Opening Thoughts
We're 2 for 3 on fun quests so far. I'm expecting a ramp in difficulty here, as this was the final quest of the initial Grey Havens deluxe box. Like Gandalf in Moria, my memory of places in Middle-earth has faded over the years. The good thing is that it makes so many of these quests fresh. While I loved The Grey Havens and the subsequent cycle at the time, was it on it's own merits and does it hold up?
The Decks
After using a few of my own elf decks, I want to explore how others are building Noldor and Sylvan strategies. When possible, I try to pair decks up so a single set of revised content can build both decks. I missed that both decks here have Unexpected Courage and Elrond's Counsel, but I have it and I'm going to run with these two.
Gandalf's Elves by DrCooper
Heroes
Celeborn
Galadriel
Gandalf
Allies
2x Defender of the Naith (EoL)
1x Galadhrim Healer
3x Galadhrim Minstrel (EoL)
3x Galadhrim Weaver
3x Galadriel's Handmaiden (EoL)
2x Greenwood Archer (EoL)
1x Henamarth Riversong (Core)
1x Legolas (ToS)
3x Naith Guide (EoL)
1x Orophin (EoL)
2x Silvan Refugee (EoL)
Attachments
2x Gandalf's Staff
1x Magic Ring (DoD)
3x Nenya (EoL)
2x O Lórien! (EoL)
1x Ranger Provisions
2x Steward of Gondor (Core)
3x Unexpected Courage (Core)
2x Wizard Pipe
Events
1x A Test of Will (Core)
3x Elrond's Counsel (EoL)
2x Feigned Voices (EoL)
3x Host of Galadhrim (EoL)
3x The Tree People (EoL)
RingsDB
Cirdan Fast & Furious by Gonfindel
Heroes
Arwen Undómiel
Beregond
Círdan the Shipwright
Allies
1x Derndingle Warrior
3x Envoy of Pelargir (DoG)
3x Galadriel's Handmaiden (EoL)
2x Gandalf (Core)
2x Glorfindel (FotS)
1x Guardian of Rivendell
3x Mithlond Sea-watcher
3x Northern Tracker
2x Rhovanion Outrider
Attachments
1x Citadel Plate
3x Dagger of Westernesse
2x Dúnedain Remedy
3x Gondorian Shield (DoG)
2x Narya
1x Raven-winged Helm
3x Silver Harp
3x Unexpected Courage (Core)
The Quest
Starting threat set: Sylvans 34, Noldor 31.
Sylvans set as first player.
Sylvan opening hand: Plentiful allies, but no rings or key cards. Mulligan: O Lorien!, Gandalf's Staff, Feigned Voices, A test of Will, Defender of the Naith, The Tree People. Top card of the deck: Sylvan Refugee. Alright, looks like a solid hand.
Noldor opening hand: Nothing but allies. Mulliganing this one as well: Nothing but attachments! But good ones. Narya, Unexpected Courage, Dunedain Remedy, Silver Harp, Dagger of Westernese, Dagger of Westernesse.
Setup:
- Captain Sahir and Na'asiya set out of play
- The Havens Burn, the Dream-chaser, and one copy of Sahir's Ravager added to the staging area.
- Encounter deck shuffled and cards are discarded until two Aflame locations (both White Ship) are added to the staging area. Encounter deck reshuffled. Advance to 1B
- Graxar is shuffled into the encounter deck
- Sylvans add the leadership Galdor's Counsel to their hand
- Noldor adds the spirit Galdor's Counsel to their hand
Dang. 13 in the staging area to start with, including locations that need to be explored before burning up? This is definitely a final-quest-in-a-deluxe-box.
Round 1
Cards & money!
Sylvans draw: Sylvan Refugee. Top of deck: Galadhrim Weaver.
Noldor draws: Guadrian of Rivendell and Gandalf (woops, forgot about that when pairing these decks0. discard: Gandalf.
Sylvans: O Lorien! goes on Celeborn. O Lorien! is exhausted and a Sylvan Refugee is put into play. Galdor's Counsel (Leadeship) is played and a resource is added to Galadriel. Galdor's Counsel is added to the victory display
Noldor: Both copies of Dagger of Westerness go on Beregond. Unexpected Courage goes on Beregond.
Quest: Sylvans commit Celeborn, Gandalf, Galphon, and Sylvan Refugee. Noldor commits Arwen and Cirdan. Total Willpower: 18. I do not like this. 5 feels like way too small a buffer for me.
Sylvans reveal: Raid Leader
Noldor reveals: Battle-Hardened. Sylvans play A Test of Will to cancel the When Revealed effect.
Total threat: 16. 2 progress placed on Stage 1B.
Travel to one of the White Ship locations. Search the encounter deck for a Corsair Arsonist and add it ot the staging area.
Sylvans engage Raid Leader (no resources moved). Noldor engages Corsair Arsonist. Shadow cards are dealt. Sylvans play Feigned Voices and return Sylvan Refugee to hand, choosing Raid Leader to not attach this phase.
Corsair arsonist attacks and Beregond defends. Shadow: Elven Wave-Runner. I need to discard a card at random from my hand: Galdor's Counsel. Then a resource is added to the Corsair Arsonist. No damage dealt. Unexpected Courage readies Beregond and two damage is dealt to the Arsonist (forgot the daggers only pump for enemies with a higher engagement cost).
Two damage is placed on the active White Ship (2/4).
Spyglass is exhausted to place one progress on the active White Ship (1/6).
Galadriel exhausts to lower the Sylvan threat by 1 (33) and draw Galadhrim Weaver. Top of deck: Elrond's Counsel.
Elrond's Counsel is played to lower the Sylvan threat to 30. Top of deck: Steward of Gondor.
Gandalf's Staff is exhausted to give Celeborn a resource.
One damage is dealt to each Aflame location in play.
Ready. Raise (Sylvan 31, Noldor 32). Pass token and Celephon to Noldor.
This is only the first round of the quest but I can already feel this is a victory I am going to have to fight for.
Round 2
Cards & money!
Noldor draws: Gondorian Shielf, Elven Light. Discard: Elven Light.
Sylvans draw: Steward of Gondor. Top of deck: Naith Guide.
Noldor: Plays Guardian of Rivendell, discarding Gondorian Shield and Dunedain Remedy.
Sylvans: Steward of Gondor is played on Celeborn and immediately exhausted. Naith Guide is played from the top of the deck, choosing Gandalf to not exhaust to quest this round. Top of Deck: Steward of Gondor. Sylvan Refugee is played. Gandalf's Staff is exhausted to add a resource to Galadriel. O Lorien! is exhausted and Defender of the Naith is played.
Quest: 9 in the staging area and I currently have 9 willpower without exhausting anyone. Cirdan, Arwen, and Calphon add 9 more. Total willpower: 18.
Noldor reveals: The Fires Spread. Doomed 2 (Sylvans 33, Noldor 34). 1 damage is dealt to each Aflame location in play. The active White Ship location is destroyed and placed under The Havens Burn. One resource is added to teach Raider enemy in play.
Sylvans reveal: Corsair Arsonist. I can choose to deal 2 damage to an aflame location or find the location with the highest Aflame cost and add it to the staging are. So add more threat to the staging area or lose another location and still add some threat (maybe). Pillaged Ship is chosen and added to the staging area.
Total threat: 15. Five progress added to 1B (7/18).
Pillaged Ship is traveled to.
Sylvans engage Corsair Arsonist. Shadow cards are dealt. Spyglass is exhausted to look at the Raid Leader's shadow card: No effect.
Corsair Arsonist attacks and Defender of the Naith defends. Shadow: +1 attack for each damage on the active location, which is zero. No damage dealt.
Raid Leader attacks Sylvans, Beregond defends, taking 1 damage. Unexpected Courage exhausts, readying Beregond.
Corsair Aronist attacks and Guardian of Rivendell defends. Shadow: +1 attack for each damage on the active location, which is zero. No damage dealt.
Celeborn, Gandalf, and Naith Guide destroy the Raid Leader.
Beregond destroys the damaged Corsair Arsonist.
Two damage is placed on the active Pillaged Ship (stage 1B).
Galadriel exhausts to lower Sylvans threat to 32 and draw the Steward of Gondor. Top of deck: Galadhrim Healer.
One damage is placed on each Aflame location in the staging area.
Ready. Raise (Sylvan 33, Noldor 35). First player goodies go to the Sylvans.
Round 3
Cards & money!
Sylvans draw: Galahdrim Healer. Top of deck: Galadhrim Minstrel.
Noldor draws: Gandalf, Elven Light. Discard: Gandalf.
Sylvans: O Lorien! is exahusted and Galadhrim Minstrel is played from the top of deck, finding The Tree People and adding it to hand. Shuffle. Top of deck: Host of Galadhrim. Steward of Gondor adds two resources to Celeborn. Galadriel exhausts to lower the Sylvan threat to 32 and draw Host of Galadhrim. Top of deck: Ranger Provisions. Host of Galadhrim is played. Sylvan Refugee and Defender of the Naith are played. Naith Guide is played, selecting Gandalf not to exhaust to quest. Galadrhim Minstrel is played, finding The Tree People (my kingdom for a Nenya and lore icon!). Shuffle. Top of deck: Hemnarth Riversong.
Noldor: Silver Harp is attached to Arwen. Arwen discards Elven Light to give Cirdan a resource. Silver Harp is exhausted to return Elven Light to hand. Nenya is played on...Gandalf.
Quest: 9 in the staging area, 4 needed to explore the active location. I have 11 without exhausting anyone. Celeborn and Calephon add 5. Arwen, Cirdan, and the Guardian of Rivendell add 8. Total willpower: 24.
Sylvans reveal: Burning Piers.
Noldor reveals: The Fires spread. Each Aflame location in play takes one damage. White Ship is destroyed and placed under The Havens Burn. A resource is added to the Sahir's Ravager. Total threat: 6. 4 progress is placed on the active Pillaged Ship, exploring it. 14 progress is placed on stage 1B, exploring it.
Advance to 2A!
- Captain Sahir and Na'asiyah are added to the staging area.
- Sylvans add Graxar to the staging area.
- Noldor adds Umbar Raider to the staging area.
- Captain Sahir and Na'asiya each get 4 resources added to them
- 1 resource is placed on each other Raider enemy in play.
- Advance to 2B
Well. Dang. Time to find a way to destroy this captain and quest like crazy.
Burning Piers traveled to.
Noldor engages the Umbar Raider. Captain Sahir engages the Sylvans. Na'asiyah engages the Noldor, discarding Elven Light and adding one resource to Na'Asiyah. Shadow cards are dealt. Spyglass is exhausted to look at Captain Sahri's shadow card: No effect.
Gandalf and Nenya exhaust, readying Calaphon and Guardian of Rivendell and giving them +1 attack and +1 defense this phase.
Corsair Arsonist attacks. Defender of the Naith defends. Shadow: Reveal an encounter card. Elven Caravel, added to the staging area.
Captain Sahir attacks. Sylvan Refugee defends and is destroyed. Four resources are added to Captain Sahir. Defender of the Naith readies.
Na'asiyah attacks. Defender of the Naith defends. Shadow: Discard a card and add a resource to Na'asiyah. Steward of Gondor is discarded. Defender of the Naith is destroyed. A resource is removed from Na'asiyah.
Umbar Raider attacks. Beregond defends. Shadow: No effect. No damage dealt.
Naith Guide, Galadhrim Ministerl, and Galphon remove three resources from Captain Sahir. Yay.
Unexpected Courage readies Beregond. Then Beregond and Guardian of Rivendell destroy the Umbar Raider.
Gandalf's Staff exhausts to have Noldor draw a card: Nenya.
A damage is placed on the Aflame location in the staging area.
Ready. Raise (Sylvans 33, Noldor 36). Pass token and Calphon to Noldor.
Round 4
Resources and cards.
Noldor draws: Galadhrim Handmaiden, Gondorian Shield. Discards: Nenya.
Sylvans draw: Hemnarth Riversong. Top of deck: Ranger Provisions.
Noldor: Arwen discards Gondorian Shield to add a resource to Celeborn's pool, then exhausts Silver Harp to return the card to hand. Gondorian Shield goes on Beregond and a Dagger of Westerness is discarded. Galadriel's Handmaiden is played, lowering Noldor's threat to 35.
Sylvans: Steward of Gondor is exhausted, giving Celeborn two resources. Ranger Provisions is played from the top of the deck onto the active Burning Piers. Top of deck: Orophim. Galadriel is exhaused to lower the Sylvans threat to 32 and draw Orophin. Top of deck: Greenwood Archer. Galadhrim Weave is played, shuffling Defender of the Naith into the Sylvan deck. Top of deck: Naith Guide. O Lorien! is exhausted and Henmarth Riversong is put into play for free. Orophim is played and Sylvan Refugee is returned to hand, then played.
Quest: 11 in the staging area + 3 progress for the active location + 6 damage I'd like to see removed, if possible. I have 10 without exhausting. Celeborn, Naith Guide, and Galadhrim Minstrel add 5. Arwen. Calephon, Galadhrim Minstrel commit 7. Total willpower: 22.
Noldor reveals: Corsair Arsonist. We'll deal two damage to the Dream-chaser, since that will (hopefully...) get healed.
Sylvans reveal: Elven Caravel.
Total threat: 16. Three progress is placed on Burning Piers, exploring it. Ranger Provisions triggers, giving each Noldor hero a resource. Three progress would be placed on stage 2B, but is used to heal 1 damage from an Elven Caravel and two damage from the Dream-chaser (5/12 remain).
An Elven Caravel is traveled to.
Sylvans engage the Corsair Arsonist. Captain Sahir engages Noldor. Na'asiyah engaged Sylvans, who discard all copies of The Tree People and add three resource to Na'asiyah. Shadow cards are dealt. Spyglass is exhausted to look at Captain Sahir's shadow card: All resources will be moved from defending character to the Captain.
Gandalf and Narya exhaust, readying Calphon and Galadriel's Handmaiden, giving them +1 attack and +1 defense this phase.
Captain Sahir attacks! Beregond defends, moving two resources to Captain Sahir. No damage is dealt. Unexpected courage readies Beregond. Two additional resources are added to Captain Sahir (9).
Na'asiyah attacks! Sylvan Refugee defends. Shadow: No effect. Sylvan Refugee is destroyed.
Corsair Arsonist #1 attacks, Henemarth Riversong defends: Either deal an active Aflame location 3 damage or 1 damage to the defending character. 3 damage on the active Elven Caravel it is!
Corsair Arsonist #2 attacks. Undefended. Same as above. There is no defending player to take 1 damage, so Elven Cravel is put under The Havens Burn.
Aaaaaand this is when I realize I didn't follow the effect of The Havens Burn to reveal an encounter card when a card was put beneath it twice so far. And it's too far back, with way to many decision points, to reset. So this attempt is scrapped. Dang. I really felt confident in defeating Sahir next turn and either winning that turn or the following one.
Parting Thoughts
Raid on the Grey Havens amps up the difficulty significantly from the other two adventures in the box. Not in a "no way I can beat this" way, but in a way that had me take a breath and think of my strategy throughout. So many moving gears in this one! I pre-set a space for the different rounds in my template for these posts. I think my template for the next attempt is going to add reminders for The Havens Burn. Alright, time to pack this up and get some rest. See you on the next time 'round!
Attempt 2
Opening Thoughts
Last attempt began with a huge amount of threat in the staging area but the right amount of allies dropping into play to help deal with it. Hopefully the odds work out like that here. I already play super slow when doing these write-ups, but extra caution will be given to triggers here.
The Decks
I'm sticking with the same decks for this attempt, but replacing the 2x core Gandalf allies in Cirdan Fast & Furious with 2x Lindir.
The Quest
Starting threat set: Sylvans 34, Noldor 31.
Sylvans set as first player.
Sylvan opening hand: Wizard's Pipe, O Lorien!, Galadhrim Weaver, Henamarth Riversong, Host of the Galahdrim. Top of deck: Feigned Voies. I could see a pretty decent Turn 1 coming out of this hand. Two solid attachments and two bounce effects? Alright, we'll keep it.
Noldor opening hand: Lots of allies and nothing else special. Mulligan. Mithlond Sea-Watcher, Galadriel's Handmaiden, Rhovanion Outrider, Feint, Elven-Light, A Test of Will. Better?
Setup:
- Captain Sahir and Na'asiya set out of play
- The Havens Burn, the Dream-chaser, and one copy of Sahir's Ravager added to the staging area.
- Encounter deck shuffled and cards are discarded until two Aflame locations: Burning Piers, Elven Caravel (at least that's less threat than last time). Encounter deck reshuffled. Advance to 1B
- Graxar is shuffled into the encounter deck
- Sylvans add the leadership Galdor's Counsel to their hand (again)
- Noldor adds the spirit Galdor's Counsel to their hand (again)
- Begin playing side C of the Princess Mononoke OST
Round 1
Cards & money!
Sylvans draw: Feigned Voices. Top of deck: Steward of Gondor.
Noldor draws: Dagger of Westernesse and Elrond's Counsel, discarding Elven-light.
Sylvans: Steward of Gondor goes on Celeborn. Top of deck: Galadriel's Handmaiden. Steward exhausts to add two resources to Celeborn. O Lorien! is played. O Lorien! is exhausted and Henemarth Riversong comes into play for free. Henemarth exhausts to look at the top of the encounter deck: Mithlong Harbor. Well, there goes the Noldor's pick of spirit Galdor's Counsel! The Tree People puts Henemarth into hand and Galadriel's Handmaiden into play, lowering Sylvan's threat to 33. Top of deck: Ranger Provisions. Galadhrim Weaver comes into play, shuffling The Tree People back into the deck. Top of deck: Naith Guide. Henemarth Riversong comes back down. Galdor's Counsel (leadership) adds a resource to Gandalf and is put in the victory display. Wizard's Pipe goes on Gandalf.
Noldor: Dagger of Westernesse goes on Beregond. Arwen discards Rhovanion Outrider to give Beregond a resource. Mithlond Sea-Watcher comes down.
Quest: 9 in the staging. I have 7 willpower without exhausting. I want to have 8 attack to take out Sahir's Ravager this turn. Celeborn, Calphon, Arwen, and Cirdan will add 9 for a total of 16 willpower.
Sylvans reveal: Mithlond Harbor. Surge. Corsair Infiltrator.
Noldor reveals: Burning Piers.
Total threat: 13. 3 progress placed on stage 1B.
The group travels to the Elven Caravel.
Sylvans engage Sahir's Ravager and Noldor engages Corsair Infiltrator. Shadow cards are dealt. Feigned Voices returns Galadhrim Weaver to hand and prevents Sahir's Ravager from attacking this phase.
Corsair Infiltrator attacks! Beregond defends. Shadow: No effect. No damage dealt.
Stage 1B deal 1 damage to a Burning Piers.
Gandalf, Henemarth Riversong, and Mithlong Sea-Watcher (ranged) destroy Sahir's Ravager. Galdor's Counsel is discarded to keep the Sea-Watcher around.
Galdriel exhausts to have Sylvans draw a card and lower their threat to 32. Top of deck: Unexpected Courage.
Spyglass exhausts to put one progress on the active Elven Caravel.
Aflame locations in staging all take one damaage.
Ready. Raise (Sylvans 33, Noldor 32). First player token and Calphon pass to Noldor.
Round 2
Cards & money!
One resource is moved from Cirdan to the Corsair Infiltrator.
Noldor draws: Fair and Perilous, Silver Harp. Discard: Elrond's Counsel.
Sylvans draw: Unexpected Courage. Top of deck: Steward of Gondor (shame other players can't trigger Arwen).
Noldor: Silver Harp is played on Arwen.
Sylvans: Stewad gives Celeborn two resources. O Lorien! exhausts and Naith Guide comes down, choosing Cirdan to not exhaust to quest. Henemarth exhausts to look at: The Fires Spread. Host of the Galadhrim is played, returning three allies to hand. Henemarth Riversong comes back down. Naith guide comes down, choosing Gandalf to not exhaust to quest. Galadriel's Handmaiden comes down, lowering the Sylvan threat to 32.
Quest: 6 in the staging area, 4 to explore the active location, and at least one card that will add no threat coming up. I have 14 without exhausting. Arwen and Celeborn exhaust to bring that to 20 willpower.
Noldor reveals: The Fire Spreads. Doomed 2 (Sylvan 34, Noldor 34). Noldor plays A Test of Will to cancel the When Revealed effects.
Sylvans reveal: Pillaged Ship. I opt to deal 3 damage to it (the other option is to put a Corsair Arsonist in play, which also adds 2 damage to an aflame location or finds ANOTHER location for the staging area).
Total threat: 8. Four progress is placed on Elven Caravel, exploring it. 8 progress is placed on 1B (11/18).
Travel to the Burning Piers with 2 damage on it.
Two shadow cards are dealt to the Corsair Infiltrator. Noldor plays Feint to cancel the upcoming attack. Cirdan, Beregond, and Calphon destroy the Infiltrator. 1B adds no damage to an Aflame location.
Spyglass is exhausted to put a progress on the active Burning Piers.
Galadriel exhausts to draw Sylvans a card and lower their threat to 33.
Arwent discards Fair and Perilous to add a resource to her pool, exhausting Silver Harp to add the card back to hand.
Each Aflame location in the staging area takes a damage.
Ready. Raise (Sylvan 34, Noldor 35). Token & Calphon pass to the Sylvans.
Round 3
Cards & money!
Sylvans draw: Galadhrim Minstrel. Top of deck: Wizard Pipe.
Noldor draws: Envoy of Pelegir, Lindir. Discards: Galadriel's Handmaiden.
Sylvans: Steward gives Celeborn two resources. O Lorien! is exhausted and Galadhrim Minstrel is played, finding Elrond's Counsel in the top 5 cards (and Nenya...). Shuffle. Top of deck: NENYA! Wizard Pipe puts Nenya in hand and Unexpected Courage on top of the deck. Nenya is placed on Galadriel. Unexpected Courage is placed on Gandalf. Top of deck: Magic Ring. Galadhrim Weaver is played, shuffling Host of the Galadhrim back into the deck. Top of deck: Greenwood Archer.
Noldor: Envoy of Pelegir is played, adding a resource to Cirdand's pool. Lindir is played, drawing two cards: Northern Tracker, Guardian of Rivendell.
Henemarth exhausts to reveal a Raid Leader(3 threat)d on top of the encounter deck.
Quest: 8 in the staging area, 2 progress to explore the active location, 6 more progress needed on 1B. I have 4 without questing. Gandalf, Galadriel's Handmaiden, Arwen, Celeborn, and Lindir add 14, for a total of 18 with Galadriel in the wings.
Sylvans reveal: Raide Leader
Noldor reveals: Battle-hardened. One resource on Raid Leader. Surge. Raid Leader.
Total threat: 12. Elrond's Counsel gives Galadriel 1 willpower and lowers Sylvans threat to 31. Nenya and Galadriel raise willpower to 23 (targeting Gandalf). Two progress is placed on the active Burning Piers, exploring it. 7 progress is placed on stage 1B, exploring it!
Advance to stage 2A:
- Captain Sahir and Na'asiyah are added to the staging area.
- Sylvans add Umbar Raider to the staging area.
- Noldor adds Sahir's Ravager to the staging area.
- Captain Sahir and Na'asiya each get 2 resources added to them
- 1 resource is placed on each other Raider enemy in play.
- Advance to 2B
Pillaged Ship is traveled to (4/5 damage).
Unexpected Courage readies Gandalf.
Noldor engages the Umbar Raider. Captain Sahir engages the Sylvans. Na'asiyah engages Noldor, causing them to discard Fair and Perilous and she gains a resource. Arwen exhausts Silver Harp to bring Fair and Perilous back to hand. Shadow cards are dealt.
Captain Sahir attacks! Galadhrim Minstrel defends.
Captain Sahir attacks! Beregond defends. Shadow: Discard a random card (Northern Tracker) and add a resource to Sahir (now at 4). Two damage dealt to Beregond.
Umbar Raider attacks! Mithlond Sea-Watcher defends. Shadow: No effect. Sea-Watcher destroyed!
Na'asiyah attacks! Envoy of Pelargir defends. Shadow: Deal 1 damage to each Aflame location if this destroys a character. It sure does! Envoy is wrecked. Each Aflame location in play takes one damage. The active Pillaged Ship is destroyed and placed under The Havens Burn. Encounter card revealed: Put out the Torch. Each player deals 3 damage to an Aflame location or to a character they control. Sylvans deal 3 damage to Gandalf and Noldor deals 3 damage to Cirdan. I want to keep allies around for a huge push next turn.
Arwen disacards Guardian of Rivendell to give herself a resource, then plays Fair and Perilous targeting Celeborn. Celeborn, Gandalf, Naith Guide, Galadhrim Minstrel, and Calphon deal 11 damage to Captain Sahir, defeating him and adding him to the victory display!
Each aflame location in the staging area takes 1 damage.
Ready. Raise (Sylvans 32, Noldor 36). First player goodies to Noldor.
Round 4
Cards & money!
Noldor draws: Galadriel's Handmaiden, Raven-winged Helm. Discard: Raven-Winged Helm.
Sylvans draw: Greenwood Archer. Top of deck: Galadhrim Minstrel.
Noldor: Plays Galadriel's Handmaiden, lowering their threat to 35. She gets +1 stats from Celeborn but does not get Galadriel's "non exhaust" bonus.
Sylvans: Galadriel exhausts to draw the Sylvans a card (Galdhrim Minstrel) and lower their threat to 31. Top of deck: Gandalf's Staff. Steward of Gondor exhausts to give Celeborn two resources. O Lorien! is exhausted and Galadhrim Minstrel is played, finding Host of the Galadhrim. Pickle time! I exhausted Galadriel with the thought of playing a Greenwood Archer down. Or I could reset all sylvan allies, giving +5 willpower and a bunch of abilities. Yeah, that's the right choice. First, Henemarth is exhausted and finds Graxar on top of the encounter deck. Then Hosts of the Galadhrim is played and all six Sylvan allies return to hand. Henemarth comes back down. Galadriel's Handmaiden comes down, lowering Noldor's threat to 34. Naith Guide comes down, choosing Celeborn not to exhaust to quest. Galadhrim Minstrel #1 comes down, finding The Tree People in the top 5 cards. Shuffle. Galadhrim Weaver comes down, shuffling Elrond's Counsel into the deck. Galadhrim Minstrel #2 comes down, finding Feigned Voices in the top 5. Shuffle. Top of deck: A Test of Will.
Quest: 17 in the staging area + 8 damage on locations + 3 threat coming + up to 4 more. Can I get to 32?
Cirdan: 4
Arwen: 3
Galdriel's Handmaiden: 3
Lindir: 2
Celephon: 2
Celeborn: 3
Gandalf: 3
Henemarth: 2
Galdriel's Handmaiden: 3
Naith Guide: 2
Galadhrim Weaver: 2
Galadhrim Minstrel #1: 2
Galahdrim Minstrel #2: 2
That's 33. All in.
Noldor reveals: Graxar
Sylvans reveal something that it all hinges on: Pillaged Ship. I choose to add Corsair Infiltrator to the staging area.
Total threat: 24. All 8 damage in play is removed.
(I just re-read 2B and realized Raider enemies entered with an additional resource on them. Checking the last phase, that just means dead allies are deader).
VICTORY!
Campaign Resolution
- Graxar was not in the victory display, so no cool weapons added to the campaign pool
- Galdor's Counsel leadership & spirit added to the campaign pool
- +4 XP (2 for surviving players, 1 for only two cards under The Havens Burn, 1 for each player's threat being under 40). New total: 6 XP.
Note: The XP calculations asked me to see how many Elven Wave-runners were in the victory display. My heart sunk, thinking I had missed an encounter set and needed to do another re-do. But they're in the discard; I just didn't see any come up as revealed cards.
Campaign Pool:
- 6XP
- Ominous Fate
- Galdor's Counsel leadership & Spirit
Parting Thoughts
These two playthroughs show how tricky nailing down scenario difficulty is. Raid on the Grey Havens is an 8 and my first playthrough sure felt like it. The second? Stars aligned and it didn't give me a lot of trouble. Still, things had to line up just right for that. I had four pretty darn strong enemies in the staging area that would need attending to, plus taking hits from the two I was already engaged with (likely loosing at least one hero in the process). So, while I appeared to breeze through things, I really was just shy of getting creamed. Say the revealed encounter card popped the Burning Piers, dealing damage to the Dream-chaser, and then added something else nasty into the staging area. I felt the whole time that every decision point could cost me the game and that does feel like an 8, even when it lines up well.
Alright, I think I am going to do break things up into chunks of 3 and take breaks on side adventures. So now it's time to see what Hunting for Gollum in 2026 is like...
