Hmm, this is a challenge! Given all the packs, I assume you'll play Expanded format. You have to think about sites here. No matter what format you play, if you pick a starter deck not from that format - like a Two Towers deck for Expanded - you'll have trouble assembling enough sites. If you want to increase the power level of decks, let people pick sites after the draft. Or maybe cost 1 credit to pick a site? At the least, I would just hand people a set of Expanded set sites.
Thinking quickly:
* Getting random cards from the 3 and 4 credit packs is not worth it. For many of them, I wouldn't pay 3 or 4 credits to get a card of my choice.
* The lack of "crowd control" in starters is a problem. Starter Shadows - and even with 15 packs, you're playing mostly starter shadows - have trouble against large fellowships. On Gemp, most leagues include extra cards that punish large fellowships
Ulaire Enquea, Lieutenant of Morgul, or
Southron Commander. If you're not doing that, my choices are heavily influenced by starters and sets with any crowd control.
* I don't see much advantage to paying 2 credits over 1. Yes, I know the rares are less common, but even at best you have a 7/40 chance of a bomb rare. I'd rather get more filler cards.
Starters I would consider:
- Shadows Gandalf.
Gandalf Leader of the Company is great from sites 1-6;
G for Grand would basically beat some of the weaker starters by itself. Also, Nertea helps a little with 6+ companions. You can fill out the deck with your 15 packs.
I think Shadows Gandalf is the best bet; my other options are to let you play different types of decks.
- Bloodlines Boromir.
Stragglers is extremely powerful with a lot of minions out. Unfortunately, you'd have to commit most of your 15 packs to Shadows-block cards in order to get good bodies, and you won't have Mouth of Sauron from
Black Rider to set it up like we do in GEMP. It's one of the more fun decks to play - for you.
-
Mount Doom Sam.
Sam, Great Elf Warrior is a great backup ringbearer, plus Tale of
the Great Ring can be close to game-winning. It's not crazy because most starters have some pumps, but it does tie up a pump against someone. Unfortunately, the shadow side is only so-so.
- Fellowship Gandalf. This is the best swarm deck because you can get hand extension with
Goblin Scavengers and
Goblin Scimitar. Unfortunately, I don't think it's good enough because the paper starters only have 2
Host of Thousands. You could gamble, open 15 packs of Fellowship and pray for a
Goblin Swarms, then pick your starter, but that's very risky.