7. So that's 10 (+ Galadriel's 4 in the wings). I want at least 22-23. Arwen, Cirdan, and Calphon bring total willpower on board to 18. 

Noldor reveals: Drowned Dead
Sylvans reveal: Steep Plateau
Total threat: 14. Success! 4 progress goes on Steep Plateau, exploring it. The known Lost Island is made the active location: Shrine to Morgoth. The only remaining 2 cost ally (Greenwood Archer) is exhausted. Players search the encounter deck and see there are two cards with no shadow effects on them remaining. Both players choose Throngs of the Unfaithful from the discard pile to put into play, engaged with them. 

Noldor engaged Drowned Dead. Shadow cards are dealt to the Drowned Dead and the Throngs of the Dead engaged with Sylvans. No more cards in the deck. Elrohir defends the Drowned Dead. Shadow: No effect. One damage dealt. Throngs of the Unfaithful attack Noldor and Erestor defends. No shadow card. No damage dealt.
Throngs of the Unfaithful attack Sylvans and Elrond defends. Shadow: No effect. No damage dealt.

No attacks made by the heroes.

Arwen discards a Will of the West to give Erestor a resource. Noldor discards its hand, using Silver Harps to return one A Test of Will and Galdor of the Havens to hand.

Ready. Raise (Sylvans 37, Noldor 31). Pass token and Calphon to Sylvans.

Round 9

Money but no card love (thanks, Shrine to Morgoth).

Sylvans play Host of the Galadhrim. 2x Galadhim Minstrels cannot search the deck (thanks, Shrine to Morgoth). 2x Galadhrim Weavers shuffle Feigned Voices and A Test of Will back into the deck. No allies to return to hand from the graveyard. No heroes to ready. Y'know what? I'll lower their threat to 36 with Galadriel, foregoing the card draw, and ready her with the effect. 

Noldor: Exhausts Steward to give Cirdan two resources. Arwen discards A Test of Will to give Erestor a resource, then exhausts Silver Harp to return A Test of Will to hand. Galdor of the Havens comes down.

All in on questing, except with Galadriel ('cause that's how she roles). Total willpower: 40. 

Encounter deck is shuffled.
Sylvans reveal: Aimeless Wandering. Orophim is removed from the quest, bringing the total willpower to 37.
Noldor reveals: Steep Plateau.
Total threat: 11
Noldor plays Lords of the Eldar, adding +9 willpower and giving Galadriel +1 willpower. 
Total willpower: 46
Noldor plays Lords of the Eldar, adding +9 willpower and giving Galadriel +1 willpower.
Total willpower: 55
Galadriel and Nenya add +6 willpowr to Celeborn. Total willpower: 41. 
Spyglass is exhausted to put one progree on Shrine to Morgoth.
Success! 7 progress placed on Shrine to Morgoth, exploring it and adding it to the victory display, and 28 extra progress is placed on 2B.

Victory!

Final score: 134 (7 rounds completed, no damage on heroes, 36 threat for Sylvans and 31 for Noldor, -3 in the Victory Display). 

Campaign resolution:
+2 XP for each surviving player
+1 XP for everyone's threat being under 40
-1 XP for Ominous Fate being in the victory display
= +2 XP, bringing the total to 4 XP. 

Parting Thoughts

The Revenant in the staging area was a pain! I didn't want to face him until the deck was shuffled back in, but that didn't happen until near the end of the quest. I guess I could have taken him out once and then let him sit there the second time around. But it all worked out in the end.

Both decks more than held their own. I had a healthy army to tank any attacks and zero issues with questing. Galadriel's ability (with Nenya) to hold back and see how the staging step goes is such a big benefit.

As for the quest it self: I loved it. The mechanic of having blind choices with multiple ways you can peek at the choice was fantastic. Really gives a feeling of control on what risks you are willing to take. 

Hunting for Gollum in 2011

I had already purchased a second core set before my first pre-ordered one arrived in 2011. Fantasy Flight Games' articles about the upcoming game had me salivating. A big fan of the books, I made a short-lived and unrealized attempt as a kid to host a club where would learn Elvish. I had heavily purchased the old Middle-Earth CCG, for games that never happened. And I watched the movies on the regular. This new game looked like it was going to scratch a constant itch I had for quality LotR content.

The cores arrived, my wife and I played the heck out of them, and I wanted more. Not only because the game was so tough (to me) with the limited card pool. If you can't grasp my hate for Escape From Dol Guldur, remember that it was one of the only three quests we had at the time! Journey Down the Anduin was the default best quest but you could only play it so many times. Creators such as ninjadorg were coming up with custom quests to pass the time but that didn't solve the player card pool issue.

Then it happened: FFG announced that stores could request preview copies of the very first adventure pack, Hunt for Gollum, for a special event! I read it on my phone and immediately called my local store, The Haunted Game Cafe, begging them to sign up. The wait seemed like it was forever. I checked in a few times with the owner to make sure they were still on the list and the pack was coming. The night came, I convinced a buddy to come play the game for the first time, and we headed out to the cafe!

There were either two or three tables open. Most people came with friends, but there were a few spares looking for a group. We joined up with another player and the three of us began our hunt! Here are my thoughts from the night (which I posted as a Spoiler-Free Review on Board Game Geek shortly after):

What does Hunt for Gollum add to the core set (without specifics)?

The Cards

The core set has the feel of a game with greatness in it's future, but certain strategies and areas of potential need to be fleshed out further. The Hunt for Gollum continues with that feeling. While there is a little bit of addition to previous strategies, the expansion introduces new elements at their basic level. These new elements may add a slight advantage to the core, but it is apparent that they are setting the stage for future expansions. There is at least one card that I found extremely useful for the included scenario, but nothing that made me think "my deck was missing that!" For my second try today, I am going to continue putting a priority on including every new player card from the expansion, but I feel that will actually hinder the deck. The game, in it's initial stages, is developing along the lines of Lost, with the first two "episodes" ending on a cliffhanger. Let's hope everything starts tying together!

The Play

This is a fun expansion to play. The increased difficulty, over Journey Along the Anduin, is felt, but it is still a far cry easier than Escape From Dul Guldur. I prefer to play my initial game with each scenario "blind" (with no knowledge of the contents) and, with three players, we came close to a win. But it was apparent that a little tweaking and thoughtful deck building is greatly in need. Even with that, I can predict some twists the encounter deck might throw next time to make even a well-designed deck struggle a bit. There is a bit of variety in challenges thrown out by the encounter deck and players cannot focus just on one area of potential threat (which is tempting!). while defeated, it was not hopeless and I am eager to start the hunt again!

The Bottom Line

The Hunt for Gollum is a great addition for players who are already on the Lord of the Rings: The Card Game bandwagon. If you were waiting for this expansion to sell you on the game, then you will most likely be disappointed. But if you were wanting a little more variety and a look at things to come, then you will be satisfied with your purchase.

I, personally, was in the middle. I was 95% on subscribing to the entire Shadows of Mirkwood cycle and this expansion convinced me that was a good choice (I signed up last night). But I also bought two cores and, not finding the second set to be a great benefit, was thinking of liquidating one. I was waiting to see if this expansion would convince me of the need to have that extra Unexpected Courage or third Sneak Attack, but I did not find a strong argument here.

So was the need for more player cards met? Not in the way I hoped. But there was a glimmer of hope for the future! Hunt for Gollum was more a promise of strategies to come (like Eagles) vs a welcome expansion to the Core set.

The Revised packaging, with the Hero cards for a campaign released in a single box, is a much more satisfying way to build with new archetypes. It was frustrating to see cards that you hoped would be useful one day but didn't quite hit the mark yet.

Take The Eagles Are Coming! 

This came packaged with a single Eagle, so the card was effectively useless. This gave a sign that more Eagles were on the way (and hopefully would be worth searching for). Frustrating to have a card that was hardly useful at present taking up a precious spot in the very first expansion. If, instead, this had come out towards the end of the cycle it would be a welcome addition to the five eagles released in the cycle.

Speaking of cards, the full set of Hunt For Gollum player cards had not been spoiled by Fantasy Flight Games by the time the preview event happened. I walked away with the adventure pack and did a cringy poll asking people on BGG if they wanted the cards spoiled or wanted to wait for FFG/official release. Obviously everyone wanted to see the cards, so I used my work scanner and posted the first look many people had of the final six cards in the pack.

The Hunt for Gollem is a quest rarely praised in the community. Like most of FFG's Living Card Games, it was the first in a cycle created before the game came out and the world at large started to play the game and give valuable feedback about what worked and what didn't for scenarios. But it was the first. And, for someone in on the ground floor of the game, that gives it a special place in my heart.

Revised Quest 015: Voyage Across Bellegaer

Opening Thoughts

The Dream-Chaser cycle has been my favorite since its release. Anything pirate / ocean themed is sure to grab my interest. Probably a result of growing up near the Pacific. This is also a cycle where MJ Newman was testing or cross-pollinating ideas that would be incorporated into Arkham Horror. So, now that some of the rust is gone, I'm excited to re-visit this cycle in the campaign format.

The Decks

Two elf decks I built in the past stayed with over the years me due to the names I gave them: A.C.E. and Bounce House of Healing. My current card pool is more restrictive then it was when I built these decks (although I am beginning to amass older packs again). I decided to embrace the restrictions as a challenge vs a handicap. 

A.C.E. - Revised
The goal of this deck is to draw a ton of cards each round, take advantage of Noldor discard synergies, and recycle the deck a few times vis Will of the West.

Heroes
Arwen Undómiel
Círdan the Shipwright
Erestor

Allies
3xElven Jeweler
1xGaldor of the Havens (ToR)
2xGandalf (Core)
1xGlorfindel (FotS)
2xGuardian of Rivendell
3xImladris Caregiver
1xLindir
3xLindon Navigator
3xSailor of Lune

Attachments
1x Explorer's Almanac
3x Narya
1x Protector of Lórien
3x Steward of Gondor (Core)
2x To the Sea, to the Sea!

Events
3x A Test of Will (Core)
2x Dwarven Tomb (Core)
3x Elrond's Counsel (EoL)
3x Elwing's Flight
3x Lords of the Eldar
3x The Evening Star
1x The Galadhrim's Greeting
3x Will of the West

RingsDB Link
Rings DB Link to original A.C.E. deck


Bounce House of Healing - Revised
Sylvans love shenanigans and I love them for it. Feigned Voices and The Tree People allow for repeat enter play effects, with Host of the Galadhrim hopefully giving a big turn. Sneak Attack is meant for Gandalf but will work for anyone in a pinch. Why Elrond? Enhancing the healing aspect that some Sylvan allies bring with them.

Heroes
Celeborn
Elrond
Galadriel

Allies
3x  Galadhrim Healer
3x  Galadhrim Minstrel (EoL)
3x  Galadhrim Weaver
2x  Gandalf (Core)
2x  Greenwood Archer (EoL)
2x  Henamarth Riversong (EoL)
3x  Naith Guide (EoL)
1x  Orophin (EoL)
2x  Silvan Tracker (EoL)
3x  Woodland Courier (DR)

Attachments
2x  Dúnedain Remedy
3x  Nenya (EoL)
2x  O Lórien! (EoL)
2x  Vilya (EoL)

Events
2x  A Test of Will (Core)
2x  Daeron's Runes (EoL)
1x  Dwarven Tomb (Core)
2x  Fair and Perilous
3x  Feigned Voices (EoL)
1x  Host of Galadhrim (EoL)
2x  Sneak Attack (Core)
1x  The Houses of Healing
3x  The Tree People (EoL)

RingsDB Link
Rings DB Link to the original Bounce House of Healing deck

I didn't think about this until I had the decks together, but this Fellowship is strongly built around all three elven rings.

Fellowship: Three Rings for the Elven Kings

The Quest

Setup

Noldor set as player 1. Starting threat: 31. Hand: Narya, an ally, Elrond's counsel + a few cards I want in the discard. Works for me!

Silvans set as player 2. Starting threat: 33. Hand: Not bad, but nothing amazing. Mulligan. O Lorien! and Daeron's Runes. Alright. I can do something with this.

Corsair deck prepared. 
Noldor takes Dream-chaser as ship.
Silvan takes Narelenya as ship.

1x Rolling Seas and 1x Scouting Ship set aside.
Advance to 1B

Campaign Set Up

Armor Plating attached to Dream-Chaser (+1 defense), Extra Sails attatche to Narelenya (+1 attack).

Two damage dealt to Dream-Chaser and one resource dealt to Cirdan.

Two damage dealt to Narelenya and one resource added to Elrond.

Ominous Fate and Thunderstruck shuffled into the encounter deck.

Crowley shuffled into the Corsair deck.

Round 1

Resources! Draw! Noldor: Galdor of the Havens, Protector of Lorien, Will of the West, Steward of Gondor, Guardian of Rivendell. Discarding Galdor of the Havens. Sylvans: Galadhrim Minstrel.

Arwen discards Elwing's Flight to add a resource to Cirdan's pool. Narya played on Cirdan. Steward of Gondor played on Cirdan. Steward exhausted to add two resources to Cirdan. Guardian of Rivendell played down, Protector of Lorien and The Evening Star discarded. Sylvans play Daeron's Runes, drawing Woodland Corier and Host of Galadhrim, discarding Galahdrim Ministrel.  Galadriel exhausts to have Sylvans lower their threat (32) and draw a card: Galadhrim Healer. O Lorien! played on Celeborn. Galahdrim Minstrel played down, finding The Tree People. O Lorien! exhausted and Woodland Courier played (ability fizzles due to no locations).

Sailing time! Shift to off-course. Exhausting 3 to the test (Guardian of Rivendell, Galadhrim Ministrel, Woodland Courier). Three successes, so we're back on course! 

Questing time! Both ships, Cirdan, and Arwen committed to the test. Total Willpower: 20. It's risky, but I'm going to chance on the ships taking some damage to try and blow (is that a pun?) past this stage.

Noldor reveals: Ominous Fate. Each party raises their threat by 1 (Noldor: 32, Sylvans: 33). Card added to victory display. Surge. Thunderstruck. Dang, the encounter deck just wants to slam me with both campaign treacheries. I'd think I didn't shuffle, but these were under sailing test cards.
Sylvans reveal: Fog Bank.
Total threat: 5. Noldor plays Elrond's Counsel to lower their threat to 29. 15 progress is placed on 1B, exploring it and adding it to the victory display. The top two 2As are Cursed Mists and Into the Storm. We're going Into the Storm! Waterspout is added to the staging area. Advancing to 2B. 

Travel to the Fog Bank

Thunderstruck does one damage to Guardian of Rivendell. Noldor's hand is discarded. Ready. Raise (Noldor: 30, Sylvans: 34). Token passes to the Sylvans.

Round 2

Resources! Cards! Sylvans draw: A Test of Will. Noldor draws: Sailor of Lune, A Test of Will, Elwing's Flight, Dwarven Tomb, Will of the West. Discaring: Dwarven Tomb.
Sylvans exhaust O Lorien! and play Orophin, putting a Galahdrim Minstrel back in hand from the discard pile. 
Noldor exhausts Steward of Gondor to add two resources to Cirdan. Sailor of Lune is played.

Let's Sail Away! Shift off-course. Committing four characters to the test: Galadhrim Minstrel, Woodland Courier, Orophin, Sailor of Lune. Two successes. Back on course!

Sylvans play The Tree People to return Woodland Courier to to hand, finding Galadhrim Weaver and putting her into play, shuffling Daeron's Runes back into the deck.

Time to quest. Elrond, Celeborn, Galadhrim Weaver, Cirdan, Arwen and the Dream-chaser all commit to the test. Total Willpower: 20.

Sylvans reveal: Rolling Seas. 
Noldor reveals: Winds of Wrath. We're on-course, so no effect.
Total threat: 9. Noldor plays Elwing's Flight to ready Cirdan and raise willpower to 22 (I'm planning on shuffling the deck and I want everything in the discard). 5 progress placed on Fog Bank, exploring it. 8 progress placed on 2B, exploring it and adding it to the victory display. 2A options are: Calphon's Divination and The Star's Guidance. Advancing to the Star's Guidance. Starlit Sea is placed in the staging area. Advance to 2B. Travel to Starlit Sea.

Arwen discards A Test of Will to add a resource to Cirdan. Cirdan plays Will of the West, shuffling the Noldor discard into its deck and removing the card from play. Galadriel exhausts to lower Sylvans threat (33) and draw a card: The Tree People (where are my rings!).

Thunderstruck does one damage to Guardian of Rivendell. Ready. Raise (Noldor: 31, Sylvan: 34). Token passes to Noldor.

Round 3

Money money money. And cards cards cards. Noldor: Imladris Caregiver, Elrond's Counsel, Guardian of Rivendell, Gandalf, The Galadhrim's Greetings. Discarding: the Galadhrim's Greetings. Sylvans draw: Nenya (riiiing!).

Noldor plays Imladris Caregiver and Guardian of Rivendell, discarding Elrond's Counsel and Gandalf.
Sylvan playes Nenya on Galadriel. Woodland Courier is played, putting a progress on the active Starlit Sea. Galadhrim Minstrel is played, finding nothing in the top 5 cards. 

Come sail away! Shift off course. Committing 4 to the test: Imladris Caregiver, Sailor of Lune, Galadhrim Minstrel, Galahdrim Weaver. One success (phew). Back on course.

Questing with: Arwen, Cirdan, Erestor, Celeborn, the new Galadhrim Minstrel, Woodland Courier. Total willpower: 16.

Come sail away, Come sail away, Come sail away with me

Noldor reveals: Winds of Wrath. On course, no effect.
Sylvans reveal: Rough Waters
Total threat: 11. One progress is placed on Starlit Sea, exploring it. Four progress are placed on 2B, exploring it and adding it to the staging area. Advance to 3A. Light Cruiser is added from the discard pile to the staging area. Advance to stage 3B. Travel to Rough Waters. 

(While looking at the encounter deck for 3A, I also noted that there are 2/9 cards remaining with steering symbols).

Exhaust Galadriel to lower Sylvan's Threat (33) and draw a card: Feigned Voices. 

Thunderstruck does one damage to the second Guardian of Rivendell. Ready. Raise (Noldor: 32, Sylvans 34). Pass token to Sylvans.

Round 4

Resources & cards! 
Sylvans draw: Galadhrim Healer.
Noldor draws: Elwing's Flight, Protector of Lorien, To the Sea, to the Sea!, the Evening Star, Elvish Jeweler. Discarding: To the Sea, to the Sea!

Galadriel exhausts to lower Noldor's threat (31) and draw them a card: The Evening Star. Greenwood Archer comes down, readying Galadriel. Galadriel exhausts again to lower Noldor's threat (30) and draw them a card: To the Sea, to the Sea!. Sylvans play Hosts of Galadhrim. All five allies return to hand and are played one at a time. Greenwood Archer readies Galadriel. Woodland Courier puts a progress on Roiling Seas (staging). Galadhim Minstrel #1 finds The Tree People. Shuffle. Minstrel #2 finds: The Tree People. Orophim returns nothing to hand. Weaver shuffles nothing back into the deck. The Tree People returns Galadhrim Weaver to hand and puts Henamarth Riversong into play. Henamarth exhausts to see a steering wheel card on top (Thrown Off Course)! The Tree People returns Henamarth to hand and sees two Gandalf's but can't put those in play. O Lorien! exhausts. Henamarth is back in play.

Noldor's turn. Arwen discards The Evening Star to add a resource to Erestor. Erestor plays The Evening Star to put two progress on Roiling Seas (staging), exploring it, and two progress on Rough Waters (active). Protector of Lorien and To the Sea, to the Sea! are discarded to put Elven Jeweler into play for free.

Smooth sailing! Move off-course. Commit the most damaged Defender of Rivendell. Reveal the already-seen card and we're back on course! 

Questing all in, with Galadriel held back for now. Total Willpower: 39
Sylvans reveal: Sudden Storms. I choose to deal 1 damage to each exhausted character (which does not count all the Sylvan 1hp allies!). Everyone lives except the Guradian of Rivendell who sailed. 
Noldor reveals: Waterspout.
Total threat: 11. Galadriel exhausts to add her willpower to Celeborn, raising the total willpower to 43. Noldor plays Elwings Flight, readying Cirdan and raising willpower to 44. One progress placed on Rough Waters, exploring it. 32 progress placed on Stage 3B, leaving the Corsairs in the dust!

Final Score: 90 (30 for completed rounds, 30 threat for Noldor, 34 threat for Sylvans, 5 damage on heroes and 9 points in the victory display). Subtracting excess progress on the final stage and/or excess damage on the final enemy who needs to be defeated would have been a great addition to scoring.

Campaign Resolution
- Ominous Fate added to the Campaign Pool
- 2XP (two players, on course, but Ominous Fate in the victory display)

Parting Thoughts

The Sylvan deck definitely exploded, but Noldor didn't quite have the punch I had hoped. Missing so many attachments from the Dwarrowdelf cycle really hurts this version of the deck. And, not engaging any enemies, I didn't see the healing side of the Sylvans this time around.

The quest was a fun race. Now seeing different achievements for XP, it would be fun to do this again with a goal towards checking everything off in one run. This time, I was a nice challenge to see if I could keep my willpower growing faster than the threat and aim for a crazy blow-out at the end.