Ranger Choke & Isengard Orcs

[Kralik]

Ring and Bearer:
1x   Frodo, Reluctant Adventurer
1x   The One Ring, Isildur's Bane

Sites:
1x   The Prancing Pony (P)
1x   Trollshaw Forest
1x   Rivendell Waterfall
1x   Mithril Mine
1x   The Bridge of Khazad-dum*
1x   Caras Galadhon*
1x   Silverlode Banks
1x   Brown Lands
1x   Slopes of Amon Hen

Free Peoples (35 cards):
1x   Arwen, Daughter Of Elrond (starting)
1x   Sam, Faithful Companion (starting)
3x   Aragorn, Heir to the White City

1x   Mithril-coat
2x   Athelas
1x   Bill the Pony
1x   Armor
1x   Flaming Brand
1x   Gwemegil
1x   Hobbit Sword****
1x   Ranger's Sword
2x   Sting
1x   Asfaloth
2x   Aragorn's Bow (P)

2x   A Talent for Not Being Seen
3x   No Stranger to the Shadows
1x   O Elbereth! Gilthoniel!

3x   Hobbit Stealth
3x   Might of Numenor
4x   Swordsman of the Northern Kingdom

Shadow (35 cards):
1x   The Balrog, Durin's Bane
3x   Isengard Retainer
3x   Isengard Servant
4x   Isengard Shaman
2x   Isengard Warrior
3x   Isengard Worker
3x   Orc Commander
2x   Saruman, Servant of the Eye

4x   Isengard Axe

3x   Tower of Orthanc
2x   Trapped and Alone

2x   Servants to Saruman
3x   The Trees Are Strong

Quick Description:
A lot of standard fare, but here's the general strategy:

Freeps - Bid to go first and grab HttWC from the Prancing Pony, Bill the Pony from Sam. Freeps is full of possession pumps, as well as some skirmish events. Hobbit Stealth should save you in a pinch*, SotNK works nicely for either Aragorn or Arwen. Arwen is strong against Nazgul; Aragorn's Bow should save you from some swarms. I generally overuse Might of Numenor but it always works for me as a great healing card.
*Playing by the old rules that did allow the RB to cancel his skirmishes.

Shadow - The Isengard Orcs generally have low twilight costs but are able to dish out up to four wounds apiece: win a skirmish + two exertions + a discard with TTAS. The Isengard Axe helps them win and adds twilight; Tower of Orthanc rewards you for the inevitable exhausted companions. Keep spare twilight if possible for the Isengard Shaman -- one less wound on you is a wound on your opponent. If the wounds go on the RB, use Isengard Warrior, if they spread them equally, chances are TTAS could be their death blow.

Looking for Suggestions:

• Burden removal needed?
• Condition discard other than Athelas?
• Smaller deck size?
• Other improvements?

Thanks!

EDIT: Fixed Fellowship card links.

[Kralik]

Replying to my own post -- bad habit, I know...

How about We Must Go Warily? Though I'd typically just single-move (and so am not packing An Able Guide), if there wasn't any excess twilight, it might just be worth doubling. And, if I'm not mistaken, it may be the only way to move to site 5 and not see Durin's Bane played. I would only need 3 out of 4 Shadow number reducers...

[SomeRandomDude]

I think that if you are going to run We Must Go Warily then you need An Able Guide. The combo there rocks.

Smaller deck? Cut both Trapped And Alone, 1 No Stranger To Shadows and 1 Might of Numenor. 33/33 is pretty slim.

[Malachi]

In FOTR block bigger decks are usually more popular as they have better chances about Dwarf/Sauron discard.

[Kralik]

In FOTR block bigger decks are usually more popular as they have better chances about Dwarf/Sauron discard.

Good reason not to use 30 cards... I'll have to post my - discard deck sometime. Usually decks 70-80 cards by site 6-7, then it's a run to 9 with Gift of Boats.

[Kralik]

I think that if you are going to run We Must Go Warily then you need An Able Guide. The combo there rocks.

Ack! I just saw that WMGW has been errata'd. Strike that thought -- not nearly as useful in this case as I had thought. Deft in Their Movements x2 a good substitute? Thinking of removing Armor and one SotNK.

Smaller deck? Cut both Trapped And Alone, 1 No Stranger To Shadows and 1 Might of Numenor. 33/33 is pretty slim.

I see TaA as vital to an Orcs deck... as long as you are not overwhelmed, it doesn't matter that much if you lose to a damage +2 companion. Otherwise, your minion is toast and you lose out on two regroup wounds (one with TTAS).