Towers Standard Sealed League

[Merrick_H]

I really like the hate and anger deck.  Looks fun!

I think that 30/30 is the way to go otherwise you have a hard time developing the theme sufficiently and you wind up with pretty bad filler cards.  That is pretty much the way it is in any sealed league.  Sealed with Decipher's original decks was pretty bad, particularly since they didn't include much Frodo protection outside of a sword.  If we are mandating 1 sword +2 Severed His Bonds, that means that we are essentially at 27 cards to play with on the free people's side anyway.

[dmaz]

I really like the hate and anger deck.  Looks fun!

I think that 30/30 is the way to go otherwise you have a hard time developing the theme sufficiently and you wind up with pretty bad filler cards.  That is pretty much the way it is in any sealed league.  Sealed with Decipher's original decks was pretty bad, particularly since they didn't include much Frodo protection outside of a sword.  If we are mandating 1 sword +2 Severed His Bonds, that means that we are essentially at 27 cards to play with on the free people's side anyway.

That is true...Even if we did 28 cards a deck then the first series Fellowships would only have 24 cards dedicated to the theme. I guess if we kept the companion count per starter under control, that would foster enough individuality and variation among decks.

[Durin's Heir]

I really like the hate and anger deck.  Looks fun!

It IS fun! It's based on a 36 cards deck I played on TS some time ago, with 2x Weapons of Isengard instead of those One of You Must Do This, and with 3x Ranged Commander... before adding 2x Shotgun Enquëa, I lost many games, after that little change it wrecked almost everything.

[dmaz]

As suggested by BigRedMF, here's a quick look at an Isengard Men deck, supported by Isengard Orcs. If we used it as a Serie 1 or 2 starter deck, it might work. The deck itself also touches on the Isengard Orc theme without making them overpowered by combining orcs from sets 3 and 6.

Grima, SoG x3
Unferth, GB x3
Rohirrim Traitor x4
Saruman, SotE x3
Isengard Retainer x2
Isengard Servant x2
Isengard Smith x2
Isengard Worker x2
Desertion x4
Twisted Tales
Men Will Fall x4

I think the support of Isengard Smith  might make it a tad more viable for the men to possibly win a skirmish or two. Even if they aren't winning them, a decent number of wounds are going out.

The idea of the deck isn't so much to take down the big companions in skirmishes, but harass them in assignments. Among Desertion, Saruman, SotE and Unferth, you should be annoying them at least a little. Men Will Fall, as a pump is pretty strong. There are usually at least one or two unbound companions around in sealed, and it can be used in a skirmish involving an orc as well.

[Durin's Heir]

If Shoulder to Shoulder just obliterates everything, we could see if it can be nerfed.

Goblin Scrabbler, Saruman's Power, Shadow's Reach, Gate Sentry, Orc Patrol, Their Power Is In Terror, Too Long Have These Peasants Stood come to my mind...

The only thing I think we could develop would be the use of Dwarven Warrior...not because he's a generic 6/3 companion (we are gonna have Knights running around hopefully that are the same), but because of the discard two from top of the deck text. In the starter decks that I'm aware of the only cards that provide unconditional discarding from either hand or deck is limited to 1 per card.

Every other decent dwarf is unique (that is, everyone minus the guard), and the only non-rare unique dwarf that doesn't use rules from further sets - besides the aforementioned - is Thrarin, Smith of Erebor, an outsider from TS. 2 of him seems a great trade, or 1 additional copy of each Farin and Fror if you want this to be just nazgul lunch...

In fellowship block games, I start Gimli and one of those 'F' dwarves: Fror if my opponent has a 37/37 or less cards deck, or Farin if he has more; thus I only need one copy of each. It really works. If there's doubt about the shadow you're facing, start Fror as uruk stomps are far heavier, and none of them take advantage against Nazgul.

As suggested by BigRedMF, here's a quick look at an Isengard Men deck, supported by Isengard Orcs. If we used it as a Serie 1 or 2 starter deck, it might work. The deck itself also touches on the Isengard Orc theme without making them overpowered by combining orcs from sets 3 and 6.

Grima, SoG x3
Unferth, GB x3
Rohirrim Traitor x4
Saruman, SotE x3
Isengard Retainer x2
Isengard Servant x2
Isengard Smith x2
Isengard Worker x2
Desertion x4
Twisted Tales
Men Will Fall x4

I think the support of Isengard Smith  might make it a tad more viable for the men to possibly win a skirmish or two. Even if they aren't winning them, a decent number of wounds are going out.

The idea of the deck isn't so much to take down the big companions in skirmishes, but harass them in assignments. Among Desertion, Saruman, SotE and Unferth, you should be annoying them at least a little. Men Will Fall, as a pump is pretty strong. There are usually at least one or two unbound companions around in sealed, and it can be used in a skirmish involving an orc as well.

If you want to take this idea farther away, splash 1 copy or 2 of Wizard Storm, and pair it with an easy rider fellowship, with Calaglin or Wingfoot for example... that Hobbit Hospital with Aragorn seems enough (although it is a hospital only for Sam, as The Gaffer and Farmer Maggot are rares). And if there's a rare per side, Saruman's Staff to destroy 2 previously exhausted little ones.

[dmaz]

Every other decent dwarf is unique (that is, everyone minus the guard), and the only non-rare unique dwarf that doesn't use rules from further sets - besides the aforementioned - is 2x Thrarin, Smith of Erebor, an outsider from TS. 2 of him seems a great trade, or 1 additional copy of each Farin and Fror if you want this to be just nazgul lunch...

In fellowship block games, I start Gimli and one of those 'F' dwarves: Fror if my opponent has a 37/37 or less cards deck, or Farin if he has more; thus I only need one copy of each. It really works. If there's doubt about the shadow you're facing, start Fror as uruk stomps are far heavier, and none of them take advantage against Nazgul.

Between Gandalf, Gimli, and that heavy possession support, I don't think you would be Nazgul lunch necessarily haha. You could splash a couple Dwarf Guard meat shields...

Alternatively, if you wanted to get really weird with this deck you could change Gimli back to a set 1 - 6 guy, and add Dasron, Merchant from Dorwinion supported by Stout and Strong hahaha
That's probably too format warping.

Thanks for the tip on the Wizard Storm...maybe that would be a good swap for Twisted Tales...

[Durin's Heir]

In respect to that Shoulder to Shoulder deck, it just can't heal those allies without Elrond. A poorman's version should use Friends of Old and more allies, maybe A Royal Welcome too.

Between Gandalf, Gimli, and that heavy possession support, I don't think you would be Nazgul lunch necessarily haha. You could splash a couple Dwarf Guard meat shields...

The problem happens when you don't start with a Dwarven Axe (or 2 +1 strenght different possessions) or some skirimish events, or even so if you play Gandalf because of his twilight cost. Maybe I'm just paranoid, as this won't have that fierce Attea or Lord of Angmar, and this is a 30/30 deck instead of 40/40, with less chances of bad starting draws...

[dmaz]

Maybe I'm just paranoid, as this won't have that fierce Attea or Lord of Angmar, and this is a 30/30 deck instead of 40/40, with less chances of bad starting draws...

Very true...also remember that a dwarf deck in this league will function quite a bit different then in Fellowship. Since Nazgul are their tough point, they might actually not do bad at all, since the site path doesn't have Bree Streets and the dreaded site 3 river. Also, like you mentioned, it's not constructed, so you shouldn't be going up against str 12+ fierce minions on every move

[Eukalyptus]

Would In Twilight really be such a bad idea? It costs 2, and as said, you'll most likely never get more than two Nazgul out at once AND have to win skirmishes/survive archery. I can see Moving This Way to be thrown out for more minions, but In Twilight I think a good idea. And Twilight Nazgul are virtually unplayable, except for maybe this format.

Another idea:

3x Easterling Lieutenant
2x Morgul Skulker
2x The Witch-king, Deathless Lord
3x Úlairë Attëa, The Easterling
3x Úlairë Enquëa, Ringwraith in Twilight
3x Úlairë Otsëa, Ringwraith in Twilight
3x Fell Beast
2x Nazgul Blade
3x It Wants to be Found
4x Threshold of Shadow
2x Blade Tip

Yes, Nazgul Blade is outside of TS, but it only gives 1 strength, 2 if at a battleground or one of the possible site 2. But the damage bonus is gone. And I do think they'd need weapons to win skirmishes, Fell Beast alone wouldn't be of any help against Rohan or even Dwarves. Plus, they have to survive archery first.

[Merrick_H]

Again I would caution about using cards outside of the block.  In the 9 decks for the Movie Block Sealed, there were 5 cards that were from outside the block and those were primarily to make decks that wouldn't have come together otherwise and come to think of it, ALL of them were Free People's cards.  There weren't any non-rare dwarves that were worth playing outside of Thrarin, Rumil wasn't too powerful and was a decent 6/3 comp that fit with the theme, frodo gave some swarm protection the sword had some usefulness without giving too much utility given the site mechanics of RotK and the gollum pump was, well situationally useful.  Let's focus on building decks with the cards on hand in the block and if we NEED to get something from out of block, we go with that.

I'd have to play test, but I don't fundamentally think that Nazgul sword + fell beast would be too problematic.  It is a 3+2 card combo that will die hard to mounted Rohan or archery given the general twilight cost.  Yes it will give hobbits fits depending on when it drops, but each deck has to have some weakness...

[dmaz]

Would In Twilight really be such a bad idea? It costs 2, and as said, you'll most likely never get more than two Nazgul out at once AND have to win skirmishes/survive archery. I can see Moving This Way to be thrown out for more minions, but In Twilight I think a good idea. And Twilight Nazgul are virtually unplayable, except for maybe this format.

Another idea:

3x Easterling Lieutenant
2x Morgul Skulker
2x The Witch-king, Deathless Lord
3x Úlairë Attëa, The Easterling
3x Úlairë Enquëa, Ringwraith in Twilight
3x Úlairë Otsëa, Ringwraith in Twilight
3x Fell Beast
2x Nazgul Blade
3x It Wants to be Found
4x Threshold of Shadow
2x Blade Tip

Yes, Nazgul Blade is outside of TS, but it only gives 1 strength, 2 if at a battleground or one of the possible site 2. But the damage bonus is gone. And I do think they'd need weapons to win skirmishes, Fell Beast alone wouldn't be of any help against Rohan or even Dwarves. Plus, they have to survive archery first.

Ok, I have to admit, I like this one a lot.
I think Nazgul Blade is just a perfect fit. It takes away the Damage +1, without making it a completely useless card, since TS has a decent number of Battleground sites. Brilliant!

I don't think In Twilight is a bad idea, really. It helps Nazgul a little with one of their struggles: cycling, and won't be abused because you won't be getting 4 Nazgul on the field like the Forest 'Gulz. That, and since there are no Lurker minions, the FP player can assign and resolve skirmishes strategically to minimize the effect of it. Personally, I think it's an OK addition. Would it be possible to make a constructed league, just for testing our TS sealed decks that are using cards from other sets, by making "additionally valid" sets for the league?

One last thought: the Easterling Lieutenant splash is effective...but to keep the whole twilight theme going, could it be swapped for a Wisp of Pale Sheen? Both cards are the same cost, strength, and vitality, and both carry the potential to add 1 burden

[dmaz]

Again I would caution about using cards outside of the block.  In the 9 decks for the Movie Block Sealed, there were 5 cards that were from outside the block and those were primarily to make decks that wouldn't have come together otherwise and come to think of it, ALL of them were Free People's cards.  There weren't any non-rare dwarves that were worth playing outside of Thrarin, Rumil wasn't too powerful and was a decent 6/3 comp that fit with the theme, frodo gave some swarm protection the sword had some usefulness without giving too much utility given the site mechanics of RotK and the gollum pump was, well situationally useful.  Let's focus on building decks with the cards on hand in the block and if we NEED to get something from out of block, we go with that.

I'd have to play test, but I don't fundamentally think that Nazgul sword + fell beast would be too problematic.  It is a 3+2 card combo that will die hard to mounted Rohan or archery given the general twilight cost.  Yes it will give hobbits fits depending on when it drops, but each deck has to have some weakness...

I guess I overlooked that In Twilight was technically a Rare card...while I'm not against using cards outside of a set every once in a while (especially ones as generic and innocent as Nazgul Blade), I don't really like the idea of using rare cards...

[dmaz]

A couple general thoughts before another proposed deck list...

Regarding matching a Fellowship theme with a Shadow theme. Starter decks have usually seemed to be matched so that the fellowship of the deck performs well against the shadow of its deck.
Some quick examples would be the FotR starters (men with armor are great against the Uruks, Gandalf can discard the Moria orcs' conditions), and the TT and BoHD starters (Mounted Rohan companions punish the battleground uruks and wargs by taking away their vitality, Aragorn, Wingfoot clobbers the low vitality Dunland, and Southrons fill up well with wounds to make the Lorien Swordsman able to go up against them even when they are mounted).

If possible, maybe we could try to do our match ups more of less along these lines? I don't know if there was a rhyme or reason for Decipher doing it that way...

I noticed Knights and Rohan Men with Gandalf support are both fairly popular. The starter decks before now have never really focused on the keywords Knight and Valiant. Euk has already started developing Knights, so I'm going to try to develop a Rohan/Gandalf deck that uses Valiant companions.

Even though the generic "Knight" and "Valiant" companions are just a 6/3 guy, I think it would be good to use them. There are a few nice rares that capitalize in the Knight and Valiant keywords, and it would be really cool for people in this sealed league to have a starter deck option that would facilitate the use of those rares.

I do agree with Euk that the number of Knights provided in the starter should be limited, as it shouldn't be obscenely easy for the FP player to just spot three knights for free transfers of CotS . However, I think giving Valiant a little love would be quite cool!

I'm almost done with it, then I will post my deck idea for this.

[Durin's Heir]

Again I would caution about using cards outside of the block.  In the 9 decks for the Movie Block Sealed, there were 5 cards that were from outside the block...

There are actually 5 more outsider cards in Revised Movie Sealed, as those promos aren't really from any block: Frodo, Mr. Underhill; Arwen, Maiden of Rivendell; Anarion, Lord of Anorien; Eomer, Forthwith Banished and Gandalf, Stormcrow. Free peoples cards too. That leaves only 5 other (useful) promos to possibly add: Gimli, Dwarven Delegate; Erkenbrand, Master of Westfold; Ghan-Buri-Ghan, Chieftain of the Woses; Tom Bombadil's Hat and Boromir, Steward's Heir.

The Hat and Erkenbrand would be overpowered in my opinion, so shouldn't be used at all. That Gimli could very well replace Lively Combatant in those Unconditional Dwarves. But the main potential relies on the other 2 cards:

Ghan (with armor) would be very useful in a Rohan or Gondor deck (Gandalf-supported or not), mainly as a very hard (and sometimes wide) meat shield. And that Boromir is just fascinating, you can try to make a Knight deck with some Ringbound-Ranger tricks like Ranger's Bow, Curse Them or the very underrated New Errand (could go together with Men of Numenor)... or plain Ranger tricks, like Gondor's Vengeance, No Stranger to the Shadows or Pathfinder.

Dmaz, I hope these tips help you to develop your Valiant Rohirrim and Knights decks... There are other cards you could try for Gondor that are worth of mention: Gondor Will See It Done, Blood of Numenor, Mortal Men.

[dmaz]

In previous sealeds, I feel like Rohan comes up decent...but the spotlight is often stolen by an alternative Aragorn or Gandalf starter deck.

For our TS sealed, maybe we can give Rohan a competitive deck, without going overboard and making them overpowered.

Simply adding Gandalf and Trust Me As You Once Did is a huge advantage to any deck. Just look at how well Hobbits can perform in the Movie sealed with it.

This being the case, there were a couple things I did with the deck, to "nerf" it, so to speak, so that this wouldn't be the ONLY deck to chose for its respective serie.
1. Removed Elite Rider. Quite often a base strength of 8. Add a spear and TMAYOD, and it's a beast.
2. Removed Eomer
3. Focused on a little Valiant dynamics as opposed to heavy skirmish support. I think the bonus of TMAYOD + x4 An Honorable Charge would have been almost overkill
4. Decided to pull Gandalf's Wisdom out...having the opportunity to play all of those Rohan possessions for no twilight is a little much.

Anyway, here it is:

FELLOWSHIP:
Frodo, Mr. Underhill

Eowyn, Daughter of Eomund x2
Theoden, King of the Golden Hall x2
Household Guard x2
Gandalf, The White Wizard x2
Guma, Plains Farmer
Weland, Smith of the Riddermark
Ecglaf, Courageous Farmer
Brego
Rider's Mount x2
Herugrim x2
Rider's Spear x3
Rohirrim Bow x2
Hobbit Sword x2
Wizard Staff
Trust Me As You Once Did x2
Parapet
Let Us Be Swift
An Honorable Charge x2

SHADOW:
Berserk Rager x2
Uruk-Hai Berserker x4
Uruk Engineer x2
Uruk Sapper x3
Uruk Slayer x2
Uruk Shaman x2
Uruk-hai Raiding Party x3
Broad Bladed Sword x3
Uruk Spear
Battering Ram x2
Siege Engine
Assault Ladder x3
Bred for Battle x2
Black Shapes Crawling

The Shadow is a basic run at Berserkers with Machines. Didn't add x4 pumps as Assault Ladder is meant to function as a pump. This could probably be developed a little bit. I like the idea of playing a Black Shapes Crawling to pull Broad Bladed Swords if you have two Berserkers out. Cool dynamics

Ghan (with armor) would be very useful in a Rohan or Gondor deck (Gandalf-supported or not), mainly as a very hard (and sometimes wide) meat shield. And that Boromir is just fascinating, you can try to make a Knight deck with some Ringbound-Ranger tricks like Ranger's Bow, Curse Them or the very underrated New Errand (could go together with Men of Numenor)... or plain Ranger tricks, like Gondor's Vengeance, No Stranger to the Shadows or Pathfinder.

I think the Promos are great...to the extent that we are not using ones that are as powerful as rares. Anarion was pushing it. I think Ghan-Buri-Ghan would be a little too much. He just has the feel of a rare to him...Just my opinion though.  I DO think that Boromir would be sweet though