The Deck
Ever since its release, I felt Conflict at the Carrock needed to be taken on with a solo Tactics deck. It is a conflict, after all. This was a pretty fanciful concept in the early days of the game, when Tactics was poorly rounded out as a sphere, but the currently rich card pool allows for multiple successful options.
The four (unique) trolls in this quest are nasty and the last thing I want to do is go up against them in a fair fight. Two options are staying under 34 threat and taking them on at leisure, or disregarding threat and stopping their attacks. I tried the first option twice and it just was not panning out. For the second option, Hama + Thicket of Spears seemed like the way to go. So the plan became shoring up my board with allies and attachments during stage 1 then progressing to stage 2 once I had Thicket of Spears in hand (or once my threat was getting to a dangerous level).
A Tactical Conflict
Heroes
Theoden (The Morgul Vale)
Hama
Dori (Across the Ettenmoors)
Allies
Dunedain Hunter x3
Eagles of the Misty Mountains x3
Winged Guardian x3
Vassal of the Windlord 3
Skinbark x1
Honour Guard x3
Derndingle Warrior x3
Attachments
Dwarrowdelf Axe x3
Book of Eldacar x3
Secret Vigil x3
Support of the Eagles x3
Rohan Warhorse x2
The Favor of the Valar x1
Events
Hold Your Ground! x3
Heavy Stroke x3
Khazad! Khazad! x3
Thicket of Spears x3
The Eagles Are Coming! x3
Side Quests
Gather Information
Sets Used
Core Set
The Hunt for Gollum
The Dead Marshes
Return to Mirkwood
Khazad-dum
The Long Dark
Foundations of Stone
Encounter at Amon Din
The Morgul Vale
The Voice of Isengard
The Lost Realm
The Wastes of Eriador
Escape from Mount Gram
Across the Ettenmoors
The Battle of Carn Dum
The Land of Shadow
A highlight here of Derndingle Warrior + Honor Guard. This is a match made in heaven, my friends. The best part is that you can have the Guard protect a hero instead of the Warrior twice before you are at risk of loosing the Warrior (in most cases).
The Journey
Player Setup
Set starting threat to 31
Draw: Heavy Stroke, Heavy Stroke, Support of the Eagles, Skinbark, Dunedain Hunter, Derndingle Warrior
Not a terrible hand, but no strong synergy for any strategy. I have Heavy Stroke's, but no way to boost Dori. Support of the Eagles, but no eagles. Derndingle Warrior, but no Honor Guard. I am a fan of seeing Skinbark and Dunedain Hunter, but let's see what I can get by doing this again.
Draw: Honor Guard, The Eagles Are Coming!, The Eagles Are Coming!, Derndingle Warrior, Eagles of the Misty Mountains, Vassal of the Windlord
Coming? The eagles are here, my friend!
Encounter Setup
Stage 1A. Add The Carrock to the staging area. Shuffle in one copy of Sacked!. Advance to stage 1B.
Round 1
Resource Phase
+1 Theoden (1), +1 Hama (1), +1 Dori (1)
Draw: Hold Your Ground
Planning Phase
Play: The Eagles Are Coming! Look at the top 5 cards (player) and add Eagles of the Misty Mountains to my hand.
Play: The Eagles Are Coming! Look at the top 5 cards (player) and add non to my hand.
Thicket of Spears would have been my next draw if I had not played the first Eagles and another Thicket came up in the 5 cards for the second peek.
Play: Derndingle Warrior (Hama-1, Dori -1).
Quest Phase
Commit: Theoden (3), Hamma (2)
Total Willpower: 5
Reveal: Gladden Fields
Total Threat: 5
No progress placed.
Travel Phase
Travel to Gladden Fields
No Engagements or Combat
Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 33 (Gladden Fields).
Round 2
Resource Phase
+1 Theoden (2), +1 Hama (1), +1 Dori (1)
Draw: Dunedain Hunter
Planning Phase
Play: Eagles of the Misty Mountains (Theoden -2, Hama -1, Dori -1)
Play: Dunedain Hunter. Look at top 5 cards (Encounter) and put Misty Mountain Goblins in play engaged with me.
Quest Phase
Commit: Theoden (3), Hama (2)
Total Willpower: 5
Reveal: Despair (no progress to remove)
Total Threat: 2
Place 3 progress on Gladden Fields, exploring it and adding it to the victory display (3)
No Travel or Engagements
Combat Phase
Deal shadow card to Misty Mountain Goblins. Attacks! Eagles of the Misty Mountains defends. Shadow: The East Blight (no effect). No damage dealt. Eomer + Dunedain Hunter declare an attack on Misty Mountain Goblins, destroying them.
Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 34.
Round 3
Resource Phase
+1 Theoden (1), +1 Hama (1), +1 Dori (1)
Draw: Derndingle Warrior
Planning Phase
Play: Honour Guard (Theoden -1, Hama -1)
Quest Phase
Commit: Theoden (3), Hama (2)
Total Willpower: 5
Reveal: A Frightened Beast (raise threat by two to 36)
Total Threat: 2
Place 3 progress on stage 1B (3/7)
No Travel Engagements or Combat
Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 37.
Round 4
Resource Phase
+1 Theoden (1), +1 Hama (1), +1 Dori (2)
Draw: Thicket of Spears
And here we go! Ready to party...eventually.
Planning Phase
Play: Eagles of the Misty Mountains #2 (Theoden -1, Hama -1, Dori -2)
Quest Phase
Commit: Theoden (3), Eagles of the Misty Mountains #1 (2)
Total Willpower: 5
Reveal: Muck Adder
Total Threat: 3
Place 2 progress on stage 1B (5/7)
Travel Phase
No travel
Encounter Phase
Engage Muck Adder
Combat Phase
Deal shadow card to Muck Adder. Derndingle Warrior defends. Deal 1 damage to Derndingle Warrior to give it +3 defense for this attack. Exhaust Honour Guard to cancel damage dealt to Derndingle warrior. Shadow: Marsh Adder (Derndingle Warrior gets -1 defense). No damage dealt.
Dunedain Hunter declares an attack on Marsh Adder, destroying it.
Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 38.
Round 5
Resource Phase
+1 Theoden (1), +1 Hama (1), +1 Dori (1)
Draw: Eagles of the Misty Mountains #3
Planning Phase
Play nothing
Quest Phase
Commit: Dori (2), Eagles of the Misty Mountains (2)
I could advance to stage 2 this round, but I want to wait and try to build up my party a little more.
Total Willpower: 4
Reveal: Banks of the Anduin
Total Threat: 3
Place 1 progress on stage 1B (6/7)
Travel Phase
Travel to Banks of the Anduin
No Engagements or Combat
Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 39.
Round 6
Resource Phase
+1 Theoden (2), +1 Hama (2), +1 Dori (2)
Draw: Dunedain Hunter
Planning Phase
Play: Dunedain Hunter #2. Look at the top 5 cards (encounter deck) and put Misty Mountain Goblins in play, engaged with me.
Play: Eagles of the Misty Mountains (Theoden -2, Hama -2)
Quest Phase
Commit: Theoden (3), Eagles of the Misty Mountains #1 (2), Eagles of the Misty Mountains #2 (2)
Total Willpower: 7
Reveal: Misty Mountain Goblins
Total Threat: 4
Place 3 progress on Banks of the Anduin, exploring it and placing it on top of the encounter deck.
Travel Phase
No travel
Encounter Phase
Engage Misty Mountain Goblins #2
Combat Phase
Deal shadow cars to Misty Mountain Goblins x2
Misty Mountain Goblins #1 attacks. Dori defends. Shadow: Banks of the Anduin (no shadow). No damage dealt.
Misty Mountain Goblins #2 attacks. Derndingle Warrior defends. Deal 1 damage to Derndingle Warrior to give it +3 defense for this attacks. Exhaust Honour Guard to cancel the damage dealt to Derndingle Warrior. Shadow: Bee Pastures (no effect). No damage dealt.
Dunedain Hunter #1 + Eagles of the Misty Mountains #3 declare an attack on Misty Mountain Goblins #1, destroying them.
Hama + Dunedain Hunter #2 declare an attack on Misty Mountain Goblins #2, destroying them.
Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 40.
Round 7
Resource Phase
+1 Theoden (1), +1 Hama (1), +1 Dori (3)
Draw: Dwarrowdelf Axe
Planning Phase
Play: Vassal of the Windlord (Dori -1)
Play: Dwarrowdelf Axe (Dori -1). Attach to Dori.
Quest Phase
Commit: Hama
Total Willpower: 2
I am retyping this from an OCTGN report and I honestly have no idea why I didn't advance at this point. Possible reason: watching Downton Abbey in the background with my wife while playing.
Reveal: Roasted Slowly (no effect).
Total Threat: 2
No progress placed
No Travel, Engagements, or Combat
Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 41.
Round 8
Resource Phase
+1 Theoden (2), +1 Hama (2), +1 Dori (2)
Draw: Rohan Warhorse
Planning Phase
Play nothing.
Quest Phase
Commit: Theoden (3), Eagles of the Misty Mountains #1 (2), Eagles of the Misty Mountains #2 (2), Eagles of the Misty Mountains #2 (2)
Total Willpower: 9
Reveal: Goblin Sniper
Total Threat: 4
Place 5 progress on stage 1B, clearing it. Make The Carrock the active location.
Advance to stage 2A. Place Louis, Rupert, Morris, Stuart in the staging area.
No Travel
Encounter Phase
Engage Louis, Rupert, Morris, Stuart
Combat Phase
Deal shadow cards to Louis, Rupert, Morris, Stuart
Play: Thicket of Spears (Theoden -1, Eomer -1, Dori -1)
Let the cakewalk begin!
Hama + Dori + Dunedain Hunter #1 + Dunedain Hunter #2 + Vassal of the Windlord declare an attack on Louis, destroying him. Hama: Return Thicket of Spears to hand and discard Rohan Warhorse.
Discard Vassal of the Windlord. Place upside down under Eagles of the Misty Mountains #1.
Discard shadow cards.
Forced (Goblin Sniper): Deal one damage to Derndingle Warrior. Exhaust Honour Guard to cancel the damage.
Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 42.
Round 9
Resource Phase
+1 Theoden (2), +1 Hama (2), +1 Dori (2)
Draw: Heavy Stroke
Planning Phase
Play nothing.
Quest Phase
Commit: Theoden (3), Eagles of the Misty Mountains (2), Derndingle Warrior (1)
Total Willpower: 6
Reveal: Sacked! Attach to Theoden.
Total Threat: 2
Place 4 progress on The Carrock (4/6).
No Travel
Encounter Phase
Engage Goblin Sniper
Combat Phase
Deal shadow cards to Goblin Sniper, Rupert, Morris, Stuart
Play: Thicket of Spears (Theoden -1, Hama -1, Dori -1)
Eagles of the Misty Mountains #2 declares an attack on Goblin Sniper, destroying it.
Hama + Dori + Eagles of the Misty Mountains #1 + Dunedain Hunter #1 + Dunedain Hunter #2 declare an attack on Stuart, destroying him. Hama: Return Thicket of Spears to hand and discard Heavy Stroke. Discard Sacked! from Theoden.
Discard shadow cards.
Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 43.
Round 10
Resource Phase
+1 Theoden (2), +1 Hama (2), +1 Dori (2)
Draw: Heavy Stroke
Planning Phase
Play nothing.
Quest Phase
Commit: Theoden (3), Eagles of the Misty Mountains #2 (2), Eagles of the Misty Moutains #3 (2)
Total Willpower: 7
Reveal: River Langflood (+2 threat due to two trolls in play)
Total Threat: 4
Place 2 progress on The Carrock, exploring it.
Place 1 progress on stage 2B (1/1)
Travel Phase
Travel to River Langflood
No Engagments
Combat Phase
Deal shadow cards to Rupert, Morris
Play: Thicket of Spears (Theoden -1, Hama -1, Dori -1)
Hama + Dori + Eagles of the Misty Mountains #1 + Dunedain Hunter #1 declare an attack on Rupert, destroying him. Hama: Return Thicket of Spears to hand and discard Heavy Stroke.
Discard shadow cards.
Refresh Phase
Ready all. Raise threat to 44.
Round 11
Resource Phase
+1 Theoden (2), +1 Hama (2), +1 Dori (2)
Draw: Book of Eldacar
Planning Phase
Play nothing.
Quest Phase
Commit: Theoden (3), Eagles of the Misty Mountains #2 (2)
Total Willpower: 5
Reveal: Oak-wood Grove
Place 3 progress on River Langflood, exploring it.
Travel Phase
Travel to Oak-wood Grove
No Engagements
Combat Phase
Deal shadow card to Morris.
Play: Thicket of Spears (Theoden -1, Hama -1, Dori -1)
Hama + Dori + Eagle of the Misty Muntains #1 + Dunedain Hunter #1 declare an attack on Morris, destroying him and winning the game!
Final Scoring
10 Completed Rounds x10: 100
Ending Threat: 44
Total Damage on Heroes: 0
Threat of Defeated Heroes: 0
Victory Display: -3
Total Score: 141
The Recap
It took me three attempts to work out the best deck for this quest, but once I had the right deck the quest became a push-over. Funnily enough, some of my main strategies (Dori + Dwarf-boosting events and Eagles + their Support) never made a real appearance. Hama + Thicket of Spears were the real all stars, greatly aided by strong allies and Theoden's questing boost to all tactics heroes (himself included).
This is a fun quest with a clear challenge and not an unreasonable amount of variation. Now that my goal of solo-Tactics victory has been accomplished, I think it is time to try scoring a victory with every sphere. Or how about mono-Tactics with no Feint/Thicket/Wizard's Voice allowed? Good luck with that!
10 Completed Rounds x10: 100
Ending Threat: 44
Total Damage on Heroes: 0
Threat of Defeated Heroes: 0
Victory Display: -3
Total Score: 141
The Recap
It took me three attempts to work out the best deck for this quest, but once I had the right deck the quest became a push-over. Funnily enough, some of my main strategies (Dori + Dwarf-boosting events and Eagles + their Support) never made a real appearance. Hama + Thicket of Spears were the real all stars, greatly aided by strong allies and Theoden's questing boost to all tactics heroes (himself included).
This is a fun quest with a clear challenge and not an unreasonable amount of variation. Now that my goal of solo-Tactics victory has been accomplished, I think it is time to try scoring a victory with every sphere. Or how about mono-Tactics with no Feint/Thicket/Wizard's Voice allowed? Good luck with that!
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