Towers Standard Sealed League

[Durin's Heir]

So this is the way it should be:

'Osgiliath Reclaimed' deck

2x Boromir, Steward's Heir
1x Faramir, Son of Denethor
2x Gondorian Knight
1x Turgon, Man of Belfalas
1x Merry, From O'er the Brandywine
1x Armor
1x Banner of Westernesse
2x Knight's Mount
3x Sword of Gondor
1x Hobbit Sword (-1)
1x Elendil's Valor (-1)
1x Gondor Will See It Done
1x Gondor's Vengeance
2x Might of Numenor (+1)
2x New Errand
3x Swordarm of the White Tower
+2x War Must Be
1x Citadel of the Stars
4x City Wall (+2)
1x Garrison of Osgiliath

2x Might of Numenor and Banner of Westernesse are the only healing mechanisms. The banner may be used by Faramir to get easy wins against weak minions and heal...

Now it's more skirimish-oriented.

Dunland Discard Swarm deck, or 'Barefoot Hillmen' deck:

2x Dunlending Arsonist
2x Dunlending Headman
3x Dunlending Looter
3x Dunlending Rampager
3x Dunlending Renegade
3x Hillman Tribe
3x Wild Man of Dunland
3x Orc Inquisitor
2x Tower Lieutenant
2x Burn Every Village
2x Death to the Strawheads
2x Bound By Rage

Sitepath:

Eastemnet Downs
Rohirrim Village
Westemnet Plains
Westemnet Hills
Deeping Wall (couldn't find anything better, but a lucky pull of Saruman, Rabble-Rouser can wreak havoc)
Hornburg Armory
Hornburg Causeway
Wizard's Vale
Saruman's Laboratory

[dmaz]

You make a very good point how First Level could be overpowered by Turgon...that would get out of hand if they combined healing techniques from a first serie deck with this. City Wall, on the other hand isn't unique and can be combined with Take Cover.

Boromir, Stewards Heir, by himself does a solid job of bridging the gap between Knights and Rangers, like you mentioned. Since we have decks with ranger theme, by focusing more on knights with this deck, someone would be able to combine both at whatever level they would like. It would really be nice to see the Knight starter deck really provide you with enough Knight material to be able to go all the way with them as well.

Here's what I had in mind, its only slightly different from your most recent deck:

2x Boromir, Steward's Heir
2x Gondorian Knight
2x Turgon, Man of Belfalas
2x Dervorin
1x Banner of Westernesse
2x Knight's Mount
4x Sword of Gondor
2x Hobbit Sword
2x Dagger Strike
2x War Must Be
1x Reckless Counter
2x Take Cover
1x Citadel of the Stars
4x City Wall
1x Garrison of Osgiliath

Reasoning for some of the adjustments:

Since this is a proposal for a second serie deck, you would only need 2x hobbit sword since you already get 2 in the first serie, no matter what deck you choose.

Only 5 companions other than Frodo - again since they will already have one deck to work with, they will have no problem getting 9 companions in there, so the companions offered in this deck can be a little more exclusive to the theme.

There aren't as many skirmish event pumps, as City Wall functions as a pump in and of itself. Or, it can alternatively be used for wounding with Take Cover (the Knight's version of New Errand, kind of).

The deck is a little more straightforward companions/possessions/pumps now, with a few neat Knight-related twists.
Some site liberation involved to keep in theme with the norm of starter decks being paired with shadows that they perform decent against.

[Durin's Heir]

The event you refer is Men of Numenor, not Take Cover... and as I said before, uses 2 card slots instead of 1. And is reliable only if a gondorian faces an exhausted minion; New Errand may protect Frodo or anyone facing 2 or more minions (one being exhausted).

Your draft lacks healing, except for 1 Banner of Westernesse, and has no wound prevention. Nor the protection of an Armor or Elendil's Valor.

Merry can give early swarm protection, so should be there. Or they simply won't start with Boromir.

There's no need of 2 copies of Hobbit Sword as the Serie 1 provides 2, cut off 1... nor 2 copies of Turgon, as most of the times will be only a generic 6 str Knight... you need to move twice to use his ability, and Knight's Mount will do his job most of those times. Maybe Ingold, Knight of Dol Amroth or Faramir, Defender of Osgiliath can take his place in your draft (or in mine).

Not only doesn't merge themes together, but has almost zero coupling potential as it has little to offer to a Ranger deck: Boromir, CotS, Reckless Counter (for a high price), Dagger Strike... maybe Dervorin and Banner of Westernesse. And +2 strength pumps...

Reckless Counter is the only addition I would do to my draft, that's a great card....

[dmaz]

A stab at the idea for Serie 1 "Muster the Rohirrim!"

Overview:
1. Centers around mounted companions with big healing potential from villagers. Wanted to include Armor from FotR, but just didn't have room for it.
2. Fortress Never Fallen for at least a little condition control. I think its necessary considering how many condition supported shadows are in the mix right now.
3. Noble Intentions is an indirect answer to Easterling burden adding. You can keep assigning Frodo to Guards and Lieutenants, while holding the card for insurance if they have a pump. It's not perfect but it would help keep him from getting corrupted fast.

Here it is:

Frodo, Tired Traveler

Eomer, Sister-son of Theoden
Eowyn, Lady of Rohan
Theoden, Lord of the Mark x2
Ceorl, Weary Horseman
Rider of Rohan x2
Guma, Plains Farmer
Hlafwine, Village Farmhand
Weland, Smith of the Riddermark
Brego
Rider's Mount x3
Rider's Spear x3
Herugrim
Eomer's Spear
Hobbit Sword x2
Well Stored x2
Fortress Never Fallen
Severed His Bonds x2
Noble Intentions
Fight for the Villagers x3


Feel free to tear this apart 
There are really a number of directions you could go with a Rohan deck.
The two singular things that I think we would really need for this deck would be Fortress Never Fallen and at least one Noble Intentions (addresses both Easterlings and the need for a little more Frodo support, since there's no defender+1 stuff).

[Eukalyptus]

Something to start working on:

3x Desert Warrior
3x Southron Bowman
1x Southron Commander
3x Southron Invaders
3x Southron Marcher
3x Southron Runner
3x Southron Traveler
2x Southron Veterans
2x Mumak
2x Southron Spear
2x On the March
3x Whirling Strike

For discussion:

-1 Southron Veterans
+1 Far Harad Mercenaries

[Eukalyptus]

1x Frodo, Master of the Precious

1x Smeagol, Poor Creature
1x Merry, From O'er the Brandywine
1x Pippin, Friend to Frodo
1x Sam, Nice Sensible Hobbit
1x Bounder
1x Rosie Cotton, Hobbiton Lass
2x Brace of Coneys
4x Hobbit Sword
2x Don't Follow the Lights
2x Not Listening
3x Hobbit Intuition
1x It Burns Us
2x Mind Your Own Affairs
2x Severed His Bonds
3x Poor Wretch
1x A Talent for Not Being Seen
1x Rare Good Balast
1x There and Back Again

Pippin could be exchanged for another version. Burden removal isn't that much, so I'd advise against WFR. RGB has great synergy with Frodo. The rest is self explanatory. Plus, MotP doesn't have self protection by using MYOA. I chose Brace of Coneys over Sorry About Everything since it gives pool. It also doesn't clog the hand like SAE, but it gives pool. Hobbit Intuition over Hobbit Stealth is fine by me, since they are a weak bunch. Maybe a 4th could be added and one MYOA cut instead.

[Merrick_H]

My general approach to the deck design has been to limit the number of cards in any given deck down to 3.  This means that commons/uncommons that get pulled in boosters still have value.  Nothing quite like seeing a card in your booster and thinking "Awesome card!" and then finding you have 5 or 6 already.

Regarding the decks by Eukalyptus - If we put the hobbit deck in series 3, it means that we will already have 3-4 hobbit swords (1-2 per deck in the first two series) which means you can potentially cut back on those and put in other cards so people can make a call as to what to include, but for play testing purposes we might want to just test the decks as is.

Good choice on Sam, but that does mean that only pippin and Smeagol can use MYOA making it only situationally good.  More likely than not, it would go to pump Smeagol.

[Eukalyptus]

That's an approach I can live with.

Regarding the Hobbit deck: IMO (!) using a Frodo signet Frodo only adds to his protection in a bad way (late sites, Bounder, pumps, making it near impossible to overwhelm him and nearly impossible to win when Sam is on the table as well). Since this deck is in S2 or S3, there is much Frodo protection available already, making it possible to flesh out a very good Hobbit deck. And with a Frodo signet Frodo as well. Besides, Son of Drogo is C and many will choose FotR as packs, so giving the option of MotP is a nice addition for me.

What other cards do you suggest? Nice Imitation and/or Kept Safe come to mind. Maybe one (1) Frying Pan?

Pulling a 1R Merry is boss for this deck.

[Merrick_H]

Stout and Sturdy is a great card to heal in a skirmish and potentially keep a hobbit alive long enough to get to a sanctuary.  Hobbit Stealths for the extra frodo pump...  Wingfoot to give a little protection and possibly allow a double move.  There are lots of possibilities :-)

[dmaz]

Hobbit Hospital, Nurse Smeagol Attending

Frodo, Master of the Precious
Sam, Nice Sensible Hobbit
Merry, From Oer the Brandywine
Pippin, Woolly-Footed Rascal x3
Smeagol, Poor Creature

Rosie Cotton, Hobbiton Lass
Bounder

Frying Pan

Poor Wretch x4
Follow Smeagol
Rare Good Ballast
A Talent for not Being Seen
Kept Safe

Severed His Bonds x2
Hobbit Intuition x2
Don't Follow the Lights
It Burns Us
Mind Your Own Affairs x2
Not Listening x2
Stout and Sturdy x2

This would be a Serie 3 deck to foster combinations with companions from prior series.
As such, the player would already have x4 Hobbit Sword from the first two starters, so just frying pan for shire support if you want to go straight hobbit choke.

I really liked the ideas of Kept Safe and Stout and Sturdy, for a "low budget healthcare plan" for this Hobbit Hospital

Merry, FotB with a weapon can make good use of Kept Safe.

I think using this Pippin is a nice option, in a pinch, if you're up against a minion you just can't handle.

Beef up Smeagol and put him in a place to win a skirmish that your opponent will allow so that you can use Not Listening to remove the burdens you add.

This deck would combine well with Wingfoot from the UB rangers of serie 2 if you wanted to go Rangers/Hobbits.

You can also generate your own doubling potential with It Burns Us. This would be optimally used for a surprise 7 to 9 move if you've been holding the card.

Looks like this theme could be really fun!

[Merrick_H]

I would go with something more along the lines of this for the hobbits:
1x Smeagol, Poor Creature
1x Merry, From O'er the Brandywine
1x Pippin, Friend to Frodo
1x Sam, Nice Sensible Hobbit
1x Bounder
1x Rosie Cotton, Hobbiton Lass
1x Hobbit Sword
2x Brace of Coneys
2x Don't Follow the Lights
2x Not Listening
3x Hobbit Intuition
2x Stout and Sturdy
1x It Burns Us
2x Mind Your Own Affairs
2x Severed His Bonds
4x Poor Wretch
1x A Talent for Not Being Seen
1x Rare Good Balast
1x There and Back Again

This assumes that people have access to 3-4 hobbit swords in the first two series (knights only have 1 and they are in series 2) and eliminates Frying pan from the equation.  That is just too powerful a card vs. orcs especially if there is going to be some healing.  I like Pippin FtF better than WFR as there is more protection for the hobbits at this point and you need the burden room for Smeagol to do some of his tricks.

[Merrick_H]

Something to start working on:

3x Desert Warrior
3x Southron Bowman
1x Southron Commander
3x Southron Invaders
3x Southron Marcher
3x Southron Runner
3x Southron Traveler
2x Southron Veterans
2x Mumak
2x Southron Spear
2x On the March
3x Whirling Strike

For discussion:

-1 Southron Veterans
+1 Far Harad Mercenaries

I'm fine with the Mumak and the Southron Commanders.  People should have ways of dealing with him at this point if this is a series 3 deck.

I'd swap out both Veterans for Far Harad Mercenaries as Veterans are rare.

[dmaz]

The Knight deck I proposed had 2 Hobbit Swords...I really do think all of the Serie 2 decks should have 2 as well.

2x Boromir, Steward's Heir
2x Gondorian Knight
2x Turgon, Man of Belfalas
2x Dervorin
1x Banner of Westernesse
2x Knight's Mount
4x Sword of Gondor
2x Hobbit Sword
2x Dagger Strike
2x War Must Be
1x Reckless Counter
2x Take Cover
1x Citadel of the Stars
4x City Wall
1x Garrison of Osgiliath

Just straight Knights with fortifications and events that involve fortifications or knights, as opposed to Knight-Ranger hybrid (Gondor's Vengeance among other ranger cards were proposed, but since this is "Knights" I think we don't need to play ranger cards, Dervorin is there to function as a possible Gondor's Vengeance, albeit conditional). Since there isn't much knight stuff or generic Gondor companions in TT, there are some King cards. Reckless Counter shouldn't be much of a problem though...It's almost like That is No Orc Horn, which is from TT.

[Eukalyptus]

Something to start working on:

3x Desert Warrior
3x Southron Bowman
1x Southron Commander
3x Southron Invaders
3x Southron Marcher
3x Southron Runner
3x Southron Traveler
2x Southron Veterans
2x Mumak
2x Southron Spear
2x On the March
3x Whirling Strike

For discussion:

-1 Southron Veterans
+1 Far Harad Mercenaries

I'm fine with the Mumak and the Southron Commanders.  People should have ways of dealing with him at this point if this is a series 3 deck.

I'd swap out both Veterans for Far Harad Mercenaries as Veterans are rare.

My mistake. Didn't realize. Finding a working theme with Southrons and not use Rs is heavy duty.

[BigRedMF]

I have a few thoughts about card supply for each Serie.

1. Every Block sealed league includes at least one extra card outside the starters for crowd control. FotR provides you a free Enquea (maybe 2?). Towers provides 2 Southron Commanders. King provides some Site 7s to stop your opponent. WotR provides various shadow conditions. Does it make sense to do the same here?

2. I agree that every player should have Severed and Hobbit sword. In the same way as the crowd control, perhaps we award 2 of each outside the starter decks in Serie 1 and maybe 1 of each outside the starters in Serie 2, and then we can take them out of the starter deck lists for a couple more card slots?