Gandalf choke [Movie version]

[neopium]

Hi everyone,

I was very fond of a fellowship deck I read about here: http://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php/topic,2399.0.html

However, this is Fellowship block only and I was thinking Gandalf got even better trick in the other block.

So I wanted to create a new deck based on Gandalf and Frodo (or an alternative ring-bearer, why not?) that are going to climb Mount Doom solo (or almost).

So I come to you guys to find some ideas to build this deck so that it's not ridiculous in Movie block.
There are some questions that need answering:

- What Gandalf to choose?
- What events to favour (with my friend the barliman buttenburg)? Servant of the secret fire for epic fights or terrible and evil for direct wounding?
- What ring bearer?

Ideas are welcome.

As usual, I will post my deck ideas here and replay links to demonstrate the successes and failures

[neopium]

Thanks for the input, but I'm targeting Movie block, thus no Travelled leader nor caras galadhon.

[neopium]

Against swarm, what comes to mind are:
- Bounder
- The Tale of the great ring
- PATHS
- Wielder of the flame
- Wizardry indeed

[neopium]

I am leaning toward a direct wounding approach.
Not sure it can work, but it's worth a try.
Here are the cards I'm thinking about for killing minions:
- Terrible and evil
- Fury of the white rider
- Mithrandir, Mithrandir!
- Shadowfax, Great heart
- PATHS
- Cliffs of Emyn Muil
- Wizardry indeed
- Long I fell

The problem is there are a lot of exertions, solutions against that are:
- Strength of spirit
- Moment of respite
- Have patience

For the rest, I just have to make both companions strong enough not to be overwhelmed.

In the end, this is my first attempt at the deck (not tested yet):
Ring-bearer: Frodo, Old Bilbo's Heir
Ring: The One Ring, Such a Weight to Carry

Free Peoples Draw Deck:
1x Gandalf, The White Wizard
1x Thrarin, Dwarven Smith
4x Barliman Butterbur, Prancing Pony Proprietor
1x Bounder
1x The Gaffer, Sam's Father
1x Glamdring, Lightning Brand
1x Shadowfax, Greatheart
2x Sting, Bane of the Eight Legs
1x Gandalf's Staff, Focus of Power
1x Narya
2x Mithril-coat
3x Fury of the White Raider
2x Have Patience
1x Mithrandir, Mithrandir!
3x Strength of Spirit
3x Terrible and Evil
4x Power According to His Stature
1x Moment of Respite
1x O Elbereth! Gilthoniel!
1x The Tale of the Great Ring

Shadow Draw Deck:
1x Desert Lord
2x Grishnakh, Orc Captain
1x Orc Assassin
4x Orc Cutthroat
2x Orc Patrol
4x Orc Scouting Band
2x Orc Soldier
1x Tower Assassin
2x Úlairë Enquëa, Lieutenant of Morgul
1x Grond, Hammer of the Underworld
1x Ithil Stone
4x Hate
2x Dead Marshes
4x Orc Bowmen
4x Under the Watching Eye

[neopium]

First test of the deck went well, except for the discard dwarves deck I was facing (I hate hate hate discard): http://gempukku.com/gemp-lotr/game.html?replayId=neopium$q9nnaotjjjg9409t

Lessons learned: a lot of wounds on Gandalf make it very difficult to double move. Fury of the white rider requirement to spot 3 twilight tokens is tough as well (except when I had Terrible and Evil in hand).

[neopium]

Another win against besiegers (!!!), but paradoxically less impressive than the previous one (+ my opponent could have killed me by overwhelming the Ring-bearer but he miscalculated bounder effect...):

http://gempukku.com/gemp-lotr/game.html?replayId=neopium$2na79cgfzi7szqlh

[neopium]

... and a loss:

http://www.gempukku.com/gemp-lotr/game.html?replayId=neopium$svan0c2iab7wo0q9