Help me build two decks?

[Isbiten]

Hi!
Just found all my old LoTR TCG cards and got all nostalgic.
I need your help though.

Would you PLEASE help me put together  2 decks from all the cards I have?
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AgEzkxPGKZUZdHloaWJXQ2FuN2ZfU1Fnb0FfX2tKUmc
(Moria cards are on the second sheet)

I only have cards from Fellowship and Moria.

I would love it if the 2 decks are as good as possible (don't need to be OP or anything, but still want 2 decks that aren't #$&*@!) but at the same time being equal in power and thematic/fun.

The only wishes I have is:
Deck A: Nazgul/(I'm kind leaning towards either Gandalf or Dwarves, or a mix)
Deck B: Elves/Isengard?

Thanks in advance

[Isbiten]

Ok!
So, before I order the last cards, how good is this fellowship?

Starting Fellowship:
Frodo, Reluctant Adventurer bearing The One Ring, Isildur's Bane
Gimli, Son of Gloin
Gloin, Friend to Thorin

6 Companions:
1 Gimli, Son of Gloin (starting)
1 Gloin, Friend to Thorin (starting)
2 Farin, Dwarven Emissary
2 Fror, Gimli's Kinsman

2 Allies:
1 Thrarin, Dwarven Smith
1 Grimir, Dwarven Elder

11 Conditions:
4 Endurance of Dwarves
1 Make Light of Burdens
1 O Elbereth! Gilthoniel!
1 Greatest Kingdom of My People
2 Song of Durin
2 Till Durin Wakes Again

18 Possessions:
2 Gimli's Battle Axe
4 Dwarven Bracers
4 Hand Axe
3 Dwarven Axe
2 Gimli's Helm
1 Book of Mazarbul
1 Sting
1 Mithril-coat

6 Events:
2 Flurry of Blows
2 Here Lies Balin, Son of Fundin
2 Disquiet of Our People

[bibfortuna25]

43 cards is waaaaaay too much. The only time you should be that large is if you're packing Delving to help draw more, as well as pairing it with a Moria shadow side. I'd cut a couple Endurances, as well as 1 copy of Gimli's Axe, 1 Hand Axe and 1 Bracer.

[Isbiten]

http://lotrtcgwiki.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=2242
It's out of date?

[bibfortuna25]

Well, you can't really be out of date with FOTR block, but the point is, that deck is way too big, with no way to cycle through your cards. A large deck like that needs either card drawing, like Delving or Elrond LOR, or ways to get rid of extra cards during your turn. You'll find that you constantly have 20+ cards left in your deck by the end of the game with a deck this large.

[Cw0rk]

Try to cut to 40 and pair it with Moria swarm.

1 The Balrog, Durin's Bane
1 The Balrog, Flame of Udun
4 Goblin Runner
4 Goblin Scavengers
1 Goblin Scrabbler
1 Goblin Warrior
1 Goblin Flankers
1 Guard Commander
4 Moria Scout
3 Goblin Wallcrawler
2 Ulaire Nertea, MoDG
4 Orc Ambusher (for site 9 Tol Brandir)

4 Goblin Scimitar

3 Host of Thousand
1 Relentless

3 They Are Coming
2 Goblin Armory

For the other deck, I don't think u can use Nazgul. You lack of too many cards. I would go with a simple but effective Uruk-Hai Beatdown paired with Gondor/Elf.

[Isbiten]

2 Ulaire Nertea, MoM
4 Orc Ambusher (for site 9 Tol Brandir)

With Orc Ambusher on Tol Brandir, you can do a lot of actions but playing the Ambushers is the last thing you are a llowed to do and then you end?

Ulaire Nertea, MoM??
I can't find this card, Messenger of Dol Goldur is the only one I can find.

[bibfortuna25]

Yes, just save yourself 3 twilight and use Tol Brandir as your last action.

[Cw0rk]

Ulaire Nertea, MoM??
I can't find this card, Messenger of Dol Goldur is the only one I can find.

You are right, I edited it.

Additionally of Dwarves/Moria and Elf-Gondor/Uruks, you could probably make a decent Hobbit/Sauron Wounding Deck (with Under the Watching Eye/You Bring Great Evil and wounding minions).

[Isbiten]

Why include the common version of The Balrog, cause it's cheaper to play?

[Cw0rk]

Why include the common version of The Balrog, cause it's cheaper to play?

In big decks, I sometimes put both. Additionally to being cheaper, the common one skips the archery phase which can be useful sometimes. I guess that since your other decks aren't choking much or aren't shooting so much arrows, you can get rid of the common one if you want.

[Isbiten]

I know this isn't the correct place, but since you are here.
I don't understand the comprehensive rulebook when it comes to playing sites in FotR block...
Do I as The Fellowship play the next site when moving or does my opponent?

Also, I guess I can take out the following cards since my brother will most likely play Uruk-hai:
Song of Durin
 Here Lies Balin, Son of Fundin

Also, would anyone car to teach via me to play http://www.gempukku.com/gemp-lotr

[bibfortuna25]

When you move, and the next site is not yet in play, your opponent plays the next site. So in general, if you are ahead on the adventure path, you are running on your opponent's sites.

Gemp is very easy to understand and use. Every card you can use in any given situation is automatically highlighted for you, and all of the game's rules are enforced.

[Isbiten]

When using a card like They Are Coming you still have to pay, correct?

Or how does it work? When a card says to play something you don't have to pay the twillight cost?

[Isbiten]

43 cards is waaaaaay too much. The only time you should be that large is if you're packing Delving to help draw more, as well as pairing it with a Moria shadow side. I'd cut a couple Endurances, as well as 1 copy of Gimli's Axe, 1 Hand Axe and 1 Bracer.

So, how many cards would  you cut TO?

Also, Cw0rk thanks for the list.
I only have 1 Goblin Armory and it's super expensive to buy (for example on eBay).
I can proxy them, my brother won't mind.

Does all super competitive decks run 4 Armories?


Also, what sites for a Dwarf/Moria?

[Isbiten]

It would be much more nice lore-wise if my brother had Orcs since, well, Gimli hates the orcs .
How would it change the matchup though?
Would it tilt the favor for one of decks?

Dwarf/Uruk-Hai
Elves(Gondor)/Goblins

Would it work?

[bibfortuna25]

When using a card like They Are Coming you still have to pay, correct?

Or how does it work? When a card says to play something you don't have to pay the twillight cost?

You always have to pay the twilight costs of the cards you play unless they specifically say otherwise.

[Isbiten]

When using a card like They Are Coming you still have to pay, correct?

Or how does it work? When a card says to play something you don't have to pay the twillight cost?

You always have to pay the twilight costs of the cards you play unless they specifically say otherwise.

That's what I thought.

With the list I presented there are quite a few cards that only work against orcs.
This means that against Nazgul/Uruk-Hai there are a lot of dead cards.
Are dwarfs just not good enough to win against a big array of different decks?

[bibfortuna25]

You'll find that no one deck is viable against every possible Shadow side. You've just got to learn the meta, what cards you're likely to face, and how to play against even decks you're weak to. And if you have some "dead" cards in your deck, just discard them when you reconcile. It happens all the time.

[Isbiten]

You'll find that no one deck is viable against every possible Shadow side. You've just got to learn the meta, what cards you're likely to face, and how to play against even decks you're weak to. And if you have some "dead" cards in your deck, just discard them when you reconcile. It happens all the time.

Ok!

What do you think about what I said earlier.
Would my Dwarf deck just crush a Goblin Swarm?

Dwarf/Uruk-Hai
Elves/Goblin Swarm

Would it be very one-sided?

[bibfortuna25]

You'd have to test the two decks out to be sure. Your Dwarves might win most of their one-on-one fights, but the very nature of Moria decks is to put out a ton of extra minions and swarm over Frodo. So there are multiple ways to combat that:

Maneuver or archery wounding
Defender bonuses
Many extra companions
Condition removal
Pumps for Frodo

And like I said, it's never a sure thing in this game. Depending on the draws, who wins the bid and other factors, one game can turn out vastly different to how it turned out in a previous matchup.

[Isbiten]

I'm planning  to pick up some cards on eBay for my Dwarf deck (Gimli's Helmet/Axe, 2 isuldur rings, sting, mithril coat, book of mazarbul annd so some more, basically stuff I'm missing to make the deck).

What other cards would you say are "must" haves when playing the FotR-block?
The cards I already have is in spreadsheet.

[bibfortuna25]

Why did you leave our game in the middle without conceding?

[Isbiten]

Why did you leave our game in the middle without conceding?

Omg, was that you? Sorry man.
Sorry, I got SO frustrated. Had played 2-3 games before and got my a** handed to me EVERY time.
Just felt like the combination of me not having a good deck and playing bad there was no point in staying.

Sorry again.

[bibfortuna25]

If you are losing a game badly and you want to leave, you need to hit the Concede button. It's a common courtesy.
And it is never a good idea to double to site 5 with 3 Uruks following you.

FYI, if you keep on losing badly, it may be that your decks just aren't that good. Try netdecking and see what else you can build. Find a combination that you can have fun with and that fits your playing style.

[Isbiten]

Yeah I know. Never a good idea to not GG.

A quick question on sanctuary.
If you just moved to site 3 and in the last step you choose to move again, do you lose the healing?
Because if you double move twice then you will miss it, correct?

I go first:
1. Move to site 1. Go through all phases.
2. Move to site 2. Go through all phases. End my Fellowship turn.
3. My opponent goes, doesn't matter what he does.
4. Move to site 3. In the regroup phase I choose to move, do I miss out on the sanctuary because of this?

[gordie124]

It is possible to double move over a sanctuary. Here's how a typical game start works.

Say I go first.
1. Start the game at site 1. Fellowship phase.
2. At the end of my fellowship, I must move. [to site 2. First move to the turn]
3. Shadow/M/A/A/S/R phases. [at site 2]
4. At the end of the regroup phase, you choose to reconcile [stay at site 2] or move [to site 3].
Say that you move [second move of the turn]
5. Shadow/M/A/A/S/R phases. [at site 3]
6. At the end of the regroup phase, you must reconcile (unless the move limit is other than 2, via cards like Rivendell Waterfall), and it is your opponent's turn.

In this case, my next turn will begin with sanctuary healing, which occurs at the start of the fellowship phase when the fellowship is at a sanctuary. So, note that if you start your turn at site 2 (bc of only moving once your first turn) and double-move, you will skip sanctuary healing.

That's probably more detail than you need, but I thought it would be best to be thorough! GLHF w/ your games!

PS: the reason to hit the concede button is that without it your opponent is stuck (for 15 minutes I think) waiting for the system to give them an auto-win.

[bibfortuna25]

Yeah you are always capable of reaching the sanctuary on your first turn. The only times you might not want to is if there are too many minions following you from site 2 to make such a move safe. Or if you are using Nazgul as your shadow and you want to bait your opponent into doubling moving to Ford of Bruinen.

[Isbiten]

If you play a unique minion (like Lurtz or a Nazgul) and it dies, can you play it again or does it work like companions, once it's dead it's dead?

[bibfortuna25]

Yes you can replay unique minions that have been previously discarded. Otherwise, no one would play Nazgul.

[Isbiten]

Is CCG-Singles.com legit?