Saved from the Fire/Gondor

[Celebrimbor]

Lately I have been greatly inspired by deck mechanics revolving around Saved from the Fire.  The most common feature this set of strategies is that it allows for dynamically adapting to your opponent as you build up your fellowship.  I think it's a brilliant idea.

So, I went browsing through some decktech.net entries to find this entry:
http://decktech.net/lotr/decks/decks.php?deck=33930

Starting
Isildur,Bearer Of Heirlooms
The One Ring,Answer To All Riddles
Gandalf,Leader Of Men
Madril, Faramir`s Aide
Smeagol, Always Helps

Adventure Deck
1.Isengard Ruined
2.King`s Tent
3.Base Of Mindolluin
4.City Of The Dead
5.Steward`s Tomb
6.Minas Tirith Sixth Circle
7.Osgiliath Crossing
8.Morgulduin
9.Dagorlad

Free Peoples (37)
Elendil The Tall x1
Denethor, Lord Of Minas Tirith x1
Aragorn,Ranger Of The North x1
Radagast,The Brown x1
Sam,Son Of Hamfast x1
Gandalf,Defender Of The West x1
Gondorian Merchant x1
Narsil x1
Anduril,Flame Of The West x1
Seeing Stone Of Orthanc x1
Scroll Of Isildur x1
Sapling Of The White Tree x2
What Are They?? x4
Second Level x2
Sent Back x1
Saved From The Fire x4
Don`t Look At Them x3
Stone Tower x1
Citadel Of The Stars x1
Sixth Level x1
Roll Of Thunder x1
Deep In Thought x1
Noble Leaders x1
Hardy Garisson x1

Shadow (37)
Gollum,Dark As Darkness x1
Shelob,Her Ladyship x1
Morgul Brute x4
Morgul Destroyer x4
Ulaire Attea,Keeper Of Dol Guldur x2
Ulaire Cantea,Faster Than Winds x2
Ulaire Enquea,Lieutenant Of Morgul x1
Ulaire Enquea,Thrall Of The One x1
The Witch King,Morgul King x2
Ulaire Lemenya,Assailing Minion x1
Ulaire Toldea,Wraith On Wings x1
Ulaire Toldea,Messenger Of Morgul x1
Ulaire Nertea,Thrall Of The One x1
Ulaire Nelya,Thrall Of The One x2
Ulaire Otsea,Thrall Of The One x1
Final Strike x1
Captured By The Ring x4
So Polite x2
Houses Of Lamentation x2
Evil-smelling Fens x1
Ghastly Host x1
Black Marshal x1


The insane thing about it is...it's huge, running a 37/37 card deck.  Even the original creator of the deck said this thing is so complex to play it would take pages of strategies explaining how it works.  I have some basic idea of how it works (the shadow is pretty straight-forward) but in general the mechanics required to play it correctly would be a nightmare.  Does anyone have any suggestions on general strategies on how this deck would be played in particular?

It's hard to think of who to burn and what to pull out in what situations, which companions are needed, etc.  Maybe experience would be our only ally in a situation like this!

[Gil-Estel]

I would start with burning Madril for at least the gondorian merchant and another gondor guy. I would lose denethor, or simply burn him. The merchant is there to manipulate your hand and making you able to play what are they. Then start to burn Gandalf, since you don't want his tuff clogging your hand while you wait to burn him. I would try to incorporate at least 1 web in the shadow, since it would be nice to stack either Gollum of Shelob in case they don't appear at the same time.

[Celebrimbor]

Well if we burn Madril, then it is evident that we need Aragorn, ROTN to spot for the second levels, So he's necessary.  Burning Gandalf works too...killing him, pulling out stronger Gandalf, Sent Back, and either Roll of Thunder or Deep in Thought.

Sméagol, Always helps can work out on his own...3 copies of Don't Look at Them will come out anyway.  Depending on what kind of shadow, we can choose to beef up Isildur with Narsil and all his artifacts, or choose to pull out even stronger Elendil and play Narsil on him.

For the time being, Denethor is useful for a number of things. He can filter the deck, so using Saved from the Fire to pull him, Aragorn, and Andúril out, Denethor can pull out fortifications or other weapons we would need.

This is very general and probably is only scratching the surface of the variations that can be tried.

[Not a Zombie]

You can also burn smeagol to set up your shadow, a fun trick.

[Celebrimbor]

OK I just tested it!  I'll have to admit...it's a continuously haunting feeling that my fellowship is weak and I'm not doing something right.

The matchup was vs Elven telepathy/Isengard Men + Saruman.  This beatdown-style shadow came at a surprise.  The minions kept getting stronger and more manipulative with more of his shadow conditions on my companions.  At site 6, I burned Denethor to take Elendil and narsil, making the move limit +1, trying to run for it as he was at 8 already.  He even had 2 conditions on Elendil, The Tall and was about to use Grima, Wormtongue to return him to hand, but I had first action and played Deep in Thought. I ran to 9, and even after he had discarded all my fortifications with saruman, I won.

Unique matchup, not representative of 'normal' shadow strategies, but was enjoyable.