Deck Building Challenge: Man and Monster.

[menace64]

I've got a friend coming into town in a few days and he's asked that I put together a few decks. I'll humor him, but I really don't want to put a lot of thoughts into this, since my entire collection is nicely cataloged and stored in the back closet. So I got to thinking: build two decks, each using one companion and one minion each!

Obviously the minion wont be something like Goblin Archer or Southron Scout. No, I'm thinking The Witch-king, Gollum, The Balrog, and so on. Four copies of a big baddie that could survive on its own, especially when you factor in that the opposing deck will only have a single companion. For the purposes of these decks, I think it's only fair to do away with the drawback texts of the ARBs, or maybe amend my initial idea to "Frodo and one other companion."

What do you think? Wanna throw a few ideas at me?

[hsiale]

I think ARBs should work the standard way in this format, of course they have less companions at their side but also there are less minions to face.

Some ideas using ARBs:
- Smeagol BoGS with Faramir SoD,
- Galadriel BoW with Greenleaf,
- Boromir BoC or Faramir BoQ with Aragorn, Well-traveled Guide
- Gimli BoG with Durin III, DL

I think using ring-bearer Gandalf won't be possible in this format, Isildur will always be worse than Boromir or Faramir because he really works only with multiple knights (or at least multiple companions), not sure about Sam - is his ability worth giving up Great Elf Warrior and Old Bilbo's Heir.

[Not a Zombie]

Shadow Draw Deck

4x   4R219   • Desert Lord
1x   4R237   • Ithilien Wilderness
4x   10R48   Seasoned Leader
3x   4C260   Whirling Strike
4x   7C154   New Strength Came Now
4x   5C73   Mûmak
4x   7C155   Raider Bow
3x   7C156   Raider Halberd
3x   8R65   Ships of Great Draught

Shadow Total   30

[Haszor]

When you say one companion, does that mean only one card that is a companion in the deck?  Or can I have 4 copies of the same companion?

[menace64]

My original intention was to have only one companion in your entire deck (which you start with, leaving none in your deck). The "problem" with running 4 copies of one companion is that it lessens the danger all players should feel each turn, and if one player runs 4 copies then it becomes law that everyone should.

From having played these decks a few times already, I can tell you though that you don't want to fatten your deck too much. 30/30 is perfect, and you'll need every slot.

[hsiale]

I have one more question regarding the format: does the minion have to be unique? If not, I think a semi-swarm deck using Black Numenorean or Mumak Chieftain could be really effective (and possible to set up thanks to Black Sails of Umbar and Ships of Great Draught).

[menace64]

No, it can definitely be non-unique, but I'd probably say that you couldn't have 2 copies of it in play at the same time (because if that happens the FP player would probably just lose). Unless you can convince me otherwise!

[Cw0rk]

Anarion and Enquea

Ring-bearer7C317• Frodo, Hope of Free Peoples

The One Ring15RF1• The One Ring, The Ring of Doom

Adventure Deck
111S266Woody-End
218U139Steward's Tomb
311S254Pelennor Flat
413U188Courtyard Parapet
511S230Buckland Homestead
611S265Window on the West
711S249Neekerbreekers' Bog
812U194Wold Battlefield
918U138Sirannon Ruins

Free Peoples Draw Deck

1x0P58• Anárion, Lord of Anórien
2x1R114• The Saga of Elendil
2x9R+34• Narsil, Blade of the Faithful
2x15C68Ranger's Cloak
4x2C37Sentinels of Númenor
4x13U61Banners Blowing
4x13S74Rally the Company
2x11U61• Houses of Healing
3x18U110Prized Lagan
2x11R173• Sting, Weapon of Heritage
4x11S64Pledge of Loyalty

Free Peoples Total30

Shadow Draw Deck

4x10R68• Úlairë Enquëa, Thrall of The One
3x3U83• The Ring Draws Them
2x17R142• Ring of Savagery
4x9R44• Ring of Rancor
4x0P96Keening Wail
4x1R206Bent on Discovery
2x8R67Between Nazgûl and Prey
4x1U203All Blades Perish
3x1U238Wreathed in Shadow

Shadow Total30

[Haszor]

Pippin and Gollum

Bilbo, Bearer of Things Burgled
Pippin, Steadfast Friend

1x Bill the Pony
2x Hobbit Sword
2x Red Book of Westmarch
1x Salt from the Shire
1x Sting, Elven Long Knife
1x Mithril-Coat, Dwarf-Mail
1x Phial of Galadriel, The Light of Earendil

1x A Light in His Mind
4x Consorting with Wizards
1x Escape
4x Everyone Knows
1x Little Golden Flower
1x O Elbereth!  Gilthoniel!
4x Scouring of the Shire
2x Stone Trolls
1x The Tale of the Great Ring
1x There and Back Again

3x Hope is Kindled

Total (33)

Shadow:
1x Gollum, Mad Thing
3x Gollum, Threatening Guide

2x Web

2x Chasms Edge
2x Deceit
2x Fat One Wants It
1x Hidden Even From Her
2x Not This Time
2x Promise Keeping
4x Slippery as Fishes
3x They Stole It
2x Unabated in Malice

Shadow (33)

It seems kinda big, but with Red Book of Westmarch I can go through the deck by site 6.

[Not a Zombie]

Threatening guide isn't gonna be much use when there are a max of 2 threats, swap him for either hopeless, stinker, or old villan. Maybe one of each so you can play the one that is most appropriate at the time. I'd also drop chasms edge for similar reasons, drop 1x fat one wants it, pick up 3x we must have it, then I'd drop 1x they stole it for 1x incited. I'd maybe even try and pick up a couple of horribly strong, but that depends on how much stuff you want to add that plays gollum.

[Haszor]

And I assume we're going to leave the conditions that turn into minions out of the decks?  Pallando Deceived, Radagast Deceived, and Alatar Deceived ?