Expanded Sealed Development

[dmaz]

Hello All!

After the successful launch of Towers Standard Sealed, I had been desiring to dive into the world of Expanded.

There are many cards that simply don't see use, but I believe fun deck ideas could be fleshed out and cultivated around them in a sealed league atmosphere!

This thread is for everything from throwing broad ideas out there to technical discussion on deck dynamics.

I'll start by giving the three decks proposed as basis for Serie 1. I've been working on these ideas and cards for a while, and think I finally have something that could be playtested.
As usual, I held back from including some particular Rares that could have been added to spice things up. However, I did pick some Promos from set 19 that didn't feel overpowered, but added some flavor.

You'll notice, as opposed to focusing on one particular character as the face of the deck, these are themed to represent chapters from the books (and well...a little bit of Peter Jackson with the elves being a part of Helm's Deep   )

Please let me know if you'd like to test some of these out with me! It'd be a fun icebreaker.

All the best!

dmaz

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Deck 1
The Passage of the Marshes

Ring-bearer: Frodo, Weary From the Journey
Ring: The One Ring, The Ruling Ring

Adventure deck:
Doors of Durin
Expanding Marshland
Neekerbreekers' Bog
Slag Mounds
Fords of Isen
Mere of Dead Faces
Green Dragon Inn
Mount Doom
Valley of the Silverlode

Free Peoples Draw Deck:
1x Merry, The Tall One
1x Pippin, The Short One
1x Sam, Loyal Friend
4x Westfarthing Businessman
1x Rosie Cotton, Hobbiton Lass
1x Tom Bombadil, The Master
4x Hobbit Sword
2x A Marvel
1x Brave and Loyal
1x Hobbit Sword-play
1x Incognito
2x So Fair, So Desperate
1x Faith in Friendship
1x Good Work
1x Kept Safe
1x Measure of Comfort
1x Sudden Fury
1x There and Back Again
1x Daddy Twofoot, Next-door Neighbor
1x Frodo Gamgee, Son of Samwise
1x Hobbiton Farmer, Lover of Pipeweed
1x The Gaffer, Master Gardener

Shadow Draw Deck:
1x Gollum, Nasty Treacherous Creature
1x Gollum, Threatening Guide
1x Gollum, Vile Creature
4x Corpse Lights
4x Dead Ones
4x Wisp of Pale Sheen
2x Captured by the Ring
2x Cunningly Hidden
1x Frenzied Attack
2x Little Snuffler
1x Set Up
2x We Must Have It
2x Evil-smelling Fens
1x Heavy Burden
1x Hidden Even From Her
1x Window of the Eye

Deck Notes: Like the other two FP decks, there is a focus on tokens and followers, as opposed to initiative dynamics. Strong skirmish canceling for non-ringbearer hobbits (note Tom Bombadil) is there to balance out the general weakness of an only-hobbit FP. Shadow is built to create and then manipulate threats and burdens, as opposed to just being a straightforward corruption deck or whatnot. Very excited to try this one.

Deck 2
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony

Ring-bearer: Frodo, Hope of Free Peoples
Ring: The One Ring, The Ruling Ring

Adventure deck:
Isenwash
City Gates
Morannon Plains
Pelennor Fields
Wold Battlefield
Flats of Rohan
City of Kings
Heights of Isengard
Sirannon Ruins

Free Peoples Draw Deck:
2x Barliman Butterbur, Red-Faced Landlord
1x Dasron, Merchant from Dorwinion
1x Ghân-buri-Ghân, Chieftain of the Woses
2x Librarian, Keeper of Ancient Texts
3x Shadow of the Wood
1x Bounder
2x Hobbit Sword
2x For a While Less Dark
4x Guidance of the Istari
2x The Terror of His Coming
2x Noble Intentions
2x Fear and Great Wonder
3x Last Stand
2x Alatar, Final Envoy
1x Meneldor, Misty Mountain Eagle

Shadow Draw Deck:
3x Crooked Townsman
3x Harry Goatleaf
3x Rough Man of the South
3x Ruffian
3x Squint-eyed Southerner
4x Vengeful Wild Man
4x Beast of War
1x Bold and Cunning
2x Gathering Strength
1x Lying Counsel
3x Overrun

Deck Notes:Was having fun building this FP deck, when I noticed I had enough Gandalf culture men to make a deck around them. Notice the ents to supplement as there are only 4. I really wanted to have Brand, King of Dale, but as it's a relatively strong Rare (for sealed anyway), I opted out. Per the theme, the Shadow is built to have a strong opening, and then through added tricks with the threat adding for Beast of War, an option for a strong late game.

Deck 3
Helm's Deep

Ring-bearer: Frodo, Protected by Many
Ring: The One Ring, The Ruling Ring

Adventure deck:
East Road
Gate of Mordor
The Great Gates
Hill of Sight
Caras Galadhon
Helm's Gate
Osgiliath Reclaimed
Trollshaw Forest
Old Forest Road

Free Peoples Draw Deck:
4x Elven Defender
1x Fereveldir, Son of Thandronen
1x Haldir, Sentry of the Golden Wood
1x Naith Troop
1x Galdor, Councilor From the West
4x Sword of the Fallen
2x Hobbit Sword
1x Gift of the Evenstar, Blessed Light
2x Inside a Song
2x Spring Forth Nimbly
1x That Is No Orc Horn
2x Severed His Bonds
2x Agility
2x Hosts of the Last Alliance
1x Strength of Arms
1x Uncertain Future
1x Uruviel, Woodland Maid
1x Woodhall Elf, Exile

Shadow Draw Deck:
1x Advance Uruk Patrol
2x Uruk Veteran
2x Cavern Denizen
2x Feral Uruk
2x Uruk Common
2x Uruk Village Rager
2x Watchman Uruk
2x White Hand Aggressor
2x White Hand Attacker (Set 18)
2x White Hand Intruder
2x Blade of the White Hand
2x Ferocity
2x We Are the Fighting Uruk-hai
2x Fury of the Evil Army
2x Poised for Assault
1x Worthy of Mordor

Deck Notes: Pretty straightforward FP with, as the others, a focus on tokens with a splash of followers. You might notice that the FP have a very "vanilla" feel to them, with the x3 and x4 basic companions. This was done intentionally. I looked at how in Movie and Towers Standard sealeds, there was a need to include crowd control right off the bat, due to giving a broad scope of solid companions. Here we have (excluding booster pulls) a deck which can have at max 8 companions out at any point in time, and fewer duplicates to slow the snowball and reduce the need for crowd control. I think Serie 2 would be a place for added crowd control.
The Shadow is a straightforward Uruk-hai culture site control deck, with a good foundation for building out.

[dmaz]

Initial thoughts on my end were also having a Serie that focused on the Hunter keyword, without going too strong.

I also wanted Serie 4 to provide more sealed content, so there was a significant variety, as opposed to just adding all of the cards from the starter that you wanted to combo with and be done with it.
Perhaps including the 5-Card WETA promo and/or Expanded Middle Earth pack would incite even more creative decks. It's always fun opening that Reflections pack in Movie Sealed