Gandalf, BoO + Gandy men

[Mythdracon]

Total 36 cards.

SITES:
Heights of Isengard (3)
Imladris (3)
Mithlond (2)
Osgiliath Reclaimed (2)
Shadow sites (undetermined)

Ringbearer and his Ring
Gandalf, Bearer of Obligation
Ring of Rings

The deck
Brand, King of Dale (start)
Jarnsmid, Barding Emissary (start)
Barliman Butterbur, Red-Faced Landlord
Erland, Dale Counselor
Ghan-buri-Ghan, Chieftain of the Woses
Grimbeorn, Beorning Chieftain
Librarian, Keeper of Ancient Texts
Treebeard, Enraged Shepherd (to smack Shadow)
Strange Meeting x4
For a While Less Dark x2
Guidance of  the Istari x4 (most amazing pump for Gandy men ever)
Last Stand x2
Beorning Axe x2
Have Patience (healing)
Watch and Wait x2 (remove burdens)
Glamdring, Foe-Hammer (remove burdens, Gandy should win with enough pumps)
Radagast's Herb Bag
New Authority (to hinder corruption strats a bit)
Radagast, Tender of Beasts
Meneldor, Misty Mountain Eagle
Alatar, Final Envoy
Gwaihir, the Windlord
Traveller's Homestead (condition removal)
Shadowfax, Roaring Wind (to help Gandy win skirmishes, reinforce tokens, wound minions if need be)
Salve x2

Recommendations? I'm hoping to pair it with Troll Swarm (for Grimbeorn's transformation) or some kind of cycle shadow (Moving This Way + Mounted Muster Nazzies?). Please help me out with Shadow too. I wanted to add Pallando to this list but I don't have spare copies of him IRL so I didn't bother. I suppose one solution is to have Pallando from another deck transfer to this one (or have it out so I can shuffle it into either one when I play either one).

[Mythdracon]

Current problem seems to be that archery hurts. I need more healing cards, Have Patience maybe. Recommendations on what cards to remove? Or add?

[Mythdracon]

Hellooooo?

[MR. Lurtzy]

Hello.

[Mythdracon]

Lol. Do you think the deck would work? 

[Witchkingx5]

Not in Open.

[Mythdracon]

Why not?

[Sam, Great Elf Warrior]

Probably because it doesn't involve some sort of broken loop or other overpowered combo.

[jdizzy001]

seriously, unless a deck has some outlandish loop, it won't last a moment in open.  I went through the same problem when I started posting.  That is why I consider myself the master of casual games.... despite the fact i don't win that often.

[legolas3333]

I think you have enough burden removal to drop have patience and radagast's herb bag, remember the gandalf RB requires you to discard cards to a big deck is probably fine.

[Mythdracon]

Ok, what formats *would* it win then? It doesn't use an OP loop but I hate those...I know Open sort of invites usage of them, but maybe Expanded is less about OP combos?

Legolas, I find I need more healing--I'm kind of reluctant to discard Have Patience--it doesn't discard burdens, but heals a companion twice, which is very useful against Orc wounding decks.

Also, I know it's banned in some formats (forget which though), but Final Account looks like it'd be great for cycling events back in case Erland is dead or hasn't shown up yet.

[Sam, Great Elf Warrior]

You could try casual if you want to avoid both the X-list and overpowered loops.

[jdizzy001]

casual all the way!

[Mythdracon]

Ok, let's pretend this topic is in the Casual section then. So, what are its weaknesses? Lack of healing and corruption are what I see at the moment. Should I pack Intimidate or Salve for the wound prevention, or are they not worth it?

[legolas3333]

salve for sure, it won't clog your hand like intimidate and it's cheaper