I guess I could start Aragorn, Strider with Merry, Friend to Sam. I don’t want to bid high to make sure I get the pony, because I may need to add burdens for Smeagol to survive early, tough minions...
as I mentioned I haven’t played in awhile, and I forgot an important point - to play Shire Countryside you need to spot 2 hobbit companions (yet another reason that card isn’t broken). Anyway...
This deck can exhaust the fellowship, put Frodo at 9 burdens, and heal it all without any need for a sanctuary. Massive directed wounding and some killer combos.