Quest 43: The Treachery of Rhudaur

Victory on the First Attempt!

The Deck

It has been a long time since I've dived deep with Dwarfs, after leaning heavily towards them during the first few years of the game. But who wasn't? They were the first truly flushed out trait and are still receiving support. In fact, with AtaruSlash's Quad Sphere Dwarf Swarm being a year old, it was tempting to add in a playset of Erid Luin Miner and a Dwarf Pipe (hello, Mr. Rhys-Davies) or two. But I wanted to tackle my first attempt with the deck as-is and that first attempt is all that was needed.

Quad Sphere Dwarf Swarm *COTR Deckbox* 
by AtaruSlash

Heroes
Bifur (Khazad-dum)
Dain Ironfoot
Oin

Allies
Dori (Over Hill and Under Hill) x1
Erebor Hammersmith x3
Erebor Record Keeper x3
Ered Nimrais Prospector x3
Miner of the Iron Hills x3
Warden of Healing x2
Fili x1
Gimli (The Treason of Saruman) x1
Gloin (On the Doorstep) x1
Blue Mountain Trader x3
Bofur (The Redhorn Gate) x1
Dwalin (On the Doorstep) x1
Kili x1
Erebor Battle Master x3
Gandalf (Core) x3

Attachments
Legacy of Durin x2
King Under the Mountain x2
Narvi's Belt x2
Steward of Gondor x2

Events
A Very Good Tale x3
Sneak Attack x1
To me! O my kinsfolk! x2
We Are Not Idle x3
Hidden Cache x3

Sets Used
Core
Return to Mirkwood
Khazad-dum
The Redhorn Gate
The Watcher in the Water
The Long Dark
Shadow and Flame
Over Hill and Under Hill
On the Doorstep
The Morgul Vale
The Dunland Trap
The Treason of Saruman

RingsDB Link


The Journey

The Treachery of Rhudar asks you to do a lot and to do it quickly.  Three side quests with a total of 48 quest points is the ultimate goal to get through in just five rounds. I figured I would be able to knock out one or two, with the ally-punishing Decipher Ancient Texts going unfinished. But I underestimated the strength of the dwarf swarm! I was able to clear all three side-quests by the time the last counter was removed, then sweep through the final stage and the necessary damage to Thaurdir. Not even a reveal of Haunting Fog in the last quest phase could stop the army.



Final Scoring
5 Completed Rounds x10: 50
Ending Threat: 34
Total Damage on Heroes: 0
Threat of Defeated Heroes: 0
Victory Display: 0
Total Score: 84


The Recap

The Treachery of Rhudar is a solid, enjoyable quest that I would not pass up an opportunity play again. It did not quite strike me as "Favorite Quest," but if every quest did then there would be no point for the designation. Similar to Battle of the Five Armies, I enjoy the choice to pick which challenge I will attempt to tackle each round and the associated risk/reward that comes with it. This will go down as an added testimony to the strength of the Angmar Awakened cycle.